A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 739: Chapter 739: Colluding with the Enemy 1

After Ye Tang’s matter was entrusted to Xia Tingfeng, Zhao Junyao summoned his personal Hidden Guard and ordered them to keep a close watch on Zhao Junqi. They were to report back immediately with any developments. The dozens of Hidden Guards uniformly acknowledged the order. Only then did Zhao Junyao nod in satisfaction, waving his hand to dismiss them.

The night was dark and silent. On the surface, all seemed calm, but beneath, undercurrents surged. However, Zhao Junyao had no energy to spare on further thoughts. As soon as he lay down, he fell asleep. Emperors are human too; he was exhausted.

In the following two days, there was hardly any move from the Southern Ocean Kingdom. The only news was that the Southern Ocean Kingdom had sought help from Lvsong Island, planning to attack the Great Chu Dynasty together.

Upon receiving the news, Zhao Junyao let out a cold laugh. ”How many people did they muster?”

”About ten thousand Navy Forces!” General Xiao answered.

Zhao Junyao’s lips curled in a scornful smile. ”Ten thousand dare to come! It seems I have underestimated Lvsong Island!” That wretched island was even smaller than the Southern Ocean Kingdom; its entire population was no more than forty or fifty thousand. Excluding women and young children? Excluding the old, weak, sick, and disabled? How many able-bodied young men were left to fight? They must have conscripted everyone!

General Xiao grinned slyly. ”Emperor, you haven’t underestimated them!”

”In fact, it’s just as you estimated! They say ten thousand, but in reality, there are fewer than five thousand fit for service! The rest are either too old or too young, some even children! They can’t take to the battlefield at all! And those remaining five thousand men of fighting age? Due to chronic malnourishment, they lack strength and look extremely weak! Two of them aren’t even a match for one of ours!”

Zhao Junyao’s expression held a hint of puzzlement. ”Could it be...”

General Xiao nodded with a smile. ”That’s right!”

”They were all seized by the Southern Ocean Kingdom. The Monarch of Lvsong Island, with little influence or voice, dared not object!”

Indeed, those five thousand-odd able-bodied men were practically all Lvsong Island had. With them all taken, only women, children, and the old and infirm remained. How could they possibly survive?!

Zhao Junyao’s eyes shone with added contempt. ”This bastard Arubasi dares such unscrupulous methods!”

”Just who gave him the audacity to do this?!”

General Xiao smiled imperturbably. ”Emperor, Lvsong Island brought this upon themselves!”

”Furthermore, having battled north and south for so many years, Arubasi’s competitive spirit and pride are strong. After suffering a defeat at our hands, how could he simply give up? For him to resort to such desperate measures to strike back is within our expectations!”

Zhao Junyao thought about it and found it reasonable, so he refrained from commenting further, only instructing, ”Since that is the case, let us proceed with our established plan and ensure a decisive eradication!”

”Yes, Emperor!”

”However...” General Xiao appeared to hesitate. ”Emperor, about Crown Prince Yan...”

Other soldiers might not know, but trusted Ministers like General Xiao and General Liang could not be kept in the dark. Crown Prince Yan had ties with the Southern Ocean, and he had overheard their latest military plan. If he leaked the Great Chu Dynasty’s troop deployment to the Southern Ocean, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhao Junyao understood his concern. His eyes narrowed as he stifled the chill in his heart and said in a deep voice, ”Matters of the Royal Family, I will deal with personally!”

Hearing this, General Xiao felt reassured. ”Yes, Emperor!”

”Then, this servant will go to summon the soldiers!”

Zhao Junyao nodded, and General Xiao took his leave.

「...」

As days passed one by one, both sides remained very quiet. It was as if the previous war had been an illusion, never having happened at all. In truth, beneath the facade of calm, dangers lurked everywhere!

If the enemy does not move, then I will not move. Zhao Junyao certainly knew what they were waiting for. They’re just waiting for news from this side. But Zhao Junqi is already under my surveillance. Wait? HEH, then they can just keep waiting. One side is on land, with overwhelming strength, mighty soldiers and horses, and a steady supply of provisions. The other is adrift at sea, relying on meager rations for food, drink, and all necessities. Who can outlast whom?!

Therefore, Zhao Junyao was not in the least bit anxious. General Xiao and his men felt the same, inspecting the troops and conducting exercises every day as per routine. Everyone rose at sunrise and rested at sunset, spending the day in busy yet fulfilling work, neither rushing nor dragging.

All were in no rush, except for one person: Zhao Junqi.

Everyone around him had been sent by Zhao Junyao. The Hidden Guards stuck to him like leeches, impossible to shake off. These past few days, he had almost been driven to madness.

All the information: the troop deployment plans, the number of soldiers going into battle, how many archers, how many infantry, how many Navy Forces, where the provisions and military supplies were hidden... He knew it all. But what good was knowing all this? If the information couldn’t be sent out, it was all useless. He thought of using carrier pigeons, but those Hidden Guards possessed exceptionally refined lightness skills. A pigeon probably wouldn’t even get far before they intercepted it. Besides, where would he even get pigeons?

So, he was very anxious. Unwilling to remain in this stalemate, he devised many methods to shake off the Hidden Guards. But no matter what tactics he employed, they clung to him like glue, leaving no openings, not a sliver of hope.

”SIGH!” Zhao Junqi stood in his tent, sighing deeply as he gazed at the bright moon outside.

It was over, completely over. The Southern Ocean Kingdom had so few provisions left; they couldn’t hold out much longer. If the battle didn’t start soon, everything would be finished. His plan, his goals, his ambitions... And all his years of painstaking effort would go up in flames, lost forever. Content? How could he possibly be content?

Zhao Junqi stepped out and looked around the tent. Seeing the band of Hidden Guards still loitering nearby, he gave a bitter smile. ”What can I do if I’m not content?!”

”HEH, Imperial Brother, after all these years, I’ve still lost to you!”

He stared at the moon for a long time, then, with a complex expression, he turned. Just as he was about to go back inside, he suddenly saw the Hidden Guards, one by one, collapsing softly.

”Who?!” Zhao Junqi was highly vigilant. He looked around and listened for any disturbances, but found nothing! His eyes gradually brightened.

Could it be that someone is helping me?

With this thought, he went forward again to check around. He noticed that apart from the unconscious Hidden Guards, there was no one else nearby. His expression completely lit up.

”Truly, heaven is on my side!”

Without further delay, he quickly entered the tent and changed into Night Clothes. Then, he flew out at his fastest speed, this time without even riding a horse.

As he departed, a figure as dark as ink appeared on the open ground not far from the front of the tent. Indeed, it was Zhao Junyao—he had said that he would personally handle the scum of the Royal Family. Zhao Junyao was currently masked, also wearing Night Clothes. From head to toe, only his eyes were exposed, cold and sharp as frosty swords. Such eyes, so chilling, filled with anger and sorrow, were something that no one had ever seen.

He stared at the tent where Zhao Junqi had stayed, which by now was empty and silent. His eyes turned a deep red, hesitating and not pursuing immediately.