Faced with the sudden intrusion of this mysterious force, Su Ran was deeply astonished, yet he quickly composed himself. He knew well that panic would be of no use; he had to uncover the true nature of this force as quickly as possible to find a way to counter it.
The intelligence department was a hive of activity, with agents working day and night. They traversed streets and alleys, meeting with various informants to gather every shred of evidence regarding the mysterious force. Some agents disguised themselves as merchants, blending into wharf taverns to overhear the chatter of passing sailors in hopes of gleaning information about the mystery force's ships. Others stationed themselves at border checkpoints, meticulously vetting every suspicious individual and leaving no stone unturned. Finally, through their relentless efforts, the preliminary intelligence on the mysterious force began to take shape.
Su Ran stood alone before the window of his study, gazing out at the night. His thoughts were in turmoil. The appearance of this mysterious force had caused the situation to deteriorate rapidly, leaving Great Qing facing an unprecedented challenge. Yet, he knew that in such critical times, he had to maintain his composure and find a path to victory. "Though this mysterious force is powerful, it is not invulnerable. By exploiting their unfamiliarity with this terrain and their lack of trust with the foreign powers, perhaps I can find an opening. Whether the diplomatic negotia…
Chapter 38