Chapter 599 - Chapter 599: Chapter 599- Who Are You Planning to Send to Watch Over Me?
Chapter 599: Chapter 599- Who Are You Planning to Send to Watch Over Me?
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Xiao Zeyu and the others had gone through over a dozen battles these two days. Xiao Zeyu had used his trap tactics to defend the port with a force ten times less than the enemy.
With their experience escaping from famine, they wouldn’t starve to death even if they had no food. The seafood was salty, and they would get thirsty if they overate. However, they didn’t have clean water. Xiao Zeyu and the soldiers had been so thirsty for the past two days that their throats were on fire. Their lips were so dry that they would bleed if they spoke. After the tsunami, the air was scorching. If they continued to be so thirsty, they would lose their ability to fight.
Xiao Zeyu learned from Su Cling’s method of escaping famine, collecting dew on the grass daily. However, that amount of water was like a cup to put out a burning firewood cart for the army, but at least the soldiers would not collapse from thirst.
At this time, Xiao Qi was busy. It had an animal body and was agile. She used that advantage to run to the county town of Japan to steal water and also told her male master the latest movements of the enemy.
Fortunately, Xiao Qi was here. Every time the pirates attacked, it would come back to alert them. Today was the third day after Su Qing left. The leader of the pirates was afraid that a long delay would cause trouble, so he launched a fierce attack. They found someone to break the trap that Xiao Zeyu had set up and rushed towards the high hill where Xiao Zeyu was.
■’Everyone, cheer up and guard the dock. All the soldiers present today will be rewarded according to their contributions when they return.”
Xiao Zeyu pulled out his sword and shouted at the soldiers. Today’s battle would result in heavy casualties. In close combat, the brave would win. He would first let everyone have the opportunity to fight with their lives on the line.
“I swear to live and die defending the dock.”
The morale of the soldiers was raised, and they shouted in unison. The commander’s sword in the pirate leader’s hand fell, and he shouted,
“Kill, leave no one alive.”
He had seen how powerful the Central Plainsmen were, so he gave up on capturing them alive and ordered them to be killed.
“Kill!” Xiao Zeyu shouted.
Xiao Zeyu shouted, “Kill!” and led the charge down. However, before he could reach the hill, he heard the sound of artillery. The shells exploded among the pirates, and the pirates in front were blasted into the sky.
The Emperor of the East Ocean was shocked. After not seeing them use any weapons for two days, he believed that Xiao Zeyu and the others must have run out of ammunition and food, which was why they had launched such a large-scale attack today. They didn’t even pay attention to dodging the cannonballs as they charged forward.
After the first shell landed, the second, third, and fourth shells immediately followed. These Japanese soldiers became live targets and were blown to pieces. The ground was covered in broken limbs and bones, and the remaining Japanese soldiers did not dare to charge forward.
This wasn’t a battle that could be won just by not fearing death. The killing machine was too terrifying, and the Japanese soldiers all ran to the back.
Xiao Zeyu looked at the dock excitedly. He saw Su Qing wearing a long green dress and a black cloak. The wind blew her black hair, making her look like a god. She was the one who fired the cannonball just now. More than 200 Xiao Family Army soldiers came down from the ship, and their combat strength instantly increased.
“Qing’er, you came at the right time.”
Xiao Zeyu excitedly walked over. Qing’er always appeared at the most crucial moments. She was indeed his lucky star.
“Pursue the victory.”
Seeing that Xiao Zeyu was safe and sound, Su Qing’s heart finally calmed down. The husband and wife led the Xiao Family’s army into the city of Dongying and blasted the tightly shut city gates with a single shot.
Seeing things were not looking good, the Emperor of Japan quickly sent an envoy over to ask for peace. The envoy of Japan raised a white flag and bowed to Xiao Zeyu to surrender. Japan promised to pay compensation and pay tribute every year.
“No, we can forgive the other countries, but not them. Destroy Japan as a warning to the others so that the other countries will take the initiative to spit out the cities they occupied and willingly become subjects.
Su Qing knew how despicable the Japanese were. If they were to bow now, they would immediately attack the Great Tang again, revealing their savage faces. Moreover, Japan had taken over a city of the Great Tang and was destroyed so that the other countries would comprehend the Great Tang’s strength and ruthless methods. This was akin to killing a chicken to show the monkey, and it could ensure ten years of peace for the Great Tang.
If you let the Japanese go today, the other countries would not think you are kind. They would only think that you are a fool.
If I continually provoke you, your only response is to try and intimidate me. But then, I’ll provoke you again later. Gradually, I’ll escalate my actions. When you finally respond decisively, it will be against an adversary too formidable to overcome. In the end, I will be the one responsible for bringing about destruction.
“Understood.”
Xiao Zeyu had the same thought. This was the first time the Great Tang Empire had gone to war with another country. They had to make the other countries afraid. They bow down and submit to them only by knowing and fearing them. Then, they would avoid war.
The Japanese envoy was cut in half, the mortars bombarded the palace, the old emperor was killed, and the Japanese soldiers were like headless flies running around. Without morale, they would lose their will to fight, and those who wanted to run would only die.
The Xiao Family’s army was unstoppable, charging into the palace and killing all the remaining Japanese pirates. They had returned all the property the Japanese pirates had taken from the Central Plains.
After this search, they discovered how many good things the small nation had stolen from the Central Plains.
The news that Japan faced ruin for displeasing the Great Tang spread swiftly. As Xiao Zeyu and Su Qing anticipated, the nations that had taken control of the cities in the Central Plains promptly returned them to the Great Tang, eager to avoid military confrontation with Xiao Zeyu’s forces. These nations also wanted to maintain a lasting friendship with the Great Tang.
The destruction of Japan brought ten years of peace to the Great Tang!
After Xiao Zeyu fought this battle, he returned to the court. When he was away, his grandfather and father-in-law, Su Hanxuan, handled the court affairs together.
Su Hanxuan was a novice official, while Qin Feng was an old official in the imperial court. It was straightforward for him to handle government affairs. Upon his return to the palace, Xiao Zeyu’s first action was to find Su Qing and express his concerns about her recent actions.
“Qing’er, have you been too reckless? Don’t you realize how precious our child is?” he asked, his tone filled with gentleness and stern concern.
He had been apprehensive about the safety of both Qing’er and their unborn child, to the point of neglecting his duties and pursuing her.
“I admit I was wrong,” Su Qing acknowledged, understanding the gravity of her actions.
Though she had succeeded in her mission, it was fraught with danger, and she had risked never seeing Xiao Zeyu or her parents again, and their child might have been lost.
Realizing the severity of the situation, she sincerely apologized, regardless of Xiao Zeyu’s anger.
■■No, I must have someone watch over you. You’ve worried me too much,” Xiao Zeyu insisted, still concerned despite her apologetic stance.
He felt that the usual palace staff couldn’t effectively supervise her.
“Are you going to keep an eye on me?” Su Qing questioned, finding his measures a bit excessive.
“Yes, until the baby is born, you shouldn’t leave the palace. I’ll ensure you have everything and spend time with you when I’m here. I can even arrange for an opera troupe to entertain you,” Xiao Zeyu proposed, showing his dedication to her well-being.
-Who will you choose to watch over me?” Su Qing inquired, curious about his plans for her supervision..