Chapter 377: Riding a Tiger, Unable to Dismount

Scholar, put away your little tricks.

Such an obvious provocation won’t work on me.

If you think the terms are bad, you’re free to opt out.

After this job, we go our separate ways—no one’s forcing you to accept amnesty!

Zhu Zhongxuan said irritably.

Leading a group of pirates to negotiate does offer a chance to secure better terms.

But for a leader like him, the consequences would be catastrophic.

The court needs them now—even if the terms are excessive, they'll likely agree—but this will leave a dangerous hidden peril.

Don’t be fooled by pirates constantly talking about brotherhood; betrayal happens daily on the sea.

They speak of righteousness only because the price of betrayal isn’t high enough.

When the time comes to settle accounts, these pirates will sell him clean.

None of the pirate captains at that meeting dared to step forward, precisely to avoid being targeted later.

For men like them, official rank has never been the priority—securing amnesty is the only path forward.

What the Daxu bureaucracy is like, even if none of them have experienced it firsthand, they’ve heard enough.

Once inside the imperial system, with the wealth they’ve amassed, they can bribe their way to high office.

Of course, compared to officials of legitimate pedigree, their treatment will be like that of a stepchild.

Ranks can be bought, but real power? Almost impossible to obtain.

The greatest benefit is standing in the sunlight, allowing their descendants to enter the ruling elite.

“Brother Zhu, calm down!”

“I’m just speaking up for the brothers!

We’re all top-tier heroes—we deserve decent positions, not to be dumped as mere privates!”

Since Brother Zhu doesn’t mind, I won’t say more!”

The Death-Bringing Scholar hurriedly explained.

He was very satisfied with the result of his test.

If the court had offered Zhu Zhongxuan more promises, he’d now be scheming to push everyone toward amnesty—not letting things drift.

The seemingly harsh amnesty terms actually prove Han Shui Marquis is genuinely seeking to recruit pirates.

No other reason—Han Shui Marquis, born of noble lineage, has his pride.

Had they surrendered earlier, they might have earned respect.

Now, so many are eager to serve him; these pirates don’t deserve to be courted with courtesy.

Just look at this operation.

Alongside Zhu Zhongxuan’s pirate alliance, coastal merchants have also formed their own groups.

To conceal their identities, the merchants have donned pirate masks.

In a sense, this campaign against the Annan people is also a screening.

Not every participating faction will gain benefits, but those who didn’t join will surely suffer in the future.

From Guangdong and Guangxi to Nanzhili, all are under the control of the noble faction.

In a feudal dynasty, to profit from the lucrative maritime trade without aligning closely with those in power is not the act of a wise man.

Once you pick the wrong side, no matter how strong your backing, it’s useless.

Daxu enforces a maritime ban: sea trade is permitted, but cannot be openly acknowledged.

Violate the ban and you’re executed—die, and no one cares.

Enough, Scholar.

I know you’re cunning, but use your cunning for the right purpose.

Amnesty isn’t urgent now—the priority is making money.

Annan is weak—this is heaven-sent opportunity.

After landing, everyone acts freely—take what you can, each man for himself.

I have only one rule: no infighting until the operation ends!”

Zhu Zhongxuan’s words pleased the smaller pirate captains.

Though this restraint won’t work perfectly, it’s better than nothing.

Secret conflicts are inevitable, but at least publicly, they must show Zhu Zhongxuan face.

For weaker pirates, this is their greatest protection.

…

The raiders weren’t just Zhu Zhongxuan’s pirate alliance—other pirate groups also chose their own targets.

Soon, smoke rose everywhere along the Annan coast.

As time passed, rescue requests flew into Thang Long City like snowflakes.

“The pirate onslaught is far more complex than it appears.

Lord Lin, has your Tongzheng Office uncovered these pirates’ origins?”

Cui Ziyan frowned as he read the pleas for help.

Pirates’ strength lies at sea.

On land, they can’t match regular troops.

Normally, pirates land, raid, and flee.

This time is different: the organized pirate bands, after looting ports, are advancing inland.

Annan’s narrow territory is easily cut in half.

“Prime Minister, intelligence indicates most of these pirates are Daxu subjects.

Their range is vast—from the Sea of Japan to the South Seas, their presence is everywhere.

Many are Daxu maritime merchants.

Once these men led the invasion, pirates active off our shores joined in the looting.

From gathered data, the number of pirates raiding us likely exceeds two hundred thousand.

And this number continues to rise.

If we don’t act swiftly, pirates active in the Indian Ocean will be drawn in too.”

