519: Chapter 519 Prisoners

At the same time, the Ghost Shark Army on Centipede Island also charged out, piloting small boats one after another.

The pirates did not possess the strength to manufacture large warships and generally only used slightly modified fishing boats.

The few large warships they had were seized from the Gan Army and merchants.

A warship clearly in the style of the Eastern Sea Army, flying a banner with a hideous beast, was the command ship of the Ghost Shark Army's leader, Yamamoto Ryuichi.

"Brother, they are here," Yamamoto Hio said.

Yamamoto Ryuichi stood at the bow of the ship. His face was sharp as if carved by a knife, and two katanas were tucked into his waist. He was not tall, but his muscles were sturdy.

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"Is everything arranged?"

"Don't worry, brother. Zhao Wugou will definitely regret rejecting me that day!" Yamamoto Hio sneered.

"Very good. That overconfident Prince of East Sea needs to understand who the true overlord of the East Sea is!"

He drew his blade and pointed forward. "Kill!!"

The pirates let out bursts of ghostly wails and wolf howls, recklessly closing in on the Dan Province Army's warships.

"Firelock Squad! Ignite!!"

At Commander Guo Youning's command, the muzzles of the firelocks fixed to the bows aimed at the leading enemy ships.

Lin Xiao looked at those firelocks and the gunpowder being put inside; the information provided by the Eye of God had always made him feel a bit strange.

[Xuanji Firelock: A firearm developed by the Xuanji Sect, range of fifty paces, lacks accuracy.]

[Gunpowder: Gunpowder prepared by the Xuanji Sect using Saltpeter, of decent power.]

When he first saw these firearms, he had doubted if there was a mistake.

Shouldn't the research results of the Xuanji Sect have been destroyed over a hundred years ago? How were they still circulating?

One must know, these things were much more powerful than the "Poison Fire" of Kong Sen's successor.

Could it be that the technology of the Xuanji Sect was not actually erased, but was hidden away by someone and then fell into the hands of the Moon Worship Cult?

With a full several hundred firelocks, if placed on land during a battle between two armies, their power would be enough to tear through the charging formation of the most elite heavy cavalry.

If given sufficient time to build several thousand of them, or to create even more powerful cannons, then even his own Zhenbei Army would suffer greatly.

Lin Xiao was very glad he had acted in advance, otherwise he would have been nurturing a tiger that would eventually cause trouble.

“Bang! Bang bang!!”

As the pirate ships entered range, the firelocks roared, firing iron pellets one after another.

The iron pellets were not aimed at people, but directly at the ships.

As long as those fishing boats were pierced, the pirates naturally wouldn't be able to hold out for long at sea.

The original plan was quite good, but as the firelocks opened fire, problems quickly arose.

"Commander! This firelock won't ignite!!"

"Sir! This firelock is jammed!"

Soon, the sailors on many warships discovered that either the firelocks were faulty, or the gunpowder had become damp from the water?

Less than one-tenth of the firelocks could actually fire ammunition!

Commander Guo Youning was shocked and furious. Seeing this situation, how could he not know there were spies within the Dan Province Navy!

"Don't panic! Use bows and arrows! Don't let the pirates board the ships!"

Just as Commander Guo Youning was ordering the soldiers to abandon the firearms and change tactics, he heard bursts of shouting—

"Sir! Our ship is leaking!"

"Someone has bored through the bottom of our ship! The ship is sinking!"

"Commander! Argh!!..."

Some soldiers didn't even have time to speak before their throats were slit.

At some unknown point, some masked pirates had emerged from the bottom of the cabins.

Clearly, they had been lying in ambush within the army before it set out.

Commander Guo Youning's face turned ashen. He hadn't expected that before the real fighting even began, his side would already be full of holes!?

He could not accept that the Dan Province Navy under his command had been infiltrated to such a pathetic state!

"Commander Guo! Pull yourself together! This battle isn't over yet!"

Lin Xiao shouted loudly, snapping Commander Guo Youning out of it.

Commander Guo Youning was stunned. He hadn't expected the Prince of Donghai, whom he had previously looked down upon, to have such courage and show no sign of panic at all?

He rallied his spirits and immediately ordered the navy to begin the most primitive maritime slaughter with the pirates.

Although there were many pirate moles within the Dan Province Army, most of the officers and soldiers still had integrity and were unwilling to yield.

Although the Ghost Shark Army was fierce, they were at a numerical disadvantage, and for a time, they were stuck in a stalemate.

But just as the two armies were in the heat of battle, a violent explosion erupted from the lower deck of the main flagship where Lin Xiao was located!

“Boom! Boom!!”

Like the roar of a giant sea beast, accompanied by intense vibrations, two large holes were blown open beneath the cabins!

"Not good! Someone is bombing the ship!"

"Grand Commander! The ship is going to sink!!"

Hearing the panicked cries, Commander Guo Youning's heart bled.

On this ship were either his personal guards or the Prince of Donghai's personal guards.

Among these most trusted subordinates, there were actually pirate spies mixed in?!

Could it be that heaven truly wants to destroy the Eastern Sea Army!?

Seeing the ship about to sink, the soldiers were all in a flurry.

From the position where Lin Xiao stood, several pirates with excellent lightness skills immediately rushed up from both sides.

"Prince of East Sea! Come with us!"

A pirate suddenly used an iron chain to entwine Lin Xiao and yanked him off the already swaying deck!

"Your Highness!—"

Commander Guo Youning, who was in a bloody battle with the pirates, simply had no time to protect him.

He never expected that "Prince of Donghai" really hadn't brought any powerful martial artists along for protection?

At this moment, the sea surface was already a chaotic mess. The pirates' small boats were rampaging, while some Dan Province Army warships were sinking and others were being boarded.

After Lin Xiao was picked up by an extremely fast small boat, he was directly delivered to Yamamoto Ryuichi's location.

Yamamoto Ryuichi looked at the bound "Prince of Donghai" with a face full of cold arrogance.

"Your Highness, we finally meet. Didn't you want to wipe out my Ghost Shark Army? How about now?"

Lin Xiao said, "The decisive battle is not over yet. My Dan Province Navy has not lost!"

"You do have some guts."

Yamamoto Ryuichi was slightly surprised, but he soon revealed a cruel smile. "That's good. I like breaking those with stiff bones!"

"Hio, tie him up and let those Dan Province sailors see!!"

"Yes, brother!"

Yamamoto Hio immediately took two pirates and tied Lin Xiao to a wooden post.

Lin Xiao felt a bit depressed. This Yamamoto Ryuichi wasn't stupid; he actually didn't kill "Prince of Donghai" immediately.

Could it be he's worried that if Prince of Donghai dies, the Eastern Border will fall directly into the hands of me, the Prince of Zhenbei?

"All Dan Province sailors, listen up! Your Prince of East Sea has been captured by us!"

"If you don't want him to die, withdraw your troops immediately!"

"If you want to save the Prince of East Sea, first send ten thousand piculs of grain!!"

"If it's not sent within ten days, wait to collect your prince's corpse!!"

Yamamoto Ryuichi pointed his blade at Lin Xiao and shouted at Commander Guo Youning and the other officers.

His tone was so arrogant that he completely disregarded Prince of Donghai and the Dan Province Army.