"Your Majesty, the Qin delegation requests an audience!"
Yi Yusong was discussing countermeasures with his ministers when he heard the report and immediately frowned: "What are they doing here?"
"They said..." the eunuch hesitated, "...that they wanted to visit the military camp..."
"What?!" Yi Yusong jumped up. "They actually want to go to the military camp?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," said the naval commander. "In my humble opinion, these people are clearly here to gather intelligence on our Baiyue region!"
"Indeed!" one minister said. "First they caused trouble in the market, then at the docks, and now they want to go to the military camp. This is clearly... a provocation!"
"Enough!" Yi Yusong interrupted the crowd's discussion, "Let them in!"
Soon, Zhang Erhe strode in with his bunch of clowns.
Before the master of ceremonies could even read the announcement, Chu Ping started complaining, "Hey, why does this main hall seem smaller again? Did you change it after we told you yesterday?"
Yi Yusong, barely suppressing his anger, asked, "What exactly is the purpose of the Qin delegation?"
"That's right." Zhang Erhe stepped forward. "We are here on His Majesty's orders to inspect your country's military equipment. We request that the King of Baiyue grant us permission to visit your military camp."
"The military camp..." Yi Yusong's eyes gleamed. "Isn't that inappropriate?"
"What's wrong with it?" Wang Pen interjected. "We're a legitimate mission, not here to gather military intelligence. Unless..."
He gave the naval commander a meaningful look: "Unless... you have some unspeakable secret?"
The naval commander was so angry that his face turned pale, but he couldn't retaliate.
Who told these people to be envoys of the Qin Dynasty?
At present, the Baiyue are not in a position to confront the Qin state directly, so they can only choose to endure and wait for the right time to act.
"Very well." Yi Yusong pondered for a moment, "Since it's the request from the Qin delegation, I will naturally grant it. Someone, have the naval commander accompany them for a tour. However..."
He gave Zhang Erhe a meaningful look: "This is a military camp, so please be careful with your words and actions, and refrain from any reckless behavior."
"Of course!" Chu Ping chuckled. "Don't worry, we definitely won't do anything reckless!"
Hearing him say this only made everyone more worried.
These rascals, if they don't cause trouble, they're even more likely to get into big trouble!
Upon arriving at the military camp, the oppressive atmosphere that greeted them did not bother Chu Ping and his men at all.
"This is it?" Old Dong looked around with disdain. "You call this a military camp? Even a small camp in our Great Qin is much more impressive than this!"
"Exactly!" Wang Peng chimed in, "Look at these weapons, all rusty, they haven't been used in years!"
The naval commander, barely suppressing his anger, said, "You jest. My Baiyue navy..."
"The navy?" Chu Ping interrupted him. "Just those ducks at the dock? I thought they were something powerful!"
"You..." The naval commander nearly fainted. These people were far too audacious!
"Let's go, let's go see those warships!" Old Dong said excitedly as he walked forward. "It'll be a good opportunity for them to see what a real navy is like!"
Upon arriving at the shipyard, several warships were moored there. These were the main warships of the Baiyue people, usually quite imposing.
"Oh my goodness!" Chu Ping exclaimed exaggeratedly, "This is called a warship? It looks more like a fishing boat!"
"Outrageous!" a Baiyue general couldn't hold back any longer. "This is our newest warship!"
"New type?" Wang Pen scoffed. "Your boats aren't even as good as the fishing boats of my Great Qin! Look how short the mast is, it's obviously not going to hold up..."
"Exactly!" Old Dong chimed in, "And this ship's hold is way too small. It's fine for storing provisions, but how will it be used in a war?"
The general's face turned ashen, but he dared not retaliate. These people were envoys from the Great Qin Dynasty; even if they spoke excessively, they could only endure it.
"Gentlemen..." the naval commander tried to smooth things over, "While this ship may not be as prestigious as those of the Qin Dynasty, it is still one of the best in the South China Sea..."
"The South China Sea?" Chu Ping's eyes lit up. "That's the sea route to Xianglin? No wonder you've been able to monopolize it!"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the Baiyue generals changed. The Xianglin sea route was a secret; how did these people know about it?
"You jest, sir," the naval commander forced a smile. "What Xianglin route? We've never heard of it..."
"Is that so?" Wang Pen sneered. "Then why do all your boats keep heading south? Are you going fishing?"
The naval commander was sweating profusely.
He became increasingly certain that these people were definitely testing him and plotting against Xianglin!
"Come on, come on!" Old Dong chimed in, "Let's get on board and take a look. Maybe we'll find something interesting..."
"Wait, envoys!" The naval commander stopped them. "This is a heavily guarded area on warships; it's not appropriate for unauthorized personnel to go aboard..."
"Idle people?" Chu Ping's eyes widened. "Who are you calling idle people? We are envoys from the Great Qin! Do you believe we'll go back and tell Yi Yusong that your Baiyue navy is up to no good?"
"This..." The naval commander was speechless for a moment. These people really are unreasonable!
Just as the stalemate was at hand, a messenger rushed in: "Report! His Majesty has decreed that all envoys return to the palace immediately for a meeting!"
"Oh?" Chu Ping blinked. "He's getting restless? Okay, let's go meet him!"
After they left, the naval commander immediately sent someone to report: "Your Majesty, the envoys were clearly after the Xianglin route! They even knew that, I'm afraid..."
Before he could finish speaking, another man in black rushed over: "Something's wrong! Someone just spotted several suspicious merchant ships secretly heading south!"
"What?!" The naval commander's expression changed drastically. "Quickly send men to stop them! These people..."
He gazed in the direction the delegation had gone, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
These Qin envoys really don't have good intentions!
Inside the palace, Yi Yusong's face darkened horribly after hearing the naval commander's report.
These Qin envoys have not only caused unrest in the markets and docks, but now they have even disturbed the military camps.
The most critical thing is that they actually already know about Xianglin's affairs.
This secret sea route was the greatest source of wealth for the Baiyue people.
If the Qin Dynasty were to lay its hands on it...
"Your Majesty," an old minister said, "in my opinion, these people must have been prepared all along. Should we...?"
"No need for further explanation!" Yi Yusong waved his hand. "I have my own plans. Someone, go and fetch the naval commander to see me!"
Did these Qin envoys really think the Baiyue were easy to mess with?
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