"Are you wondering why I arrested people without even investigating the case?" Su Bai asked with a slight smile, a stark contrast to his previous indifferent attitude towards him.
"This humble one wouldn't dare." "Kuang Ya, Kuang Ya, please remember, I am not an official appointed by Prince Su, but by Commander Li Jun of the Peace Army. There has never been such a thing as 'Master' in the Peace Army. Even Commander Li hates it when others call him 'Master' and bow or kneel before him. Do you know why?" "This humble one… your subordinate…" Kuang Ya tried several different ways of referring to himself, but none felt right, so he simply said, "I don't know." "If a person gets used to being bowed to, he will forget who he truly is," Su Bai said slowly. "Look at how many heroes throughout history have failed to maintain their integrity in their later years. Do you know why? The reason is that too many people bow to them to their face, while too few criticize them to their face. For example, you…" "Do you really think you're so wise and upright?" Kuang Ya lowered his head and pondered for a while. When he looked up and saw Su Bai's clear, stream-like eyes, he gritted his teeth and said, "Although I haven't been a yamen runner for long, I have accepted bribes and acted against my conscience. I can't be called upright, and as for wisdom, I'm worlds apart from that." "That's true. But if everyone around you kneels before you, and all you see every day are obsequious people, and all you hear are flattering words, you'll slowly start to believe it's all true. You might even believe you're not an ordinary person, but some celestial being, a god..." Su Bai spoke slowly, and seeing that Kuang Ya seemed to be deep in thought, he smiled.
“I understand now. So, my lord… no, Governor Su is afraid of losing his true self.” “True self?” Su Bai was taken aback by Kuang Ya’s use of such a word. After a moment, he burst into laughter: “That’s right, it is indeed the true self. These past few days, I’ve appeared to be traveling around, but in reality, I’ve been observing the local customs. I’ve discovered that the people here are prone to litigation and disputes. Many small matters are often blown out of proportion. For example, today, two families fought over some land, which is only natural. But if I let them continue fighting, the injured party, in order to escalate the lawsuit, will inevitably neglect the injured party. Fathers will not love their sons, and wives will not love their husbands. This is due to the customs, and it’s not something I can resolve with a few words. Therefore, I will not investigate the case first.” "Save the person. If the person survives, this case can be settled with a small sum of money. If the person dies, the assailant will be punished, and the feud between the two families will deepen, eventually turning them into mortal enemies." Kuang Ya thought for a moment, then couldn't help but bow to Su Bai again, saying, "The Governor is wise..." "Haha, look at you, I just said..." Su Bai shook his head, seeing the embarrassment on Kuang Ya's face, but his eyes brightened. He said, "Commander Li Jun merged these three counties of southern Jiangsu into one region, appointing me as the governor of the three counties. Do you know why?" Before Kuang Ya could speak, Su Bai continued, "It is to test new policies here, so that they can be implemented throughout the entire territory in the future. Kuang Ya, you are familiar with the situation in these three counties. Would you be willing to help me promote this way of education and the policy of balance here?"
Section 03
Looking at the sea of fire before him, Ren Qian's lips curled into a cruel smile.
Amidst the crackling of the flames, the wind carried to his ears the cries of the Japanese in the harbor, cries that sounded very familiar to Ren Qian.
He turned his head and gazed westward, where there lay a vast and bountiful continent, picturesque villages, hardworking and kind people, simple and sincere customs, and a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
That was already a land ravaged by disasters, yet some people remained greedy and envious, turning it into a sea of fire. Along the long coastline, flames of war raged everywhere. Bloodshed and weeping could not move the hearts of wild beasts; their brutality and savagery angered heaven and earth. Now, the wrath of heaven and earth has solidified.
Tu Longziyun sensed danger in Ren Qian's eyes, reached out and nudged him, saying, "Mr. Ren, are you alright?"
