Chapter 1990: Coercion

"General, the Longyan Navy must have been lying in ambush nearby for a long time, right?"

Delu knew perfectly well that these ambushing Longyan Navy forces were targeting him, yet he was not in the least bit panicked, even appearing nonchalant.

Wu Kunpeng raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Delu, are you not afraid of death?"

Delu also smiled and said: "Naturally, I am afraid."

"But I have a reason why you cannot kill me," Delu said indifferently.

Wu Kunpeng spoke calmly, yet anyone could feel the murderous intent in his words: "You kidnapped our scientists and engineers; France should be considering how to face the coming wrath of Longyan."

"As for you, I can guarantee that after we conquer your troops, I will have you captured alive, to die in a prison or on the battlefield."

Wu Kunpeng stared at the expression on Delu's face, but he could not read a trace of fear from it.

This made Wu Kunpeng feel extremely strange; a Frenchman who knew he was surely going to die did not feel the slightest bit of fear.

Delu said indifferently: "General, before you make the decision to kill me, you might as well look at this."

Delu pointed to the black cloth under the table, signaling for Wu Kunpeng to check.

Wu Kunpeng curiously lifted the black cloth on the table, and upon seeing what was inside, his expression darkened; he looked at Delu.

He saw a smile blooming on the other man's face, looking as if he had him in his grasp.

"This is your bargaining chip?"

Delu nodded and said: "That's right, this is my bargaining chip."

"General, tell your men to be careful. As long as my hand on the gun moves slightly, he will be dead."

Wu Kunpeng's gaze locked onto Delu coldly, his face lacking its previous calm, and he said in a deep voice: "What do you want to trade him for?"

"My safety, and permanent shipping routes for Australia. I believe you will agree to my conditions, General; this chip can be exchanged for much more."

Wu Kunpeng nodded; in his heart, he agreed with Delu's words.

But he drew his Musket and, without hesitation, fired toward the underside of the table.

Bang, bang—two shots rang out. Delu's expression froze, and before he could react, he saw crimson blood seeping out from under the black cloth.

Delu stood up abruptly, scared into backing away repeatedly, and not paying attention, he fell to the ground with a thud, watching the seeping fresh blood flow toward him.

Faced with such a turn of events, the attendants Delu brought were stunned on the spot, and before they could react, they were controlled by the Longyan troops brought by Wu Kunpeng.

Delu felt icy cold all over, staring blankly at Wu Kunpeng, his voice, originally thin and weak, becoming sharp enough to pierce the ears: "You killed him!"

"How dare you kill him!"

"He is a member of your Longyan imperial family! The former Crown Prince, and also the Emperor of Australia!"

Wu Kunpeng's mouth split into a grin; his smile looked like a demon in Delu's eyes.

He laughed: "It seems you know quite a lot, so why aren't you clear about who is in charge of Longyan now?"

"Delu, your calculations were wrong. I am a general of Longyan. This time, Lord Liu only gave me one order: to slaughter your French troops, and never accept surrender!"

"And even less will I let someone like you go!"

"Do it!"

The Longyan troops brought by General Wu Kunpeng immediately took action, and soon they had subdued Delu and his attendants.

"No... no, no!"

"I couldn't have calculated wrong! You killed Xie Fang; Liu Zheng won't let you off either!"

Wu Kunpeng said indifferently: "That is not something you should be worrying about."

"Take them away!"

The Longyan troops dragged Delu away. After they left, Wu Kunpeng kicked the table, and Xie Fang inside let out a painful wail.

Wu Kunpeng lifted the black robe, looking at the blood still continuously flowing from Xie Fang's arm and shoulder.

It was fortunate that Xie Fang had been able to endure it just now, otherwise Wu Kunpeng's plan would have been exposed.

When Wu Kunpeng had lifted the black cloth just now, Xie Fang had already recognized him.

The two shots Wu Kunpeng fired just now had precisely hit non-vital parts of Xie Fang.

The Longyan troops released Xie Fang, and the accompanying Longyan doctor quickly bandaged him. Xie Fang yelled loudly: "Be gentle!"

Xie Fang glared at Wu Kunpeng and said angrily: "Were you trying to kill me just now!"

"I am still the brother of Longyang Princess; be careful that you are convicted by Liu Zheng when you return!"

Wu Kunpeng smiled faintly: "Xie Fang, you still only know how to hide behind women."

"Let me tell you, saving you was purely my own intention. The late Emperor treated me well, and I just didn't want to watch his descendant die in a foreign land."

"This time, the order Lord Liu Zheng gave me clearly told me that if I could not save you, I did not have to. Xie Chan also knows about this matter."

"They are very disappointed in you now."

Xie Fang suddenly felt that his arm and leg were not hurting as much. Indeed, it was only under his military leasing policy and free trade that Australia had developed into its current situation.

The aid and troops Liu Zheng had given him at the beginning were completely enough for him to turn Australia into a rich and powerful country.

But Xie Fang did not do so; instead, he squandered everything Liu Zheng had given him.

He sighed and remained silent throughout the journey.

At this time, Wu Kunpeng returned to the Warship of the Longyan troops; now that they had captured Delu.

This French troop general was now the best opportunity to attack the French troops.

He immediately gave the order to engage the French troops in a decisive battle at sea.

Far away on the Grassland of Australia, Li He, who was planning to fight the French troops to the death, was slightly stunned to see the French Fleet on his Australian island rushing toward the port.

Then, through his Telescope, he saw the wind, clouds, and waves churning on the sea.

The French Fleet and a fleet in the distance, whose owner he did not know, began to fight.

Under the attack of the opposing fleet, the French Fleet was simply unbearable, even the most famous Battleship in the French Fleet.

It also vanished into smoke and dust under the enemy's artillery fire. Li He took out the Telescope he carried with him and saw that these ships fighting the French Fleet had no masts, but they did have a Flag.

"It's the Longyan ships, it's our Battleship!"

Hearing Li He's excited voice, the Insurgent Army looked over collectively and saw that the wreckage of the French Fleet was now drifting everywhere on the sea.

They were even more uncontrollably excited.

"The Longyan reinforcements have arrived, Lord Liu Zheng has not abandoned us!"

"Brothers, kill, take the port and let our ships come ashore!"

Li He shouted loudly, and their troops charged toward the port in unison.

The French troops at the port had become very sparse; most of the French Soldier had gone to confront the Longyan army, and now was the time when their forces were empty, the best opportunity for them to attack.

The commander at the French Port was completely bewildered when facing the suddenly emerging Longyan army, having no idea where these people had popped out from.

They immediately organized their limited forces to resist the attack of Li He's troops.

Before Delu's negotiation, their troops had already prepared for battle, and the two sides had been in a state of confrontation.

But now that the Longyan fleet had suddenly launched an attack, the French Fleet could only meet them in battle, and the situation at sea could still be maintained.

But they had not expected that they would also encounter an attack at the port.