505: Chapter 505 Returning the Favor

Baili Zhuifeng reported, "Your Highness may not be aware, but the scourge of Japanese pirates in the Eastern Borders was not this severe at the beginning."

"Although the nation of Wa is small, it has been plagued by constant wars for hundreds of years. Occasionally, some daring pirates would cross the sea to plunder, but they never amounted to much."

"It wasn't until twenty years ago, when the Japanese General Kaga Meigi unified the various tribes of Wa in name and proclaimed himself the Great Sakura Heavenly King, that they truly gathered their strength and began constantly sending people to wreak havoc along the eastern coast."

"Kaga Meigi is well-versed in our Central Plains' military texts and is quite strategic. He first occupied over a dozen small islands off the coast of Hai Province to use as strongholds. Once he had logistical supplies, he began his continuous harassment."

"Among them, the most infamous pirate army is called the 'Ghost Shark,' composed entirely of battle-hardened samurai from Wa."

"Their total number is barely over a thousand, yet they are extraordinarily fierce and find pleasure in killing. They once slaughtered over five thousand Hai Province defenders in one go."

"The number of commoners massacred is even more countless. At one point, two cities in Hai Province were turned into ghost towns!"

"It was after that battle that the Prince of East Sea, Zhao Wugou, became wary of the Wa nation and no longer wanted to expend too much military force to eliminate the pirates."

"For the past ten years, Zhao Wugou and Kaga Meigi have been in cahoots, and those who suffer are the commoners of Great Gan trying to make a living along the coast..."

Lin Xiao frowned upon hearing this. "This Zhao Wugou isn't worried at all about nursing a grievance that will come back to haunt him?"

"In truth, if Zhao Wugou really wanted to put an end to the Japanese pirates, he would only need to station heavy troops along the coast."

"But this world belongs to the Li family. Those named Zhao are naturally unwilling to pour all their military and financial resources into suppressing pirates."

"So over these years, they've basically just been putting on a show. Sometimes, they even conspire with the pirates to hijack merchant ships."

"Only those wealthy merchants and noble families who constantly pay tribute to Zhao Wugou can ensure their cargo ships aren't targeted by the pirates."

Baili Zhuifeng had a look of helplessness, while Xiao Yixiao was full of disdain.

After listening, Lin Xiao felt somewhat frustrated. "The regular army of these pirates only numbers a little over a thousand?"

"Your Highness, the nation of Wa is, after all, just a small island nation. Many of its people are poorly clothed and fed; they cannot be compared to the great central powers of our Tianwu Continent."

Baili Zhuifeng smiled bitterly. "Across the dozen or so islands outside Hai Province, there are about twenty thousand pirates entrenched in total. That is already no small number."

Lin Xiao sighed. Oh well, he wasn't relying on headcounts to increase his Comprehension Ability anymore anyway.

As long as he wiped out the pirates, he would naturally win the hearts of the people.

"What do you plan to do next?" Lin Xiao asked.

Xiao Yixiao reported, "According to the Tower Master and the Ghost Envoy, we are to send these captured pirates to Qi Province."

"At that time, Brother Baili will act as the inspector general of Qi Province and acknowledge before the people that Qizhou suffered a pirate raid."

"This way, Princess Li Xinglan can represent the Yan Region and question Zhao Wugou. After all, it is his failure to suppress the pirates."

"The Yan Army suffered heavy casualties and was greatly weakened due to the war with the Khitan. It would be perfectly logical for Princess Xinglan to seek help from Your Highness at this time."

"Then, Your Highness's Zhenbei Army can head south to suppress the pirates under the name of the Yan Army."

"If Zhao Wugou tries to block us, it means he is shielding the pirates. If he doesn't block us, it will be even easier to handle..."

After listening, Lin Xiao immediately waved his hand. "That won't do! The reason isn't sufficient enough!"

"My Zhenbei Army is meant for large-scale battles involving hundreds of thousands of troops. To deploy for a mere hundred pirates? If word got out, wouldn't the whole world laugh?"

Baili Zhuifeng and Xiao Yixiao looked at each other, feeling quite helpless.

They were just looking for a forced excuse anyway; did the numbers really matter?

"Your Highness, the pirates are actually very cunning. To avoid unnecessary trouble, they never leave the eastern coast."

"Luring these two ships this time was only possible because the Ghost Envoy had been lying in wait inside the Prince of East Sea's Mansion for a long time and found an opportunity to send a false message."

