Chapter 221: Exhilarating

Half an hour later, three thousand natives left seven or eight hundred corpses behind and fled in panic.

On the Longxiang Army's side, only a dozen or so soldiers were grazed by stray arrows while crossing the river, and none fell in battle.

Chang Yuchun looked at the fleeing natives, laughed heartily and said, "Exhilarating! Truly exhilarating! I've fought for so many years, never have I enjoyed a battle this much!"

Wang Baobao frowned and said, "Lord, these two groups total five thousand; how many troops does Manzhe Boyi actually have?"

Zhu Yong said, "Zhou Dahai claimed they have fifty thousand soldiers, but most are hastily conscripted farmers, and few can actually fight."

"Fifty thousand… we only have four thousand, ammunition is ample, but what if they use a human wave tactic…" Wang Baobao mused.

"No, they're already terrified; look at those two groups just now—only a few hundred died before they fled. More of that kind won't matter." Chang Yuchun shook his head and said.

The troops continued crossing the river and encountered no further attacks this time.

At sunset, all four thousand crossed the river and set up camp on the riverbank.

A campfire was lit; the soldiers sat in a circle, some cleaning their guns, some eating, some speaking in low voices.

Today's battle boosted their confidence in the Flintlock Gun.

Three Hundred Steps away, the enemy could not charge through at all.

This battle is easy to fight.

Inside the Central Command Tent, Zhu Yong spread out the sea chart and discussed the next plan with Chang Yuchun and Wang Baobao.

"According to Zhou Dahai, Manzhe Boyi's royal city lies in this direction; on horseback it's a day and a half away," Zhu Yong said, pointing to the marked spot on the map.

Wang Baobao said, "Lord, today's two battles have probably already been reported to the royal city; tomorrow they will either flee or bring all their troops here to face us in a decisive battle."

"They can't escape; where could they run? The South Sea is this big, they can't just fly away, can they?" Chang Yuchun chuckled.

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow we'll speed up, aiming to reach the royal city before sunset; if they flee, we'll chase, if they mass their forces, we'll fight."

"Yes!"

After the discussion, the two left the Central Command Tent.

Zhu Yong sat alone inside the tent, by the light of an oil lamp, studying the sea chart.

The map was drawn by the Ministry of Works based on Zhou Dahai's description; it isn't precise, but the general outline is accurate.

Manzhe Boyi, the once‑dominant power of the South Sea in a previous life, is now destined to perish at his hands.

He recalled the Great Ming merchants who were slain, Zhou Dahai's expression when he spoke of those corpses, and the seventeen merchant ships that were burned.

Over four thousand lives.

This tally must be calculated carefully.

From outside the tent came the footsteps of night‑patrol soldiers and faint insect chirps in the distance.

Zhu Yong lay down and closed his eyes.

Tomorrow, there are still battles to fight.

On the third day of the tenth month, at dawn, the Longxiang Army broke camp and set out.

This march was faster, because the road was a bit wider than yesterday.

Just after noon, a city appeared ahead.

The city walls were low, made of mud bricks, about two zhang high.

The walls were packed densely with people, each holding various weapons.

Outside the city, a massive army had gathered, a black mass of at least twenty thousand men.

"They're coming," Chang Yuchun squinted, "this is a decisive battle."

Zhu Yong raised his telescope and observed carefully.

The army outside the city was divided into several Formations, the formations were scattered but the numbers were huge.

There were also some cavalry skimming in front of the formation, not many, about two or three hundred riders.

On the walls, faintly visible, were some people in splendid dress, presumably nobles of Manzhe Boyi.

"Lord, how shall we fight?" Wang Baobao asked.

Zhu Yong set down the telescope and said, "Form the Formation, advance, blaze a path with Flintlock Guns, and bombard the city with artillery."

"Yes!"

The Longxiang Army quickly formed the Formation.

Five Formations, each eight hundred strong, arranged in a 'pin' shape.

The front rank crouched, the rear rank stood, and the artillery unit was in the middle; this time they brought twenty light cannons that can be disassembled for transport and reassembled on the battlefield.

The cannons were quickly assembled, their black barrels aimed at the enemy outside the city.

"Fire!"

"Boom—boom—boom!"

Twenty cannons fired in unison, shrapnel shells rained into the enemy Formation.

The explosions were deafening, and flames shot skyward.

Those natives who had never seen cannons were instantly stunned by the blast.

Someone was hit by shrapnel and fell, screaming in agony.

Someone was flipped by the shockwave, rolling on the ground.

More people panicked and fled in all directions.

The twenty‑thousand‑person Formation broke apart instantly.

"Flintlock Guns, advance!"

The five Formations began to advance steadily, firing a row of guns every few steps.

"Bang—bang—bang—bang!"

Gunfire roared continuously, a rain of bullets pouring down.

The natives who hadn't had time to flee fell down in rows.

Someone tried to counterattack, raising a bow and shooting arrows.

But the Arrow lost its force after flying a Hundred Steps, landing before the Great Ming formation, unable to wound anyone.

Someone tried to charge for melee, but couldn't get beyond fifty steps and was swept down by a hail of projectiles.

This is a massacre.

A one‑sided massacre.

In less than half an hour, the twenty thousand natives outside the city completely broke apart.

The people on the city wall stared in stunned silence; some began to run down, some knelt and begged for mercy, and some stood bewildered, not knowing what to do.

