Section 3

Bao'er has always been somewhat confused about people and matters, but she possesses an extraordinary ability to remember objects at a glance. Zhao Peng certainly believes that Bao'er would never make a mistake in her observations. Consequently, he feels that he must reassess the strength of the Donghai pirates; it is astonishing that Thunder God Island has the capability to seize three warships from the navy

The watchtower's Gu Chuan replied: "Exactly!"

They immediately saw the woman in white, her face covered, reach for the command flag and begin issuing orders to the pirates

Gu Chuan Dao: "Is this all?"

Yunmeng looked at him with suspicion. Given her familiarity with Gu Chuan, she sensed that he seemed to be hiding something unspoken. She did not understand why Gu Chuan would conceal something from her, or what he had to hide, and after a moment of hesitation, she said: "There is nothing much to say about Zhao Peng. He is cunning and intelligent, and rather flamboyant, that is all. Who is the person standing next to him?"

Tang Tingyu was somewhat surprised: "How can you tell that this is a young girl?"

Zhao Peng could only sigh, shake his head at himself, and then turn around to make a gesture

Takagawa clasped his fists and said: "Thank you very much"

Yunmeng Dao: "On the occasion of the seventieth birthday of the Elder of Heavenly Mechanism at the Heavenly Mechanism Mansion by Taihu Lake."

Yunmeng stood by the railing, the sea breeze lifting her white garments and black hair. She continued to gaze at the distant flying fish island ship, gradually disappearing, which had been burned by Zhao Peng, and said: "If it were not for my internal injuries not yet healed, making it inconvenient for me to take action, the outcome of today would still be uncertain. Who informed you?"

Tang Tingyu was momentarily taken aback, unsure of how to respond. He looked up at the tower where signal flags were being raised, informing Zhao Peng that three ships flying the "Sunrise over the Vast Sea" flag had been spotted to the east. Zhao Peng clapped his hands and said, "Good, they have arrived just in time." He then issued orders to prepare for battle.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles

Three pirate ships drew closer, and Zhao Peng had already seen the masked woman in white attire and black hair fluttering in the sea breeze atop the watchtower. After observing for a moment, he said: "This is not the masked person from last year; the sailors on the ship said that woman was somewhat older, with hair that was a bit grizzled, yet this girl is quite young"

Her figure rose once more, gracefully gliding towards her ship

Gukawa sighed deeply and ordered the fleet to change course, heading towards Thunder God Island

Gu Chuan smiled and then asked, "When do you plan to go to Jiangdong?"

The arrival of reinforcements greatly invigorated the pirates of Feiyu Island, and Yunmeng, who was commanding from the lookout tower, also altered the strategy, waving the flag to recall his subordinates. Zhao Peng ordered that the pirates be allowed to return to their own ships to prevent them from fighting desperately and causing excessive costs to those who were besieging them

In just this brief encounter, the lady's boat had already moved several zhang away, and most of the arrows fell short.

He and the drug addict seemed to speak only to Tang Tingyu, remaining silent and expressionless towards anyone else

Zhao Peng said: "It should be so. The previous Lord of Thunder Island was Lei Jianfeng. After his death, he passed the position to his son-in-law Gu Chuan, who is the only disciple of the East Sea King. It is said that the East Sea King originally intended to marry his daughter to Gu Chuan and also pass on Feiyu Island to him. Therefore, during the East Sea War, the East Sea King spared no effort to send him and his daughter away. After the East Sea King died, his daughter was still very young, and Feiyu Island was surrounded by strong enemies, in a precarious situation. Fortunately, Gu Chuan decisively married Lei Jianfeng's only daughter, gaining the strong support of Thunder Island, which ensured the safety of Feiyu Island. Rou'er, take a look, is that man Gu Chuan?"

The fleet sailed safely for two days, and on the third day, they arrived at the waters near Flying Fish Island, where pirate ships frequently appeared, causing everyone on board to become tense

Zhao Peng examined him and said, "Why doesn't Young Master Tang take action himself? The pirates of Flying Fish Island are notoriously fearless and difficult to capture alive; I truly worry for your young servant."

Standing at the lookout tower of the leading ship, there was a man in his thirties, of ordinary appearance, yet possessing an imposing demeanor that commanded respect without anger

Zhao Peng gazed at the approaching ship and said, "That is the vessel from Thunder God Island. After the death of the King of the East Sea, Thunder God Island remains the only large island among the East Sea islands that still submits to Flying Fish Island. It seems that this woman must be the daughter of the King of the East Sea; otherwise, Thunder God Island would not have come to offer assistance"

Zhao Peng has brought out his eighteen personal guards, along with three maids trained by Madam Jiang: Bao'er, Rou'er, and Asu, the granddaughter of Steward Su. The three of them directed the ships to form three small circular formations, with the bows facing outward to confront the enemy, coordinating with each other; the warriors of the Zhao family were responsible for guarding the doors of each cabin to repel the attacking pirates, while others were tasked with tightly closing the doors and windows to safeguard the cargo; the eighteen guards moved back and forth on the deck to fend off the pirates. Once the arrangements were in place, the three of them returned to protect Zhao Peng.

