The Book of Troubled Times

Zhao Changhe glanced at Sanniang's expression cautiously.

Sanniang didn't show anything special. Her beautiful eyes glanced at the other person's face, and then she looked around, her expression as usual.

Zhao Changhe also breathed a sigh of relief. He and Sanniang stood behind Lai Qi and watched their conversation.

First of all, let's see if Lai Qi can sell people... He is honest on the boat, but when he has a backer, he may not really listen to what they say. It depends on what he thinks.

Lai Qi really didn't think about selling them out. He actually vaguely guessed that the man and woman were not necessarily here to help fight pirates, but more likely to target Penglai. It was a bit obvious from the way they followed them in disguise. However, we are from different countries. Even if this man and woman are here to harm Penglai, it is not a bad thing.

Who has the patience to really work together to suppress the bandits? The pirates have no interest in destroying the country, but it is hard to say who is stupider than the Penglai navy.

He smiled and raised his wine glass to greet each other from a distance: "We haven't seen each other for many years, and my hair has turned gray. Haishuai seems to be the same as he was a few years ago. It seems that there are indeed strong people who have achieved spiritual success and ordinary people like us." It’s different.”

Hai Changkong smiled and said: "General Lai can't be said to be an ordinary person. The ninth level of Xuan Guan is a hero even in the Xia Kingdom."

Lai Qi smiled. The obvious difference between the people of Penglai Kingdom and other countries on the sea is that the other people on the sea came to the sea in different historical periods in the early years. Many people do not even know what the Xia Kingdom is. "the meaning of.

Only people in Penglai always refer to it as Xia. In the early years, it meant a bit of hatred, but over the years, it has become a sense of superiority that "we are more knowledgeable about things on the shore" and "we have more experience than you."

Lai Qi was too lazy to talk about it and went straight to the topic: "Does the Commander-in-Chief need to wait until all the countries are here to discuss this bandit suppression issue, or can he have a few words with Lai now?"

"It doesn't hurt to talk about it first." Hai Changkong said: "This time of joint suppression of bandits, originally the suppression of bandits was just incidental."

Lai Qi was startled: "What do you mean? Poseidon's decree is for everyone to suppress the bandits."

Hai Changkong smiled: "Poseidon asked everyone to come to suppress the bandits. Everyone has their own thoughts. Whether they are really suppressing bandits or just hanging out, no one knows. How to manage the allied forces and direct the battle situation like an arm, Poseidon I won’t interfere, of course it’s up to me to make my own decision.”

Lai Qi's expression changed slightly.

This is not a hint, it is an explicit statement.

Everyone has their own thoughts, some come to suppress bandits, some come to travel, and of course some can take this opportunity to unify the East China Sea. Is that what you mean?

Hai Changkong said nakedly, I want to recruit you, and I will make the capital of Java an island under the rule of Penglai!

Because countries follow the "oracle", they are very diligent in sending troops, and the main force is basically here. As long as the main force is swallowed up, the game is over directly, no need to struggle.

There is really no need to wait for everyone to talk about it, just talk one by one and beat them all to the ground.

Lai Qi knew that he couldn't even resist at all, and Penglai's attempt to subdue him was just a joke.

But in fact, it is not that everyone has not considered this kind of thing, Lai Qi was not false, and calmed down: "Penglai really wants to unify the East China Sea, isn't it afraid of the Poseidon?"

If a truly unified and powerful maritime empire emerges, it will inevitably face a problem: the struggle between divine power and monarchy. Originally, all countries worshiped the Poseidon, but the monarchy was scattered across so many countries. No monarch could challenge the Poseidon. Once a great unity was formed, the situation would be different.

In the past few years, Penglai's strength has crushed other countries, but it has never dared to do anything to destroy the country. This is the main reason.

Are they not afraid now? Dare to openly challenge Poseidon's authority?

In addition, countries are far away from each other, and it often takes one or two months to sail to another country. The significance of this kind of "destroying a country" is still unknown. There is a high probability that even if a country is destroyed, it will remain autonomous. Is Hai Pinglan crazy? Why do he do something like this that has basically no benefits but has to provoke Poseidon?

Hai Changkong chuckled and said: "Your Majesty, there is no need for you to guess too much... Besides, it was Poseidon who asked us to send troops this time. Why don't you think this is Poseidon's tacit approval?"

Lai Qi frowned for a long time before saying, "Can you allow me to think about it for one night?"

Hai Changkong waved his hand cheerfully: "Of course we don't rely on coercion. We convince people with virtue, and we convince others with virtue. Come, send General Lai to rest, and arrange for the most beautiful girl."

