Thunder strikes back, establishing their prestige
Five days later, Yan Qing's scouts returned with definitive news. The southern natives were indeed entrenched in a place called "Viper Canyon," located in the southern part of the island. The terrain was treacherous, with steep cliffs on both sides and only a narrow winding passage leading into it, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. The valley was quite large, with a rough estimate of over 300 young and strong men capable of fighting, and including women and children, the number could be close to 1,000. They subsisted on fishing, hunting, and raiding, and their ferocious and aggressive nature made them a nightmare for many surrounding tribes.
"Three hundred combat-capable soldiers, defending a strategic location..." Zhu Wu frowned as he looked at the topographic map roughly drawn by Yan Qing. "If we attack by force, even if we can win, we will suffer heavy casualties, which will not be worth the loss."
Wang Ying said anxiously, "Are we just going to let those bastards run rampant? How can we brothers swallow this anger if we don't avenge this? Will anyone dare to step on us from now on?"
Inside the tent, the leaders were divided, with those who advocated fighting and those who advocated caution each holding their own views. Everyone's eyes eventually turned to Zhang Qing and Qiongying.
Zhang Qing was silent, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, his eyes flickering between the map and Qiongying. Although pregnant, Qiongying remained calm. She sensed the inquiry in Zhang Qing's eyes and nodded slightly.
Zhang Qing took a deep breath and made a decision: "Revenge must be taken! Otherwise, we will never have peace here. But how to take revenge requires strategy."
He pointed to the canyon entrance on the map and said, "A brute force attack is not an option. We should use our wits and our strength to strike at their weakest points, forcing them to surrender, rather than completely destroying them."
He elaborated on his plan in detail: taking advantage of the "Venomous Snake Tribe"'s arrogance and underestimation of the enemy, and predicting that the "foreigners" would not dare to go deep into their territory, he selected 150 of the most elite and best mountain climbing and stealth fighters, led by him personally, carrying strong bows and crossbows (some taken from the fleet's arsenal), kerosene and a small amount of explosives (simply made using the gunpowder stored on the ship), led by hunters familiar with the mountains and forests, detour around the steep cliffs of the back mountain, and sneak into the canyon.
"Our goal isn't to massacre them, but to destroy their leader's residence and food storage points, creating maximum chaos. We need to capture the leader first!" Zhang Qing's eyes were sharp. "At the same time, Hu Sanniang and Wang Ying will lead 500 men and horses, with great fanfare, to deploy outside the canyon's main gate, feigning an assault to draw the attention of their main force. Yan Qing will lead the 'cargo protection team' and sailors, sailing along the coastline to the side of the canyon, blocking their escape route by sea and preparing to meet them."
This was a bold and risky plan, the core of which lay in the suddenness and precision of the surprise attack.
"I'll go with you." Qiongying suddenly said.
The tent suddenly fell silent. Zhang Qing flatly refused, "No! You're pregnant now, how can you risk it?"
Qiong Ying looked at him calmly. "That's why I have to go. My knowledge of herbs and poisons far surpasses everyone else. The miasma and poisonous insects in the canyon are hard to guard against, and I can identify and prepare antidotes. Furthermore, while I can't fight in the battle, I can set up a temporary first aid station in a safe place in the rear and treat the wounded nearby. A quick victory is crucial in this battle. Only if the wounded receive timely treatment can they maintain their fighting strength."
Her reasons were sound and her attitude firm. Zhang Qing knew her abilities and resilience, and knew even more clearly that once she made a decision, it would be extremely difficult to change it. He looked at her determined eyes, then at her still-unpregnant belly, and finally nodded gravely, "Okay! But you must stay in the absolute safety of the rear, under the close protection of Shi Xiu and a small team!"
The plan was set, and the entire camp began to operate like a precision machine. The chosen surprise attack team, all veterans of countless battles, silently checked their weapons and prepared climbing ropes. Hu Sanniang and Wang Ying organized the feint attack troops. Yan Qing dispatched the boats. Qiongying, along with Sun Erniang and the others, worked overnight to prepare antidote powder, wound kits, and other emergency supplies.
Three days later, in the darkness before dawn, the operation began.
