Beginning with the Ubume Bird Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Chapter 9 Overwhelming Power

[You've triggered an additional Yan Fu event: Capture Humen!]

[Objective: Take down the mouth of Humen sea within two hours.]

Judgment Criteria: Kill the Governor of the Humen Naval Forces, Zhuo Huxing.

Defeat the navy stationed at Humen.

Stay in Humen Town for an hour.

Upon completion of this Yan Fu event, your buy-increase authorization will substantially increase, and you will also earn one special reward drawing for the completion of the Yan Fu event.]

Note: For “Tianbao”, who possesses a fleet, this shouldn't be difficult, right?

The scene of this night would be etched in the memories of the soldiers of the Humen navy for life.

Red Sails were hoisted high, while dark cannonballs flew overhead. Four flat-bottomed lorchas charged head-on with fierce firepower. Two Baoying clippers, each five or six sizes larger than the official ships, approached like prehistoric behemoths accompanied by an overpowering black cloud!

Fishing boats bearing the official flag scrambled chaotically on the surface of the sea, and the moment they came into contact with the opponent, they were bombarded and obliterated by the fierce firepower of the Red Flag Gang.

The guards on the wall hadn't even recovered when a fiery orange blaze instantly filled their field of vision. Within a few breaths' time, debris of official sailing vessels was everywhere at the mouth of the sea.

“This~”

The guards on the wall were dumbstruck, as a small boat emerged from under the flames and smoke on the sea, with disheveled soldiers holding their arms and shouting up to the wall.

“Quickly open the gates!”

The person on the wall took a closer look, and even though the man's face was covered in soot and blood, he could vaguely make out that he was a certain General Zhang from the army, no doubt about it.

Seeing that the Red Flag Gang's lorchas were still far away, the guard on the wall gave an order.

“Open the gate!”

The heavy water gate dropped, releasing several streams of silver water, and the mouth of the Humen sea was completely opened.

“General Zhang, hurry up.”

The person above urged him.

The small boat passed through the gate, with General Zhang cradling his arm and wincing as he disappeared into the shadows.

Cotton peach.

Fluffy tufts drifted from General Zhang's fingertips into the gaps of the gate.

The water gate made a rumbling noise for a while before getting stuck completely, unable to move.

The guards on the wall were first stunned, then their faces drastically changed.

Zhuo Huxing's mind was in disarray; at this point, he could no longer afford to worry about his reputation. Neglecting his duty, that crime alone would cost him his head. If someone from Governor Lin's camp were to witness this scene, his career would be effectively over.

Daring, isn't the Red Flag Gang?!

Most South Seas pirates engaged in the looting of passing merchant ships, especially official and Red Haired Devils' merchant ships. They also harassed coastal residents, coercing tribute money. Or they were involved in smuggling, kidnapping, and more.

But no pirates would be mad enough to attack a harbor guarded by government forces. This isn't robbery or smuggling; this is downright rebellion!

Opposite him, Zhang Dong's gaze gradually grew colder.

“Rumor has it that all members of the Red Flag Gang wear red turbans and their ships fly a large red blood sail, Lord Zhuo, if I'm not mistaken, that must be it, right?”

Zhuo Huxing's heart filled with bitterness as he apologized and hurriedly rushed down from the tavern.

The tavern quieted down, every household on the street secured their doors and windows, and only the sound of military horns could be heard.

Zhang Dong glanced down from the building to see the soldiers of the official army, armed with waist knives, marching down the long street, their faces set in grim determination.

Up in the Xinghua Building, only two people remained, the continual sound of cannon fire causing the wine in their cups to tremble ceaselessly.

Two crab pincers clanked as they fell into the wine goblets.

The frugal old man took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and then his mouth. He looked again at the continuous cannon fire along the coast; his dim eyes showed not a trace of light,

The cries of killing from the coast along with faint shouts of “Avenge Madam Shi!” “Break through Humen! Kill the Governor!” could be heard.

