Chapter 197: Chapter 197
After a day of hustle and bustle, Raging Tide City had already fallen into silence.
Although there had been a lot of changes, the entire city could still sleep peacefully.
Those who could make a living in Raging Tide City all had thick nerves.
Suddenly, a sharp and ear-piercing bell rang from the pier and the lighthouse again.
Immediately, everyone in the castle woke up with a start.
They picked up their weapons and prepared to fight.
Most of the merchants in the city pricked up their ears.
Whose fleet was it this time?
Could it be Zhang Chong?
It shouldn't be!
The Kim family had already taken down the main castle. Although there were only two thousand people, even if Zhang Chong sent ten thousand people, they wouldn't be able to take it down.
Moreover, where would Zhang Chong get ten thousand people?
Not everyone was as perverted as Chou Yao'er, who was invincible and undefeatable.
However, the sound of the bell on the pier quickly changed.
From sharp and ear-piercing to melodious and pleasant.
This meant that it was one of their own, not the enemy!
…
Xuanwu Jin Zhuo led the fleet to Raging Tide City's pier.
He really rushed with all his might, but he was still slower than Chou Tianwei.
It couldn't be helped, the sailors of the Kim family weren't familiar with these pirate warships.
Before the fleet even neared the port, both sides immediately exchanged family secret signals.
In an instant, Xuanwu relaxed and let out a long sigh of relief.
Thank god!
God bless.
Shenlang was fine.
Not only that, he really took down Raging Tide City.
Tang Lun was so envious that his eyes were about to pop out.
Damn, the Kim family really took down Raging Tide City.
Heavens!
This was the core of the entire eastern sea trade.
It was a land of gold coins.
Now it actually belonged to the Xuan Wu Mansion.
The territory of the Kim family had expanded several times in an instant.
This achievement was comparable to that of Count Zhou of Jin in the past.
Of course, Count Zhou of Jin had fought all over the country for the monarch and achieved countless military merits. This achievement could not be compared to Count Zhou.
But in terms of the expansion of the family, Jin Zhuo had done it.
You, Jin Zhuo, are just a mediocre person.
How could he be so strong?
Just a while ago, your family was struggling to survive. Now, you've suddenly soared?
Was it because she had a good son-in-law?
This world was too unfair!
Shen Lang immediately got out of bed and rushed to the dock to welcome his father-in-law.
The alchemist Daoist An Zaitian was even faster than him. He couldn't conceal the excitement in his heart at all.
In the past ten years, he had several contacts with Xuan Wu Mansion, but he had never seen Xuanwu again.
Jin Zhuo Count stepped forward and looked at Shen Lang with blazing eyes.
Then, she rushed forward and hugged Shen Lang.
This startled Master Lang.
Father-in-law, you weren't like this in the past.
You used to be very old-fashioned and cold. You would never act so affectionately.
I'm not used to your sudden intimacy.
"My son has worked hard …" Jin Zhuo Counted.
Shen Lang said, "Well, it's not hard at all."
More importantly, it really wasn't hard at all.
They didn't even have to fight a single battle. Chou Yao 'er had fought them all. He and the warriors of the Kim family had only watched from the sidelines. Then, they had taken Raging Tide City.
"Sigh!" Tang Lun Count suddenly said, "Shen Lang, I actually have daughters too. I have quite a few."
After feeling despair, Tang Lun became much more adorable.
Shen Lang looked at Count Jin Hai Tang Lun for a while and said, "Count Jin Hai, you don't hate my family anymore?"
"I feel despair," Tang Lun said. "But I can't just die, so I can only pretend to be relieved …"
He couldn't say that he had let go of his hatred.
The Ottoman Empire used to hate the British Empire. Now, wasn't Turkey still licking the British Empire's boots?
The situation was stronger than the person.
Shen Lang said, "It's good that you have this kind of mentality, very good."
Tang Lun felt that there was a hidden meaning in Shen Lang's words. He couldn't help but say, "Shen, why don't you say it more clearly."
