Sweep Yuan

Chapter 154 Destroying a Nation's Fate: Strike the Snake at its Seven Inch

Pingjiang Road, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province; Liujiagang, Kunshan Prefecture; Shunfenglou Tianzige.

"Master Zhou, I'm not exaggerating, but in the entire grain transport fleet, no other captain can navigate the seas as steadily as I can!"

In front of Zhou Wendao, the ship owner Yang Polang thumped his chest loudly, as if afraid of letting go of this generous customer. After saying this, Yang Polang picked up a large piece of meat, threw it into his mouth, smacked it twice, and then gulped it down with some wine. He then added:
"Don't worry about me at all! Not only am I good at navigating ships, but I'm also an expert at repairing them. The year before last, when there was a storm at sea, my ship ran aground on Qianliyan Rock. The hole was huge, but I managed to plug it up right there in those towering waves! In previous years, when our fleet encountered disasters and had to dock, they always asked us for help."

Before coming to Liujiagang, Zhou Wendao had already investigated Yang Polang's background and knew that what the man said was true.

This task was no small matter, so after asking a few more questions, Zhou Wendao was surprised when Yang Polang became more and more animated, spitting even onto the dishes on the table. Zhou Wendao felt a chill and quickly changed the subject, lowering his voice as he said:

“Zhou trusts Boss Yang’s methods. However, this mission is a bit special. We have some ‘goods’ on our return trip, and we need to charter your boat.”

After the grain barges unloaded their cargo in the north, no one would return south empty-handed. However, the cargo in the north was limited, and the ship owners were worried about not being able to fill their cargo haul.

If it were ordinary goods, a shout in Haijin Town would be enough to entice ship owners to fight tooth and nail for the deal.

Zhou Wendao's actions—paying a deposit in advance, booking the best private room in the restaurant for a secret meeting, and having a giant, towering man standing guard at the door—clearly indicated that this was not a legitimate business.

If Yang Polang still didn't know how to raise the price on the spot, he would be a fool. He immediately lowered his voice and said:
"Live or dead?"

"Live goods".

After Zhou Wendao finished speaking, he was still somewhat uneasy, fearing that this boorish ship owner might treat the distinguished guest like merchandise, so he quickly added:

"Some items are valuable, so the cabin must be kept clean and tidy. Don't neglect them."

This is a huge business opportunity that fell from the sky!
Yang Polang was overjoyed, but his face twisted into a deep frown as he said:
"My ship is big enough, with a spacious hold, and it's loaded with edible grain. Once it's cleaned up, loading live cargo won't be a problem at all. It's just... those bastards at the Maritime Trade Office are checking too closely, so customs clearance might not be easy."

Zhou Wendao had been a merchant for many years and traveled on water all year round, so how could he not know the meaning behind Yang Polang's words?
In short, it all boils down to three words—more money!

However, this matter is of utmost importance, and prudence is the best course of action. Compared to the safety of the marshal's family, what is a little money?
"How much do you want? Brother Yang, be straightforward and give me the exact amount!"

Yang Polang extended his right hand, first raising his index finger, then, seeing Zhou Wendao's face darken, he quickly flicked his thumb, making an "eight" shape.

Zhou Wendao cursed him under his breath as a "shady merchant," but he was too lazy to argue with him any further, lest this fellow cause any more trouble after boarding the ship.

"Eight hundred strings?"

Yang Polang nodded, and taking the opportunity, forked another piece of fatty Dongpo pork and stuffed it into his mouth, eating with his mouth full of oil, and said smugly:

"Master Zhou should know the rules. In this dangerous business at sea, we only accept copper coins, not paper money."

"Eight hundred it is! Copper coins it is!"

Having reached an agreement, Zhou Wendao, unwilling to waste any more time, immediately stood up and said:
"Could you take us down to your ship first?"

"to make!"

Yang Polang thought to himself that it was a pity to waste such a good meal. Before leaving, he picked up the wine jug and gulped down most of it, letting out a loud burp. Then he wiped his mouth and said with satisfaction:
"Boss Zhou, come with me!"

The group left the restaurant and headed straight for the dock where the boats were moored.

With the spring canal transport season about to begin, Liujiagang is welcoming its busiest time of the year.

Inside the port, the massive warships escorting the imperial grain shipments and the civilian ships traveling north with them were packed together. In addition to the grain that Dadu urgently needed, they would also be selling a wide variety of southern goods to the bustling Dadu.

Hundreds of large ships entered the port, their sails like a forest, flags fluttering on their masts. Looking into the distance, sails dotted the horizon, and many more ships anxiously awaited their arrival.

Countless sampans darted through the gaps in the giant ship like fish, delivering fresh water and vegetables to the ship, creating a bustling scene.

The dock was bustling with noise, the air thick with the smells of sweat, salty sea breeze, and grease.

After a long winter's rest, the boatmen and sailors were eager to get back to work, the merchants from afar had a glint of greed in their eyes, the porters carrying loads had greasy backs and shouted themselves hoarse, the vendors were yelling and hawking their wares, and the soldiers maintaining order patrolled back and forth with their swords at their sides, their shouts never ceasing.