Zhao Peng smiled slightly: "While others may heed the authority of the King of Donghai, the great maritime merchants of the Gusu Zhao family cannot. The business world is like a battlefield, ruthless and merciless; once you are no longer the strongest, the coldness of society will become clearer to you than to anyone else. In Nanyang, with just a word from me, those kings would be willing to empty their treasuries for my use. However, if I yield to the pirates, there will be no place left in Nanyang for me to build my shipyard." In Nanyang, with just a word from me, those kings would be willing to empty their treasuries for my use. However, if I yield to the pirates, there will be no place left in Nanyang for me to build my shipyard.

As the boat drew closer, the woman in white, though veiled, had eyes that shone as brightly as the sea and were as pure as the sky. One could still sense her extraordinary poise and spirited demeanor, setting her apart from ordinary women. Zhao Peng gently whistled and sighed, saying: "In the overseas realm, there are celestial mountains, and within those mountains resides the immortal maiden of Miao Gu, with skin like ice and snow, and a visage like that of a young girl. She breathes in the wind and drinks the dew, not consuming the grains of the earth; surely, this is the kind of grace and bearing being referred to."

Zhao Peng exclaimed in astonishment, "Your eyesight is truly remarkable"

Zhao Peng was indifferent. The authentic statement is: "It is the grand maritime merchants of the Suzhou Zhao family who refuse to yield, rather than those minor maritime merchants. Do you know that during the peak of the Eastern Sea King, he once proposed to the court to accept submission under the condition of a tax rate of eleven percent?"

Yunmeng found it difficult to describe her feelings at that moment

Zhao Peng couldn't help but laugh and said: "Do you know? The tone in which you say this is just like that of King Xuan. When King Xuan was ordered to eliminate King of the East Sea, he must have announced his crimes in a similar manner."

Yunmeng was somewhat taken aback: "Brother Gu, why do you seem so strange today?"

Zhao Peng and Tang Tingyu stood at the bow of the boat, leaning against the railing, gazing at the vast sea. After a long period of contemplation, Tang Tingyu said: "There is one thing I have never quite understood. The King of the East Sea used to levy a tax of one-eleventh on passing ships, and now although Feiyu Island collects a tax of one-fifth, since their aim is to restore the authority of the King of the East Sea, it seems that the tax of one-fifteenth is merely intended to establish their power. Ultimately, it is likely that the tax will revert to one-eleventh, as it is improbable that they would undermine the rules set by the King of the East Sea. It is said that after collecting taxes, the King of the East Sea would provide protection over the East Sea for the ships that had paid the tax, and no pirate would dare to rob these ships on the East Sea. I am an outsider, and listening to this rule, it does not seem entirely unacceptable. So why do many merchants still prefer to risk being completely robbed by pirates rather than comply?"

Tachikawa fell silent for a moment and said, "As you head to Jiangdong, I can no longer assist you. You must be extra cautious. Do not trust anyone, understand?"

Yunmeng frowned: "Zhao Peng? The people of Lin'an gave him a nickname, calling him 'Mercury Fox', which is quite fitting.

Tang Tingyu gazed at her for a moment and said: "She had previously suffered internal injuries and has not yet recovered, which is why she does not dare to engage with us in a decisive battle"

Mercury is smooth and changeable, while the fox is cunning and intelligent. The combination of mercury and the fox clearly reflects the impression that the people of Lin'an have of Zhao Peng

He waved his hand, signaling those around him to step back, and then said: "What is your opinion of Zhao Peng?"

Gu Chuan was unable to respond. Yun Meng continued, "We should part ways here. Brother Gu, safe travels!"

Gu Chuan secretly shook her head and smiled. Since Yunmeng set out, she had never suffered such a defeat, so it was no wonder that she felt displeased.

The sea breeze gently blows, the seawater ripples, and the boats sway slightly

Zhao Peng smiled and said: "I may lack other skills, but I possess a keen appreciation for women of all kinds. No matter how tightly they are wrapped, just a glance allows me to discern their age, appearance, temperament, and even their current mood. This is a talent that the disciples of Taiyi Temple cannot cultivate. Hmm, that young lady seems rather unsettled; there is a hint of anger in her expression."