Shen Lang said, "Count Tang Lun, you should return now and pack up your belongings. Dismiss those who should disperse and seek refuge with those who should. Leave some seeds behind."
As soon as he said this, Tang Lun's expression changed. He trembled and said, "Really? If that's the case … "
Shen Lang nodded and said, "Go back!"
Tang Lun's face instantly lost all color.
What was the most tragic thing in this world?
In the stock market, you thought you had hit the bottom, but you didn't expect there to be 18 levels of hell below.
Tang Lun felt that losing Jinshan Island and his private army was already tragic enough for him.
But … there was something even worse to come.
Shen Lang said, "Seeing that you have let go of your hatred for my family, let me give you a piece of advice. Lower your stance, take the initiative, and try to keep your family alive."
Tears rolled down Tang Lun's face as he said, "I can't live?"
Shen Lang shook his head and said, "I can't live."
Tang Lun laughed miserably, "Hahahaha, this world is really interesting, really interesting! Those who kill me are not enemies! "
Then, he bowed to Shen Lang and said, "Thank you, Shen, for telling me. If … if the Tang family doesn't perish this time, I will definitely thank you for your kindness."
Then, Count Jin Zhuo sent a ship to Tang Lun and let him go home.
Tang Lun returned after boarding the ship, bowed to Shen Lang and said, "I … I can't live?"
Shen Lang said, "You can't."
Tang Lun asked, "What about my family?"
Shen Lang said, "Tang Yan is fine, but it's safer to send him to Sky-sea Pavilion as soon as possible. Among the other sons, you can choose one to keep his life. Let him break with the family in advance and personally report you for colluding with the pirate Chou Tianwei. Then, immediately join a prince or simply escape to another country. "
Tang Lun Count bowed deeply to Shen Lang.
"Thank you, Shen, for saving my life."
Then, he returned to the ship.
The ship left for the dock of Jin Hai City.
Tang Lun's gratitude was not wrong. Shen Lang's words could be said to have saved the seed of the Tang family.
This was a drastic change.
There had to be a family that would completely collapse.
Someone must be responsible for this.
The reason why Shen Lang did this was not because he sympathized with the Tang family, but because he wanted to bury a nail.
What if it was useful in the future?
Jin Zhuo Count couldn't help but look back at Tang Lun Count.
This should be the last time he saw him.
The distance between heaven and hell was so close.
A little bit more and it would be his Kim Clan that almost fell into hell.
…
Inside the main castle of Nu Tiao City.
Jin Zhuo Count still felt that it was a little unreal.
This city now belonged to the Kim family?
This castle belonged to him?
It was like a dream!
"When Lang'Er explained the four moves to me that day, although I was amazed, I felt that it was extremely difficult and that the chance of success was very small. But our Kim family would rather die in glory than live in dishonor. Even if there was only a one percent chance, we would still do our best. " Jin Zhuo Count said, "Who would have thought that this matter would actually succeed. Amazing, amazing!"
Then, Jin Zhuo said, "Lang'Er, you are really a waste of talent in our family."
Shen Lang said, "Father-in-law, I can't get tired of hearing flattering words. You can say a few more words."
Oh!
I originally had a lot more, but I don't want to say it now.
Then, Shen Lang sighed.
He walked in front of the map and said, "Father-in-law, our strategy of dividing the sea and becoming the king did not completely succeed."
Then, he pointed at the map and said, "We took the most important Nu Tiao City and Leizhou Island, but the entire Leizhou archipelago has dozens of big and small islands. The second largest is Sky Wind Island, which was taken by Zhang Chong. The remaining islands were taken by Chou Hao. "
Shen Lang didn't have a fleet and couldn't take those islands.
Chou Yao 'er could take those islands, but she had no reason to fight for Shen Lang. Even Shen Lang couldn't speak. If he did, he would be asking for humiliation.
Shen Lang said, "Zhang Chong's defense is amazing. Too amazing."
Since yesterday, Shen Lang had been repeating this sentence.
