Chapter 136: Kill

Three days later, Zhu Biao replied.

"Second brother, the Fuzhou matter is concluded, Li Wenyun and the others have all surrendered; the Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirate issue must be investigated thoroughly. I have petitioned Imperial Father to dispatch the Zhejiang Navy southward to assist in the suppression. You may begin preparations, but do not act rashly; wait for the reinforcements to arrive."

Zhu Yong finished reading the letter and asked Zhou Tai, "How is the ship modification going?"

"Prince, we have finished converting one ship; following your diagram we cut off the bow, added a sail, reduced the ballast stones, and yesterday's trial run was thirty percent faster than before," Zhou Tai said excitedly.

"Is it enough to chase the Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) ships?"

"It should be sufficient."

"Good, prepare to set sail," Zhu Yong said.

"Prince, didn't Crown Prince say to wait for reinforcements..." Zhou Tai hesitated.

"We won't wait… the Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirates will head to the offshore of Fuzhou in three days; we must intercept them beforehand," Zhu Yong said, shaking his head.

"But we only have one fast ship, the Water Fortress has fewer than ten warships usable, and the Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirates number over two hundred…"

"Enough. Back then I fought Northern Yuan with Chang Shu; we faced five thousand against fifty thousand, so two hundred Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirates are nothing," Zhu Yong said with a simple smile.

Zhou Tai recalled the Wu King's battle record and his confidence surged instantly.

"Your servant awaits orders!"

March eighteenth, dawn.

At Minjiang River Mouth, five warships sailed out of the Water Fortress.

Leading the fleet was the modified Fortune Ship Feiyu Hao, with Zhu Yong standing at the bow, while Zhang Wu and Chen Heng stood on either side.

Zhou Tai steered personally.

The other four were ordinary patrol boats, each carrying thirty soldiers.

In total, fewer than two hundred men.

Target: Shuangyu Island.

The sea wind whistled, billowing the sails.

Zhu Yong gazed at the distant horizon, his eyes calm.

In his memories of a past life, the Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirates had plagued the coast for a hundred years, countless seaside folk suffering terribly.

In this life, he resolved to eradicate these malignant tumors from the root.

"Lord, the Shuangyu Island lies ahead," Zhou Tai said, pointing at the faintly visible island in the distance.

Zhu Yong's eyesight was sharp; the island's outline was clear, and indeed a small bay lay to the southeast, with five or six ships anchored inside.

"Approach, but not too close; circle to the island's west side," Zhu Yong ordered.

"The west side is a beach, easy to land, but the Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirates may have sentries," Zhou Tai said.

"No problem, I'll go scout first."

The fleet circled to the west of the island and dropped anchor two li from the beach.

Zhu Yong changed into a black wetsuit and said to Zhang Wu, "You stay here; in half an hour, if you see a red signal rise on the island, charge in."

"If it's green, retreat."

"Lord, you're too dangerous alone..." Zhang Wu urged.

"No problem, the Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirates can't hurt me," Zhu Yong smiled and leapt into the sea.

His swimming ability was superb; not to mention a past life, even when he was in Fengyang Village there was a river nearby, and because he was often hungry and couldn't fill his stomach, he frequently waded into the river to catch fish, honing his aquatic skill.

The seawater was icy, and he dove toward the beach like a swimming fish.

Half a quarter hour later, he quietly went ashore and hid behind a reef to observe.

On the beach, two Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) sentries were dozing against a coconut tree.

Zhu Yong approached silently, one hand on each, snapping their necks.

He donned one of their clothes, strapped on a Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) knife, and walked toward the island interior.

Shuangyu Island was small, no more than five li across.

The Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) camp was built on the inner side of the harbor, enclosed by a wooden fence, with over twenty wooden huts inside.

Zhu Yong slipped to the outside of the fence and observed through the gaps.

Inside the camp, about a hundred Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirates were eating, sitting in several circles, gnawing dried fish and drinking sake.

Du Yan Long sat on a wooden platform in the middle; he was a man in his forties, his right eye covered with black cloth, and a fierce knife scar across the left side of his face.

He was delivering a speech in Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) language; Zhu Yong couldn't understand, but from the gestures it seemed he was assigning tasks.

