Chapter 160: It

Li Wenzhong also landed; he inspected the battlefield, his expression solemn.

In this battle, the Ming forces suffered over eight hundred casualties, while the Wa forces left more than fifteen hundred corpses.

"Cousin, what's our next move?" Zhu Yong asked.

Li Wenzhong looked at the dense forest and said slowly, "Take inventory of casualties, consolidate the beachhead position; Yakushima's mountains are high and its woods thick, a direct assault would cost too much, we need a different method."

"What method?"

"Encirclement… the island is only this big, five thousand men; even Grain and Fodder will run out eventually. We'll surround the island, cut off their supplies, and see how long they can hold out."

A cold glint flashed in Li Wenzhong's eyes as he said.

Immediately, he ordered, "Send the word: the fleet shall block the waters around Yakushima; no ship may enter or leave. The landing troops will build a camp on the beachhead, set up outposts, and prevent Wa forces from night raids."

"Understood!"

The Ming troops began busily constructing works and establishing a defensive line.

By evening, the camp fortifications were taking shape.

Inside the Central Command Tent, Li Wenzhong convened the generals for discussion.

"According to the prisoners, Yakushima has three water sources, all in the mountains; the Wa fortresses are built near the water, easy to defend and hard to attack," the intelligence officer reported.

"Water sources… can we cut off their water?" Li Wenzhong said after a moment's thought.

"Hard, the mountain streams are difficult to block completely."

"Then we poison them," Li Wenzhong said coldly.

The generals were startled by the words.

"Lord Cao, this…" someone began, then stopped.

"War is life and death; the Wa forces are trapped on an isolated island, a dead end. We have no time to waste; a swift victory that reduces our soldiers' casualties is the proper course."

Li Wenzhong replied expressionlessly.

He looked at Zhu Yong and asked, "Cousin, what do you think?"

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "I'll follow my older cousin; as long as we can win, anything goes. Wang Gui once told me that an enemy's death is still better than our brothers' deaths…"

Li Wenzhong nodded and smiled, "Right, that's it. Very well, let's do it this way: tomorrow send a squad into the mountains to locate the water sources and drop poison."

"No need for a lethal toxin; just make them suffer diarrhea and weakness."

"Understood!"

The others heard this and nodded in agreement.

……

The next day, at dawn.

Ten squads slipped into the forest to search for water sources.

Yakushima's forest is dense, the paths rugged, and the Wa forces have set up numerous outposts.

But the Ming squads are elite, adept at mountain warfare, evading the outposts and silently locating the three water sources.

In the afternoon, the mission was completed.

That afternoon, abnormalities began to appear inside the Wa fortresses.

Soldiers started suffering successive bouts of diarrhea and total weakness; the military doctors could not determine the cause.

Kikuchi Takehikari was furious and then ordered a thorough investigation.

Soon, the news that the water sources had been poisoned began to spread.

Panic began to spread among the Wa Country people.

Without clean water, five thousand people could not last many days.

Kikuchi Takehikari realized they could no longer hold.

"Send the word: the whole army assemble, break out tonight!" he gritted his teeth and said.

"General, where shall we break out?" Vice General asked.

"Northwest beachhead; the Ming main force is there, and it's the only escape. Break through the beachhead, seize the ships, and leave this island!" Kikuchi Takehikari said.

He also considered that the northwest beachhead had the most Ming troops, which also meant the ships were concentrated.

If they could capture a few ships, there would be a way out.

……

Night fell.

At Yakushima's northwest beachhead, the Ming camp's lights burned brightly.

Sentinels patrolled vigilantly; outside the camp were spiked barriers and trenches.

Zhu Yong, still awake, sat in the tent polishing his Double Hammers.

Zhang Wu entered and said, "Your Highness, Duke Cao requests you to go to the Central Command Tent."

"What's the matter?" Zhu Yong asked, a little puzzled.

"The Wa forces are moving; scouts have spotted them gathering," Zhang Wu said respectfully to Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong's eyes lit up, "Are we to break out?"

"It looks like it…"

Zhu Yong lifted his Double Hammers and said, "Let's go!"

Inside the Central Command Tent, Li Wenzhong was making arrangements.

"The Wa forces will definitely try to break out tonight; their target is surely the beachhead, aiming to seize ships. We'll play along, let them in, then encircle and annihilate them."

He pointed at the map and laughed.

Li Wenzhong had been waiting for this moment.

Then he turned his head toward the generals and said, "Each camp follow the plan, ambushes take position, wait for the Wa forces to enter the encirclement, then act."

"Yes!"

The generals obeyed and left.

Zhu Yong asked, "Cousin, what should I do?"

Li Wenzhong laughed, "Cousin, what are you best at?"

"Charge and break formation."

"Right. When the Wa troops break out, you lead the Personal Guard Unit straight to Ju Chi Wu Guang, cut off his head, and the enemy will collapse on its own," Li Wenzhong said with a smile.

"Understood!" Zhu Yong nodded heavily.

……

Midnight.

Sounds began to arise in the forest.

A large force of Wa troops silently descended the mountain, moving toward the beachhead.

They avoided the Great Ming outposts and approached the camp.

Ju Chi Wu Guang personally led the squad, wearing Heavy Armor, wielding a Long Sword, his eyes filled with resolve.

Five thousand Wa troops, the Southern Dynasty's last elite.

"Charge!" Ju Chi Wu Guang roared.

The Wa troops surged out of the forest, lunging at the Great Ming camp.

The Great Ming seemed caught off guard, and the defense line was breached.

The Wa troops rushed into the camp, only to find it empty.

"Baka... we've been tricked!" Ju Chi Wu Guang exclaimed in shock.

At that moment, torches around flared up.

"Fire arrows!" Li Wenzhong's voice rang out.

Arrows fell like rain, shot from all sides.

The Wa troops fell in clusters.

"Break out, charge to the sea! Kill the chickens..." Ju Chi Wu Guang shouted.

The Wa troops desperately rushed toward the sea, where dozens of small boats were moored.

At that moment, Zhu Yong appeared.

He led two hundred Imperial Troops, blocking the Wa troops.

"Wa Country devils, meet your death!" Zhu Yong bellowed, brandishing Double Hammers at the enemy commander.

Ju Chi Wu Guang gritted his teeth and met him.

The two engaged.

Ju Chi Wu Guang's sword technique was superb, but Zhu Yong's strength was boundless; a hammer struck down, shattering his palm.

After three exchanges, Ju Chi Wu Guang's sword flew, and he fell.

Zhu Yong advanced, a hammer finishing him off.

The commander fell, and the Wa troops completely collapsed.

Great Ming troops slaughtered them; after one hour, the battle ended.

Of the five thousand Wa troops, three thousand were killed, two thousand captured.

The Southern Dynasty's last resistance force was annihilated.

At dawn, Wu Wine Dao returned to calm.

Li Wenzhong climbed to the summit of the island's central mountain, watching the sunrise.

"Issue orders: clear the battlefield, tally the results, send someone back to Shun Ren Cheng to report the victory, and simultaneously report to the court that the campaign against Wa is essentially concluded," Li Wenzhong said slowly.

"Yes!"

Zhu Yong stood beside him, drenched in blood, yet his eyes shone brightly.

"Cousin, is the battle over?"

"It's over. Next, we should mine," Li Wenzhong said with a smile.

He looked toward the Northern Region, where Sado Island and Ishimi Mountain lay.

The campaign against Wa in the seventh year of Hongwu concluded here.

But Great Ming's gains have only just begun.