Chapter 45: Princess Lanna's Support

As the cooperation between the fishing village and Princess Lana deepened, Li Chuan’s ambition expanded accordingly. He realized that the existing resources of the fishing village and the princess alone were insufficient to completely fend off the enemy's threats; surrounding forces had to be integrated to form a broader alliance.

During a trade conference, Li Chuan formally proposed the "Coastal Alliance Plan" to Lana and several allies.

"Our enemies are not merely the visible raiders and pirates, but those forces hiding behind the scenes with the ultimate goal of controlling trade. Their influence has already penetrated deep into the inland and coastal regions. If we do not unite, we will only be picked off one by one."

Li Chuan’s words resonated powerfully, capturing the attention of everyone present. He continued:

"However, if we can unite the coastal fishing villages, trading caravans, and even small kingdoms willing to cooperate, we can forge a formidable force. Not only will we be able to resist enemy invasions, but we can also jointly develop new trade routes to maximize our mutual benefits."

Princess Lana listened quietly before nodding gently. "Li Chuan’s plan is indeed feasible, but its success or failure hinges on mutual trust and coordination. Without a clear leader, the alliance will easily collapse from internal friction."

Li Chuan smiled. "Your Highness is entirely correct. Therefore, the alliance requires a patron whom all parties can trust, and you are the ideal candidate."

Lana was slightly stunned before she understood his implication. "You mean... you want me to serve as the pillar and guarantor of the alliance?"

Li Chuan nodded. "Your Highness's status and reputation are sufficient to ensure the stability of the alliance, while I will take charge of executing the specific strategies. Only by complementing each other can we truly make this alliance operational."

Li Chuan’s proposal was undoubtedly extremely attractive, yet fraught with peril. Lana knew that publicly endorsing Li Chuan’s alliance plan would not only thrust the royal family into the spotlight, but could also provoke hostility from other factions.

That night, Lana sat deep in thought alone inside her tent when Li Chuan walked in.

"Your Highness," he said in a low voice, "are you still hesitating?"

Lana raised her head, her gaze complex. "Li Chuan, it is not that I distrust you. Rather, I fear that the royal family's backing might trigger a greater crisis."

Li Chuan pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Your Highness, I understand your concerns. Yet if we do nothing, the enemies will only grow stronger, and by then, we will have no opportunity to fight back."

Lana sighed. "You are right. Perhaps this is our only chance."

She stood up, walked over to the window, gazed at the distant starry sky, and said firmly, "In that case, I will give your plan my full support. But Li Chuan, you must promise me that the goal of the alliance is not merely to oppose the enemies, but to truly benefit the common people, allowing more souls to live in peace and stability."

"Rest assured, Your Highness," Li Chuan revealed a resolute smile. "I assure you, this will not only be an alliance, but the hope of all coastal people."

A few days later, Princess Lana convened a grand assembly, summoning representatives from all the surrounding fishing villages and trading caravans. At this gathering, she publicly expressed her support for Li Chuan’s alliance plan.

"Everyone," Lana stood upon the high platform, her voice clear and resolute. "Over the past few months, I have witnessed firsthand the sufferings of the coastal regions, as well as the efforts Li Chuan has poured into changing all of this. He is not only an outstanding leader, but also a trustworthy partner."

She paused, sweeping her gaze across the crowd. "Therefore, in the name of the royal family, I formally announce my support for the Coastal Alliance Plan. This is done not merely to protect our homeland, but to forge an entirely new future."

As her voice trailed off, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Li Chuan stood beside Lana, yet deep in his heart, he understood that with the princess's public endorsement, the alliance would not only attract more attention, but would also become the focal point of a power struggle among various factions.

Lana's statement triggered a chain reaction.

First, the villagers' trust in the royal family rose rapidly. Many caravans that had previously maintained a wait-and-see attitude toward cooperation began to actively declare their intention to join the alliance.

Simultaneously, however, several powerful coastal merchant guilds and factions began to feel uneasy. They feared that the alliance would disrupt the existing distribution of benefits, and those who profited specifically by exploiting fishing villages and caravans were particularly hostile toward Lana and Li Chuan's plan.

