Chapter 350: Old Friends, King Qing’s Way to Wealth
May 17th.

The Wuliang army invaded western Liaoning, and the court issued an order for Chongshan Town, Beiyuan Town, and the troops in western Liaoning and Liaodong to rush to the rescue.

May 18th.

Chen Tonghui, the left vice minister of the Ministry of War, was given the additional title of right deputy censor-in-chief and governor-general of the war in western Liaoning.

May 19th.

The 6,500-strong Tenglong Guards camp and 10,000 ordinary soldiers gathered outside the Acropolis, with all their weapons, armor, and food supplies ready, ready to go at any time.

In the study room of the Weisi Yamen, Yang Zhengshan looked at the hanging map and pondered the upcoming war.

At this time, the city of Qinghuafu had been sealed off, and all the troops in the city had fallen into the hands of Prince Qing. In addition, Prince Qing mobilized the palace guards and Qinghua guards into the city, with a total force of more than 11,000.

In addition, Chongshan Town also fed back a lot of information. It can be confirmed that Hou Yao, the lieutenant general of Fuzhou Guard in the north of Chongshan Town, and Liu Zeqing, the lieutenant general of Songzhou Guard in the east, had defected to Fei Yu, and Lu Chongde, the governor of Chongshan Town, and Ji He, the lieutenant general of Dingliao Guard in the south, had been taken prisoner.

The only thing that made Yang Zhengshan feel fortunate was that he received replies from Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu. These two were not captured by Ji Feiyu and were already preparing for war.

The situation facing Yang Zhengshan at this time was divided into two parts. One part was the Wuliang army in western Liaoxi. Liaoxi and Liaodong were separated by the Changqing Mountains, and the Wuliang army should not enter the Liaodong territory in a short time.

The second part is Chongshan Town and Qinghua Prefecture, where the rebels of Prince Qing and the imperial army are intertwined, with each other in the midst of each other.

Ji Feiyu, the general of Chongshan Town, together with Hou Yao, the lieutenant general of the north, Liu Zeqing, the lieutenant general of the east, and Cui Liang, the lieutenant general of the west, should be able to gather an army of 50,000 to 80,000.

Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu are estimated to be able to gather an army of 20,000, which is a big gap in military strength compared to the enemy. However, the garrisons of various cities in Chongshan Town and the officials of various guards will not necessarily all defect to Ji Feiyu. Although the military strength of the garrison offices and guards is relatively weak, the troops they control are not a small number.

But now Chongshan Town is in chaos, and the garrison offices and guard posts are in disarray.

Yang Zhengshan marked them one by one on the map, frowning and thinking: "I wonder if the court has received the news of Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu's rebellion!"

"The problem now is that Chongshan Town is a mess. We need a strong person to lead Chongshan Town and gather this mess into a force!"

This is where the trouble lies. Ji Feiyu is plotting treason, Governor Lu Chongde is imprisoned, the Governor's Office and the Dusi Office are all in decline, leaving Chongshan Town with no one able to take charge of the overall situation.

Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu are definitely not suitable. They are lieutenant generals and are fine in their respective territories, but once they leave the central route, it is difficult for them to mobilize those guards and garrisons.

Yang Zhengshan is even worse off, as he is the commander of Tenglong Guard and has nothing to do with Chongshan Town.

Without a subordinate relationship, he could not mobilize the guards and garrisons of Chongshan Town.

"I hope the court can react quickly!"

Yang Zhengshan could only place his hope on the speed of the court's reaction.

Just as Yang Zhengshan was considering the situation in Chongshan Town, a personal attendant walked in quickly from outside the door. "Sir, there is someone outside the door who wants to see you. The name of the person is Wei, and he said he is an old friend of yours!"

"Old friend!"

Yang Zhengshan's expression changed, and he said, "Please invite the person over!"

There seems to be only one old friend named Wei.

Sure enough, as Yang Zhengshan expected, the attendant quickly brought Wei Cen to the study.

"Hello, General!" Wei Cen was still the same, with a solemn expression and without any extra emotions.

Yang Zhengshan's lips curled up slightly, "I didn't expect you to still be in Liaodong!"

"I have always been in Liaodong!" said Wei Cen.

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly, not surprised.

He had always known that the Secret Guards were keeping an eye on Prince Qing, but he didn't know who the leader of the Secret Guards in Liaodong was.

"Please sit down! Bring me some tea!" Yang Zhengshan said calmly.

When the tea came, Yang Zhengshan looked at Wei Cen. They had not seen each other for seven or eight years. When they met again, Yang Zhengshan felt a little strange.

"Why are you here?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"Prince Qing!" Wei Cen said concisely.

Yang Zhengshan nodded and said, "Tell me, I'm a little confused now!"

All his judgments now are based on guesses, and he doesn't know whether his guesses are right or wrong.

