Chapter 523: Chapter 286: Wokou Warships Spotted Ahead

Meanwhile, Gu Gaoxu glanced around furtively as he cautiously approached Lu Yuan’s residence.

Inside, Gu Gaoxu said in a low voice:

"Brother Lu, I heard all about what happened today. It sounds so thrilling! To think someone actually dared to rebel."

"Brother Lu, what goes through these people’s minds? Rebellion is a crime punishable by the extermination of one’s entire clan. Just being exiled to a bitterly cold land is letting them off easy."

Lu Yuan sat at the other end of the table, resting his chin on his hand as he watched Gu Gaoxu ramble on.

’You little brat,’ Lu Yuan thought. ’When it’s your turn to rebel, you’ll be louder and more reckless than anyone!’

Seeing Lu Yuan spacing out, Gu Gaoxu called out softly, "Brother Lu? Brother Lu?"

Lu Yuan snapped out of it with a start. "Huh? What’s up?"

Exasperated, Gu Gaoxu repeated himself. "I heard the entire city is under lockdown. You can enter the Imperial City, but you can’t leave. Brother Lu, do you think Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, is involved?"

Lu Yuan just smiled and didn’t answer.

Gu Gaoxu stood up and began pacing around the room. "If it’s true, I’ll command the Government Army’s Vanguard, Rear, Left, and Right Guards to block the four main gates of the Imperial City, then send the Government Army Guard to storm the Imperial Capital..."

The more Gu Gaoxu spoke, the more excited he became, even starting to make gestures with his hands.

Lu Yuan jumped up and flicked Gu Gaoxu on the forehead. "You’re his grandson, for crying out loud! You’ve got a death wish? Aren’t you afraid the Jinyi Guard will overhear you?"

"Oh, right..." Gu Gaoxu’s voice immediately dropped to a whisper.

Lu Yuan used the Sound Transmission Skill to speak to Gu Gaoxu. "Today’s assassination attempt was orchestrated by your grandfather, the Emperor."

Gu Gaoxu’s eyes went wide. He pointed toward the Imperial Capital, his mouth agape in utter shock.

Lu Yuan nodded...

「The next day」

Lan Yu’s six adopted sons rushed to Marquis Yongchang’s Mansion.

"Xiaoliu’Er, don’t panic. How did the task I gave you go?" Lan Yu asked.

The sixth adopted son replied, "Adoptive Father, Third Brother committed suicide in his cell!"

"Is that true?" Lan Yu asked.

"Absolutely. We have a man on the inside. There’s no mistake," the sixth adopted son replied.

Just then, the Emperor’s personal eunuch arrived at Marquis Yongchang’s Mansion to deliver a summons to the palace.

Lan Yu arrived at the Imperial Study, feeling deeply uneasy.

The Emperor got straight to the point. "Lan Yu, the Wokou pirates have dared to violate our Empire’s borders and terrorize the coast, causing great suffering to our people. What should be done about this?"

The recent incident where Wokou pirates landed on Elephant Island and killed the Empire’s garrison was not an isolated case; they have become particularly rampant lately.

When Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, saw that His Majesty the Emperor showed no signs of anger, his anxious heart settled. He said, "Your Majesty, the Wokou pirates are courting death. I advocate for war!"

"Good! Good! Good!" the Emperor exclaimed. "As expected of my Empire’s fiercest general! Your courage is as great as ever. To think you would volunteer to lead the campaign against the pirates!"

Lan Yu thought back to what he had just said. ’When did I say I wanted to lead the campaign?’

Lan Yu was confused. He specialized in land warfare, not naval combat. Why would he be sent to fight?

People like Navy Commander Yu Tingyu and Navy Admiral Liao Yong’an were far more suitable for a naval campaign against the pirates.

The Emperor didn’t give Lan Yu a chance to clarify and continued:

"I will draft an imperial edict and announce it at court tomorrow morning, ordering you to personally lead the Government Army Guard, the Government Army Vanguard, and the Government Army Rear Guard. You will march north along the coastline and eliminate any enemies you encounter!"

Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, was taken aback for a moment and repeated, "Three Guards?"

Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, commanded all five Government Army Guards. Ordering him to fight at sea was already unconventional, but to do so with only three of his Guards was baffling. He couldn’t fathom the reason behind it.

The Emperor, holding a writing brush, was sketching something on a large sheet of Xuan paper. Without looking up, he said:

"That’s right. The Empire has only recently been stabilized, and we have a limited number of ocean-going vessels. We need to reserve some ships for commanders who understand naval warfare to train the Navy. For now, I can only provide you with enough ships to transport three Guards and their provisions."

At this time, the great navigator "Eunuch Sanbao," famous for his seven voyages, had not yet appeared. In the future, a well-trained Navy would be what enabled Eunuch Sanbao to sail the western seas and project the Empire’s might.

Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, looked troubled. "This..."

"Is there a problem? You are Lan Yu, the Empire’s fiercest general, are you not?" the Emperor praised him again.

Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, was the type who responded to praise but not to pressure. Flustered by the Emperor’s compliment, he cupped his hands in a salute and declared resolutely, "Your humble servant will certainly serve the Empire!"

"Excellent. For this first battle in our counterattack against the Wokou, you must win a brilliant victory, Grand General Lan!" the Emperor said with a smile.

"I will not fail my mission!" Lan Yu shouted.

The Emperor glanced out the window. "It’s almost noon. Why don’t you stay for a meal?"

Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, clasped his hands in a salute and replied, "With battle imminent, I must return as soon as possible to prepare!"

"Very well! If you have matters to attend to, you may go," the Emperor said, waving his hand dismissively.

"Your humble servant takes his leave!"

After Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, had left, the Emperor, Gu Yuanzhang, slowly raised his head. He glanced upward, a flicker of killing intent flashing in his eyes...

「Back at Marquis Yongchang’s Mansion」

Lan Yu’s adopted sons all tried to persuade him. "Adoptive Father, none of the Five Government Army Guards are skilled in naval warfare. And for you to lead only three of them to sea to fight pirates... the risk is simply too great."

The adopted sons truly couldn’t understand why their adoptive father would accept such an assignment.

Mobilizing an army was no small matter. Moreover, putting ground troops on ships was a first for them.

Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, said, "Say no more. I have my own plans. Lan Ying, you stay. The rest of you may leave."

After the other adopted sons had left, Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, said to his eldest, Lan Ying, "Lan Ying, of all my adopted sons, you are the one I value most. While I am away on campaign, I am entrusting command of the Government Army Left Guard and the Government Army Right Guard to you."

Lan Ying hesitated for a moment, then demurred. "Adoptive Father, I fear I won’t be able to command two whole Guards. I would rather accompany you on the campaign against the pirates. Please give this responsibility to Second Brother or someone else."

A gratified smile appeared on Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu’s face. His eldest adopted son, Lan Ying, had always been obedient, and this only deepened his trust.

Seizing the moment, Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu, said, "I will leave Fourth and Fifth Brother with you as your subordinates."

"That would be best. Please rest assured, Adoptive Father. I will definitely keep the Left and Right Guards of the Government Army under control!" Lan Ying finally agreed.

「Several days later」

Lan Yu led the Three Government Army Guards to the coast, where they boarded ships and set sail to the north.

Lan Yu stood on the prow of the towering flagship. The sea wind whipped at his cloak, and his eyes were sharp and filled with fighting spirit. A precious saber hung at his waist.

Behind him stretched a long line of imposing warships, their banners fluttering in the wind.

Although the Three Government Army Guards aboard the warships knew nothing of naval combat, their morale was high.

The fleet cut through the waves, advancing across the deep, bottomless sea...

「After more than half a month at sea」

A dozen or so small, dilapidated boats floated on the surface of the sea. Compared to the warships of the Divine Ling Empire, they looked tiny and crude.

The lookout on the warship spotted the sudden appearance of the enemy. He sounded the alarm and shouted:

"Wokou warships spotted ahead!"

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