The Ming Dynasty: A Modern Return, Building an Overseas Empire

Ashikaga Yoshimochi looked down at the crowd with a crazy and audacious expression.

He has only recently risen to the rank of general, and is at an age where confidence and arrogance are common.

As the saying goes, "A young man who is not reckless is not a true young man." If you don't act recklessly when you're young, when will you ever get the chance?

Seeing that he had subdued these clans so quickly after taking power, and with a large army gathered, why would he care about a Ming army that had come from afar?

However, upon seeing the stunned and somewhat terrified expressions of some of the people below, Ashikaga Yoshimochi's face immediately darkened.

Just then, those who closely supported Ashikaga Yoshimochi stepped forward one after another, all with equally crazed expressions.

"Defeat the Ming army! That would be a great power!"

"Please give the order, General, so that we may crush the Ming army, capture the Prince of Han of the Ming Dynasty alive, and display the might of our nation!"

Those who were initially terrified regained their senses and reluctantly joined in the shouting.

Only then did a smile finally return to Ashikaga Yoshimochi's face.

"Order! The clans of the capital region, the three governors, and the regional commanders are to immediately begin mobilization, conscript troops, and assemble them at once!"

As Ashikaga Yoshimochi's orders were relayed, various clans began mobilizing large numbers of tenant farmers and able-bodied men, and the army began to expand exponentially.

While Ashikaga Yoshimochi was still gathering a large army, smoke of battle had already risen on the sea outside Kii.

Zhu Gaochi looked at the sunken Japanese pirate ships without any emotion and immediately ordered his army to launch a landing attack.

"Artillery, move forward! Even if they run aground in shallow waters, push them up first, then pull them out later!"

As Zhu Gaoxu's military order was relayed, the warships approached again, drawing near the shallows to provide artillery support for the advancing army.

"Raise the cannon muzzle! Aim at the Japanese pirates on the shore, load explosive shells!"

"Yes!"

Two people each began to raise the muzzle of the cannon, and the first thing they did was to work together to load the ammunition.

A cluster bomb, also known as a submunition, is a projectile that breaks apart into countless small lead bullets after being fired.

The core purpose of this type of shell is to inflict damage, but it is extremely difficult to damage defensive structures.

"Loading complete!"

"Ignite! Fire!"

As the fuse was lit, the cannon roared, billowing smoke as it passed over the landing Ming troops and landed directly among the densely packed Japanese pirates on the shore, ready to intercept the Ming army.

There was no sound of explosions, only the sound of countless people being shot, creating a faint mist of blood, and large numbers of people falling to the ground.

Those Japanese pirates who were not fatally wounded fell to the ground, groaning in agony.

The surrounding Japanese pirates were filled with fear, their faces were pale, and their whole bodies were trembling.

However, before they could do anything, more shells came crashing down, and another group of people fell.

At that moment, most of the Japanese pirates were soaked in sweat.

Some people fell to the ground in terror, their bodies writhing backward, only to be trampled by the fleeing crowd, dying amidst their agonizing screams of being trampled.

At that moment, no one dared to face the Ming army.

Before their hands even touched, a large number of people had already collapsed to the ground, their ears filled with painful screams; no one could bear it.

Meanwhile, the cannons on the warships immediately began to be replaced with solid shot and began shelling the Japanese pirates' fences and other obstacles, as well as the fleeing pirates.

At the front, Sheng Jian, Qian Xun, Zhou Ping, Chen Da, and others each led their troops ashore, each with only a few hundred men, and charged directly at the Japanese pirates.

Among the Japanese pirates, some were barely clothed and emaciated, some carried hoes and sickles, and some carried short daggers. The vast majority of them were like this.

Only a small number carried what appeared to be standard weapons, and even fewer wore armor.

Seeing the Ming army chasing after them, no one had the will to resist; they just kept running for their lives.

When Hatakeyama Mitsuke, who was inside the city, learned of the crushing defeat at the front, especially the fact that the Ming army had been routed without even seeing them, he was greatly shocked, and the panic on his face intensified.

However, Hatakeyama Mitsuyoshi had nowhere to retreat to. He was Kii's protector, and once he left Kii, he would be nothing.

Hatakeyama Mitsuke led his personal guards, a full hundred well-equipped soldiers, who, although not fully armored, were mostly covered up, and came to the front.

Under the pressure of Hatakeyama Mitsuyoshi, a large army was organized to begin defense.