Lin Zeliang spoke tremblingly.

His predecessor was imprisoned and punished for faulty intelligence.

Since taking office, though he made some changes, his intelligence-gathering remains weak.

The information just given didn’t require investigation—it could be deduced.

Such a massive pirate force could only be sustained by Daxu.

“So you mean these pirates are a Daxu plot?”

Cui Ziyan asked uncertainly.

Pirates are equally despised in Daxu.

Logically, they’ve always opposed the Daxu court—why would they aid the Daxu emperor?

“Prime Minister, if not orchestrated by the Daxu court, who else could mobilize so many?

Pirates acting alone can only raid coastal areas—they’d never penetrate inland.

Only Daxu officials offering promises could produce this situation.

Daxu aristocratic families have a habit of maintaining mountain bandits; maintaining pirate bands at sea isn’t unthinkable.

Ordinary pirates harbor grudges against the Daxu court and won’t obey its emperor—but those privately maintained by aristocrats are different.”

Lin Zeliang offered what he believed was a reasonable explanation.

The truth didn’t matter to him—he just needed to get past this crisis.

Rebuilding the intelligence system won’t happen overnight, but superiors care only about results.

Fail, and he’s the scapegoat.

“If this is a Daxu plot, our navy must not move lightly.

Order all provinces to strengthen defenses and guard against pirate attacks.

The Hanlin Academy must draft a memorial immediately—send it by six-hundred-li express to the emperor.”

Cui Ziyan made his decision at once.

Compared to pirates, his greatest fear has always been the Daxu navy.

If the Annan navy sails south to crush the pirates, the Daxu army might launch a sea invasion of Hanoi.

Annan’s core region has always been the delta plain—equivalent to Daxu’s Jiangnan and capital.

Lose the heartland, and the damage won’t be mere setback—it could mean annihilation.

“Prime Minister, reporting to the emperor now won’t solve the immediate crisis.

Pirates ravage the central and southern provinces—if we don’t act decisively, half of Annan will be lost!”

Ruan Xinjie’s words shattered the ministers’ composure.

Losing half of Annan to pirates would make them a laughingstock in history.

Especially officials from central and southern regions—their expressions were now twisted.

If their hometowns are gone, they become rootless drifters.

"Prime Minister, Minister Ruan is right."

"At this moment, we cannot sit idly by."

"We must send reinforcements immediately to show these pirates what they’re up against!"

Seeing the ministers pressuring him, Cui Zi’s temper flared instantly.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to send troops—it was that he had no troops to send.

Official troop rosters did not mean actual forces existed in that number.

The Great Yue Empire’s registered population totaled only three million or so.

Even if the real population were somewhat higher, it would still be no more than five or six million.

To support the twenty-five thousand troops on the frontlines, they had already conscripted hundreds of thousands of laborers.

Most of the nation's able-bodied men were serving the war effort; the garrison troops were mostly elderly or weak.

The Great Yue Empire’s military mobilization capacity had now reached its absolute limit.

Fundamentally, this northern campaign was a gamble on the empire’s fate.

Unfortunately, their luck was poor—the declining Great Yu was still no match for them to provoke.

"Enough!"

"You all keep talking about sending troops—where are these troops supposed to come from?"

"I can’t conjure up soldiers out of thin air!"

"Don’t you know what kind of troops are left behind in each region?"

"They’re fine for maintaining local order, but if sent to the battlefield, they’d just hand the enemy easy victories."

"If you think the domestic situation is beyond control, immediately petition His Majesty to return with his army."

Cui Zi exploded at once.

All of you only know to pressure me—but I’m just the Prime Minister, not the Emperor of Yue.

I have influence in court, but no final decision-making power.

When the border clashes first broke out, everyone saw it as an opportunity and pushed for the northern campaign against Yu.

After the war began and they realized the enemy was not to be trifled with, their political stances shifted again.

They pretend to urge me to send reinforcements to the southern regions, but in truth, they’re trying to force me to rally the ministers and pressure the Emperor into withdrawing.

After the new Emperor’s ascension, his first major war ended in failure—think of how disastrous the consequences would be.

Leading a palace coup now would earn the Emperor’s lifelong hatred.

From Cui Zi’s personal standpoint, the best course was to state the facts plainly and let the Emperor abandon the northern campaign himself.

…

Below Zhen’an Pass, the Yue army’s encampment.

As he read the official documents sent from the capital, Hu Xinbo’s face turned ashen.

The Great Yue Empire being cornered by a band of pirates was, for His Majesty, the greatest humiliation.

