69: Chapter 69 The Princess's Assistance

While Li Ling was fighting a bloody battle on the front lines, the rear was also operating in full swing.

Jiangning Prefecture, the Princess's Manor.

Princess Zaiyi sat in her study, with stacks of official documents piled before her. These were all internal affairs that Li Ling had entrusted her to handle before setting out for the campaign.

"Your Highness, this is the military pay bill for this month," a steward said, handing over a stack of papers.

The Princess took it and flipped through it carefully.

Military pay, provisions, ammunition, pensions, shipbuilding costs... Every single item was an astronomical figure.

"My husband's military expenses are too high," the Princess frowned. "I'm afraid the revenue from selling arms won't last long."

"Your Highness, how about... we cut some expenses?" the steward said cautiously.

"No," the Princess shook her head. "Military pay cannot be reduced, and pensions even less so. My husband said that we must ensure the soldiers have no worries about their families."

"Then what should we do?"

The Princess pondered for a moment. "Help me arrange a meeting with several major merchants of Jiangning Prefecture for tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

The next day, the Princess received the wealthiest merchants of Jiangning Prefecture at her manor.

These merchants were all incredibly wealthy; some were in the tea trade, some in the silk trade, and others in the grain business.

"We humble citizens pay our respects to Your Highness," everyone knelt and greeted her.

"Rise," the Princess sat at the head of the room, her tone gentle yet majestic. "I have invited you all here today to discuss something with you."

"Please speak, Your Highness."

"As you all know, my husband is currently fighting the enemy on the front lines to defend our homeland," the Princess said. "War requires money and provisions. I hope you will all open your purses generously to support the front lines."

The merchants looked at each other.

A bold merchant said, "Your Highness, this humble citizen is willing to donate five thousand taels of silver."

"Five thousand taels?" The Princess shook her head. "Too little."

"Then... ten thousand taels?"

The Princess still shook her head. "Everyone, I am not begging for alms, but doing business with you."

"Doing business?" The merchants were stunned.

"Yes," the Princess smiled. "My husband holds patents for a new type of textile machine, which is more advanced than those of the Westerners. If you are willing to fund the military supplies, my husband can license these patents to you."

The merchants' eyes lit up.

A new type of textile machine! More advanced than the Westerners'! That meant immense profits!

"Your Highness, this humble citizen is willing to donate one hundred thousand taels of silver!" the merchant from earlier immediately changed his tune.

"This humble citizen is willing to donate two hundred thousand!"

"This humble citizen will donate three hundred thousand!"

The merchants scrambled to call out their numbers.

The Princess smiled with satisfaction.

In just a few days, she raised over two million taels of silver, greatly easing the pressure of military funding.

When the news reached the front lines, Li Ling was both surprised and delighted.

"Her Highness is truly amazing!" he said to the system on the dragon might. "She's even better at making money than I am."

"[Host, the Princess's favorability has reached ninety.]"

"So fast?"

"[She has done so much for you, which shows she is truly sincere toward you. The host should cherish her.]"

"I know," Li Ling nodded. "Once the war is over, I will spend some quality time with her."

In addition to fundraising, the Princess also used her status to win over a group of old officials and talents who were loyal to the imperial family.

Some of these people were skilled in administration, some in diplomacy, and some in economics. The Princess recommended them to Li Ling, and Li Ling accepted them all.

"Your Highness, are these people reliable?" Li Ling asked in a letter.

The Princess replied: "Rest assured, my husband. I have vetted them one by one, and they are all capable talents. Moreover, they know of your strength and are willing to serve you."

After reading the letter, Li Ling said to the system, "See, marrying a princess is such a good deal. Not only do I get the righteous title, but I also get a bunch of talents for free."

"[Host, this is not getting things for free; this is a mutually beneficial win-win in marriage.]"

"Either way, it's a win," Li Ling smiled.

With the Princess's help, Li Ling's rear was as solid as a rock.

Provisions and ammunition were continuously transported to the front lines, the wounded were properly treated, and the pensions for fallen soldiers were distributed in a timely manner.

Knowing that the Princess in the rear was fully supporting them, the soldiers' morale was greatly boosted.