Ren Qian composed himself, turned to look at Tu Long Ziyun, and said with a wry smile, "I'm fine, I was just thinking about some past events." Tu Long Ziyun, by nature persistent and uncompromising, asked, "What past events are you thinking about, Mr. Ren?" "Hearing the wails of these Japanese pirates, I remembered… I remembered the people of Shenzhou crying like this when they were plundered by the Japanese pirates. Now, justice has prevailed, and retribution is inevitable." Tu Long Ziyun frowned, deep in thought, and after a moment said, "The people of Shenzhou cry like this because of hatred and pain, and the Japanese pirates cry like this also because of hatred and pain. Because of hatred, we came to the Japanese islands to strike first. Will the Japanese pirates also strike first in Shenzhou out of hatred one day?" Ren Qian paused, and Tu Long Ziyun continued, "The Japanese pirates burned, killed, raped, and plundered in Shenzhou, worse than beasts. Now we are burning and killing on the Japanese islands; are we also worse than beasts?" "In an instant, as if struck by lightning, Ren Qian felt his whole body tremble. In his heart, the thought of avenging the Japanese pirates was stronger than the thought of loyalty to the Soviet Union, but Tu Longziyun's words made him realize that if he was swayed by hatred, he would be no different from those Japanese pirates."
Sweat dripped down his face. A man of such learning as himself knew the consequences of being blinded by hatred. He couldn't help but gratefully say to Tu Long Ziyun, "The Commander-in-Chief is right." But then he noticed that Tu Long Ziyun himself seemed confused, and he chuckled. Tu Long Ziyun hadn't actually seen through the hatred in his heart; he was simply asking the question instinctively. He had previously been quite critical of Li Jun's appointment of Tu Long Ziyun as Naval Commander-in-Chief, believing that among the senior officers of the Peace Army, only Tu Long Ziyun was difficult to command respect. But now, it seemed that Tu Long Ziyun's instinctive questioning of this crucial issue demonstrated that Li Jun's judgment in personnel matters was indeed unique.
“I understand.” Tu Longziyun raised his head and said to Ren Qian, “We are different from the Japanese pirates. Although we also kill and burn, we kill and burn to protect people. Killing one person can save dozens or even hundreds of people.” Ren Qian took a breath, and suddenly a sentence that Li Jun had said to him when he sent him off to sea came to mind: “Weapons are instruments of violence. Whether they are for good or evil depends on the heart of the one who uses them.” He originally thought that this was just Li Jun’s encouragement to him, but he did not know that Li Jun had already noticed that he was showing signs of being blinded by hatred and said this.
"I see. Although the army is a weapon of killing, it is fundamentally used to protect those around us." Although the fire of hatred had not completely faded from Ren Qian's heart, he was much calmer at this moment. He smiled slightly, and his gaze toward Tu Long Ziyun was filled with more respect. However, Tu Long Ziyun's next sentence immediately made the respect in his eyes disappear.
“However, if Japanese women are as beautiful as flowers, my killing and arson might affect my image in their eyes.” “Really…” Ren Qian shook his head. This Dragon Slayer Ziyun always said something astonishing. He couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards. Li Jun’s appointment of him as the naval commander was still a dangerous thing.
"This is the third port. The Japanese pirates only have four ports on the two southern islands that are convenient for them to raid," Ren Qian changed the subject. "We've burned three of the Japanese pirates' ports in succession, so they must be on guard for the fourth. What we need to do next is to meet with Kiyota Yoshinobu, who calls himself the Great God of the Japanese Islands." "Mr. Ren must have another ingenious plan," Tu Longziyun laughed. "However, I think Kiyota Yoshinobu will probably come looking for us on his own initiative." Ren Qian nodded and remained silent. What they needed to do now was to deliver a fatal blow to Kiyota Yoshinobu, who was about to unify the Japanese islands. As long as they eliminated this man, the Japanese would continue to be in chaos and would be unable to raid the Central Plains on a large scale for at least three to five years.
