"Why would Srivijaya allow a big cannibal to build such a huge fleet there?" Li Bao asked.

"This man named Istaheli is a member of the royal family of the Great Food Kingdom. He has deep interests with Sriwijaya. Every year, a large amount of medicinal materials and frankincense are transported from Sriwijaya to the distant Great Food Country.

He facilitated all these transactions, and that's not all."

"besides?"

"The Big Eater is very good at sailing. The Great Eater's maritime trade lines spread across the eastern and western seas. Srivijaya's products are sold well in the East and the West through the Big Eater's merchant ships."

"Didn't Srivijaya himself have a huge maritime trade?"

Tang Zijian said: "Manager Li, you don't know this. Not every country can form a huge caravan. Ocean sailing is completely different from offshore sailing."

"You mean, Sriwijaya doesn't have a huge fleet of seafaring merchants?"

"Yes, they must rely on the cannibal."

"So that's it." Li Bao fell into deep thought and thought for a while before he said, "If we defeat this man named Istaheli and weaken the influence of the cannibal in the South China Sea, what will happen to Srivijaya?"

Tang Zijian said: "The Nanhai Trading Company of the Song Dynasty had the confidence to negotiate with Srivijaya."

"Replace Istakhli?"

"That's true."

"But the imperial court's intention is to completely break Srivijaya's control over Lingya Gate, and His Majesty wants to obtain the tax collection rights in this area."

Tang Zijian took a deep breath and said in his heart: Your Majesty is really ambitious!

"Our army has long-term operations across the ocean. It is very difficult to destroy Srivijaya. There is no powerful country in the South China Sea except Srivijaya, but the cannibals will not just watch us monopolize this area. The country of Zhunian is also eyeing it, and they all want to attack it.

Ling Yamen gets a piece of the pie." Tang Zijian said.

"Do you have any good suggestions?" Li Bao asked.

Li Bao was born in a peasant family and joined the army by chance. He also joined the newly formed navy by chance. Because he paid great attention to integrity and was courageous, he was appreciated by Qian Yuqing and was quickly promoted to commander.

However, he really grew up in the past few years. He passed through Yazhou and attacked Champa. The sea area from Yazhou to Jiaozhi and Champa became the Inland Sea of ​​the Song Dynasty.

By now, Li Bao has become more like a general and looks at problems more comprehensively.

Tang Zijian said: "My opinion is to attack the big cannibal first, and do it quickly!"

"Why?"

"The big cannibals also come from afar. They are concentrated in Lingga, and their targets are concentrated, so they can be eliminated quickly at once. Srivijaya covers a vast area. Even if the navy of Srivijaya is defeated, with the national power of Srivijaya, if the royal master cannot

The landing will quickly destroy Srivijaya, and Srivijaya will inevitably reorganize the navy and make a comeback, and the war situation will then fall into a quagmire."

Li Bao looked at the young man in front of him with some surprise. He did not expect that he had such a thorough understanding of the situation in the South China Sea and that he hit the nail on the head.

"No wonder you became the chief officer of Nanhai Trading Company of the Song Dynasty at such a young age. Where are you from?"

"Xiaguan is from Hangzhou. He graduated from Hangzhou Naval Academy and is considered a student of Qian Xianggong."

"No wonder!" Li Bao picked up the cup and took a sip of lemonade. He thought for a moment and then said, "I originally asked Li Kun to raid the country of Weni and send reinforcements to the Three Buddhas to support the country. The same was true in ancient Siam."

"Shangguan's goal has been achieved. Srivijaya has begun to assist the Bangni Kingdom. The ancient Siam Kingdom is very close to Lingya Gate. Now the ancient Siam Kingdom's request for help has also arrived at Lingya Gate. It won't be long before the Srivijaya Navy will come.

Ancient Siam."

"Will they come?"

"I will definitely come. This place is very close to Lingya Gate. Srivijaya will regularly send officials to inspect the tributary countries in the north. The medicinal materials and frankincense in this area are also quite rich, and it can also be regarded as the financial and taxation place of Srivijaya.

.”

"How many will come?" Li Bao looked at Tang Zijian.

"At least twenty ships?"

"How can I see it?"

"If the ancient Siam Kingdom's request for help reaches Jambi, and King Srivijaya discovers that we are attacking his territory from two fronts, he will realize that the court is well prepared and will not dare to take it lightly."

Li Bao asked again: "It is said that Srivijaya has more than a hundred warships?"

"It should be more than that. If King Srivijaya wants to mobilize all the troops, he can form at least two hundred large and small warships and tens of thousands of troops."

Li Bao started to think again.

He thought for a long time and said: "What are the characteristics of the great man-eating warship?"

"The sails of the cannibal warships are better than ours. They can sail across the ocean without our compasses during navigation. Their knowledge of star recognition is very high. As for naval battles, their warships are more flexible and their methods are better."

Very strong."

"How did you find out?"

"In the name of trade, I got acquainted with some big cannibals. I made a special trip to get to know them. I also heard that the big cannibals defeated the navy of the Fulu Kingdom (Eastern Roman Empire) hundreds of years ago. Their warships galloped

On the vast sea.”

The people of the Song Dynasty had no idea about the Fulu Kingdom. After all, the road to the Western Regions was cut off. This record is only found in the historical materials of the Tang Dynasty.

"As you said, we will attack the big cannibal first!" After thinking for a long time, Li Bao made up his mind, "Once we attack Linga's big cannibal, if our army is at an advantage, Srivijaya will definitely

We will not stand idly by, so we must ensure that Sriwijaya sends another navy to ancient Siam and try our best to temporarily weaken Sriwijaya's navy."

"Don't worry, Mr. Li. Your subordinate has already told me that if the Srivijaya Navy makes any moves against the ancient Siam Kingdom, the information will be sent over as soon as possible."

In the evening of the same day, the news that the Song army captured the ancient Siam Kingdom was sent to the Jambi in the royal city of Srivijaya.

The angry voice of King Srivijaya came from the palace: "Are the Song people planning to start an all-out war with us?"

"Your Majesty, ancient Siam is very close to Lingya Gate. I am very worried that if the Song people occupy it, a large number of Song merchants will gather there and develop it into a stronghold. We cannot give them time."

"What do you propose?"

"Send thirty warships to attack the Song people."

"Send another thirty ships, Ling Yamen will garrison twenty ships, and Hong Ni will send twenty ships. There will be only fifty ships in the royal city. I'm afraid there is something wrong with this."

"There is nothing wrong with us. We have no gap with the cannibals. We make money from each other. If the cannibals want to take the opportunity to attack us, it will only hurt both sides. In the end, they may get nothing. Istaheli will not be so stupid.

.”

"What if our warships arrive in ancient Siam and the Song army suddenly goes south to attack Ling Yamen?"

The prime minister said: "There are still twenty warships in Lingya Gate, and it is very close to Lingga. Let Istahli send troops to jointly encircle and suppress the Song army. Our warships in ancient Siam can go south and cut off the Song army.

The retreat route will make it impossible for the Song army to come back."

"Istakhli is willing to send troops?"

"If you don't send troops, we will suppress him from the supply of goods!" the prime minister said with a smile, "He will definitely send troops."

"In this case, the Song army will be defeated unless..."
Chapter completed!