Chapter 150: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.

Under the embrace of ocean currents, Zheng He’s fleet entered the Penghu Channel. The flags on the masts fluttered in the sea breeze, making a rustling sound.

This was a narrow channel where a slight mistake could lead to running aground.

A long pole extended from the bow of the ship, with several lanterns hanging from the end, illuminating the waters ahead.

This method had no practical effect; it was merely a form of reassurance.

Zheng He led a fleet consisting entirely of large ships, which lacked agility. By the time they spotted the rocks ahead and tried to maneuver to avoid them, it was already too late.

To ensure safety, all the ships had lowered their sails, moving with the ocean currents.

Thirty miles outside of Penghu City, Chen Zuyi had made all the necessary arrangements, just waiting for Zheng He’s fleet to fall into the trap.

Dark clouds obscured the bright moon, and the gentle waves lightly slapped against the sides of the ships.

Chen Zuyi suppressed the restlessness and anticipation in his heart, gazing into the distance at the sea, quietly waiting.

Time became so elongated, the silent tension making even the breath of the pirates faint.

“They’re here!”

Chen Zuyi suddenly became tense, his gaze fixed on the distance where there was a faint light of lanterns. Before long, the lights multiplied.

“Follow the plan!”

Chen Zuyi gave the order.

On many pirate ships, light signals were occasionally sent.

Chen Zongsheng licked his somewhat cracked lips, walked up behind Chen Zuyi, and said, “Big brother, it seems that the Ming fleet has some capabilities; they’ve safely passed through the treacherous waters!”

“Haha, that’s even better. I was worried these warships might be damaged in that treacherous waterway!”

Chen Zuyi’s gaze remained on the front, adjusting his attire, saying, “The Ming navy has never encountered me, and you look like me. This time, you’ll impersonate me, and I’ll go underwater to breach the ships!”

“Alright, as soon as the signal is given, I’ll kill Zheng He and seize the warships!”

Chen Zongsheng said ominously.

“Don’t be too confident. Go if there’s an opportunity, retreat if there isn’t!”

Chen Zuyi said, and Zheng He’s fleet drew closer.

Zheng He’s fleet consisted of a total of twenty ships, arranged in a “十” formation, with four ships set up in front, back, left, and right, and four ships arranged in a single line in the center.

“They’re so spread out; it’s advantageous for us to attack!”

Chen Zuyi was overjoyed.

All the way, he worried that Zheng He’s fleet was too dense, and his small boats wouldn’t be able to exert much force. Now that he saw Zheng He didn’t understand naval warfare at all, with such a dispersed arrangement, wouldn’t it weaken his own strength?

“Let’s go, let’s go meet the Ming navy!”

Chen Zuyi ordered the fleet to move forward. Upon getting closer, Chen Zongsheng loudly shouted, “I am Chen Zuyi, King of Paembang. I now submit to the Ming.”

“Order everyone to drop their weapons, enter the cabin, and allow Chen Zuyi to lead his guards to board the ship and surrender!”

Someone on Zheng He’s fleet shouted loudly.

Chen Zongsheng glanced at Chen Zuyi and led more than twenty men to a small boat, heading towards the flagship where Zheng He was.

Climbing up the rope ladder, Chen Zongsheng and the others boarded the flagship. However, instead of being greeted with flowers and applause, they were met with swords and ropes.

Li Xing and others acted swiftly, promptly confiscating the weapons from Chen Zongsheng and his men. Then, they bound them with ropes. Chen Zongsheng glared angrily and shouted, “I am Chen Zuyi, the king of the Bohai State. This time, submitting to the Ming, is this how you treat us?”

“Chen Zuyi?”

Zheng He walked over slowly, his eyes filled with a mocking gaze.

“Zheng He?!”

Chen Zongsheng gritted his teeth and shouted.

Zheng He signaled to Li Xing with his eyes. Li Xing immediately threw a punch into Chen Zongsheng’s abdomen. Chen Zongsheng winced in pain and opened his mouth, and instantly, a piece of fabric with a stimulating taste was stuffed into his mouth.

Before those who came up with Chen Zongsheng could even shout, they each received a blunt blow to the back of their heads.

As for whether they would be killed or not, that wasn’t under consideration.

These people had blood on their hands from killing Ming civilians, and Ming would never give surrender to them!

From the moment they killed the first Ming civilian, their fate was sealed with one word:

Death!

Chen Zongsheng became somewhat panicked. Things were not going as expected. Zheng He was not a naive lamb waiting to be devoured but a wolf in sheep’s clothing!

“This is a trap!”

Chen Zongsheng felt his blood freezing. He tried to break free from the ropes but found himself securely bound.

Zheng He looked at the frightened Chen Zongsheng and slowly said, “You are not Chen Zuyi but his brother, Chen Zongsheng, right? Inviting me here was not an act of submission but an attempt to devour the Ming navy, isn’t it?”

Chen Zongsheng widened his eyes, wondering how Zheng He knew all of this!

It’s over!

Everything is over!

He must immediately inform his elder brother Chen Zuyi; if they don’t retreat now, it will be the end!

Zheng He stared at Chen Zongsheng, his gaze becoming sharp.

“Chen Zuyi, is he here?”

Chen Zongsheng’s pupils suddenly dilated.

Under Zheng He’s flagship, more than twenty sailors slipped into the sea, carrying large fish bladders. Instead of swords and long knives, they had hammers and chisels at their waists.

So what if it was the Ming navy’s warships?

As long as it was a ship, piercing the bottom would render them helpless in the sea!

The principle of catching the leader first, Chen Zuyi understood it very well. As soon as he eliminated the enemy’s flagship, all the other ships would lose their command. By then, occupying the remaining ships would be effortless.

To ensure nothing went wrong, the highly skilled seafarer Chen Zuyi personally entered the water and reached the bottom of Zheng He’s flagship. Just by creating a small hole, the seawater would assist him in tearing apart this large ship!

“What is this?”

Chen Zuyi looked in horror as the pirates who had infiltrated the bottom of the ship shouted silently. Something had tightly entangled them. Chen Zuyi strained to see and finally understood.

It was a massive net with countless barbs and hooks!

“Who placed the fishing net at the bottom of the ship?”

Chen Zuyi shuddered. With this net in place, he wouldn’t be able to get close to the bottom of the ship, let alone bore into it!

The air in his lungs was running out, and Chen Zuyi sucked in all the air in the fish bladder. Ignoring the struggling pirates, he swam towards the direction of the ship’s rudder. However, before he could reach the rudder, he heard a dull sound.

Looking to the left, a head slowly sank to the seabed.

The head belonged to someone very familiar.

It was his own younger brother, Chen Zongsheng.

Chen Zuyi no longer cared about damaging the ship and quickly swam away. It was only at a distance that he popped his head above the sea. Looking back now, Zheng He’s fleet had already launched a proactive attack!

Catapults, powerful crossbows, and rockets flew under the moonlight, creating a spectacular scene.

“Kill!”

The pirates’ resounding battle cries were continually drowned by the sinking Ming navy ships. One after another, pirates fell into the sea, and before they could grab a piece of wood, arrows flew towards them.

Chen Zuyi saw that cannons were fired from his own warship, hitting Ming navy ships. Five or six soldiers were blasted into the sea by the powerful impact and quickly killed by the pirates.

However, before the cannons could fire again, the Ming navy ships revealed a row of cannons by opening their partitions.

Dark barrels, like entrances to hell.

Deep and terrifying.

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