Chapter 638: The Timely Rain

Yanzhou.

Only two days after the Lu City Alliance, Zhao Xu had already obtained all the details discussed at the alliance.

In fact, Qi did not deliberately keep the news of the alliance secret; it seemed they intended to release this information to intimidate him.

However, in Zhao Xu's view, this was like a threatened dog constantly barking to bolster its own courage.

On the contemporary international stage, when certain small nations face threats from great powers, once they receive support from other great powers, they are eager to broadcast it to the whole world through the media.

The principle is the same.

"If the Northern Di and Dongying participate in the alliance, the territory under Your Highness's control will be surrounded by them. This is truly a ruthless move."

In the prince's study, Xu Ke said.

The contents of the alliance were exactly what he had just delivered.

"This matter has happened after all." Zhao Xu frowned.

After the news of the power-clans' alliance arrived, he had already considered the worst-case scenario.

That was that the factions currently in conflict with him would choose to form an alliance to oppose him.

After all, in the Battle of the Three Cities South of the Jin River, he had once again demonstrated his formidable strength to his enemies.

This made his enemies understand that none of them could defeat him alone.

If they allowed him to continue growing, they would only face destruction.

Therefore, just like the six states uniting to attack the Qin Kingdom,

they would surely take a gamble and launch a war against Yanzhou, attempting to annihilate him.

"Your Highness, what should be done about this?" Xu Ke could not help but feel worried about the future of Yanzhou.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu smiled lightly, "There is no need to be so nervous. Although this alliance has indeed brought some trouble to Yanzhou, do you think the measures I have taken during this period were only aimed at Qi?"

Xu Ke was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, and his expression involuntarily relaxed.

In reality, Yan Wang had unknowingly forged his territory into an airtight iron barrel during this time.

The Ningjin Dusi in the North Territory was guarded by the Ningjin Army.

Even if the Northern Di dispatched another four hundred thousand troops, it was not certain they could take the Ningjin Dusi.

Secondly, the Ma Family's one hundred thousand troops were currently being equipped with rifled muskets.

With the Ma Family there, Qin Pass was secure and stable, and they even had the spare strength to attack Qinzhou and Yongzhou.

As for the direction of Dongying, the twenty-four warships about to be launched were not to be trifled with.

Dongying should be worried about its own fate.

And the three southern cities that had just been captured meant they now had a natural barrier similar to Yanguan.

It would not be so easy for them to cross the natural barrier to attack Yanzhou.

Just as he was thinking this, Feng'er suddenly came to report that the Qi envoy had arrived outside Yancheng.

She asked if he would allow the Qi envoy to enter the city.

"Let him come to the prince's residence." Zhao Xu frowned.

The alliance had just ended, and Qi had already dispatched an envoy; he wondered what intentions they were harboring.

After waiting for a while,

the Qi envoy arrived at the prince's residence.

Liu Fu, Yang Zhen, and other ministers also came along.

They had also been paying attention to the Lu City Alliance, and the news of the Qi envoy's arrival in Yancheng naturally could not be hidden from them.

Each of them wanted to know the purpose of this Qi envoy's visit to Yancheng.

Zhao Xu did not chase them away, but instead had them and the Qi envoy go to the Council Hall.

As the Regent, he could not be too arbitrary.

Some matters still required the participation of the ministers.

"Han Yang, Court of State Ceremonial Envoy of Qi, pays respects to His Highness, Yan Wang."

Zhao Xu arrived at the Council Hall, and the Qi envoy bowed and said.

"No need for formalities." Zhao Xu sat in the main seat and asked directly, "Speak, what does Han Zheng want to say to me?"

Currently, the Great Song Dynasty Imperial Court was in Yanzhou; he would never acknowledge the imperial status of traitors like Han Zheng.

Moreover, he saw a trace of smugness in the eyes of the Qi envoy.

He felt there was even less need to show any kindness.

Because, in all likelihood, this Qi envoy would have nothing good to say next.

