"Well, before we set out, I checked the situation of each camp. Only Chenggong and Hongkui were not in Quanzhou! If nothing unexpected happens, it should be them!" Shi Lang nodded helplessly, "It seems that the court has calculated against us all."

"What do you mean?" Shi Lang asked with some confusion.

Shi Fu did not answer immediately, but issued an order: "Leave a ship every mile to scout the situation, and the rest of the warships will follow me to retreat five miles to avoid the enemy's attack."

Crunch!

The boatmen pulled the sails, the ropes were as taut as strings, making a harsh sound when they hit the wood.

While the warships were retreating, Shi Fu began to explain: "The court has long wanted to build more ports, but due to rampant pirates, the safety of merchant ships cannot be guaranteed, so we can only wait and wait."

"As a result, the Jiannu followed the example of the Japanese pirates during the Jiajing period and plundered the people along the coast, so the court ordered Chenggong to lead troops north to suppress them."

"In name, it is to destroy the Jiannu, but in reality, it is to escort the caravan. Otherwise, Shanghai Port would not have been suddenly added as a port for ocean trade in the near future!"

"Wait..." Shi Lang suddenly said, "The Guanliao Dengjin Navy has always been the elite of the imperial court. Why didn't the imperial court send them to escort, but instead let our Zheng family army escort?"

Shi Fu patted Shi Lang on the shoulder and said, "Who in the world doesn't know that Zheng's army is both an official and a bandit? The court has been waiting for this opportunity!"

"What opportunity?" Shi Lang widened his eyes.

"An opportunity to kill two birds with one stone!" Shi Fu's expression was serious. "On the one hand, the court told us to build a port in Nanzhili and organize merchants to trade in the East; on the other hand, it quietly changed the eldest son's mission to escort!"

"If we want to rob these merchant ships, we will meet the eldest son."

"If we win, the eldest son will be convicted."

"If we lose or don't plunder, the court's first goal of ocean trade can be successfully completed."

Shi Lang shook his head: "If we don't rob this time, won't it be the same next time?"

"It's different!" Shi Fu answered seriously, "The first trade is crucial, and merchants from all over the country are watching! If it fails, merchants from all over the country will lose confidence, causing the port to be abandoned! If it succeeds, the newly established port can continue to exist."

"Hey! There must be an expert in the court, otherwise they wouldn't be able to come up with such a plan to kill two birds with one stone!"