People of all kinds thronged the crowd, creating a cacophony of noise.

Along the way, familiar boatmen and laborers kept greeting Yang Polang, and he responded loudly to each of them, clearly a seasoned local.

Just as the dock came into view, a sudden gasp of horror erupted from the crowd ahead:
"Look! What...what's that?!"

Hua Yun, who was guarding Zhou Wendao, was extremely tall. He looked over the heads of the crowd and could see countless black dots faintly appearing on the sea northeast of Liujiagang.

Hua Yun was born in Huaiyuan Mountain Village. Although he had seen the river transport fleets on the Wo River and Huai River, how could those inland rivers compare to the vast Yangtze River estuary?

Even on the relatively wide Huai River, it is already a rare sight to see a dozen or so boats gathered together. Hua Yun had never seen such a dense array of ships, like locusts flying everywhere.
At this moment, the countless black dots on the distant sea that seemed to stretch to the sky were rapidly expanding, their outlines gradually becoming clearer—they were clearly ships! Hua Yun still couldn't believe it: These... these really were a fleet of ships?

At Liu Jia Hong Kong's military outpost, the sentries on the watchtowers had already sounded the alarm!

The piercing sound of a gong tore through the noise of the harbor, and the officers and soldiers resting in the barracks rushed out in a panic, their clothes disheveled, searching for their respective officers.

Several fast sea sparrows on duty hastily left the port, heading towards that ominous shadow, but before long, the sparrows returned at an even more reckless speed.

The black dot on the sea was rapidly approaching, its outline quickly becoming clear—the ironclad ship's bow broke through the white waves, revealing the ferocious shape of the giant ship, which turned out to be a huge fleet that stretched as far as the eye could see!

Even more terrifying was the ferocity of the fleet. Large ships with sails billowing and small ships with oars flying, hurtling towards the cargo ships and civilian vessels moored in Liujiagang like arrows released from a bow.

"Enemy attack!"

The mournful horns and screams pierced the bustling harbor in an instant. In just a few breaths, the boiling docks were like an anthill flooded by water. A wave of terror swept over everyone. As disaster struck, the crowd exploded and scattered in all directions.

In their panic, someone knocked over the peddler's load, spilling fruits and vegetables all over the ground. They themselves fell to the ground, and instead of apologizing, they cursed the peddler who was blocking their way before scrambling to escape.

"Pirates! Pirates are coming! Run for your lives—!" The screams tore through the air, amplifying the panic even further.

"Damn it! My goods, my entire fortune!"

At the dock, a cargo owner was pounding his chest and stamping his feet, staring at the mountain of goods in front of him, his eyes red with anxiety but helpless.

"Are you out of your mind? Who cares about the goods now? Run!"

The companions pulled the cargo owner with all their might, dragging him toward the shore.

Suddenly, Yang Polang abandoned his plans to make a fortune on the return trip and sprinted towards where he had moored his boat.

Zhou Wendao's heart sank. He cursed inwardly, fearing that this trip would likely encounter more setbacks. Yet, he was unwilling to return empty-handed. He glanced at the composed Hua Yun beside him and gritted his teeth, hissing softly:

"Keep up with Boss Yang! He took our deposit, we can't let him lose everything here!"

Liujiagang was the largest port in the world at the time. There were nearly two thousand soldiers in the water fortress. When the alarm gong sounded, the officers shouted sternly and managed to get some of the sailors onto the warships, weigh anchor, raise the sails, and prepare to meet the enemy.

However, when the boundless pirate fleet fully revealed its ferocity, with masts as dense as a thicket of thorns and a total number exceeding a terrifying thousand, the last vestiges of courage of the Yuan army vanished instantly.

A few loyal and brave soldiers remained on the ship, desperately setting their own warship ablaze. Flames soared and thick smoke billowed, all to prevent the enemy from taking control.

The rest of the people, including many officers, were already terrified. They broke through the camp gates and joined the flow of people fleeing the docks, running for their lives.

The collapse of the government troops in the water fortress without a fight shattered the last glimmer of hope for the stranded ship owners and cargo owners to salvage their losses, and also ignited the deepest panic among the dock workers.

Screams, cries, shoving, trampling, looting... this is hell on earth.

Amidst the chaos and frenzy, Hua Yun and the others protected Zhou Wendao like rocks, pushing against the surging crowd towards the dock, searching for Yang Polang's whereabouts.

On the river, the enormous fleet, seemingly ready to devour everything, had entered the harbor like a behemoth. On the most striking of the giant sea hawks in the center, a huge black flag flew atop a towering flagpole, five large characters embroidered in gold thread fluttering prominently among the sails—"Haimen Qianhu Fang"!
Yangyu youth, skilled at sailing!
The newcomer was none other than Fang Guozhen of Taizhou, a notorious pirate who had dominated eastern Zhejiang for many years and repeatedly defeated the imperial army!