This time, the Peace Army's naval expedition against the Japanese did not employ a direct offensive, but rather a guerrilla war at sea. Ren Qian had risked his life to infiltrate the Japanese islands several times over the years to investigate, and had an extremely thorough understanding of the Japanese situation. In addition, Mo Rong's telescope allowed them to anticipate the enemy's moves, enabling them to avoid the enemy's strength and strike at their weakness. They intercepted lone pirate ships on the main shipping lanes and then pretended to be Japanese pirates to burn down the Japanese ports.
However, such operations had a prerequisite: a foothold in the vast ocean. When Ren Qian mentioned this, Li Jun immediately thought of Jiao Island, where he first met Ling Qi. Although Jiao Island was small and unsuitable as a port, it was barely usable as a stopover point. Every three to five days, one or two patrolling Peace Army naval vessels would bring supplies and take away the wounded.
After replenishing their supplies and taking a short rest, Ren Qian, Tu Longzi, and others set off again. This time, their target was Hiroki-kyō, the last good harbor on Anrajima Island, one of the two southern islands controlled by the Japanese pirates. Considering that the southern forces of the Japanese pirates were likely to unite, they concentrated their remaining warships in Hiroki-kyō harbor as a precaution. This time, the Peace Army Navy mobilized five large ships and more than ten warships, with half of its 20,000-strong force concentrated there.
“If we were to engage the Japanese pirates head-on, even with 20,000 men, we wouldn’t stand a chance,” Ren Qian said. “Now that we’re following our plan to launch a surprise attack, we don’t need so many ships. We’ll split into two groups. I’ll lead a large ship and three smaller vessels forward, while Commander Tu Long will provide support.” Tu Long Ziyun said, “Why don’t I go and launch the surprise attack on the Japanese pirates, and you provide support, sir?” Ren Qian shook his head and said, “No, adaptability is my strength. I’ll go. If the Commander finds things are not going well, please come and support me.” The two had agreed on their plan, and the Peace Army’s navy split into two. Ren Qian rode in a large ship, flanked by three smaller vessels. This battle would be the last one on the two southern Japanese islands, so these ships were loaded with flammable materials such as black oil and gunpowder, and there were only a few sailors and soldiers, just over a thousand.
Hiroki-kyō Port was gradually becoming visible through the telescope. Ren Qian had chosen lunchtime; at this time, the Japanese ships patrolling the nearshore waters were either too far away to return in the short term, or they were anchored in the harbor for rest. Moreover, with the telescope, they could proactively avoid the Japanese ships before they came into view, so the four warships of the Peace Army arrived at the harbor unnoticed. Occasionally, Japanese fishing boats could also be seen, but the Japanese on board did not recognize that these deliberately disguised warships came from China.
"Enter port!" Ren Qian glanced at the sun in the sky, estimated that it was about time, and ordered the Heping Army Navy, which had been quietly anchored outside Guangqijing Port for half an hour.
Having been attacked three times in a row, the Japanese pirates were on guard. Therefore, as soon as the Peace Army's navy came into view, the Japanese lookouts issued an alarm. The Japanese ships in the harbor, which were always on standby, raised their sails and weighed anchor to approach the Peace Army.
As the two sides drew closer, and the masts of the enemy ships became visible to the naked eye, Ren Qian ordered his sailors to signal with flags: "Begin!" The four Peace Army warships separated, turned around, and dispersed, seemingly preparing to leave Hiroki-kyō harbor. The Japanese pirate ships let out angry howls, clearly thinking that this unknown, cowardly adversary was trying to escape.
On the large ship carrying Ren Qian, the flag bearer signaled again, and the Peace Army sailors, who were already prepared, poured barrel after barrel of black oil into the sea. This black oil was a specialty of the southern Heng Kingdom's desert, but apart from being extremely flammable, it was almost useless. Mo Rong was very interested in it, and in preparation for war, the Peace Army had stockpiled a considerable amount of black oil, all of which Ren Qian had brought with him this time.
