Chapter 735: Rifled Cannon

"Are you certain the Northern Di will send troops this time? The Northern Di were defeated by His Highness Yan Wang and are currently merely gasping for breath; would they provoke the Eastern Land Alliance for the sake of a mere Gaoli?"

The mockery in Chai Wu's eyes grew more intense.

Yin Boming was speechless for a moment; Chai Wu's words had struck his heart.

He suddenly sat down and muttered, "Gaoli is a vassal state of the Northern Di; they will certainly come to save us."

Chai Wu shook his head. "I have said what I needed to say. As for whether you believe it or not, that is your business. I am merely offering Left State Councilor a path. When you fall into a desperate situation, there is still one path, which is to become a vassal of Da Song once again. So, Left State Councilor, you must decide for yourself."

Having said this, he rose and walked out. After taking two steps, he turned back. "Left State Councilor, you have been suppressed quite miserably by Li Wancheng all these years, haven't you? This might be an opportunity for change, depending on whether you can seize it."

Yin Boming sat on the ground, dazed for a long while, before finally rising slowly and gazing in the direction where the dock had disappeared.

He understood what Chai Wu meant.

As long as he could facilitate Gaoli's change of course and make Gaoli a vassal state of Da Song.

In the future, his status would be as unshakable as Li Wancheng's, perhaps even holding greater authority than Li Wancheng.

After all, this would be saving Gaoli again while it faced the crisis of annihilation.

It was just that he did not dare to do so yet.

He needed to wait, to wait until the worst-case scenario that Chai Wu spoke of arrived.

……

Dongying, Fukuoka.

At the same time that Gaoli was pleading for help from the Northern Di.

Watanabe An looked at the 150,000 Dongying troops and 100,000 Shizu Army, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Then, his gaze crossed the army and looked toward the Joint Fleet docked at the Fukuoka Pier.

After this period of repairs, the Fukuoka Pier was already capable of docking warships.

At this moment, twelve Steamships were billowing thick smoke, and over two hundred Wu warships stretched for several miles, with no end in sight.

It was quite spectacular.

This was the might of the Eastern Land Alliance; the scene before him made him feel increasingly proud.

He deeply felt how wise he had been to establish the Eastern Land Alliance.

With such powerful military strength, they would be invincible in the Eastern Land.

Even against Yan Wang, they had no need to fear.

He chuckled softly, his gaze shifting back toward the direction of Gaoli.

Once the Dongying envoy sent to Gaoli returned, they would cross the narrow sea between Dongying and Gaoli and set foot on Gaoli's land.

This was a scene he had dreamed of countless times; now, it was finally about to be realized.

By taking Gaoli, Dongying's territory and population would increase by nearly half.

Dongying's strength would grow rapidly.

Most importantly, with Gaoli as a springboard and the support of the Eastern Land Alliance, they could further encroach upon Da Song.

Britain was currently the most powerful country in the world.

Their Dongying might lose to Yan Wang, but Britain certainly would not.

Especially since they currently belonged to a massive alliance.

As long as they had the support of the Eastern Land Alliance, their Dongying would have nothing to fear.

Six days later.

The Dongying envoy returned from Gaoli.

Upon learning that the declaration of war had been delivered to the King of Gaoli, Watanabe An and Wolf officially ordered the crossing of the sea.

Dongying soldiers and Shizu soldiers boarded Wu warships and Dongying Merchant Ships to head toward Gaoli.

British Warships provided protection on both flanks.

The fleet was vast and mighty.

Two days later, the warships arrived in Gaoli.

The Eastern Earth Allied Forces officially launched an attack on Gaoli.

……

Yanzhou.

Zhao Xu had just returned from the Armament Bureau.

Now that the production of the Howitzer had entered a regular routine.

He had given Wang Ying the next task: to research and build the Rifled Cannon.

With the Rifled Musket, there was naturally the Rifled Cannon.

Currently, the Yanzhou Fleet's Artillery was superior to the Artillery of Dongying and the Shizu.

But when facing British Artillery, the range and power of both were likely about the same.

Therefore, he put the manufacturing of the Rifled Cannon on the agenda, preparing to suppress British Warships in terms of range.

After all, since the establishment of the Eastern Land Alliance, he was no longer facing a single nation.

He needed to have the strength to face many.

This was the cruel reality faced during the rise of a great power.

Thinking along the way, he stretched his back and walked toward the sleeping quarters.

Busy all day, he

had not had a moment of leisure.

Before he even reached the entrance of the sleeping quarters, he heard bursts of pleasant laughter.

It turned out to be Yang Susu, Feng'er, and Luan'er, along with three maidservants, chatting and laughing while embroidering in the pavilion.

Zhao Xu saw this from afar and smiled knowingly.

Yang Susu had a generous and easygoing personality and was very approachable; in just half a month, she had become well-acquainted with the servants of the Prince's Mansion.

Whether it was Feng'er, Luan'er, or the maidservants, they all called her "Imperial Concubine" one after another, and they could not have been more affectionate.

A man fears nothing more than his backyard catching fire.

The arrival of Yang Susu did not cause any unpleasantness in the Prince's Mansion; on the contrary, it was even more harmonious than before, which made him exceptionally satisfied.

Seeing Zhao Xu return, Yang Susu stood up to welcome him.

She straightened the wrinkled hem of Zhao Xu's robe and asked softly, "Is Your Highness tired? Let this concubine knead your shoulders for you."

Zhao Xu said, "Why should you, an Imperial Concubine, have to do this? Just let Luan'er do it."

Yang Susu pouted coquettishly, "Your Highness handles a myriad of affairs every day, and this concubine barely sees you a few times a day. Kneading your shoulders allows me to spend a little more time with you."

Zhao Xu laughed softly and was just about to sit down when someone reported that Xu Ke had arrived.

Zhao Xu smiled helplessly at Yang Susu and got up to go to the front courtyard, while Yang Susu rolled her eyes.

Upon reaching the front courtyard, Xu Ke stepped forward quickly and said to Zhao Xu, "Your Highness, the Eastern Land Alliance has launched an attack on Gaoli."