Chapter 363 Anshi City

In the 22nd year of Da Qian, a piece of news caused quite a stir within a small circle of Da Qian's maritime trade:

Liaodong has opened its ports. Now, legal trade is possible by paying a five-percent tariff, and it is said that Silla Maids will be supplied in the future.

Lu Heng left in a hurry to find someone to discuss the matter of the Silla Maids.

He had only a few thousand troops in Liaodong, making it impossible to launch an offensive to plunder the population. Therefore, he had to win the support of some local power players and warlords, the most crucial of whom was the Gongsun Family of Liaodong.

In the reception hall of the Gongsun Family, Gongsun Ao, the head of the Gongsun Family, and Lu Heng sat down together.

"I wonder what business the Crown Prince has for this visit?"

Lu Heng looked around. Gongsun Ao immediately understood and waved for everyone to withdraw.

Seeing no one around, Lu Heng finally spoke.

"I wonder if Family Head Gongsun has heard of Silla Maids?"

Gongsun Ao nodded to show he knew, but he did not speak. He did not know what this Crown Prince, whose title existed in name only, wanted to express.

Seeing Gongsun Ao remain silent, Lu Heng continued.

"I've just learned that the south is very fond of Silla Maids. If we can provide them with a steady supply..."

Gongsun Ao's small eyes widened slightly, flashing with a shrewd light, but they quickly returned to normal.

"Oh? I wonder how much profit there is?"

Lu Heng had already calculated everything in his mind and held out a hand.

"I can give Family Head Gongsun a profit of five strings of cash for each Silla Maid and two strings for each male."

Gongsun Ao shook his head decisively.

"Since the Crown Prince shows such a lack of sincerity, I don't see any need to continue this conversation."

Lu Heng immediately understood Gongsun Ao's meaning. He was a bit anxious but quickly calmed down.

"Please speak plainly, Family Head Gongsun."

Gongsun Ao was a local tyrant in Liaodong; how could he not know about the Silla Maids? Even his subordinates were operating such businesses, so he knew exactly how much profit was involved.

It was just that he hadn't dared to do it openly before. Now that Lu Heng had taken the initiative to suggest it, he was willing to expand his business.

"The price for a Silla Maid here in Liaodong is ten strings of cash, and about fifteen strings for those with decent looks. If the Crown Prince is willing to partner, my Gongsun Family is willing to take thirty percent of the profit..."

Lu Heng immediately realized Gongsun Ao had misunderstood and quickly reached out to interrupt him.

"I think Family Head Gongsun has misunderstood. How much money can be made just by reselling?"

Gongsun Ao was stunned. He asked in surprise,

"What does the Crown Prince mean?"

Lu Heng pointed to the southeast.

"Anshi City, which is closest to Liaodong, has a population of nearly a hundred thousand. At the very least, there are fifty thousand able-bodied youths..."

Gongsun Ao immediately understood Lu Heng's intention. His small eyes widened suddenly, and he stared blankly at the Crown Prince, momentarily at a loss for words.

Lu Heng struck while the iron was hot.

"Family Head Gongsun, that's hundreds of thousands of strings of profit. I wonder..."

Gongsun Ao admitted he was tempted, but he was also an old fox who had been through decades of ups and downs. Naturally, he would not agree in a moment of heat.

"The Crown Prince must think this through. Anshi City has over ten thousand Goguryeo defenders. Between the two of us, we only have ten thousand troops. This..."

The corners of Lu Heng's mouth curled into a confident smile.

"In the entire Northern Yan, I am confident that no one surpasses me in leading troops and fighting wars. So please rest assured, Family Head Gongsun. Just give me the troops, and in three months at most, I will present the massive profits to you with both hands."

Gongsun Ao was finally swayed. He stood up with a chuckle and looked at Lu Heng seriously.

"I hope the Crown Prince does not let this old man or the Gongsun Family down."

