Chapter 1125: All Forces Attack
In Zhoushan Dinghai Harbor, bells clanged loudly.
Upon hearing the call, sailors instantly dropped whatever they were doing, rushing to their barracks to don uniforms, grab their gear, and snatch a few personal items—like good luck charms from fiancées or hand-stitched shoe soles from their mothers.
Then, at top speed, they sprinted to the grand parade ground.
In a remarkably short time, a massive formation assembled on the parade ground.
Gao Family Village sailors, reformed pirates, and the new recruits recently conscripted from coastal fishing villages—five or six thousand strong—all crowded together.
The new recruits, as expected, had the weakest discipline. Even after forming their ranks, some were still whispering, "What's happening? Such a massive mobilization order?"
From the ranks of the reformed pirates, someone cursed aloud: "Greenhorns, shut your traps! Whispering at a time like this? If command catches you, it's fifty laps around the parade ground."
The new recruits jumped in fright and quickly fell silent.
Soon, Jiang Cheng stepped onto the platform and declared loudly: "The Manchus are about to attack Pi Island! Pi Island is our dynasty's most crucial base for harassing the Manchu heartland and controlling the vassal state Joseon. Pi Island must not fall!"
Alas!
Jiang Cheng sighed inwardly. He was, after all, no grand general. Commanding the Gao Family Village navy seemed to lack something under his leadership. He could only hope young Shi Lang and Zheng Sen would mature quickly and take over his duties.
Just then, a hand gently clapped his shoulder. Jiang Cheng turned to see the Water Warfare-Specialized Heavenly Lord had arrived. Overjoyed, he quickly stepped back, yielding the spot to the Heavenly Lord.
Li Daoxuan faced the gathered sailors. "Gentlemen, you are not ignorant foot soldiers. From the very first day you enlisted, our instructors have not only taught you how to fight, but also how to read, interpret maps, understand political affairs, and grasp the world's situation..."
"You should know that if Pi Island falls, Joseon will truly become a vassal state of the Qing and will no longer be our junior ally. And with the Manchus freed from this strategic constraint, they will attack our nation with even greater impunity."
"For various reasons, we cannot currently engage the Manchus directly on land. However... at sea, we must not allow the Manchus to gain even the slightest advantage."
The soldiers' spirits lifted, and they responded in unison: "Yes, sir!"
"We do not fear the Manchus!"
"Heavenly Lord protect us!"
Li Daoxuan commanded: "All forces, attack! Our target: Pi Island. Strike the Manchu navy hard, and ensure Pi Island remains firmly in the hands of our Great Ming Dynasty!"
The soldiers roared: "Hoo-rah! All forces, attack!"
The entire Zhoushan Dinghai Harbor sprang to life. Soldiers sprinted towards their assigned ships.
The docks teemed with surging crowds.
Jiang Cheng also rushed towards the flagship, the Wanli Sunshine. After only a few steps, he saw Wang Zheng hurrying towards him from the side, handing him a marine chronometer. "Take this with you!"
Jiang Cheng nodded, and cradling the chronometer, ran to his ship.
From an adjacent dry dock, a steam paddle-wheeler emerged. It was the 'Little White Two,' a vessel Bai Gongzi had built with all his might. Bai Gongzi stood at the bow, waving vigorously at Jiang Cheng. "Instructor Jiang, take my ship too!"
Jiang Cheng exclaimed, "Huh? The Little White Two is combat-ready?"
Bai Gongzi replied, "I don't know! This is the perfect opportunity to test it. Take it with you and see how it performs in battle."
Jiang Cheng nodded. "Alright."
So, Bai Gongzi disembarked, leaving behind a crew of test sailors. These sailors were, in truth, a little deflated. They wanted to pilot the "celestial vessels" into battle, not some mortal-built contraption.
Still grumbling, they suddenly saw the Heavenly Lord walking along the dock. He leaped into the sea, swimming like a fish to the Little White Two in the blink of an eye. Then, like a flying fish, he sprang from the water, landing with a splash on the Little White Two's deck.
The sailors gasped in surprise and quickly saluted. "Greetings, Heavenly Lord."
Li Daoxuan declared: "This Little White Two is truly remarkable! I shall ride this ship to Pi Island."
The sailors were utterly astonished. There were clearly celestial vessels over there, yet the Heavenly Lord chose a mere mortal-built ship? Why? Why was this?
Never mind, mortal minds could hardly fathom the thoughts of a deity.
Regardless, the Heavenly Lord's presence on their ship was its greatest honor.
In an instant, the previously downcast sailors were all beaming with joy.
The massive fleet began to move...
Meanwhile, at Nagasaki Harbor in Japan.
Shi Lang, Zheng Sen, and Yao Xingjuan had just docked at Nagasaki Harbor.
Not long ago, Shi Lang and Zheng Sen had reinforced Yao Xingjuan, and together they annihilated the Laidao Pirates. After clearing the battlefield and thoroughly plundering the pirates' treasures, the three had sailed together to Nagasaki.
As they had just disembarked, the moment their feet touched solid ground, a large crowd of local merchants swarmed around them.
Some spoke in Chinese, others in Japanese, all clamoring at the three. "Are you sea merchants from the Great Ming? Have you brought the latest Tang goods?"
This was Shi Lang's first time setting foot in Japan, and he felt a bit bewildered, not quite understanding.
Zheng Sen, however, responded to the locals in fluent Japanese. "Yes, we are from the Great Ming. Tang goods? We have many Tang goods. What do you seek?"
"Chocolate!" one local merchant excitedly yelled. "I want chocolate! Do you have any chocolate?"
Yao Xingjuan chuckled. "I have chocolate here."
The moment he spoke, the crowd of merchants surged towards him with a clamor.
The scramble for goods began.
Yao Xingjuan's meager stock of goods was divided among the merchants in the blink of an eye.
Shi Lang questioned, "Is something wrong here? Are they really so desperate for our goods?"
Zheng Sen said curiously, "This isn't how I remember it. While Tang goods are precious, they aren't exactly rare here in Japan. I'll ask someone."
He chatted with a local merchant in Japanese for a while before turning back with a laugh. "Ah, I see! Not long ago, my second uncle came here once and brought many exotic Tang goods. The Nagasaki Magistrate, Nabeshima Katsushige, was quite taken with the goods my second uncle brought and praised them highly..."
Shi Lang immediately understood. It was a classic case of 'the higher-ups set the example, and the subordinates follow suit.'
When powerful and influential people take a liking to something, it often becomes a trendsetter, leading a craze. Then everyone else rushes to get their hands on it too.
"Who would have thought," Zheng Sen chuckled, "that Second Uncle would have already opened up the market for us? All we need to do is dump our goods. Sell, sell, sell! While these items are still novel and intriguing, let's quickly offload this batch at a high price. Once this wave of excitement passes, the prices might well drop."
Shi Lang raised an eyebrow, "Huh? Little Sen, you're three years younger than me, yet you're already a better businessman."
Zheng Sen waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, just family tradition, family tradition."
As they were speaking, the embroidered Heavenly Lord on Shi Lang's chest suddenly flashed open its eyes. "Shi Lang, Zheng Sen, both of you, quickly clear your merchandise, then lead your teams out of Nagasaki Harbor and proceed to Pi Island. Rendezvous with the main fleet off the coast of Pi Island."
Shi Lang and Zheng Sen's spirits immediately lifted. "As you command!"
Comments