"Your Highness, Yan Wang, must have already learned the news of the Lu City Alliance. Soon, our Qi will form an alliance with Southern Liang, the Jinling Court, Wu, and Nanping, and Dongying and the Northern Di will also participate." Han Yang held his head high, his expression arrogant.

"And then?" Zhao Xu's eyes narrowed.

He had already roughly guessed Han Zheng's intention.

"Does Your Highness still intend to strike a stone with an egg?" Han Yang looked at Zhao Xu, "His Majesty said that if Your Highness repents and turns back, submits to Qi, hands over the craftsmanship of the Armaments Department, and disbands your troops, he is willing to enfeoff Your Highness as a king of a different surname in Qi to continue governing Yanzhou; otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Zhao Xu remained calm.

"Otherwise, our seven-nation army will surely trample Yanzhou flat." Han Yang shouted loudly, pointing one finger at the sky.

"Hahaha..."

Suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted in the Council Hall.

Liu Fu, Yang Zhen, and other ministers laughed until they were doubled over, as if they were listening to a joke.

Zhao Xu also pursed his lips, the corners of his mouth turning upward.

"What are you laughing at? This is not a joke, we are serious!" Han Yang had originally thought he would frighten Yan Wang and his ministers.

For a moment, he was left completely confused by this contrast.

The laughter in the Council Hall continued for a while before it ceased.

Zhao Xu's gaze suddenly turned stern, and he said, "Go back and tell Han Zheng that to this Prince, your so-called alliance is nothing but a rabble of worthless curs. Before long, this Prince will strike at Lu City, capture him alive, and make him dance for this Prince."

"Arrogant! Yan Wang, you truly refuse to shed tears until you see the coffin," Han Yang said, jumping to his feet.

This Lu City Alliance caused a great shock throughout Qi.

The gloom over the loss of the three southern cities dissipated rapidly because of this event, leaving behind only revelry.

In their view, with this alliance successful, Qi would stand in an invincible position.

Defeating Yan Wang was only a matter of time.

After all, Yan Wang only possessed the tiny Yanzhou, and the Ningjin Dusi and Jinzhou he had seized were barren and dilapidated.

The Ma Family's Sizhou was also just an ordinary, small province.

Therefore, compared to their alliance, Yan Wang was far inferior in terms of territory and population.

And once flintlocks were equipped in large numbers within their armies, they would also be able to narrow the gap in firearms with Yan Wang.

Coupled with the Northern Di and Dongying, they would completely crush Yan Wang.

"Your Highness, Chen Ce, the Head of the Mining Division, requests an audience; he says he has found some kind of diatomaceous earth mine." Just as the Qi envoy was losing control of his emotions, Feng'er hurried in.

"Diatomaceous earth!" Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu nearly stood up from his chair, and his face was immediately filled with smiles.

Looking at Han Yang, who was puffed up because of the alliance, he said, "You say this Prince is arrogant? Then this Prince will let you witness what true arrogance is. Get out and tell Han Zheng: if he wants to fight, then let him fight. This Prince is waiting for him!"

"Yan Wang, you... you just wait." Han Yang's entire face flushed red with shame and anger.

Having said that, he flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

Zhao Xu sneered and paid him no further mind.

In truth, he could have humiliated him further, but he did not do so.

Because doing so would mean the envoys he sent out in the future would suffer the same treatment.

There was no need to open such a precedent.

After the Qi envoy departed, Liu Fu, Yang Zhen, and the others grew solemn.

Their laughter just now was merely because they could not stand the Qi envoy's arrogance and had intentionally humiliated him.

But to say they had no worries about the alliance would be impossible.

At this moment, Liu Fu said, "Your Highness, this alliance is a major trouble for Yanzhou; we must treat it with caution."

"Before, it was indeed something to be treated with caution, but from now on, there is no need to consider anything—we only need to slaughter them until their livers and gallbladders are shattered," Zhao Xu shouted decisively, full of confidence.