Black oil is much lighter than seawater, so it formed a layer on the sea surface. Affected by the rising tide, this layer of oil gradually spread towards the shore. The Japanese pirates, who had already been burned by the Peace Army, immediately realized that the Peace Army was going to use fire again.
They understood, but when the Peace Army warships ignited the black oil with rockets and began to retreat at full speed, the Japanese pirates could only watch helplessly as the once azure sea turned into a sea of fire in an instant. The towering black smoke obscured the sun, seabirds cried out and flew away, while the Japanese pirate ships crowded in the harbor tried in vain to escape, only managing to delay their own ignition.
With the help of the wind, the fire spread rapidly, and in a short time, flames reached the shore, with thousands of flames flying and streaks of fire shooting horizontally. The Japanese first abandoned their ships and went ashore, and then fled in all directions on the shore, but amidst the thick smoke, they wept and could not distinguish directions, often throwing themselves into the flames, turning into charred corpses.
The Japanese wooden houses were extremely flammable, so the houses that docked in the harbor were soon engulfed in flames. To contain the fire, the Japanese used grappling hooks and ropes to pull down houses one by one, trying to create a firebreak before the flames reached them. In such a chaotic situation, the fact that the Japanese were still able to organize effective firefighting measures is something Ren Qian would surely be amazed to have witnessed firsthand.
But as if the heavens were also angry about the Japanese pirates' past misdeeds and wanted to punish them thoroughly, just when it seemed that the fire was about to be brought under control by the Japanese pirates and the damage would only be in the port area and not spread to the residential areas, like the previous three ports, a violent wind suddenly blew up.
The wind, carrying flames like the venomous tongue of a snake, swept past the firebreaks the Japanese soldiers had painstakingly built, leaving them dumbfounded. It surged directly onto the buildings behind them, then swept across the city. Smoke billowed into the air, bathing the earth in a delicate pink, like cherry blossoms. Even the sun paled in comparison; the once blue sky was now a branding iron.
The flames relentlessly pursued the people, and the surrounding buildings groaned in agony under the licking flames. Thick smoke, carrying a choking odor and unbearable heat, drove people in all directions. The already narrow streets were completely blocked by fleeing people, who had utterly lost their minds; all they wanted was to escape, escape. Husbands abandoned wives, children left their parents behind, and everyone was lost in this wrath of heaven and earth. Everyone struggled and ran, but all they saw was a sea of fire.
The air temperature was getting hotter and hotter, and putting out the fire was already futile. Organized firefighters were engulfed by the flames shortly after the strong winds started, and ordinary Japanese people using buckets and ladles to fight such a fire were not even a drop in the ocean.
"It's so hot, Mommy, it's so hot!" A little Japanese girl dressed like a clay doll cried out in the fire, surrounded by the chaotic footsteps of fleeing people. She cried, rubbed her eyes, and slowly ran forward, falling several times and getting up each time. When she became dizzy from the high temperature and toxic fumes, she took a wrong step and fell into the water with a "plop".
This is a small lake in Hirosaki-Kyohoku-cho, now crowded with Japanese people seeking refuge from the intense heat. Flames surround them, and the thick smoke obscures any escape route. Desperate, they huddle together, silently waiting for the fire to die down. Their shouts have exhausted them; at this point, all they can do is wait.
But the high temperature from all around slowly seeped into the water, and the water temperature gradually rose. When the Japanese people, who were crowded all over the lake, realized something was wrong, they felt weak and powerless. They could no longer climb out of the water, and they dared not step onto the streets where flames were still raging.
The water gradually boiled, and the flames began their final leap. There was no sound from anyone in Hirosaki-kyo, not even cries for help or final groans. The combined madness of water and fire turned the city into a ghost town.
Watching the port city, touted as the largest in all of Japan, crumble to ashes through the telescope, Ren Qian felt no pleasure in revenge. The soldiers of the Peace Army also fell into a solemn silence. Regardless of whether their enemies were from China, they were all, at least in one respect, human. If such slaughter and atrocities brought them pleasure, then what difference was there between them and the Japanese pirates who had committed such atrocities thousands of times on Chinese soil?
