Chapter 354: Zhang Cheng

Huating, naval camp,

A continuous stream of carriages drove in from outside.

As tens of thousands of Great Ming naval soldiers stood there in confusion, they saw Zhang Cheng slowly walk onto the platform.

Looking at the lackluster soldiers before him, Zhang Cheng swore he had only seen such things among the Great Song's garrison troops!

Because in the Song Dynasty, garrison troops weren't responsible for fighting; their main purpose was to do chores!

Opening roads through mountains, building bridges over water, and repairing city walls were all their jobs!

But back then, Zhang Cheng was able to lead those garrison troops to defeat one enemy after another because he knew one thing: completely unleash the constraints on the "garrison troops," or rather, awaken the greed in people's hearts!

"Clatter!"

Kicking open a crate, Zhang Cheng pointed at the silver on the ground: "This silver is yours!"

"Wow!"

Cries of surprise rang out, and the soldiers standing in front were instantly stunned where they stood.

Because piece after piece of silver was just dumped on the ground like that; it was simply breathtaking to them.

"Do you want to take it?"

Stirring up the greed below once more, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but roar.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Following three roars, the soldiers instantly boiled over with excitement.

Watching this scene, the naval battalion commanders below also swallowed their saliva.

Because even they were looking at it with covetous eyes—how could they not want it?

"Distribute the silver, kill the Japanese pirates—ten taels for one, twenty for two. With just one battle, you can completely turn your lives around!"

Raising his finger, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but point toward the sky: "No one is born cowardly. Do you want to scratch a living from the dirt for the rest of your lives, or follow this Regional Commander to settle the winds and waves for the Great Ming? You choose."

"Settle the winds and waves! Settle the winds and waves!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with scarlet eyes, the soldiers instantly boiled over.

Because unlike other Regional Commanders who just made empty promises, Zhang Cheng had actually laid the silver out right in front of them!

"Distribute!"

Signaling to Ding Xiu beside him, Zhang Cheng smiled.

Why is it that talk shows are attended mostly by women?

That's because once a talk show gathers men, what follows next is a beer hall speech!

Although he didn't have much eloquence, Zhang Cheng knew one thing: don't paint empty pictures!

After distributing nearly two hundred thousand taels of silver, Zhang Cheng looked at the soldiers filled with fighting spirit and put on his armor: "Prepare for the sacrifice to heaven."

Not long after, when a Japanese pirate, jabbering away, was dragged up, he immediately began to struggle frantically.

Looking at him, Zhang Cheng turned his head: "Behead him!"

"Clatter!"

Wielding a Miao saber, Ding Xiu's face was filled with a ruthless expression.

"Squelch!"

As fresh blood splattered on the ground, Zhang Cheng picked up the head and roared: "The Great Ming army is mighty!"

"The Great Ming army is mighty! The Great Ming army is mighty!"

Leaning on the long spears in their hands, the Great Ming soldiers instantly roared.

"Set sail!"

Turning to board the ship, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but wave his hand and shout.

"What should be done with this, Regional Commander?"

Coming before Zhang Cheng, a battalion commander swallowed his saliva and asked.

"Hang it up!"

Looking at the battalion commander indifferently, Zhang Cheng stared straight ahead, his expression cold.

"Ah?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in confusion, the battalion commander was dumbfounded.

"Hang it up, I told you to hang it up!"

Pointing at the mast nearby, Zhang Cheng raised his voice, because one such head was worth ten taels of silver!

If he couldn't plunder enough silver this time, he reckoned he would be torn to shreds by the furious Great Ming army upon his return.

So, this battle could only be won, not lost!

Located not far from Huating was Zhoushan Island, where over a thousand pirates were gathered.

Tens of thousands of Great Ming naval troops against a thousand pirates—if they couldn't win, Zhang Cheng might as well just jump into the sea and end it!

On Zhoushan Island, as the pirates were drinking and singing, enjoying the spoils of their last raid, they suddenly saw black dots appearing in the distance.

Raising his brows to observe, one pirate asked in confusion: "Strange, where did so many ships come from!"

