[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-372":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364641,4623,"Chapter 372: Sea Storm","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-372",372,"\u003Cp>Compared to the cries of anguish from the Vietnamese camp, the interior of Zhennan Pass presented an entirely different scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time he encountered such a foolish enemy was years ago, during the suppression of the rebel forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rebel army, just having raised its banner, lacked military common sense and blindly threw away their lives in reckless attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over time, the rebel forces, tempered by blood and fire, were no longer the naive newcomers they had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the same circumstances, they might pay the tuition fee once or twice, but never a third time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never imagined that after several years, he would again face such a low-level opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the defender, he already held the advantage; facing a rookie opponent, defeat was nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, the day’s battle results have been tallied.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Preliminary estimates suggest we inflicted at least three thousand casualties on the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad the Annamese retreated too quickly—otherwise, our tally would have been even better!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jingxing spoke with visible regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opportunities like this, where you gain an easy advantage, don’t come often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy’s high command isn’t stupid—they’ll learn from their losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You fought well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Write a battle summary afterward, analyzing every gain and loss from this engagement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All officers above the rank of Company Commander must write their own reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Platoon Leaders and Squad Leaders may dictate their summaries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Mu finished speaking, the previously jubilant officers instantly deflated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the officers present had risen from humble origins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their literacy was mostly acquired within the military, and their cultural level was painfully low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Mu hadn’t established the rule that one must master three thousand commonly used characters to be promoted to Company Commander, most of them would still be illiterate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning ability declines with age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying on them to study independently was pure fantasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, this battle was entirely due to enemy stupidity—we’re unlikely to face such a situation again, so there’s nothing worth summarizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why not skip it altogether?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Sanqi, Commander of the Guilin Left Guard, couldn’t help speaking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a rough-and-tumble type, he had once learned three thousand Chinese characters in ten days, causing a stir among the personal guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Li Mu had thought him a learning prodigy—until he got to know him and realized the man was simply obsessed with promotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driven by the lure of advancement, he had displayed extraordinary learning ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such ability came quickly and vanished just as fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being promoted to Company Commander, his efficiency in studying military tactics and formations plummeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His rise to the position of Guard Commander was half due to battlefield bravery, half due to good birth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ancestors for eight generations had served the Li family, and he had grown up as Li Mu’s personal bodyguard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your duties are doubled—besides the battle summary, add a self-criticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Submit it tomorrow; I’ll inspect it personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If your reflection isn’t deep enough, you’ll regret it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Li Mu kicked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loyal subordinates are easy to cultivate; capable generals are easy to cultivate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But finding men who are both loyal and combat-effective—that’s the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of officer quality alone, his core commanders were indeed inferior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Influenced by their limited education and perspective, they viewed problems in simplistic terms, lacking strategic vision and a broad operational outlook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their only advantage was obedience—they did exactly as Li Mu ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant obeys!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Sanqi replied bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d known this would happen, he never would’ve spoken up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Personal inspection wasn’t something you could fake with a half-hearted write-up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t even hire someone to write it for him—Li Mu knew exactly what his level was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the minor incident over, the atmosphere in the command tent brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Li Sanqi as the sacrificial lamb, no one found the summaries difficult anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Studying the terrain map on the sand table, Li Mu realized he had arrived too early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between Guangxi and Annan, there was only one road suitable for large armies—and it was precisely blocked by Zhennan Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhennan Pass was small, with limited maneuvering space; twenty thousand troops could easily fit inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The local Guangxi forces couldn’t even all be accommodated within the pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To ease logistical pressure, the reinforcements he brought could only be temporarily dispersed across various garrisons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy would find it hard to attack, and so would they if they tried to advance out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send orders to the Yunnan Provincial Governor’s office to strengthen defenses along the Annan border.