Zhu Yong lifted a telescope and saw the elegantly dressed people on the wall also fleeing.

"Assault the city."

The cannon swivelled, aiming at the city gate.

"Boom!"

A cannonball struck the gate, wood splinters flying, and the gate trembled as if about to collapse.

"Boom!"

The second shot caused the gate to crash down with a roar.

"Longxiang Army, advance into the city!"

The soldiers brandished Flintlock Guns and rushed into the city.

Resistance inside the city was negligible.

The defending troops had long been terrified by the scene outside; when they saw the Great Ming forces storm in, they either knelt to surrender or dropped their weapons and fled.

In less than an hour, the entire royal city was seized.

Zhu Yong rode his horse into this Manzhe Boyi's royal city.

Along the Street, kneeling surrendering natives filled both sides—soldiers, civilians, and some nobles dressed in silk.

Longxiang Army was searching everywhere, arresting those who tried to escape.

"Prince, we've captured several important figures, and Prince A'Erdi as well; he tried to flee through the back gate but was blocked."

Wang Baobao rode forward and said.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Bring them over."

Soon, a few elegantly dressed people were escorted to Zhu Yong's horse.

At the front was a middle‑aged man, his face full of terror, kneeling and trembling all over.

"Is that him?" Zhu Yong asked.

Zhou Dahai pushed his way out of the crowd, staring intently at the man, his eyes filled with hatred, and said, "Prince, it's him! Even reduced to ash I would recognize him; he led men to seize our boat and kill our people!"

A'Erdi didn't understand the language, but from Zhou Dahai's expression he grasped something, bowing repeatedly and muttering incomprehensibly.

"He says it wasn't his idea, it was the king's order; he was merely the executor," Wang Baobao translated.

Zhu Yong looked at him without speaking.

A'Erdi bowed even more fervently, blood welling from his forehead.

After a long while, Zhu Yong asked, "Who were the participants in the ship robbery?"

Wang Baobao translated.

A'Erdi was startled, then hurriedly identified several people.

Those identified collapsed in terror on the ground.

Zhu Yong told Wang Baobao, "Question them thoroughly; who else participated in the robbery and murders—ask each one, don't miss anyone."

"Understood."

Wang Baobao led the people to interrogation.

Chang Yuchun came over and whispered, "Prince, what shall we do with these people?"

Zhu Yong looked at the trembling, kneeling people, recalling Zhou Dahai's words and the more than four thousand lives lost.

"Those who took part in the robbery, execute the Nine Clans; those who didn't, confiscate their families, imprison them, and when Uncle Xu arrives, send them straight to work."

Chang Yuchun nodded and asked, "And what about A'Erdi?"

Zhu Yong paused, then said, "Hold him for now; after the interrogation, execute him."

At sunset, the interrogation results were in.

Those involved in the robbery, from nobles to soldiers, numbered four hundred and seventy‑three.

A'Erdi was the mastermind; he coveted the Great Ming caravan's goods, colluded with Champa officials, and set a trap.

The ones who acted were his Imperial Troops, over two hundred in total, plus a few people from coastal tribes.

Those more than four thousand lives perished at the hands of that group.

Zhu Yong sat in the palace of the royal city, the list spread before him.

Chang Yuchun and Wang Baobao stood at either side, waiting for him to speak.

After a long while, Zhu Qi stood up.

"Take those four hundred and seventy‑three people and escort them to the port."

"The port?"

"Yes. Zhou Dahai said the bodies of those killed floated on the sea everywhere; let these people die where they murdered," Zhu Yong said.

Chang Yuchun was startled for a moment, then clasped his fists and said, "Yes!"

The four hundred and seventy‑three people were bound tightly and escorted to the port through the night.

Three days later, the fleet returned to the port.

The four hundred and seventy‑three people were marched to the pier, facing the boundless sea.

Zhou Dahai stood at the front, looking at them, his eyes reddened.

Zhu Yong walked to his side and patted his shoulder.

Zhou Dahai took a deep breath, turned, knelt before Zhu Yong and said, "Prince, I… I kneel for the over four thousand brothers on your behalf!"

Zhu Yong helped him up and said, "The people are the road you led, the vengeance is what you witnessed yourself; from now on, every year on this day, burn some paper for them."

Zhou Dahai nodded heavily.

Zhu Yong turned, looked at those trembling people kneeling on the ground, and slowly raised his hand.

"Kill."

Four hundred and seventy‑three heads fell to the ground.

Fresh blood stained the pier red, flowing into the sea.

The sea wind blew, carrying a salty, fishy scent.

In the distance, waves struck the reefs, emitting a deep rumble.

On the seventh day of the tenth month, Xu Da led fifty thousand troops to Java Port.

Also arriving was a secret decree from Zhu Biao, ordering Prince Zhu Yong to continue southward, subjugate the South Sea nations, establish prefectures and counties, and incorporate them into the Great Ming realm.

Zhu Yong stood at the port, looking at the markings on the sea chart.

Champa, Siam, Java, Bagan…

He recited each name one by one.

Then he lifted his head and said to Chang Yuchun and Wang Baobao, "Prepare yourselves; we set out in three days."

"Yes!"

The sea wind fluttered the battle robes; in the distance, twenty steamships lay quietly at anchor.

The South Sea sky was clear.