Chapter 1128 Aobai Arrives
Chen Hongfan hadn't even grasped the identity of the approaching fleet when he saw them surge forward, their speed rapidly increasing. The lead ship, bearing the colorful Heavenly Lord banners, grew larger and more ominous, proudly unfurling in the wind.
The sheer momentum of their charge left Chen Hongfan in no doubt: this fleet was here for a fight, and he was their target.
"This isn't good! That strange fleet is bearing down on us!" Chen Hongfan roared, his voice cracking with urgency. "Signal them, quickly! Tell them we are the Great Ming Navy! The Great Ming Navy!"
His crew, a collection of terrified souls, were utterly paralyzed by the sight of the massive ships hurtling towards them. Panic-stricken, they frantically waved their flags, desperate to broadcast their identity, though their attempts were clumsy and uncoordinated.
But it was utterly useless. The sailors of the Gao Family Village Militia had already received a divine mandate from the Heavenly Lord: execute all deserters!
With such a decree in hand, there was no room for negotiation.
They had no intention of parleying!
The sailors on the Wanli Sunshine replied with a terse flag signal: "Damn you all!"
"They're signaling back!" Chen Hongfan cried. "What are they saying?"
"They're coming! They're almost here!" Chen Hongfan shrieked, his voice filled with desperation. "Loose arrows! Now!"
The colossal Wanli Sunshine, a behemoth sixty meters in length, bore down on Chen Hongfan's Cangshan-class vessel, a paltry twenty meters long. The sheer, overwhelming momentum of the flagship was enough to send the smaller craft's crew into paroxysms of terror.
The craven crew members on board screamed in unison, their hands so numb with fear that firing arrows was an impossible task.
Crash!
The Wanli Sunshine’s reinforced bow tore through Chen Hongfan’s vessel, rending it in two with a splintering groan of wood.
The severed halves of the ship, resembling two ghoulish, gaping fish heads, slowly began their descent into the depths.
Chen Hongfan and his surviving men plunged into the frigid water, desperately clawing at any floating debris.
Just then, a sailor from the Gao Family Village Militia leaned out from the giant ship's gunwale, a flintlock rifle raised. He took aim at Chen Hongfan, still flailing amidst the wreckage, and calmly squeezed the trigger...
An execution, as ordered! Of course, the shots had to be fired.
Ramming the ship alone hardly qualified as a proper execution by firing squad, did it?
Meanwhile, the main Qing forces had commenced their assault on Pi Island.
The vanguard of the assault, however, was little more than a feint. Eight Banners cavalrymen, unaccustomed to naval warfare, sat awkwardly in their boats, feigning a direct landing to create a diversion and sow confusion.
Trailing behind these cavalry units were the Han forces led by Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi. These generals, notoriously half-hearted in their efforts, led their troops, along with five thousand Joseon soldiers, on a fleet of large ships, all arranged to project an image of an overwhelming, full-scale invasion of Pi Island.
This imposing armada bore down on Pi Island's main harbor.
"Fire! Fire!" The coastal batteries on Pi Island erupted in a furious roar. Heavy cannons spat out tongues of flame, unleashing solid iron shot that rained down upon the Qing fleet.
Geysers of water erupted around the ships, one after another.
Amphibious assaults, regardless of the era, were always brutal affairs. Even with the Qing forces merely putting on a facade, heavy casualties were inevitable.
Periodically, cannonballs slammed into the Qing vessels, tearing ragged holes in their hulls and sending soldiers tumbling lifelessly into the water.
Unaccustomed to sea travel, many Qing soldiers were tossed overboard with every violent lurch of their ships. They thrashed desperately in the water, depending on the Han forces under Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi to reluctantly retrieve them.
True to their nature, Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi maintained their half-hearted pretense of battle. Their fleet lagged far behind, their shouts loud but their ships motionless, effectively leaving the Qing vanguard to absorb the full brunt of the Ming cannonade.
Within moments, Qing casualties mounted rapidly.
On Pi Island, the Ming troops' morale soared. "Ha! These Manchu barbarians aren't so scary after all!" one soldier crowed. "Brothers, hold the line! We can win this!"
While the soldiers celebrated their apparent victory, the generals' faces remained grim and contemplative.