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of thought, Li Mu issued the order slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan had only two routes to invade Great Yu:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either break through Guangxi, or open a front in Yunnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being repelled at Zhennan Pass, the enemy—unless utterly foolish—wouldn’t choose to force a frontal assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three thousand casualties may sound small, but this was only the first day of battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Annan’s resources were considerable, they couldn’t sustain such losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Transportation in Yunnan was even worse than in Guangxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the defenders were prepared in advance, the enemy would find it nearly impossible to gain any advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first rays of morning sunlight fell upon the earth, but the Vietnamese camp was heavy with gloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My loyal ministers, who among you will lead the vanguard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xinbo asked, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply inexcusable—they couldn’t even volunteer for battle; he had to ask outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing no response, Hu Xinbo’s anger reached its breaking point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he was a new ruler with limited influence in the army, he was still Emperor of the Great Yue Dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This behavior from his generals was a clear snub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, we lost our siege cannons yesterday, and all other siege weapons suffered heavy damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The troops are now busy manufacturing replacements; perhaps we should delay the siege for a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The veteran general Shi Yufeng replied nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a seasoned commander, he had firmly opposed the campaign against Great Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the envoy was detained or border clashes occurred, he saw them as nothing more than warnings from the Great Yu Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they truly intended to wage war, they should have waited until internal rebellions were crushed before launching a southern campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without cannons, can’t we besiege a city?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I recall how much you all praised the White Lotus rebels’ tactic of digging tunnels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a band of heretics could do it, surely the Great Yue Army can learn from them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xinbo couldn’t help questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know much about actual warfare, but he understood finances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the war began, the Great Yue Dynasty had been spending gold like water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much so that the Minister of Revenue avoided him entirely, fearing he’d be asked for more funds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing heavy siege cannons meant months of waiting for new ones to be forged and transported from the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t just let the army sit idle for months, doing nothing, just waiting for cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they retreated at every obstacle, he estimated it would take another three to five years to capture Guangdong and Guangxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty is wise; we are foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shall immediately order tunnel-digging to capture Zhennan Pass as soon as possible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Chen Jingfu promptly stepped forward to agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t care whether Zhennan Pass’s terrain suited tunneling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been granted a chance to redeem himself after defeat only because he was the Emperor’s favorite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t responded immediately earlier because he didn’t know how to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the Emperor had proposed a plan, he’d try it—no matter how implausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, tunneling was mostly hard labor; even if it failed, few soldiers would be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Shi, you will lead your troops in a feint attack on the city to cover General Chen’s tunneling and the eventual detonation to breach the walls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xinbo issued the order coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he disliked Shi Yufeng, he had to admit that this veteran general was the top military figure in Great Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the reign of the late emperor, nearly every major foreign campaign was led by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The combat effectiveness of his troops ranked among the highest in the Great Yue Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Launching this war served not only his own ambitions but also aimed to seize military control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this process, any general who dared oppose him became a target for purge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Hu Xinbo was rational—he knew his roots in the military were still shallow, and this was not the time for rash action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was feasible to opportunistically weaken these opposition factions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant obeys!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing he was being targeted, Shi Yufeng could do nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emperor was playing an open strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feint and main assault were two different concepts—the former clearly told him to merely put on a show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the main force suffered heavy losses during the attack, it would be due to the commander’s poor leadership.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even putting on a show had limits; at the very least, the appearance of force must be maintained—you couldn’t just shout orders from kilometers away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To fool them, soldiers still had to charge forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our side had no fire support, while the enemy’s artillery was devastating—once we neared the city walls, casualties would be heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if each assault cost dozens of men, over time the losses would mount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like cutting flesh with a dull knife—each slice was small, but the pain never stopped!