In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

After Fu Junzhuo and Fu Junqiang left, the Baekje nobles in the hall looked at Gai Nie and the others with even greater fear.

The interpreter had just translated everyone's conversation.

The civil and military nobles in the hall all understood that even the most prestigious Goryeo swordsmanship lineage was evenly matched with these individuals, and perhaps even slightly inferior.

After all, Gai Nie is equivalent to Fu Cailin, but Fu Cailin only has three female disciples, while here there are six top swordsmen.

Adding to the Zhang family, whom Fu Junzhuo and Gai Nie Kouzhong feared most, one can imagine the strength of the empire's forces this time. They simply couldn't resist and could only submit.

"Your Majesty, we will proceed to Silla first and meet you at the port in two days!"

"May the messenger have a safe journey!"

If he hadn't been soaked to the bone, the King of Baekje would have at least offered him a hand when facing such a powerful opponent.

However, Gai Nie and the others quickly left the royal city.

After all, how could they not smell that strong odor? They just didn't want to expose it.

By evening, Gai Nie and the Six Sword Slaves had arrived in Silla.

At this moment, a banquet had been prepared inside the Silla royal palace... royal courtyard.

Leading the group was the King of Silla, while on his right stood a short, imposing middle-aged man—a god-like figure in Goryeo.

Master Cailin of the Yijian Sect!

Behind him are his three disciples—Fu Junzhuo, Fu Junyu, and Fu Junqiang!

Opposite Fu Cailin, the seat reserved for the most honored guests from the Central Plains was empty, but the Silla nobles all understood that it was reserved for the envoys from the Central Plains Empire.

"Your Majesty, the imperial envoy has arrived!"

"Please!"

The King of Silla already knew the Empire's objective: to form an alliance to attack Japan.

Although they had Fu Cailin backing them up, that was the vast Nine Provinces Empire, an existence that could be easily crushed with a single finger.

Moreover, this time there are hundreds of large Fujian ships, 100,000 imperial armored soldiers, and even top swordsmen whom Fu Cailin would have to show deference to.

As Gai Nie and the Six Sword Slaves entered the main hall, the first thing everyone looked at was not King Silla, but Fu Cailin.

Compared to the murderous aura of the Six Sword Slaves, the gaze between Fu Cailin and Gai Nie was much more innocent.

Between the two, a surge of sword intent and two terrifying sword energies suddenly erupted.

The Silla nobles, Fu Junzhuo, and the Six Sword Slaves were all shocked as they watched the two silently confronting each other.

You should know that Fu Cailin is the god of war in the hearts of the Koreans!

Unexpectedly, a single envoy from the empire was able to stand up to Fu Cailin on equal footing.

"Hahaha···"

Suddenly, the sword energy and sword intent vanished, and Fu Cailin couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Although the two look about the same age, Gai Nie is actually only about the same age as Fu Junzhuo, while Fu Cailin is at most over seventy years old due to her good maintenance.

But the competition just now resulted in a draw.

Putting aside his youth and vigor, Fu Cailin was still self-aware enough to be considered shrewd enough.

The Art of Swordplay can be considered any external sword technique in the world, but how can it be used to outmaneuver the strategists?

It can only be said that he thinks too much.

"As expected of the two heroes of Guigu Valley."

It's a pity only one came today; otherwise, having heard the Way in the morning, I could die content in the evening!

The Two Masters of Guiguzi? One of them?

Upon hearing this, the King of Silla immediately looked at Gai Nie. Undoubtedly, the Empire had more than one, at least two, Central Plains masters who could rival Fu Cailin.

Moreover, the King of Silla was wary of the Jang family.

Because Silla and the Jang family had a close "human resources" cooperation, at least dozens of Silla maids were sent to the Jang family every year.

Moreover, from the Silla maids at the beginning to the Baekje and Goryeo, no beautiful thirteen-year-old girls of marriageable age escaped the clutches of human trafficking.

Bodhisattva barbarians and Silla maids were extremely popular not only in Kyushu.

Moreover, the prosperity of Kyushu is like Hong Kong in the 1980s and 90s to these people, and it is also a fatal attraction for those young girls.

Many young women of marriageable age personally approached them, wanting to try their luck at the Zhang family's business.

After all, compared to the rest of China, Goguryeo was a completely harsh and cold land.

Chapter 652 Gai Nie's Strategic Maneuvering

"Does the envoy mean that once Japan is conquered, Silla and Baekje can divide the Shikoku Islands?"

Shikoku Island is the smallest of the four islands of Japan. Even Fu Cailin's expression changed slightly. He knew that the King of Silla had already been tempted, and the King of Baekje was no exception.

Even the smallest island, Shikoku, is comparable in size to Silla or Baekje.

These conditions are undeniably harsh.

"That's right, the Empire's army is still mainly attacking the Japanese mainland."

Of the other three islands, Fusang and Shikoku are two small islands. Fusang Island can serve as a base, while Xiguo Island is too small for the Empire to consider.

The main reason is that the empire is expanding eastward, and its military strength is limited. If the forces are divided, they may be defeated one by one by the Japanese.

Therefore, Shikoku Island is mainly inhabited by Silla and Baekje, since you have fought against them for many years and are familiar with them.

"Rest assured, Your Excellency!"

The King of Silla was overjoyed, never expecting such a benefit.

As for Fu Cailin's saying "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold," it is utterly insignificant in the face of such tangible interests.

Looking at the elated Silla nobles, Fu Cailin felt a pang of desolation in his heart.

He knew that all his previous efforts had long been forgotten in the face of profit.

Leaving aside Silla and Baekje, even Goguryeo, if not for its geographical disadvantage, might have directly intervened.

