Chapter 253 Sea
When Miaozhen and Miaohe saw this, they also sat cross-legged and followed the chanting.

Everyone watched silently, listening to the scriptures whispering in their ears, and their hearts inexplicably calmed down.

"Are they also like us, becoming pirates because they can't survive?"

"That's right. Otherwise, who would be willing to be a pirate? Like big brother... no, like that Japanese in Song Bei, and the young man we just captured, who are so delicate and tender, when will they really rush to the front with swords in hand to grab things?"

"All they have to do is sit on the boat and count the loot they brought back."

"We are the only ones who really can't survive. The same goes for these people in the pit. The truly wealthy people won't die."

After the whispered discussion, the Green-robed Guards all felt a sense of grief for the loss of their loved ones.

Will they also die by the sword in the future?

Will the body be left in a strange place, or will it be buried in its hometown?
If their bodies were found in a foreign land, would there be people like Taoist Priest Sanzhu who would recite the Sutra of Salvation for them and help their souls to be reincarnated back to their homeland?
The Qingyiwei lowered his head and wiped his eyes, holding back his tears, squatted on the ground and silently thought about his family who were still on the island.

I don’t know if they will ever meet again in this life.

"I miss my mother. I hope she won't run around and surrender directly. She must say that she was kidnapped to the island by pirates..."

"They will. I'm just worried about my brother. He's sixteen years old, tall and strong. I don't know if the soldiers will recognize him if he was kidnapped to the island..."

Everyone looked at Pan Yun, wanting to ask her to plead with the officers and soldiers. They could treat him as a pirate, but his family...

The family members they were worried about were tied up and thrown on the boat, which was sailing back home.

The ships ambushing at sea saw that the rear fleet had returned after cleaning up the battlefield, but the fleet they were going to ambush was nowhere to be seen. The leading officer frowned and said, "No more waiting, move forward immediately. If they don't come, we will go to meet them."

"Qian Hu, is that still an ambush?"

"It's already daybreak. Are they blind or stupid? Why are they setting up an ambush? Prepare for battle and meet them head-on. Are we still afraid of a group of Japanese?"

The soldiers immediately responded loudly.

Xuanmiao was standing on another boat and heard it. He couldn't help but count on his fingers and felt relieved.

Xue Shao immediately went up to him and asked, "Master, how is it?"

Xuanmiao glanced at him and asked, "What is the good man asking?"

Xue Shao: "Of course, it's about whether the people on the shore are safe."

Xuanmiao: "Aren't you worried that we might lose the battle? We are on the sea. If the ship capsizes, few people will be able to return alive."

Xue Shao shook his head. "Since you are here, you are not afraid of death. Besides, I believe in our navy. I don't think they are worse than a group of Japanese pirates."

"This is different from the Master Xue I know. I thought you were someone who was afraid of trouble."

Xue Shao nodded, "I am indeed afraid of trouble, but there are different types of trouble. For example, trouble that is insignificant and has no benefit to myself or anyone else in this world should be avoided as soon as possible. I don't like to cause trouble;"

"But some troubles are unavoidable. If they are unavoidable, then we should face them head-on."

Xuanmiao: "When you came to me, I asked you to leave. You could have avoided this trouble by turning around, so why didn't you?"

Xue Shao: "Because this is an unavoidable trouble for students."

Xuanmiao: “Why?”

"For my friends, for the people along the coast who have been plundered by bandits, and for the Ming Dynasty."

Someone nearby sneered.

Xuan Miao and Xue Shao turned around to look at the man.

He was a man of the underworld. Seeing the two people looking at him, he did not feel embarrassed. Instead, he raised his chin and said, "Who doesn't know how to brag? It just seems too hypocritical. For the people and for the Ming Dynasty, I will be honest. I am here to make a name for myself."

Xuan Miao and Xue Shao both withdrew their gazes and continued to look at the boundless sea.

Seeing that the two ignored him, Qu Le got angry and said angrily: "Don't you think what I said is wrong? Who of you didn't come here to make a name for yourself?"

Tao Ji came over with a bag on his back, looking disgusted. "You are such a person. You have small ambitions and narrow vision. Why do you want to let others know about it?"

"Damn it, Tao Ji, stop being so sarcastic here. How dare you say you're not doing this for..."

"I dare to say," Tao Ji interrupted him and continued, "You Jianghu Alliance people dare to believe it, do you dare to believe it?"

Qu Le looked at Tao Ji's face and suddenly remembered that he had actually had many opportunities to become famous. The most recent one was five years ago when the Empress Dowager was seriously ill and the palace posted a notice seeking medical treatment. He had entered the palace to treat her.

The people only knew that the Empress Dowager survived that time and lived another four years before passing away last year.

Little did they know that the Empress Dowager was able to survive and live another four years because of Tao Ji's acupuncture techniques.

The palace could not publicize the Empress Dowager's illness, and Tao Ji did not want to become famous, so he always kept a low profile.

As a result, apart from the people in the Imperial Hospital, only some well-informed officials and talented people in the world heard some false news.

He knew this because the leader of the Jianghu Alliance was his uncle, and before he set out, his uncle had warned him not to offend anyone.

Among them, Xuanmiao and Tao Ji are on the list.