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haiwang Island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flickering yellow candlelight swayed in the dilapidated wooden hut, casting shadows on the wall, making the three large characters “Yi Yi Hall” stand out starkly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pirates sat around a cracked wooden table, the air thick with saltiness and tobacco smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pirate leader wore tattered black robes; the long scar across his face looked even darker under the dim light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers, we just received word—the Annanese and the court have gone to war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, I, Zhu, have called you here to make a big haul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhongxuan slammed his fist on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he had made up his mind deep inside, he still hesitated as the moment arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan was no small nation; raiding it would carry grave risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you planning to raid Quanzhou, Boss Zhu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gray-clad man asked grimly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They operated year-round along the Fujian coast; if they were to strike big, Quanzhou was the most convenient target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a vital maritime trade port of Great Yue, Quanzhou gathered goods from across the empire—pulling off one raid could equal decades of effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The court’s campaign against Annan is for justice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I, Zhu, am a true man—how could I undermine the court at such a time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Quanzhou isn’t easy to raid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only are the local garrison troops formidable, but even if we succeeded, where would we sell the loot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the court gets serious, coastal merchants won’t cooperate with us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’d haul back a pile of goods with no way to sell them—do you expect us to ship them ourselves to Luzon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still owe fifty thousand taels in bounty there; those red-haired devils would eat me alive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhongxuan spoke with bold confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pirate gangs fell into two categories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One consisted of those persecuted by officials or gentry, whose families were mostly wiped out—they were the unattached type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had no moral limits, harbored deep hatred toward the court and gentry, and frequently committed crimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other were coastal fishermen who turned to piracy out of desperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they had ties to home, they left room for mercy and generally avoided provoking the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They usually robbed far from their villages and sometimes even aided their neighbors, who in turn shielded them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an era when imperial authority didn’t reach the countryside, as long as they didn’t cause chaos, local officials turned a blind eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pirates invited here today were mostly of the latter type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss Zhu wants to raid Annan? That’s not our territory!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholarly man beside him frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pirates had their own territories; crossing into another’s domain was a grave taboo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Competition among rivals was one thing, but unfamiliar sea routes risked accidents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scholar, you’re sharp—you saw right through my plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correct, this time we’re raiding the Annanese.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve received reliable intelligence: the Annanese king has mobilized his entire army to invade Guangxi, leaving his homeland defenseless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The accumulated wealth of a nation over centuries—how vast it would be, you all know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling this off would save us twenty years of struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here is the maritime chart of Annan—it marks every reef and island, even includes detailed weather notes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Zhu Zhongxuan spread the chart across the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pirates crowded around, studying the chart’s markings, their inner fire burning brighter in the dark night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss Zhu has prepared well—it seems fate has doomed the Annanese king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before we act, we must first eliminate the Annanese navy—only then can we proceed freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will the court send its navy to clear the way for us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-robed scholar ventured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True, now was the best moment to raid Annan—but having the chance didn’t mean acting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, at such times, even if everyone had ideas, they’d act secretly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few would summon so many rivals to join, let alone share a chart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Annanese navy? Not worth a thought!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the court’s navy wipes them out, all the better; if not, it won’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides us, fellow pirates along the Zhejiang and Guangdong-Guangxi coasts will join this feast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guangdong-Guangxi Viceroy’s office has secretly spread word: all raids on Annan are now legal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, everything we plunder from Annan can be openly sold in Guangdong and Guangxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We might even exchange Annanese heads for weapons and ships from the authorities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This news won’t take long to spread through the circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suspect coastal merchants will also organize forces to join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we’re late, we won’t even get a sip of broth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhu Zhongxuan finished speaking, the smoke in the room grew thicker; the pirates fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew that once the court made such a promise, many would be tempted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For pirates, raiding wasn’t the hardest part—the real trouble was selling the loot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how valuable the goods, they meant nothing until sold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pirates thrived because powerful coastal clans operated secret black markets for fencing stolen goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Big pirates had strength and some bargaining power; small and medium ones were completely at the mercy of others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting even three-tenths of the goods’ true value was considered lucky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they met a ruthless buyer, they’d be offered one-tenth—and had to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could they do? These clans controlled not only the fencing networks but also the coastal shipyards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To grow strong, they had to buy ships and weapons from these very people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as pirates, they remained the serfs of powerful clans, enduring their exploitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2477,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","3f6869fa883913141439aed4c5e9441da300422f49dc047abb8413dcdcd85585","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-373","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-371",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]