Wei Cen sat opposite him and said slowly: "We have been investigating Prince Qing for many years, but now we find that our investigation direction is wrong~~"

He told Yang Zhengshan about their investigations on Prince Qing over the years.

The ability of the Secret Guards is unquestionable, but Yang Zhengshan was also amazed by Prince Qing's cunningness.

According to Wei Cen's narration, the Secret Guards' focus was actually the same as Yang Zhengshan's. They were both attracted to Prince Qing's fleet in the beginning. However, the Secret Guards knew much more about the situation than Yang Zhengshan.

Prince Qing does have a fleet, and the scale of this fleet is not small. However, this fleet is not in Qinghua Prefecture, or even in Dayong, but in Heishan Island.

That’s right, the pirates on Heishan Island are Prince Qing’s fleet.

The pirates of Montenegro rarely actively rob merchant ships unless the merchant ships are close to Montenegro, simply because they are not real pirates.

For a long time, Prince Qing’s navy has been hiding on Heishan Island, but they did not stay only on Heishan Island.

Previously, the pirates of Heishan Island had defeated the navy of the Lee Seong Dynasty, and then the Silla Kim clan began to rebel.

"So the Silla Jin family is King Qing's people?" Yang Zhengshan frowned when he heard this.

If the Silla Jin family is King Qing's people, then it will be troublesome.

Although the Li Sheng Dynasty was not very powerful, it was a dynasty after all.

"No, the Silla Jin family and King Qing are in a cooperative relationship. Although the Silla Jin family was supported by King Qing in the early days, now that the Silla Jin family has become king, they are not controlled by King Qing." Wei Cen said.

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly. This was understandable.

Whether it was the Lee royal family or the Silla Kim clan, they all actually had awe for Daerong deep down.

Although the Silla Kim clan has now occupied the Lee Seong Dynasty, no, there is no Lee Seong Dynasty now. Two years ago, the Silla Kim clan changed the country's name to the Kim Young Dynasty, but they have not yet received the enthronement from the old emperor.

There are still several members of the Li royal family in Kyoto. Although the Li Sheng Dynasty has been destroyed, the bloodline of the Li royal family still exists.

In recent years, the Kim family of Silla has been seeking to be enthroned by the old emperor, and the attitude of the court is divided into two factions. Some people want to help the Lee Dynasty regain the throne, while others believe that the Kim family of Silla can be enthroned.

"Then the Silla Jin family may also cooperate with Prince Qing. As long as they help Prince Qing obtain the throne, Prince Qing will definitely recognize the Jin Rong Dynasty!" Yang Zhengshan said.

Wei Cen nodded, "Don't rule out this possibility!"

In order to obtain Darong's enthronement and help Prince Qing ascend to the throne, this is not impossible.

It all depends on whether the Jin family of Silla dares to bet on Prince Qing.

"Anything else?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"Yes, we found that Prince Qing's fleet has been providing supplies to the Jin family of Silla, and their supplies come from Jiangnan!" Wei Cen said.

This means that there are people in Jiangnan who are working for Prince Qing!
Yang Zhengshan looked up at the map beside him, frowning and thinking.

It costs a lot of money to train an army. Analyzing from the currently known intelligence, Prince Qing controls the soldiers of the two guards and a navy. The rebels in Chongshan Town can be trained with the help of the court, but the power in his hands can only be supported by himself.

The amount of money and food consumed to support the two guards and a large navy is definitely not a small amount.

This shows that Prince Qing has other ways to make money, otherwise he would definitely not be able to support so many troops. Jiangnan and the Li Sheng Dynasty are considered a way to make money.

In the past, smuggling in Anyuan City was considered a way to make money.

But it’s not enough, there’s still one more thing missing.

Ji Feiyu and the Wulianghu tribe!
"Did you not realize that Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu were in collusion?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"No!" Wei Cen showed a bitter smile.

This time, their Secret Army Guard Zhenbei Division was seriously derelict in their duty. After investigating for so many years, they were completely unaware of the collusion between Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu. It can be said that they have brought shame to the Secret Army Guard.

"How did Ji Feiyu collude with the Wulianghu tribe?" Yang Zhengshan raised the question in his mind.

Obviously, Ji Feiyu has been colluding with the Wulianghu tribe for a long time. When Ji Feiyu was still the deputy general of the west road of Chongshan Town, he had already colluded with the Wulianghu tribe.

How did the two parties reach a cooperation? What is the basis of mutual trust?
It's impossible that Ji Feiyu can just send someone over to talk to the Wulianghu people and the people will be willing to cooperate with them, right?

This is definitely impossible!

There must be some interests involved between Ji Feiyu and the Wulianghu tribe!

The interests involved between them are definitely smuggling.

To put it simply, Ji Feiyu has most likely been providing various resources to the Wulianghu tribe.

Both parties trade, share what they have and gain profit together.

The Wulianghu tribe needed the supplies provided by Ji Feiyu, and Ji Feiyu, or King Qing, could earn money and food through them.

