Chapter 234: Pirate Duel (4)

"Yesterday I saw the soldiers repairing the warships, and they used a very special thing to bond the damaged parts." After finishing, Gu Yun looked at Qiao Linfeng. Qiao Linfeng explained, "That is a plant unique to the East Sea—the Jiaoqing tree. If you cut open the fruit and mix it with the stems and leaves, you get a sticky, slippery mucus. Local fishermen often use it to patch small holes in the bottom of their boats. After this thing is mixed, it becomes extremely hard in two quarter-hours, and things stuck by it basically cannot be separated, and it doesn't dissolve in water."

Gu Yun nodded, a flash of cunning in her sharp eyes, and said in a low voice, "We just need to pour this mucus into the pirates' cannon muzzles, and their cannons won't be usable."

Yes! Block the pirates' cannons and see how they can still be arrogant! Qiao Linfeng slapped his thigh excitedly, but then thought it was unlikely, "This idea is very good, but who can do it?"

"Yu Shijun."

Yu Shijun stepped forward. Gu Yun said in a low voice, "Go and pick fifty of the most enduring soldiers from the 'Cangying' and prepare for battle, waiting for my order."

"Yes." Yu Shijun took the order and left.

Qiao Linfeng was confused. When did the Su Family Army have a team called "Cangying"? Wasn't the Fuhu Camp the most powerful? You Yi had stayed in the capital garrison for a period of time and had heard of the fame of the so-called "Cangying." He whispered a few words in Qiao Linfeng's ear. Qiao Linfeng looked at Gu Yun in surprise. She was whispering something to the General, and the General's face turned a bit dark, but he eventually nodded in agreement.

Su Ling said in a deep voice, "You Yi, send someone to prepare the fruits and stems of the Jiaoqing tree."

"Yes."

"At midnight tonight, Mu Cang and I will go to raid, and we will have a decisive battle with the pirates early tomorrow morning." Gu Yun and Mu Cang beside her looked at each other. She still had a cold face, but Gu Yun saw faint anticipation in her eyes. She hadn't guessed wrong; Mu Cang was definitely the type who would get excited when facing a challenge.

"This is the pirate ship formation map I drew yesterday. You have more experience in offensive battles on the battlefield, so you arrange the specific battle plan." Gu Yun handed the drawing on the table to Su Ling. Her tone was still not very good, but she agreed to Su Ling's arrangement to be in a group with Ao Tian. Only by surrounding them in time could Su Ling's predicament be solved. She only wanted to help him win; whether she stood by his side or not didn't matter.

Su Ling didn't understand why she suddenly figured it out, but as long as she wasn't in danger, it was fine.

"Tomorrow at the Si hour, Han Shu and Qiao Linfeng will fight with me, Mu Cang's ships and the small boats—"

In the large main tent, a group of people gathered around the desk to deploy tomorrow's actions, and even Ao Tian and Yan Ge, who had been staying far away, stood up and leaned over.

The sun set in the west. The golden sunlight and bright red sunset glow plated the silent sea with a layer of warm orange light, and the shimmering waves were somewhat dazzling. By the coast, the soldiers were busy preparing for tomorrow's battle. A tall, slender figure stood alone on the beach, black eyes staring at the distant sea level, watching the fiery red sun being swallowed bit by bit. A trace of elusive sadness even flashed across his cold, hard face.

The waves chased the beach, and waves of foam spread out by his feet. He was still staring intently ahead, as if he didn't care at all that the waves were about to wet the corners of his clothes.

Gu Yun sighed lightly, stepped forward, grabbed Su Ling's sleeve, and pulled him back a few steps. Understanding the pressure on Su Ling as a commander, Gu Yun stood beside him and smiled pretentiously, "So in the mood to enjoy the sunset?"

Gu Yun had just finished speaking when her waist was tightly encircled by a pair of large hands. The next moment, she had fallen into a familiar embrace. There were still many soldiers in the distance checking the ships and cannons, and occasionally someone would look over here. Gu Yun struggled somewhat uncomfortably, but the hand around her waist refused to let go. A low voice and warm breath sounded in her ear, "Let me hold you properly."

A powerful heartbeat came through her vest, one after another. Gu Yun didn't struggle anymore. She couldn't see his expression and could only feel the waves in his heart through his suffocating embrace. Gu Yun asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with you?"

Su Ling didn't answer, but the hand around her waist tightened even more. A battle tomorrow, he had long known it would be more ominous than auspicious. He had already "arranged" her by Ao Tian's side. Was this a farewell in advance? Her waist was tightly encircled, but she didn't feel pain; her heart just tightened again and again, which was more uncomfortable than pain.

Letting him hold her like this, after a long while, Gu Yun said coldly, "Su Ling, I won't let you die, so you are not allowed to die, understand?"

The cold voice was entirely a command, but it carried a slight tremor. The chest behind her stiffened suddenly, and he pulled the person in his arms deeper into his embrace. A low male voice firmly left one word, "Good."

The sun had completely set below the sea level, leaving only a few remnants of light, but it was enough to stretch the embracing figures very, very long.

