On the sea ten miles south of Zheng Chenggong.

Shi Lang was reporting military intelligence to Shi Fu, "Uncle, the patrol boat reported that the two Ming armies fought and then withdrew."

"Who won?" Shi Fu asked hurriedly.

"Both sides suffered losses. Strictly speaking, it was just a draw with no winner determined," Shi Lang replied.

"No winner?" Shi Fu seemed a little surprised.

"Yes, both Ming armies had their warships burned or sunk."

"It seems like this was a real fight, not a fake one!" Shi Fu thought for a moment, "So the Ming army that fought against Zheng's army was a fake one?"

"Yes, it should be." Shi Lang answered and then asked, "Uncle, what should we do next? Withdraw the troops... or...?"

"Don't be in a hurry. Let me think about it carefully." Shi Fu rested his chin on his right hand and thought seriously.

The situation is becoming increasingly complicated, and he needs to come up with a foolproof plan.

After thinking for a while, Shi Fu suddenly asked, "You just said that both sides had warships burned or sunk?"

"yes."

"What about the merchant ships being escorted? Are there any losses?"

"Not sure. After the two armies started fighting, those merchant ships hid very far away. Our patrol boats were busy observing the battlefield and didn't notice their situation." Shi Lang blinked and added, "If nothing unexpected happens, those merchant ships should be fine."

"We can't retreat like this. We have to burn and sink the two merchant ships!" Shi Fu raised his head after thinking seriously. "The task given to us by the general is to attack the merchant ships to tell everyone that there are pirates on the sea! Then force the merchants to buy the flag of the Zheng family merchant fleet to protect themselves!"

"If the merchant ships had not suffered damage, we would not have been able to sell the flag."

"But..." Shi Lang worried, "If we attack the merchant ship, the eldest son (Zheng Chenggong) who is in charge of the escort may be convicted, which will affect his future career."

Shi Fu was silent for a while before explaining, "You just said that both Ming armies suffered casualties! The eldest son has already committed a crime of losing many soldiers and generals, so what's the harm in adding another crime of failing to escort the convoy?"

"But..." Shi Lang wanted to say something.

"No buts!" Shi Fu's face darkened. "Before I came here, the general told me to put the overall situation first. And no matter what crime the eldest son has committed, the court will not investigate further for the sake of the general."

"Ah," Shi Lang sighed, "I'll do whatever my uncle says!"

"Okay," Shi Fu began to lay out the plan, "Tomorrow we will split into two groups. I will lead half of the warships to contain the eldest son, and you will lead the remaining half of the warships to attack the merchant ships."

"How many merchant ships do we need to sink?" Shi Lang asked.

"At least one ship, at most three ships, the specific situation can be determined by yourself!"

After Shi Lang nodded, Shi Fu continued, "After you succeed, retreat south immediately and don't give the eldest master a chance to pursue you."

"Yes, sir." Shi Lang took the command arrow and climbed onto another large ship through a small boat.

As night falls, the blue sea turns into a dark abyss.

Weird and dangerous.

Amid the sound of the waves, the warship and the soldiers on board fell into a deep sleep.

Woo!

A dull horn sounded in the cabin.

The sleeping crew members were awakened by the sound of the horn.

"Get up and work! The deputy general has ordered us to hoist the sails and anchor immediately and sail north!" The officer holding the horn shouted in the cabin.

"How can we have the energy to work if we haven't eaten?" the crew members complained while getting dressed.

"Eat? What to eat?" The officer said with disdain, "Lord Zheng said that you can eat, drink and have fun as much as you want after you arrive at Nagasaki Port! Lord Zheng will cover all expenses!"

"Close your eyes and think about it. When the time comes, eating delicacies from land and sea, listening to melodious music, and hugging a beautiful woman, wouldn't it be wonderful?"

"Why eat bran and vegetables on the boat?"

As soon as the officer finished speaking, deafening cheers and shrill whistles broke out in the cabin.

A soldier quickly put on his clothes and yelled to the others, "Hurry up, don't delay me from going to Nagasaki Port to drink."

"Are you going there to drink? I'm too embarrassed to tell you." Another soldier mocked.

"Hahaha!" There was laughter in the cabin.

"I...I don't need to report to you!" said the soldier with a red face.

"Stop talking nonsense, and raise the anchor and set sail. The Jiannu navy will attack us soon!" The officer drowned out the voices of others with his deep voice.

The soldiers' bad mood disappeared immediately, and they dressed as quickly as possible and filed out.

"One, two, three, up!"

"One, two, three, go!"

The anchor was pulled up by everyone's joint efforts, and the sail was also raised into the air, whistling in the sea breeze.

Merchant ships are in front and warships are behind.

The Ming fleet slowly set sail in the dim light before dawn.

After the fleet left, the sea returned to calm.

After an unknown amount of time, a fleet appeared simultaneously to the northwest and south of where the Ming army ships were stationed.

The fleet heading northwest flew the national flag of the Ming Dynasty and the yellow-lettered general flag.

They were Jiannu troops disguised as Ming troops, led by King Zhishun Shang Kexi.

The fleet in the south flew the flag of the Jiannu Zhenghong Banner.

They were Ming troops disguised as Jiannu, led by Shi Fu, the commander of the central army of the Zheng family army of the Ming Dynasty.

Before the main forces of the two fleets met, the patrol ships of both sides discovered each other at the same time.

"Report! The Ming court fleet disappeared, and a fleet was found in the south, flying the red flag!" On the boat, Shang Kexi received the news sent back by the patrol boat.

"Gone? How is that possible? The Ming army has dozens of merchant ships and warships in total, how could they disappear?" Shang Kexi didn't believe it at all.

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