The Great Seminary

Chapter 263 Two-Faced (Part 2)

Lü Zhenduan was born in the Imperial Academy of the Ming-Song Empire, which was the most prestigious official academy in Dongsheng Prefecture.

Known as a "disciple of the emperor," he was truly an outstanding figure, one in a million among scholars.

So even when he was down on his luck, he would risk his future, voluntarily leave the capital with Prince Zhen, and scheme and plot to climb the social ladder.

After suffering a severe setback, they quickly gave up and became complacent, abandoning all efforts and letting things drift, appearing extremely decadent.

But in reality, it can also be described as an action that demonstrates a deep understanding of the art of 'advancement and retreat'.

They dare to make a big bet at a crucial juncture in their lives.

They can also learn from repeated setbacks that they cannot allow their sunk costs to become unbearable, and thus choose to withdraw gracefully.

He is a man of both strategic acumen and wisdom!
Therefore, when Lü Zhenduan took the second big gamble of his life and accepted Zhang Gui's mission to integrate the "Nine Cities of Heavenly Craftsmanship" in the Inner East Sea, he did not simply follow his instructions.

Take the fleet to "Tiangong Jiucheng" for a spin.

Seeing that Prince Zhen's temporary capital was completely bogged down in the war on Xianrong Island, lacking both food supplies and external reinforcements,

Is there an opportunity to take advantage of this?

They turned the imperial edict issued by the Ming and Song dynasties, which was supposed to be "the Dragon and Tiger Secretariat to eat at the nine cities of the Eastern Inner Sea, a masterpiece of nature," into reality.

He also held the title of "Please Acting as the Crown Prince of the Ishishi Domain and the Shogun of the Ryūkō Shogunate in Charge of Maritime Affairs".

In search of forces that can be utilized,

Regardless of good or evil, as long as someone has a bit of reputation or power, they'll try to curry favor with them.

For those who are like the 'One Piece' type, he promised that as long as they are willing to cheer and participate when the Dragon Tiger Shogunate takes over the 'Nine Cities of Heavenly Craftsmanship'.

After the opening of the Tiangong Island City Wharf, it will be leased to them for 99 years at a price of 99 copper coins.

It also comes with a genuine identity, recognized by the Ming and Song empires, that of a "Fifth-Rank Coastal Patrol Officer of a Certain City" belonging to the ranks of barbarian officials.

Provide an opportunity to 'clean up'.

As for the 'armed merchant at sea' type, it is said that the cavalry of Yuanshan Kingdom is about to trample the southern kingdom.

These barbarian tribes practiced a 'tax farming system'.

The good old days when everyone could easily swindle taxes by simply bribing their connections are about to end.

When the time comes, we'll be at their mercy, like fish on a chopping board. What will you do then?

Or do you think that you would associate with those barbarians who grew up riding bareback horses, drinking raw sheep's milk, and shooting field mice, and listen to your talk about "economic principles"?

Therefore, "He who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present."
The wise choice now is for everyone to place their bets on cooperating sincerely with the Stone Corpse Barbarian Kingdom and the Dragon Tiger Shogunate to subdue the 'Nine Cities of Heavenly Crafts' and manage them together.

It should be noted that the general of the Dragon Tiger Shogunate was the future vassal king recognized by the Ming and Song empires through imperial decree.

Although the Stone Corpse Kingdom is not large in territory now, it has been established for thousands of years, much longer than the Ming and Song dynasties.

Even in the official history, the "Records of the Wilderness Tribes and Kingdoms of Dongsheng Continent," there is a mention of it.

If the Yuanshan people attack, as long as he is willing to surrender, according to Changsheng Tiemu's magnanimous habit, he will surely still be appointed as the lord of the foreign land.

The occupied 'Nine Cities of Heavenly Crafts' will naturally become part of the territory of the Stone Corpse Kingdom.

In that case, it would only require passing through one intermediary, and there would be a basis for discussing both taxes and trade.

