Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 919 Cutting the Long Whale in Liaodong and Haibei

Liu Huai agreed to Xin Qiji's offer to provide some support to Cheng Feng for two reasons. Firstly, it was a political promise made earlier, and if Liu Huai had any wisdom to spare, he would have to squeeze out some military funds to make it look like a favor.

Secondly, Liu Huai also knew that Xin Qiji had disregarded the potential political turmoil and specifically came to inquire about the deeper meaning of this matter.

Because granting fiefdoms and expanding overseas was Liu Huai's way of resolving internal conflicts, and Xin Qiji had even reserved a kingship for his son Xin Tieniu, he couldn't help but take it seriously.

It's simply impossible to expect the authorities to forcefully push forward such major policies after everything is in place.

Only by first granting a fiefdom to someone outside the Central Plains, and making them a de facto king or marquis, can one attract the swarms of others to follow suit.

The third and most important point is.

If we take a longer-term view...

It's impossible for the entire Japanese island nation to be entirely composed of outer domains; there must be some territories directly under the control of the central government. Where there are people, there will be interest groups. Regardless of which country is in power in the central government, it will not easily close itself off from the world.

As for minerals such as sulfur and silver, they can only be considered scraps.

Of course, Liu Huai only made a few strokes of the pen; whether he could establish himself in Japan, or even truly carve out a territory, depended on Cheng Feng's abilities.

However, given Liu Huai's limited historical knowledge, the possibility is still quite high.

Because Japan, along with Goryeo and Song, shares a common problem: valuing literature over military affairs.

However, Japan is a poor and remote country with many unruly people. In addition, being an island nation, piracy is rampant, requiring warriors to constantly lead armies into battle.

If military men are required to fight desperately but are not given political status, trouble is bound to break out sooner or later.

Now is the time for the warrior class to rise to prominence. When the time comes, Cheng Feng will use their influence to his advantage, rallying one faction against another. He won't have to worry about not being able to gather a number of followers.

After receiving the document from Liu Huai, Xin Qiji immediately took action.

He summoned the powerful clans of Shandong, including those in Xuzhou, clearly expressed the central government's opinion, and handed over a batch of discarded weapons and leather armor to them.

No matter how much you stir things up overseas, the central government will only be happy.

But if these weapons and armor were to flow back to the Central Plains, they would be subject to the extermination of their entire families.

Upon hearing this, the powerful figures of Shandong were greatly encouraged and eager to spread the good news to Jeju Island immediately.

Meanwhile, on Jeju Island, Zhao Baiying, who had come to deliver supplies, had already met with her former mentor, Cheng Feng.

Zhao Baiying was already tanned dark by the scorching sun at sea. After listening to Cheng Feng's words, he was both amused and exasperated: "Brother, if the Goryeo king and his ministers aren't fools, they'll find out you're lying to them sooner or later."

Cheng Feng, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, said nonchalantly, "Hey, Brother Zhao, this just shows you haven't experienced much in life."

If Zheng Zhongfu had seen through my tricks from the beginning, I might have had to find another way immediately.

"Now that I've taken over the port of Jeju Island, and I have a thousand men with me, what can he possibly do?"

"More importantly, Jeong Jung-bo believed me and was convinced that we would not cross the Yalu River again. He also took credit for this and reported it to the King of Goryeo, whereupon he received a reward."

Even if I told him myself now that I was lying, would he accept it? Absolutely not! Forget political enemies, even the King of Goryeo wouldn't let him off the hook!

Zheng Zhongfu can only help us cover for us!

Zhao Baiying gulped down a few mouthfuls of rice wine, shook her head and chuckled: "Brother Cheng is still more cunning than me. Back in Xuzhou, Brother Cheng had the nickname 'Boatman,' but now he's known as 'River Dragon.' Truly, life is unpredictable."

Cheng Feng sighed, still fanning herself with a palm leaf fan: "Aren't you the same? Before, you only thought about bringing glory to your family and upholding the name of your ancestors. Did you ever imagine that you would become the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy?"

Zhao Baiying chuckled again.

Cheng Feng continued, “To be honest, we were all ordinary people at first, but we never expected that chaos would come in less than two years. Not only could we not live a good life, but we also immediately reached the point where we would die if we didn’t fight.”

You've seen it before: the Jin invaders tried to breach the Su Causeway and flood Pengcheng.

"But ever since the day I raised the Han flag, I've understood this principle: in this world, it's either feasting in five tripods or being cooked in five tripods; for us nouveau riche, there's no third way."

Zhao Baiying paused the wine bowl at her lips, tilted her head and thought for a moment before asking again, "Is this the reason why you asked the Prince of Han for overseas favors that day, Boss Cheng?"

Cheng Feng nodded and then shook her head: "Back then, I was just doing nothing, but who would have thought that Shandong Shipping would become so uncontrollable?! People pushed people, things rushed, and that's how it got to this point."

Zhao Baiying nodded slightly and drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp: "The King of Han is a man of his word. Since he promised you that day, there is no reason for him to break his promise now."

Now that the attack on Japan is a foregone conclusion, is there anything our Liaodong troops need to do to assist us?

Cheng Feng remained silent for a long time, then looked somewhat apologetic: "Old Zhao, logically speaking, I should have taken all the troops to support Liaodong, but instead I'm dragging them along to realize my ambitions. Don't you hate me?"

Zhao Baiying was slightly taken aback, then burst out laughing: "Brother Cheng, why are you being so formal? If Liaodong were really in danger, would I not tell you?"

Besides, Liaodong is only so big; it can't accommodate so many troops. If you're so inclined, you can send more Japanese to Liaodong to help us farm the land.”