More than a month ago, the imperial court was determined to quell the increasingly turbulent White Lotus Rebellion. In order to lure the enemy away from their stronghold and use them to devour the enemy, the court issued an edict to send Fang Guozhen north to suppress the Red Turban Army led by Zhima Li, which was entrenched in Xuzhou.

Unexpectedly, this person lingered in Taizhou for so long, but when he made his move, he struck right at the Yuan court's Achilles' heel!
The pirates had a clear objective: they greedily pounced on the large ships in the harbor, where the waters were deep and escape was difficult.

The kerosene poured down like black rain, followed by towering flames.

Yang Polang was knocked down twice along the way, his right shoe was trampled off, his hair was disheveled, and he looked like a madman. He finally managed to squeeze close to the berth, but watched helplessly as the ship, which he regarded as his life's work and the culmination of half his life's efforts, was doused with oil and turned into a huge fireball in a very short time.

The scorching flames licked the hull relentlessly, and the wood crackled and sputtered with a mournful sound.

"Fang Guozhen—! I curse your ancestors for eighteen generations!!"

Despair and rage overwhelmed his reason. Yang Polang's eyes were bloodshot, his fingernails dug into his palms until they bled. He picked up a carrying pole that a laborer had left behind, and barefoot and disheveled, he charged at the pirates who had just landed and were grinning as they brandished their knives and axes.

"Grandpa will fight you bunch of Taizhou dogs to the death!!"

As he ran, Yang Polang suddenly felt a tightness around his neck, and an irresistible force came over him. In a dizzying moment, the carrying pole slipped from his hand, and he was lifted into the air. By the time he reacted, Hua Yun had already carried him steadily on her shoulder like a sandbag.

"Put me down! Put me down! I'm going to kill Fang Guozhen, kill all these Taizhou dogs! Kill them!!! Waaah... My boat... My lifeline..."

Yang Polang struggled and cried on Hua Yun's shoulder, tears streaming down his face.

Zhou Wendao turned around and saw pirates swarming onto the dock like ants, their blades flashing in the firelight. He felt his scalp tingle, and Yang Polang's cries only added to his irritation. He suddenly jumped up and slapped Yang Polang hard across the face.

Snapped!
Yang Polang was stunned by the beating. He leaned on Hua Yun's shoulder and stared blankly at Zhou Wendao.

Seeing his distraught appearance, Zhou Wendao scolded him sharply:
"Foolish! Are you rushing in to your death? It's just a loss! Who hasn't lost before? Is the sky falling?! If you're not afraid of death, why be afraid of starting over?! Wake up! I'll show you a way out, it's better than dying a cowardly death in this muddy ground!"

The slap and the harsh shout were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head. Yang Polang trembled all over and actually stopped crying. He was on Hua Yun's shoulder, struggling to clasp his hands in a fist. His voice was hoarse but had a trace of life in it.

"Thank you... thank you for saving my life! Thank you for enlightening me!"

Having said that, he hurriedly patted Hua Yun's iron-like back and shouted:

"Good man! Quick... quick, put me down! You're shaking my insides out! Wow—!"

Before he could finish speaking, he actually started gagging.

The pirates set fire to their heavy ships, and seeing that the Liujiagang navy had scattered like birds and beasts, they became even more arrogant.

They began boarding and seizing light, fast boats, while simultaneously surging onto the docks like a tidal wave, kicking open warehouse doors and looting wildly, and setting fire to the government granaries piled high with grain and fodder.

Thick smoke rose into the sky like a black dragon, and the firelight illuminated their ferocious faces. Wherever the blades passed, they cut down people indiscriminately, regardless of age, creating even greater bloodshed and panic.

Hua Yun had just put Yang Polang down when she saw a thin old man in front of her being knocked down by the surging crowd. The book basket on his back rolled to the ground, right at his feet, and the manuscripts inside scattered out. On one page were five powerful characters: "Biographies of Heroes of the Martial World".

Hua Yun, though illiterate, respected scholars. She picked up the book basket and manuscripts, handed them back to the old man, and invited him in a deep voice:

"Old man, this place is truly dangerous. You might not be able to escape alone. If you don't mind, please come with us!"

Although the old man was pale, he remained quite calm. Seeing that Hua Yun and the others were all strong and valiant, and that Zhou Wendao, whom they were protecting, was also well-dressed, he figured they wouldn't harm an old scholar like him who only had a basket of manuscripts. He quickly bowed and thanked them.

"Thank you, brave warrior! You've done me a great service!"

Hua Yun led the way, like a giant ironclad warship cutting through the waves, forcefully carving a path through the crowd. Zhou Wendao, Yang Polang, and the old man carrying a book basket followed closely behind, while the remaining soldiers covered the rear with their weapons.

The pirates were busy setting fires and looting, and did not send troops to pursue Zhou Wendao and his group. Occasionally, they encountered a few petty thieves who were not careful, but Hua Yun dealt with them with a single blow. Even so, the group did not dare to be careless. They ran for nearly twenty miles and only dared to rest when they were sure that they had completely shaken off the pirates.

(End of this chapter)