The previous exposure of the smuggling collusion between Anyuan City and the Hu tribe of Donghai became the best cover for Ji Feiyu.

However, there is still a problem, that is, how the supplies are transported to Chongshan Town West Road.

It definitely wasn’t transported from Qinghua Prefecture, otherwise this line would have been exposed long ago!
Yang Zhengshan looked at the map with his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Jiangnan, Jizhou, Liaoxi, Chongshan Town West Road!"

"Jiangnan, Jizhou, Li Sheng Dynasty!"

"Brother Wei, it seems that your investigation into Prince Qing has only uncovered the tip of the iceberg!"

"You are looking in the wrong direction. Neither Qinghua Prefecture nor Lisheng Dynasty is the key. The key lies in Jizhou!"

Wei Cen also looked at the map, but couldn't say a word.

This really shows how perfect Prince Qing’s plan is.

The Jiangnan, Jizhou, Liaoxi, and Chongshan Town West Road has nothing to do with Qinghua Prefecture at all, and a complete commercial route can be formed without passing through Qinghua Prefecture.

No one would doubt that the caravan entering Chongshan Town West Road from western Liaoning would be related to Prince Qing.

The trade route between Jiangnan and the Li Sheng Dynasty is on the sea, and even if the sea travel requires a fixed route, it is difficult to catch them.

The only risk of exposure is that part of the money they harvested must be transported to Qinghua Prefecture, so the news that Prince Qing has a fleet cannot be hidden.

However, it is very difficult to find out the situation and whereabouts of this fleet, because it is difficult to get on board and it is also difficult to track them on the sea.

Yang Zhengshan changed the subject and asked, "So what do you need to do next? What do you need me to do?"

Wei Cen shook his head. "It's not what we need you to do, it's what you need us to do?"

"Under the admiral's orders, I will provide all intelligence information to the general. As long as the general needs it, I can provide the general with the information I have. The general can tell me what information he needs, and I can arrange people to investigate!" Wei Cen said.

"Admiral, where is Eunuch Lu now?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"The Admiral has already gone to Liaoxi!"

"Then how many people do you have under your command?" Yang Zhengshan continued to ask.

Wei Cen said: "I am now a captain of Zhenbei Division, with 180 secret agents and 300 imperial guards under my command. In addition, I can activate all the shadows in Liaodong area and Chongshan Town!"

Yang Zhengshan looked at Wei Cen in surprise.

Is it already a thousand households?
A secret agent is a person who is responsible for investigating cases and gathering intelligence.

The Tiqi were the armed forces of the Secret Guards.

Shadows refer to intelligence personnel lurking and hiding in the dark.

The Secret Guard Captain can mobilize quite a bit of power.

Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment and said, "I need you to provide me with all the information about Chongshan Town, every city, every garrison, the more detailed the better!"

"No problem!" Wei Cen agreed without hesitation.

"Also, keep an eye on the Jin Rong Dynasty. If they intend to send troops, tell me in advance!" Yang Zhengshan said.

If the Jinrong Dynasty is willing to send troops to help Prince Qing, the situation will become more complicated.

In the past four years, Tenglongwei has also cooperated with the Jinrong Dynasty, and the two sides have frequently engaged in maritime trade. Speaking of Tenglongwei, there is also suspicion of aiding the enemy, but this is allowed by the old emperor, so Yang Zhengshan is not too worried.

"can!"

Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment and asked, "Do you still have any more men at Chongshan Pass?"

"Yes, but not many, probably only about thirty or so! Well, they are all warriors!" Wei Cen said.

"Can I still contact them?"

"can!"

Yang Zhengshan's eyes lit up, "Let's see if we can rescue Lu Chongde."

Wei Cen shook his head, "We've tried, and we can't save him!"

"..."

Yang Zhengshan was speechless.

Lu Chongde, the governor of Chongshan Town, is now the only one who can take charge of the overall situation of Chongshan Town. Yang Zhengshan still wants to rescue him, but now it seems there is no chance.

"Forget it then!" That was all Yang Zhengshan could say.

Wei Cen did not care about Yang Zhengshan's disappointment, because his coming to Yang Zhengshan already meant that Yang Zhengshan was the only one who could change the situation in Liaodong and Chongshan Town.

Lu Hua understood this and asked Wei Cen to help Yang Zhengshan.

Of course, they also arranged people to find Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu, but their main focus was still on Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan stood up, took another look at the map, and said, "Next, I plan to besiege Qinghua City. I need you to keep an eye on Chongshan Pass and Songzhou Guard. If they send troops to Qinghua City, I want to know it first."

Undoubtedly, the key to this battle is Prince Qing, and as long as Prince Qing is captured, the biggest problem will be solved.

Therefore, the battle of Qinghua City became the most important battle.

"As you command!" Wei Cen stood up and clasped his fists in response.

(End of this chapter)