Chapter 783: What to Do? Governor Zhao

Zheng Wucheng hesitated briefly and said, "It's not that we can't."

He lifted his hand, his fingertips sliding over the map, and said, "If we go around from the south, it adds five or six days."

"But this area is riddled with hidden reefs; a warship this size would be extremely hard to pass."

"Last year several large Goryeo merchant ships passed here, and half of them sank."

Xiao Ningxun pointed to the other side and asked, "What about going around from here?"

Zheng Wucheng shook his head, "Even worse; this is near the northern coast of the Eastern Sea, where the shore defenses are tighter, practically a death sentence."

"Moreover, even if we take a detour, they'll certainly spot our warships, giving them ample time to mobilize troops and block the coast."

Governor Zhao asked, "If we go straight through from here to the Eastern Sea coast, how many days will it take?"

Zheng Wucheng replied, "One to two days."

Xiao Yuanhang said without hesitation, "Then we strike head‑on, passing through from here."

"Capture this maritime gateway and station troops there."

"Then press forward at full speed and land as soon as possible."

Xiao Ningxun asked, "General Zheng, you just said that previously Goryeo merchant ships have reached near the strait?"

Zheng Wucheng nodded, "That happens often; the seas of the Eastern Sea and Goryeo are not far apart, and merchant ships travel between them frequently."

Xiao Ningxun smiled.

Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow, "You sly fox, what are you thinking now? You laugh just like Xiao Feifei."

Chen Hao gave him a pat.

Xiao Ran retorted, "Did I say something wrong?"

Chen Hao shook his head helplessly.

Xiao Ningchen also smiled, "Third Brother, what good plan do you have?"

Xiao Ningxun said, "Come over and see."

Everyone gathered around the table, listening as he whispered for a while.

"Good!" Zheng Wucheng couldn't help but rub his fists after hearing it, "Third Young Master's plan works; finally it's our turn to punish these Eastern Sea beasts."

Beasts?

Xiao Ningchen then recalled and asked him, "What happened to Hei Tian Chongxin after I sent men to hand him over to you?"

Zheng Wucheng exclaimed with satisfaction, "As for him, the Great King ordered me, following the Second Young Master's words, to hand him over to the common folk."

"The citizens of Royal City were extremely outraged, especially those who had relatives in the Ten‑Thousand‑People Pit."

"I was out clearing the remaining Eastern Sea remnants at the time, not in Royal City."

"When I returned I heard the people surged forward; although they didn't slice him to pieces, he was left without a whole body."

"In the end they threw his corpse into the mountains and fed it to wolves."

Xiao Ningchen hummed, "That's the fate a beast deserves."

Zhang Wu'an nodded vigorously.

Xiao Erdao said, "Deserved!"

Lu Qi shouted, "Good!"

Xiao Ran said bitterly, "Justice is served!"

Chen Hao added, "He deserves death!"

Xiao Ningxun looked at the two and said, "No wonder you two are friends!"

The two exchanged glances and both laughed.

"I, the King, am not adept at naval battles," Xiao Yuanhang said, looking at everyone, "This battle will be fully commanded and coordinated by Governor Zhao and General Zheng."

Governor Zhao and Zheng Wucheng both replied, "Yes!"

At noon the next day, all warships halted in a bay fifteen li from the strait's entrance, maintaining formation.

Zheng Wucheng pointed at the islands and headlands ahead, "Governor Zhao, look: this spot lies on the far side of the strait, shielded by a natural headland."

"Even if Eastern Sea ships come out to patrol, unless they go around, they won't see us at all."

"As far as I know, they usually only patrol inside, at most linger at the strait's entrance, and rarely reach this point."

Governor Zhao nodded, "Thanks to General Zheng; had you not known the terrain so well, even with the Third Young Master's brilliant plan, this raid would have been hard to succeed."

Zheng Wucheng grinned, "Governor Zhao, you flatter me."

Late at night, the lights of thousands of warships were all out, not a sound heard, like silent reefs disappearing into endless darkness.

Xiao Yuanhang cradled his sleeping daughter, lying steadily on the couch.

Xiao Feifei lay beside Tuan Tuan's pillow; Xiao Yuanhang frowned, stretched out his large hand, gently lifted it and set it aside.

Xiao Feifei opened his eyes in displeasure, glanced at him, whined, then crawled back to his original spot, rested his head on Tuan Tuan's, and closed his eyes.

Xiao Yuanhang rolled his eyes; so many people are vying for his daughter, and now there's another fox!

On the sea, Zheng Wucheng gave a command and personally led two unusually light Goryeo swift ships drifting into the strait.

Each ship carried several veteran sailors who had spent years at sea.

They knew every hidden current and every rock in these waters.

The sea surface was pitch‑black, without a single light.

Entering the strait, Zheng Wucheng whispered, "Stop!"

Everyone crouched at the bow, holding their breath, looking ahead.

A few patrolling Eastern Sea boats shuttled back and forth; their lanterns flickered, and the sentries leaned on the side of the ships, nodding off.

Zheng Wucheng looked for a moment, found a gap, and said, "Go, quickly!"

The two swift ships slipped along the shadow of the headland, avoiding the patrolling boats, and glided into the anchorage deep within the strait.

Before my eyes is a sea of lights.

Over a thousand Japanese warships line up neatly, their lights like stars, layered upon layered, outlining the whole anchorage as a sleeping floating city.

Masts rise like a forest, and the sails billow gently in the night wind.

A few of the largest warships are moored in the deepest part of the anchorage, their hulls a whole deck higher than the surrounding vessels, and the copper ornaments on their hulls emit a faint cold glow.

Among them, one stands out most: a massive flag hangs from the top of its mast, unfurling slowly in the sea breeze, embroidered with a winged butterfly.

From within the cabin drift faint sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, mingled with boisterous laughter and the crisp clink of wine cups.

The water soldiers on deck lean against the masts, swaying haphazardly.

Zheng Wucheng pulls his gaze back: "Go! Return!"

Two fast ships retreat into the dark sea like ghosts, startling no one.

Back at the bay, Zheng Wucheng climbs aboard the warship, his voice trembling with excitement: "Commander Zhao! All enemy vessels have gathered in a single anchorage deep within the strait! They have not dispersed!"

"The lights blaze, utterly unguarded!"

"Their flagship is moored at the deepest point, its command flag embroidered with a butterfly pattern, and those aboard are drinking and reveling! This is a heaven‑bestowed opportunity!"

"Good!" Zhao Tieshan's spirit soars, "General Zheng, you've labored hard; you'll lead the way, and from now on, it's up to us."

Zheng Wucheng shakes his head: "I, the junior commander, request orders: let Goryeo warships intercept the fleeing Japanese ships and water soldiers!"

"Good!" Zhao Tieshan replies without hesitation: "Send the order! Weigh anchor! The whole fleet must remain silent, no voices, no lights! All fast ships equipped with Heavenly Fire Tubes take the front of the formation!"

"Yes!"

Dozens of warships loaded with Heavenly Fire Tubes, under Zheng Wucheng's command, glide first into the deep strait on the pitch‑black sea.

Behind them follow the Goryeo navy's warships.

Upon approaching the anchorage, those few patrolling Japanese boats drift ahead.

Zheng Wucheng furrows his brow: "What shall we do, Commander Zhao?"