Chapter 78: Intense Battle on the Sea

Chapter 78: A Fierce Battle at Sea

The night was pitch black, even the moonlight concealed behind layers of mist and clouds, casting an impenetrable darkness upon the surging sea, where waves crashed relentlessly against one another.

The more terrifying the sound of the waves, the eerier the seemingly tranquil sea appeared.

Zhu Yunxuan stood on an elevated platform by the shore, holding a telescope, silently observing the distant horizon where the water and sky seemed to merge into the obscurity of the night. He remained silent for a long while.

The sea breeze grew stronger, cutting like a blade against his face. Beside him, Zhu Yunjing couldn't help but frown and inquire, "Are you sure it's tonight? It's almost been two hours, and there's not a single sign of anything happening."

"Liang Zhen's intelligence is always accurate," Zhu Yunxuan said calmly. "If he says it's tonight, then it must be. What time is it?"

"It's almost past the hour of Zi."

At the harbor ahead, a vast array of Great Yan warships stood imposingly, their crimson banners fluttering fiercely in the wind against the backdrop of the masts. Cannoneers and archers were already in position, awaiting the command to charge and unleash havoc.

Zhu Yunxuan's eyes were darker than the night itself. He looked up at the sky and let out a soft sigh. "It's almost time."

A piercing cry of an eagle suddenly tore through the sky, as a soaring falcon descended from above, shattering the tranquility of the night.

The first cannonball struck the sea, detonating with a roar and sending up a massive flame that illuminated the approaching enemy fleet sailing on the wind.

At the center were thirty enormous foreign vessels, resembling dragons, laden with countless heavy cannons and advancing menacingly. Dozens of pirate ships also emerged, scattered around to provide support and protection. Bringing up the rear were twenty ships led by Liang Zhen, who, according to the plan, intended to sail downwind and circle behind the Great Yan fleet while they engaged in battle, thereby sandwiching the enemy between their own and the foreign ships.

From the moment the first cannon fired, the enemy fleet ceased their concealment. Torches illuminated the night sky as the foreigners onboard cheered ecstatically. They relentlessly bombarded the Great Yan navy while shouting incomprehensible slogans in a show of bravado, their arrogance soaring.

They were highly confident, despite deploying only thirty ships. Their vessels were significantly larger than those of the Great Yan, and their cannons had a range three times greater. The risk of explosion was much lower compared to the Great Yan's, not to mention that the Great Yan emperor was in the hands of their ally, who had promised to push him in front of his own people's cannons at a critical moment, forcing them to surrender unconditionally.

By God, Victory was undoubtedly on their side.

How could the mighty naval forces of Great Yan sit idly by? At He Huailing's command, countless vessels, hidden in the shadows, burst through the dense fog to confront the enemy head-on. They fearlessly exchanged cannon fire, the deafening boom of their guns echoing through the heavens and creating towering waves on the water's surface, resembling a monumental roar of mountains and the tumultuous surge of the sea.

Despite being smaller than the foreign vessels, the ships of Great Yan were significantly more agile. The flagship charged fearlessly at the enemy fleet, cutting through waves with unparalleled speed as cannonfire rained down relentlessly around it. Zhu Yunjing, perched on the high platform, couldn't help but grip the railing tightly in anxiety. He Huailing was right there on the main deck, always leading the charge in every battle. Having witnessed this firsthand today, Zhu Yunjing, while worried, secretly resolved to follow Zhu Yunxuan's suggestion and recall He Huailing to the capital after this engagement.

Zhu Yunxuan's expression was as calm as still water, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on a particular direction. Behind the foreign fleet, Liang Zhen's squadron, which should have taken advantage of the chaotic battle to circle around and launch a surprise attack on the rear of the Great Yan navy, remained motionless. They neither advanced nor fired a single shot, seemingly content with observing the conflict from the sidelines.

Zhu Yunjing studied the scene for a moment before turning to Zhu Yunxuan with a quizzical expression. "How did Liang Zhen convince those people that you were truly in his grasp? Surely a single jade waistband wouldn't suffice, would it?"

Zhu Yunxuan veiled his eyes with a soft scoff. "He has a trusted younger brother who bears a striking resemblance to me. When I first arrived in Quanzhou and entered the city, the pirates hiding among the crowd had caught a distant glimpse of me. Liang Zhen had that young man dress in my clothes and slightly alter his appearance, allowing him to deceive those people."

"So it is."

The cannonfire blazed incessantly for an entire hour, and following the fierce battle, the sea grew even more tempestuous, making navigation increasingly arduous. Both sides suffered casualties, and simultaneously ceased fire, retreating beyond the range of their cannons. A temporary truce ensued, with both factions watching each other warily, like tigers eyeing their prey.

Liang Zhen was summoned out of the cabin by an envoy. A foreign emissary boarded the vessel, fixing him with a malevolent glare and accosting him in stilted Great Yan dialect, "You promised to launch a surprise attack from the rear. Why didn't you move? We could have sunk their entire fleet in one fell swoop. What exactly were you doing?!"

Liang Zhen's lips curled in disdain. "Earlier, you said that there were no more than thirty warships from Great Yan stationed in Quanzhou. But now, I can see they have at least a hundred vessels. Your intelligence was flawed to begin with. With my handful of dilapidated ships, attempting to launch a surprise attack on the Great Yan navy would be nothing but a suicidal mission. I'm not that foolish."