He had not only planned the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
After Zhang Chunhua failed to persuade Chou Yao 'er, she immediately went to persuade Chou Hao.
At least on the surface, it looked like Zhang Jin's Nu Tiao City was already in the bag.
After all, according to Zhang Chong's calculations, Shen Lang wanted to kill Chou Yao 'er and then take over the city.
In reality, Shen Lang really did plan to do this.
He could kill Chou Yao 'er.
Once he killed Chou Yao 'er, then the Kim family would attack the Nu Tiao City's castle, and then Zhang Jin's 6,000 soldiers would attack from behind.
Shen Lang only had 2,000 people, and there were wolves in front and tigers behind. It looked like he would definitely lose.
Thus, the chances of Zhang Jin taking over the Nu Tiao City were very high, and the chances of Zhang Chong's plan succeeding were also very high.
Shen Lang had no choice but to take the risk and negotiate with Chou Yao 'er.
Perhaps it was the will of the heavens, but Chou Yao 'er was pregnant. Although this factor didn't affect the situation much, the father of the child still made her a little softhearted.
Most importantly, Shen Lang caught someone using poisonous salt to harm Chou Yao 'er, and found out that the culprit was Chou Tianwei, causing Chou Yao' er to completely give up her loyalty to her foster father.
This was the key to Shen Lang turning defeat into victory.
He also had to thank the Daoist Alchemist An Zaitian. He hid beside Chou Tianwei and didn't do anything other than save Shu Shu and get her pregnant. But this was enough.
In short, the battle of Nu Tiao City was decided in an instant.
Life and death were decided in an instant.
The most impressive was Zhang Chong's defense.
When Zhang Jin had a high chance of taking over the Nu Tiao City, he actually had a backup plan.
He used the second-line army of Nujiang County, persuaded Chou Hou to borrow his fleet, and took over all the islands outside of the Nu Tiao City.
Especially Heavenly Wind Island.
This was what he meant by 'above all else'.
If Zhang Jin could succeed in taking over the Nu Tiao City, that would be great!
But if he didn't succeed, he still had a way out, and the Zhang family wouldn't be completely destroyed.
Thinking of defeat before thinking of victory!
Just as he was about to succeed, he didn't feel complacent, nor did he feel elated. Instead, he immediately mended the sky to avoid the worst case scenario from happening.
This kind of talent, this kind of temperament, it really made Shen Lang sigh in admiration.
From the start of the battle until now, Zhang Chong had only lost by half a chess piece.
In fact, he didn't even lose by half a chess piece.
Shen Lang looked at the Leizhou Islands on the map. It was more than 10,000 square kilometers.
Now, the Kim family had only taken over the largest Leizhou Island.
5,000 square kilometers took up half, and the remaining half belonged to Zhang Chong and Chou Hou. However, there weren't any big castles in the archipelago, and it was very difficult to defend. It also lacked strategic depth.
"It's a pity that we didn't succeed completely …" Shen Lang said, "But we didn't make any mistakes. The opponent was just too strong."
At the side, Xuanwu felt his scalp go numb.
"Fortunately, there was Lang'er. Otherwise, how could my Kim family be a match for Zhang Chong?" Jin Zhuo said.
That was the truth.
If not for Shen Lang's appearance, Xuan Wu Mansion would have been destroyed a few months ago.
Even Zhang Chong didn't need to do anything himself. He just needed to besiege Xuan Wu Mansion from all directions and use the greed of a few influential families to destroy the Kim family.
Although it wasn't as easy as destroying the Dongjiang Count House, it wasn't strenuous.
This person was so powerful that no one could defend against him.
Shen Lang said, "Fortunately, our struggle with him is over. At least for a long time, we won't be his opponents."
Of course, it was exciting to play chess with such a top expert.
But Shen Lang wasn't a masochist. He still liked to crush people.
For example, when facing opponents like Tian Heng, Xu Guangyun, Zhu Lanting, and Tang Lun.
It would be great to crush them all.
