Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 240 The Approaching Crisis, The Emperor's Secret!

Pinghu Port, Imperial Palace, Litang Palace.

The finest incense, Sanzhen Jiuhe, rises in the incense burner, its pure white smoke transforming into cranes, jade herbs, and immortals playing the zither. A gentle sniff of this incense is enough to sharpen one's mind and spark inspiration.

After taking a bath, Wang Cheng, wearing only a white silk robe, leaned against the Luohan bed and casually transformed a set of writing implements into four little monsters.

Using his talent for naming, he named them and bestowed upon them official titles: pen name: Zhongshu Jun; ink name: Songzi Hou; paper name: Chu Xiansheng; inkstone name: Jimo Hou.

They work together, writing with lightning speed, creating clouds and mist on the paper.

Conservatively speaking, with the help of the Three Truths and Nine Incense, I can write at least 100,000 words a day!

The content now emerging on paper is precisely the mature plan that Elizabeth I so desperately desired, the key points of the offshore balancer/continental equilibrium strategy:
"To implement an offshore balancing strategy, three conditions need to be met."

First, the massive body of water separates it from the target continent, and the restraining force of the water ensures the safety of the balancer.
Second, the implementing entity must be a powerful nation that can guarantee its own survival and be able to step in and set things right at critical moments.

Third, there are several countries of similar strength on the continent where the strategy is implemented, with sharp differences in interests.

This is no longer the "strategy of military tactics" from the Secret Manual of Military Strategy, but rather the "strategy of governing a country" from the Art of Dragon Slaying.

After it was written, it circulated only within the upper echelons of the East Sea Kingdom, so that at least those who carried it out could implement the spirit of the plan.

Wang Cheng also briefly discussed this topic in his book "The Influence of Sea Power" which has been translated into many languages ​​of the Western world, and one can indirectly draw inspiration from his inspiration and literary style.

Even if it doesn't spread widely, as long as it has a profound impact, it can become a military strategy with special effects, just like the Thirty-Six Stratagems.

"The key issue now is to cultivate suitable agents, provide them with weapons and armaments, and exchange them for gold, silver, people, and minerals."

I want to work hard and develop the northern nine provinces into an industrial powerhouse that can rival the entire island of Japan. This will require cheap laborers who will burn their lives to work for me and then contribute their incense money.

I provide the feudal lords with weapons, and they give me money and manpower, helping me transform my primitive capital accumulation into world-leading industrial capabilities, ultimately achieving a win-win situation.

When one side is about to win, they find a lame excuse like "you don't conform to universal values" and switch their support to the other side, continuously bleeding both sides dry.

Until the population dwindles and the overall strength weakens, then they will use their money, the elite troops they have raised, and the industrial system that overwhelms the times to swallow them whole.

A win-win situation means I win twice!

However, in order to maintain a glorious and righteous national image, it is not appropriate for the Donghai Kingdom to directly engage in dirty work in the form of a nation.

Wang Cheng has already begun to emulate the East Bharata Company, which has been established in many Western countries, and set up the "Four Seas Trading Company," and joined forces with Zheng Shiniang and Lin Daoqian to establish the "United Fruit Company."

Once the framework is in place, he plans to do business not only in Yingzhou but also in Southeast Asia.

The little monsters wrote page after page of their plans, recording all of Wang Cheng's key ideas.

At this time, the door was pushed open.

Wearing only a pure white silk nightgown and a silver nine-tailed fox bodice around her neck, Shen Yueye walked in gracefully, bringing with her a refreshing fragrance.

Her crescent-shaped, pale bare feet trod on the gleaming teak floor, the silver bells on her ankles jingling melodiously. She walked over to Wang Cheng and lazily reclined on the daybed, just like him.

She rested her head on her junior brother's lap and coaxed him to help her dry her wet, shiny black hair.

Wang Cheng let the little monsters continue writing on their own, then lovingly hugged his bright and lovely fox senior sister, gently inhaling the girl's rich and fragrant scent, feeling a sense of peace in his heart.

"Sister."

"Ok?"

Wang Cheng hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"Sister Axiao used her pearl-harvesting technique to extract Carlo's memories. She already knows why he left you the navigational beacon and why he worked so hard to help the Otomo family attack the East Sea Kingdom."

The girl trembled, instinctively sensing that the news that was about to arrive would likely change her life forever.

She subconsciously gripped Wang Cheng's hand tightly, as if she could draw strength from him in the process.

"It's because of the half of the crown held by the Byzantine Empire!"
Senior sister, actually your maternal lineage is quite impressive.

Rather than blindly encountering danger, it's better to face reality and prepare for adversity. Wang Cheng chose to tell his senior sister all the information he had obtained from Carlo.

As Shen Yueye listened, the expression on her stunningly beautiful face kept changing.

"Charles V (reigned 1516-1556), the former king of the West Frankish Empire who was of Habsburg descent, was also an emperor."

