Chapter 731

The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/caleredhair

Gusts of sea wind blew across Yue Yun and his generals. The sailing warships were neatly moored in Haigucheng harbor, a visually stunning sight.

Liu Chen’s words made Yue Yun frown. “War is no child’s play. How can one act out of momentary anger? The river outside Ryukyo City is called the Taedong River. Compared to the Yangtze River and Yellow River in the Great Yu Empire, this inland river is very narrow, and its depth is not suitable for our warships to navigate. Otherwise, if the flagship runs aground, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

Li Cheng-jae, looking at the giant warships on the sea, nodded and said, “General, you have keen insight. The Taedong River is indeed not suitable for these warships to navigate. Moreover, the Golden Tent Khanate has gifted many cannons to the King of Goryeo. If they use cannons to sink your lead and rear ships, you will be like turtles in a jar then.”

Liu Chen’s old face flushed. Like Lu Fei, he was also a short-tempered martial general, sometimes speaking without thinking.

“General, I was thinking too simply. But what should we do now? We can’t have come all this way for nothing.”

Yue Yun’s gaze was deep. Years of practical experience at sea, coupled with the knowledge he gained at Bowen Academy, meant he was no longer the crude fisherman he once was, relying solely on brute force.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Of course we can’t have come for nothing. At the very least, we must hold Haigucheng in our hands. Additionally, from now on, we will blockade the Goryeo coast, prohibiting any Goryeo merchant ships or fishing boats from going out to sea. Goryeo’s land is barren, and many things need to be purchased from Japan and the Great Yu Empire. Cutting off their sea transport will cause them to fall into disarray.”

“Yes, General,” Liu Chen responded.

Li Cheng-jae’s heart skipped a beat. This Yue Yun, in his opinion, was not simple. At the very least, he had a very clear understanding of Goryeo’s current situation.

Before Japan’s invasion, Goryeo’s situation was still manageable. But after Japan ceded half its territory and lost a large amount of money and provisions in the war, Goryeo’s days became difficult.

So, compared to before, Goryeo had many more merchant ships going out to sea this year. Yue Yun directly cutting off Goryeo’s maritime trade route would undoubtedly make Goryeo’s days even harder.

After discussing this matter, Yue Yun looked at Li Cheng-jae. When Li Cheng-jae went to Ryukyo City, he suddenly had an idea to control Goryeo.

After observing Li Cheng-jae carefully for a while, Yue Yun said, “Li Cheng-jae, I know that you came to pledge allegiance to me because you want to make a name for yourself. Now, I will give you this opportunity. I only ask you now, do you dare or not?”

“General, I have no retreat now. All the ministers in the Goryeo court want to kill me,” Li Cheng-jae said, gritting his teeth as he recalled his experience in Ryukyo City.

The hierarchy of Goryeo was even stricter than that of the Great Yu Empire. His status as an illegitimate son would be a lifelong stain, and this stain would leave him with no hope in officialdom.

It was precisely for this reason that he would make a desperate gamble and entrust his life to Yue Yun.

Yue Yun nodded. He had sent Li Cheng-jae to Ryukyo City precisely to push him to a dead end. With a smile on his face, he said, “Then, do you want to be the King of Goryeo?”

“King of Goryeo?” Li Cheng-jae was startled.

“That’s right, the King of Goryeo. However, I have a condition: if you become the King of Goryeo someday, you must incorporate Goryeo into the Great Yu Empire,” Yue Yun said loudly. This was currently the Emperor’s strategy.

Li Cheng-jae had no choice now. He didn’t care whether Goryeo was incorporated into the Golden Tent Khanate or the Great Yu Empire. All he wanted now was to live a glorious life. So he immediately said, “I agree to everything the General says.”

Yue Yun showed a satisfied smile. He said, “If that’s the case, I will provide you with firearms and help you train an army. You will lead this army south to drive away the Japanese, and from then on, the southern lands will be yours.”

Li Cheng-jae’s heart beat uncontrollably. Yue Yun’s words were a huge temptation to him; he had dreamed of having his own army.

If Yue Yun could truly train an army for him and provide firearms now, he might genuinely be able to achieve something in the south.

“Thank you for your kindness, General.” Li Cheng-jae suddenly knelt before Yue Yun, his body trembling slightly with excitement.

Yue Yun helped Li Cheng-jae up. He said sincerely, “Therefore, Haigucheng is especially important; it cannot be lost. Before that, you need to properly handle the affairs here for me.”

Li Cheng-jae understood. Although the Great Yu Empire people had captured Haigucheng, the common people in the city were still wary and resentful towards them. It could be said that the Great Yu Empire people had only occupied the city but could not manage Haigucheng.

Yue Yun’s words now were meant to have him stabilize the people’s hearts and train an army with Haigucheng as its base.

He said, “General, I have already asked many common people. They personally saw that most of the officials in Haigucheng fled, so as long as the General supports me, I can take on this responsibility.”

“Hmm, in that case, you will be responsible for the governance of Haigucheng,” Yue Yun and the generals exchanged glances.

Rather than having soldiers brutally suppress the people of Haigucheng, they preferred to choose an agent to manage the city, because this would greatly reduce the cost of controlling Haigucheng.

After all, in the military academy, Xiao Ming had once told them very clearly, “The lowest cost of colonization is not to interfere in the internal affairs of the colonized country.”

Having assigned this task, Yue Yun had Li Cheng-jae temporarily return.

At this moment, Xie Yuan, who had been holding back a belly full of words, said anxiously, “General, are you really going to train an army for this Li Cheng-jae? These people are untrustworthy. Wouldn’t it be a loss if they used the weapons we provided to fight us in the future?”

Yue Yun said calmly, “I will only provide them with matchlock guns and export-model cannons, so you need not worry. Even if this Li Cheng-jae betrays us in the future, he won’t pose any threat to us. The true enemies of the Great Yu Empire now are the barbarians and Japan. If we can, without losing a single soldier, make the barbarians and Japan fall into the quagmire of the Goryeo war, then we have won half the battle.”

Xie Yuan didn’t think as deeply as Yue Yun. He said, “But matchlock guns and cannons also cost silver. Giving them to Li Cheng-jae for free is too wasteful, after all, we don’t know when he’ll actually become capable.”

Hearing this, Yue Yun laughed heartily. He said, “Who said I’m giving this Li Cheng-jae anything for free? Now, the six prefectures need quite a few laborers for laying railways and for plantations, and Goryeo happens to have many refugees. So, having Liang Dahai bring some refugees back is certainly feasible.”

Liu Chen and Xie Yuan nodded. They knew very well who Liang Dahai was: he was the slave trader personally appointed by the Emperor.

No one knew how long Haigucheng could be held, so it was always good to seize the opportunity to capture some refugees to take back and build railways.