The sea in the middle of the night was completely different from the day. The clear blue seawater during the day became exceptionally ferocious at this moment. Behind every wave seemed to be a dark black hole, swallowing everything. The sound of waves washing against the reefs was terrifying every time.

A ship was docked behind a large reef. Two women stood at the bow, quietly watching the warships lined up not far away.

Gu Yun sighed in a low voice, "The vigilance is indeed very high." Four or five people were arranged to patrol on each warship, and there were people guarding the deck, cabin, and stern respectively. She could only see the situation on this side. According to Mu Cang, small boats would be moored between the two rows of large ships, and the guards there must also be very strict.

Mu Cang replied in a low voice, "It's impossible to block all the cannons. It would already be remarkable to block the thirty cannons on the five ships closest to this side."

Gu Yun nodded and said, "Let's start."

Mu Cang turned back and said to the two people behind her, "Yan Ge, Wuji, send people to mix the fruits and stems of the Jiaoqing tree."

"Yes."

The deck was piled with Jiaoqing tree fruits and branches. Dozens of Yongmu tribesmen skillfully peeled the fruits, mixed them with the stems and leaves, and then poured the sticky liquid into prepared large bamboo tubes, finally sealing them with hot wax.

While sealing the tube mouth, Yan Ge couldn't help but look at the fifty strong men in front. They were scooping seawater from wooden buckets onto their bodies one spoonful at a time. Legend had it that this was to prevent them from being unable to bear the low temperature of the seawater when they entered the water later, causing muscle cramps or cardiac arrest. He didn't understand what cramps or paralysis were, but he truly admired this group of men.

The sea at night was much colder than during the day. He felt cold even wrapped in a heavy coat, let alone the ears and fingers exposed outside, which were already somewhat stiff from the cold. Yet they actually poured cold water from head to toe spoonful by spoonful without a sound or hesitation. The bone-chilling cold could be imagined. A faint white mist had already risen from everyone's body, yet everyone's face still had the same determined expression.

Even Mu Cang had to sigh that the Su Family Army was indeed the Su Family Army. Such strict discipline and unyielding bravery—no wonder they were invincible! No wonder she dared to say they would swim across the sea at night!

Gu Yun walked in front of them. Everyone put down the spoons in their hands in unison and stood solemnly, waiting for her order.

Gu Yun pointed to the large ships opposite and said in a low voice, "There are thirty gun platforms opposite. Your mission today is to pour the mucus in the bamboo tubes into the pirates' cannons. You only have two quarter-hours. Do you understand?"

"Yes." A neat and simple answer, no objections, only obedience.

"Prepare yourselves and clarify your respective targets."

In the training of the "Cangying," Gu Yun only ever talked about the mission and never taught them how to do it. She needed excellent special forces soldiers in all aspects. They had to be able to formulate battle plans themselves, communicate with each other, fight individually, and fight collaboratively. This time was the same.

As soon as Gu Yun finished speaking, the fifty people skillfully lined up.

The bamboo tubes were all filled. Each soldier stood at the bow with two bamboo tubes on their back and a bundle of ropes, waiting for Gu Yun's final order.

"Remember, you only have two quarter-hours. You must complete the goal."

"Yes."

Looking at those young backs, Gu Yun felt a pain in her heart. She knew how cold the seawater was and how far the distance was, but if they couldn't destroy the opponent's cannons, it would be hard to have a chance of winning tomorrow's battle!

As soldiers, they had no choice, and she had no choice either.

Walking slowly behind them, Gu Yun said in a volume only they could hear, "All of you must come back alive!"

The stern voice carried a clear sob. The soldiers didn't look back, still facing the vast, cold sea, but warm currents surged in their hearts.

"Set off."

Gu Yun gave the order, and dark figures jumped into the freezing sea without a moment's hesitation.

Yan Ge couldn't help but run to the bow and look down. In the turbulent waves, he could only vaguely see heads bobbing up and down, struggling to approach the large ships in the distance. The cold wind blew on his body like a knife. Yan Ge shivered involuntarily. Regardless of whether they blocked those cannons or not, he already admired this kind of courage and perseverance!

Time passed bit by bit. Gu Yun's heart was held high. Even if she tried her best to remain calm, the worry on her face couldn't be hidden.

Mu Cang handed a telescope to her. Gu Yun nodded gratefully to her. Raising the telescope to look, she couldn't see any figures in the vast sea, and there was no movement near the pirates' large ships. It was almost time for the two quarter-hours. Gu Yun was worried about their safety and also worried that the mucus had already solidified after the time limit, meaning this operation had failed, and they had suffered this bone-chilling cold in vain.

Just when Gu Yun was panicked, Yan Ge's exclamation sounded beside her, "Whoa, they really did it!"

Gu Yun looked carefully and saw ropes being thrown up from the sea surface. The side with iron hooks hooked firmly onto the gun platforms. Immediately after, dark figures climbed up the ropes, climbed to the gun platforms, stabilized their bodies with their feet hooked on the ropes, immediately took out the bamboo tubes from their backs, quickly probed their bodies into the cannon muzzles, and retreated after a while.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 235 =====