315 Surprise Attack (1/2)

Chapter 315: Surprise Attack

Translator: TransnEditor: Transn

Gu Shenwei decided that he would be the first to get rid of the threat from the Meng family, even though he knew very well that many would oppose. But he was ready to justify himself to even the most ardent opponents.

However, there was no need to explain to Maid Lotus, who was willing to follow Dragon King anywhere. The more time they spent together, the more they became indifferent and calm, as they were in the past. Maid Lotus would never reveal anything in her mind.

As one could well imagine, it was the military counselor Fang Wenshi who raised the strongest objection, saying ”This... Your Highness, we had a deal. How can you change your mind so quickly? Allow me to be frank, you are not even remotely eligible for the hegemony, let alone succeeding in acquiring it. Be patient and wait for several years. Do not get yourself in trouble.”

”We spent a long time in preparing for the plan. The Prince of Shu-lik and I had agreed on it, and this has nothing to do with anyone else. I am sorry I did not inform you before carrying out the plan,” Gu Shenwei answered.

Fang Wenshi hoped he could control his facial expression better but he could not conceal the look of indignation and worry. He did not understand what tricks Dragon King was playing and how the prince of Shu-lik was involved.

In the last few days after the fake Dragon King incident, Shu-lik sent messengers to Jade City, with the prince disguised himself as one of them. He brought his sister Tie Linglong with him and wanted to have a conversation with Dragon King.

The prince was a practical person. He did not care about the Great Snowmountain's immediate ”betrayal” after traversing Shu-lik territory, or at least he did not show it. ”Considering that the Western Region is a mess, Shu-lik hopes to make more friends instead of enemies.”

That night, the Prince suggested: after today, Dragon King could take up Jade City, as long as the mountain pass in the west was ceded to Shu-lik.

There were mountain passes on both the eastern and western border of Jade City. Being the most important passage to enter the Western Region from the north, the two mountain passes had been the biggest concern to Shu-lik for many years, especially the one on the west, which was next to Shu-lik's border. Once the Norland army reached the pass, they could drive directly to the heart of Shu-lik.

Therefore, to obtain the western mountain pass was the principal but concealed agenda of Shu-lik. Neither the Norland nor the Central Plain would allow Shu-lik to occupy the fortress just like that.

”I see”, Fang Wenshi suddenly understood and blushed. He always thought that he had succeeded in giving an opportunity for the Great Snowmountain to use the mountain pass by virtue of his glib tongue. He had not expected that Shu-lik had ulterior motives.

It was with the excuse of surveilling the swordsman of the Great Snowmountain that Shu-lik had sent an army of thousands of men near the western mountain pass. This army, in the name of preventing the war from spreading to Shu-lik, was actually eyeing covetously the strategic fortress.

Fang Wenshi suddenly doubted on his own ability, and said, ”The King of Shu-lik and the Prince are really crafty. I'm afraid the ministers are still in the dark.”

”A country's actions are all justifiable,” Gu Shenwei said. He did not think that Shu-lik had gone too far. On the contrary, it gave him more confidence to seek hegemony in the Western Region. Meanwhile, Gu Shenwei did not think there was anything wrong with the military counselor's ability, and he said so, ”If it had not been for your eloquence, Shu-lik could not have sent an army there without showing its true intentions.”

Fang Wenshi was much relieved and grinned shyly. ”Well,” he said, ”there must be something special about Shu-lik that made it the biggest country in Western Region... Alas, I profess to be a counselor, how did not anticipate that my efforts were highjacked by Shu-lik?”

Then he recalled that the original conversation had been about getting rid of the threat of the Meng family, and asked, ”How about the Meng family? What was it that caused hatred between them and Shu-lik?”

It was actually Gu Shenwei's idea to remove the Meng family's threat. He had long understood that the Great Snowmountain was running short of capital, and had not choice but to pay a high price to avoid the Meng family's surveillance. This had become the Great Snowmountain's Achilles' heel.

But when he opened his mouth, the words and emerged were different. The military counselor had never supported the idea of attacking the Meng family, he used to say that in order to attack, it was necessary to have ”justified reason”. Therefore, Gu Shenwei said, ”It's known to all that the relationship between Golden Roc Fort and the Meng family is complicated. If Shu-lik wants to take hold of the western mountain pass, it faces the threat of the Meng family's blocking the commercial routes.”

”So do we really need to take action against the Meng family now?” Fang Wenshi asked, somewhat frustrated. He could not help but have some admiration for rich men, especially the richest one in the Western Region.

Gu Shenwei nodded, and he said, ”In fact, the war has already begun. It just needs more time for the news to reach Jade City.”

The ”news” mentioned by Dragon King spread through the streets at noon the next day, and people were worked themselves into a frenzy to find out every detail about the war.

At the same time, several banks and shops of the Meng family in Shu-lik, were attacked by a group of unknown bandits. People were killed, houses were burned, and most of the gold and silver looted. As a result, the exchange of bank notes was put on hold for a long time.

Before everyone could understand what happened, more news came in the evening.

It was not only the banks and shops in Shu-lik that had been attacked but also nearly 60 of the Meng family's properties distributed in more than 20 countries in the Western Region. In total, one-third of the family's properties had been burnt to ash, amounting to unfathomable losses.

It was said that Meng Yuzun, the forefather of the Meng family, was furious when he heard the news. He blamed it on Dragon King, announcing, ”He will come to a tragic end!”

However, there was no evidence to link these attacks with Dragon King and the Great Snowmountain. The attackers, who looked like typical bandits, were at least seven or eight, at most 20 or 30, bouncing around with the main aim to rob.

However, the attacks took place one after another that it seemed like it had been pre-planned, with the news spreading to Jade City the same day. It was beyond mere roving bandits' ability to do.

Fang Wenshi was also puzzled by this, and he asked, ”Your Highness, how did you find these people?”