Winds blow from the south, hidden reefs
Winter after the fifth year of the Spark Calendar, there was still no news from the expedition fleet. Days at sea seemed to stretch out, and worry grew silently. The town continued to function smoothly, but a vague anxiety lingered in the hearts of those who knew about the situation.
On a cold afternoon in December, the sentry on the watchtower sent out a signal - a ship was coming from the south!
Instead of the familiar figure of the Wave Breaker, they saw two slightly worn, unfamiliar medium-sized sailing ships, flying unfamiliar flags, struggling towards the bay. The town immediately went on alert, and Zhang Qing personally climbed onto the reinforced dock defense wall.
The ship lowered its sails and launched its skiff some distance from the dock. Several messengers, holding branches as a sign of peace, paddled toward the shore. The leader was a man in his forties, with a sallow complexion and a shrewd gaze. He introduced himself as Chen, a merchant from Luzon.
In the meeting hall, the charcoal brazier dispelled some of the chill, but the atmosphere was not warm.
Merchant Chen explained his purpose in a broken Hokkien dialect, interspersed with gestures. They hailed from Daimao Port, a port town on Luzon Island that was home to a mixed population of Han Chinese merchants, local chieftains, and some Southeast Asians. Their purpose was primarily to trade, hoping to exchange Luzon pearls, spices, and tropical hardwoods for local ironware, cloth, and medicinal herbs. Secondly, they wanted to…deliver a message.
"About three months ago," Merchant Chen lowered his voice, a hint of just the right amount of worry on his face. "A fleet arrived at Daimao Harbor. It consisted of about three large ships, and judging by their design... they resembled Middle-earth. They seemed to be seeking information, and were particularly interested in a group of 'northerners' who had crossed the sea over a year ago."
Zhang Qing, Qiongying, Zhu Wu, and the others were all startled! A fleet similar to the Middle-earth model? Inquiring about the northerners crossing the sea?
"Do you know which force it is?" Zhu Wu asked calmly, twirling his beard.
Merchant Chen shook his head. "Those people were tight-lipped. Their leader was a sullen man, unlike ordinary merchants. He had a bit of a military air. They stayed in the harbor for a few days, replenished their water and food supplies, and then continued north. I've been thinking about it, and I'm afraid there might be a large settlement of 'northerners' in this vast northern sea... So I've come to inform you so that you can be prepared."
This was said in a tactful way, but the meaning was clear - it was very likely an investigation or even pursuit force from the Song court!
After seeing off Merchant Chen and his entourage (their trade request was temporarily shelved on the grounds that "time was needed to prepare the goods"), the meeting hall fell into a long silence.
"What was supposed to come has finally come." Zhang Qing broke the silence in a low voice. Although he had expected this day to come, he still felt a huge pressure when the news came.
"It's been more than three years...and the court hasn't given up yet?" Hu Sanniang raised her eyebrows.
Zhu Wu analyzed, "They might not be the main force of the imperial court. More likely, they were secretly dispatched by a powerful official (such as Tong Guan or Gao Qiu), perhaps to confirm our fate or... to recover the 'lost' treasure." He gave Zhang Qing and Qiongying a meaningful look. Although the Bangyuan Cave incident had been kept secret, there was no guarantee that no clues would leak out.
Qiongying caressed the teacup, the warmth filtering through the porcelain walls calming her troubled mind. "No matter what, they're here with ill intentions. We need to prepare for the worst."
At that moment, several people quickly agreed on a response strategy:
1. Strengthen vigilance and reconnaissance: Immediately dispatch all available small speedboats, led by experienced sailors, to conduct large-scale patrols and reconnaissance in the north, west, and south directions, and be sure to discover any trace of the mysterious fleet in advance.
2. Strengthen Defenses: All fortifications were placed on combat readiness, logs and rocks were stockpiled, and bows, crossbows, and firearms were inspected. Women, children, the elderly, and the weak were to be evacuated to several well-prepared caves in the hills behind the town.
3. Internal cleansing: Strictly check all outsiders who have recently come in, especially those who have had contact with the businessman Chen, to prevent spies from infiltrating.
4. Prepare a retreat: Boss Zheng’s remaining ships should be ready to set sail at any time and stockpile sufficient fresh water and food. If things become untenable, they must preserve the fire and retreat to more distant unknown waters.
The order was quickly issued, and the entire town began to operate efficiently and solemnly like a wound-up machine. After several years, the dark clouds of war once again hung over this new overseas land.
Little Qiming seemed to sense the tense atmosphere and stopped playing all day, often staying quietly beside his parents. Once, he looked up and asked Zhang Qing, "Daddy, are the bad guys coming?"
Zhang Qing squatted down, touched his son's head, and said firmly: "Yes. But don't be afraid, Daddy and the uncles will protect everyone and our home."
At this moment, a scout on horseback (a small number of horses had been domesticated in the town for communication) rushed back to the town and brought an even more disturbing news: they had discovered traces of what looked like fleet masts on the sea about a hundred miles northwest, but the other party's whereabouts were secretive and seemed to be deliberately avoiding detection!
The opponent is more cautious and sophisticated than expected.
The storm is coming.
Meanwhile, there was still no news from the expeditionary fleet led by Yan Qing and Boss Zheng. Had they run into trouble? Or had they already encountered that mysterious fleet?
The unknown and crisis, like thick fog on the sea, permeate everyone's heart.
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