Chapter 519

These are logistical issues, and ensuring the safety of the supply lines is also required.

If the Japanese pirates between Great Ming and Japan are not cleared in advance, it would be bad if the transport is looted when the time comes.

Just like in land warfare, one must ensure the supply routes for grain remain open!

So although it is very time-consuming, Zheng Zhilong and the others were not in a hurry, clearing them one by one.

Those who could escape and could not be caught were ignored once their main bases were destroyed.

Those who could be caught were destroyed along with their main bases.

The Japanese pirates who once roamed the seas with impunity no longer dare to be arrogant.

The smart ones quickly withdrew and then sought to join larger groups to grow from small to big.

The unsmart ones, who thought they were tough, were directly crushed into powder.

For nearly two full months, the navy was clearing out pirates and Japanese pirates.

The results were very significant!

Zhu Youjian was also very satisfied holding the battle reports from Zheng Zhilong and the others.

In two months, dozens of pirates of all sizes near the Great Ming maritime borders were directly wiped out, with numbers exceeding twenty to thirty thousand people; the captured Qian Cai amounted to over forty million taels, plus several hundred warships.

Of course, the pirates' warships were not large; none were as big as Great Ming warships.

It can be said that up to now, the pirates in the waters between Great Ming and Japan have been purged.

As for the consumption of this expedition, the over forty million taels of Bai Yin looted and seized not only allowed Great Ming to break even but also earned a great deal of extra money.

How could Zhu Youjian not be happy?

The small Japanese pirates have all been wiped out.

The big ones have returned to Japan and are preparing in Japan to destroy Great Ming and themselves together.

Zheng Zhilong and Cao Bianjiao both thought they were overestimating their own strength.

With no more worries behind them, on October 6, the Great Ming fleet's ships finally appeared within Japan's sight.

Japan's warships added up to several hundred.

Do not look at their small size; there were many of them.

Although at the beginning, they were startled by the size of the Great Ming main warships.

They still rushed up like suicide squads, desperately trying to board and fight the Great Ming warships.

Now the Great Ming navy's Artillery has already been fully equipped, and they are accustomed to naval artillery battles.

Who would board and fight in a chaotic melee like a primitive anymore?

They turned directly, presented their broadsides, and the artillery began firing in sequence.

After firing on this side, they turned to the other side.

After a few rounds of artillery fire, the dense swarm of Japanese ships charging forward was directly blasted into dust.

The Japanese people in the port who had been shouting things like "Japan will surely win" were dumbfounded.

How could it be so fast?

They were gone in an instant!

That is right; the hundreds of Japanese ships charging forward were gone after a few rounds of artillery fire.

Only a few warships that were lucky enough not to be hit remained, fleeing desperately.

Did you think we would let you escape?

Zheng Zhilong decisively began sending out other faster ships to pursue.

And the main fleet did not immediately approach Japan's ports.

Instead, they split up and began clearing all ports near Japan's coast.

As long as there were ships, except for those surrendering and going ashore, the rest, as long as they did not surrender and tried to flee, were all blasted into dust.

Just like this, in a short half-month, almost no ships in Japan capable of going to sea remained.

They were all blasted away.

With this, Japan was like fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of others.

The first battle went smoothly, completely annihilating the main force of the Japanese navy, and sweeping through all of Japan's ports.

This counts as news of a great victory.

It made Zhu Youjian, who had been anxiously waiting, and the Great Ming court officials alike breathe a sigh of relief while also being extremely happy.

Before this, many court officials had worried about failure, which would have severely damaged Great Ming's prestige.

After all, no matter how you look at it, compared to Great Ming, Japan is a vassal state, a tiny country!

If they lost even this, how would the surrounding other countries view Great Ming as this sovereign state?

That is what the court officials were worried about.

Fortunately, they did not lose; now it is a great victory!

And since Zheng Zhilong has occupied all the ports, it is already unlikely for Japan to achieve victory.

After all, the ports have already been controlled by the Great Ming navy's ships.

They cannot get out; fishing is difficult, and eating is difficult.

Before long, they will collapse on their own; Great Ming now holds an absolute advantage!

373, Crown Prince Zhu Cilang!

Good news came from Zheng Zhilong in Japan, and good news also came from Fujian.

The silver sent by the Dutch for the exchange of prisoners has arrived, plus war reparations, in full amount and quantity.

It could truly be said that double happiness arrived at once.

Zhu Youjian, overjoyed, summoned Hong Chengchou, Du Yinxi, and others to the inner palace, even beginning to discuss how to handle matters after conquering Japan.

For this, Zhu Youjian also sent someone to specifically ask Su Qiao's opinion.

Su Qiao held no good feelings for Japan and stated bluntly: "The men mine and build roads; the women, seeing the soldiers lack wives, should simply be distributed directly."

Su Qiao's method could be described as absolutely decisive and straightforward.

After Zhu Youjian and Du Yinxi discussed it, they had no objections, so it was settled just like that.

Su Qiao had been leisurely for several months when Wang Chengen came to his door in a leisurely manner.

"Why does Eunuch Wang have time to visit Dengmen today?"

They were old acquaintances, so Su Qiao very naturally welcomed him inside.

Wang Chengen smiled and replied: "Every time I come, it is for a matter; this time is no exception. Otherwise, I would not dare disturb Mr. Su's rest."

"Eunuch Wang, you are far too polite. What kind of relationship do we have? Just say whatever it is directly."

Su Qiao poured a cup of tea for Wang Chengen and sat down on a nearby chair. 170

Wang Chengen did not stand on ceremony, lifting the cup and gulping down a large mouthful.

The weather grew increasingly cold, and a winter snow had fallen.

On his journey here, although he rode in a sedan chair with charcoal stoves and heaters,

he still felt extremely cold once he stepped out. They were eunuchs, their bodies incomplete, making them even more sensitive.

Only after gulping down the warm tea did Wang Chengen begin to feel some warmth.

"This weather is truly strange; it suddenly became so cold."

Wang Chengen said as he exhaled a breath.

Su Qiao nodded and said: "Mm, during the Little Ice Age, the climate is just rather strange."

"Mr. Su, I came to find you because the poppies you ordered planted have yielded a harvest. You previously said they could be used to make opium, which could then be sold back. Now those poppies are all stored in the warehouse; when will you come to see them?"

Eh?

Had Wang Chengen not reminded him, Su Qiao would have truly forgotten about this.

When the spread of opium was discovered within Great Ming territory, he had indeed stated that opium should be sold back to Europe.

Moreover, at that time, he had roughly explained to Zhu Youjian and Wang Chengen that this substance came from the planted poppies.

"Eunuch Wang, this thing is extremely dangerous. Is someone specifically watching over the planting?"

Su Qiao was truly worried that this thing might be discovered and leaked, so he could not help but ask one more question.

Who could blame him? The harm this thing causes is far too great!

Wang Chengen nodded and said: "Please rest assured. Since this thing is so dangerous, and you have said so many times, Your Majesty has strictly ordered that no one approach it. There is absolutely no leak. Even the Crown Prince, out of curiosity, tried to come over several times, but Your Majesty placed him under house arrest."