Catching Monsters

Chapter 455 All I'm missing now is a ship
Xiao Jingfu was very busy, especially after Xiao Yuzheng announced that he had become the Crown Prince. The next morning, Zhang Yuhu personally delivered a golden plaque to his Prince's Residence.

Originally, Xiao Jingfu was not planning to accept it, since it was somewhat inappropriate to have someone else make and deliver the plaque for the Crown Prince's residence.

However, the three large characters "Crown Prince's Residence" on the plaque were made of pure gold...

Xiao Jingfu had no choice but to accept the gift so as not to disappoint Zhang Yuhu.

Furthermore, the military commands of the five cities and the provincial governors also quickly sent people to deliver generous gifts.

In the past two days, the gifts he received alone amounted to a considerable sum. Of course, Xiao Jingfu didn't care about money, nor was he interested in it.

At least after he learned that he had become the crown prince, he seemed to lose interest in money.

What bothered him most was that two days had passed, and not a single one of the six ministers or the great scholars of the academy in the capital had personally come to visit him at the Crown Prince's residence.

This attitude greatly displeased Xiao Jingfu.

Furthermore, the same applies to Li Wangxin of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion in the army.

Of course, although the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion did not send any important people directly, Tao Yuelan sent Uncle Wu with a gift and claimed that the Duke of Zhenguo was still busy with the war at the front.

Currently, only the female members of the Duke's family are inside the mansion, making it inconvenient to visit them.

To this, Xiao Jingfu could only smile and reply that his heartfelt sentiments were appreciated.

At this moment, he was sitting or standing in his study, looking at the many memorials on the table.

After all, he is now the Crown Prince and regent, and many things require his decision.

However, although Xiao Yuzheng is currently in poor health, he is not yet suitable to work in the Imperial Study.

At this moment, a eunuch who had served him for many years respectfully said, "Your Highness, most of these memorials concern the livelihood of the people in the north."

This eunuch was named Huang Pingfeng, and was around forty years old. He was one of the people selected to serve Xiao Jingfu.

Now that Xiao Jingfu has become the crown prince, Huang Pingfeng's status will naturally rise as well.

After flipping through the documents, Xiao Jingfu quickly frowned and asked, "What about the memorials concerning the southwest?"

"Eunuch Feng has already reviewed and screened them all, including some memorials concerning military and political affairs in the southwest," Huang Pingfeng said. "This servant also asked Eunuch Feng for them, but Eunuch Feng claimed that His Highness the Crown Prince is not yet familiar with military and political matters, and it is best not to make hasty decisions."

"It would be best if he took charge of this matter for the time being."

Xiao Jingfu frowned and said in a deep voice, "Go and inform Eunuch Feng that all memorials from now on should be sent to me..."

Hearing this, Huang Pingfeng felt a little scared. After all, Feng Yu had been in charge of palace affairs for many years and had a great influence in the entire capital.

How could he dare to actually go and say such a thing to Feng Yu...

"Then tomorrow, have Feng Yu come to me in person, and I'll tell him," Xiao Jingfu said calmly. "Also, what has Jiang Yun been up to lately?"

Upon hearing Jiang Yun's name, Huang Pingfeng perked up and said in a deep voice, "Jiang Yun has left the capital."

"Left the capital?" Xiao Jingfu's eyes showed a hint of surprise, then he asked, "Where did you go?"

"He also took two hundred Imperial Guards with him, and I heard that Princess Ningyi also left with him."

Interest gleamed in Xiao Jingfu's eyes. He stroked his chin and asked in a deep voice, "Which direction did they go?"

"South, but I don't know exactly where."

Xiao Jingfu slowly said, "Send some people to the south to investigate."

As he spoke, he flipped through the memorials, and his gaze quickly fell on one of them: "Is this a memorial from the Five Cities Military Command?"

“Yes, yes, yes.” Huang Pingfeng nodded repeatedly and said, “The deputy commander of the Five Cities Garrison, Liu, is about to retire and has recommended a man named Qian Buchou to serve as the commander of the Five Cities Garrison.”

"Money is no object?" Xiao Jingfu frowned slightly and asked, "Who is this person?"

"This servant is not sure either, I will go and check right away."

……

Jiang Yun, Linglong, and Qi Da, along with Wen Chen and two hundred Imperial Guards, rode at full speed towards Haiyan City.

The people on the road dared not linger; when they were tired, they slept on horseback without stopping.