Cheng Feng nodded emphatically, put down his palm-leaf fan, and grabbed Zhao Baiying's hands: "Old Zhao, we've been brothers for many years, and I won't hide it from you, but I'm actually a little unsure about this campaign. If I die out there, I'll have to entrust my family to you." Zhao Baiying shook off Cheng Feng's hands, looking disgusted: "I'm facing the main force of the Jin invaders in Liaodong. Who knows who will die before whom?"

Cheng Feng also smiled.

Both men were officials traveling for work, and given the urgency of the military situation, Zhao Baiying set off with his fleet that very day.

A dozen days later, Zhao Baiying arrived at Jian'an City, the main base of the Han army in Liaodong.

As soon as Zhao Baiying stepped off the dock, she saw several officials in red robes being dragged onto a ship by Han soldiers. Despite their disheveled state, they still shouted loudly in broken Chinese, "The King of Han is untrustworthy and goes back on his word! He is truly a laughingstock!"

"Wait! Who are these people?"

"Reporting to General Zhao, these people are Goryeo bastards. They've been acting strangely lately, coming to see the Grand Marshal and saying that the King of Han has given his permission and won't let our army cross the Yalu River."

The Grand Coordinator demanded official documents from them, but these Goryeo bastards couldn't produce any. They just relied on empty talk to make our army helpless. What kind of logic is that?

Finally, even the military commander's personal guard couldn't help but get angry and kicked the Goryeo civil official hard.

Zhao Baiying opened his mouth, but was too lazy to pay attention to the few Goryeo thugs. He waved for his personal guards to take him away and strode towards the governor's mansion.

But after taking only two steps forward, Zhao Baiying had a sudden thought. She turned around, looked at the red-robed civil officials, and asked a military advisor beside her, "There's no news in the recent documents and official gazettes that Goryeo has submitted to the King of Han, is there?"

"Reporting to the general, no."

Zhao Baiying nodded, and a thought suddenly rose in her mind, which she couldn't suppress for a moment.

If Cheng Feng can cede territory in Japan and become a duke, why can't I, based on my merits, carve out a territory in Goryeo and become a vassal of the King of Han?

The more Zhao Baiying thought about it, the more amused she became, and a strange smile appeared on her face. She was only awakened by Zheng Fasan and He Zizheng when she entered the governor's mansion.

"Old Zhao, you're laughing so happily, did you bring a boatload of wives with you?"

"Go away, go away, that's all bullshit." Zhao Baiying came back to her senses and, as usual, cursed a few times: "Old Zheng, you're a military commander now, can't you have some manners? Why don't you learn from Prime Minister Lu and be a gentleman?"

Zheng Fasan picked his nose and said, "What's wrong with Master Lu now? You haven't seen what he's like in his daily life. He's rolling around in the mud with you bunch of roughnecks. What kind of demeanor could he possibly have?"

He Zizheng waved his hand: "Alright, alright! Now let's get down to business."

Zhao Baiying seized the opportunity: "Before we get down to business, there's something else. I know a little about what those Korean bastards were talking about."

Zhao Baiying succinctly recounted the trouble Cheng Feng had caused, and then, amidst the bewildered expressions of the two regional officials, said, "The Prince of Han is very likely to approve it. What should we do? Should we cooperate with Boss Cheng?"

He Zizheng rolled his eyes: "To hell with him! His future is promised by the King of Han himself, but isn't mine a matter of important military and national importance dispatched by the King of Han?"

He has a family to take care of, and my second brother is still pulling mooring lines at sea! Shouldn't I do something to earn a favor?!

Zheng Fasan nodded: "What He Sanlang said makes sense. This year alone, we have brought over three thousand households of farmers from Goryeo to settle down, and three hundred people are willing to join the army."

How can such benefits be so easily discarded?

"And right now we have enough supplies, but once a real war breaks out, the food consumption will be unpredictable. Won't we take advantage of Korea, that fat sheep?"

Zhao Baiying immediately nodded: "Then let's ignore these Korean hammers and just do what we need to do."

Zheng Fasan coughed a few times and cleared his throat: "Alright, let's get down to business."

According to intelligence reports from a few days ago, the more than 10,000 troops stationed in Liaoyang Prefecture have all headed south.

Currently, there are only a few garrison towns and a little over three thousand regular soldiers around Liaoyang, totaling thirteen thousand troops.

“The Jin invaders may launch a final attack in Hebei this winter.” Zheng Fasan paused, then smiled and said, “Of course, it is also possible that the King of Han wants to recover Hebei and Yanyun.”

Zhao Baiying's spirits lifted: "So, this is exactly our opportunity?"

Zheng Fa nodded three times, seemingly having already reached a consensus with He Zizheng: "Indeed, I have already written to the Prince of Han, requesting full authority."

Given the King of Han's trusting nature, he will surely agree.

He Zizheng and Zhao Baiying nodded at the same time.

They were isolated behind enemy lines on the Liaodong Peninsula. If they had to consult the central government on everything, they would inevitably fail to accomplish anything.

Therefore, once these three regional officials, representing the cavalry, the navy, and the government, reached a consensus, the matter was largely settled.

But a surge of passion suddenly rose in Zhao Baiying's heart.

If he could really take advantage of the Hebei war to capture Liaoyang Prefecture of the Eastern Jin and cut off the Jin Kingdom's place of origin, even if he wasn't the one with the greatest merit, wouldn't he at least be granted a title of marquis?
Thinking of this, Zhao Baiying felt that the Korean men who were dragged away all looked handsome.

(End of this chapter)