"There's no need for that, girl. Lai also needs to discuss it with the lieutenants."

Hai Changkong did not insist and readily stood up to see Lai Qi off.

Lai Qi returned to the guest house with a heavy heart. In fact, he had nothing to think about. He planned to ask the "Venerable" for his opinion: "The Venerable..."

Sanniang waved her hand, listened carefully for a moment, and whispered: "No eavesdropping."

Lai Qi said: "What on earth are they thinking? I'm sorry that Lai really can't understand."

Sanniang and Zhao Changhe looked at each other, equally confused. From the looks of it, the only possibility is that Hai Pinglan is really falling out with Poseidon, and it is difficult to find a second explanation.

The so-called destruction of the country has no real meaning, but it actually does.

It is now known that a large part of the power of Poseidon needs the power of faith. If it is a competition in this aspect, it does not matter if there is no benefit to destroying the country. As long as the faith is destroyed, forced conversion, etc., Poseidon can be weakened.

The strange thing is why Hai Pinglan dares to do such an obvious thing. Even if Poseidon can't beat Xia Longyuan, wouldn't it be easy for Hai Pinglan to beat you? Are you going to kill yourself if you provoke me so directly?

Could it be that this was really the tacit approval of Poseidon himself?

Zhao Changhe said flatly: "I still suggest eavesdropping... This is also their first showdown with a small country. When we leave, they will definitely discuss it internally, so that we can hear the true meaning."

Sanniang said nothing, and the two disappeared into the night. After a while, they reappeared in the restaurant, landed silently on the top, lifted a small piece of tile and looked inside.

Hai Changkong was still having a banquet with his subordinates. As expected, what he said was different from what he had just said. His arrogant look was gone, and instead he was a bit worried: "Lai Qi is not a tough person, but his performance this time really impressed me." I'm surprised, maybe he has something else to rely on..."

General Bien Shang advised: "The commander-in-chief doesn't need to be so cautious. Java said that Po Tian is just a small character."

Hai Changkong sighed: "You don't know... There is news from the pirate side that the third master is back. Do you know what this means?"

The generals looked at each other, most of them really didn't know. Only a few veterans knew the meaning, and they all lowered their voices and asked, "Really?"

"True. The Sea King suddenly used his sea tribesmen to attack the pirates before. There was a woman who was very strong in that battle, so she must be the one."

The one who knew it was a little upset: "She is really back...at this moment!"

Hai Changkong's tiger eyes swept over everyone, taking in all the expressions, and said coldly: "So this battle must be won but not defeated. I cannot ignore any slight changes."

"She... what is her strength?" someone asked cautiously.

"Absolutely the same as me." Hai Changkong said calmly: "In short, he is not an immortal. When we see him, we will kill him at any cost."

"Then...since there is detailed work, where is their new base? They may not need to look for it anymore?"

"Of course, that was for all countries to hear, so as not to leak the news to the pirates. In fact, I have always known where they are."

Everyone looked like they were sighing and toasted: "As expected of the commander-in-chief, he can strategize and cannot be troubled at all."

Everyone in Hai Changkong drank without hesitation, and the atmosphere at the banquet became noisy, as if the solemnity just now was just a gust of wind passing by, and no one cared.

Seeing that his ears were full of wine, a general stood up unsteadily and said with a smile: "I'm going to relieve myself."

No one paid any attention to him.

He wandered out of the backyard, but did not go to the toilet. Instead, he quickly summoned his followers: "Quick, go..."

"Where to go?" The general turned his head in shock and saw Hai Changkong standing behind him with a smile.

He suddenly broke out in a cold sweat and said with an apologetic smile: "The young general is too drunk, so I asked my attendant to buy some hangover medicine..."

Zhao Changhe and Sanniang were ready to attack and rescue people almost at the same time.

"Oh, it's okay. I have some medicine here. If you have anything to say in the future, just ask." To the surprise of both of them, Hai Changkong hugged the general's shoulder affectionately and returned to the hall with a smile, as if nothing had happened. Did not happen.

Sanniang's eyes widened and she was a little shocked.

In the scene just now, the general should be communicating with the pirates, telling them that the place is exposed and they should retreat quickly. But Hai Changkong followed him out openly and secretly, but didn't express any reaction at all. He just interrupted his message.

Shouldn't this be taken down immediately?

Even the so-called knowing where the pirates are is just fishing. Just wait for the traitor to pass on the information to the pirates and send someone to follow them. Only then can you truly find out where the pirates are.

This is the conventional understanding.

But what is Hai Changkong doing? Are you protecting this general in turn?