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In the winter of the third year of the Wanli reign, a biting north wind swept across the East China Sea, but it could not dispel the soaring, murderous aura of the Ming Dynasty's expeditionary fleet.

The massive fleet, like a moving mountain of steel, cleaved through the dark blue waves under the guidance of the "Thunder" and quietly approached the Yaeyama Islands, a sinister lair that the Japanese pirates regarded as a paradise on earth.

Yaeyama Island, the main island, is shaped like fangs and has a treacherous terrain.

Japanese pirates operated here for many years, building a dense network of wooden walls, watchtowers, and concealed artillery positions, relying on natural caves and steep cliffs.

At this moment, the pirate leader on the island...

The notorious pirate Wang Lian, who called himself "King of Pinghai," was reveling with his ronin leaders and pirate captains, completely unaware that death was imminent.

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the sea fog, illuminating the Ming Dynasty fleet that appeared on the horizon, unfolding silently like a ghost.

The Japanese pirates on the watchtower sounded a piercing alarm, and the entire pirate stronghold instantly erupted into chaos!

"Ming army! It's the Ming army! So many ships! Such big ships!"

Wang Lian rushed out of the camp, snatched the telescope and looked out. He saw several steel behemoths, far larger than he had ever imagined, standing proudly like the trident of Neptune.

Following them were dozens of slightly smaller, but equally menacing, modified warships, which formed a semi-circle around the island's outlet to the sea.

What terrified him even more was that the smokestacks of those giant ships were spewing thick smoke, cutting off all their escape routes to the open sea at a speed far exceeding that of sailboats, even in the absence of wind!
"Baka! It's one of those strange ships from Taizhou! How did they find this place?!" a ronin leader roared in terror.

"What's the panic!" Wang Lian forced himself to remain calm, drawing his Japanese sword. "Their ships are big and have a deep draft, they dare not approach the reef area! Order all the forts to hold their ground! Use our cannons and arquebuses to drive them back!"

The Japanese pirates' desperate struggles appeared so pale and laughable in the face of the overwhelming firepower of the Ming Dynasty fleet.

"Targets: Japanese pirate gun emplacements and stockades along the coast. Fire all ships at once!" Su Ning calmly issued the order on the bridge of the "Qiming".

The next moment, the wrath of thunder descended upon Yaeyama!

"boom--!!!"

"Boom boom boom——!!!"

The "Qiming" ship's several breech-loading rifled cannons on its sides simultaneously spewed out scorching flames, and heavy shells, accompanied by ear-piercing whistles, tore through the sky and crashed into the Japanese pirates' defensive fortifications with astonishing accuracy.

The wooden stockade walls were shattered and burned like paper in the explosion, with rubble and severed limbs flying everywhere.

The old breech-loading cannons that the Japanese pirates had painstakingly acquired were blown to bits by precise artillery fire before they could even fire a few times.

The rockets, like streaks of fire and meteors, trailed long plumes of flame, covering the beachhead and hillsides where the Japanese pirates were gathered, triggering a series of explosions and towering fires that burned many pirates to ashes, their screams echoing everywhere.

The intense bombardment, which lasted for nearly an hour, completely destroyed the outer defenses of the Japanese pirates.

The sea surface was tinged with an eerie orange-red by the smoke and fire.

"Landing forces, advance!"

Countless sampans and small boats, under the cover of steam paddlewheel warships, rushed toward the beach like arrows released from a bow.

Clad in cotton armor and armed with flintlock muskets, the Ming army's marines, led by officers from Qi Jiguang's former army, swiftly stormed the beach, stepping over the blood-stained seawater and the mangled corpses of Japanese pirates.

The resistance was fragmented and desperate.

Some fierce ronin brandished their Japanese swords and launched a "gyokusai" (honorable death) charge, howling as they attempted to fight in close combat using their individual martial prowess.

However, they were facing Ming musketeers who were lined up in tight formations and firing calmly.

"Bang bang bang—!" The dense barrage of lead bullets, like the scythe of death, formed an insurmountable network of fire.

The charging ronin fell like felled wheat, their blood gushing from the bullet holes in their bodies, staining the beach red.

Occasionally, when ronin rushed close, they were easily killed or stabbed through by Ming soldiers with bayonets.

The battlefield was a one-sided massacre.

The Ming army advanced steadily, clearing out the enemy from cave to cave.

The sounds of musket fire, explosions, Ming soldiers' battle cries, and the dying screams of the Japanese pirates mingled together, composing a symphony of destruction.

Deep within the island, the stubborn Japanese pirates were forced into the last few large caves.

"Use smoke bombs!" the frontline commander ordered.

Thick smoke mixed with sulfur, chili peppers and other irritants was blown into the cave by a blower, and immediately heart-wrenching coughs, cries and desperate curses could be heard from inside.