Yunmeng Dao: "Of course. The informant from Lin'an only mentioned that the person boarded the ship when it was about to set sail, and their background is unknown. Zhao Peng had originally invited Fang Meishan, but Fang Meishan did not show up."

Takagawa Shizen also noticed Tang Tingyu and said, "Are you referring to that young man beside him?"

Zhao Peng smiled and said: "Young Master Tang San knows my heart well. I am absolutely unwilling to engage in a battle that I am not confident of winning"

Zhao Peng pondered and said to Tang Tingyu: "Could you tell me why her subordinates are on the verge of collapse, yet she and her personal warrior have not come down to assist in the battle? We have already had an indirect confrontation with her; she is certainly capable of fighting us. If she were to come down with those few individuals, at least she could turn the situation around to some extent"

He signaled Yunmeng with flags, indicating her to return. Tang Tingyu glanced at Yunmeng. Although the distance was great, he could still perceive the subtle anger in her expression.

He turned around to look at Tang Tingyu and said, "You haven't even gone to war with Feiyu Island yet, and you are already sympathizing with them?"

She raised her head, exhaled, and said: "There is no need to pay them any more attention. Brother Gu, thank you very much this time."

Although they were far apart, she still felt an inexplicable tension and pressure from Tang Tingyu's gaze upon her. It was a calm, profound, and meticulous observation that made her feel as if the subtle thoughts in her heart were laid bare under that gaze

Yunmeng's decision to set sail this time was directly due to the injury sustained by her master, Madam Lin, during the last attack on the Zhao family's ship.

Gu Chuan Yishiao: "Of course it is the lady. Fortunately, I captured these three fast ships last time; otherwise, I really wouldn't have made it in time. The lady's injuries are no longer a concern, but you should take more care of yourself."

One of the three pirate ships has already been destroyed, while the other two are also besieged. The pirates have suffered heavy casualties, and Zhao Peng is not faring any better. Among his eighteen personal guards, four are seriously injured and one has died, which greatly alarms Zhao Peng. Even the Imperial Guards are not necessarily more formidable than his eighteen guards.

Yunmeng said gloomily: "I know."

The Mengchong Doujian is the latest warship designed by the Tianji Bureau, with a speed far exceeding that of any current warship. This spring, the Privy Council has just completed the construction of five vessels, which were entrusted to the navy for anti-piracy operations at sea; however, only two of the five ships returned, while the other three reportedly sank in a storm at sea, resulting in a significant loss of face for the Tianji Bureau

Tang Tingyu stood quietly beside Zhao Peng, watching the fierce battle between the two sides. After a while, he said, "Can you find a way to capture a few alive? I would like to interrogate them"

Tang Tingyu expressed with some surprise: "How could I sympathize with them? The vast ocean is all part of the territory of the Song Dynasty; how can we allow pirates to arbitrarily set up checkpoints and collect trade taxes? Moreover, the King of the East Sea and Feiyu Island, who consider themselves maritime overlords, actually wish to stand on equal footing with the Song Dynasty. This is even less permissible, and we cannot allow them to act with such impunity."

Tang Tingyu smiled: "I am concerned about Brother Zhao's safety. If anything were to happen to Brother Zhao, Lord Xuan would not let me off the hook with the Book Club."

Tang Tingyu gazed at the approaching ship and after a moment said: "On the lookout tower of the foremost ship, there stands a person in white robes with a masked face. Is it the same person you encountered last time?"

The medicine fork did not speak, only slightly lowered its head

Tang Tingyu nodded and said: "I have heard about it. The King of Donghai still wants the court to grant him a title. Such actions are nearly tantamount to coercion, which has greatly angered the court, leading to a resolute refusal. At that time, the court intended to eliminate the King of Donghai, but the Prince Xuan was seriously ill, and there was no suitable commander besides him, which is why it was delayed for two years. However, my question pertains to the thoughts of maritime merchants."

Tang Tingyu smiled without answering, then turned to whisper a few words to the medicine servant, who quietly retreated into the cabin. The medicine attendant, however, continued to follow closely by his side.

Zhao Peng had a sudden thought; could he take this opportunity to capture that woman? Even if she is not the daughter of the King of the East Sea, she must be an extremely important figure on Flying Fish Island

At this moment, three ships appeared from the east, their sails proudly displaying the flags of the Rising Sun over the Sea and the Thunder God.

The horn sounded from the watchtower, and the window of Zhao Peng's boat was opened. A sailor launched a bamboo tube filled with fine wine onto the nearest pirate ship using a crossbow. The bamboo tube shattered on the deck, releasing a fragrant aroma of wine. The sailor withdrew, and archers immediately took their place. At a command, fire arrows were released in unison, igniting fiercely in the wind and striking the deck soaked with wine. In an instant, the entire ship was engulfed in a raging sea of flames.

