Translator: ryangohsff Editor: Nora
Chapter 929 – Blacklist
American Region, Free City.
After Jack learned that Great Xia and the Mediterranean had signed an agreement, he could not help but exclaimed, “How magnanimous, what a great act!”
Jack was feeling more and more interested about this opponent.
************
8th month, 12th day, Shanhai City.
With the trading agreement smoothly signed and the negotiation team returning, Shanhai City also welcomed another piece of huge news.
“The Great Xia Queen is pregnant!”
The moment the news was out, the Imperial Court was delighted, and the officials all sent their congratulations.
When Song Tianxiong got the news, he laughed out loud in glee.
Once the king had an heir, the dynasty would have someone to take over, and the people’s sentiment would stabilize. Ouyang Shuo gave a decree that since the queen was pregnant, the people would celebrate, and general amnesty was proclaimed to show the kindness of the ruler.
With that, the festivities started.
…
On this celebratory day, two Sui Tang Dynasty generals came over to Great Xia. They were Dan Xiong Xin and Wang Bodang.
Xia Palace, Wuying Palace.
After proving their identities and registering, Military Affairs Minister Du Ruhui led the two to officially meet the king.
Since Great Xia badly needed a batch of middle-level generals, Ouyang Shuo decided to personally meet them when he received the news. If not, letting the Privy Court handle them was also acceptable.
“I’m Shan Xiongxin, greetings my king!”
“I’m Wang Bodang, greetings my king!”
Within the hall, the two of them bowed at the same time.
Ouyang Shuo sat on the throne, looking down and judging the two.
The Shan Xiongxin that appeared in the wilderness was a middle-aged man. His eyes were slightly small, he had a short beard, and he looked like a righteous person. He did not look like a general. Instead, he looked more like an underworld practitioner.
Shan Xiongxin had really strong martial arts skills, and he was good at using the horse lance. He and Li Shiji were best friends that swore to live and die together.
At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Shan Xiongxin and Li Shiji joined the Di Rang led Wagang rebellion against the Sui. After Di Rang was killed, Shan Xiongxin surrendered to Wang Shichong while Li Shiji went to Li Tang.
In the third year of Wude, Li Shiming led troops to attack Luo Yang. Shan Xiongxin led troops out to attack Li Shiming. When Li Shiji appeared to stop Shan Xiongxin, he backed off.
In the fifth year, Wang Shichong was defeated by Li Shiming, and he surrendered. Li Yuan was ordered to kill Shan Xiongxin and all the other generals. Li Shiji begged him to spare Dan Xiong Xin, but he was rejected.
In jail, Shan Xiongxin consoled Li Shiji, “It is okay. I knew that I would die.”
Li Shiji said, “It is hard to fulfill both brotherhood and loyalty. After you die I’ll take care of your family.” As he said that, he cut off a piece of his own meat to show that he did not forget the oath they made.
In the book- History of the early Tang Dynasty, it mentioned Shan Xiongxin as a valiant general. During the Yuanming time, his image slowly turned ugly.
What was interesting was that after Shan Xiongxin was killed by Li Yuan, at the end of the Tang Dynasty, his 11th generation descendants Shan Xing, Shan Wang and Shan Sheng all joined in the Huangchao Rebellion.
Retribution is truly an interesting concept.
Name: Shan Xiongxin (King Rank)
Dynasty: Sui Dynasty
Identity: Great Xia Dynasty General
Occupation: Advanced General
Loyalty: 65
Command: 68
Force: 82
Intelligence: 55
Politics: 45
Specialty: valiant (raise troops combat strength by 20%, raise troops movement speed by 20%)
Cultivation method: Nil
Equipment: golden tip Zaoyang spear
Evaluation: Shan Xiongxin was valiant and good at using the horse lance, his name was famous in the army.
…
Wang Bodang stood beside Shan Xiongxin, he had a head of long hair with two small braids. He gave off the aura of a person from a different race, his sparkling eyes looked as if he was hiding something.
He was also called Wang Yong, coming from Shanxi River Yitang Village. He was the student of Li Mi and followed him to join the Wagang rebellion.
During the battle between Li Mi and Wang Shichong, he ordered Wang Bodang to guard the logistics base Jinyong City.
Not long after Li Mi lost, Wang Bodang gave up the city and met up with Li Mi. When Li Mi decided to surrender to Tang, Wang Bodang expressed his willingness to follow him to death.
After surrendering, as he was not liked and was not given the platform to show his abilities, Li Mi decided to revolt.
Wang Bodang tried his best to persuade him but failed, so he could only follow him. After Li Mi obtained Taolin County, he was ambushed by Tang General Sheng Yanshi and both of them died.
Name: Wang Bodang (King Rank)
Dynasty: Sui Dynasty
Identity: Great Xia Dynasty general
Occupation: Advanced General
Loyalty: 60
Command: 70
Force: 75
Intelligence: 58
Politics: 45
Specialty: Cavalry Archer (raises combat strength of archers by 20%, raises troops movement speed by 20%)
Cultivation Method: nil
Equipment: nameless bow
Evaluation: loyal soldier, legendary archer.
