Chapter 786: Preparing for Battle

Remember this in one second【】

Blue sea and blue sky.

The British merchant ship was towed by a small steamship, sailing first east, then north.

In just eight days, they arrived in the waters of Yizhou.

After a short rest and resupply at Lincheng port, they headed north again.

However, just as they reached the southern waters of Yizhou, they saw a sailing fleet towed by steamships heading toward them.

"My God, this is Yan Wang's fleet." On the deck, Owen took out his telescope to look.

When the news of the British Fleet being annihilated arrived, everyone in Calcutta felt it was inconceivable, with a strong sense of unreality.

How could their British fleet, which traversed the globe, be defeated by the indigenous fleet of Dongtu?

At this moment, looking at the massive sailing fleet under the sun, and the large steamships that were no inferior to those of Britain, he finally understood.

Like Owen, the other British also had their mouths wide open.

He really could not understand how the Dongtu countries like Tianzhu, Yajia, Jiaozhi, and Piaoman were so barbaric, not much different from the natives of the New Continent.

Through trade with the Liang Family, they had also learned about the situation in the Great Song Dynasty, which was only slightly stronger.

How did Yan Wang suddenly emerge in such a short time?

Could it be, as the rumors said, that a genius from the Western Lands was assisting Yan Wang?

If that were true, he would have to meet this genius on this visit.

As he was thinking, he noticed the Yanzhou Fleet was coming toward his ship; the steamships were moving very fast.

Knowing there was nowhere to hide, he simply ordered the ship to stop and waited for the arrival of the Yanzhou Fleet.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the Yanzhou Fleet arrived; the huge warships pressed over like a mountain.

At this time, he raised his hands to show he was harmless.

The soldiers on the warship saw this and disappeared for a moment; when they returned, a rope ladder was thrown down from above.

He climbed onto the warship.

Owen was searched by the soldiers at the side of the ship,

and was then escorted to the deck.

At this moment, he noticed a young man wrapped in white fox fur, looking out at the sea.

A general who was several years older than the young man and wore a blue military uniform sized him up, his eyes filled with icy coldness.

Seeing this, he suddenly felt a wave of fear and immediately said, "My name is Owen, and I am a British envoy, preparing to go to Yanzhou to meet Yan Wang and establish diplomatic relations. Please let us pass."

Owen spoke in broken Great Song Dynasty language.

Because Britain had long-term trade relations with the Liang Family, and he was responsible for trade in this area, he had learned some of the Great Song Dynasty language.

It was precisely because of this that he was chosen as an envoy.

"No need." The general in the deep blue military uniform was Zhou Yi, and he said this indifferently.

Owen was stunned for a moment, "Can you represent Yan Wang? This is a serious matter."

Zhou Yi and the young man in fox fur exchanged a look and laughed softly; he said, "Yan Wang is right in front of you; this is His Highness Yan Wang."

This young man in fox fur was Zhao Xu.

After some preparations, Chang Wei led the troops south, and he decided to go south to Yizhou with Zhou Yi.

He would personally take North Yi Prefecture, and by the way, meet Fei Wen to understand the British reaction after the Battle of Edo and what they were planning.

After all, staying in Yancheng was also idle...

At present, all of Jiangbei was developing according to the plan he had formulated.

The Science and Technology Research Institute, the Weapons Manufacturing Research Institute, and the Warship Manufacturing Research Institute were also carrying out research one by one according to the blueprints he provided.

"Your Highness Yan Wang!" Owen was shocked.

The young man in front of him was only just over twenty years old.

Britain was defeated by this greenhorn?

"You said Britain wants to establish diplomatic relations with the Great Song Dynasty?" Zhao Xu turned his head and looked at Owen.

"Yes, Your Highness Yan Wang." Owen saw Zhao Xu's calm tone and thought there was a chance, so he couldn't help but feel a little happy.

He secretly thought that their British reputation was well-known and could still deter this Yan Wang; he could not refuse the "goodwill" of Britain.

"Fine." Zhao Xu said indifferently, a smile appearing on his face.

Upon hearing this, Owen felt a sense of triumph; he did not expect this visit to go so smoothly.

But the smile on his face disappeared immediately; a single sentence from Zhao Xu made his heart sink to the bottom.

"However, I have one condition: Britain must withdraw from Dongtu." Zhao Xu suddenly said sternly.

After Britain joined the Eastern Land Alliance, they tried their best to support Dongying to deal with him.

This time, when going south to Yizhou and passing Wufeng Island, Gong Ying told him about the promises Britain and Sam Country made to Dongying.

This news came from a captured Shogunate official.

It could be said that in order to contain him, Britain and Sam Country were preparing to arm Dongying in every aspect.

Beyond Dongying was Wu; during this period, Britain had been racking its brains and had spent a lot of effort providing firearms and Mercenaries to the Jiangnan Powerful Clans.

Under such naked malice, they now actually wanted to establish diplomatic relations with the Great Song Dynasty Imperial Court?

What were they thinking? Did they really think he didn't know?

Coming from the modern era, he knew very well that Western diplomats were essentially spies.

Furthermore, the British fleet in Dongtu had been annihilated by him, leaving them in a weak position, and they needed time to wait for the arrival of reinforcements from their homeland.

Therefore, the so-called diplomatic relations were not pure at all, and he felt there was no need for them.

Of course, refusing directly would make him seem unreasonable, so he might as well propose a condition; if Britain

^0^Remember this in one second【】

If they cannot agree, then they have no sincerity.

"These conditions are absolutely impossible for Britain to agree to," Owen said directly.

Tianzhu is Britain's most important dumping ground for goods and source of resources.

For the sake of Tianzhu, they would even go so far as to fight a war with Ross.

There is no need to doubt that Governor Bolt and the Parliament will never agree.

This is simply an insult to Britain, this superpower.

"Then there is nothing to talk about. Go back and tell your Governor, and also tell your Queen, that there are two ways for you to leave Dongtu: the first is to withdraw with dignity on your own; the second is that I, Yan Wang, will lead my army and personally drive you out!" Zhao Xu said coldly.

Owen's face turned pale; at this moment, he was intimidated by the aura of Yan Wang.

Zhou Yi said at this time: "When two countries are at war, one does not behead the envoy; you may disembark now."

Owen came to his senses and walked off the Warship in a daze.

Returning to his own Merchant Ship, he headed straight back.

There was no point in going to Yanzhou again.

Watching Owen's ship depart, Zhou Yi said: "His Highness really does not give Britain any face at all, but it is truly satisfying; in Dongtu, we are not afraid of them."

Zhao Xu gazed at the shimmering light on the sea surface and said slowly: "Our conflict with the Western Lands is irreconcilable. We want the sphere of influence of the entire Dongtu, and even a more vast sphere of influence, but these are all in the hands of the Xitu Guo. Will they hand them over willingly?"

After a pause, he continued: "Even if they have a temporary compromise, it is only to accumulate strength and think of other ways to destroy us."

He actually weighed it: is there any benefit to establishing diplomatic relations with Britain?

The only benefit Britain could provide is to allow trade between the two countries.

But even if Britain agrees in words, will they really take action?

Based on contemporary experience, I fear Britain would just keep dragging out the trade agreement.

Once they have accumulated strength, they will immediately tear up the treaty.

In contemporary history, they have done such things many times.

Wasn't a certain great power with the surname Su fooled into a limp back then?

And in the end, not a single thing they promised was realized.

Therefore, he has thought it through thoroughly.

Abandon illusions, prepare for battle.

Dear, this chapter is finished, I wish you a happy reading! ^0^