"The Empire has brilliant methods!"

The two heroes of Guigu, their strategies of diplomacy and strategy.

This strategy is exactly in line with Guiguzi's strategy of forming alliances and counter-alliances.

If Gai Nie knew what Fu Cailin was thinking, he would definitely cry foul, after all, he was just a swordsman, not a hero.

Moreover, the insidious aspect of this scheme lies in the hidden measures prepared behind the scenes.

With Silla and Baekje's military forces depleted, the force of thirty large Japanese ships on each side, totaling at least 30,000 troops, could easily conquer the two small kingdoms and then deter Goguryeo.

If this treacherous plan falls into his hands, Gai Nie's reputation will undoubtedly be ruined.

Unfortunately, Gai Nie was an envoy, and with his efforts to persuade Baekje and Silla, almost everyone except those who knew the inside story would pin the blame on him for this treacherous plot.

After all, Gai Nie is a disciple of Guiguzi!

On the third day, at the border between the coasts of Silla and Baekje.

With the imminent arrival of the imperial fleet, the two countries combined have 500 warships carrying tens of thousands of soldiers, all of whom are the elite troops of Silla and Baekje.

As for warships?

In Gai Nie and the others' eyes, there were only a few merchant ships that were ten zhang long, while the rest were fishing boats that were only four or five zhang long.

On one side, Gai Nie accompanied the two kings, Fu Cailin, and others to watch the sea and wait for the imperial fleet to appear.

"We've arrived!"

An hour later, Cui Wenhao spotted the Imperial fleet through his telescope.

"Master Fu, Your Majesties, the Imperial Fleet has arrived. I will go down to give the signal. Please look!"

He handed the telescope to Fu Cailin and then went to the highest cliff on the coast, where he took out the Cloud Piercing Arrow, which was specially used for communication.

As a plume of white smoke rose into the sky, followed by a thunderous roar, the Imperial Fleet received Cui Wenhao's message.

“Hiss, hiss, hiss…”

Whether it was Fu Cailin or the kings of Baekje and Silla, they couldn't help but gasp as they looked at the enormous fleet on the sea, row upon row of ships, resembling a thousand sails racing.

Judging from their size, they could tell that those were large Fujian ships, as big as fortresses on the high seas, and each time they traveled to and from Silla, they were merchant ships belonging to the Zhang family and the Jiangnan gentry.

As for Silla? They simply didn't have that technology.

At most, it's just a ten-foot-long ship, merely following behind others on trade routes.

"set off!"

At a command, hundreds of warships from both countries set sail in the same direction.

This enormous number looks imposing and exudes high morale.

But when they actually arrived near the Imperial Fleet, not only the soldiers of both countries, but also Fu Cailin and the kings of Baekje and Silla looked embarrassed.

The Fujian ship, as large as a fortified city, is not just a few words on paper, but is truly enormous.

Several large ships, each ten feet long, which served as the main vessels, looked up at the giant Fujian ship as if they were ducklings next to a mother duck.

Not to mention those ordinary small boats that are only three or four meters long, which are as insignificant as ants.

Such a huge gap means that, even if they didn't engage in direct combat, the large Fujian ships could simply sail forward and capsize them without any direct confrontation.

Moreover, the empire was able to assemble over a hundred of these large Fujian ships.

It resembles a long dragon on the sea, a truly magnificent sight.

What shocked them most was the Imperial flagship, which appeared to be twice the size of the Great Fuchuan.

Its enormous size, resembling a small mountain, clearly demonstrates the empire's ambition to conquer Japan.

However, Fu Cailin knew that these were all part of the Zhang family's resources.

After all, large Fujian ships were fine in the East China Sea, and many gentry families in Jiangnan had developed maritime trade. Only large Fujian ships could withstand the pressure.

"I am Park Guk-chang of Silla, and this is General Yi Ho of Baekje. We have come to meet you!"

"I am Meng Tian, ​​the commander of the Imperial Fleet. Please, both generals, board the ship!"

At this moment, Meng Tian looked down at the two generals below, nodded, and ordered the ladder to be lowered.

Once aboard, Park Guk-chang and Lee Ho looked at the deck, which resembled a plaza, and couldn't help but show expressions of shock.

The Golden Fire Cavalry were already fully prepared, their heavy armor and sharp spears exuding an aura of iron and blood that seemed to overwhelm them like mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The two generals, who were only at the first-rate level, trembled in fear.

Is this the imperial armor?

Moreover, from the high vantage point of the giant ship, one could see that all the large Fu ships were fully armored and poised to attack.

At this speed, the large Japanese ship could reach the nearest island in Japan (Li Le Zhao) in one hour.

Fusang Island!

Given the terrifying nature of the imperial armor, the Japanese army could never fight them on land; only in battles at sea could they leverage their geographical advantage.

This is also why Zhang Xiaoshan asked Gai Nie to persuade Baekje and Silla.

Silla and Baekje frequently fought against Japan, possessing rich combat experience and a deep understanding of each other.

With Silla and Baekje in front, they can distract each other's small boats or water ghost patrols.

With the giant ships behind, wave after wave of artillery fire could inflict heavy losses on the enemy.

This is also part of the formation arrangement for this operation.

"The Nine Provinces, the land of supreme power, truly lives up to its reputation!"

At this moment, both generals were completely convinced.

After all, these imperial warriors, regardless of their strength, only had an advantage in weaponry. In a head-on confrontation, the three small countries, lacking even complete armor and iron weapons, had a completely overwhelming advantage.

Chapter 653 The Beginning of the Decisive Battle: Firepower Suppression