novelSusiti Chapter 134 A Great Naval Victory
Chapter 134 A Great Naval Victory
Chapter 134 A Great Naval Victory
Noon.
Black Reef Island.
Lu Yan stood on a small hill on the island, overlooking the entire island.
The island is small, only two or three miles in circumference, but it is fully equipped with a dock, barracks, warehouses, and watchtowers.
This is the old lair of the Li family "pirates" that they have operated for many years, and also their transit point for smuggling and selling stolen goods.
"Master," Zhao Changying walked over, "the warehouse search is complete."
"What did you learn?"
"A considerable haul," Zhao Changying said. "The warehouse contains over three thousand taels of silver, over twenty thousand strings of copper coins, over three hundred bolts of silk, over five hundred pieces of porcelain, and over one thousand catties of tea. And—"
He paused, his expression turning serious.
"There are also 500 catties of saltpeter, 300 catties of sulfur, and 2,000 catties of pig iron."
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Lu Yan frowned.
"Salt water, sulfur, pig iron?"
"Yes," Zhao Changying said. "These are all military supplies, and the imperial court has explicitly prohibited their private sale. The Li family has stockpiled these things here, clearly intending to ship them out to sea."
6
"Where to send it?"
'
"I interrogated several prisoners," Zhao Changying said. "They said these things were to be transported to Liaodong."
6
"Liaodong?" Lu Yan sneered. "I don't need to tell you what's north of Liaodong, do I?"
.
Zhao Changying's face darkened.
"Jiannu."
"That's right," Lu Yan said. "The Li family smuggled military supplies to the Later Jin, which is a heinous crime of treason and treason, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family."
He turned and walked down the hill toward the dock.
"Keep all the evidence safe, not a single piece can be missing. When I return to Dengzhou, I will use this evidence to nail the Li family to the pillar of shame."
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"yes!
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Shen Shi (3-5 PM).
Black Reef Island, pier.
Lu Yan's fleet is ready to set sail for home.
Eleven ships were neatly moored in the harbor, loaded with spoils of war captured from the island, including silver and copper coins.
Silk, porcelain, tea, and military supplies.
The prisoners were bound hand and foot and locked in the lower part of the ship's hold.
"Boss," Shen Qing walked to Lu Yan's side, "the inventory is finished."
He handed over a list.
Lu Yan took the list and looked at it carefully.
"We sank four enemy ships and captured three. We killed or wounded 117 enemy soldiers and captured 53. We seized 3,200 taels of silver, 23,000 strings of copper coins, 320 bolts of silk, 560 pieces of porcelain, 1,200 catties of tea, 500 catties of saltpeter, 300 catties of sulfur, and 2,000 catties of pig iron. We also seized a number of swords, spears, bows and arrows."
He nodded, a satisfied look on his face.
"A resounding victory."
"Yes," Shen Qing said. "Our casualties were minimal, with only seventeen wounded and no one killed."
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"This is all thanks to firearms," Lu Yan said. "Flintlock muskets and breech-loading cannons were the key to our victory. Without these firearms, the battle wouldn't have been so easy."
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He turned and looked at the distant sea.
As the sun sets, the sea glistens and sparkles with golden light.
"Let's go," he said, "back to Dengzhou."
The fleet slowly sailed out of the harbor and headed southwest.
Lu Yan stood at the bow of the flagship, watching the Black Reef Island gradually disappear into the distance.
This island was once the lair of the Li family's "pirates," their stronghold for committing numerous evil deeds.
Now, it has been completely wiped out by Lu Yan.
"Master," Zhao Changying walked to his side, "what are you thinking about?"
'
"I'm wondering," Lu Yan said, "what the Li family's reaction will be after they find out this news."
"They'll definitely resort to desperate measures," Zhao Changying said. "Their hideout has been raided, and we've obtained the evidence. They have no way out."
"So we need to be quick," Lu Yan said. "Once we get back to Dengzhou, we must immediately submit the evidence. We must not give the Li family any time to react."
"To whom should this be reported?"
"The garrison eunuch, the provincial governor, and the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou," Lu Yan said. "With these three measures combined, the Li family will have nowhere to escape."
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Zhao Changying nodded.
"The boss is wise."
Lu Yan shook his head.
"It's not brilliance, it's caution," he said. "The Li family has been operating in Dengzhou for three generations, their influence is deep-rooted. Even if we get the evidence, they might still resort to desperate measures and fight to the death."
"Therefore, we must be fully prepared before submitting the evidence."
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"What preparations?"
"Prepare for force," Lu Yan said. "If the Li family really resorts to desperate measures, we must have sufficient force to deal with them."
He turned to look at the fleet.
A ship sails slowly forward in the setting sun, its sails billowing and its mast towering high.
The soldiers on the ship were resting; some were wiping their weapons, some were bandaging their wounds, and some were chatting and joking.
They have just won a great victory and their morale is high.
"Zhao Changying," Lu Yan said, "after you return to Dengzhou, take your men to the manor outside the city and retrieve the remaining firearms."
