Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 513 Japanese Intelligence, Attack
At a time when all nations were clinging to the First Emperor's mausoleum as a lifeline.

On Zheng He's treasure ship during his expedition to the east.

Bai Qi, Ran Minduan, and Chang Yuchun sat on the treasure ship, enjoying the tranquility before the war. They reviewed the intelligence sent by the Secret Guard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Dragon Guard Manor that day, including news that Goguryeo had secretly reached an agreement with various countries in the Central Plains, intending to launch an attack.

"Goguryeo?" Bai Qi frowned. A tiny overseas territory dared to provoke the Ming Dynasty? Did they have a death wish?
As the Marquis of Wu'an of Qin, Bai Qi lived in a time when Goguryeo was still a desolate and uncivilized land. The Yuezhi and others did not take it seriously, and Qin never cared about such a small place.

Unexpectedly, it became quite influential in later generations.

Ran Min looked at the intelligence report, his smile reflecting a chilling cruelty in the candlelight: "Those who are not of our kind are bound to have different hearts. Since Goguryeo is courting death, let's follow the Ministry of War's orders and wipe them out as well."

"I have no opinion."

Chang Yuchun shrugged. "It's just Goguryeo. With the power they bring, we could crush them ten times over without any problem. It's just a side job."

Although Goguryeo was not as fierce as it was towards the Sui Dynasty, it still frequently invaded the borders. In any case, when Chang Yuchun was alive, he had heard other old brothers and Zhu Yuanzhang mention more than once that Goguryeo was a major threat.

Since we can easily eliminate it, it's best to wipe it out completely.

How can you allow others to snore on the side of the bed?
Jia Xu and Cheng Yu, who were in charge of organizing the intelligence, spoke up at this moment:

"Lord Wu'an, Heavenly King, King of Kaiping."

"According to intelligence from the Secret Guard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Dragon Guard Manor, the most powerful masters in Japan right now are Ba Dao and Yagyu Tajima-no-kami."

"The remaining beings are those at or above the Profound Realm, numbering less than thirty, and only a few above the Celestial Phenomenon Realm."

"There are only three truly skilled individuals who require our attention."

"Oh? Three?"

Bai Qi, Ran Min, Chang Yuchun, and the others exchanged glances, their expressions showing surprise.

In such a small, tiny place, there are actually experts who need their attention?

Although Jia Xu was also somewhat puzzled as to how this wretched place could rise so rapidly after their era, he still truthfully stated: "Tianfeng Shijiro was hailed as the number one master in Japan a hundred years ago. He went to the Central Plains to challenge Dugu Qiubai, Shaolin Liaojie, and the former leader of the Demonic Sect. His strength should be at the level of a terrestrial immortal."

"After suffering a series of defeats twelve years ago, he disappeared without a trace."

"If he hadn't died after all these years, he certainly wouldn't have remained stagnant."

A fairyland on land?
The others looked even more surprised, but their expressions remained relaxed.

Although they were not at their peak, the mere terrestrial immortals were still no match for them.

Chang Yuchun nodded, signaling Jia Xu to continue.

"The Yagyu family has produced two unparalleled heroes."

"Yagyu the Killer God, known as the Sword God of Japan. He spent thirty years in seclusion to master the Undying Evil Blade, and his swordsmanship has reached the point of perfect harmony between man and sword. Back when the world was vying for supremacy, he once stepped into the Central Plains and slaughtered masters from various sects, but he was defeated when he challenged Yi Tianxing of the Famous Sword Manor at that time."

"Ultimately, they fled and disappeared completely."

"According to the intelligence obtained by the secret guards, this person should still be in Japan. Although he is not active, a hundred years have passed. Since he is not dead, there is a 90% chance that he has already stepped into the realm of a terrestrial immortal."

Everyone nodded silently.

Without reaching the realm of terrestrial immortals, even a Grandmaster of Celestial Phenomena would generally find it difficult to live past the threshold of a hundred years.

Since that Yagyu Killer God is still alive, it's almost certain that he's a terrestrial deity.

"Finally, there is Yagyu Ittsuken, the former head of the Yagyu family."