The other party gritted their teeth and said through clenched jaws, "People from Great Yan are cunning, and you, being from Great Yan, are no exception!"

Since the Great Yan Emperor was kidnapped, these past days, pirates have repeatedly assaulted the coastal borders of Fujian and Guangdong in Great Yan, hitting one spot and then swiftly moving to another, deliberately exhausting the Great Yan navy as they were forced to scatter their forces across various ports. They had initially learned that no more than thirty ships remained stationed in Quanzhou, and thus planned to seize this opportunity to annihilate them, thereby occupying the Quanzhou harbor to achieve their objective. Little did they expect that tonight, they would encounter an endless onslaught of Great Yan vessels, while Liang Zhen appeared indifferent on his side, forcing them to temporarily cease fire. How could this not provoke frustration?

"Laudatory words," Liang Zhen replied with a casual smile.

"I demand that you surrender the Great Yan Emperor immediately!"

"Certainly," Liang Zhen agreed readily, "but there's a condition. You must first send those pirate ships to lead the charge, then engage in battle with the Great Yan navy."

The opposing party paused, raising their voice in suspicion, "What are you implying?"

"Isn't my meaning clear enough?" Liang Zhen scoffed lightly. "Don't treat me like an idiot. Don't think I'm unaware that the plan to ambush the Great Yan fleet from behind was suggested by those pirates, all for the purpose of sending me to my death. They might speak sweetly, but in reality, they don't hold me or anyone on this island in any regard. After all, if the Ninth Prince were to ascend the throne, there would still be a rivalry between us."

"What exactly are you trying to say?!"

Liang Zhen smiled calmly and said, "Here's the truth: The situation in Great Yan is far more complicated than you know. Those pirates have some connection with the Ninth Prince, but when it comes to blood ties, I am much closer to him. I am his own uncle by birth, having watched him grow up. Tell me, if the Ninth Prince truly ascends the throne, would he listen to those pirates or to me? Furthermore, three years ago, I was the powerful Zhao Wang, wielding great influence in Great Yan. Think about it—would there be more remnants of the previous dynasty, who retreated from the Central Plains two hundred years ago, still lingering in the Great Yan court, or would there be more of my loyalists? All you seek is to amass greater wealth in Great Yan. Whatever they promise you, I can offer the same, but on one condition: Either they or I must survive. They cannot tolerate me, and I, in turn, cannot tolerate them."

Seeing the growing anger on their faces, Liang Zhen delivered his final blow with a smile. "Most importantly, the Great Yan emperor is in my hands. I can make the Great Yan navy surrender immediately. Otherwise, you can continue your battle with the Great Yan navy. In the end, both sides will suffer, and it will have nothing to do with me."

"You...! You are so despicable!"

Liang Zhen smiled and nodded. "I've always been such a scoundrel, repaying in kind. Those who know me well are aware of this."

The approaching figure left in a huff, intent on reporting Liang Zhen's message to his superior. Standing at the bow of the ship, Liang Zhen inhaled the lingering scent of gunpowder mixed with the briny sea air. His eyes narrowed slightly as he fixated on a distant, dimly lit area on the horizon. After a long while, a subtle curve formed at the corners of his lips.

Upon the elevated platform, a soldier reported the naval battle's progress. Zhu Yunxuan nodded, not asking further questions, but instead gazing thoughtfully into the distance. Zhu Yunjing took the telescope from his hand, scanning the area before frowning and saying, "Does he truly have a way to sow discord between those foreign lands and the pirates?"

A fleeting smile flickered across Zhu Yunxuan's dark, profound eyes, only to be swiftly replaced by concern. "If he said he has a way, then he must have one. Let's wait and see."

The envoy's vessel, sent by the foreign lands, docked alongside Liang Zhen's grand ship. It was still the same individual, but this time, his demeanor was much more deferential: "Sir, the officer requests that you accompany Emperor Great Yan to his vessel."

Liang Zhen raised an eyebrow. "To your ship?"

"Certainly. If you refuse, how would we know if you're telling the truth or conspiring with the people of Great Yan to deceive us? If you show your sincerity by bringing the Emperor of Great Yan along, our superior will accept your terms."

Liang Zhen's gaze darkened slightly. "Didn't the pirates become suspicious?"

"How dare they?" the man sneered. "They're merely a pack of sycophantic lapdogs. Even if they did suspect something, what could they do?"

Realizing his words might have been offensive, he quickly added, paying tribute to Liang Zhen, "Of course, Your Excellency is different from them. You are our most trusted ally."

Liang Zhen chuckled inwardly but maintained a smile. "Indeed."

He then instructed his men, "Bring him out."

Ren Ge, dressed in Zhu Yunxuan's clothes and made up to resemble him, was pushed out of the cabin with his head lowered, too afraid to look at anyone, portraying a timid demeanor. The foreigner couldn't resist mocking, "The Emperor of Great Yan is unexpectedly cowardly and ineffective. Who would've thought?"

Liang Zhen's expression dimmed. The man gestured towards him. "Shall we proceed?"

In front of them, the charge horns blared once more. The Chen fleet, which had been guarding the foreign fleet, charged ahead, targeting the Great Yan Navy. A new naval battle erupted in an instant.