The Great Qin Dynasty, Xianyang.

"Grand Commandant, we're back!"

As Zhang Erhe led his group of clowns through the gates of the Grand Commandant's mansion, they found the wicked husband already waiting there.

"You've had a good time!" the wicked husband said with a smirk. "Judging by your arrogant demeanor, this trip south must have been worthwhile, right?"

"Hehe." Chu Ping rubbed his hands together smugly, "You have no idea, we turned Baiyue upside down. Just the look on Yi Yusong's face alone made the trip worthwhile!"

"Really?" the wicked husband asked, intrigued. "Come in and tell us."

Upon arriving at the study, everyone sat down according to their status as host or guest.

The wicked husband had fruit and wine brought in before asking, "Tell me, what have you found out?"

Zhang Erhe gathered his thoughts: "Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the Baiyue are indeed up to something. Our investigations have revealed that they have not only deployed a large force in the south, but are also secretly building warships. Most importantly..."

"What's the most important thing?"

"The most important thing is that southern sea route," Zhang Erhe lowered his voice. "My subordinates discovered that they've set up several outposts at sea to specifically control merchant ship traffic. And..."

He looked around to make sure no one else was there before continuing, "And they do indeed have a new road that leads directly to 'Xianglin'."

"Just as I thought!" A glint flashed in the wicked husband's eyes. "Tell me more details."

"Reporting to the Grand Commandant," Wang Pen continued, "we learned from the market that Xianglin seems to be located far to the south. The Baiyue people made their fortunes off this sea route."

"That's right!" Old Dong chimed in. "I specifically went to investigate. Those merchants said that all goods transported from Xianglin have to pass through the Baiyue checkpoints. Not only do they collect heavy taxes, but they also control the entire shipping route."

The wicked man nodded: "No wonder they've become increasingly arrogant over the years. This sea route is indeed a major source of wealth. However..."

He gave the group a meaningful look: "How did you manage to extract these words from the Baiyue people?"

"That's easy!" Chu Ping chuckled. "First, we caused trouble in the market, scaring those merchants half to death. And then..."

He vividly described their "performance" in Baiyue. From bustling markets to docks, from docks to military camps, and finally even the royal palace was disrupted by them.

"Excellent!" the wicked husband exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table in praise. "Your move has truly stirred up the enemy!"

"That's right!" Wang Pen said smugly. "You wouldn't believe it, Yi Yusong's face is like a color palette, turning from green to white in an instant. Especially when we said we wanted to inspect the southern navy, he immediately couldn't sit still!"

"That's not all," Zhang Erhe added. "We deliberately spread the word that a suspicious merchant ship had been spotted fleeing south. Upon hearing this, the Baiyue navy immediately mobilized its forces to pursue it. That's when they gave themselves away!"

"Brilliant!" The wicked man nodded repeatedly. "So, they really do have a secret in the south?"

"Absolutely true!" Old Dong said. "Before we left, we deliberately spread the word that we would return to report to the King that they harbored rebellious intentions!"

"And guess what? The Baiyue navy acted immediately, dispatching warships overnight to blockade the southern shipping lanes."

"I see." The wicked man stroked his chin. "It seems this matter is more interesting than we thought. They're trying to keep this a secret, preventing anyone from knowing the secrets of the south!"

He then asked, "Did you also check where that shipping route is located?"

"This..." Zhang Erhe shook his head, "The Baiyue people have kept this news very well hidden. However, I have discovered something."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

"Their navy always heads southeast when they go to sea. And they always sail in groups of several ships, never alone. It seems that route is not safe."

"Interesting!" The wicked man's eyes lit up. "No wonder they want to control the shipping lanes. There must be a lot of money involved, right?"

"It's more than just a lot!" Chu Ping interjected. "Just those spices alone sell for a hundred gold coins per pound! Not to mention pearls and tortoiseshell."

"So you see..." Wang Pen added, "the Baiyue are getting increasingly arrogant, all because of this source of wealth. But they don't even know whose territory this is!"

The wicked man gestured for them to shut up, then asked Zhang Erhe, "Besides these, what else did you find?"

"Reporting to the Grand Commandant," Zhang Erhe said solemnly, "I have observed that the Baiyue navy is quite powerful. There are over a hundred warships anchored in the harbor alone. Moreover..."

"And what?"

"Moreover, their ships are specially designed. They are tall and large, allowing them to sail steadily through storms. If used in warfare, they would be difficult to deal with."

The wicked man nodded: "Now that you mention it, something reminds me of something. A few days ago, the South Sea Commandery reported that the Baiyue were conscripting craftsmen; it turns out they were building ships!"

"Indeed!" Zhang Erhe said. "My subordinates also discovered that they have established numerous outposts along the coast. It seems they intend to control the entire South China Sea."

"Hmph!" the wicked husband sneered, "They're trying to rival our Great Qin!"

He walked over to the map on the wall and began to examine it carefully. Seeing this, everyone quieted down and waited for the Grand Commandant to speak.

After a long silence, the wicked man finally turned around: "Tell me, what should we do if our Great Qin wants this sea route?"

"This..." Zhang Erhe thought for a moment, "If we were to fight by force, I'm afraid it would be disastrous. However, I do have an idea."

Tell me about it.

"In my opinion, what the Baiyue people fear most is the leak of this sea route's secret. We might as well send some more merchant ships to investigate. Once they panic, they'll naturally reveal their weaknesses. Then..."

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