To play chess with an opponent like Zhang Chong, it wasn't enough to be extremely smart. It also needed to be lucky.
"The strategy of becoming the king across the sea has been completed 90%. There's only one last step left." Shen Lang said, "After this tremble, our Kim Clan will have a long period of peace and stability. Even father-in-law's title of nobility will rise."
Jin Zhuo Count was helpless. This son-in-law of hers had to make dirty jokes no matter what the occasion was.
"Next, it's up to the Monarch," Xuanwu said.
Shen Lang said, "Yes, we're going to have a small game with the Monarch. It could be extremely intense, with the pressure of Mount Tai, or it could pass easily. I hope it's the latter. "
Jin Zhuo Count said, "Me too!"
Although the Kim family didn't lose anyone in this battle, they had to pay an astronomical number of strategic resources.
Next, they needed to rest for a period of time, at least for the recruits to grow.
It would be best if they could easily complete the entire strategy and take down Raging Tide City.
Shen Lang said, "This will require Prefect Zhang's cooperation. However, I think very highly of this person. Our cooperation will definitely be flawless."
"Governor Zhang will come to negotiate tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it! However, there shouldn't be any accidents. "
… …
The next morning.
Zhang Chunhua appeared in the big castle of Raging Tide City. Her forehead was covered in scars.
At this moment, her gaze towards Shen Lang was no longer seductive. Instead, it was filled with coldness.
Women were like this. No matter how smart they were, they couldn't afford to lose.
Of course, Qiu Yao 'er was an exception.
She wasn't a man, nor was she a woman. She was just someone who could get pregnant.
"Where's my brother?" Zhang Chunhua asked.
Shen Lang waved his hand. Jin Hui and Shen Shisan carried in a coffin. Inside was Zhang Jin's corpse.
She opened it.
Zhang Chunhua's tears gushed out.
She had three brothers, but Zhang Jin was the closest.
Her eldest brother was under the Southern Peace General, and her second brother was a civil official in the capital. Only Zhang Jin and her followed her father.
Although she had already imagined this ending, when she saw Zhang Jin's corpse, her heart still ached.
Shen Lang, I'm going to tear you into a thousand pieces. Tear you into a thousand pieces.
He almost blurted out these words.
But Zhang Chunhua still took it back.
Her father had warned her again and again that people could show weakness, but they couldn't have the mentality of a real weakling.
Some words should never be said out loud.
For example, a poor person should never say that no matter how rich or powerful he is, so what? I won't beg him.
This was the typical mentality of a weakling.
If she clamored to tear Shen Lang into a thousand pieces, this was also the mentality of a weakling.
If she wanted to vent, don't say it.
"Yesterday, when you and Chou Hou's fleet approached Fury Tide City, Zhang Jin thought that your father was on the ship, so he desperately shouted a warning on White Castle. But you couldn't hear him, so he jumped off the castle and committed suicide, hoping that you could see it. In the end … you didn't."
As soon as this was said, Zhang Chunhua cried even more and collapsed to the ground.
Although Zhang Jin's brother wasn't the most outstanding son of her father, he was the most obedient and filial.
Now this brother was gone.
After crying for a while, Zhang Chunhua stopped crying.
Then she said to Shen Lang, "My father invited you to negotiate on the sea. Just the two of you. Of course, you can bring a bodyguard."
Shen Lang, "No need!"
There was indeed no need for a bodyguard.
Because Count Xuanwu was already guarding Fury Tide City, even if he killed Shen Lang, it wouldn't change the current situation.
Besides, to a certain extent, Shen Lang and Zhang Chong were already on the same ship.
…
Shen Lang took a ship out to sea.
Although he felt that there was no need for a bodyguard, Jin Shiying still sent a thousand warriors and five ships to follow Shen Lang out to sea.
However, there was really only one ship on Zhang Chong's side.
This attitude made the Kim family seem like petty people.
But this wasn't a big deal. Father-in-law was conservative like this.
After sending Shen Lang onto the ship, Zhang Chunhua also left.
