Chapter 223: Leave No One Behind

Boom—boom—boom!

The cannons fired one after another, the shells landed in front of the city wall, exploding into plumes of smoke and dust.

The people on the city wall ran even faster; some even jumped straight down from the wall, breaking their legs.

At this moment, Chang Yuchun's two thousand troops had already landed on the beach.

They quickly formed ranks, Flintlock Guns in hand, advancing toward the city.

The defending troops outside the city saw this orderly army, stared in shock, then shouted and charged forward.

Fire!

Bang—bang—bang...

Gunfire rang out, and the dozens at the front fell to the ground in response.

The steps behind hesitated briefly, but soon surged forward again.

Fire!

Another volley of guns sounded.

Another dozens fell.

After three rounds of firing, the over a hundred who charged were all knocked down on the beach.

The remaining men finally got scared and turned to run.

Chang Yuchun waved his hand and said, "Begin the advance!"

The two thousand moved steadily forward, firing a line of guns every few steps.

The defenders outside the city completely collapsed, dropping their weapons and fleeing in all directions.

Zhu Yong's fleet only now reached the shore, landing a thousand men.

There were hardly any people left on the city wall; they were all running down.

Zhu Yong did not rush to assault the city; instead, after waiting for Chang Yuchun's troops to form ranks, he ordered, "Breach the gate."

Two light cannons were pushed up, aimed at the city gate.

Boom!

The first shot sent wood chips flying, creating a large hole.

Boom!

The second shot caused the gate to collapse with a thunderous crash.

Enter the city!

Longxiang Army, brandishing Flintlock Guns, rushed into the city.

Resistance inside the city was negligible.

Those defenders had long been terrified by the gunfire outside; seeing the imperial troops charge in, they either knelt to surrender or dropped their weapons and fled.

In less than half an hour, the entire royal city was under control.

Zhu Yong rode his horse and entered this Champa royal city.

Along both sides of the Street, kneeling were surrendered natives—soldiers, civilians, and some nobles dressed in silk.

Longxiang Army was searching everywhere, capturing those attempting to flee.

"Prince, we've captured the King of Champa," Wang Baobao spurred his horse forward, with several soldiers behind him escorting a richly dressed middle‑aged man.

The man trembled all over, his face pallid, kneeling on the ground and repeatedly kowtowing, muttering something incoherently.

"What did he say?" Zhu Yong asked.

Wang Baobao said, "He says he is willing to surrender, to pay tribute every year, and begs the Prince for mercy."

Zhu Yong looked at him without speaking.

The man kowtowed even more fiercely, blood seeping from his forehead.

After a long while, Zhu Yong spoke, "Ask him whether those who robbed the Great Ming caravan had any involvement from Champa?"

Wang Baobao translated.

The man stared blankly, quickly shook his head, and spoke at length.

"He says the robbery of the caravan was done by Java's Ardi Qian, Champa was not involved. He also said that Ardi had once sent someone to ask him to join, but he refused," Wang Baobao translated.

Zhu Yong stared at the man's eyes.

The man dared not meet his gaze, lowered his head, trembling all over.

"He's lying," Zhu Yong said calmly. "Zhou Dahai said the place where the caravan was robbed is only dozens of miles from Champa's coast; without Champa's permission, how could the Javanese act there?"

Wang Baobao's face darkened, and he asked a few more questions in the local language.

The man's complexion grew even paler, stammering and unable to speak.

Zhu Yong waved his hand and said, "First lock him up, interrogate; none of the participants in the robbery should be missed."

"Understood."

The man was escorted away, continuously shouting his innocence along the way.

Chang Yuchun then walked over, his face excited, and said, "Prince, this city holds plenty—Gold and Silver, grain, Cotton Cloth, and many spices."

Zhu Yong nodded, "Inventory everything clearly, register it, and when Uncle Xu arrives, have him send it back to Great Ming."

"Yes!"

At sunset, the interrogation results came out.

Champa indeed participated in the robbery.

The King of Champa and Ardi reached an agreement; Ardi sent men to act, Champa provided a docking port and supplies, and after the deed, the cargo was split half and half.

Those over four thousand lives also had Champa's share.

Zhu Yong sat in the palace of the royal city, with that indictment spread before him.

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

After a long while, Zhu Yong stood up.

"How many took part in the massacre?"

"From the king to the nobles, then the soldiers and coastal villagers, a total of over twelve hundred people," Wang Baobao said.

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then said, "Take them to the port, the same port where they once supplied A'Erdi."

"Yes!"

October 17, Champa Port.

Over twelve hundred people were tightly bound and taken to the dock.

The port was small, but its location was concealed, indeed a good place for wrongdoing.

Zhou Dahai also followed, and as he looked at those people, his eyes were bloodshot.

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, on behalf of those over four thousand brothers, will bow to you once more!"

Zhu Yong helped him to his feet and said, "Get up! From now on, every year on this day, don't forget to burn 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."

Over twelve hundred heads fell to the ground.

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

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

In the distance, waves crashed against the rocks, emitting a deep rumble.

October 19, Xu Da led the second batch of twenty thousand troops to Champa Port.

Also arriving was Zhu Biao's second secret decree, ordering King Wu Zhu Yong, after conquering the South Sea nations, to select a site and establish the South Sea Protectorate Office, overseeing its prefectures, and appointing Zhou Dahai as the South Sea Envoy, responsible for recruiting merchants and developing the South Sea.

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

Siam, Zhenla, Pagan…

He read each name one by one.

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

"Yes!"

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

The South Sea sky remained clear.

At the end of October, the Siam capital fell.

Mid‑November, Zhenla surrendered.

Early December, the Pagan king presented a surrender document, willing to forever be a vassal of Great Ming.

In the winter of the 11th year of Hongwu, all the South Sea nations were incorporated into Great Ming's territory.

When the final victory report reached Yingtian Prefecture, it was already the 15th day of the first month of the 12th year of Hongwu.

Amid the Lantern Festival lanterns, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at those battle reports, his eyes a little moist.

He said to Zhu Biao beside him, "Biao Er, our simple son really can fight."

Zhu Biao laughed, "Father, the second brother isn't simple; he's clearer than anyone."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, looked at the fireworks filling the sky outside the window, and murmured, "Yong Er, come back early; your mother misses you."

The fireworks blossomed in the night sky, reddening the entire Yingtian Prefecture.

And Zhu Yong of the South Sea, at this moment, stood atop the Pagan royal palace, gazing at the same night sky.

Beside him stood Chang Yuchun and Wang Baobao, and in the distance were the Pagan troops that had already submitted.

He let out a gentle sigh.

"Prince, what's wrong?" Wang Baobao asked.

Zhu Yong shook his head and said, "Nothing, just missing home."

Chang Yuchun grinned, "After the battle, we'll go back; I also miss my wife."

The three of them laughed.

The laughter drifted in the night wind, toward the Northern Region.

That is the direction of home.