He had forgotten why Xuanmiao was on the list, but Tao Ji remembered it, because the reasons of the others were roughly the same: he was too fierce, you couldn't beat him, and he didn't give face to me, your uncle.

Only Tao Ji's reason was different. His reason was: Hua Tuo is still alive and can save your life at a critical moment, so don't offend him.

Then Qu Le heard this story that only a few people knew. Looking at Tao Ji's face, Qu Le realized for the first time that there are people in this world who don't want to become famous.

He couldn't help but blurt out, "Everyone wants to become famous, right? If not, why would you want to join the martial arts world?"

Tao Ji said unhappily: "I am a Taoist priest. Although I am also in the Jianghu, I am not a member of your Jianghu Alliance."

"Don't judge others by your own standards," Tao Ji said. "How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan? If you don't know, read more books."

Qu Le blushed, pointed at Xue Shao, who was younger than him, and said, "You are Taoists, you can be indifferent, but he is a scholar, if he didn't want to become famous and seek an official position, why would he risk his life to suppress the bandits?"

Xue Shao sighed and said, "Brother, I don't want to be an official."

"Bah, hypocrisy!"

Xue Shao was not angry, and even had a smile in his eyes. He said to Qu Le: "There are always some things in this world that need to be done without a reason."

Xuanmiao said: "They are coming."

When everyone heard this, they immediately looked forward and saw two small black dots appearing on the sea. Gradually, the small black dots grew larger and larger. The outline of the ship could be seen, and two more small black dots appeared behind it...

Six ships were lined up in two rows and were heading out to sea.

Xuanmiao: "You have so much energy now. Save it up and go kill the pirates later. Don't you want to become famous? This is your last chance."

Qu Le's attention was immediately diverted, and he stared at the small black dot in front of him with sharp eyes and said, "Wait, I'm no worse than the navy soldiers."

The officers and soldiers standing guard and steering the ship heard it, glanced at him secretly, and contempt flashed in their eyes.

Do you think that if you are stronger than them in martial arts competition, you can be stronger than them in battlefield?
Dream it.

War and fighting are different.

The Japanese pirates sailing on the sea looked at the approaching warships with hatred and anger in their hearts.

They waited on the beach for one night, then another day, but no one showed up. Then, at night, Mr. Matsuura came in with a group of people.

As a result, there was no news as soon as I entered.

They had also quietly approached the path, but before they walked in, they heard faint screams coming from inside.

Because there was no news from Kikuchi Takekita and Matsuura was nowhere to be found, the remaining team leaders were afraid that the entire army would be wiped out, so they decided to retreat after daybreak.

If Matsuura-kun and his men fell into the hands of Ming officers and soldiers, does that mean that after they defeated Matsuura-kun, they would attack them again?
The news here had to be passed back to Hirado, so he immediately took the remaining people, took away all the boats, and fled back to Hirado.

The speed was so fast and the attitude was so decisive that they even ignored their beloved and respected Third Young Master.

But he didn't expect to encounter the Ming navy at sea.

The Japanese pirates cursed a bunch of dirty words and asked the helmsman to turn the rudder to avoid the warships of the Ming navy.

But the Ming navy was no pushover. When they saw them from afar, they made arrangements and were now closing in on them.

It is impossible to avoid them completely.

The boat was getting closer and closer.

The Japanese pirates began to yell at them, warning them not to get too close, and at the same time took out bows and arrows to shoot at them.

Captain Chen Wen watched coldly and ordered the flag bearer to signal ships three and four to continue approaching, while ships one and two opened a gap so that they had a direction to move forward, and the other ships went around behind to completely surround them.

Because the distance was still far and the wind was strong on the sea, most of the arrows were inaccurate, either falling into the water or missing the target.

Chen Wen carefully felt the wind direction and speed. When the helmsman turned the boat to the upwind and the enemy's boat was just in the downwind, he immediately said, "Bring the gunpowder barrel."

The soldier responded and gave instructions in an orderly manner. Soon, a soldier came up pushing a catapult and three barrels of gunpowder.

One soldier placed the gunpowder barrel on the trebuchet, and another soldier corrected the direction and dimension, then lit the gunpowder barrel.

Chen Wen silently counted the numbers in his mind, and when he reached the number, he said, "Release!"

The soldier decisively let go, and the gunpowder barrel was thrown out. The Japanese pirates on the opposite ship saw it, screamed in panic, and ran on the deck, trying to avoid the attack.

The powder keg landed one second and exploded with a bang the next.

The boat shook instantly, and the people on board staggered all over the place. Two people were knocked unconscious by the explosion, their bodies covered in blood, and it was unknown whether they were still alive.

The Japanese pirate manager was furious when he saw this and shouted, "Bring the flying spray gun here, bring it here quickly!"

Someone immediately went to get the flying spray gun.

When the Ming army saw this, someone immediately shouted "Captain".

Chen Wen saw it and shouted: "Brothers, get ready, kill——"

The boats were getting closer, and the soldiers gathered in front, ready to attack.

Do you think naval battles are fought at long range?
No, naval battles are fought in close combat.

But faster and more active than these soldiers were the allies following the ship.

The people from the Jianghu Alliance and the Tianshi Mansion were all holding weapons. Before the ship got close enough, they had already taken off, flew directly across the sea, and jumped onto the other ship.

(End of this chapter)