Soon, the surviving Japanese pirates could no longer bear it. With tears streaming down their faces and their clothes disheveled, they crawled out of the cave to surrender, or tried to rush out, only to be shot dead at the cave entrance by the Ming army who were waiting in full force. Their bodies piled up like mountains.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the notorious pirate Wang Lian tried to escape through a hidden waterway in a fast boat, but was discovered and overtaken by the steam-powered Ming army speedboats that had been patrolling the perimeter.

After a brief boarding action, Wang Lian was captured alive and brought before Su Ning.

Su Ning didn't even have the interest to interrogate him personally. He simply glanced coldly at the culprit who had plagued the coast for years and waved his hand: "Behead him and display his head to the coastal prefectures and counties."

When Wang Lian's head was hung high, the resistance in the Yaeyama Islands completely ceased.

The once bustling den of thieves is now nothing but burning ruins, charred corpses scattered everywhere, and an overwhelming stench of blood and gunpowder in the air.

The seawater was stained a light red, which lingered for several days.

In this battle, the main force of the Japanese pirates who had been entrenched in Yaeyama for many years was almost completely wiped out. More than 3,000 were beheaded, burned to death, or drowned, and more than 1,000 were captured. Hundreds of ships were seized and burned, along with countless gold and silver treasures.

The Ming army, with overwhelming force, swept through the enemy's territory and completely eradicated this malignant tumor.

Standing atop the devastated island, facing the fishy sea breeze, Su Ning knew that the scourge of Japanese pirates that had plagued the Ming Dynasty for decades had finally been quelled.

The waves of the East China Sea will soon be calm again, and the flag of the Ming Dynasty's maritime power is already fluttering in the wind over this blood-stained sea!
……

The smoke of battle from the Yaeyama Islands has not yet completely dissipated, and the smell of burnt blood still lingers in the sea breeze.

The Ming army's thunderous strike has completely crushed the main force of the Japanese pirates entrenched here.

However, Su Ning, standing on the bridge of the "Qiming" ship, did not linger too long on the devastated battlefield, but instead turned his gaze to the faint outline of a larger island further north—the Ryukyu Islands.

His generals were tallying up the spoils of war, and his soldiers were busy mopping up the remaining enemy. Everyone's face was filled with the joy of victory and exhaustion.

Only Su Ning, with his deep gaze, was scheming a grander game than simply annihilating pirates.

"General, Yaeyama has been pacified and the remaining enemy forces have been wiped out. Shall we return in triumph?" a general stepped forward to ask.

Su Ning slowly shook his head, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable resolve: "Yaeyama is nothing more than a minor ailment. Now that the ailment is gone, we must guard against a relapse. Issue the order: the fleet shall turn around and the entire army shall garrison Zhongshan Prefecture (the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, present-day Naha City)!"

Upon hearing this order, all the generals were astonished.

Leading a large army into a vassal state without the imperial decree is an extremely sensitive act.

But seeing Su Ning's unwavering expression and recalling his past reputation for perfect planning, no one dared to voice their opposition.

The massive Ming Dynasty fleet did not turn back westward. Instead, it adjusted its sails, and the steam paddlewheels roared once more, leaving trails of white waves as it sailed towards the Ryukyu Islands like a mobile fortress. When the mountain-like "Kaiming" and its escort fleet appeared on the sea outside Shuri Castle, the entire Ryukyu Kingdom trembled in fear!
The soldiers guarding the city walls were so terrified when they saw the unprecedented steel behemoths and the forest of masts that they could barely hold their weapons.

Merchant ships and fishermen scattered, and panic spread through the city like a plague.

King Shoei of Ryukyu was in the palace when he heard the news. He was so shocked that he almost dropped the jade tablet in his hand.

He knew that Ryukyu was a small and weak country, and had always struggled to survive between the Ming Dynasty and the Satsuma Domain of Japan.

Now, the Heavenly Dynasty army, which had just swiftly wiped out the Yaeyama pirates, has suddenly arrived at the city gates. Its intentions are unpredictable, so how could he not be terrified?

"Quickly! Summon all ministers! Open the city gates and prepare the ceremonial guard! I, the King, wish to personally welcome the Governor-General of the Celestial Empire!" King Shangyong suppressed his fear and immediately gave the order.

Regardless of their intentions, faced with such overwhelming power, he had no choice but to greet them respectfully.

With the gates of Shuri Castle wide open, King Shoei of Ryukyu, dressed in his most solemn court attire (imitating the style of a Ming Dynasty prince) and wearing a leather cap, led his civil and military officials, members of the royal family and nobles, and a procession carrying wine, food and colorful silks, out of the castle gates and onto the coast.

When Shang Yongwang saw the steel warships moored outside the harbor like monstrous beasts from afar, especially their towering smokestacks and menacing cannon muzzles, his legs couldn't help but feel weak.

