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The West Sea... must open up trade!

The global trade of the four seas concerns the livelihood of the world, connecting the North through Jiangnan, the West Sea was formerly the most important trade area for the wealthy merchants of the North, but now, due to the mists sealing off the West Sea, the North-South trade has come to a halt, which is detrimental to both sides.

The North lacks salt, iron, and various silks and teas, while the South lacks horses, grain, and the North’s unique cotton, not to mention the trade in luxury goods.

During wartime, these resources become even more crucial, and the troubles brought about by the stalled trade are confounding not only the Duke of Wei and his group in the North but also the Princess Royale in the current predicament...

The army of 300,000 is in dire need of food, and she cannot always rely on Chen Qing for relief.

Chen Qing, her temporary ally, is supplying grain, but now that Chen Qing has the ability to self-preserve, he could cut off the supply at any time.

She must be cautious and expanding her own supply routes is imperative.

Transporting grain by sea from the West Sea is the most economical option.

"How’s the situation on the Imperial Court’s side?"

Lying wearily in her chair, the Princess Royale asked Shen Fifth Master, who stood respectfully across from her.

"According to the information my bug left there has relayed, the Imperial Court dispatched troops ten days ago, led by Weichi Peng. The forces are mainly light cavalry, and judging by their pace, they have most likely already engaged with Chen Qing!"

"Light cavalry?" the Princess Royale frowned and then took a deep breath, "Those people at the Imperial Court, still so arrogant and ignorant. If Chen Qing could drive me away, what makes them think fifty thousand light cavalry could defeat him?"

"Does Your Highness believe the Imperial Court will lose?"

"What do you think?" the Princess Royale said with a laugh, "You saw the situation yourself when Chen Qing came to take over Nanming Prefecture that day, what’s your take?"

Shen Fifth Master fell silent.

He had not expected that in just a short year, Chen Qing would have such military power!

He still did not comprehend how Chen Qing had achieved this; the forces near Nanming Prefecture were at least two hundred thousand strong.

He saw those soldiers clearly, each of them unusually robust, with purity and strength in their vitality, even comparable to the elite forces of the Golden Dragon Guard.

Two hundred thousand... rising from Jiangnan as if out of thin air!

"But with Weichi Peng there, it would be difficult for Chen Qing to win easily," the Princess sighed, "The key is that the pressure from the Imperial Court is too light.

If Weichi Peng retreats this time without convincing the Imperial Court to deploy more troops, Chen Qing will be free of pressure, and then I fear he might turn his thoughts on us. "

"The Imperial Court... is currently stretched thin on military resources," as a former Minister of War, Shen Fifth Master was well aware of the situation, "The northern battlefront is said to be tense.

The Flying Dragon Guard from Yundu must not be moved lightly, the Golden Dragon Guard has been swallowed up by our schemes, and the Black Dragon Guard is on the verge of complete annihilation.

The only forces the Imperial Court can deploy now are the Barbarian Dragon Guards from the Western Border! "

"The Western Border?" The Princess Royale’s brow furrowed deeply.

The Barbarian Dragon Guards of the Western Border were mainly tasked with defending the lands of the Southern Barbarians, where there lay the Ancient Desolate Country, one of the Ten Nations of the Eight Desolations, notorious as a land of demons!

Unlike the Central Plains People of the Human Race, those countries... worship demons!

They rely on witchcraft, using human heads and blood to worship the deities they believe in, a presence even more savage and dreadful than the North.

If it were not for certain arrangements by the King of Qin back in the day, the Southern Barbarians would not have been at peace for so many years, and the Siao Family would not have been able to comfortably occupy the Central Plains for so long.

Now... although the Ten Nations are constantly embroiled in internal conflicts and unable to look eastward, the Imperial Court’s slackening vigilance over the area has never decreased, and the Barbarian Dragon Guard may not be the strongest, but they are the most numerous and their offspring the most loyal!

The Imperial Court, even if they dared to mobilize the Flying Dragon Guard, would probably not dare touch the Barbarian Dragon Guards...

After all, if those Southern Barbarians were let loose, it would indeed be a never-ending scourge!