Zhang Qing led the assault team, disappearing like a ghost into the dense forest behind the camp. They cut through the thorns, scrambling the slippery, steep rock faces, enduring mosquito bites and the potential threat of venomous snakes. Qiongying, escorted by Shi Xiu and ten "Panshi" guards, followed the assault team at a safe distance, setting up a makeshift first aid station in a secluded valley.
As expected, the Viper Tribe's attention was completely drawn to the clamor and feints of Hu Sanniang and Wang Ying's troops outside the canyon, and the main force gathered at the outpost. They brandished their weapons and howled provocatively, completely unaware that a deadly blade was quietly approaching from behind.
At noon, when the natives in the canyon were enjoying their food and their defenses were at their lowest, Zhang Qing sent out the signal to attack!
Like meteors, ignited rockets shot towards the thatched and timber huts and granaries! Kerosene cans were hurled with all their might, crashing onto the dry supplies, instantly igniting a towering fire! Explosions echoed at several key points. Though their power was limited, the immense noise and fire caused immense panic among the primitive tribe!
"Enemy attack! Behind us! There are enemies behind us!" The natives were panicked and in chaos.
Zhang Qing led the charge, firing a barrage of rocks, accurately striking down several small leaders who attempted to organize resistance. The 150 elite soldiers were like tigers among a flock of sheep, their swords flashing and crossbows blazing, singling out those who were resisting most fiercely and those who looked like leaders.
Amidst the chaos, Zhang Qing locked onto the tribal leader, a particularly large man wearing a colorful feather crown. He was brandishing a wooden club inlaid with shark teeth and roaring at the top of his lungs, trying to stabilize the situation.
Zhang Qing took a deep breath, clasped three specially made flying stones with extremely sharp edges, and shook his wrist violently!
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Three cold rays of light formed a triangular shape, tearing through the air and heading straight for the leader's forehead, throat and heart!
The leader was quite brave. Sensing the danger, he swung his stick to block the bullet that was aimed at his forehead. However, the other two bullets hit him at tricky angles. One of them embedded in his throat, and the other one was deeply nailed into his left chest!
His eyes widened in disbelief, a gurgling sound came from his throat, and his huge body fell to the ground like a golden mountain or a jade pillar.
With their leader dead and the tribe leaderless, their will to resist collapsed instantly. As the fire spread and thick smoke billowed, the survivors cried out for their loved ones and fled in all directions, no longer willing to fight.
The battle lasted less than half an hour from start to finish. When Hu Sanniang and Wang Ying led their troops into the canyon through the main gate, they saw a devastated scene with natives kneeling and begging for mercy.
Zhang Qing halted the attack, gathered the prisoners, and put out the fire (to prevent it from spreading out of control and spreading through the forest). Counting the results of the battle, over seventy native warriors, including the leader, were killed, and hundreds of young men, women, and children were captured. Only a dozen or so of Zhang Qing's men were lightly wounded, and no one was killed—a feat achieved thanks to the suddenness of the attack and Qiongying's immediate medical attention.
Zhang Qing had the captives gathered and, through gestures and translation by those among them who spoke a little of the neighboring tribe's language, made it clear that they did not wish to exterminate their tribe, but only sought peace. He ordered the remaining members of the "Venomous Snake Tribe" to stop looting and to cede some of their coastal fishing grounds as compensation. If they committed the same offense again, their entire clan would be exterminated!
Under the intimidation of absolute force and the fear of their leader's death, the remaining "Viper" tribe members trembled and kowtowed in submission.
This thundering strike not only avenged the blood feud but also established the camp's absolute authority in the surrounding area. As word spread, the leader of the upstream tribe that had previously traded with the camp personally came to pay their respects, bearing even more generous gifts and displaying an even more respectful attitude. Other scattered tribes also sent representatives to express their friendship, no longer daring to covet the camp.
After this battle, this new overseas territory truly ushered in a period of relative peace and stability. The prestige of Zhang Qing and Qiongying also reached its peak with this decisive victory. Although Qiongying did not directly participate in the battle, her early intelligence analysis, strategic advice, and wartime medical support earned everyone's sincere admiration.
The child within her belly seemed to sense the calming of the outside world's clamor, quietly growing. New life and a new order, on this land won with wisdom and courage, together nurtured the future.
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