"Despicable Yu people!"

After cursing, Hu Xinbo had no choice but to confront the reality.

The empire’s interior was empty, and pirates had exploited the weakness—this was now fact.

If no immediate action was taken, the Great Yue Empire would be finished.

"My loyal ministers, the Yu have manipulated pirates to invade Yue—do any of you have a strategy to advise me?"

Hu Xinbo asked hopefully.

"Your Majesty, these pirates are no threat—send the navy to hunt them down!"

Chen Jingfu responded first.

Yet his eagerness did not earn Hu Xinbo’s approval.

If the navy could have moved, it would have acted long ago—there would be no need to report this to His Majesty.

"Minister Chen, you clearly don’t understand the situation."

"I mean the pirates are rampaging across the land, and our navy is pinned down by the Yu navy—utterly unable to suppress them."

Hu Xinbo explained coldly.

For a small state, the tragedy lies here.

They can win countless times, but one misstep could lead to total ruin.

Now, the Great Yue Empire didn’t just have its navy pinned down—it was also bogged down by the Yu army on land.

The civil officials back home didn’t grasp the situation; they believed if he simply withdrew, all problems would vanish.

But reality was cruel.

The enemy’s reinforcements had already reached the frontlines; the combined forces of Guangdong and Guangxi numbered over a hundred thousand.

If the Yue army withdrew, the enemy would pounce.

One misstep, and retreat would turn into total collapse.

"Your Majesty, if the navy can’t move, recall General Xiao."

"After all, the invasion of Yunnan was meant to be a surprise—now that the surprise has failed, lingering there serves no purpose."

Chen Jingfu quickly amended his position.

The Yue army’s failed surprise attack on Yunnan wasn’t due to Xiao Yunfan’s incompetence—it was purely delayed by terrain.

Terrible roads slowed their advance; by the time they arrived, the enemy was already prepared.

When they reached the walls, they tragically discovered the gunpowder had been poorly stored and dampened—every firearm in the army had become useless firesticks.

Though the Yunnan defenders were weak, they still held firm against a Yue army armed with cold weapons.

Failing to seize the walls immediately, the battle turned into a war of attrition.

"Hmm, that’s a decent suggestion."

"But the pirates invading our homeland are too numerous—Xiao Yunfan’s forty thousand troops may not be enough."

Minister of War Chen Chuyang gently reminded him.

Forty thousand regular troops could normally handle a band of pirates without issue.

But the situation was unusual: Xiao Yunfan’s forces had just suffered defeat, their morale and fighting spirit severely damaged.

Even if they returned home, restoring combat readiness would take time.

Rushing them to the front now would cause chaos.

"Hmm!"

"If we lack troops, draw another twenty thousand from our own forces here to return home and crush the pirates."

"Send word to Xiao Yunfan—if he can’t handle a bunch of pirates, he should cut his own throat!"

Hu Xinbo spoke with murderous intent.

Clearly, he was truly enraged—otherwise he wouldn’t have lost composure like this.

"Your Majesty, this cannot be done!"

"Though we hold a numerical advantage, the Yu army is no pushover."

"If we continue dividing our forces, the enemy will easily find a weakness."

"The war has progressed this far—continuing to fight brings us no benefit."

"Send an envoy to the Yu capital to seek a temporary peace with the Yu Emperor."

"Once we’ve dealt with the pirates, we can seek another chance to invade Yu!"

Shi Yufeng immediately advised.

“Seek another chance to invade Yu” was a very euphemistic way of saying it.

The cruel reality made it clear to all: they lacked the strength to conquer the Great Yu.

Even just a few garrison units and a band of low-grade pirates had thrown them into chaos.

If the Great Yu ever took them seriously and sent its elite forces, it would be catastrophic.

"Old General, you overthink this."

"The war has just begun—why speak of peace?"

"Even if peace is needed, it should be the Yu Emperor begging us for it."

"Their situation is far worse than ours—they have no courage to counterattack!"

Seeing the Emperor’s expression darken, Chen Chuyang swiftly rebuked him.

The Emperor had paid too great a price for this campaign against Yu.

Without a tangible victory, there would be no way to end it.

For the new Emperor, such a result would be a political disaster.

Already, the power of the aristocratic clans within the Great Yue Empire was immense.

If imperial authority suffered, even if he wasn’t overthrown, Hu Xinbo’s control over the court would crumble.

The situation had now reached a point where Hu Xinbo was trapped.

He couldn’t win, and peace was impossible domestically—he could only hold on.

(End of Chapter)