When the Eighth Master, the Tenth Master, and their entourage arrived at Taicang Port, it was just as the sun was rising. The golden sunlight shone on the sparkling sea, making the entire port shine.
From afar, hundreds of warships and merchant ships were neatly moored in the harbor, their masts like a forest and their flags fluttering, creating a magnificent scene.
The docks were bustling with people. Craftsmen were busy making final repairs to the ships, naval officers and soldiers were boarding the ships in formation, and merchants were directing their crews to unload cargo. It was a scene of great activity.
Lan Tingzhen's son, Lan Dingyuan, was appointed commander-in-chief. Dressed in military uniform and with a long sword at his waist, he stood on the deck of the flagship "Zhenhai" and surveyed the entire fleet with piercing eyes. Behind him were the Tenth Prince Yunzhi and the Eighth Prince Yunsi.
Yun rubbed his hands together excitedly and said, "Lord Lan, our formation is probably even better than Zheng He's back then!"
Lan Dingyuan smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "You flatter me, Tenth Prince. This voyage was entirely due to His Majesty's strategic planning. We only need to do our best."
Yun Si, on the other hand, remained calm, his gaze fixed on the distance, as if pondering the upcoming journey.
As the horns sounded, the fleet slowly sailed away from the port.
The people stood on the shore waving goodbye, cheers rising and falling.
The flagship "Zhenhai" took the lead, with the other ships following closely behind, heading south in a grand procession.
---
After sailing for several days, the fleet entered the East China Sea.
On this day, a soldier on the lookout tower suddenly shouted, "Enemy ships spotted ahead!"
Lan Dingyuan immediately went up to the deck and raised his binoculars to observe.
In the distance, a dozen or so ships flying Japanese flags were seen approaching furtively, clearly intending to plunder.
However, when they saw the size of the Qing fleet, they panicked and turned their ships around to try to escape.
Upon seeing this, Yun laughed loudly: "These Japanese pirates think they can run away as soon as they see us? No way!"
He turned to Lan Dingyuan and said, "Lord Lan, His Majesty has ordered that no Japanese invaders be spared!"
Lan Dingyuan's gaze turned cold, and he ordered in a deep voice: "Order the entire army to pursue the enemy ships and annihilate them completely!"
In an instant, the war drums thundered, and the naval soldiers quickly entered battle mode.
The cannons on the main ship fired first, and the shells pierced the sky and landed accurately in the Japanese fleet, stirring up towering columns of water.
Yun personally commanded the musket team, aiming at the enemy ships and firing. The gunfire was like rain, causing the Japanese invaders to flee in panic.
Yun Si calmly observed the battle situation and suggested to Lan Dingyuan: "Lord Lan, you can send a fast boat to flank them and cut off their retreat."
The battle lasted less than an hour; the Japanese ships were either sunk or captured, and none escaped.
Wreckage and enemy corpses floated on the sea, and the Qing soldiers cheered loudly, their morale soaring.
Lan Dingyuan nodded in satisfaction and said to Yunxi and Yunsi, "Tenth Prince is brave and Eighth Prince is resourceful. This great victory is entirely due to your assistance."
Yun grinned: "That was exhilarating! Now that's what fighting is all about!"
Yun Si humbly cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Lan, you flatter me. This is merely my duty."
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After the battle, the fleet rested briefly before continuing its southward voyage.
Lan Dingyuan convened a meeting of his generals and pointed to the nautical chart, saying, "Next, we will head to Annam. This place is prosperous in trade, but pirates are also rampant, so we must be careful."
Yinzhi continued, "Annam has a long history of relations with our Great Qing. I can negotiate first to ensure that the fleet can dock smoothly."
Lan Dingyuan nodded: "That's very good, thank you for your trouble, Eighth Master."
As night fell, the sea became calm.
Sitting on the deck, Yunqi polished his beloved musket and said to Yunsi beside him, "Eighth Brother, this voyage is much more interesting than staying in the capital!"
Yun Si smiled slightly: "I'm glad you're happy, Tenth Brother. However, the road ahead is long, so we must proceed with caution."
Yun patted his chest: "With myna and Lord Lan here, what do I have to be afraid of?"
The fleet sailed against the wind and waves; under the starlight, hundreds of ships resembled a giant dragon winding across the sea, a magnificent sight.
As the fleet arrived off the coast of Annam, the rising sun cast a golden glow on the sea.
On the main ship, Eighth Prince Yinzhi stood at the bow, gazing at the gradually clearing outline of the harbor.
A dense crowd had already gathered on the shore, and the honor guard sent by the King of Annam held up colorful flags, with the faint sound of drums and music drifting in.
"Order all ships to form ranks and proceed slowly, and fire three salutes!" Yun Si gave the order in a deep voice.
As the bugle sounded, thirty new cannons roared in succession, their roar shaking the heavens.
The people of Annam gasped and knelt in worship, and even the king's entourage was awestruck.
Tenth Master Yun grinned and said, "Eighth Brother, what a grand spectacle! Judging from their expressions, they probably think a god has descended to earth!"
Yun Si nodded slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes: "This is the dignity of the nation."
Yun Si smacked his lips thoughtfully. Now that he thought about it carefully, fighting with his own brothers was really not very interesting. It was only after coming to Southeast Asia that he felt the power of the nation, which was truly wonderful.
Upon landing, the King of Annam, Nguyen Phuc Than, personally greeted them. Seeing the Qing fleet's gleaming armor and superior firearms, he became even more respectful.
Yinzhi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said in fluent Annam: "His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Qing has sent us across the ocean to present our letter of state, wishing to establish a lasting alliance with Annam."
Nguyen Phuc Than accepted the letter of state with its gold-inlaid jade scroll and repeatedly said, "The great kindness of the superior country will never be forgotten by Annam!"
At the banquet, Yinzhi ordered his men to bring out the prepared gifts: Jingdezhen imperial porcelain, Suzhou embroidery screens, and Wuyi rock tea, each piece exquisite.
The Annamese officials marveled at this.
During the banquet, Yinzhi proposed exchanging silk and porcelain for Annam rice and spices, and promised to reduce or exempt tariffs.
Ruan Fuzhen was overjoyed and immediately ordered someone to bring some grain from the national treasury for Yun Si to inspect, and a contract was signed on the spot.
The day before leaving the shore, Yinzhi ordered the navy to conduct a military drill. The flintlock muskets fired in unison, and the target ship was shattered in an instant.
The Annamese naval commander turned pale and whispered to the king, "The Qing army is so powerful, we must not disobey them!"
Nguyen Phuc Thuong nodded solemnly, prepared generous gifts overnight in return, and sent his crown prince to the capital to pay tribute.
As the fleet set sail and left the port, Yunqi looked at the receding coastline and clapped his hands, laughing loudly: "Eighth Brother, this deal was worth it! Fourth Brother will definitely praise us when we get back!"
Yinzhi stood with his hands behind his back, the sea breeze ruffling his robes, and said softly, "Tenth brother, this is just the beginning."
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