After a brief inquiry, Zhu Yunwen learned that there was a small island dozens of miles offshore from the Blackwater Island, which was a major foothold for the Japanese pirates from the Eastern Island Kingdom.

Normally, there are as many as a thousand Japanese pirates on this small island, and the number is even greater during special periods.

Meanwhile, several small islands not too far away each harbored several hundred Japanese pirates.

These Japanese pirates frequently raided Heishui City and other surrounding counties, causing immense suffering to the people of both Heishui City and the surrounding areas. Fishermen often encountered these pirates when they went out to sea to fish.

Not only would they lose their lives, but they would also be robbed of everything.

Some fishermen were even arrested and tortured until they revealed the details of their village, town, and other information.

Then, based on the information they obtained, these Japanese pirates organized a large-scale cleansing and looting of these villages.

They even abducted many young and beautiful women, took them to the island, and tortured them in various ways.

These Japanese pirates were extremely hateful and their methods were incredibly cruel.

In fact, Zhu Yunwen had always been puzzled as to why the Eastern Island Kingdom would send these Japanese pirates to harass the coastal areas of the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, it's normal to not understand this kind of thing. After all, even hundreds of years later, in the world that Zhu Yunwen came from before he transmigrated, these disgusting countries were still constantly making small moves.

Perhaps it was just a simple desire to disgust, or perhaps it was simply the ugliness of human nature.

But no matter what, Zhu Yunwen definitely had to resolve this matter.

This military exercise also gave Zhu Yunwen a target. He decided to target the Japanese pirates living on the small islands dozens of miles offshore from Blackwater City.

Military exercises cannot just be a show; some actual actions must be taken to let others know the strength of Zhu Yunwen's army and to make the enemy realize what the consequences would be if they encountered this army.

Therefore, Zhu Yunwen directly issued the following order:

"By order of the Emperor, five hundred special forces soldiers, with fifty light cannons and shells, shall immediately begin shipboard combat training."

Although these special forces soldiers had undergone very rigorous training beforehand.

However, they haven't received training in naval warfare yet, so they need to conduct a short-term intensive training session.

After Zhu Yunwen issued his order, the five hundred special forces soldiers quickly began naval training and training in the operation of light artillery.

In addition, Zhu Yunwen also distributed five-arrow repeating crossbows for these special forces soldiers to use.

These special forces soldiers worked together in groups to use a small cannon, and they also carried crossbows and long knives.

Once everyone was equipped with these different levels of weapons, they carried them with them and began water training.

In the past few days, the soldiers have made great progress in their training. Each of them has become familiar with water combat and shipboard fighting in a very short time.

Meanwhile, many Japanese pirates overseas also learned during this period that Zhu Yunwen, the grandson of the Ming Dynasty's crown prince, was going to conduct so-called military training at sea.

This military exercise was seen as a joke by most people, and the Japanese pirates didn't take it seriously.

When the king of the overseas island nation learned of the news, he simply ordered his men to keep a close watch on the situation, wanting to see what tricks the grandson of the Ming emperor would pull.

Although they were very cautious about this grandson of the Ming Dynasty, because the princess they had previously sent had suffered a great loss at the hands of the Ming Dynasty's grandson.

However, they didn't really take this military exercise too seriously.

After all, the Eastern Island Nation's secret investigation revealed that this so-called military exercise only involved a mere five hundred people.

What kind of trouble can those five hundred soldiers make at sea?

Is it a joke to try and intimidate the island nation and other countries with this?

Not only will it not frighten other countries, it might even excite them more.

Therefore, the Eastern Island Kingdom held a mocking and disdainful attitude towards the military exercises that Zhu Yunwen wanted to hold.

Other countries also dismissed this with disdain, and some were even prepared to watch the spectacle and make a fool of themselves.

And so, a few days passed.

The magistrate of Heishui County found Zhu Yunwen and told him that the five hundred soldiers were already very skilled at fighting on water and on ships, and had a very strong ability to adapt.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen could sense that the magistrate of Heishui County was extremely shocked that these soldiers were able to adapt to fighting on water and ships so quickly.

Zhu Yunwen smiled smugly, thinking to himself, "They all underwent my special training before."

Under such grueling training, undergoing this so-called combat on water was nothing to them, not even worth mentioning.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu Yunwen addressed the magistrate of Heishui County:

"Now that they have adapted to fighting on water, I hereby issue the order that they all assemble at the seaside of Heishui County at noon tomorrow to prepare for the start of the military exercise."

Although the magistrate of Heishui County was shocked by the ability of the five hundred soldiers, he was still worried about whether they could really unleash their full potential.

After all, with only five hundred men, is it really possible for them to wipe out thousands or even more Japanese pirates on a small island twenty or thirty miles away?

Despite his doubts, the magistrate of Heishui County dared not voice them.

After all, he had heard of the Crown Prince's reputation, and he couldn't bring himself to question him.

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