After the new year, time seemed to pass quickly.
It was already February when Xiao Ming returned from Dengzhou. Then he got busy with the steam engine workshop and the Jenny spinning machine. Before he knew it, it was already March.
Just as Xiao Ming was focusing all his energy on developing his territory, Wang Xuan brought some unpleasant news.
“Georyo is building ships on a large scale?” Xiao Ming carefully reviewed the intelligence Wang Xuan brought.
Now that Wang Xuan no longer needed Xiao Ming’s supervision, the Secret Guard had extended its reach wherever possible. Every day they handled large amounts of intelligence. After analysis, the valuable information was presented to Xiao Ming.
“Yes. Since Your Highness left Dengzhou, the King of Georyo ordered warships to be built. The barbarians even provided a large number of slaves to Georyo . Also, Beishan reportedly appeared in Besha City,” Wang Xuan reported.
“Beishan!” Xiao Ming narrowed his eyes. Since the battle in Jizhou, Beishan had disappeared for some time. Wang Xuan said that after defeat, Beishan had cut off three fingers and was demoted from Shengdu. Unexpectedly, now he had appeared in Georyo’s Besha City.
“Your Highness, I suspect this order may have come from Beishan himself,” Wang Xuan added.
“Why do you say that?” Xiao Ming asked.
Wang Xuan said seriously, “I received some subtle intelligence indicating that the barbarians are likely planning a full-scale southward attack on the Great Yu Empire. Beishan must want to coordinate with the barbarians’ southward forces and lead Korean soldiers to attack Dengzhou by sea, striking us from two sides.”
“What subtle intelligence?” Xiao Ming’s expression suddenly turned very serious.
Just as he had always felt uneasy, Great Yu’s northern neighbor had never abandoned the desire to swallow Great Yu.
“Since Your Highness was assassinated in Chang’an last time, I have been monitoring the Shanxi merchants, a group of profit-driven traders. I found that lately they have been buying large amounts of war materials—iron ore, coal, saltpeter—across Great Yu. These supplies are then sent through the Liang King’s territory to the grasslands to trade with the barbarians.”
“These Shanxi merchants have always been up to such dealings, so it’s not surprising,” Xiao Ming frowned.
Wang Xuan said, “Your Highness, but recently the amount of ore they purchase has suddenly increased more than tenfold. Also, some Shanxi merchants are mapping the terrain and military town distributions inside Great Yu, which is very suspicious.”
“There’s this too?” Xiao Ming’s frown deepened. After pondering for a while, he said, “If what you say is true, the barbarians’ ambitions are indeed great. These damned Shanxi merchants don’t think of serving the country and are now aiding the enemy.”
“Your Highness, that’s only part of the problem. The biggest concern now is the Liang King,” Wang Xuan sighed, “The Liang King has treated the Second Prince as his own son. Now that the Second Prince is demoted to Bazhou, nobody knows what the Liang King is thinking. Before, he tolerated Shanxi merchants trading with the barbarians for profit, but he still kept some rules with them. Now the Shanxi merchants are brazen, so…”
Xiao Ming nodded thoughtfully. “It’s natural for the Liang King to feel resentment, but tolerating these traitorous merchants is truly a failure to distinguish right and wrong. Since he won’t control them, I will handle these merchants myself. We cannot let them fatten the barbarians.”
“Your Highness is right, but these merchants are all near the Liang King’s territory. How can we deal with that?” Wang Xuan was puzzled. “Are you planning for the Secret Guard to assassinate these merchants? But these merchants are powerful local clans with many private troops. They won’t be easy to deal with.”
“No, there’s no need for me to act personally. Don’t forget Prince Yong has always relied on me. Let him handle these merchants—it suits him.”
Prince Yong had long wanted to get flintlock guns from Qingzhou. When in Chang’an, Prince Yong signed a trade agreement largely because of these guns. If he now made such a request, it would be no problem.
“But, Your Highness, according to the intelligence I got, Prince Yong has also benefited greatly from these Shanxi merchants. Because of this, the guild where these merchants gather is effectively a no-man’s land. If Prince Yong acts, it might…”
“Prince Yong is connected to these merchants too?” Xiao Ming frowned deeply.
Wang Xuan sighed and nodded.
“If that’s the case, I must invite Prince Yong to Qingzhou for a talk about this matter,” Xiao Ming said sternly.
After discussing more domestic news with Xiao Ming, Wang Xuan turned to leave.
After Wang Xuan left, Xiao Ming personally wrote a letter and sent a messenger with it to Prince Yong.
The journey from Jizhou to Qingzhou was short, about three or four days. Xiao Ming used the excuse of having Prince Yong come to receive the first batch of flintlock guns in Qingzhou and discuss things.
After handling this, Xiao Ming issued an order to the shipyard in Dengzhou to speed up warship construction, and told Yue Yun to continue recruiting and training naval soldiers.
Since Georyo was building ships, he would make sure Beishan would not get his way. When the next batch of warships was launched, he would lead his troops to Besha City and completely destroy Georyo’s navy. He wanted to see which was faster—his explosions or Georyo’s shipbuilding.
As for the barbarians possibly launching a large-scale southward attack, he had to prepare in advance. But now he was mentally ready for this strong northern neighbor and would not panic over their invasion.
He understood only one could rule this land: Great Yu or the barbarians. War between them was inevitable, just a matter of time.
After the battle at Cangzhou, and Beishan’s southward push into Jizhou, the myth of barbarian invincibility had been broken. Even if the barbarians came again, it was just soldiers coming and defenses responding.
Shaking his head, he believed development was the hard truth. As long as his strength was strong enough, what could the barbarians do if they came south? And with Shanhai pass in his hands, he could take the opportunity to strike the barbarians from behind, keeping them wary.
Thinking this, he sent for Niu Ben and told him about the news.
“The barbarians stirring?” Niu Ben was calm and said, “Your Highness, the Liang King is really digging his own grave. Now that Shanhai pass is in our hands, if the barbarians come south, they can only go through the territories of the Liang King and Zhao King. In the end, it’s the Liang King who will suffer.”
Xiao Ming nodded. “The Crown Prince’s position is secure, and the Zhao King’s territory is probably stable. The Liang King is really worrisome. If the barbarians break through the Liang King’s lands, Chang’an will be directly exposed to their iron hooves.”
“So, Your Highness need not worry too much. Since Wang Xuan learned of this, the Emperor must be aware too. All we need to do is hold Shanhai pass, so the Imperial Guards don’t get attacked from both sides. And don’t underestimate the Emperor. After all, he rose to his position through military achievements.”