They didn't care. Originally, Zidane was worried that Princess Ningyi might not be able to endure the hardship if she came along.

To his surprise, Princess Ningyi seemed to be in better spirits than they were.

"Drive! Drive!"

Linglong was dressed in a light red outfit, holding a horsewhip and whipping it repeatedly, her face showing anxiety.

Most of the Imperial Guards were unaware of the true purpose of this trip, but she knew very well that it was to find an elixir to prolong her father's life.

Linglong wasn't particularly interested in the power struggles at court.

But perhaps because she was abandoned by Xiao Yuzheng when she was young and lacked family affection, she now values ​​family affection very much.

Having endured so much hardship outside for so many years, he finally returned to the capital, but before he could spend much time with his father, his father was about to die.

Regardless, Linglong had to try her best to find the elixir for her father.

Four and a half days after leaving the capital, the group returned to Haiyan City, weary from their journey.

The city of Haiyan has now been retaken by the Zhenchi Army, but the closer one gets to the city gate, the stronger the lingering smell of blood becomes.

The already dilapidated city walls have become crumbling, with broken arrows stuck in the ground and sections of the walls smashed by construction vehicles.

The group approached in a grand procession, with soldiers of the Zhenchi Army guarding the city walls.

As they approached the city gate, a commander of the Zhenchi Army saw them and quickly signaled to the soldiers on the city wall to wave a signal flag and inquire about the origins of Jiang Yun and his party.

Haiyan City had only recently been captured, so they had to be wary of a counterattack by the rebels.

Although Jiang Yun and his group were all dressed in the uniforms of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, this place is considered the front line, and it is wartime, so their identities will inevitably be checked.

Jiang Yun raised his hand, signaling the others to stop, and stepped forward alone, shouting loudly to the commander of a thousand households on the city wall: "I am Jiang Yun, the Eastern Garrison Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and I have been ordered to come to Haiyan City on official business."

Upon hearing this, Tao Yao, the commander of a thousand households atop the city gate, looked at it carefully.

Tao Yao was a veteran in Zhenchi Army. He had seen Jiang Yun once from afar in Mushan City.

After confirming that it was Jiang Yun, and knowing the relationship between Jiang Yun and his own Duke, he smiled and ordered his men to open the city gates. He then said, "Lord Jiang, please don't be offended. After we take Haiyan City, most of our Zhenchi Army will continue to attack southwards."

"He only allowed me to lead a thousand men to guard Haiyan City."

"We just have to be careful."

As he spoke, Tao Yao quickly descended the city gate and welcomed Jiang Yun and the Imperial Guards into the city.

After entering the city, Jiang Yun didn't mind at all. Instead, he clasped his hands in greeting to Commander Tao Yao and asked, "How should I address this gentleman?"

Tao Yao quickly shook his head: "Just call me Commander Tao, not 'Sir'." Jiang Yun asked: "I need to take my men out to sea, and I would like to trouble Commander Tao to help me find a few large ships."

"Go to sea?"

Tao Yao was taken aback. After all, he was a northerner and had limited knowledge of the sea. Although he had been guarding Haiyan City for some time, he had seen some monsters come to do business.

They also knew that across the sea lay the legendary land of the demon kingdom.

But he couldn't help but wonder what Lord Jiang wanted a boat to go out to sea for.
Of course, this requirement is not simple. Although there are quite a few boats in Haiyan City, most of them are small boats that can only accommodate a few people, or at most a dozen people, to leave the port.

It was merely a tool used by ordinary people in the city or nearby areas to go out to sea for fishing.

In other words, it is almost impossible for small fishing boats that fish along the coastline to go out to sea.

Soon, Tao Yao found a quiet inn for Jiang Yun and the others to stay in, and then ordered his men to find a large ship.

During this time, Jiang Yun also called Linglong, Qi Da, and Wen Chen to his room.

He then told Qi Da and Wen Chen the main purpose of the operation.

When Zidane heard that they were going to sea to find the elixir of immortality, he was dumbfounded.

He couldn't help but ask, "My lord, is it really possible to find these overseas immortal mountains?"

"That's, after all, the abode of immortals..."

"His Majesty gave the order, we must find him no matter what." Jiang Yun said, then glanced at Wen Chen and said, "Wen Chen, you stay in Haiyan City and wait for our news."

"If we can't find a large ship, we'll take a dozen or so people and go out to sea in small boats."

“Master, I’ll go with you,” Wen Chen said with a certain determination.

