Chapter 876

Cao Kun watched the disheveled Yao Hongtao, his face ashen. Upon learning the news of Songjiang City’s fall, he felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him.

“Dog Emperor!” Cao Zhengtong, standing by, cursed fiercely. “He still interfered!”

Cao Kun’s gaze suddenly sharpened. He had expected Xiao Ming not to always sit by and watch, but choosing to act at this moment was truly infuriating.

After such a long period of fierce fighting, both Li Chuyuan’s army and the council army were extremely exhausted. Ammunition and provisions had, more or less, become problematic.

And Songjiang was precisely the base where the council army transported grain and fodder from the sea. Now that this place was taken by Xiao Ming, their supply line was even more strained.

“The merchants’ council was established through our painstaking efforts, to enable the Great Yu Empire to achieve true wealth and strength. No matter what, we will fight the corrupt imperial power to the last man!” Cao Kun suddenly shouted passionately to the council members in the grand hall.

Yao Hongtao’s arm had suffered a gunshot wound. After the imperial soldiers stormed the city, he led his personal guards to cut a bloody path and returned to Suzhou City. This battle made him truly realize the might of the imperial army.

He began to doubt the lies Cao Kun had meticulously crafted. So he retorted, “Cao Kun, you must be wrong. The imperial family now is not the imperial family of the past. I can see the firm will of the imperial soldiers in battle. If every soldier supports Xiao Ming so much, then Xiao Ming must be very respected by them. Moreover, as far as I know, the north is becoming increasingly prosperous.”

Cao Kun stared intently at Yao Hongtao, his face turning from pale to red. He pointed at Yao Hongtao and cursed, “Coward! Have you been scared out of your wits by the northern army? Only the merchants’ council can completely destroy the corrupt Great Yu Empire and establish a rich and strong nation! This is the will of every council member!”

After a pause, he continued, “Every council member must fight for the merchants’ council until death! You are a deserter! You are a disgrace to the council! Men, seize Yao Hongtao! Decapitate him and display his head to the public!”

Yao Hongtao suddenly looked up. He angrily said, “You dare?!”

“I am the Speaker of the Council! Why would I not dare?!” Cao Kun gently raised his hand. Soldiers from both sides immediately rushed forward and firmly pinned Yao Hongtao to the ground.

Only then did Yao Hongtao realize that Cao Kun was serious. He laughed sorrowfully, “I was truly blinded by power. How could I have believed you merchants who are faithless and driven by profit! Cao Kun, don’t think we’re all fools! You’re nothing but a Western dog of war seeking your own ambition!”

“Take him away!” Cao Zhengtong roared angrily.

The soldiers, hearing this, immediately dragged Yao Hongtao out of the main hall. Soon after, a gunshot echoed in the main hall, and Yao Hongtao’s cries ceased.

At this point, Cao Kun turned to the council members in the main hall. He said, “Now we have no retreat. Either we defeat Xiao Ming and seize half the empire, or we die at his hands. Songjiang City has fallen. Xiao Ming will surely dispatch the navy to blockade the coast. None of us can escape this land of the Great Yu Empire.”

Three hundred and seventy-five council members sat in the main hall. Some were formerly merchants, some were powerful families, and others were generals and officials who had defected to the council.

As Cao Kun’s words fell, a man in his thirties stood up. He looked at everyone and said, “Chairman Cao’s words are truly insightful. Now, in the eyes of Xiao Ming and Li Chuyuan, we are rebels and traitors; no one can escape. Now, we can only stake everything. My followers have already gone to various places to gather common people to join the council’s army. Soon, we will have several times more troops than we do now.”

The councilors looked at this man with complex expressions. They all knew him; he was the Azure Dragon King who had once stirred up trouble in Jizhou.

Not long ago, the Azure Dragon King led his followers to Suzhou City. In a very short time, he became an important figure in the council.

“What’s the use of many people? Yao Hongtao said that the northern army’s firearms and cannons are much more powerful than ours. The forty thousand soldiers in Songjiang City were also elites, yet they were crushed in just one day,” a slightly corpulent councilor rose and said. He was the largest porcelain merchant in the State of Chu.

The councilors fell silent. Just as this councilor said, their proud firearms were nothing in the face of the northern army.

The Azure Dragon King, seeing this, said with a mocking smile, “Look at you all! Just losing Songjiang has scared you like this. With such courage, can you fight the northern army? Firearms are important, but the morale of soldiers is even more important. As long as soldiers can charge within one hundred meters, there isn’t much difference between the northern army’s firearms and ours. As long as we can engage in close combat, their weapons lose all their advantage.”

“As expected of the Azure Dragon King, you’re right!”

“We just need to find a way to make the enemy’s weapons lose their advantage.”

“Yao Hongtao said the Great Yu Empire army used trenches. Why can’t we use them? Wouldn’t that prevent their firearms from having an advantage?”

“…”

Cao Kun, hearing the discussions below, cast an approving glance at the Azure Dragon King. Losing Songjiang City was not terrifying; there was still vast land in the south.

However, the blow to morale was severe. Now, the Azure Dragon King’s words restored the confidence of many councilors. However, this was not enough. After some hesitation, he said, “Besides this, I have more good news to tell you. We will soon receive a batch of elite talents, all from Bowen Academy. I believe their arrival will bridge the gap in firearms.”

“What! Is that true?” The councilors were shocked.

Cao Kun revealed a mysterious smile. This plan had been ongoing, but he really wanted these secret agents to learn more. However, from the current situation, it was time to act.

“I will reveal the specific details after they arrive,” Cao Kun said with a mysterious smile.

The councilors became excited and enthusiastic. In their opinion, the future was still full of hope.

Having re-energized the council members, Cao Kun dismissed everyone, leaving only the Azure Dragon King behind.

Breathing a slight sigh of relief, he said to the Azure Dragon King, “These people are really easy to fool. A few words and they’re willing to fight to the death.”

The Azure Dragon King laughed heartily. “Chairman Cao, you can say such things to me, but don’t reveal them to outsiders. Be careful of infiltrators.”

Cao Kun’s expression turned serious. He sneered, “The news I just revealed was to expose infiltrators. It is said that Xiao Ming’s secret guards are quite capable.”

“So that’s how it is.” The Azure Dragon King’s eyes darted around. This Cao Kun was indeed an old fox; he trusted no one.

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