Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 356, The Second Son's Birth

The current situation in Liaodong is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

For any power, the change of heir is the most devastating catastrophe.

Take the grasslands as an example. If it weren't for the competition between Tuolei and Duolei that prevented the various tribes of the grasslands from uniting, Fang Yong would never have been able to conquer the grasslands so easily.

Liaodong today is a complete replica of the grasslands.

This is a prime piece of meat. As long as Fang Yong takes action and controls the weaker side, he can easily take over Liaodong.

The plan, though simple, is extremely useful.

Just like the British Empire, a small island nation that was able to colonize the entire world.

The secret always lies in those three key techniques.

By instigating racial tensions, creating ethnic conflicts, and exploiting religious beliefs, the British Empire ultimately caused regional divisions and internal strife, while simultaneously seizing opportunities to gain benefits.

However, Fang Yong's energy is somewhat insufficient for these tasks at present.

The situation in Liaodong is very complicated. Fang Yong is currently in the process of recovering the two lakes region, so it is difficult for him to spare the energy to control Liaodong.

But with the opportunity right in front of us, it's impossible to give it up.

Fang Yong pondered how to make this matter easier.

Suddenly, he thought of someone.

Wang Ziteng!
If he were to launch his own military campaign and want to get involved in Liaodong affairs, he would need to advance from Shanhaiguan or the northern grasslands. One is the most important pass under heaven, and the other is a very long distance away.

Moreover, if he were to take action, he would be too high a target and could very likely provoke a backlash from the Liaodong gentry, hindering his intervention in Liaodong.

But it's different with Wang Ziteng.

Wang Ziteng had previously fled to Liaodong due to an accident, so Fang Yong had him stay in Liaodong temporarily as a backup plan.

Currently, Wang Ziteng is stationed at Jiuliancheng on the banks of the Yalu River. Although he only has a few thousand troops under his command, they are still quite capable. (Today's Dandong)
If Fang Yong intervenes in Liaodong through Wang Ziteng, he can transport troops and supplies by sea to the vicinity of Wang Ziteng's territory and then enter Liaodong.

With Prince Teng's identity as a cover, the gentry in Liaodong will lower their guard, and by the time they realize what's happening, it will likely be too late.

Having made up his mind, Fang Yong immediately summoned the staff officers and those in charge of maritime transport in the Huaiyin Army to inquire about the feasibility of the plan.

After learning of Fang Yong's plan, everyone began to discuss it.

Fang Yong's plan is generally sound; there are two main challenges at present.

Firstly, there are no ports of call in the Jiuliancheng direction.

This is not difficult to solve. The local shallows allow small boats to moor. We just need to contact Wang Ziteng to set up some temporary mooring points.

The Nemesis can stay at sea, and only small and medium-sized ships need to be dispatched to transport troops and supplies ashore.

Besides this, it is also necessary to obtain nautical charts of the surrounding area.

This is where the secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard need to take action.

Besides the two points mentioned above, there is another point that is not directly related: the need to protect Chu Renfeng.

Fang Yong's plan was to use the power struggle between his two sons to support a puppet ruler and control Liaodong. However, Chu Yuqi only had two sons, so he had to send someone to protect Chu Renfeng and prevent him from being killed.

Chu Yuqi is currently seriously ill but not yet dead. Zu Shi is probably afraid that killing Chu Renfeng would cause chaos in Liaodong, so he has not taken any action but has instead placed him under house arrest.

However, if Chu Yuqi really dies of illness and the Zu family successfully takes over power, Chu Renfeng will be doomed.

Therefore, in order to save Chu Renfeng's life, he must be rescued as soon as possible.

Fang Yong immediately issued a rescue mission to the Jinyiwei spies in the Liaodong region, and at the same time wrote to Wang Ziteng, promising him benefits and asking him to help.

Wang Ziteng's loyalty is not high.

However, Fang Yong trusted his ability to assess the situation and knew who would lead to a brighter future. The next day, the young palace maid rushed over.

"Your Highness, Madam Qin is about to give birth!"

Fang Yong rushed over immediately.

With previous experience, production was much smoother this time.

Everything was arranged in an orderly manner.

The only downside is that the practice of the "Huangdi Neijing" is related to time and number of repetitions. He spent less time with Qin Keqing than with Jin Chuan'er, so Qin Keqing's constitution was far inferior to Jin Chuan'er's, only slightly better than that of an ordinary person.

Therefore, even though Qin Keqing was older, she suffered more pain than Jin Chuan'er.

[Technique: The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic (Mastery)]

【Progress: 336/1000】

[Efficacy: Yin and Yang unite, generating and transforming, circulating throughout the body, and illuminating the entire body. Expelling the old expels impurities from the netherworld, while absorbing the new gathers primordial essence into the three luminaries. After a hundred days of foundation building, white hair turns black again; after a thousand days, the elixir is condensed, and longevity is attainable. However, this is ultimately not the path to immortality, but truly the work of creation.]

"Feet, feet came out first! Your Highness, the birth might be difficult!"

The midwife gave a frantic report.

Upon hearing this, Fang Yong panicked and hurriedly entered the delivery room.

Generally speaking, even the husband cannot enter the delivery room without permission when a woman is giving birth.

Ancient people believed that blood was an extremely yin and impure substance that would offend yang energy, causing men to suffer setbacks in their careers and their families to be unsettled.

The medical text *Yilin Shengmo* states: "If the blood of a woman during childbirth splatters on a man's clothes, it foretells three years of misfortune."

Secondly, although traditional Chinese medicine does not have the concept of bacteria, it does have a similar concept of external pathogens. Therefore, during childbirth, midwives and other personnel would disinfect and cleanse the woman's body.

Another reason is that during the production process, due to unforeseen circumstances, the wife may inevitably become soiled, which can lead to feelings of shame and reluctance to see her husband.

However, Fang Yonglai couldn't care less about any of that.

In this day and age, difficult childbirth can really kill people!
He didn't care about misfortune or anything like that. As for bacteria, he cultivated his techniques and used the Five Elements to protect his body, so there were basically no bacteria around. In the end, even if he was in mortal danger, what did he care about shame?

Upon entering, Qin Keqing was pale, drenched in sweat, and in an unseemly state.

Fang Yong hurriedly stepped forward, took Qin Keqing's hand, and channeled his inner energy into her.

Fang Yong possesses true qi within his body. In truth, Fang Yong doesn't know if it should be called true qi, but in any case, it's an internal energy he cultivated that, when attached to his fists, feet, swords, and knives, can greatly enhance their power.

At this moment, he channeled his true energy into Qin Keqing's body, and Qin Keqing's weakness was immediately alleviated.

But this is not a magic pill; it can only temporarily restore some of Qin Keqing's strength, treating the symptoms but not the root cause.

Fang Yong asked the midwife about the situation.

The midwife quickly explained the problem they were facing to Fang Yong.

The baby comes out feet first, and the mother needs to adjust her position to deliver the baby. However, this may put pressure on the umbilical cord, which the baby relies on for breathing. If the umbilical cord is pressed for a long time, the baby will suffocate.

Then it will become a question of whether to save the mother or the child.

Previously, Qin Keqing had no strength left and it was impossible for her to give birth, which is why the midwife panicked and notified Fang Yong.

Although Qin Keqing has regained her strength after Fang Yongdu infused her with his true energy, her situation remains difficult.

"Your Highness, if I cannot give birth, please save the child!"

Qin Keqing said resolutely to Fang Yong.

Fang Yong retorted, "What are you saying?"

(End of this chapter)