Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

In the pitch-black night, the ships were clearly visible in the glow of the fire.

"Instructor Lang, take some men and sail their boat back with me."

"Yes, sir."

As the sails rose again, with a series of booming sounds, Chi Honghai and his group left the island, leaving behind only ruins and lingering smoke.

The next day at noon, we returned to the familiar bay.

After a night of non-stop sailing and fighting, the crew members on board were exhausted.

Chi Honghai's clothes were stained black with soot, and he stood on the deck as always, giving orders.

Seeing Shen Er running over, he shouted.

"Arrange for all those women to stay in the newly built rooms. Have someone take them to take a bath, give them something to eat, and help them calm down."

"Yes, sir."

As the crew disembarked, the men on the island began to help carry the cargo from the ship into the warehouse.

At this moment, Chi Honghai pulled Liu Qingjiang, who had been in a daze all night, and leaned him against the deck to ask him.

"Qingjiang, last night..."

"master......"

"Why did you act like that last night? Don't tell me it was because you were blinded by rage."

Liu Qingjiang avoided eye contact, not daring to look directly at Chi Honghai.

Chi Honghai took two steps forward and grabbed his shoulder.

"Do you even know what you did last night? You acted on your own, separated from the group. If anything had happened to you, what would have happened to the brothers behind you?"

"Master...I..."

Chi Honghai didn't speak, he just looked at him.

Liu Qingjiang took a deep breath before revealing the reason from his slightly trembling mouth.

"When I was sixteen, a group of pirates broke into our village. They killed everyone they saw and robbed us of everything. My sister was kidnapped along with the other women and sold to the barbarians."

"Later, while wandering, I met Boss Liu (Liu Xiang). Seeing my pitiful state and noting my decent martial arts skills, he took me in and avenged my family."

"Back then, I didn't understand. I asked Boss Liu if he could redeem my sister from the barbarians; she was my only family. It was then that I learned my sister had already died at the hands of the barbarians. As for how she died..."

Chi Honghai reached out and pinched Liu Qingjiang, giving him a light shake. He lowered his head and looked down at the deck with Liu Qingjiang.

"Sir, I am willing to be punished for what I did last night."

"I won't punish you, otherwise you won't be able to control your men in the future. If everyone acts like they did last night, then our careers are over."

"We will definitely avenge the red-haired barbarians."

Chi Honghai had barely finished speaking.

Liu Qingjiang suddenly looked up at him, his face full of disbelief.

After all, nowadays, the red-haired pirates are not only important trading partners for smuggling and selling goods, but ordinary pirates also lack the strength to seek revenge against them.

You should know that even if the red-haired barbarians have to pay Zheng Zhilong a toll, they don't act so arrogantly these days.

However, they also occupy Chikan City, and their merchant ships come and go in fleets carrying firearms, so they are not easy to provoke.

"Master...we are now..."

"I know what you're going to say, not now, but the master will never go back on his word."

Liu Qingjiang's eyes were red, and he wiped away the tears that were about to flow with his sleeve.

After explaining the reason, the two walked down the deck together.

Looking at these people who, after a night of fierce fighting, were still able to stand in neat rows and stand seriously, Chi Honghai sighed inwardly that the training had been effective; they were finally no longer that rabble.

Among the ranks were many wounded brothers, some slightly injured and some seriously, enduring their exhaustion and pain, yet none of them stepped down from the ranks to rest and recuperate.

He glanced at it and spoke in front of everyone.

"Everyone worked tirelessly all night to bring back the supplies from there, and we'll distribute them to everyone later."

"However, last night someone in our team acted without authorization, disrupting the original plan and causing some unnecessary injuries to our brothers. Such a person should be punished!"

Everyone knew, of course, who Chi Honghai was referring to.

Someone in the queue spoke first.

"Sir, Liu was just too eager to kill the enemy last night! Please spare Liu!"

"Yes, sir, Liu personally apprehended the leader last night, which is a merit. Please reconsider, sir!"

Chi Honghai took a deep breath and looked at Liu Qingjiang beside him.

By this time, he had already knelt before the crowd, his head bowed.

"Brothers, it was my impulsiveness last night that caused more casualties among our brothers. I, Liu Qingjiang, deserve to be punished."

He was emotionally resonant, offered a way out, and admitted his mistake.

Chi Honghai went down the slope.

"Of course, you should be rewarded for your merits, but merits and demerits cannot offset each other. Acting without authorization is a serious crime. However, since everyone is pleading for you, we will be lenient this time and you will receive twenty lashes."

Anyone who acts without authorization will be severely punished!

After speaking, Chi Honghai gestured to Pang San to take the whip and use it to torture Pang San.

With each crack of the whip, everyone lowered their heads, unable to bear the horrific scene.

Chi Honghai also turned around and clutched his cuff.

After ten lashes, some of the skin on Liu Qingjiang's back had already split open.

Looking at the red welts left by the whip and the blood seeping from his back, Pang San couldn't help but ask Chi Honghai a question.

"master......"

"It's not over yet, continue!" Chi Honghai's reply was stern and heartbreaking.

After lashing Liu Qingjiang twenty times, Chi Honghai called for a stop. Pang San then threw the whip to the ground and helped Liu Qingjiang up.

"Help him downstairs, I'll take Madam over to apply the medicine later."

"Master? Madam?" Pang San and Liu Qingjiang asked in unison.

Instead of directly answering Pang San and Liu Qingjiang's questions, Chi Honghai turned to the brothers in formation and spoke.

"Brothers, you've all worked hard. Go and rest now. I've had Ai Si and Shen Er prepare the food for you."

After establishing the rules, Chi Honghai returned to his room first.

At this time, Wu Wanruo had already moved from her own room to Chi Honghai's room.

Without consulting Chi Honghai, he was taken aback when he opened the door and saw Wu Wanruo and some newly added items in the room, but he accepted it nonetheless.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, but I need your help..." Chi Honghai stepped forward and took Wu Wanruo's hand.

"Why are you suddenly so embarrassed?"

"Tell me, what do you need my help with?"

"The brothers fought all night, and many of them are injured. I want you to treat them so they don't suffer any lasting injuries."

"I didn't realize you cared so much about your subordinates."

Chi Honghai paused for a moment.

"Consider it a favor I owe you."

Wu Wanru smiled slightly and placed her other hand on the back of his hand.

"I'm already yours, so how can you say I owe you anything?"

Chi Honghai pulled Wu Wanruo into his arms, stroked the back of her head, and hugged her tightly.

"Alright, they're still waiting to heal. I'll pack up what I need first."

Just as Wu Wanru was about to leave, Chi Honghai stood inside the room and looked at her, asking a question.

"You still haven't answered my question from that day."

"Didn't I already tell you?"