As a result, with these rhetoric, Lü Zhenduan actually managed to win over some so-called allies who were half-true and half-false, casting a wide net wherever possible.

After continuing their 'scamming and deception', they encountered the True Dragon Kingdom on Giant Serpent Head Island, which had just inexplicably 'risen' to power.

As if divinely inspired, they became the true dragon's first ally in the Eastern Continent...

Standing on the deck, I gazed at the vast, boundless, rippling blue sea.

The founding emperor of the True Dragon Kingdom at sea listened as his land-based subordinates gleefully boasted about the military cooperation they had secured from the True Dragon Kingdom.

A look of surprise appeared on his face.

"Now we're really seeing some progress in securing 'Nine Cities of Heavenly Craftsmanship'."

I remember there used to be a rumor that 'New World Haicheng' was a power base that the Zhang family of Pingyang secretly built at sea.

I, or Zhang Jiuqing, am the instigator. I really don't know where to begin.

Later, many people, including you, guessed that the remnants of King Zhen's "Xingzai" left on Giant Snake Head Island were the people behind the "New World".

But little did anyone expect that this was just the tip of the iceberg, and that it also involved a small indigenous country hidden in the jungles of an offshore island.

"Yes," Lü Zhenduan nodded with a sigh.

"As the saying goes, 'three men can make a tiger,' let alone between the mainland and islands thousands of miles apart, where countless people have passed on their stories through word of mouth and imagination."

"Yes, but no matter what the origin of the True Dragon Kingdom is, it always appears in a mysterious way."

It's not advisable to believe everything you hear.

Zhang Gui deliberately pondered as he spoke.

“Young Master, when I pushed our Dragon Tiger Shogunate to form an alliance with the True Dragon Kingdom, I knew it was somewhat like ‘seeking help from a tiger.’”

These island nations, rising and falling in the open ocean, are mostly "knowing minor etiquette but lacking in righteousness, fearing power but not cherishing virtue."

Legend has it that many of the sea kingdom's wild kings even ate enemy soldiers alive and gouged out their eyes...

"Alright, alright, they are still our allies after all, just be careful."

It can't be described as that terrifying.

And Lao Lü, why are you still going in circles in front of me? Just say what you want to say.

We're all in the same boat now, so feel free to speak your mind.

"Then I will speak, and I beg Longhu to forgive my innocence."

Lu Zhenduan remained silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and said in a faint voice:
"Our only way out now is to be the first to submit to Changsheng Tiemu when the Yuanshan army conquers the southern border."

In this way, even if it's just for the sake of "spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones," the immortal ironwood would...

"You've said this countless times in the last few months."

Why make it sound so solemn?

Zhang Gui deliberately smiled and said,

"Back then it was just rhetoric, but now it's sincere advice. How can they be the same?"

Longhu, no matter who we've promised or how many benefits we've made, as long as we become a vassal state of the Yuanshan Empire, we can handle things with ease.

Especially the True Dragon Kingdom, which was key to capturing the 'Nine Cities of Heavenly Craftsmanship'.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gui opened his mouth with a strange expression.
"Didn't you send a message saying you were going to the northern frontier to see what the 'wind direction' was like?"

In the end, it all comes down to circling around the 'True Dragon Kingdom'.

"This barbarian country is different from others; it can train its own powerful army, the 'Golden Stone Soldiers'."

There are rumors that this army once fought against the Hualong cavalry in the wild and won a great victory.

Although no one would take such absurd words seriously, there's no smoke without fire.

The combat power of those Jinshi soldiers is undoubtedly extraordinary.

This is our most powerful trump card right now, bar none.

How could I not care?

As for the northern frontier, the situation is already settled.

Changsheng Tiemu, on the contrary, was not in a hurry to carry out the act of swallowing the beast whole.

They simply waited for the 'fruit' to ripen and fall naturally into their arms.

In this way, when the "three officials and four people" system was implemented, the people of the Northern Kingdom of the Ming Dynasty would be much more obedient.

I wonder how much effort in "civil administration" this will save.

(End of this chapter)