Chapter 618 So, who should be used as the sacrifice?
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All the necessary pre-war preparations had been gathered—food, medicine, ships and weapons from a different era, "guides" familiar with the enemy's situation, and a naval force of about 10,000 men who had undergone three years of rigorous training and were eager for battle.
Before setting off, Li Shiyue held a grand send-off ceremony on the high platform of the port—a flag-raising ceremony.
Today, everything is ready, and the day to set off has finally arrived.
The dawn at Jian'an Port has never been so oppressive.
Lead-gray clouds hung low over the sea, and the salty sea breeze swirled fine sand, making a soft "rustling" sound as it blew against the iron armor of the naval soldiers.
The noise, however, could not drown out the sound of chains being dragged from the open space in the center of the harbor—one hundred and eighty-eight Japanese pirates, their hands bound behind their backs and their feet chained, were being dragged by the Zhenhai Navy to the foot of the high platform like livestock to be slaughtered, and stood in rows.
Most of these Japanese pirates were dressed in rags, their exposed skin covered with scars from working in the mines. Their once fierce eyes were now only filled with numbness and fear.
Before the eastern expedition, it was customary to hold a flag-raising ceremony.
So, who should be used as the sacrifice?
To conquer Japan, we naturally had to use the blood of the Japanese pirates to consecrate our flag!
Beside the high platform, a scarlet battle flag hangs from the top of a long pole supported by thick nanmu wood. The words "Zhenhai" are embroidered in gold thread on the flag, and a copper bell attached to the bottom of the flag sways in the wind, the sound of which carries a cold and murderous feeling.
Li Shiyue was dressed in a black martial arts uniform, and at her waist still hung the long sword that had been with her for many years, on countless battlefields, and had killed countless enemies.
She walked slowly up the platform, her steps not fast, but with each step she took, the wooden planks of the platform made a dull thud, as if striking the hearts of everyone present.
Standing on the high platform, Li Shiyue's gaze swept over the dirty faces below the stage. Her eyes were devoid of any warmth, as if she were examining a pile of useless things.
"Three years ago, Japanese pirates, armed with knives, stormed into the waters off Jian'an, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities!"
They impaled children on the tips of spears for amusement, kidnapped women to use as playthings, and sank fishing nets into the deep sea, tying stones to them, causing men to suffocate in the ocean.
They bent the unyielding spirit of us Han people, forcing us to kneel before our enemies with bloodstained Japanese swords!
Li Shiyue coldly looked at the 188 Japanese pirates who had been specially selected from the mines, her eyes showing no emotion: "The crimes committed by the Japanese pirates in Jian'an back then, today, it is time to pay for them."
After saying this, she turned to look at Sun Xiaoliu behind her, her voice still calm: "Pass down the order, the flag-raising ceremony begins."
One hundred and eighty-eight Japanese pirates, not one less.
"For every one I kill, I'll pick up their head and hang it on a stake in the harbor. This general wants all passing ships to see—this is the fate of those who dare to offend Jian'an!"
Li Shiyue's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in everyone's ears.
Among the Japanese pirates who could understand Chinese, some began to struggle, and the iron chains scraped against the ground, making a piercing sound.
Some people were crying and begging for mercy, their hysterical outbursts were incredibly irritating;
Some tried to resist, but Zhenhai Jun smashed their heads with the hilts of his swords, knocking them unconscious instantly.
Sun Xiaoliu, standing to the side, loudly replied to Li Shiyue, "This subordinate obeys!"
Under Sun Xiaoliu's arrangement, the executioners (who were the strongest soldiers in the Zhenhai Army) who had been lined up and waiting immediately stepped forward. They were all tall and strong, holding gleaming ghost-head knives with wet stains on the blades (to make the blades sharper).
(Named for the ghost head carved on the handle, this type of knife has a thick, wide back and a sharp edge, and is often used by executioners in opera performances.)
Standing at the front of the first row was a young Japanese pirate. He looked to be only in his early twenties, with a touch of childishness on his face.
However, he had participated in the atrocities of looting fishing villages along the coast of Jian'an three years prior.
With a thud, he was kicked in the knee by the Zhenhai Navy behind him and fell to his knees. In an instant, the Japanese pirate let out a painful groan.
"General, spare my life! I'll never dare to do it again!"
The Japanese pirate shouted out Chinese in a strange tone.
He struggled desperately, tears and snot mingling and streaming down his face.
Li Shiyue stood on the high platform, coldly watching everything below, her face showing no emotion.
"Zhenhai Army, heed my command! Begin the flag-raising ceremony—execution!"
The Zhenhai soldiers, lined up in a row, raised their ghost-head sabers high, the veins on their arms bulging.
With Li Shiyue's shout of "Slash!", the blade fell, and blood gushed out instantly, splattering onto the ground.
Their heads rolled to the ground, and the Japanese pirates' eyes remained wide open, seemingly still unaware of the impending death.
Then, the sounds of executions rose and fell.
After one row was finished, Zhenhai moved to the next row.
The "crack" of the falling dagger, the screams of the Japanese pirates begging for mercy, and the "drip-drip" of blood falling to the ground intertwined to create a cruel symphony.
Before long, the air in Jian'an Port was gradually filled with the smell of blood, and even the sea breeze carried a nauseating, cloying sweet smell emanating from human blood.
The Zhenhai Army and his men were used to battlefield carnage, and none of them felt there was anything wrong with killing Japanese pirates as a way to raise their flag.
Li Shiyue stood on the high platform, her eyes fixed intently on every moment of execution, as if confirming that every sin had been punished.
However, among the Jian'an civilians who had bravely come to watch the spectacle outside the port, some couldn't help but turn their heads away, unable to bear watching the ritual of beheading people to consecrate the flag.
With a "gulp," grain merchant Zhou Deyong swallowed hard.
He had his servants secure a good spot at the port well in advance, even though he had heard beforehand that Li Shiyue might cause the army to bleed before the campaign.
After all, the Zhenhai Army had no intention of hiding their tracks when they drove 188 Japanese pirates from the mines to the port; quite a few people had seen them.
However, when they actually saw Li Shiyue give the order to "execute," and saw the Zhenhai Army, holding high their ghost-head swords, sever the heads of the Japanese pirates who were kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs and knees kicked, cleanly severing them from their necks.
Even though Zhou Deyong was mentally prepared, the impact of this scene was still too great for him!
"My lord!"
The Zhou family's steward noticed that Zhou Deyong was shivering, so he quickly went over and called out to him.
Seeing that Zhou Deyong was frightened, the steward stepped forward and slapped Zhou Deyong's arm twice, but Zhou Deyong still didn't react. His eyes were fixed on the Zhenhai Army soldiers who were still beheading people in the distance.
Ten in a row, that's one hundred and eighty-eight Japanese pirates; it'll take a while to chop them down.
The steward shouted "Master" twice more, and when Zhou Deyong still didn't react, he slapped him hard across the face!
The loud and painful "smack" finally brought Zhou Deyong back to his senses.
Zhou Deyong touched his burning cheek and was about to curse when he saw Li Shiyue on the high platform in the distance take a step forward. Her clear female voice, enhanced by her internal energy, once again resounded throughout the entire port.
"Hang their heads in the most conspicuous place, so that everyone passing through Jian'an can see what happens when they offend Jian'an!"
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