Chapter 720: Waves on the Jiujiang

Lincheng Wharf.

Not long after Sun Zheng and his party left, Liang Kai led the ministers of Wu to the wharf.

He had received news of the arrival of the British Fleet.

Gazing at the steamships, each belching huge columns of smoke and towing sailing warships forward, his mouth remained agape for a long time.

Before the Sam Country brokered the Eastern Land Alliance, he had no idea what a steamship was.

It was only because the people of Sam Country wanted to bolster his courage that they revealed to him the news that twelve British steamships were docked in Tianzhu.

At the same time, they introduced to him what a steamship was.

Now seeing it with his own eyes, he was shocked beyond measure.

After the steamships and sailing warships finished docking, a British officer wearing a red military uniform disembarked and led a squad of soldiers to his front.

"British Navy Lieutenant Wolf greets the Emperor of Wu." Wolf took off his hat and bowed slightly to Liang Kai, "I have come under the orders of Governor Bolt to help your Wu defend against the threat from the North Territory."

"Many thanks! Many thanks!" Fine beads of sweat broke out on Liang Kai's forehead.

At this moment, he realized how ridiculous it was that he had wanted to rely on the Wu Navy to defend against the British.

A deep sense of crisis spread in his heart.

He believed he really should thank Yan Wang.

Otherwise, in a battle between Britain and Wu, the Wu Navy would have been completely wiped out.

From then on, Wu would also have been at the mercy of the British.

And the existence of Yan Wang had clearly attracted the attention of Dongying and the Westerners.

Only then did the Eastern Land Alliance come to be, and only then did their Wu escape a disaster.

Thinking this way, he felt all the more fortunate for the agreement he had secretly reached with Sun Zheng.

Yan Wang could not be destroyed for the time being; at least until his Wu was strong enough to defeat the British, he must not be destroyed.

Otherwise, once his Wu lost its value.

The Eastern Land Alliance would certainly become a tool for Dongying, the Sam Country, and Britain to carve up the Da Song.

Once this thought occurred to him, he became even more determined in his decision to put in minimal effort, waver between sides, and only demand benefits from both.

Wolf nodded, "Does Your Majesty not intend to invite me to the Imperial Palace to sit for a while and discuss the next steps?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Liang Kai came back to his senses and hurriedly led Wolf toward Lincheng.

Arriving at the Imperial Palace, Liang Kai also summoned the Sam Country envoy Luo Mu and the Dongying envoy Dongye Kimura.

After the Eastern Land Alliance was established, the two of them would be stationed in Lincheng, responsible for matters within the alliance.

With the four parties gathered, Wolf said directly, "Governor Bolt has put me in charge of all matters concerning the Eastern Land Alliance. Since the four most important parties are all here, why not finalize the alliance treaty today?"

Luo Mu and Dongye Kimura nodded; they naturally had no objections, hoping only that the Eastern Land Alliance could be established a day sooner to curb Yan Wang's expansion in the Dongtu.

Liang Kai did not hesitate either; Dongying had already agreed to hand over the northern part of Yizhou to Wu, all the conditions he wanted had been met, and he should keep his promise.

Seeing that no one objected, Wolf brought out the contract.

This contract was personally supervised by the British Eastern Land Governor, Bolt.

Once all parties signed, they would become allies to one another.

Should any party be attacked, the countries within the alliance would have an obligation to provide support.

At the same time, the contract also contained clauses regarding trade.

Wu would open three commercial ports for trade between the two sides and provide supplies for the other's fleet.

The contract was in four copies, and upon receiving them, they all signed their names.

Because the clauses above had been agreed upon from the start.

After signing the contract, Wolf stood up and said to Liang Kai, "Your Majesty, what do you need me to do next?"

Liang Kai smiled broadly, "I hope Lieutenant Wolf will lead the fleet to enter Jiujiang with the Wu Navy to cover the forces of the powerful clans in Yangcheng as they withdraw to the south of Jiujiang."

During this time, his envoys had long since gone to Yangcheng and returned.

Xie Duan, Han Zheng, and Wang Zi'an had all agreed to join his command and serve him as Emperor.

After so many years, his Liang Family had finally made the other powerful clans submit, just as they had once submitted to the Zhao.

And after that, it would be the agreement between him and Yan Wang.

His patrol of Jiujiang with the British this time was precisely to tell Yan Wang to keep his promise and not harbor delusions of continuing to move south.

The Eastern Land Alliance had the ability to stop him from crossing the Jiujiang.

Secondly, it was to bring the troops of the three powerful clans safely across the river.

After all, they would be the troops of Wu from now on.

Luo Mu and Dongye Kimura also agreed to this matter.

Now the most important thing was to stop Yan Wang from moving south and protect Wu from Yan Wang's harassment.

In this way, the divided state of the Da Song could be maintained.

Only then would they consider how to further curb Yan Wang.

Once this was settled, the next day, led by the British Fleet, over two hundred Wu warships sailed majestically toward the north.

They arrived at the mouth of the Jiujiang and sailed against the current.

After another day of sailing, they reached the intersection of the Yangcheng Canal and the Jiujiang.

At this moment, quite a few ships from Jinling were heading toward Yangcheng.

There were also ships coming from the direction of Yangcheng, filled with soldiers.

They were there to transport troops.

Seeing the steamships belching thick smoke on the river, the descendants of the powerful clans on the merchant ships were too astonished to close their mouths.

Immediately, they fell into a frenzy of joy.

Because they no longer had to worry about Yan Wang being able to cross the Jiujiang.

Although they did not know what these smoking monsters were, they were certainly very formidable.

"Truly remarkable." On a luxurious Merchant Ship, Xie Duan, Han Zheng, and Wang Zi'an gazed toward the Steamship.

In his letter, Liang Kai told them about the establishment of the Eastern Land Alliance and also mentioned the British fleet.

"Hahaha, Yan Wang has lost after all. This Steamship is enough to prove the might of the Eastern Land Alliance; those who destroy Yan Wang in the future will surely be the Eastern Land Alliance," Han Zheng laughed loudly.

They left troops behind in the Trench to cover their retreat, then immediately withdrew from Yangcheng.

However, seeing them withdraw, the Yanzhou troops did not seem to have any intention of pursuing.

Seeing the current situation, he suddenly hoped that Yan Wang's troops would pursue, and even cross the river.

In that way, they would certainly be able to fight a victorious battle.

Chatting and laughing along the way, the Merchant Ship the three were on gradually headed in the direction of Jinling.

From now on, they would be temporarily stationed in Jinling City.

They would build Trenches and fortifications outside Jinling City to stand in opposition to Yan Wang's troops across the river.

South of Yangcheng.

Chang Wei frowned as he looked toward Yancheng.

When the fleet commanded by Commander Gong Ying headed north, it stopped for a while at Tongcheng, which they occupied, and sent men to deliver intelligence regarding the British Steamship to him.

Then, today, the aristocratic clan troops within Yangcheng withdrew southward via the Canal.

He did not order an attack.

Because the aristocratic clans had left behind troops to cover their retreat.

Since they wanted to withdraw, why should he not wait for them to withdraw completely, and then take Yangcheng without shedding blood.

Afterward, he would lead his troops west to join Ma Han in taking Xiangcheng, completely controlling the area north of the Jiujiang.

As for the aristocratic clans hiding south of the Jiujiang, to them, they were merely toothless tigers locked in a cage.

Once their own Steamships were launched and they wiped out the British fleet, that would be the time for their destruction.