Chapter 615

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“Attacking Goryeo?”

Xiao Ming and Yue Yun exchanged glances. During this time, both the Secret Guard and Yue Yun had detected some movements from Japan, vaguely feeling that Japan intended to use military force against Goryeo, but they were unsure of when or how the attack would happen.

“When do your Japanese plan to attack Goryeo?” Xiao Ming’s eyes shifted. He had to admit that Yamada Nobunaga’s decision to prioritize Goryeo under the current circumstances was a wise one.

Sakai lowered his head, a strange glint in his eyes. He said, “The plan and route map for attacking Goryeo are with me. Please allow me to present them to Your Highness.”

Xiao Ming nodded upon hearing this.

Upon receiving permission, Sakai reached into his pocket and pulled out what was clearly a dagger in a sheath.

Seeing this, Xiao Ming was greatly alarmed. Just then, Sakai, who had been kneeling before them, suddenly lunged forward, stabbing at Xiao Ming. His eyes were replaced by fanaticism and ferocity, with no trace of his previous humility.

“Be careful, Your Highness!” Yue Yun and Liu Chen were horrified. They immediately lunged at Sakai.

But just as Sakai was fifty centimeters from Xiao Ming, a gun fired. Sakai’s body froze for a moment, then fell with a thud.

At this time, Xiao Ming held a short-barreled musket in his hand. It was precisely with this that he had fired a shot at Sakai’s head in the nick of time.

Sakai, hit, lay sprawled on the ground. Yue Yun and Liu Chen also arrived at this moment. Yue Yun turned Sakai’s corpse over, revealing a round bullet hole in Sakai’s forehead, from which blood was now oozing.

“Your Highness, I deserve to die.” Liu Chen’s face was pale, and he knelt before Xiao Ming.

Frowning, Xiao Ming said, “You were too careless. Why didn’t you search this villain thoroughly?”

“Your Highness, I was too eager to claim credit and forgot this matter. All the blame rests with me,” Liu Chen said, sweat beading on his forehead. Sakai and Hu Hai had been in such disheveled states when they were pulled from the sea that he had overlooked it.

“Fifty strokes, and half a year’s salary docked!”

Xiao Ming snorted. He had always been fair in rewards and punishments. Liu Chen and Yue Yun had captured the Sanmyo Kingdom, and he had given them generous rewards. However, such negligence, if not punished, would undermine military discipline.

Yue Yun was still shaken. If anything had happened to Xiao Ming on his watch, he would have been utterly beyond redemption.

He said, “Liu Chen, His Highness has already shown you mercy. Learn your lesson for the future. Let’s see if you dare to be so careless again.”

Liu Chen was deeply ashamed. He naturally knew that Xiao Ming was being lenient with his punishment. He said, “I will keep Your Highness’s teachings in mind.”

Xiao Ming also knew Liu Chen’s character from Yue Yun. Perhaps because he was from a fishing background, he tended to be a bit casual in his actions. However, every general had flaws and strengths, and Liu Chen was still a capable hand in battle.

This time, he was giving Liu Chen a lesson, so that he, like Lu Fei, could always remember the seriousness of his mistakes.

“These Japanese pirates are indeed insidious and vicious. I almost believed his nonsense,” Xiao Ming said solemnly. “Throw his body into the sea to feed the fish. Furthermore, all captured Japanese pirates are to be conscripted into forced labor.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Yue Yun and Liu Chen said resentfully. Liu Chen, in particular, wished he could kill every single Japanese pirate in the sea.

Then Xiao Ming looked at Hu Hai, whose body instantly trembled.

“Your Highness, I did not know Sakai intended to assassinate Your Highness. Your Highness, spare my life, spare my life!” Hu Hai kowtowed furiously.

A trace of coldness flashed in Xiao Ming’s eyes. He felt he was still a bit too merciful. Having been in this world for over four years, some modern thinking still constrained his actions.

However, Sakai’s assassination attempt completely woke him up. Although technological civilization had emerged in the West, barbarism was still the main theme of this world.

“Kill him.”

Xiao Ming said coldly. From now on, every action he took would be weighed for its pros and cons. Clearly, Hu Hai was better off dead than alive.

Yue Yun gestured to two soldiers upon hearing this, and the two soldiers immediately dragged Hu Hai out for execution.

Just then, the King of Sanmyo also arrived. Seeing Hu Hai, who used to swagger before him, captured, he was overjoyed.

His men had already informed him of the outcome of this naval battle: Hu Hai’s and Japan’s warships were all defeated.

“Your Royal Highness Prince Qi, could you hand Hu Hai over to me for personal disposal?” The King of Sanmyo made no secret of his hatred for Hu Hai at this moment.

“Of course.”

Xiao Ming said. The Sanmyo Kingdom now needed the King of Sanmyo to maintain its rule, and granting a small favor was a suitable choice.

Hu Hai knew he was going to die and no longer struggled. The King of Sanmyo snatched a long sword from a soldier and plunged it into Hu Hai’s chest.

With a scream, Hu Hai’s eyes widened, and he slowly fell into a pool of blood.

“Thank you, Your Highness. My revenge is finally exacted,” the King of Sanmyo said, grateful to the point of tears.

Xiao Ming said blandly, “Hu Hai is dead, and the Japanese pirates have been severely defeated. From now on, the Sanmyo Kingdom’s safety is assured. I hope the King of Sanmyo will remember his duty as a vassal state.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the King of Sanmyo said.

Xiao Ming’s visit to the Sanmyo Kingdom this time was merely to inspect the area. Qingzhou had many government affairs, and he did not want to stay there for long. After resting for two days, he returned to Dengzhou with the Qingzhou warships.

On the flagship, looking at the gradually disappearing dock, Yue Yun suddenly asked, “Your Highness, why did you not agree to the King of Sanmyo’s request for a marriage alliance and accept his daughter into your harem? Your Highness is now the Son of Heaven, and even ordinary officials have three wives and six concubines. Would it not be wonderful to have another beauty in the harem?”

“Hahahaha… You still haven’t seen through the King of Sanmyo’s play. Let me ask you, since his sons were all killed by Hu Hai, if he had such a beautiful daughter, would Hu Hai have spared her?”

Yue Yun was startled for a moment, then suddenly realized, “That King of Sanmyo actually dared to deceive Your Highness. He truly needs a lesson.”

“Never mind, never mind. When the Great Yu Empire engaged in marriage alliances with barbarians, they didn’t even choose princesses. This kind of formal marriage alliance is just for show. My choosing an imperial prince for him is already giving him enough face,” Xiao Ming said.

“Your Highness is right. I almost believed it,” Yue Yun said with a bitter smile.

The ship drifted at sea for four days. On the fifth day, the warship arrived at Dengzhou dock.

Compared to a year ago, Dengzhou was now visibly more prosperous, with many merchants busy with maritime trade in and out of the city. However, Xiao Ming did not stay long at sea this time, but rested for a day and returned directly to Qingzhou.

Now that Prince Wei was dead and Wei and Qi were connected, he had no idea what reaction the other three vassal princes would have. It was for this very reason that he was eager to return.

Indeed, as soon as he returned to Qingzhou, Pang Yukun immediately found him.

“Your Highness, envoys from Prince Zhao, Prince Liang, and Prince Yan arrived in Qingzhou a few days ago, vehemently criticizing Your Highness for going back on your word and violating the truce agreement. They said that if Your Highness does not return the occupied cities, they will collectively raise an army to attack Your Highness.”