When Lu Heng strode out of the Gongsun residence, Gongsun Ao's token was already tucked in his sleeve. With this token, he could draw four thousand able-bodied youths from the Gongsun Family's estates to form an army.

To keep it a secret, he took all these youths to the forests outside Liaodong City to train day and night.

As for provisions, there was even less to worry about. Since the Gongsun Family had provided the men, they would not be stingy with the grain. However, Gongsun Ao still sent his second son, Gongsun Shu.

Claiming it was for his son to gain experience under the Crown Prince, Lu Heng knew it was actually for fear that he would run off with these four thousand men.

Anshi City was the largest city in northern Goguryeo. It was not only Goguryeo's northern barrier but also an important trade hub between Goguryeo and the former Da Qian, now Northern Yan. Thus, it was very prosperous.

The entire Anshi City and its surrounding areas had a population of nearly a hundred thousand. The one presiding over this city was Gao Jude, the younger brother of the King of Goguryeo, Gao Nanwu, with fifteen thousand defenders.

Relying on the solid city defenses and fifteen thousand defenders was enough to withstand an attack from a hundred thousand men. Therefore, for Lu Heng to launch a direct assault on Anshi City was simply a pipe dream.

But warfare relies on the combination of the orthodox and the unorthodox. Lu Heng only had this little capital, which was the foundation for him to strengthen himself and reclaim his power. He could not possibly do something so reckless.

On a morning in May of the 22nd year of Da Qian, a group appeared outside Anshi City. The newcomer claimed to be Lu Heng, the Crown Prince of Northern Yan, coming to pay a visit to His Highness Gao Jude, the Lusa of northern Goguryeo.

Gao Jude was still very cautious about the sudden visit from the heir of this powerful neighbor. However, when he discovered that these people were not only not wearing armor but their weapons were also limited to the short weapons of the guards, his guard dropped significantly.

Even so, he was still very cautious and made all of them wait outside the City Lord's Mansion, allowing only Lu Heng and two Personal Guards to enter the main hall.

Gao Jude sat in the main seat, looking at the harmless-looking Lu Heng in his brocade robe.

"I wonder what brings the Crown Prince to my Anshi City?"

He did not believe that Lu Heng, the Crown Prince of the Yan State, would wander to his Anshi City for no reason, so he did not hide anything and asked directly.

Lu Heng showed a harmless smile.

"This sudden visit is naturally because I wish to borrow something from Your Highness."

"Borrow something? Borrow what?"

"Naturally, Anshi City..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Heng and the two Personal Guards behind him suddenly lunged, pulling out short knives and pouncing on the dumbfounded Gao Jude.

Gao Jude thought he had been careful enough, but he still fell into the trap. He was pinned to the ground by the three men who had suddenly attacked. A sharp short knife was held against his neck; with just a little force, he would lose his life on the spot.

Not only was Gao Jude terrified, but all the Goguryeo people present were also stunned. They had not expected Lu Heng to suddenly attack and take Gao Jude hostage.

Only after Gao Jude had become a hostage in Lu Heng's hands did they wake up as if from a dream. They surrounded them one by one but did not dare to step forward, only shouting threateningly.

"Quickly release Lord Lusa, or we will leave you without a place to be buried."

Lu Heng was not that stupid. He pulled Gao Jude up, and the short knife in his hand tapped lightly on his neck.

"Have your people withdraw, and then order the city gates to be opened to let my army into the city."

The cold sensation of the blade finally woke him up. He said with a fierce but empty tone,

"Lu Heng, aren't you afraid this will provoke a war between our two countries?"

"War? Heh, I couldn't ask for more. It's the perfect chance to destroy your Goguryeo."

Lu Heng had long studied the rise of Gao Yuan, whom he considered his strongest opponent, and greatly admired his decisiveness.

Not everyone could bear to abandon a prosperous capital and flee to a remote and desolate borderland, but Gao Yuan did just that, then crushed the Local Chieftains and exterminated foreign tribes, growing step by step to what he is today.