Qian Xun, who was the first to arrive, led less than three hundred men. Seeing at least a thousand Japanese pirates ahead, he charged straight at them.

However, halfway through the charge, seeing that the Japanese pirates still hadn't made any move, he sneered.

"Fire the crossbow bolts! Load the muskets!"

Having made these arrangements, Qian Xun led only one hundred men to continue charging forward.

Hatakeyama Mitsuke, seeing the Ming army charging towards him, was about to fire an arrow when the Ming arrows were already upon him, and a group of Japanese pirates fell.

Immediately afterward, the Ming army's muskets attacked again. With a series of sounds, another group of people fell, and Hatakeyama Mitsuyoshi was filled with fear.

Even some of the arrows fired by the Japanese pirates were blocked by the Ming soldiers in front with their shields.

Those that were not blocked could not cause any harm to the Ming soldiers who were wearing armor.

The archers among the Japanese pirates used crudely made bows, some even made of bamboo, and the strings they used were not crafted or polished.

Not only is its range short, but its power is also extremely weak.

Within Japan, however, such bows and arrows were already considered deadly weapons.

Because in Japan, very few people wear armor.

Behind them, Zhu Gaoxu directed the ships to pull out the warships that had been covering the army's landing, and then they also came ashore.

The large army on the ship continued to land.

Less than an hour later, the group that had chased after him, including Qian Xun and Zhou Ping, arrived in front of Zhu Gaoxu.

"Your Highness, Kii Castle has been captured! This is the head of Nahatake Mitsuke!"

Qian Xun threw the head on the ground, and Zhu Gaoxu only glanced at it before paying no further attention.

"How are Sheng Jian and the others? How did they feel about fighting the Japanese pirates this time?"

"Your Highness, Sheng Jian and Chen Da are making progress!"

These Japanese pirates are easy to defeat. Apart from the pirates who came out of the city, who were a little troublesome, the rest were just a rabble.

Moreover, these people don't know military strategy or formations; they just charge or run in groups, making them easy targets for crossbows and muskets.

Qian Xun sneered with a bloodthirsty look on his face. He hadn't expected the Japanese pirates to be so easily defeated.

It should be noted that the coast of the Ming Dynasty was frequently harassed by these Japanese pirates, and the imperial court even established a special army to defend against them.

I thought the Japanese pirates would have some fighting power, but this is all they've got?

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and then ordered the army to continue the attack.

Meanwhile, Wei Da and Jin Rong led their army to a successful landing in Wakayama, and within five days, they had taken over the entire territory of Izumi.

After Qian Xun and others captured most of Kii, Zhu Gaoxu began unloading supplies from the ships.

Zhu Gaoxu, looking at the maps of the two places, was frowning as he pondered how to settle the people who would be arriving later.

At this moment, Zhu Huan spoke up: "Your Highness, Japan will definitely send troops to attack, and things are not peaceful here yet."

I suggest that we send some able-bodied men over first, and let them settle down here.

At the same time, it can help in many ways, such as building houses, rebuilding cities, and making agricultural tools and weapons.

Once things have stabilized somewhat, then bring the others in.

Zhu Gaoxu did not respond, his gaze remaining fixed on the map.

Suddenly, Niu Cheng hurriedly walked in.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Luo Li and Wu Liang have sent word that Ashikaga Yoshimochi has mobilized a massive army, claiming to number 100,000, and is heading towards Izumi!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu showed no fear whatsoever; instead, his eyes flashed.

His gaze shifted from Izumi and Kii on the map to the plains below.

"Haha, great! You've come at the right time!"

Zhu Gaoxu was genuinely excited. He had originally planned to first establish himself in Izumi and Kii before attacking Kyoto, the capital of Japan.

Now that Ashikaga Yoshimochi has delivered himself to our doorstep, if we just wipe out these Japanese soldiers, what will Ashikaga Yoshimochi have left to stop him?

Once these Japanese troops are wiped out, this plain will be ours for the taking.

Moreover, who is he trying to scare with 100,000 troops? Even if there really were 100,000 people, if there were 10,000 or 20,000 elite soldiers among them, it would be a testament to Ashikaga Yoshiyuki's abilities.

Zhu Gaoxu never expected such a good thing to happen.

"By my decree! Assemble the army!"

After saying that, he looked at Zhu Huan.

"Don't bring any people over yet. I'll make arrangements after the war."

Go down now and organize the Japanese pirates in Izumi and Kii, and have them build castles first!