Chapter 582

For access to a complete chapter, you can subscribe to my patreon.com/caleredhair

The atmosphere in the main hall was somewhat subdued.

Cao Zhengyang made the other merchants feel the gap between them and the Cao family.

Xiao Ming smiled, “Shopkeeper Cao is truly a model merchant. I will accept these 20,000 warhorses.”

“Your Highness is too kind,” Cao Zhengyang said.

Seeing this, Ding Wu said, “Your Highness, I will send some iron ore for Your Highness.”

“Your Highness, I will provide cloth.”

“I will provide provisions.”

“…”

The merchants eagerly expressed their intentions, fearing to fall behind others. They had tasted the sweetness of the last Northern Expedition and now all wanted Xiao Ming to continue waging war.

“In that case, I thank you all.” Xiao Ming felt the merchants’ enthusiasm but was also very wary. Capital seeks profit, and while these merchants came here for war bonds, essentially, they were still seeking to profit from the war.

Therefore, they were very diligent, their purpose being not to let Xiao Ming’s pace stop.

However, Xiao Ming’s pace could indeed not stop. This time, he did not get the abundant supplies he wanted in Yangzhou, so he could only conquer the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa), an island nation colonized by Japan.

This was for provisions and for the safety of the sea routes, because Yue Yun sent news that Japanese pirates were getting supplies from the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) to harass merchant ships on the routes.

Now, the sea routes were Qingzhou’s lifeline, and he did not want any mishaps. Therefore, a day ago, he ordered Yue Yun to lead 3,000 marines to conquer the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) and incorporate it into the state’s territory.

At this time, the massive Qingzhou fleet was sailing on the sea. After receiving Xiao Ming’s order, it set off from Tongzhou towards the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa).

On the third day, Yue Yun walked onto the deck, and through his telescope, the island known as the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) appeared.

A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and a weight was lifted from Yue Yun’s heart. It was very difficult to find an island in the vast sea, and without a sea chart, he did not know how long he would have to search.

“Xia Chengmo, is there a dock in the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) where we can berth?” Yue Yun turned and asked a dark-skinned, thin young man. Because it was their first time in this sea area, the fleet was not familiar with it. So, in Tongzhou, Yue Yun paid someone who had been to the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) to be a guide.

The young man called Xia Chengmo said, “There is a dock where we can berth, but…”

“But what? Just say it,” Yue Yun said.

“Since the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) became a vassal of the Japanese pirates, few common people have come here, because the Sanmyo Kingdom’s (Modern day Okinawa) navy became the Japanese pirates’ pawns, and they attacked Great Yu Empire’s merchant ships together with the Japanese pirates. To call them a navy, it’s better to say they are pirates. The leader of this Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) navy is named Hu Hai.”

“Hu Hai? How audacious! He dares to attack our Great Yu Empire’s merchant ships.” Yue Yun said angrily upon hearing this.

Xia Chengmo continued, “He is more than audacious. All merchant ships that passed through this sea area before had to pay protection money, otherwise, within a few days, the merchant ships would be plundered, and no one on board would be left alive. Now that Great Yu Empire’s fleet patrols the seas, they are a little more well-behaved.”

As the two were talking, the first mate came up from the cabin. He heard their conversation and said, “General, Your Highness ordered us to recover the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa). We might as well take the opportunity to eliminate this Hu Hai. This subordinate also encountered Hu Hai’s pirate ship while training in this sea area.”

After the number of warships increased, Xiao Ming promoted Yue Yun to general and also promoted some naval officers. This Liu Chen was one of these excellent naval officers.

Xia Chengmo smiled bitterly upon hearing this, “Captain Liu, you must not underestimate these pirates. In the past, Prince Chu did send warships to suppress these pirates, but these pirates would flee upon seeing warships, and then return once the warships left. It was completely useless. The sea is so vast, where would you find them? Until later, even Prince Chu bothered no more.”

The distant coastline was getting closer and closer to the fleet. Yue Yun said, “You don’t need to worry about these things. We have our own methods. You just need to lead us to a dock in the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) where we can berth.”

After saying all this, Liu Chen and Yue Yun both had determined expressions, without any trace of fear. A hint of pride flashed in Xia Chengmo’s eyes. In the past, they feared pirates and Japanese pirates, but now with the Qingzhou fleet as their backing, he feared nothing. If it were before, even if he were given a hundred taels of silver, he would not lead them to find this demon, Hu Hai.

Ever since the Qingzhou warships began patrolling the seas, Hu Hai had been keeping an eye on their movements. Their approach towards the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) naturally did not escape him. On the dock, looking at the gradually approaching fleet, Hu Hai’s face was incomparably grim, and his eagle eyes narrowed slightly.

“What should we do, General?” Beside Hu Hai was a burly man with a tiger-like back, whose clothes were clearly different from those of the Great Yu Empire; he was a Japanese person.

Having plundered at sea for so long, Hu Hai had experienced many storms. After a slight pause, he said, “You now lead 200 ships to ambush at sea ten li outside the dock. If the Qingzhou fleet just simply berths, then so be it. But if they intend to deal with us, then we might have to fight them. Heh heh, perhaps we can get hold of these warships then.”

The dock was getting closer and closer. Yue Yun on the warship picked up his telescope and looked towards the dock. In his sight, many ships were berthed at the dock, including many unique Japanese Atakebune ships.

Yue Yun looked closer and saw that people coming and going on the dock were carrying matchlock guns, and some were being forced to move cargo.

“Besides this dock, are there any other berthing docks?” Yue Yun asked again. This time, he was prepared to capture them all in one go, leaving no chance for Hu Hai to escape.

Xia Chengmo had told him that the current king of the Sanmyo Kingdom (Modern day Okinawa) had become a puppet, and the real power was in Hu Hai’s hands.

“I don’t know that. We’re not allowed to wander around when we come here.”

Nodding, Yue Yun said to the flag signaler, “Have the warships form a line formation 500 meters from the dock, surrounding the transport ships in the middle. On the outer side, all gunners to their positions.”

“Yes, General!” The flag signaler went to the bow of the ship and began to signal. After the signals ended, the twenty-four warships began to change their course. As they were about to reach the dock, the fleet’s formation had essentially formed a single line.

During the maneuver, Liu Chen and Yue Yun continuously observed the movements on the dock with their telescopes. “It seems they’re not up to anything good either,” Liu Chen said, putting down his telescope. Many people on the dock had already hidden in the ships, and some musketeers were hiding in the bushes, but none of this escaped their eyes. “If you ask me, let’s just shell the dock a few times.”