Linglong recalled the location of the fairy mountain they had seen, but then shook her head, saying that they were in the middle of the sea and had no idea of ​​its exact location.

Moreover, it is said that this fairy mountain floats in the sky and has no fixed abode.

Finding it will be quite difficult.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Tao Yao pushed the door open and walked in, saying in a deep voice, "Lord Jiang, I have some good news and some bad news..."

"Why do you, a northerner, speak so slowly?" Jiang Yun smiled upon hearing this and said, "Bad news, perhaps."

“There are no large ships in Haiyan City,” Tao Yao shook his head and said, “The largest one is just a small boat that can hold fifteen or sixteen people.”

"But according to fishermen who frequently go out to sea, such boats are simply not able to go out to sea; they will be capsized if they encounter large waves."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun was not in a hurry, but instead asked, "What's the good news?"

"A large ship has arrived from the Demon Kingdom..." Tao Yao paused for a moment before saying, "If Lord Jiang wants it, we can make our move tonight, kill all the monsters on the ship, and take it."

This is the mindset of people in the military: if you want something, you just have to take it...

Are we supposed to negotiate with monsters?

Jiang Yun shook his head and said, "These merchant ships were sent by the four major demon clans of the Demon Kingdom. If we forcibly seize them, it will provoke retaliation from the Demon Kingdom."

"It would also break the rules that Haiyan City has followed for many years in doing business with the Demon Kingdom."

What would happen if the Demon Kingdom found out that Haiyan City had seized the merchant ships?
It's obvious that since Haiyan City doesn't want to do business with their demon kingdom, the demon kingdom will naturally come to steal it.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Yun said, "Linglong, let's go to that merchant ship first and see which family has come, and see if we can have a talk."

"kindness."

These merchant ships from the demon kingdom travel the seas year-round; perhaps we can inquire about that immortal island from them.

After all, without any clues, even sailing on the ocean, it's impossible to find a fairy island.

The difficulty is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

Soon, Jiang Yun and Linglong, accompanied by Tao Yao, headed to the city's dock.

At this moment, a huge merchant ship was docked at the shore, and a squad of Zhenchi soldiers stood on the shore, watching the monsters that were getting off the ship warily.

Although it is common for monsters to roam and trade in Haiyan City, it is already a common occurrence for the locals.

But these soldiers, after all, came from the north, and they had a deep fear of monsters.

Jiang Yun saw a demon in human form guarding the steps leading to the ship. He stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Excuse me, which demon clan does this merchant ship belong to?"

"Who are you?" The monster stared at Jiang Yun warily for a moment, then said, "We are a merchant ship of the fox clan."

"Fox Clan..." Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun was surprised to find a figure on the deck who had already spotted him.

Hu Yi.

"Hahahahahaha."

"Brother, what a coincidence!" Hu Yi shouted on the deck after seeing Jiang Yun. "Before I came to Zhou Kingdom on this merchant ship, I was wondering if I would run into you."

As he spoke, Hu Yi stepped off the deck and gave Jiang Yun a bear hug, so tight that Jiang Yun could hardly breathe.

The demon guarding the place asked respectfully, "Lord Hu Yi, do you two know each other?"

"Nonsense." Hu Yi glared at the monster.

Jiang Yun was somewhat surprised: "Brother Hu, what's this? Why are you traveling with a merchant ship...?"

"Don't even mention it." Hu Yi said with some dissatisfaction, cursing, "Back in Dragon Crystal City, I also shed blood and got injured for our fox clan, right?"

"I was so brave that day."

"After returning to the clan, I was scolded by the clan chief for wasting time and almost delaying important matters..."

Jiang Yun knew that Hu Yi was referring to the time when he saw her and insisted on treating her to drinks, and that he only rushed over after the fight broke out.

"Tell me, am I wronged or not? The clan chief even said that I missed a crucial opportunity in the battle."

"Later, the clan chief asked Hu Meier and me to make amends and assigned us another task..."

Jiang Yun asked, "Did you mess it up again?"

Hu Yi asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

Jiang Yun couldn't help but think to himself, "With your personality and your brain, what kind of mission can you possibly accomplish?"

"That's why I say you're so smart, Brother Jiang." Hu Yi smiled awkwardly: "The clan chief said I'm a piece of mud that can't be plastered on a wall, so he asked me to help watch over the merchant ships and protect their safety along the way."

Hearing this, Jiang Yun slowly looked toward the merchant ship: "Brother Hu, there's something I'm not sure if I should ask."

"All I need now is a ship..."

(End of this chapter)