Some people evaluated him as a loyal person, while some said he was stupid to choose Li Mi. These people said that he was not like Qinqiong, who had learned how to adapt and change.
Ouyang Shuo looked at the two of them; his heart was filled with doubts.
Wang Bodang came over, but his loyalty stat was just at the passing mark. Ouyang Shuo wanted to ask, ‘Where is Li Mi?’
Li Mi was born in a huge aristocratic family. At the end of Sui, when China was in
chaos, he became the leader of the Wugang army and defeated the Sui Army.
Internal instability ensued as a result of Li Mi killing the general of the army Di Rang, which caused the army to lose. Not long after, he was defeated by Wang Shichong and surrendered to Li Tang.
Not long later, he betrayed Tang and was killed by Sheng Yanshi.
One could say that Li Mi was a despicable person.
However, such a person had a loyal follower like Wang Bodang.
Although he had doubts in his heart, Ouyang Shuo kept silent.
After meeting the two of them, Ouyang Shuo and Du Ruhui discussed about where to place them.
Shan Xiongxin would become a Major General in the Somalia Formation. Wang Bodang would become a Major General under Mu Guiying in the 2nd legion of the City Protection Legion Corps.
Wang Bodang was suspicious, which was why Ouyang Shuo arranged him under his eye. He wanted to see what Li Mi was planning.
As for moving Shan Xiongxin to Somalia, Ouyang Shuo wanted him to get away from this mess and not get involved in it.
Ouyang Shuo liked generals like Shan Xiongxin more. Furthermore, he also had Li Shiji behind him, which tempted Ouyang Shuo even more.
Ouyang Shuo could even feel that when Shan Xiongxin found out he was arranged overseas, he had heaved an internal sigh of relief.
Shan Xiongxin was not working together with Wang Bodang. Even if he was, he was being forcefully dragged onto the same boat.
…
Returning to the Imperial Reading Room, Ouyang Shuo called Shen Buhai.
“My king!”
Ouyang Shuo said, “Send someone to pay attention to Shan Xiongxin and Wang Bodang, especially Wang Bodang. Find out who he is contacting in secret.”
“Yes my Lord!”
Shen Buhai nodded.
“If you find out that it’s Li Mi, Immediately capture him with the Shadow Guards.” Ouyang Shuo did not want to play a cat and mouse game with Li Mi.
Maybe Li Mi felt that he had the ability to stir up the world, but in Ouyang Shuo’s eyes, he was just an obstacle that could be removed at any moment.
“Do not worry my king!”
Shen Buhai was similarly really confident.
************
8th month, 13th day, Zi Luolan led the negotiation team back to Shanhai City.
Ouyang Shuo personally welcomed them back at the teleportation formation, giving them the highest honor. Secret Document Pavilion Secretary Bai Nanpu read out their rewards.
Apart from gold and jewelry, some of them were even given ranks.
“Thank you king for your kindness!”
Zi Luolan led them to bow; her eyes did not show even a hint of teasing anymore.
During this trip overseas, Zi Luolan had gained a deeper understanding of Ouyang Shuo, and she did not dare to act so daring anymore.
That afternoon, another huge bomb was released.
The Great Xia Dynasty industrialization department announced that Handan City, Blood Red City, King City, Pill Sun City, Swordsman City, Fallen Leaf City, and Asura City were not included in the Cross Mediterranean trading agreement, and they could not enjoy the relevant investment and tax benefits.
Of course, due to the previous promise, Yanhuang Alliance could still use the trade route.
However, compared to other merchants, their costs would be higher.
At the same time, the Great Xia Dynasty made it clear that other territories in China could enjoy the same treatment as the Great Xia merchants.
While crushing Yanhuang Alliance, they were pulling the other territories close. Ouyang Shuo’s move was totally brilliant, making one clap for him.
The moment the news went out, there were naturally two reactions.
The Yanhuang Alliance merchants groaned, while the other territories clapped their hands; they were ready to embark on voyage trading.
China region specialties would swarm toward the western countries through the voyage trade route.
Truthfully, the Great Xia Dynasty’s actions were really surprising.
Before this, Great Xia was used to staying silent and watching; this time, however, they proactively acted and did not give the Yanhuang Alliance any chance.
Some people said that Yanhuang Alliance was listed into a blacklist by Great Xia and were going to be in a terrible state.
This time, Great Xia was openly going against Yanhuang Alliance, which made the neutral parties really excited.
Some people even said that this was Great Xia’s revenge against Yanhuang Alliance for poisoning Zhang Yi.
Hence, normal players did not blame Great Xia. At most, they said, “Yanhuang Alliance deserves it. If you do not have the strength, do not provoke a lion!”