It was a while before the old man slowly began to speak:

“Gathering people to commit robbery and even attacking officials and cities, openly resisting the soldiers, is the height of rebellion and lawlessness, truly unforgivable.”

“According to the law, regardless of their rank, all should be executed by lingchi; relatives within the fifth degree, whether they have separated their household registration or not, males over the age of sixteen, no matter if they are gravely ill or disabled, all should be beheaded. Males under fifteen, as well as the mothers, daughters, wives, concubines, and sisters of the principal offenders, as well as the wives and concubines of their sons, if unaware, shall be exiled three thousand li; if aware, handed over to the families of meritorious subjects to be enslaved.”

“The responsible superiors shall be penalized one year of their salary, and the supervisors' salary docked for six months. The usual penalty is demotion by two ranks.”

As the old man spoke, he continued peeling shrimp, calm as a gentle breeze, light as a cloud.

Zhang Dong looked down from the building again; soldiers of the official army, armed with waist knives, led by Zhuo Huxing, marched down the long street with grim determination on their faces.

He clicked his tongue twice: “The bandits' audacity reaches the sky, reaches the sky indeed.”

The distant sounds of cannon fire and the glow of flames continued, and a faint smell of blood was carried by the sea breeze.

Four sixty-meter lorcha boats, two eighty-meter broad vessels, one hundred and twenty cannons. Li Yan had deployed more than half of his assets and launched a nighttime surprise attack, a coordinated barrage that caused devastating losses to the official navy, essentially robbing them of the ability to compete with the Red Flag Gang on the water.

Cha Xiaodao had tricked open the floodgate, and Spirit of the Duck led the fleet through, and in about the time it takes two sticks of incense to burn since the first cannon shot, the vessels of the Red Flag Gang had already reached the shore of Shajiao Beach.

Wafting from the deck came the scent of spices; the large iron pot was already empty, leaving only a few ingot-shaped scraps, tender yellow quail eggs mixed with deep red stewed meat, an appealing sight.

Sailors of the Red Flag Gang, wielding long knives and bird guns, disembarked and surged toward the coast of Humen, clashing fiercely with the defenders.

The soldiers of the Green Camp had large knives, long spears, bird guns, fire lances, rattan shields, and bows and arrows. However, the weapons in the hands of the Red Flag Gang were not to be outdone. And they were all brand-new!

“Official navy weakness” referred to the small size of their vessels and the short range of their cannons. Their soldiers should have been stronger than these pirates, who were originally fishermen. Moreover, Li Yan had only brought over three hundred elite fighters this time. Counting the gunners, helmsmen, and others, there were just over four hundred people, only two-thirds of the garrison at Humen. Yet the situation was such that the Red Flag Gang was pressing the official army!

Gold Ingot Meat: After consumption, highest proficiency increased by 15%.

What did 15% represent? In the past, Li Yan had won a decisive victory over Zhang Mingyuan with an overwhelming advantage, yet even then, the gap in their Ancient Martial Arts Specialization was only 14%.

Of course, this direct enhancement of specialization and Li Yan's maturity in experience weren't exactly the same.

Li Yan relied on his shrewd experience, while Gold Ingot Meat put the consumer into a serendipitous state, allowing for overachievement.

On Shajiao Beach, Zhuo Huxing, who had hastily arrived, drew his sword and chopped down a pirate wearing a red turban, splattering his body with blood.

His eyes were bloodshot and his thick-backed steel saber whirled through the air. He wished he could slaughter all these pirates who had cut short his future. Suddenly, he felt a chill by his ear and, without thinking, he bent down and swung his saber, slashing with a hiss.

“Puff~”

Zhuo Huxing clearly felt he had made a solid hit, yet the sensation was tough and rough, not like cutting through flesh and blood.

Blood spattered randomly, and Xue Ba made consecutive retreats, his eyes filled with excitement and fear.

Chapter end