On this ship, there were only Zhang Chong and Shen Lang.
The ship didn't open its sails and drifted with the ocean current.
The ships of the Kim family followed closely behind, even maintaining a state of encirclement, the distance between them no more than 500 meters.
… …
Shen Lang entered the cabin.
He saw Zhang Chong.
He couldn't help but be taken aback.
After not seeing each other for a few days, Zhang Chong had aged faster than Tang Lun Count.
His originally jet-black hair had actually turned a little white.
However, he still sat ramrod straight. His eyes were bright and full of expression, but he didn't seem overbearing.
Shen Lang stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Mr. Zhang."
Zhang Chong said, "This old man won't get up until Xuanwu comes."
Shen Lang hurriedly said, "I wouldn't dare."
After all, he was a junior. It was only right for Zhang Chong to sit and greet guests.
Then, Zhang Chong poured a cup of tea for Shen Lang.
Shen Lang held it with both hands and drank it in one gulp, not worried at all that it was poisonous.
"I'm very sorry about your son, Zhang Jin."
Shen Lang said it was regretful, not sorry.
Zhang Chong waved his hand and said, "There is no grudge on the battlefield."
Then, the two of them fell into silence.
Zhang Chong was a top politician, but he wasn't good at socializing, nor was he good at talking.
Shen Lang didn't like to pretend to be polite.
Zhang Chong said, "Will Shen start, or will this old man start?"
Shen Lang: "I'm a junior, I'll start."
Zhang Chong: "Sure!"
Shen Lang: "Chou Tian seized Jinshan Island, the Monarch is furious, and the governor is burning with anxiety."
Zhang Chong: "On the surface, the Monarch says that they can't send troops to help Xuanwu take back Jinshan Island, but in fact, there is not a day that they don't want to help their subjects get back their fiefs."
Shen Lang: "The governor is worried about the Monarch's worries, so he mobilized the troops of Nujiang Prefecture and successfully persuaded Chou Tian Wei to settle down. My Kim family set up a trap at Wangya Island and lured Chou Tian Wei's army to attack."
Zhang Chong: "You and I, with our two families, will eliminate the pirate Chou Tian Wei and return peace to the State of Yue's eastern sea."
Shen Lang: "The Count of Jin Hai, Tang Lun, colluded with the pirate Chou Tian Wei, his crime is unforgivable. As an old noble, instead of being loyal and patriotic, he colluded with bandits and harmed the State of Yue's territory. Such a disloyal and unfilial person, how can he have the face to sit in the State of Yue's court. I beseech the Governor to request the Monarch to strip the Tang family of their title, take back all their fiefs, and punish them with the crime of treason. In this way, the Governor's new policy in Nujiang Prefecture will be a success. "
Zhang Chong: "Xuanwu sent troops to seize Nu Tiao City and eliminate the pirate Chou Tian Wei, he has worked hard and made great contributions."
Shen Lang: "From today onwards, Nu Tiao City is no longer Solitary Sea City, but an inseparable part of the State of Yue. Congratulations to the Monarch, congratulations to the Monarch, you've added more territory. The Governor led the troops to seize Leizhou Archipelago and established an immortal merit. This kind of merit, my Kim family will definitely report to the Monarch, we will not disgrace him. "
Zhang Chong didn't say anything else.
Shen Lang: "The Monarch's new policy benefits the country and the people, my Kim family will definitely support it! In order to set an example for the old nobles, Xuan Wu Mansion is willing to reduce the number of troops by two thousand. "
Previously, you had just expanded the number of troops by two thousand, and now you're reducing it and moving it to the sea to guard the merchant caravans. This plan is really messy.
Zhang Chong still didn't say anything.
Shen Lang: "In the battle of Nu Tiao City, the Nujiang Prefecture army was defeated by Chou Yao Er, and more than three thousand people were captured. My Kim family defeated Chou Yao Er, rescued these captives, and is willing to hand them over to the Governor. "
Zhang Chong: "Many thanks."
And then, the two finished their discussion.