"My Lord, Her Highness is truly our lucky star!" the naval commander said with emotion.

"Of course," Li Ling said proudly. "Could a woman chosen by me, Li Ling, be any less than extraordinary?"

"[Host, the Princess was not 'chosen' by you; she was 'forced upon' you by the imperial family.]"

"Shut up, party pooper," Li Ling retorted in his mind.

Just then, the reconnaissance aircraft spotted traces of Dewey's fleet.

"My Lord, Dewey's fleet is three hundred nautical miles away from us, sailing southwest. There are more than thirty vessels in total, including six new-style Cruisers."

"More than thirty vessels?" Li Ling pondered. "That's more than the Togo Fleet, but still not hard to deal with."

"[Host, Dewey is a famous admiral of the US Navy who participated in the Spanish-American War and has rich combat experience. Do not underestimate the enemy.]"

"I know," Li Ling nodded. "So this time, I'm going to change my tactics."

"What tactics?"

"A night raid," Li Ling smiled. "Although Dewey's fleet has advanced vessels, their night combat capability is poor. We have Radar, but they don't. We will launch a surprise attack under the cover of night and catch them off guard."

"[Host, this move of yours is quite underhanded.]"

"All is fair in war," Li Ling said smugly.

Night fell, and the sea was pitch black, with only occasional waves emitting a faint phosphorescence.

Li Ling's fleet turned off all lights and silently approached Dewey's fleet.

On the Radar screen, the signals of Dewey's fleet were clearly visible.

"Distance: fifty nautical miles."

"Thirty nautical miles."

"Twenty nautical miles."

"Ten nautical miles."

"Do it!" Li Ling ordered.

All Dreadnoughts opened fire simultaneously, the shells tearing through the night sky and crashing down upon Dewey's fleet.

Dewey's fleet was caught completely unprepared, falling into utter chaos.

"What's going on?! Who is firing?!" Dewey woke up with a start from his sleep and rushed onto the bridge.

"General, it's Li Ling's fleet! They are launching a surprise attack!"

"Return fire, quickly!"

But it was already too late. Li Ling's Dreadnoughts had too much firepower, sinking three Cruisers in a single salvo.

Dewey tried to organize a counterattack, but in the darkness, they couldn't see the targets at all and could only fire blindly.

Li Ling's fleet was guided by Radar, and every single shell seemed to have eyes, precisely hitting the enemy ships.

The battle lasted for less than two hours, and Dewey's fleet suffered heavy losses. Out of more than thirty vessels, eighteen were sunk, and the rest fled in panic.

The flagship that Dewey himself was on was also hit, and he was rescued after being wounded.

"[Host, a great victory! Dewey's fleet has been routed!]"

"Great!" Li Ling clapped his hands. "Now, only Fisher's main fleet is left."

"[Fishers Fleet is five hundred nautical miles away from us, with more than sixty vessels in total, including ten Battleships, twenty Cruisers, and thirty Destroyers.]"

"More than sixty vessels..." Li Ling pondered. "We still have nine and a half Dreadnoughts. Combined with Submarines and Torpedo boats, our total force is less than forty vessels. The disparity in strength is still vast."

"[What does the host plan to do?]"

"We can't fight them head-on," Li Ling said. "We will wear down their supplies first, and once they run out of ammunition and food, we will have the decisive battle."

He ordered the Submarine units and Special Forces to step up their attacks on Fishers Fleet's supply lines.

In the days that followed, Fishers Fleet's supply convoy suffered a devastating blow. Over a dozen supply ships were sunk, and vast amounts of ammunition, fuel, and food sank to the bottom of the sea.

Fisher was absolutely furious, but there was nothing he could do.

"Li Ling, you coward! If you have the guts, fight me in a fair and square battle!" he shouted over the radio in plain text.

Hearing this, Li Ling smiled.

"Fair and square? I refuse," he said to the system. "Let him get anxious. The more anxious, the better."

"[Host, Fisher's fleet has already begun to experience shortages of supplies. If this drags on for a few more days, their combat effectiveness will drop by more than thirty percent.]"

"Then let's drag it out for a few more days," Li Ling said. "Once they are too hungry to have any strength left, I will make my move."