Ren Qian sighed deeply, looking up at the sky. That gust of wind was also unexpected. His original objective was merely to destroy the port, but instead, it had reduced a city of 100,000 households to ashes. The hatred between Shenzhou and the Japanese would likely deepen, and he would become a sinner shared by both Shenzhou and the Japanese…
On the four warships, the trumpeters blew the deep, mournful sound of bull horns, which slowly spread across the shore like a lament.
Passing through the smoke screen, Ren Qian's warship began to leave the port city that evoked such complex emotions in them. But before they had even left the harbor, the massive fleet that appeared before them made Ren Qian gasp in shock.
"What's going on?!" When was my way home cut off by this unknown fleet?
Upon seeing the flags flying over the enemy fleet, Ren Qian's heart skipped a beat. He immediately realized that the newcomer was none other than Kiyota Yoshinobu, the overlord among the Japanese, whom they called the Mad King!
When news of the heavy blow suffered by the Japanese pirates on the islands of Sekigahara and Anryo reached Kiyota Yoshinobu's ears, he was determined to unify the Japanese people. Naturally, he would not let go of this great opportunity. He concentrated his entire navy to cross the sea, intending to wipe out the dissidents on the two southern islands in one fell swoop, and then use this as a stepping stone to advance into the Central Plains!
Ren Qian's attention was focused on Hiroki Kyo, and he never expected such an unexpected turn of events. By the time he discovered Kiyota Yoshiki, it was too late, and he could no longer avoid it.
"So be it, so be it. I devised this treacherous plan to perish so many Japanese in the flames. It is only right that I die for them. It's just a pity for these soldiers..." Ren Qian instantly snapped out of his shock. He had just thought that the gust of wind was heaven and earth punishing the Japanese pirates, but he never expected that it would be his turn in a moment. Everything is impermanent...
The soldiers of the Peace Army Navy on these four ships had already lost their will to fight after seeing the tragic state of Hirosaki. Now that the enemy had suddenly appeared, and dozens or even hundreds of Japanese pirate ships of various sizes, their hearts were filled with dread.
"Soldiers, listen up!" Ren Qian roared, "Raise the Peace Army's battle flag! The Peace Army is invincible on land, and equally invincible at sea!" The purple dragon flags on the four warships rose one after another. The soldiers, seeing the flags fluttering in the sea breeze, felt a slight boost in their spirits. Ren Qian then ordered, "Commander-in-Chief Tu Long will come to our aid, so we only need to do our best to escape!" At this moment, the wind direction was extremely unfavorable for the Peace Army. Kiyota Yoshiki had the upper wind, and the Peace Army could only sail diagonally, attempting to shake off the Japanese pirates. The Japanese pirates, originally lined up in several rows, approached with the wind, and the distance between the two sides grew ever closer.
"Put down the explosive sampans!" The four Peace Army warships had run out of black oil, but the explosive sampans had not yet been used. The Kiyota Yoshiki Army, who had never experienced the power of these small sampans, were not afraid and chased after them straight ahead. They figured that these small sampans, which were no bigger than a canoe, could not possibly be used even if they had a conspiracy.
"Bang!" Several loud explosions rang out in succession. The two Japanese ships that were chasing the fastest were hit by the gunpowder. One ship swayed from side to side and slowed down, while the bow of the other ship was blown to pieces and began to sink.
The remaining Japanese ships bypassed the damaged ship and continued to pursue it. Ren Qian carefully examined the ship with his telescope and discovered that among the Japanese ships that were pursuing the fastest, one of them was flying the largest commander's flag. The flag had a design of three arrows and a chrysanthemum. Ren Qian's heart skipped a beat. As far as he knew, the three arrows and one flower was the family crest of Kiyota Yoshinobu. Could this ship that was pursuing the fastest be Kiyota Yoshinobu's own ship?