Two remnants of the ancient Southern Zhao Kingdom escaped in the end. Of the tails following us, only two from the Wu An Palace survived; everyone else was tormented to death by the蛊虫.
Your subordinate followed your instructions and let those who slipped through the net go.
Lu Qing Wan mechanically shoveled rice into her mouth at the dining table. After hearing Li Su’s report, she lifted her head, finished the crucian carp soup in her bowl, and left directly.
Has there been any news from the Prince?
Li Su and the others hurried to catch up. Xiliang is settled. Although a few old generals are still stubbornly resisting, the Xiliang army and civilians have no intention of fighting back.
However, the situation in Bei Wei is not very clear.
Lu Qing Wan was quite surprised. What’s the situation? Can Mu Rong Tao really stop the Prince?
Lu Qing Wan had always had absolute faith in Si Feng Wu’s combat abilities. When she learned that Si Feng Wu had rushed from Shang Jing to the Bei Wei front lines, she had no more worries about the war.
But now, it seemed things were not as smooth as she had imagined.
Li Su’s expression was also hard to describe.
Mainly, for some reason, Nie Wu Ming has once again sought the support of the Turkic Khagan He Lu. Khagan He Lu is sending troops to reinforce Bei Wei, while simultaneously sending a diplomatic letter to the Emperor of Da Qin, accusing Da Qin of interfering in the affairs of the Southeast Three Kingdoms.
It seems even Nan Qi has gotten involved.
Although the diplomatic letter has no actual significance for now, it puts considerable pressure on the Prince.
Lu Qing Wan understood as soon as she heard Li Su’s murmuring.
Si Feng Wu had military power and Da Qin behind him, allowing him to do as he pleased in the Southeast Three Kingdoms.
However, Nan Qi and the Turks were not foolish. Da Qin's national strength already surpassed theirs. If Si Feng Wu were to take over the Southeast Three Kingdoms as well, Nan Qi and the Turks would have no hope of advancement.
Therefore, the current intervention on behalf of Bei Wei was merely a pretext.
In fact, even if the Bei Wei Emperor had not sought help from the Turks, Bei Wei and Nan Qi would have sooner or later intervened in Si Feng Wu’s actions to unify the Southeast Three Kingdoms.
However, the timing of this intervention was still influenced by the Emperor of Bei Wei.
Lu Qing Wan pondered, and then thought of the few contingency plans she had set up previously.
Send word to Han Chen to find a way to break the alliance of interests between the Turks and Bei Wei.
Send word to Lian Yu immediately, saying I need to borrow some cannons from him.
After speaking, she released the military map on the carriage wall. Qing Zhou, Liang Zhou, and You Zhou, plus Ji Zhou, send ten cannons to each region, along with three thousand firearms, equipped with sufficient ammunition, and send them over immediately.
I will now send word to the Prince, asking him to petition the Emperor to express our attitude to Nan Qi and the Turks.
All actions by the Prince and I in the Southeast Three Kingdoms are purely personal grievances. Anyone who dares to obstruct will be visited by the Prince and I with heavy gifts.
Li Su’s eyebrows shot up. Are you visiting with cannons?
It could be cannons, or it could be precious jade and delicacies. It all depends on how they choose.
Before, I had various considerations and dared not let modern weaponry appear in this era.
Since it has been introduced, how can I allow others to hinder me at every turn?
Lu Qing Wan declared haughtily, Perhaps, after this, they will also understand that within the range of cannons, it is I who have the final say.
Your Highness is mighty!
Li Su exaggeratedly cupped his fists towards Lu Qing Wan, picked up a brush and ink, and began writing letters to various parties.
The golden eagles overhead circled incessantly, and soon, they all flew away one by one.
Watching the golden eagles disappear into the distant horizon, Li Su couldn’t help but sigh, When we first returned and talked about one hundred and thirty cannons and one hundred thousand firearms, it felt like a lot, and we would be invincible in the world.
Now, when we talk about it, why does it still feel a bit insufficient?
Over a hundred cannons and a hundred thousand firearms are certainly not a lot.
When our soldiers each have a firearm, and cannons can be used freely when needed on the front lines, and the accumulated stock in the Ministry of War's armory is also replaced with cannons and firearms, then that would be enough.
Lu Qing Wan thought about it and her head began to ache.
I’ll discuss it with the Prince later. The scale of the forging workshops needs to be expanded further.
Ru Yue, first try to discuss with Wu Ying and get the silver house set up.
Also, the medicinal material business corresponding to the Ji Ci Hospital. All profitable ventures should be operated. There will be many expenses in the future. Don't wait for me to urge you for everything.
If one day we are so poor we can't eat, there will be no share of the imperial grain distribution and porridge for her.
Ru Yue chuckled, Li Su sympathized, If Wu Ying knew that her identity as the chief clerk of the Prince Qin's mansion would prevent her from even eating the imperial porridge, would she regret following Your Highness?
Lu Qing Wan was engrossed in the account books and completely missed Li Su’s deliberate teasing. Ru Yue, however, had already gone to deliver the message to Wu Ying according to Lu Qing Wan's instructions.
Seeing this, Li Su said enthusiastically, Don't just hurry Wu Ying. Bring Shen Tang Zhou along.
Speaking of doing business, that fellow Shen Tang Zhou is also quite skilled. If he cooperates with Wu Ying, it will be a strong alliance, and won't the silver pour into Your Highness's purse like a flowing stream?
That's true.
Ru Yue nodded, so the same letter, with only the recipient changed and a copy made, was sent to Wu Ying and Shen Tang Zhou respectively.
From the southern regions all the way to the northwest, Lu Qing Wan's side received continuous good news.
Xiliang's defensive strength was insufficient and was eventually captured by the Xuan Jia Army.
Si Feng Wu also advanced rapidly in Bei Wei. By the time they reached the northwest, Si Feng Wu had already crossed the Yong Ning River.
That's good. I was still worried that the army would be blocked south of the Yong Ning River after it thawed?
It's already crossed. Next, there should be no more geographical advantages within Bei Wei, right?
The sand table and military map were right in front of her. As Lu Qing Wan spoke, she could already see clearly.
Exactly. If this continues, within three months, the Prince's grand ambition to unify the Southeast Three Kingdoms will be realized.
Li Su said, and suddenly exclaimed, Your Highness, look there!
What?
Lu Qing Wan looked in the direction of the voice. What met her eyes was a vast expanse of snow-capped mountains. What attracted her attention were the swaying, indistinct objects on the mountains.
Unbelieving her eyes, she took out her thousand-li gold lens to look again.
Everywhere on the mountainside, there were military flags of the Xuan Jia Army. The black flags with the golden character "Xuan" were exceptionally conspicuous, covering the entire mountainside.
Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that the positions where the flags were planted were the paths she had taken to find Lu Zhen Ting and Si Feng Wu, who were sealed on the snowy mountain.
Those snow-covered grounds, where she had walked with deep footprints and which had been stained red with blood, were now planted with the flags of the Xuan Jia Army.
Si Feng Wu was using this method to tell her that the hardships of that time were over.
When the Prince reached the northwest, the Yun Qiang army and the Bei Wei cavalry had already been driven back to their own homes.
Your subordinates all wanted the Prince to pursue victory and strike Murong Tao a blow.
But the Prince refused, and personally led the soldiers of the Tian Zi Battalion to walk along the path you took back then, planting these flags before agreeing to our request to go to Bei Wei.