As night deepened, the entire sea off the Hirado Domain remained silent.

Because Hirado Castle was taken over by the 31st Infantry Division of the Daikan Army, commerce within the castle had ceased. The workers who used to frequent the docks had also returned to their homes.

The entire Hirado Castle was silent.

Meanwhile, in the open sea, faint lights shone on the ships of the Beiyang Fleet of the Great Qing Dynasty.

Several high-ranking military officials were gathered in the command cabin of the flagship Zhenyuan.

Emperor Li Xin of the Great Gan Dynasty sat in his chair, looked at the Imperial Guard in front of him, and asked, "Is this the result of today's interrogation? Are those people really linked to the Hirado Domain?"

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely true!"

The Imperial Guard nodded and said, "According to the interrogation results, the person in charge of this matter in Hirado Domain Castle is Matsuura Nobuyoshi. And Matsuura Nobuyoshi is the eldest son of Matsuura Takanobu, the lord of Hirado Domain, and is in charge of the Hirado Navy. It is estimated that the ships that went missing from my Qingyu Trading Company before the New Year were the work of the Hirado Navy!"

"hehe!"

Li Xin sneered and said, "No wonder! Yesterday, Matsuura Takanobu sent someone to say that he didn't know how to investigate. I think they don't want to investigate!"

"That's true. If they're investigating themselves, how can they possibly investigate further?"

Li Xin looked up at Ding Xianda, the commander of the Beiyang Fleet, and said, "Ding Xianda, immediately order the Beiyang Fleet to blockade the waters off Hirado and wipe out the Hirado navy! If there is any resistance, kill them without mercy!"

"Furthermore, order the 31st Infantry Division to occupy Hirado Castle and bring Matsuura Takanobu to me by force!"

"yes!"

Ding Xianda and the others quickly responded.

However, at that moment, a crisp gunshot rang out from outside.

Bang!

Upon hearing the gunshot, Ding Xianda's expression changed drastically. He quickly opened the door to the command cabin, looked at the soldiers at the door, and asked, "What happened? Where did the gunshot come from?"

"Commander, it seems to be on the deck!"

The soldier quickly replied, "I'll go check right away."

The soldier quickly turned and left.

Inside the command cabin, the atmosphere became somewhat tense.

Ding Xianda looked at Li Xin and said, "Your Majesty, we don't know what's happening outside yet. Please stay here, I'll go and take a look!"

Go!

Li Xin waved his hand, his expression becoming even colder.

Thump!

Shortly after Ding Xianda left, a muffled thud came from the hull of the Zhenyuan warship. The dull sound traveled through the hull to the captain's cabin and reached Li Xin's ears.

"Whoa!"

Li Xin was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "It seems it wasn't an accidental discharge of the gun; someone deliberately came here to strike first!"

"His Majesty,"

Zhang Shusen, commander of the 32nd Infantry Division, frowned and said, "You mean the Hirado Domain army wants to make the first move?"

"It definitely is!"

Li Xin smiled and nodded, saying, "We've already found out about Matsuura Nobuyoshi. Do you think Matsuura Takanobu can sit still? It would be strange if he could! Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall! Matsuura Takanobu is desperate, that's why he sent people here, wanting to strike first!"

"but,"

Li Xin sneered and said, "Matsuura Takanobu has miscalculated. We are not the lords of the Eastern Kingdom, we are the Great Gan Army!"

"right!"

Zhang Shusen nodded and said, “Your Majesty, the Zhenyuan warship is made of steel. The mere thunderbolts cannot break through its hull. Your Majesty, please rest well in the captain’s cabin and wait for Commander Ding to handle the matter!”

"No."

Li Xin stood up, stretched a bit, and said, "Let's go out and take a look!"

"Your Majesty, there is danger outside."

Zhang Shusen offered a reminder.

"What are you afraid of?"

Li Xin waved his hand and said, "There is still a regiment of your 32nd Infantry Division on the Zhenyuan. Do you think we can let the mere Hirado Domain army board the Zhenyuan?"

"That's impossible!"

Zhang Shusen said decisively, "Although my 32nd Infantry Division was formed relatively late, every single one of them is an elite soldier! Dealing with these Hirado Domain troops is a piece of cake!"

"Then what's there to worry about?"

Li Xin, full of enthusiasm, said, "Let's go, let's go out and take a look!"

As they spoke, Li Xin, Zhang Shusen, and the others walked outside.

As soon as Li Xin arrived on the deck, he saw that the deck was brightly lit.

Soldiers armed with guns stood on the ship's side, aiming at the Hirado Navy on the sea and pulling the triggers.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bullets were fired into the sea, instantly killing the Hirado navy who were trying to infiltrate the Zhenyuan.

"Damn it! How did these damned big army soldiers find us?"

On the sea, a Hirado naval commander, his triangular eyes glaring, shouted, "Climb the rope ladder! Quickly!"

Under the reprimand of the Hirado naval commander, the Hirado sailors gripped the rope ladders and climbed up the Zhenyuan warship.

However, soldiers from the ship's side aimed their guns at the Hirado navy and pulled the triggers.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bullets flew past and pierced the bodies of the Hirado Navy soldiers.

Shot in the body, bright red blood splattered out, and the Hirado naval soldiers fell directly from the rope ladder into the cold seawater.

No matter how brave these Hirado navy soldiers were, they could only passively take the beating when faced with fierce firepower!

Just then, a lookout exclaimed, "Commander Ding, look in the distance! The Hirado Navy ships seem to be moving!"

"Yeah?"

Beiyang Fleet Commander Ding Xianda was taken aback and immediately shouted, "Order all ships to immediately blockade the waters off Hirado and not let a single enemy ship escape! If any moves, sink them immediately!"

"yes!"

Immediately, the flag bearer on the flagship Zhenyuan held up a lantern to relay the order.

Meanwhile, the cannons on the Zhenyuan warship were pushed out and aimed directly at the Hirado Navy ships on the sea.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Shells struck Hirado's naval ships, creating deafening explosions.

Flames shot out, and fragments could be seen being blasted into the sky.

The Hirado navy's ships were all small, even smaller than three-masted sailing warships. These small boats were nothing compared to the steam-powered ironclads!

Several cannonballs hit these small boats, instantly blowing them to pieces and killing the Hirado naval soldiers on board.

"Baka! Baka!"

A captain roared repeatedly, "How can the artillery fire of these large armies be so powerful?"

After uttering a complaint, the captain continued to yell, "Quickly! Full sails and get out of here! Attack the main force from the outside!"

Immediately, the Hirado naval vessel began to move rapidly.

However, before they could get very far, they were spotted by the Beiyang Fleet.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

In an instant, several cannonballs flew towards them. The dense barrage of shells struck the Hirado Navy ship directly, producing a deafening explosion.

Boom! Boom! Boom!