Chapter 13: Forming an Alliance with Western Powers

Page (1/3)

Night fell, and the rolling waves of the sea shimmered silver under the moonlight. Li Chuan stood at the bow of the ship, his eyes fixed on the distant starry sky, as if contemplating each move of the steps ahead.

“Do you really believe these Westerners will cooperate with us?” Lana’s voice came from behind him, tinged with doubt.

Li Chuan turned around, his gaze resolute. “I don’t believe it. But we can use their ambition to our advantage.”

Leaning against the ship’s rail, Lana sighed softly. “The Black Flag Consortium’s reach has already stretched under the noses of the Westerners. Do you think they’ll accept our proposal?”

Li Chuan smiled slightly. “The Western powers are arrogant, but their instinct for profit is sharper than anyone’s. As long as we offer enticing enough terms, they won’t refuse.”

For the next several hours, Li Chuan and Lana meticulously examined the details and drafted a proposal highly attractive to the Western powers.

“We tell them that the Black Flag Consortium is gradually devouring the Western trade routes, and if they don’t act, they will ultimately lose control of these waters,” Li Chuan marked the map with his pen. “At the same time, we’re willing to share the spoils, and even provide support at key ports.”

Lana nodded but then raised a concern. “What if they think they can wipe out both the Black Flag Consortium and us directly, and then seize the sea themselves?”

“That’s why the leverage must remain in our hands,” Li Chuan said steadily. “You are our best envoy. Your wisdom and courage can handle their tests, while I will hold back the main forces of the Black Flag Consortium behind the scenes to buy you time.”

Lana looked at him, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips. “You seem to have great confidence in me.”

Li Chuan smiled. “Because you have never let me down.”

At dawn the next day, Lana set out with a small contingent toward the Western power’s stronghold. It was a desperate gamble; failure would mean not only losing potential aid but possibly inviting new enemies.

Before departure, Lana looked at Li Chuan seriously. “You must be careful. I don’t want to return and find this place in ruins.”

Li Chuan gently patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you down.”

Lana’s ship gradually disappeared beyond the horizon, while Li Chuan immediately threw himself into preparing defenses. He knew clearly that the Black Flag Consortium’s next move would determine the outcome of this power struggle.

After three days and nights at sea, Lana’s ship finally reached the heart of the Western power’s domain—Port Santa Teresa. The harbor was brilliantly lit, crowded with all manner of ships, bustling with activity.

She was led into a lavishly decorated hall, where she was greeted by Alfonso, the Western kingdom’s envoy, a middle-aged man in a robe embroidered with golden crests.

“Guests from the East, your proposal interests me greatly,” Alfonso said lazily as he sipped red wine. “But you know, the interests of our kingdom are always supreme.”

Lana smiled faintly, her demeanor elegant. “Your Excellency, the Black Flag Consortium is eating away at your trade routes, and our proposal can help you eliminate this threat.”

Page (2/3)

“Oh?” Alfonso set down his glass, looking at her with interest. “But why shouldn’t I just wipe out both you and the Black Flag Consortium together? Then we could monopolize this sea ourselves.”

Lana maintained her smile, but a sharp gleam flickered in her eyes. “Your Excellency, you certainly could try. But I believe our fleet would leave wounds on your port that could never be healed before retreating.”

Alfonso paused briefly, then laughed heartily. “Interesting, Eastern women are indeed not to be underestimated.”

“Moreover,” Lana continued calmly, “the Black Flag Consortium’s influence has already permeated the Western trade routes. Their ambitions go far beyond the Eastern seas. Once they free up their hands, your kingdom will be their next target.”

Alfonso stroked his chin, pondering for a moment before saying, “What about the terms of cooperation? I don’t like returning empty-handed.”

Lana handed over a chart of the trade routes. “We can grant you control of these crucial passages. In exchange, you must launch an attack behind the Black Flag Consortium’s lines.”

Alfonso studied the map for a long time, then slowly nodded. “Very well, I can agree. But I want to see your sincerity.”