"Do you think it could be the Great Ming army?" Looking at his companion with curiosity, another pirate asked.

"Are you kidding? How could the Great Ming army..."

Just as the pirate was speaking, he was completely dumbfounded, because the flags hanging on the ships, and the characters on them, were truly the Great Ming navy!

"Big Boss, it's bad! The Great Ming army, the Great Ming army is here!"

Running back in a panic, the pirate shouted loudly.

"The Great Ming army? Are you kidding me? Do those people in the Great Ming army dare to go out to sea? Hahahaha!"

Laughing loudly, the pirate held a woman in his arms: "Little lady, don't you think so?"

Looking at the pirate before her, the woman said with grief and indignation: "Shameless wretch, you..."

"Smack!"

Slapping the woman across the face with a backhand, the pirate threw her at his feet: "You blind woman, I'll throw you into the sea in a moment!"

"Big Boss, now is not the time to talk about this, the Great Ming army is really here!"

Speaking hysterically, the pirate couldn't help but roar.

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"You're drunk. How would the Great Ming army dare to come here? I am close friends with Battalion Commander Lu..."

Looking at the pirate before him, the Big Boss spoke drunkenly.

And looking at the Big Boss, the pirate cursed: "The one leading them is your 'good brother' Battalion Commander Lu!"

Suddenly hearing these words, the pirate sobered up immediately.

But just at this moment, the sounds of slaughter had already broken out outside.

As a continuous stream of Great Ming soldiers rushed up, Battalion Commander Lu, the "close friend," drew his sword and roared: "Quick, find that bastard Liu Laoqi and slaughter him! Don't let him drag me down with him!"

"Yes, Battalion Commander!"

Hearing Battalion Commander Lu's words, the personal guards around him also panicked.

Because Liu Laoqi couldn't be allowed to live; once the Regional Commander found out, his career as a Battalion Commander would truly be over!

Liu Laoqi: Brother this, brother that, when brother has trouble, you don't care?

Battalion Commander Lu: Brother this, brother that, when brother gets beaten, I don't care!

"Lu..."

Looking at the "close friend" leading the charge, Liu Laoqi was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly intended to say something.

But looking at Liu Laoqi, Battalion Commander Lu raised his hand and struck with his sword: "Who's your 'Lu'? I am a Great Ming Battalion Commander, don't try to get familiar with me!"

"Squelch!"

As fresh blood splattered onto his clothes, Battalion Commander Lu looked around: "Slaughter them all, slaughter them all!"

"Kill!"

Raising their swords, the personal guards were like fierce tigers descending from the mountains, beginning to slaughter the pirates.

Standing on the ship, Zhang Cheng watched Zhoushan being conquered in no time: "Tsk tsk tsk, they're actually quite capable of fighting, aren't they?"

"Have you ever thought that the battalion commanders who charged the fastest have a connection to this place!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Ding Xiu couldn't help but speak up.

"It's precisely because they have a connection that I came to attack this place. Only by killing them cleanly can they prove their loyalty to the Great Ming!"

Looking at Ding Xiu with a face full of smiles, Zhang Cheng patted his shoulder: "If you don't kill them, why are you killing them? Are you just bored?"

Staring at Zhang Cheng in shock, Ding Xiu never expected such a maneuver; it was simply too shameless!

"Hey hey hey, don't look at this Regional Commander with that kind of gaze, or I'll transfer you to move cannons!"

Looking at Ding Xiu before him, Zhang couldn't help but retort.

"Yes, Regional Commander! This subordinate understands!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Ding Xiu gritted his teeth and saluted with a clenched fist.

Not long after, when all the pirates on the island had been slaughtered, Zhang Cheng looked at the heads below: "Register the count, collect your silver after the battle. This Regional Commander always keeps his word! I will absolutely not owe any of you a single tael."

"Thank you, Regional Commander! The Great Ming army is mighty! The Great Ming army is mighty!"

Following the deafening sound, many soldiers boiled over with excitement.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 355 =====