Regional Commander Shen Shikui of Dongjiang furrowed his brow. "The Manchu barbarians' fighting spirit isn't this feeble!" he mused. "The pressure on our main harbor is far too light."
Vice Commander Jin Riguan of Laizhou asked, "Are you suggesting the Manchu barbarians might be attempting a landing elsewhere?"
Shen Shikui nodded gravely. "Precisely. I suspect the Manchu barbarians have dispatched smaller vessels to circle around to our rear... We must guard against that. General Cao, what are your thoughts?"
Cao Wenzhao simply shrugged. "No need to worry," he declared dismissively. "We need only secure the main harbor, and all will be well."
Shen Shikui's eyes widened in disbelief.
Jin Riguan blinked, utterly perplexed.
Both men were utterly bewildered by Cao Wenzhao’s extraordinary confidence.
Night had fallen; it was the first watch.
The sun had just dipped below the horizon, casting the world in a dim twilight. While not yet completely dark, visibility was already severely limited.
The valiant Manchu generals Aobai and Zhun Ta, at the head of a daring commando unit comprised entirely of elite warriors and seasoned veterans, were quietly rowing towards the northeastern coast of Pi Island.
This unit was small, its strategic objective straightforward: to sow confusion and create a diversion.
Both Aobai and Zhun Ta entered this battle with a grim resolve, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.
At this juncture, Aobai was still a dashing and formidable young general. He remained blissfully unaware of his future as a powerful regent, capable of challenging the Kangxi Emperor, nor did he foresee his eventual demise at the hands of Wei Xiaobao in a prison cell. And, of course, he could never have imagined his absurd transformation into Santa Claus on future networks, forced to perform a Christmas dance every festive season.
Aobai, brimming with audacity, was utterly fearless in the face of death.
"Row faster, quietly now... don't make a sound..."
Aobai ran his tongue over his blade, a predatory gleam in his eye. "Soon," he muttered, "this blade will drink its fill..."
"Manchu barbarians ahead," a clear voice rang out across the water, "you are surrounded."
A voice, unexpectedly young, suddenly resonated across the dark expanse of the sea. It belonged to a mere teenager.
Aobai jolted, startled. "What in blazes is happening?"
Around them, lights abruptly flared across the water – not just a few, but a multitude. It dawned on Aobai that a hidden fleet had been lying in wait. At the bow of the lead vessel stood two youths, barely teenagers, their gazes fixed on him with unsettling intensity.
Aobai's heart sank with a sickening thud. *Damnation, we've been ambushed!* The Ming forces had anticipated their stealthy approach by small boats and had deployed a hidden fleet here as a trap.
It was Shi Lang who spoke, his young voice ringing with chilling confidence. "Now, you may choose your preferred method of demise. Options include being blown apart by cannons, riddled with musket fire, or drowning in the icy depths after jumping overboard. I’ll grant you precisely ten seconds to decide... One... Two... Ah, to hell with waiting! Brothers, charge!"
With a resounding cheer, the fleet surged forward, launching itself at Aobai's bewildered unit.
Aobai reeled back, utterly stunned. The enemy ships were massive, and terrifyingly swift.
His own paltry craft, designed for stealth, were utterly outmatched against such formidable warships.
What could he do?
Flight was his only option!
He frantically ordered his small boats to turn, desperate to flee.
Just then, another fleet materialized directly behind them, cutting off their escape. At its helm, a one-eyed pirate, sporting a distinctive eye patch, let out a booming laugh. "Such excitement! And I've arrived just in time!" he bellowed. "My young friends, thank you for bringing me to the party, hahahaha!"
After several more booming chuckles, his voice abruptly dropped, turning menacing. He pointed at Aobai, his tone like thunder. "The Great Pirate, Demon Star, is here!" he roared. "Manchu barbarians, not a single one of you will escape this day!"
Aobai cursed under his breath. *Pirates? The Ming actually allied with pirates?*
A grim premonition settled in Aobai's chest. He feared this was where his journey would end.
With a deafening crash, a large vessel from Gao Family Village plowed into the Qing transport flotilla. Qing soldiers were flung into the churning sea, their startled cries echoing across the water...
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