"Things are different now..." Shen Fifth Master smiled, "The Asura Kingdom, the closest to Great Jin among the Ten Demon Nations, has recently sought an alliance with Great Jin themselves, proposing an intermarriage with the royal bloodlines to establish a firm treaty!"

"An intermarriage with royal bloodlines?" the Princess Royale laughed immediately, "The Asura Kingdom?"

The Asura Kingdom worships the evil diety Asura King Rahu.

The influence of Asura’s hostility has made its citizens brave and belligerent, and over the years, they have become less human in appearance, with nearly the whole country resembling half-demons.

Ordinary people hardly view the people of the Asura Kingdom as true members of the Human Race.

The royal lineage is even more exaggerated, each member with four arms and purple skin resembles true Asuras, hideously ugly—who in the world would want an alliance marriage with them?

"The Imperial Court has consented!" Fifth Master Shen declared.

"Heh... With civil officials in power, their bones are indeed soft!" Princess Chang chuckled coldly.

Though far away in the West Sea, she roughly understood the current situation of the court.

Most of the dukes were on campaigns in the north, the Regent Prince was young, and as for the Empress sitting in her position... heh, heh, though terrifying, she was not savvy in politics. The basic management of state affairs was now in the hands of the nine ministers!

It was also for this reason that the Empress could sit so securely—for this was the first time since the founding of Great Jin that the political situation of the court completely tilted in favor of the civil officials.

To think these scholars, having just taken power, were willing to trade a royal daughter for an alliance; truly, what nobility... No wonder the Central Plains started to weaken after civil officials took complete control of the court in history.

"I am quite curious, with all the princes being young, who is the other side planning to marry over?" Princess Chang asked with a smile.

"It is said to be a legitimate princess, unspeakably beautiful. She does not necessarily want to marry into the royal clan. She has laid down a challenge, stating that among her peers, whoever can defeat her can marry her!"

"Look at that!" Princess Chang burst into laughter and clapped her hands. "Now that’s a child of the royal family!"

"And what about our side?"

"As for our princesses, it is said that several fainted at the time, and a candidate has yet to be decided."

"Is that so?" Princess Chang nodded. "That means there’s a real intention to form an alliance? If that’s the case..."

After forming an alliance, the Imperial Court could indeed divert some of the Barbarian Dragon Guards here, which might bring about changes in Jiangnan’s situation. And if the other side were even more ruthless, say... sending that Southern Barbarian to Jiangnan...

Honestly, those boneless civil officials sometimes aren’t incapable of such things...

"Regardless, we must secure our own supply route," Princess Chang said solemnly.

Fifth Master Shen nodded. Reliance solely on Chen Qing was too risky; even though the court was able to pressure Chen Qing, forcing him to continue collaborating with them, such a mode of cooperation remained too fragile.

Originally, Princess Chang had not expected Chen Qing to take down Jiangnan.

Now, they had barely seized six cities in the West Sea, but they could not sustain the troop of three hundred thousand.

Sophisticated kin required more energy and more things for evolution.

At such times, they could not afford to let the growth of kin be delayed by a shortage of food and fodder—after all, once the Dragon Palace opened, a decisive battle would be inevitable.

The more advanced her undead became, the more they could seize later on.

"But it’s difficult..." Fifth Master Shen sighed.

"With that person holding the outskirts of the West Sea, we can only travel from the north.

The Ancient Desolation Country in the north has food, but whether they are willing to trade with us is another matter; plus, how do we bypass the people from Duke of Wei in the north? "

Princess Chang: "...."

While she was thinking, a tall, black figure approached in the hall. Standing at least three meters tall, the figure was cloaked in black armor, resembling a moving fortress of steel.

Princess Chang frowned and looked over; kin would rarely approach this place on their own initiative.

Fifth Master Shen also looked over; their eyes, a pair of crimson, met, and Fifth Master Shen instantly understood the reason, looking back at the Princess Chang in astonishment.

"What’s wrong?"

"Duke of Wei is here!"

"Duke of Wei?" Princess Chang was somewhat shocked. "What is he doing here?"

Duke of Wei was currently the focus of the northern battlefront; what was he doing in the West Sea at this time? What was his purpose?

"Invited by Chen Qing, he joins us to discuss matters at Nanming Prefecture!"

Princess Chang: "...."