Lana nodded slightly. “Sincerity will be delivered soon.”

With the preliminary agreement reached, Lana returned to the fleet. As her ship docked, Li Chuan was already waiting on the pier, his brow tightly furrowed.

“How did it go?” Li Chuan asked bluntly.

Lana disembarked swiftly and handed him the agreement, her tone calm. “They agreed, but want to see our sincerity. These Westerners are clever; they won’t act lightly.”

Li Chuan glanced over the terms, pondering briefly. “As expected. They want us to hold the Black Flag Consortium’s main force in place, ensuring they can strike from behind successfully.”

Lana nodded. “But at least we’ve opened a breach. If used well, their strength could become a trump card.”

“A trump card?” Li Chuan looked up, a spark of light in his eyes. “More than that, they can help us probe the Consortium’s true strength.”

Early the next morning, Li Chuan convened an emergency meeting, summoning representatives from all allied fleets. Standing before the map, he explained the latest plan:

“We need to create a ruse that makes the Black Flag Consortium believe our main force is preparing to attack their eastern resource point, forcing them to shift troops there. Meanwhile, our small units will assist the Western forces in a rear assault.”

A leader of an allied fleet raised a concern. “But if our main force draws the Consortium’s attention, won’t that be extremely dangerous?”

Li Chuan responded calmly, “That’s exactly the effect we want. The main fleet’s goal isn’t to fight, but to hold them in place. Their eyes will be fixed on us, not on movements behind them.”

Lana added, “At the same time, we will dispatch an elite squad deep into the Consortium’s heartland to strike their core base directly. This will not only weaken their logistics but put them in a pincer.”

Page (3/3)

Though some had reservations, seeing Li Chuan’s clear analysis, they gradually nodded in agreement.

Several days later, the Western fleet appeared behind the Black Flag Consortium. Alfonso personally led an expeditionary force of three large warships.

However, they did not launch a direct attack but instead chose to blockade a crucial supply point as a probe. This immediately alarmed the Consortium, which quickly dispatched two ships to investigate.

Using superior artillery and precise tactics, the Western warships swiftly sank the Consortium’s reconnaissance vessels. This small-scale skirmish bought Li Chuan time while raising the Black Flag Consortium’s alertness.

Meanwhile, Li Chuan led the main fleet to feign a large-scale assault on the eastern resource point. They deliberately revealed their tracks, leaving conspicuous traces along trade routes, even releasing false intelligence about plans to seize the eastern resource point.

The Black Flag Consortium fell for the ruse, sending their main fleet east to intercept. But upon arrival, they found an empty city; Li Chuan’s fleet had already withdrawn.

“Damn it! They’re playing us!” Rex slammed the table, his eyes blazing with fury.

He ordered his forces to give full chase, but at that moment, the Western warships launched their true assault from behind.

The Western expedition swiftly and effectively destroyed a key Consortium supply depot and blockaded the Consortium’s supply lines in the sea. This blow threw the Consortium’s logistics into chaos and forced Rex to halt his pursuit of Li Chuan, hastily recalling troops to deal with the rear crisis.

Li Chuan stood at the bow, watching the enemy fleet’s disordered maneuvers, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. “Step one succeeded. They’re already thrown into confusion.”

Lana asked nearby, “What next? How do we use this opportunity to crush them completely?”

Li Chuan pondered briefly before replying, “We need to force Rex to come out and fight personally. Once he shows himself, we have a chance to eliminate the threat of the Black Flag Consortium once and for all.”

To provoke Rex’s appearance, Li Chuan carefully devised another scheme. He ordered allied fleets to fabricate a temporary base near the eastern front, spreading word that it stored a large cache of precious supplies.

This news quickly reached the Black Flag Consortium’s ears. Unable to resist, Rex personally led his main fleet east, intent on destroying the base in one fell swoop.

In the shadows, Li Chuan and Lana had already set a deadly trap. Their allied fleets lay in ambush on both sides of the channel, waiting for Rex to enter the snare.