Baili Zhuifeng said sheepishly, "It was just this small group of pirates who had been drifting at sea for too long and were desperate for money."

"It would likely be difficult to trick those major pirate leaders who have plenty to eat and drink."

Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes and asked, "You just said the pirates occupied some coastal islands as strongholds?"

"Correct."

"Then how far is the nearest stronghold from here?"

Baili Zhuifeng thought for a moment. "It's Haihua Island, located between Hai Province and Qi Province. Over two thousand pirates are permanently entrenched there, led by a man named Ye Jiantaro."

"The intersection of Hai Province and Qi Province... it is indeed not far."

Lin Xiao grinned. "They're the ones!"

Subsequently, Lin Xiao briefly explained his plan to the two of them.

After hearing it, both Baili Zhuifeng and Xiao Yixiao were dumbfounded.

But before they could say anything more, Lin Xiao had already soared toward the sea, treading across the waves!

"Baili, is His Highness serious?" Xiao Yixiao felt it was somewhat surreal.

"The Tower Master said His Highness is very likely already a Land Immortal. Perhaps he really can do it."

Baili Zhuifeng said solemnly, "I must stay in Qi Province. As for Xiao Liu'er's side, you go and meet her. The plan has changed, and we must also guard against Zhao Wugou becoming desperate."

"Alright!"

The next day.

The news that Qizhou's Yudai Bay had been ransacked by pirates spread rapidly.

The Yan Army delivered the pirates' corpses to the border of Qi Province, making them public and claiming that the Qizhou defenders suffered "heavy losses" while protecting the fishermen.

The Governor of Qi Province, Han Yu, personally confirmed the identities of these pirates in front of many commoners, telling the people of Qi Province to be extremely cautious.

That same day, Li Xinglan announced that the Japanese pirates had become a new enemy of the Three Prefectures of Yan, and they must ensure the safety of the coastal people just as they did against the Khitan.

At the same time, Li Xinglan and the Qizhou inspector general both directed their grievances at the Prince of East Sea, Zhao Wugou.

They publicly declared that it was Zhao Wugou's failure to suppress the pirates that caused the situation to worsen, spreading from the Eastern Borders to the Yan Region!

The following day, in East Sea City, at Prince Zhao's Mansion.

Zhao Wugou, who usually enjoyed reciting poetry and dancing with scholars and refined men, was in no mood for any pleasure.

In the study, Zhao Wugou's face was terrifyingly dark in front of his trusted advisors.

"Mr. Cen, tell me, how did those two Japanese ships end up leaving the Qi Province waters and going to Qizhou?!"

"Who gave those pirates the gall to provoke that bitch Li Xinglan without my permission?!"

The advisor, Cen Hai, gently waved his folding fan. He was a disciple of the Academy's Master and had followed Zhao Wugou for many years.

"Your Highness, this matter is suspicious. Someone must have forged Your Highness's orders. Otherwise, no matter how reckless Ota Ichiro is, he wouldn't fail to distinguish between Qizhou and Qi Province."

Zhao Wugou said with cold eyes, "Does Mr. Cen mean to say there is a spy by my side?"

"I venture to say that Your Highness doesn't even need to investigate. Since this has happened, there must be a mole in the mansion, and likely a master of disguise who is hard to detect."

"Furthermore, given that the other party only incited a small group of pirates, their ability is limited and not to be feared."

Zhao Wugou frowned. "So according to you, I should do nothing?"

Cen Hai shook his head. "Your Highness, it is no secret that Li Xinglan is a puppet of the Prince of Zhenbei."

"Therefore, Li Xinglan taking such a stance is nothing more than the Prince of Zhenbei looking for an excuse to swallow the Eastern Borders under the guise of suppressing pirates."

"At this point, it's meaningless to dwell on who forged your orders to send the pirates to Qizhou."

"No matter how much Your Highness denies it, that Lin Xiao will pin the blame on you to get his excuse for war."

"In my humble opinion, we should turn the passive into the active. Before the Zhenbei Army comes to 'suppress the pirates,' we should shut their mouths first!"

Zhao Wugou's gaze shifted. "What do you mean, sir?"

"Your Highness, didn't Li Xinglan blame you for failing to suppress the pirates? Then let us suppress them ruthlessly once, and do it right in front of the people of the Yan Region, so that Li Xinglan and Lin Xiao have nothing to say!"

Cen Hai had a smile that suggested everything was under control.

Zhao Wugou suddenly understood and couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Good! What a brilliant move to give them a taste of their own medicine! I approve!!"