Chapter 1098: New Mechanism

Zhang Jiao gently stroked Zhang Ning's little head, a trace of tenderness flowing in his eyes, and then turned to the direction of Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song, secretly sighing in his heart. He knew that these disputes in the court should have been transcendent for them as practitioners, but now, they had to be involved.

"Ning'er, Daddy and the uncles have important things to do. When these things are over, Daddy will definitely take you to see the most beautiful scenery, okay?" Zhang Jiao said softly to Zhang Ning, trying to isolate this heavy atmosphere for the time being.

Zhang Ning blinked her big eyes and nodded, not quite understanding, while still tightly clutching a small wooden sword in her hand, which was a toy Zhang Jiao had carved for her with his remaining magic power.

At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the tent. A messenger hurried in, knelt on one knee, and offered a secret letter with both hands, "My lord, urgent military intelligence!"

Zhang Jiao took the secret letter, opened it, and frowned. What was said in the letter was exactly about the pirate leaders who hindered them from going to sea. They were not only well-equipped but also seemed to have mastered some weird magic, making the fishermen and merchant ships along the coast terrified.

"It seems this is where our mission lies." Zhang Jiao said in a deep voice, his eyes firm, "We cannot sit idly by. If these pirates continue to be rampant, not only will it affect our plans, but it will also make innocent people suffer."

Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang exchanged glances. Although there was still fear in their hearts, seeing their eldest brother's firm eyes, that uneasiness was gradually replaced by courage.

"Eldest brother, we will follow you. No matter what, we must solve these guys." Zhang Bao clenched his fists, his tone carrying determination.

Zhang Liang also nodded and added, "Yes, we cannot let Master down, nor can we let the people down."

Once the decision was made, the three brothers began to discuss countermeasures. Zhang Jiao first proposed, "We must first understand the background of these pirates, the source of their magic, and their stronghold. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

Zhang Bao suggested, "We can send some clever subordinates to inquire about the news, and at the same time, use our magic to create some illusions to confuse them and buy time for us."

Zhang Liang thought of some mechanism techniques in the "Heavenly Craft Essentials," "Perhaps we can make some simple mechanisms to use for defense or attack. Although we cannot immediately make weapons like grenades, they can always help."

Just as the three were arguing, a voice came from outside the tent again. This time it was Gu Yi's voice, "Zhang Jiao, are you inside? I have something to discuss."

Hearing this, Zhang Jiao hurriedly welcomed him out, only to see Gu Yi looking serious, holding a roll of drawings in his hand.

"Mr. Gu, you have come just in time. We were just worrying about how to deal with those pirates." Zhang Jiao said.

Gu Yi shook his head gently and unfolded the drawings, "I observed the celestial phenomena at night, and this pirate matter is probably not accidental. These are some simple defensive construction drawings I improved based on the 'Heavenly Craft Essentials,' which might be able to help you."

Zhang Jiao carefully examined the drawings, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes, "Mr. Gu, this is truly sending charcoal in snowy weather! With these, our chances of winning have increased by a few points."

Gu Yi smiled slightly and patted Zhang Jiao on the shoulder, "Remember, no matter when, you must believe in your own strength and also believe that everything we do is for the people on this land. Go, go and complete your mission, and I will provide support for you in the rear."

Zhang Jiao and the three nodded gratefully, their hearts filled with power. They knew that this road would be full of challenges, but as long as there was faith in their hearts, there was nothing that could not be overcome.

In the following days, the three Zhang brothers acted according to the plan. On one hand, they sent subordinates to inquire about the pirates' news, and on the other hand, they secretly built defensive works according to the drawings provided by Gu Yi and trained soldiers to use these new mechanisms.

At the same time, they did not forget to cultivate their own magic. After all, in a real battle, personal strength was also crucial.

Finally, on a calm night, they received definite news that the pirates were about to strike. The three Zhang brothers led a capable team and quietly ambushed near the bay where the pirates had to pass.

Under the moonlight, the sea was sparkling, and everything seemed calm, but in reality, undercurrents were surging. When the pirate fleet sailed into the ambush circle, Zhang Jiao gave an order, the mechanism was activated, arrows shot toward the pirate ships like locusts, and at the same time, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang each performed magic, creating a fog that made the pirates fall into chaos.

The battle was extremely fierce, but relying on careful preparation and firm belief, the three Zhang brothers finally successfully repelled the pirates and protected the tranquility of the coast.

After the battle, when they returned to the camp, Gu Yi had already been waiting there, his face filled with a satisfied smile, "Beautifully done. You not only proved your strength but also won peace for the people."

The three Zhang brothers looked at each other and smiled, their hearts filled with pride. They knew that this was just the beginning, and the road ahead was still long, but as long as they were united, there was nothing that was impossible.

And regarding the mission of going to sea to find grain seeds, they also became more determined. Once everything was settled, they would definitely embark on that unknown journey to find that light of hope for every life on this land. ===== CHAPTER 1793 =====