Chapter 715: Common Interests

"The Ross nation?"

Yang Zhen was preparing to head to Yancheng.

During this time, he had been in Ningjin training soldiers and inspecting defenses, without a moment of leisure.

Recently, the defenses of the Ningjin Dusi had stabilized.

He decided to go back for a visit.

After all, he had yet to see his father and daughter.

At the time, he had been worried that he would die in the Ningjin Battle.

Seeing them would only have caused them more grief.

But with the deployment of the Rifled Musket and the supply of Yellow Gunpowder,

he believed the Northern Barbarians could no longer threaten the Great Song.

At the right moment, Yan Wang would surely launch a Northern Expedition to pacify the Northern Barbarians.

"Perfect, let them travel with me," Yang Zhen said.

This envoy from the Ross nation had arrived under the escort of Northern Barbarian Cavalry, yet he wanted to see Yan Wang; he truly wondered what kind of scheme was being plotted.

However, the longer he served under Yan Wang, the more he understood how formidable this Yan Wang was.

No matter what it was, he would certainly not let the Ross nation take advantage of them.

The matter was settled.

Before long, a carriage entered Ningjin, and the Northern Barbarian Cavalry were left outside the city.

Having them escort the Ross nation envoy was sufficient.

Three days later.

The party arrived at Yancheng, and Yang Zhen led Ivan straight to the Prince's Mansion.

Throughout the journey, Yang Zhen did not exchange any words with Ivan.

He only let the soldiers handle the contact, and when the two entered the mansion together, he only gave Ivan a slight nod.

"This subordinate Yang Zhen pays respects to Your Highness."

Arriving at the Council Hall, Yang Zhen performed a military salute to Zhao Xu, who was sitting in the main seat.

Zhao Xu nodded.

Yang Zhen's return to visit his family had naturally been approved by him in advance.

Otherwise, a frontier general could not leave his post without authorization.

"General Yang has been separated from the Duke of Yi and your beloved daughter for many years; today is the day for a reunion. Should I first test the Duke of Yi's reaction for the General?" Zhao Xu ignored Ivan, leaving him aside, and said this to Yang Zhen.

He understood Yang Zhen's feelings during this time—wanting to see them yet being afraid to.

The closer one gets to home, the more timid one becomes.

Yang Zhen clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, his palms covered in sweat. "Many thanks, Your Highness, but let this subordinate handle it myself. At worst, I'll just get a beating from my father."

Yan Wang was very strict in governing the army, but in private, he got along with his generals very harmoniously, like a friend.

This was one of the reasons why the generals liked Yan Wang so much.

Including himself, he felt very relaxed and at ease when facing Yan Wang.

However, if they made a mistake, it would be different; Yan Wang would be like the God of Thunder, cold and heartless.

"Hmm, very well. If you cannot withstand the Duke of Yi's whip, you may come to me for help," Zhao Xu smiled lightly,

then waved his hand, signaling that Yang Zhen could go.

Yang Zhen chuckled twice, gave another military salute, and turned to leave.

Immediately after, Zhao Xu cast his gaze toward Ivan, who was standing below the steps.

Before Yang Zhen set off, he had sent a fast horse to inform him of this matter.

He was mentally prepared for the arrival of this Ross nation envoy.

"You are the one who let the Northern Barbarians use Smallpox to plague my Great Song!" Zhao Xu's gaze was like lightning as he looked at Ivan, his tone severe. "You have great audacity to actually dare to come to Yanzhou!"

Upon hearing this, Ivan's heart skipped a beat.

He suddenly remembered Wulanba saying that this Yan Wang had once suffered from a brain ailment and his thoughts were difficult to fathom.

He hurriedly said, "Your Highness, this matter was forced by the Northern Barbarians, and I was only seeking survival; it was unavoidable. Furthermore, I am now a Consul of the Ross nation. You Easterners often say that when two countries are at war, one does not execute the envoy."

Zhao Xu looked at Ivan.

It was under his guidance that Wulanba had gone to the Ross nation.

Now that Wulanba had returned, this Ivan had even become a Consul of the Ross nation stationed in Dongtu.

It was evident that the Ross nation had already established close ties with the Northern Barbarians.

This Ross nation was located in the position occupied by contemporary Russia.