He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his kingly demeanor, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed his extreme unease.

As Su Ning, surrounded by his elite guards, steadily stepped off a docked transport boat, King Shangyong immediately led his courtiers to kneel down without hesitation, performing the grand ceremony of a subject paying homage to the emperor of the suzerain state.

"King Shang Yong, the ruler of this small country, along with the people of Ryukyu, respectfully welcomes the arrival of His Excellency the Governor-General of the Celestial Empire!" King Shang Yong's voice trembled slightly. "Your Excellency led the heavenly army to quell the pirates and rescued our people from suffering. Your kindness is akin to giving us a second life! The entire nation is filled with gratitude and admiration!"

The officials and common people behind him also shouted in unison, and the scene was extremely respectful.

Su Ning, with a calm expression, stepped forward and gently helped Prince Shang Yong to his feet: "Your Majesty, please rise. I have been ordered by His Majesty the Ming Dynasty to oversee the southeast and pacify the coastal areas. The Japanese pirates have been rampant, not only threatening the Celestial Empire but also disturbing the peace of your country. Although their stronghold has been destroyed, I fear that some remnants may still be roaming around, or that some unscrupulous individuals may stir up trouble again."

He changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the Ryukyu king and his ministers present. His tone was gentle yet carried an invisible pressure: "To ensure the perpetual peace of the sea routes and the long-term stability of your nation, I have decided to temporarily dispatch a naval squadron to be stationed at your port, and to select a site near the port to construct permanent fortifications and batteries for defense. All matters will require your nation's full assistance."

These words sent a chill down the spines of the Ryukyu king and his ministers.

This is hardly "assisting in defense"; it's clearly about establishing a permanent military base in Okinawa!
However, faced with the victorious army whose killing intent had not yet subsided, and the suffocating fleet on the sea, how could they have the courage to refuse?

King Shangyong bowed again, his tone extremely respectful: "Your Majesty's considerations are thorough, truly a blessing for our nation! With the Heavenly Dynasty's army stationed here, our nation feels greatly reassured! We will do our utmost to provide all the land, supplies, and laborers needed, without any slackening!"

Thus, without bloodshed or much diplomatic rhetoric, Su Ning, relying on his formidable military might and the "righteous" pretext of suppressing the Japanese pirates, firmly pinned the Ming Dynasty's military forces to Ryukyu, a strategic stronghold in the East China Sea, without firing a shot.

His true purpose in establishing a presence in Ryukyu is quite obvious:

Firstly, it serves to monitor Japan: Ryukyu is adjacent to Kyushu, Japan. Stationing troops there is like erecting an unsinkable fortress and watchtower at Japan's doorstep, which can effectively deter the various domains of Japan, especially the Satsuma Domain, which has ties with Wokou (Japanese pirates).

Secondly, control of shipping routes: Ryukyu is located at a vital trade route in East Asia. Controlling this place is equivalent to controlling the throat of shipping in the East China Sea, giving it unprecedented initiative in both military operations and commercial expansion.

Third, consolidate vassal states: under the guise of protection, exercise control to completely bring Ryukyu into the direct sphere of influence of the Ming Dynasty and sever its ambiguous ties with Japan.

Seeing the extremely humble demeanor of the Ryukyu king and the Ming Dynasty dragon flag fluttering inside and outside the port, Su Ning knew that the true strategic objective of this trip had been achieved.

Suppressing the Japanese pirates of Yaeyama was like removing a thorn in the side, while occupying Ryukyu was like smashing the Ming Dynasty's boundary marker deep into the heart of the East China Sea!

This move will lay a solid foundation for future expansion into the wider oceans.

……

Inside the main hall of Shuri Castle's royal palace, candlelight blazed, but the atmosphere was quite different from the relaxed atmosphere of usual banquets.

King Shoyo of Ryukyu sat respectfully at the lower end of the table, while at the head of the table sat the solemn Governor-General of Zhejiang and Zhili, Su Ning.

Inside the hall, besides a few core Ryukyu ministers, were Su Ning's generals, clad in armor and wielding sharp weapons, their piercing gazes creating an invisible pressure that made the Ryukyu rulers and their ministers almost breathless.

Without any pleasantries, Su Ning cut straight to the point. His voice echoed in the hall, each word like a hammer blow to King Shangyong's heart: "Your Majesty, although the Yaeyama pirates have been eliminated, their roots have not been eradicated. The problem of the pirates arose from the indulgence and support of the various domains in Kyushu, Japan, and they were even the source of the piracy themselves! In Satsuma, Hizen, Nagasaki and other places, ronin, pirates, and rogue samurai gather like festering sores. If they are not eradicated, one group will be eliminated today, and another will spring up tomorrow. There will never be peace along the coast, and your country will also find it difficult to maintain its security."

