Chapter 726

The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/caleredhair

“Boom, boom, boom…”

Loud explosions rang out at Haigucheng harbor. The immense power of the exploding gunpowder barrels directly shattered the Goryeo navy’s warships.

Wooden splinters from the Goryeo warships flew directly into the sky amidst the flames.

After this gunpowder barrel exploded, it seemed like a chain reaction, with fireships exploding one after another. The sounds of explosions at Haigucheng harbor were incessant.

Yue Yun watched all this, expressionless. As the saying goes, “mercy is not for generals.” Years of tempering had given Yue Yun a hardened heart.

For him, mercy to the enemy was cruelty to himself, and cruelty to the people of the Great Yu Empire. If their roles were reversed now, Goryeo would only treat them in a more cruel manner.

War was brutal, and the world was brutal. Only the cruel could survive in war.

“Attack!”

Yue Yun gave the order. His eyes were filled with the widespread flames. The purpose of the fireships was merely to disrupt the enemy’s formation and prevent the enemy from organizing a timely counterattack.

However, relying solely on fireships would not be enough to completely wipe out the Goryeo navy. The remaining warships had to be dealt with by themselves.

Under his command, the three columns of warships besieged Haigucheng harbor.

Meanwhile, Haigucheng harbor was already in chaos. In the fierce explosions, Park Jeong-tae was hit in the thigh by flying deck fragments.

Dragging his injured body, Park Jeong-tae watched in despair as the Goryeo navy’s warships burned in the sea of fire.

In the war with Japan, their navy suffered heavy losses. Their only remaining warships were all in Haigucheng, and now, he could only watch helplessly as these warships sank.

“General, let’s retreat. It’s too late if we don’t leave now,” a general ran over in a sorry state, his eyes filled with fear.

Park Jeong-tae glanced at the general and sneered, “What is owed must be repaid. Our Goryeo navy has killed so many Great Yu Empire common people over the years. Now the Great Yu Empire wants to fight us. Isn’t this retribution?”

“Old General, please leave quickly. It’s too late to say anything now. In those years, the Great Yu Empire was weak. Who didn’t want to snatch something back and live a life of luxury? Many nobles even thought of carving up the Great Yu Empire’s territory with the Golden Tent Khanate,” the general said.

Park Jeong-tae sighed upon hearing this. Indeed, as the general said, the Great Yu Empire was vast and rich in resources, and very prosperous. Who wouldn’t want to seize some things and live a life of comfort and wealth?

As far as he knew, many plundering pirates had the support of Goryeo nobles, indicating that plundering the Great Yu Empire had become the unanimous idea of the powerful elite.

This time, the King of Goryeo suddenly ordered the plundering of the Great Yu Empire, probably influenced by these very people.

Thinking of this, Park Jeong-tae sighed. War was never just, and a general could only offer his life for his country.

Regardless of whether these nobles plundered first, now that war had begun, the Great Yu Empire was his enemy.

Looking at the warships not affected by the explosions, he immediately reorganized his soldiers to board the ships, preparing to fight the Great Yu Empire’s fleet.

At this time, the Great Yu Empire’s warships had already surrounded them from three sides, forming a battle formation on the sea.

Three long lines of battle, stretching for several li, completely blockaded Haigucheng harbor as if wrapping dumplings.

On the Emperor warship, Yue Yun drew his ceremonial sword, then raised it towards the sky.

“Fire!”

His ceremonial sword sharply swung down, and Yue Yun shouted.

As his voice fell, the cannons on all forty-eight warships roared in unison. White smoke shrouded the hulls. Amidst the rumbling, cannonballs flew towards the remaining Goryeo warships.

“Crack, crack.” Cannonballs struck the Goryeo warships, making crisp impact sounds.

The hulls of the Goryeo warships were directly pierced by the cannonballs. The power of the cannonballs undiminished, they continued to rampage through the gun deck. The entire gun deck was filled with flying wood splinters and rolling cannonballs, causing heavy casualties among the oarsmen.

“Boom, boom…”

After one round of firing, the cannons were reloaded for a second bombardment, followed by a third bombardment…

Under the fierce bombardment, the Goryeo navy was in utter chaos. Soldiers couldn’t find generals, and generals couldn’t find soldiers. Park Jeong-tae watched it all, his heart filled with anxiety.

He stood on the deck of a warship and shouted, “Everyone board the ships and charge the enemy! Kill!”

Before his voice faded, a black cannonball suddenly struck Park Jeong-tae directly, hitting him squarely in the chest.

In an instant, Park Jeong-tae’s chest collapsed, and he flew backward, clearly beyond saving.

Other soldiers and generals who witnessed this scene completely collapsed. They scrambled off the warships and fled towards Haigucheng.

Once a rout began, it was unstoppable. More and more soldiers began to flee, and the harbor was filled with Goryeo soldiers running in disarray.

On the warship, Yue Yun watched all this through his telescope. This surprise attack had achieved his war objectives. Now, the Goryeo navy was completely destroyed by him and might not recover for a very long time.

Of course, he would not give the Goryeo navy another chance to recover. The sea was indeed vast, but for him, having the Great Yu Empire’s warships was enough.

The bombardment continued for a while. After confirming that the Goryeo navy was completely neutralized, he ordered the marines to land.

The purpose of destroying the Goryeo navy was merely to eliminate Goryeo’s ability to counterattack at sea. Their true purpose, however, was to establish trade ports and sign various treaties with Goryeo.

Therefore, it was necessary to have the marines land, because Haigucheng was only a hundred li from Goryeo’s Capital, Ryukyo City. He didn’t mind taking the army for a tour of Ryukyo City.

As per his command, small boats were lowered. Marines from each warship descended into the small boats via ropes, then headed towards Haigucheng pier to seize the docks.

At this time, the commotion at the pier had long attracted the attention of Haigucheng’s common people. As deserters entered the city, terrifying rumors began to spread: the Great Yu Empire had attacked.

“Great Yu Empire.” Li Cheng-jae had just arrived in Haigucheng. He was greatly alarmed upon hearing this news.

His mother was in Haigucheng. He had to take his mother with him. Thinking of this, he rode his horse against the flow of people into Haigucheng.

He knew Haigucheng very well. This city was located between Bisa Castle and Ryukyo City. Because it was no longer on the frontline defending against Japan, Haigucheng had very few garrisons.

Although after the war with Japan, Haigucheng became the base of the Goryeo navy, judging by the current chaos in Haigucheng, the Goryeo navy had probably been defeated.

It was precisely because of this that the city was so chaotic.

Thinking along these lines, a thought suddenly struck Li Cheng-jae, a thought that even surprised him.

Now, he had been driven out of the Li family, as lowly as a dog. Now, besides his mother, he had lost everything. Given this, why not make a desperate gamble?

If the Kim family could become the King of Goryeo with the support of the barbarians, why couldn’t he pledge allegiance to the Great Yu Empire and become the Great Yu Empire’s pawn in Goryeo?