In fact, it was equivalent to the Russia of this world.

Moreover, according to intelligence from Fei Wen, this Ross nation also pursued a strategy of extreme expansion.

The current Nicholas the Great had even once said that the territory of the Ross nation had no end.

It was precisely this long-term expansionist strategy that allowed the Ross nation to grow from a small principality into a vast empire spanning Dongtu and the Western Lands.

In the contemporary era, Russia had once fought a war with the Qing Dynasty for eastward expansion and was defeated by Kangxi.

At the same time, they supported Galdan to continuously invade the east, only to be defeated by Kangxi again.

After the Opium War, they swallowed a massive amount of territory.

Therefore, although this was a parallel world unrelated to the contemporary era,

based on contemporary experience, he remained extremely vigilant toward this Ross nation.

In his view, the Northern Barbarians were merely a small nuisance in the North; the Ross nation was the true major trouble.

They certainly will not let go of any opportunity to seize land.

"Consul Ivan, there is no need to be nervous," Zhao Xu teased. "Let us talk about the purpose of Consul Ivan's visit to Yancheng this time. As far as I, the Yan Wang, know, the Ross nation has very close dealings with the Northern Di, and the Northern Di are the mortal enemies of my Dayan. You coming here, Consul, should not be to advocate for peace, right?"

"Naturally not. Our Ross nation does not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of Dongtu, and our relations with the Northern Di are merely normal trade exchanges." Ivan naturally would not tell Zhao Xu the truth.

Pausing for a moment, he continued: "Coming here this time, I mainly wanted to give Your Highness a reminder. Dongying and Britain are forming an alliance to encircle and suppress the Yan Wang, and they are also lobbying the Northern Di to join. I hope Your Highness will be vigilant."

"Oh, the Ross nation is truly concerned for me," Zhao Xu sneered. "You are worried that if this alliance is established, it will endanger your Ross nation's interests in Dongtu in the future, right? And since the Northern Di are being ambiguous with Dongying, I am the most suitable person to act as the thug to deal with the British, am I not?"

"This..." Ivan was greatly shocked in his heart.

The gaze the Yan Wang directed at him was deep and dark, as if it had seen through his inner heart.

"This Yan Wang is truly terrifying," a voice echoed in Ivan's heart.

This Dayan Wang, who was even younger than him, was more intelligent than he had imagined.

"Yes, so I believe that the Ross nation and the Yan Wang have common interests," Ivan decided to stop hiding it.

Because he could no longer hide it from this Yan Wang, continuing to quibble would only ruin this diplomatic mission.

"I also think so, but since it is a common interest, what support can your Ross nation provide me?" Zhao Xu tilted his head and looked at Ivan.

Currently, the Ross nation and Britain are mortal enemies; wherever there is Britain, the Ross nation will surely come to cause trouble. This belongs to the confrontation between two blocs in the Western Lands.

It was precisely because he considered these things that he decided to see Ivan.

Perhaps he could use this common interest to disrupt the Eastern Land Alliance, for instance, by working with the Ross nation to trap the Northern Di, making it impossible for them to join the Eastern Land Alliance.

Based on his understanding of the Ross nation, they absolutely do not want the Northern Di to get closer to the Eastern Land Alliance.

"To alleviate the difficulties Your Highness faces, we can cooperate to force the Northern Di to refuse to join this alliance, so that Your Highness can focus on dealing with the Eastern Land Alliance," Ivan said bluntly.

This was the true purpose of his visit this time.

The Ross nation wants to completely control the Northern Di, and especially does not want the Northern Di to join this Eastern Land Alliance and have contact with their enemy, Britain.

He believes the Yan Wang also does not want to be surrounded by enemies on all sides.

As for the Yan Wang, the Ross nation is currently separated from Dayan by the Northern Di, and there is no direct conflict of interest between the two sides for the time being.

Utilizing his conflict with the Northern Di to make the Northern Di dependent on the Ross nation, and then opposing the Eastern Land Alliance, is clearly what best fits the interests of the Ross nation.

After all, after this chaotic battle between the Yan Wang and the Eastern Land Alliance, he believes both sides will surely suffer mutual destruction.

By then, it will be the time for the Ross nation to expand on a large scale in Dongtu.