Days later, an anonymous threatening letter was delivered into Lana's hands. It read: "Princess, if you insist on supporting this alliance, please be prepared to bear the consequences. The glory of the royal family may vanish overnight because of this."

Lana finished reading the letter, sneered coldly, and tossed it into the brazier.

"Your Highness," Li Chuan walked in and, seeing the burning paper ash, asked, "what happened?"

"Nothing, merely some idle threats." Lana raised her head, her gaze resolute. "Since they are so terrified, it proves that our plan has struck right at their Achilles' heel."

Li Chuan nodded. "In that case, we must accelerate our pace and consolidate our strength before the enemy launches a full-scale counter-offensive."

With Lana's support and Li Chuan's impetus, the alliance plan progressed rapidly.

First, the fishing villages and caravans began to implement resource sharing. Whether it pertained to ships, weaponry, or intelligence, everything was coordinated through unified channels. Such integration greatly enhanced the defensive capabilities of all parties and made enemy raids far more difficult.

Second, utilizing the unique terrain of the fishing village, Li Chuan constructed several strategic fortresses to serve as the core defense line of the alliance.

Finally, Lana leveraged the influence of the royal family to attract several neutral, minor kingdoms into the alliance, providing it with stronger logistical backing.

For a time, the strength of the alliance grew rapidly, and the situation in the coastal regions began to stabilize.

Nevertheless, both Li Chuan and Lana were well aware that this was merely the beginning. The true challenge would stem from those enemies who refused to watch the alliance succeed. Their counterattack was likely already on the way.

Princess Lana’s public statement rapidly propelled the Coastal Alliance into the core power of the coastal region. More caravans and fishing villages came from afar seeking to join, and the entire coastal territory began to display unprecedented unity. However, as Li Chuan had anticipated, such rapid expansion was accompanied by hidden dangers.

One early morning, the fishing village port welcomed a new fleet of merchant vessels. These were the first caravans to cooperate with the inland kingdoms since the establishment of the alliance, laden with grain, textiles, and tools. Li Chuan and Lana stood at the harbor, welcoming the arrival of their new partners.

"Li Chuan, this is only the beginning." Lana looked out over the busy port with a smile.

Li Chuan nodded. "Indeed, but the more prosperous we become, the more vigilant we must remain. I have a lingering feeling that the enemy will not stand idly by."

Lana frowned slightly. "You mean those forces hiding behind the scenes might strike at us?"

"Precisely," Li Chuan replied in a heavy tone. "The alliance has already touched upon their core interests. If I were in their position, I would exhaust every means to sabotage this cooperation."

Sure enough, shortly thereafter, Li Chuan's scouts brought back grim news.

A trusted subordinate rushed into the conference room, looking tense. "Sir, we have captured a lurking spy. He attempted to sabotage the goods transported from the inland last night."

Li Chuan’s expression turned stern. "Bring him up."

Before long, a ragged man was escorted inside. He kept his head lowered, yet his gaze remained unyielding.

"Who sent you?" Li Chuan asked coldly.

The man remained tight-lipped and silent.

Li Chuan sneered. "Do you think silence will save your life? Take him away and 'interrogate' him thoroughly using our methods."

The scout accepted the order and departed. Soon after, the man's true identity was uncovered: he was an operative dispatched by the shadowy merchants, specifically assigned to sabotage the alliance's supply lines and sow internal division.

"It appears they have already begun their move." Li Chuan reported the news to Lana.

"The enemy knows full well that we are on guard, yet they still dare to send agents. This indicates they have made preparations for a full-scale operation." Lana’s expression was grave, her eyes tinged with worry.

As the alliance continued to expand, the initial atmosphere of unity began to be replaced by conflicts of interest.

"Why should our fishing boats escort those distant caravans?" asked a leader of the fishing village with indignation. "They make more money than we do, yet they still expect us to bear the risks!"

"Precisely! Our fishermen's children are guarding the front lines, what right do those kingdom merchants have to sit back and reap the rewards?" another chimed in.

