Chapter 760: Diplomatic Offensive

"Britain and the Sam Country will fully support our Wu!"

The Imperial Study.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the British envoy relayed Wolf's words, and Liang Kai was immediately taken aback.

This was followed by wild joy.

According to Wolf, this comprehensive support included the finest flintlocks and artillery currently available to Britain.

If Wolf's proposal were passed by the British Parliament, Britain would even dispatch personnel from their homeland to transport steam engines to Wu.

Through the steam-powered warships, he had seen steam engines with his own eyes, and from Wolf, he had also learned of their utility.

If he could establish factories in Wu just like those in Britain, why would he worry about failing to defeat Yan Wang and unifying the Great Song?

"Please convey to Lieutenant Wolf that I am extremely grateful to him." Liang Kai trembled with excitement.

He then said to the attendant eunuch: "Prepare 100,000 taels of silver to gift to Lieutenant Wolf, and give another 5,000 taels of silver to this gentleman, Pete."

The British envoy's name was indeed Pete, and he said happily: "You truly are a generous Emperor."

They had long understood that this Great Song Dynasty was extremely wealthy, yet at the same time extremely weak, like a sickly, rich merchant.

For such an indigenous dynasty, any Xitu Guo would drool with greed.

Moreover, Wu had maintained a trade surplus with their Britain for years.

Thus, the Parliament had formulated a strategy to invade Wu, force Wu to sign unequal treaties, and demand indemnities.

But they had not expected this plan to be disrupted by Yan Wang in the North Territory.

Now, they had no choice but to change their plan and choose to support Wu.

Of course, this support would not be free; they were unwilling to suffer losses, and everything provided to Wu would have to be bought with their silver.

Furthermore, Wu had agreed to the opium trade, which was the fundamental way for them to reverse the trade balance.

However, there was one more point, which was also the purpose of his visit this time.

Wu had to show sincerity for this support to begin.

Otherwise, even if Wu brought out the silver, they would not be able to exchange it for their support.

So he said: "However, I have not finished speaking. Lieutenant Wolf requires Wu to provoke a war along the Jiujiang line to divert Yan Wang's attention, prevent Yan Wang from launching an attack on our British fleet, and avoid disadvantages for Dongying."

"What!" Upon hearing this, Liang Kai's expression immediately darkened.

In the battle of Gaoli, sixty percent of the over two hundred warships he had dispatched were lost, and the one hundred thousand Shizu Army troops were completely wiped out.

Because of this, his heart had ached so much he hadn't slept well for days, and he felt increasingly that the Yan King Army was difficult to provoke.

Now, the British actually wanted him to provoke Yan Wang; this was simply like an old woman eating arsenic—courting death.

A layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he said: "The Eastern Earth Allied Forces could not defeat Yan Wang even in Gaoli; is it not making things difficult for me to ask my Wu to face Yan Wang alone?"

Pete sneered: "Does Your Majesty think that our British firearms and steam engines are so easy to obtain? Besides, it is not asking your Wu to launch a Northern Expedition;

it is only asking you to provoke them along the river, merely to make a gesture of moving north to hold back Yan Wang's troops. If you don't even have this much courage, then there is no need for our Britain to support you."

"This..." Liang Kai's eyes began to roll.

It was very clear that Britain's comprehensive support came with conditions.

However, he also had a secret agreement with Yan Wang.

If he broke his promise, Yan Wang would certainly not be polite.

But he thought again, secretly reasoning that Yan Wang giving him the blueprints for sailing warships was only to stabilize him so he could focus on dealing with the Eastern Japanese and the British.

Sooner or later, he would still head south.

At that time, with the ferocity of Yan Wang's troops, he would find it hard to hold out.

Most importantly, what Britain was giving him this time was much more than what Yan Wang had given him.

Britain's comprehensive support also included helping Wu build sailing warships.

In this way, the sweeteners given by Yan Wang seemed insignificant.

Added to the shadow of the battle of Gaoli, he felt he could not leave the Eastern Land Alliance.

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth; he wouldn't fight a major war for now, but fighting some small battles was not impossible.

Having decided on this matter, he nodded slowly, "Very well, but at least let our Wu see some tangible benefits first; otherwise, it will be difficult for me to convince my ministers."

After speaking, his gaze flickered.

Pete secretly thought that this Liang Kai was indeed, as Watanabe had said, an old fox.

Nodding, he said: "Within a month, a batch of muskets and artillery from Tianzhu will arrive in Lincheng. Of course, you will have to pay for them."

Pausing, he continued: "There is one more point. Lieutenant Wolf suggests that Your Majesty spend money to avert disaster, spending some silver to recruit Mercenaries to fight for you. We in Britain can act as intermediaries to set it up."

Liang Kai's eyes lit up.

The Great Song had banned maritime trade for over two hundred years, and his Liang Family had monopolized maritime trade for those same two hundred years, accumulating massive wealth.

If Yan Wang were to attack, this wealth would eventually be seized by Yan Wang.

Rather than that, it would be better to use it to resist Yan Wang.

He had also heard of these Xitu Mercenaries; they killed and plundered, were fiercely ruthless, and were often led by desperate veterans.

If he could hire them to fight, without needing his Wu army to take the field, and still be able to deal with the Yan King Army, why not?

"Excellent, this is truly a great help to our Wu. As for Mercenaries willing to fight for our Wu, how many are there? Our Wu wants them all!" Liang Kai waved his hand, acting very magnanimously.

"It's a deal." Pete lifted his chin.

This time, his purpose for coming to Wu had been achieved.

Beidi.

Copper Bull Royal Tent pasture.

At the moment the British envoy arrived in Wu, Sato Masahisa had also arrived here.

After the Gaoli war broke out, he returned to Dongying from Lincheng.

This time, having received orders from Watanabe An, he was sent as an envoy to the Northern Di.

After stating his purpose, Lamu dispatched cavalry to escort him to the Khan Court.

After five days of trekking, he saw a golden tent amidst the vast Grassland.

At this moment, Mule Hongzhen and Ivan had already received the news in advance.

Under the guidance of guards, Sato Masahisa entered the Khan Tent and saw Mule Hongzhen sitting in the main seat, with Ivan sitting in the lower seat.

Besides them, there were also Tiemuta and Wulanba.

After mutual introductions, Sato Masahisa said, "Great Khan, Consul Ivan, I have come this time under the orders of General Watanabe An, hoping that the Northern Di and the Ross nation will join us in resisting Yan Wang. Now that Gaoli, once a vassal state of the Northern Di, has bowed and scraped before Yan Wang, can you not yet feel the threat of Yan Wang?"

Mule Hongzhen and Ivan exchanged a glance.

In Gaoli, the Eastern Earth Allied Forces had been rebuffed, and now that Sato Masahisa had come again, they were perfectly clear about what Dongying was planning.

Likewise, the probing attacks by the Copper Bull Royal Tent against the Yan King Army had also made Mule Hongzhen realize one problem: the Yan King Army was becoming increasingly terrifying.

This was fatal for the Northern Di.

As for Ivan, he was worried that the territory Ross had just obtained from the Northern Di would be threatened by Yan Wang in the future.

Previously, in order to tie the Northern Di to the War Chariot of Ross, he had had temporary cooperation with Yan Wang.

This was a convergence of interests.

Now, Yan Wang threatened the interests of Ross, which was a conflict of interests.

He needed to find a way to cope.