Zhu Yong counted the people, roughly one hundred fifty. Including those on the ships and patrolling, the total was about two hundred, matching what the Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) had reported.

He quietly retreated and circled to the rear of the camp.

There was a warehouse piled with looted goods.

Food, cotton cloth, porcelain, and… timber.

Zhu Yong recognized that the timber was the pine wood lost from the shipyard.

The evidence was conclusive.

He took out the Signal Tube and lit the fuse.

"Whoosh… Boom!"

Red fireworks exploded in the sky.

Outside the harbor, on Feiyu Hao, Zhou Tai saw the signal and immediately ordered, "Attack!"

The five warships raised their sails and surged toward the harbor.

Inside the camp, the Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirates were startled by the fireworks and scrambled for weapons.

Du Yan Long roared furiously, "Baka! Enemy attack!"

The Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife) pirates rushed out of the camp, sprinting toward the beach.

Zhu Yong emerged from behind the warehouse and blocked the road.

"You... who are you?" Du Yan Long asked in halting Mandarin.

"I am the Great Ming Wu King, Zhu Yong," Zhu Yong slowly drew his Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife), which he had just taken from a sentry.

"Wu King... alone, courting death!" Du Yan Long was startled, then sneered.

He waved his hand, and a dozen or so pirates closed in.

Zhu Yong moved.

The blade flashed like snow; his silhouette was like the wind.

Three breaths later, eight pirates fell to the ground.

Throat, chest, and brow—each strike was lethal.

Du Yan Long's pupils contracted.

"Kill him!" he roared.

More pirates lunged forward.

Zhu Yong did not retreat but advanced; where his blade passed, flesh and blood flew.

He did not use his full strength, only thirty percent, yet it was enough to crush those pirates.

His former‑life special forces skill, combined with his invincible power this life, made the pirates before him as fragile as children.

In the blink of an eye, over thirty pirates lay on the ground.

The remaining pirates began to retreat, fear evident in their eyes.

Du Yan Long gritted his teeth, drew his katana, gripped the hilt with both hands, and assumed a stance.

"Shixian Liu, Du Yan Long, present!"

He shouted loudly, stepped forward, and his blade, fierce, slashed straight at Zhu Yong's head.

Zhu Yong raised his blade to block.

"Clang!"

The two blades clashed, and Du Yan Long's sword snapped in response.

Zhu Yong's sword, following the momentum, thrust into his chest.

Du Yan Long's eyes widened; he could not believe it.

"Shixian Liu... nothing more," Zhu Yong withdrew his blade, and blood spurted.

Du Yan Long fell, his breath gone, dead.

With their leader dead, the remaining pirates completely broke, scattering in flight.

At that moment, Zhou Tai led his troops ashore and began clearing the remaining enemies.

The battle lasted half an hour.

Of the two hundred pirates, more than 120 were killed, and over 70 were captured.

Great Ming soldiers suffered only light injuries, three in total.

Zhu Yong stood beside Du Yan Long's corpse, looking at the camp's wreckage.

This is only the beginning.

Four Islands of Woguo, how many more such ronin are there?

When Great Ming's fleet later sails eastward, these people will all be obstacles.

They must be cleared out in advance.

He looked eastward, to the other side of the sea.

Wa Country...

Soon, he will go...

Zhou Tai walked over, clasped his fists, and said, "Prince, the pirates have been completely eradicated, six Japanese ships captured, and a number of valuables seized."

"Send the captives back to Quanzhou, interrogate them thoroughly, and find out what other pirate hideouts remain, and which officials colluded with them," Zhu Yong said.

"Yes!"

"Also, send a message to the elder brother, saying Shuangyu Island is pacified, and ask him when the Zhejiang Navy will arrive."

"Prince, you mean..."

"Since we're here, sweep a few more islands and clean the pirates along Fujian's coast," Zhu Yong said with a simple smile.

Zhou Tai, invigorated, replied, "I, the junior commander, obey!"

The sea wind blew, carrying a briny scent.

Zhu Yong sheathed his blade and gazed into the distance.

In the spring of Hongwu 6th year, Great Ming's first anti‑pirate battle rang out on Shuangyu Island.

And this is merely a beginning.