Upon hearing this, Shang Yongwang broke out in a cold sweat. He vaguely guessed the intention of the Celestial Empire's governor, but dared not delve into it.

Su Ning's gaze was sharp as he looked directly at Shang Yong: "For the sake of eliminating future troubles for China and for your country to enjoy lasting peace, I have decided to lead our troops northward, strike directly at the nine provinces, wipe out the enemy's strongholds, and clear the seas of troubles!"

"Straight to Kyushu?!" Despite having a premonition, King Shōei was still so shocked by this earth-shattering decision that he almost slipped off his seat. The Ryukyu ministers behind him looked at each other, their faces pale.

Since the Yuan Dynasty, no central Chinese dynasty has ever launched a direct invasion of the Japanese mainland. This...

"This is...this is an earth-shattering feat!" King Shangyong's voice was hoarse. "However, our country is weak, and I fear it will be difficult..."

“Your Majesty need not worry,” Su Ning interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument. “The army’s needs will be met by the Celestial Empire. However, Ryukyu is strategically located, serving as the best springboard and outpost for our advance. This Governor requires three things from your country:”

He counted on his fingers, and with each point he mentioned, the faces of the Ryukyu king and his ministers grew paler.

"Firstly, conscript laborers to accelerate the construction and expansion of barracks, warehouses, and forts in ports and strategic locations, so as to provide for the garrisoning of the army and the stockpiling of supplies."

"Secondly, provide as many guides as possible who are familiar with the hydrology and waterways along the Kyushu coast."

"Thirdly, all available ships should be requisitioned to assist in the transfer of troops and supplies."

This would almost drain Ryukyu's already limited manpower and resources, completely binding it to the Celestial Empire's war machine.

Prince Shangyong's lips moved as if he wanted to plead for mercy or delay, but when he saw Su Ning's cold and resolute eyes, and the Ming soldiers whose armor was faintly visible outside the palace, all his words stuck in his throat.

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, rose from his seat and knelt on the ground, his voice trembling as he said, "Our humble country...our humble country will obey the Governor-General's order! The entire Ryukyu Kingdom will do its utmost to assist the Heavenly Dynasty's army in quelling the evil forces!"

……

With Suning's orders and the Ryukyu king's "willing" cooperation, the entire Ryukyu Islands were instantly transformed into a massive military outpost and forward base.

The port was bustling day and night, with countless Ryukyuan laborers working tirelessly under the command of Ming military engineers to expand the docks, build massive warehouse complexes, and fortified camps.

On the hilltop, rows of new-style artillery emplacements rose from the ground, their dark cannon muzzles pointing northwards.

Transport fleets from the Ming Dynasty continued to arrive, bringing more soldiers, ammunition, provisions, and heavy artillery for siege.

The steam-powered warships were undergoing final maintenance and resupply in the harbor, their smokestacks occasionally belching out thick smoke, like the deep roar of a giant beast about to set off.

The Ryukyu guides and ships that were recruited were quickly incorporated into the Ming army. Every reef and waterway they knew was marked in detail on the nautical charts.

The Ming army, like a sophisticated and efficient war machine, completed its final accumulation of strength and intelligence integration at Ryukyu, its forward base.

With everything in place, Su Ning ordered the drafting of a powerful proclamation against the Japanese pirates. In the name of the Ming Emperor, the proclamation listed the crimes of the Japanese domains, including "allowing them to cause trouble," "plundering the Celestial Empire," and "having rebellious intentions." It declared that the expedition was to "relieve the people's suffering and punish the guilty, and to forever pacify the coastal areas." The proclamation was copied and sent to various coastal areas, and even deliberately sent to Japan by merchant ships.

Standing atop the highest watchtower of Shuri Castle, gazing north at the islands shrouded in mist, Su Ning addressed his generals: "The scourge of Japanese pirates has lingered for a century, ravaging the coast and leaving behind a trail of bloodshed. Past passive defenses have only addressed the symptoms, not the root cause. Today, we must emulate the spirit of our predecessors, Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou, in their determination to eradicate the pirates, and even surpass them, striking them squarely in the heart of the sea! This battle is not about conquering cities and territories, but about breaking their backbone, destroying their stronghold, and rendering them incapable and cowardly of ever again engaging in piracy! Let us forge a truly peaceful era for the southeastern coast!"

"We are willing to follow the governor, to sweep away the enemy's strongholds and eliminate future troubles!" The generals roared with passion, their voices shaking the heavens.

The massive expeditionary fleet has reassembled, this time with a clearer objective and a more imposing presence.

Su Ning's will, a mixture of the Ming Dynasty's national prestige and a century of accumulated hatred, has transformed into an unstoppable torrent of iron, about to crash fiercely into the lair of the Japanese pirates—Kyushu, Japan!
A transoceanic conquest destined to be recorded in history is about to begin, a battle fought in blood and fire.

...(End of chapter)