“Thank you, Your Highness.”
With a broad smile on her face, Lu Luo bowed to Xiao Ming, revealing two rows of neat, white teeth.
Nodding slightly, Xiao Ming gestured for Lu Luo to go to Fei Yuer, while he himself headed towards the Qingzhou great prison with Zhao Long and Zhao Hu.
Through the dark and damp passage, Xiao Ming t ng Youliang in the deepest part of the prison.
Although ng Youliang had been confined in the dungeon for this period, his food and clothing were different from other prisoners, and he had not suffered any grievances.
After all, even the warden of the prison knew that he was Lu Luo’s elder brother, and Lu Luo was Prince Qi’s maid.
ng Youliang had already t Xiao Ming in Dengzhou. When he heard footsteps and saw Xiao Ming walking towards him, he imdiately climbed down from the bed.
“I greet Your Highness,” ng Youliang said nervously.
Xiao Ming surveyed ng Youliang. He was wearing new clothes, his bedding was new, and his cell was a single room. On the table were unfinished leftovers, a bowl of rice, a plate of pickles, and a plate of green beans.
“You’re living quite well in this prison,” Xiao Ming said with a smile.
ng Youliang chuckled and said, “Thanks to Your Highness’s kindness, otherwise how could I receive such great grace?”
“You should be most grateful to your younger sister; these things were all sent to you by her through others,” Xiao Ming snorted. “But your heart is quite ruthless, never having cared about her life or death.”
ng Youliang’s face darkened, and his expression beca sowhat sad. He said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, I know I have wronged her. If it weren’t for impulsiveness back then, she wouldn’t have sold herself. I have been filled with regret all these years.”
“At least you have so conscience.” Xiao Ming snorted. “I ca to see you today not by chance. It’s just that Lu Luo has done a lot for
during this ti. I feel sorry for her and want to give her a reward, but never thought she still cares about you, her elder brother.”
“That silly girl.” ng Youliang beca even more saddened upon hearing this, his voice catching in his throat. He suddenly knelt down and said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, I am absolutely not a Japanese collaborator. I beg Your Highness to investigate clearly and release . I do not ask for myself, but only wish to use the rest of my life to compensate Lu Luo.”
After a mont of contemplation, Xiao Ming said, “I have confird the information you brought. Japan indeed has a plan to attack the Great Yu Empire. However, you have been mingling among the Japanese pirates for so long, and have even hard many fishern in Dengzhou. Your past misdeeds make it difficult for people to believe you.”
ng Youliang lowered his head. “Your Highness, I was also forced to do so. Those Japanese pirates forced
to do it. If I didn’t comply, I couldn’t have infiltrated the Japanese pirates to find my enemy, but I always held back when acting.”
Shaking his head, Xiao Ming said, “I now believe you are innocent, but if it is as you say, I also do not want a ritorious person to be disgraced, coupled with Lu Luo’s request, so you are now free.”
“I can leave?” ng Youliang couldn’t quite believe his ears.
“Yes, after leaving the prison, find a livelihood and live a down-to-earth life,” Xiao Ming said lightly.
ng Youliang was stunned. This sudden change left him montarily unresponsive, but upon coming to his senses, he suddenly said, “Thank you, Your Highness. However, I am accustod to living by the sea, and I don’t want to bear the cri of collaborating with the Japanese. I beg Your Highness to give
an opportunity to prove myself.”
“Just like you proved your sincerity in wanting to be a Japanese pirate?” Xiao Ming asked teasingly. This ng Youliang truly made him conflicted.
ng Youliang’s face flushed crimson. He opened his mouth, then suddenly let out a deep sigh. “A single misstep leads to eternal regret. I truly deserve it.”
“However…” Just as ng Youliang was secretly regretting, Xiao Ming’s tone suddenly changed.
ng Youliang suddenly looked up, as if he saw a glimr of hope. “I hope Your Highness will enlighten .”
Xiao Ming thought for a mont and said, “If you really want to prove yourself, there is a way. Now that I have controlled the coastal routes and defeated the Japanese pirates in Ryukyu, the Japanese pirates will surely retaliate against
at sea during this period. After all, the Japanese pirates are nurous and have dominated the seas for many years, they won’t be so willing to lose to . And in my opinion, the way to deal with pirates is pirates. If you want to prove yourself, why not eliminate the rampant Japanese pirates at sea for ?”
“Eliminate the Japanese pirates at sea?” ng Youliang’s forehead broke out in tiny beads of sweat. He said, “Your Highness, the number of these Japanese pirates is as many as eighty thousand. These people are scattered across the sea, sotis gathering, sotis dispersing, making them difficult to deal with. How can I eliminate these eighty thousand Japanese pirates alone?”
“It is precisely because it is difficult that your value can be proven. However, the word ‘pirate’ seems sowhat inappropriate. What I want you to do is actually privateering. You have been traveling at sea with the Japanese pirates for so many years, have you ever heard of privateering?” Xiao Ming asked.
ng Youliang understood. He said, “I understand. I have indeed heard of privateering. In fact, they are just a group of pirates, but they are people who plunder enemy rchant ships and attack enemy pirates for their country.”
“Exactly, that kind of pirate. Since you’ve been at sea for so many years, surely you can gather a crew, right?” Xiao Ming asked seemingly casually.
“Your Highness, I can gather a crew. Many of the Japanese pirates’ sailors are actually coastal fishern, and so are rchants. The number of actual Japanese pirates is only a little over thirty thousand. I have co to know many people at sea over the years.”
“Since that’s the case, I will give you a ship and make you the first privateer captain of the Great Yu Empire, how about that?” Xiao Ming said with a smile.
In fact, Xiao Ming discussing this with ng Youliang today was not on a whim, but sothing he had considered for so ti. In the next few years, the number of his naval battleships would not be able to contend with the true European powers at sea, and according to Claire, the European powers were currently supporting privateering or piracy.
On the one hand, this was to supplent insufficient naval power. At the sa ti, when one’s own rchant ships were attacked by privateers from other countries at sea, privateers could also be used to retaliate against the opponent’s rchant ships to recover losses. After all, in a dog-eat-dog world where there were no international rules, rchant ships that were plundered could not obtain compensation through official channels. Follow current novels on nove??fire
“Of course, you can also choose to refuse and live the life I described,” Xiao Ming added.
After hesitating for a mont, ng Youliang said, “Your Highness, I am willing to be a privateer captain. However, what if we encounter the Great Yu Empire’s fleet at sea? Yue Yun still hates
very much.”
“That’s very simple. The Chamber of Comrce will issue you a privateering license. From then on, you will be my hidden force at sea.”
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