"Yagyu Ittsuken is the greatest swordsman in Japan in the last hundred years. Forty years ago, he had already reached the level of a Grandmaster of Celestial Phenomena. He once entered the Ming Dynasty to challenge the masters of various sects and killed hundreds of masters. Although he was defeated by Yan Beifei, the descendant of Yan Shisan, with his 'Sword of Sentiment,' his 'Ruthless Sword Technique' was still evaluated by Yan Beifei at the time as being extremely close to the 'Thirteen Deadly Swords.'"

"Twenty years ago, he returned with the peak strength of a Grandmaster of Celestial Phenomena. He broke through all obstacles and returned to the Central Plains to challenge Yan Guhong." "But in the end, he was defeated by the Yan family's fourteenth deadly sword. His mental state was shattered, and he disappeared without a trace."

Bai Qi and the others remained calm upon hearing this, while Ran Min couldn't help but chuckle.

"I thought little Japan could gather three terrestrial immortals, but this is all? I wasted my time." Ran Min sneered. A sword master whose mental state has been shattered, let alone twenty years, even thirty years, would not be able to recover without a great miracle.

At most, it's just a sword celestial phenomenon.

Not worth mentioning.

"Martial Arts Celestial Realm, in the grand scheme of things, is not weak. But among us, it's just... a weakling." Chang Yuchun sneered with contempt. The only ones who could catch their eye were at the level of a terrestrial immortal.

The rest? They are like ants, roadside weeds.

At this moment, the water around Zheng He's treasure ship rippled unusually, as if it had encountered an undercurrent, causing the ship to rock slightly.

An ordinary person might simply attribute this to an undersea current.

But Bai Qi, Chang Yuchun, Ran Min, Jia Xu, and Zheng He, who was sitting quietly in the corner, all raised their heads at the same time, their cold gazes fixed on the dark spot on the edge of the ship's hull, which was invisible to the naked eye and only illuminated by the soft moonlight.

"A mouse actually jumped out? That's really interesting."

"A Celestial Realm expert with a strong sword intent; it seems like he's just a 'speak of the devil' moment."

"It's not just us; some rats have also come from several other treasure ships nearby, mingling in the water, trying to drown us in the vast ocean? What a clever plan!"

The mocking voices of the group were tinged with a chilling murderous intent.

Zheng He's figure vanished in a flash, and the next moment, countless water columns shot into the sky around Zheng He's treasure ship as it sailed on, and countless splashes of water exploded. Under the bright moonlight, one could clearly see that the azure sea was mixed with blood.

"Bagaya Road."

"It's a terrestrial deity! Retreat!"

"Escape? Hmph!"

Zheng He's cold snort echoed through the night sky, drowning out even the sound of the vast waves. If someone were watching from a distance at sea at this moment, they would be able to spot a figure in a python robe under the moon, as if he had transformed into thousands of incarnations, with layers upon layers of afterimages covering the sea surface.

Bang bang bang!!
The next moment, several figures were thrown in like trash.

"Lord Wu'an, King Kaiping, all the rats are here." Zheng He bowed and replied, his voice soft but chilling. "The remaining rats that intended to sabotage the ships have all been killed, not one of them left."

"Haha, well done."

Chang Yuchun laughed heartily and patted Zheng He on the shoulder.

Although the other party was a terrestrial immortal, he was, in terms of status, a right-hand man of his son-in-law, Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di), who had once held him in high esteem.

This behavior not only failed to win Zheng He's favor, but instead seemed to elicit a hint of pride from him, as if he had received approval.

"Three Grandmasters at the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, and seven at the Profound Finger Realm."

"Interesting!"

Bai Qi's eyes were cold, revealing no killing intent, yet they sent a chill down the spines of the abandoned men, as if they were being watched by the Grim Reaper: "Such a precise ambush in the sea, preparing to bury us all at sea."

"It seems they know our marching route like the back of their hand!"

As Bai Qi's voice fell, the temperature inside Zheng He's treasure ship suddenly dropped by tens of degrees, and a thin layer of frost seemed to rise in the air.

(End of this chapter)