"The employer is worried—"
"I'm worried the Li family might take a desperate gamble," Lu Yan said. "They have troops all over Dengzhou Garrison. If they mobilize the garrison's soldiers to deal with us, we must have sufficient firepower to cope."
"Understood," Zhao Changying said. "I will make the arrangements immediately."
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"Also," Lu Yan paused, "have Shen Qing send people to keep an eye on the Li family's movements. I need to know their every move."
"Yes."
Zhao Changying turned and left.
Lu Yan stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the distant horizon.
The sun had already sunk below the horizon, leaving only a faint crimson glow on the horizon.
Night is about to fall.
But for the Li family, the real darkness had only just begun.
The hour of Xu (7-9 PM).
Dengzhou City, Li Mansion.
Li Shouzhen sat in his study, his face ashen.
Standing before him was a man soaking wet, the "pirate" who had escaped from Black Reef Island.
"What did you say?" Li Shouzhen's voice was low and cold. "The stronghold has been taken down?"
"Yes—yes, sir." The man trembled. "That Prefect Lu, with over a dozen ships, suddenly attacked Black Reef Island. They have cannons and muskets; we can't possibly defeat them—"
'
"Cannons? Muskets?" Li Shouzhen frowned. "Where would a mere prefect have cannons and muskets?"
"I don't know—" the man said, "but their firearms are very powerful. One shot and the boat sank. The muskets fired quickly and accurately, and our brothers suffered heavy casualties—"
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How many dead and injured?
'
"Dead—more than a hundred died, and more than fifty were captured," the man said. "Only the youngest and a few brothers managed to escape in the chaos—"
Li Shouzhen suddenly stood up and kicked over the coffee table in front of him.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
'
He paced back and forth in the study, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.
"Brother," Li Shouyi walked in from outside, "I've heard about it."
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"What did you hear?"
"Black Reef Island has been taken," Li Shouyi said. "The account books and letters on the island were all taken by that man surnamed Lu."
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Li Shouzhen's expression changed.
"Account books? Letters?"
'
"Yes," Li Shouyi said. "Those ledgers record the list of goods we've smuggled over the years. Those letters are instructions you wrote to the island, brother—"
'
"Enough!" Li Shouzhen interrupted him. "I know!"
'
He paced back and forth in the study, his mind racing as he considered countermeasures.
The fact that the account books and letters fell into Lu Yan's hands was tantamount to handing him leverage.
If Lu Yan submits this evidence, the Li family will be finished.
Smuggling contraband, harboring pirates, and treason are all capital offenses.
"Brother," Li Shouyi said, "what should we do?"
T
Li Shouzhen remained silent for a moment, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
There is only one way.
"What method?"
"Kill him to silence him," Li Shouzhen said. "Before that man surnamed Lu returns to Dengzhou, send men to intercept and kill him at sea. Once he's dead, no one will be able to report the evidence."
"But—" Li Shouyi hesitated, "He is an official appointed by the imperial court. If we kill him, won't the court investigate?"
'
"What are you investigating?" Li Shouzhen sneered. "He was killed by 'pirates' at sea. What does that have to do with us?"
'
Upon hearing this, a ruthless glint flashed in Li Shouyi's eyes.
"Brother is right. Dead people can't talk."
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"Go," Li Shouzhen said, "send men to the dock to mobilize our ships. Set sail under cover of night and intercept that man surnamed Lu."
"6
"Yes."
Li Shouyi turned and left.
Li Shouzhen stood in his study, looking out at the dark night sky.
"Lu Yan," he said in a low voice, "do you think you've won?"
'
"This show has only just begun."
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at the same time.
maritime.
Lu Yan's fleet was slowly moving forward in the night.
"Master," Shen Qing walked to Lu Yan's side, "I am a little worried."
"What are you worried about?"
'
"I'm worried the Li family might do something desperate," Shen Qing said. "Their hideout has been raided, and we've got the evidence. He—"
They certainly won't sit idly by and wait to die.
"I know," Lu Yan said, "which is why I had Zhao Changying increase the security."
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"But—" Shen Qing hesitated, "what if the Li family sends ships to intercept and kill us?"
'
Lu Yan's lips curled up slightly.
"That's perfect."
"Perfect?"
"Yes," Lu Yan said. "If the Li family sends ships to intercept and kill us, that would be 'murder of an official of the imperial court,' adding another capital offense to our list."
"Moreover," he paused, "we just won a great victory and our morale is high. The Li family's ships are no match for us."
Shen Qing listened and nodded.
"The boss is right."
Lu Yan looked at the sea in the distance.
The night was deep, and the sea was pitch black.
But he knew that dawn was approaching.
"Shen Qing," he said, "send a few fast boats ahead to scout. If you spot any enemy activity, report back immediately."
"yes.
"6
Shen Qing turned and left.
Lu Yan stood at the bow of the ship, looking into the darkness in the distance.
Li family, are you trying to ambush and kill me?
Come on.
I'm waiting for you.