He inherited three major territories at the same time:

The Kingdom of West Francia (which included vast New World colonies, Naples, and Sicily) was founded by his maternal grandfather Ferdinand II and his grandmother Isabella I.

The Holy Roman Empire originated from his grandfather, Maximilian I.

And the Burgundian territory (including the Kingdom of the Netherlands, etc.), which came from his grandmother Mary.

It truly lives up to the saying: "Some are born in Rome, some are born to be beasts of burden." Charles V was such a chosen one, born with multiple thrones.

At that time, he was Charles I, King of the West Frankish Empire, and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor—holding both titles, and second only to the Pope in prestige. Shen Yueye, nestled in Wang Cheng's arms, pricked up her little ears and, unsurprisingly, heard the word "but":
"However, things changed after 1556, which is five years ago."

When Charles V abdicated, he divided his territory, and his brother Ferdinand I succeeded to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire.

His son, Philip II, inherited Westphalia and the world's colonies, including the Netherlands and other regions.

From then on, the supreme ruler of the Westphalia degenerated into a king (Rey) instead of an emperor (Emperador).

Despite possessing the world's strongest maritime power, the new king Philip II naturally dreamed of being crowned emperor.

It's important to understand that this is not just about a position of honor.

It is said that the unique [Crown] of the Western Continent is comparable to the unique [True Dragon Emperor - Lord of the State] of the East, and can easily elevate a mortal to the highest rank!
One of the keys to the crown is in the hands of your family.

Shen Yueye exclaimed in surprise:
"A crown? Me?"

Wang Cheng gently stroked his senior sister's smooth, jade-like back to soothe her agitated emotions before continuing:

That's just how it is.

Philip II briefly used the title "Emperor of the West and the East and West Bharatas," but it was quickly vetoed by the Pope.

The only imperial title in the Western Continent requires the Church's recognition, unlike the highly secular Divine Continent where the Lord of the State can establish himself.

The only legitimate source of the crown is the ancient Roman Empire, which is regarded as the only and highest secular title of the Holy Cross world in the Western Continent.

A thousand years ago, as the empire split in two, this crown was also split in two along with the Western and Eastern Roman Empires.

The Western Roman Empire inherited the throne and it fell into the hands of the Habsburgs.

The Eastern Roman Empire became the Byzantine Empire, and its last rulers were the Paleorog royal family, to which your mother's lineage belonged. Ultimately, it fell into the hands of that territorially greedy northern empire.

Shen Yueye suddenly realized what was going on when she heard this:

Philip II proclaimed himself the protector of the Holy Cross world in the western continent.

Having seen the state of the world, he sent a large number of missionaries to secretly gather intelligence in the Great Zhaoming, and naturally became aware of the existence of the "Lord of the State".

The desire for the throne of the emperor must be even more urgent than before.

Given the chance, he would probably seize every opportunity to put the split crown back on his head.

No matter how small my legal arguments and claims may be, it is worth Philip II taking the risk to try.

If he finds out where my mother and I are, he'll probably do everything he can to take us away.

Wang Cheng nodded:
“There is even worse news.”

Carlo's personal butler stayed in Macau to handle his affairs and was also aware of the news.

Previously, it was to claim all the credit for themselves; now, they've probably already sent the news back.

Besides Mori Motonari, who is right next door, we now have another formidable enemy far away.

Given the vast distance between the two sides, retaliation from the First British Empire, which the sun never sets, will inevitably follow within a few months to half a year.

Shen Yueye remained lost in thought for a long time, her body trembling slightly. Finally, she looked at Wang Cheng with a face full of reluctance and said:
"Or perhaps I should just go back to Da Zhao."

They dared to attack the Eastern Sea Kingdom and Yingzhou, but they would never dare to openly attack the Great Zhao, just as the royal family of the Northern Empire did not need to worry about their safety.

"If I stay in the Eastern Sea Kingdom, I'm afraid you'll face endless troubles."

Wang Cheng tossed out the plaques for Xiangji Temple and Xuanwu Gate, then forcefully wrapped his arms around his senior sister's slender waist, his gaze unrestrained:
"Nonsense! If they can wear this crown, why can't I, Wang Cheng, wear it?"

Besides, the Franks suffered such a great loss in the East China Sea. If they don't get their revenge, how can they deter the colonies in Southeast Asia? We will inevitably have a war sooner or later; it has little to do with you.”

Shen Yueye, being a lawless person, stopped worrying after hearing what Wang Cheng said.

Looking up at his domineering, arrogant, and seemingly incredibly reliable handsome face, her gaze was unfocused, and her voice was hoarse:

"In the end, strength is the key. If we work hard, we should be able to break through the six orifices soon."

When my senior sister was studying the *Golden Chamber Manual of Sexual Techniques*, there were many parts she didn't understand. Could you please enlighten her?

Wang Cheng laughed heartily:

"It is my wish, but I dare not ask!"

He swept Shen Yueye up in his arms and rushed into the bedroom like the wind.

Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind—this time, the body's senses will surely be opened!

(End of this chapter)