Zhao Peng smiled and said: "The master of Gu Island personally came to welcome Miss Yunmeng of Flying Fish Island. I, Zhao, would not dare to obstruct, so I will make way."

At the moment when the ships from Flying Fish Island met the fleet from Thunder God Island, Yunmeng suddenly rose into the air, stepping lightly as if walking on clouds. Like a celestial maiden descending, she gracefully flew up to the watchtower where Gu Chuan stood, and said to Zhao Peng in a loud voice: "One year from now, Flying Fish Island will come again to seek guidance from the Zhao family of Suzhou"

A slightly older, gentle and amiable maid beside him responded after a long gaze, saying: "It should be him. However, I only have a portrait of Gu Chuan from about ten years ago, so I cannot be completely certain"

Yunmeng Yixiao: "Do you want me to be cautious of both the master and you?"

She is actually the leader of the pirates. Zhao Peng murmured, "Could this be the daughter of the East Sea King, Yunmeng? Alas, you were originally a beautiful woman, yet you have become a thief"

He wants to see for himself what lies beneath the great reputation of the disciples of the Taiyi Temple

On the way back, Gu Chuan said: "It seems we have all underestimated Zhao Peng"

Is she waiting for the right moment, or is she holding back due to some concerns

Yunmeng's expression revealed a hint of contemplative confusion: "He seems familiar to me, yet I cannot recall where I have seen him. I had an indirect encounter with one of his servants, whose skills are quite impressive. There is also another servant by his side; from a distance, I witnessed that servant ambush and capture the three of us, while he himself remained unscathed. With such a servant, his master is likely to be even more formidable. Moreover—"

Tang Tingyu asked: "Is that the leader of Thunder God Island?"

He made a gesture, looking up at the flag on the tower as it unfurled, while the intercepted ships slowly sailed away. Tang Tingyu exclaimed, "Oh!" Zhao Peng replied, "Since we are going to let them go anyway, why not do it more elegantly"

Takagawa looked at her and said: "This is also what the king repeatedly told me on that day: Do not trust anyone, only trust yourself. Even those who are closest to you may have compelling reasons to betray you. Therefore, you must always be vigilant"

Tang Tingyu suddenly said: "These pirates possess a kind of fearless spirit. The speed of the Mengchong warship is certainly unmatched by the ships of the Zhao family. It seems unlikely that we can keep the daughter of the King of the East Sea."

The vessels at Thunder God Island have come to a halt. They are separated from the ships at Flying Fish Island by the Zhao family's ship

Zhao Peng ordered the ship to change direction, preparing to set fire to the other pirate ship where the woman in white was located. However, the woman reached for a thick rope, raised her arm, and struck straight at Zhao Peng. As A Su and the others instinctively threw their weapons, the three short swords were completely unable to stop the thick rope. Just as Zhao Peng was about to retreat, the nearby Yao Cha suddenly shouted and swung out a long black whip, entangling the front end of the rope. He then swung it down towards the sea, and at the moment it touched the water, it split apart, with the long whip returning to Yao Cha's hand.

Gu Chuan examined Yunmeng's expression and said, "Do you think there is something peculiar about this person? He might be the one replacing Fang Meishan on the boat, or perhaps he is a disciple of Fang Meishan. Why are you paying special attention to him?"

At the moment Yunmeng's figure floated up, Zhao Peng was taken aback; upon hearing Yunmeng's words, he immediately changed his expression and said with a smile: "I am always at your service!"

This made her particularly uneasy and displeased

Zhao Peng glanced at Tang Tingyu and suddenly smiled: "Young Master Tang, please do it yourself."

Tang Tingyu smiled slightly. Zhao Peng's experience in dealing with pirates is ultimately more extensive.

Zhao Peng smiled and patted Yao Cha's shoulder, saying: "Not bad, Young Master Tang San is quite adept at teaching."

In the midst of conversation, the pirate ship had already approached. The woman in white commanded the pirate ship to take advantage of the east wind, setting fire to the vessels and scattering the large fleet of the Zhao family, subsequently surrounding and ambushing the isolated ships

He exclaimed loudly, "Is it the island master who has come?"

Yet the lady has not made a move. Beside her, several warriors have also remained inactive in battle.

Yunmeng glanced at him and said, "Brother Gu, what do you mean by asking this?"

The seventieth birthday of the Elder Tianji will be celebrated on the seventh day of the first month next year, and it is certain that the martial artists of Jiangdong will all attend to offer their congratulations; this is indeed an excellent opportunity for a challenge

The ships from Thunder God Island drew closer, and Zhao Peng's round-faced, charmingly innocent maid, Bao'er, suddenly exclaimed, "Young Master, those three ships are Meng Chong Dou warships!"