There were no surprises.
It didn't even seem like a negotiation, there was no back-and-forth, no haggling.
It was as if the two of them had completely discussed it.
Shen Lang and Zhang Chong echoed each other, of course it was for the world to see.
As for the specific details, Zhang Chong would definitely secretly report it to the Monarch.
"I have already submitted the secret memorial to the Monarch." Zhang Chong said: "Next, whether it's war or peace, lightning or calm, it all depends on the will of the Monarch."
Shen Lang: "The day the Monarch decrees will be the day I release the three thousand captives."
Zhang Chong said: "I just saw the Heavenly Order's ships entering Nu Tiao City."
"Yeah!" Shen Lang said.
After the expansion of the Xuan Wu Mansion, there were a total of five thousand private troops, plus the one thousand pirates left behind by Chou Yao Er, plus the one thousand reinforcements from the Heavenly Order.
Therefore, there were a total of seven thousand troops used to defend Nu Tiao City.
The most important thing was that the Kim family took over all of Chou Tianwei's ships and had most of the sea control.
And Zhang Chong only had four thousand pirates in his hands, but he had to defend more than a dozen islands.
Now, the Kim family had occupied three castles in Nu Tiao City, and Chou Tianwei's castle was too sturdy, wanting to take it down with just four thousand pirates was completely a pipe dream.
Want to start a war?
Therefore, unless the Monarch gathered twenty to thirty thousand troops and built a large number of warships.
It would take a year and a half before they could cross the sea to attack Nu Tiao City.
But would the Monarch be willing to pay such a high price?
The war to suppress the rebellion in the Southern Kingdom was in full swing.
If the Kim family was forced into a corner, they would directly take Nu Tiao City north to join the Wu Kingdom, and that would cause a national upheaval.
Therefore, Shen Lang and Zhang Chong's discussion just now was the best way to give the world an explanation.
The Monarch's face was also not bad.
Even on the surface, this was a huge victory.
Wasn't it awesome to open up new territory?
Of course, this was also a slap in the face by the Kim family to the Ning clan.
Could the Monarch tolerate this?
… …
Zhang Chong poured another cup of tea for Shen Lang.
"No matter what the Monarch's final decree is, this old man has lost this battle." Zhang Chong said, "Truly a young man to be feared."
Shen Lang said, "I believe the Monarch has seen your efforts and painstaking efforts."
Zhang Chong said, "I'm about the same age as Xuanwu, and I've wasted more than ten years before. Now that I've fallen, I don't know when I'll be able to climb back up."
Shen Lang said, "That won't be the case. I believe Zhang Gong will definitely have a good fortune."
Although he said this, he really wasn't sure about Zhang Chong's fate.
In the battle of Raging Tide, Zhang Chong did save half of the situation for the Monarch, at least not letting the Kim family take away the entire Leizhou Archipelago.
This way, the Kim family wouldn't be able to completely expand overseas, at least they could be restrained and monitored in the surrounding archipelago.
However, the battle between Zhang Chong and the Kim clan ended in defeat.
The Monarch was also temperamental, mean, and ungrateful.
So, what would be the outcome for Zhang Chong? No one knew, it was completely up to the Monarch's will.
Zhang Chong said self-deprecatingly, "At least the new policy has nothing to do with me."
The new policy had more than nothing to do with Zhang Chong.
After the battle of Raging Tide, the new policy of the State of Yue would basically be suspended.
Because who would you pick next?
Who would be the vanguard of this new policy?
After any political battle was defeated, the first thing to do was to lie low and wait for the opportunity, not to immediately rush to the next battlefield.
Zhang Chong's secret memorial had already been sent to the capital at the fastest speed.
Shen Lang could hardly imagine how shocked the Monarch and the entire court would be.
Zhang Chong stood up and said, "In that case, our discussion is over. Then, this old man will go back to the old house and wait for the Monarch's decision."
Shen Lang bowed and said, "Zhang Gong, the mountains are high and the rivers are far, we will meet again!"
…
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