Li Chuan stood nearby, listening to the arguments from all sides. He knew this situation was inevitable. The larger the scale of the alliance, the more internal disputes of interest would arise.

"Enough!" Li Chuan slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "If you only care about your own interests, why bother establishing an alliance at all? Do you wish to return to the past days of being wantonly plundered by enemies?"

The crowd fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

At that moment, Lana rose to speak. "Everyone, our alliance is still in its infancy, and such difficulties are inevitable. But please remember, our enemies will not grant us any quarter. If division appears within our ranks, that will be our true crisis."

Her words instantly placated the anger of the crowd.

Before long, the enemy launched their first frontal strike.

A fleet of alliance cargo ships was ambushed by pirates on their return journey to the fishing village. Although escorted by a patrol squadron, the fleet still suffered heavy losses due to the enemy's superior equipment.

Upon receiving the news, Li Chuan immediately summoned the core members to deliberate on countermeasures.

"The enemy is no longer testing us; they are declaring war," Li Chuan told the assembly with a resolute tone. "Starting today, we must change our strategy. Both the number of patrol boats and their weaponry must be increased."

Lana nodded. "More importantly, we must locate their stronghold and thoroughly eradicate their forces."

To counter the enemy raids, Li Chuan devised a detailed counter-offensive plan. He dispatched scouts deep into the enemy's active territory to hunt down the pirates' lair. Simultaneously, the various factions within the alliance began to closely cooperate, accumulating strength for their next operation.

However, just as preparations for the counter-offensive were underway, another conspiracy was quietly brewing.

An influential caravan leader within the alliance had secretly colluded with the shadowy merchants, attempting to sabotage Li Chuan's plans. Through various means, he incited discord in the relationship between the fishing village and the kingdoms, and even spread rumors claiming that Princess Lana's support for Li Chuan was merely a ploy to exploit the fishing village's strength for the royal family's benefit.

This series of conspiracies rapidly triggered considerable turbulence within the alliance.

Faced with an internal crisis of trust, Li Chuan and Lana were forced to re-examine their strategies.

"Princess Lana, we need an opportunity to reunite everyone," Li Chuan said in a deep voice.

Lana pondered for a moment, a flash of determination in her eyes. "Then let us convene a public alliance assembly. Before all members, we shall clarify our objectives and openly debunk these rumors."

"A public assembly can indeed achieve results, but it will also expose us to the enemy's sight," Li Chuan worried.

"Though the risks are high, it is worth a try," Lana said firmly. "If we fail to resolve the crisis of trust, the alliance will inevitably fall apart sooner or later."

A few days later, the alliance assembly officially commenced. During the gathering, Princess Lana personally delivered a speech, elaborating in detail on the original intentions and future goals of the alliance.

"Everyone," her voice was crisp and powerful, "our alliance is forged not merely for immediate gains, but for the future of the entire coastal region. Today's difficulties are only temporary, but as long as we remain united, nothing can break us."

The people present nodded successively, and thunderous applause broke out. Yet at that very moment, Li Chuan acutely sensed an anomaly in the crowd. Sweeping his gaze across them, he spotted several unfamiliar faces mingling among the ranks.

"An ambush!" Li Chuan grew inwardly alert. He quietly signaled the guards to heighten their vigilance.

Sure enough, just as the assembly was drawing to a close, a squad of enemies launched a sudden assault, attempting to assassinate Princess Lana.

Li Chuan sprinted forward without hesitation, using his own body to shield her from a volley of incoming arrows as he shouted, "Protect the princess!"

At this critical juncture, Li Chuan led the guards to successfully fend off the enemy raid. However, his shoulder was wounded by an arrow.

Lana rushed to his side, her eyes filled with anxiety. "How are you?"

Li Chuan forced a smile through gritted teeth. "It's fine, merely a flesh wound. The more anxious the enemy is to strike, the more it proves that our plan terrifies them."

Following this crisis, the members of the alliance placed even greater trust in Li Chuan and Lana. And the bond between the two grew all the more profound through sharing life and death together.