From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 542: Chapter 544: Real or Fake

「Early the next morning, at the makeshift harbor」

Zhou Shixiong and Ancient Wen Heng arrived at the harbor early, watching as all the soldiers took their positions.

Vice General Wang, who was leading the troops on this expedition, was already standing on the docks with several of his advisors.

"I’ve given you your instructions time and again for this voyage," Zhou Shixiong said. "Once you’re at sea, you are to adapt to the circumstances as they arise."

Vice General Wang and his advisors hastily agreed. Although this voyage into the unknown was fraught with danger, it also presented a great opportunity.

Furthermore, in addition to the several large ships they had confiscated, the brand-new vessel Mrs. Gu had just finished building would be providing escort, which bolstered their confidence even more.

Prince Zuo Tengshang, who was anxious to return home, was also standing on the shore. He stared dumbfounded at the large vessel behind them. It wasn’t that the Eastern Yi didn’t have ships of this caliber, but they were reserved for the exclusive use of their King.

’Aren’t the people of the Rong Dynasty only supposed to know how to build small fishing boats? Then where did this one looming before me come from?’

Believing his status had been restored, he arrogantly asked Xiao Xianfeng, who was standing beside him, "And where did this vessel come from? Did you people also go out and plunder another nation’s merchant ships?"

Xiao Xianfeng looked down at him with contempt. "Look at this brand-new vessel. It was clearly just launched yesterday. If your eyes are failing you, you should go see a physician."

Whether by deliberate arrangement or not, all the men currently standing around Teng Shang were tall and burly.

They all had to look down when speaking to him, which made a wave of vicious anger rise in Prince Zuo Tengshang’s heart. ’I really want to chop off all their legs!’

For now, however, he only dared to think it. ’Just look at this situation,’ he fumed, ’a mere vanguard dares to speak to me this way.’

’Once I’m back in the Eastern Yi’s territory, I’ll make these arrogant fools pay.’

"It’s getting late, why haven’t we boarded yet?" Prince Zuo Tengshang urged, thinking about how he would soon be on his home turf.

"For a maiden voyage, one must naturally choose an auspicious time. If you’re tired, feel free to sit here and rest." Xiao Xianfeng pointed at the sandy ground, then turned to chat with a comrade, clearly done with the conversation.

Just as the last of the soldiers were about to board, the person Ancient Wen Heng had been waiting for finally arrived.

Ancient Wen Heng let out a relieved smile as he looked at the papers Qi handed him.

Zhou Shixiong, who was standing beside him, glanced over and was immediately captivated.

"So this is what you were waiting for?"

After he finished reading, Ancient Wen Heng handed the papers to Zhou Shixiong. "With this, it will be much easier for Vice General Wang and his men to proceed."

"It seems the men Teng Shang abandoned still harbor a great deal of resentment. They’ve told us everything."

Zhou Shixiong passed the written confessions to the advisors to study. "No wonder you only agreed to let him choose three men to accompany him yesterday. You were sowing discord among them first."

"But weren’t you worried they’d remain unswervingly loyal? After all, their families are still in the Eastern Yi’s lands."

"These men are ruthless. They’ve described several of the Eastern Yi’s harbors in perfect detail, even pointing out which ones are heavily fortified and which are poorly defended. They’ve given up everything."

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "That’s just human nature. I merely had someone drop a hint, letting them know that even if they died for the Eastern Yi, their families back home wouldn’t receive the slightest benefit. In fact, they would likely face all sorts of persecution."

"As a group of men who have been abandoned and cast aside, all it took was for one of them to show a moment of weakness, and the floodgates opened."

"Not everyone is willing to die a martyr’s death. After all, they all have their weaknesses."

"Take Mountain Leader and his men, whom we captured before. They kept their mouths shut because they still held onto the hope that their Prince would come and rescue them."

"But these men, who personally experienced being abandoned, are different. With resentment already in their hearts, their hatred is easily stoked."

Vice General Wang looked at Ancient Wen Heng with admiration. ’Leave it to a scholar to be this cunning,’ he thought.

Seeing that they hadn’t yet noticed the most crucial detail, Ancient Wen Heng couldn’t help but point it out. "You should all double-check the navigation charts. I believe I see a few discrepancies in the route."

Startled, the advisors quickly stepped aside. They took out the original navigation chart and, comparing it with the new one, immediately spotted the problem.

"Th-this... which one is the real one?"

Zhou Shixiong narrowed his eyes, looking at Prince Zuo Tengshang in the distance. "What does he possibly gain by doing this?"

"Brother Zhou, are you assuming that just because he’ll be on the ship with us, we’re all in the same boat?"

Everyone fell silent. ’...Aren’t we?’ they all thought.

Ancient Wen Heng walked over and pointed to two bends in the route. "Don’t be fooled by this seemingly small deviation. It would cost us a great deal of time."

"Think about it. With so many men on board to feed and water, what would be the consequences if we couldn’t find a place to resupply in time?"

What would be the consequences?

They would run out of food and water. Starving men have no strength to fight.

At that point, our large force would either become his prisoners or, in a reversal of fortunes, be forced to beg him for help.

By then, Prince Zuo Tengshang would be back on his home turf and would naturally have the upper hand.

"That treacherous bastard never gives up."

"I’m going to go over there and beat him to a pulp," Vice General Wang said through gritted teeth.

Ancient Wen Heng gave a cold sneer. "Now that we have the correct navigation chart, we can simply ignore him."

"Let him be smug for a little longer. Once you’re on the ship, he’ll be yours to deal with as you please."

Vice General Wang nodded. "Mr. Gu speaks sense. We’ll let him enjoy his moment for a little while longer."

Ancient Wen Heng continued, "Although there are only four of them in total now, they are cunning and despicable by nature. You must not let your guard down."

"If you can, don’t let them roam freely on the ship. If you have to, chain them up."

’If it weren’t for the fact that the new ship was the product of his and his wife’s blood, sweat, and tears—not to mention the massive amount of silver invested—Ancient Wen Heng wouldn’t bother repeating himself like a nagging mother hen.’

Vice General Wang’s eyes widened. "Mr. Gu, you mean they might try to sabotage the ship?"

"How would I know?" Ancient Wen Heng said. "But they are a cunning lot. It’s better to be on high alert."

’It’s a good thing several advisors are accompanying the expedition,’ Wenheng thought. ’Otherwise, a hothead like Vice General Wang would probably drag his own ships right back to harbor.’

Unaware that he was being privately disdained, Vice General Wang looked at Ancient Wen Heng with a face full of admiration. "Mr. Gu is right. As soon as we’re on board, I will have them placed in separate confinement and watched around the clock. No matter what schemes they cook up, it will all be for naught."

Ancient Wen Heng rubbed his nose and felt a second of pity for Teng Shang and his men. "As long as you have a plan, General Wang."

In the distance, Prince Zuo Tengshang suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. "Now that it’s autumn, even the sea breeze is cold. My clothes are too thin. Go and speak to General Zhou. Tell him to return the baggage we brought with us."

Xiao Xianfeng ignored him. Prince Zuo Tengshang cursed under his breath, then fixed his glare on Xiao Xianfeng and repeated himself.

Xiao Xianfeng looked at him coldly. "Don’t forget, you are still a prisoner."

"We are about to board. If we miss the auspicious time, we’ll have to reschedule the entire departure. Which do you choose?"