Chapter 457
The Female Pirate's Decisiveness
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"This sinful woman, Shi Honggu, pays her respects to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Upon seeing Zhao Yu, Shi Honggu bowed respectfully.
“Raise your head,” Zhao Yu said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Shi Honggu slowly raised her head, allowing Zhao Yu to see her appearance clearly.
Her face was slightly tanned, a mark left by her long life at sea. Her eyebrows were long and sharp, revealing a sense of determination and intelligence, and her eyes were bright and spirited, as if they held endless stories and resolute decisions.
With her high nose bridge, slightly thick lips, and resolute features, even dressed in palace maid attire, she could not conceal her innate domineering aura and confidence.
Although she tried her best to learn the gentle and graceful manner of a palace maid, she would occasionally reveal the efficiency and decisiveness she displayed when commanding ships at sea.
After sizing up Shi Honggu, Zhao Yu asked her directly, "Minister Yuwen said that you might be able to solve the problem of pirates for our Great Song Dynasty. What is your plan?"
Shi Honggu was also quick to speak her mind. She said, "The pirates who came south this time were mainly foreign pirates. They not only came to plunder our Great Song Dynasty, but also wanted to unite with other families to control the Strait of Srivijaya. They have invited my family to discuss the matter of attacking Srivijaya. I am willing to be an inside agent and find an opportunity to teach our Great Song Navy to wipe them out in one fell swoop."
Zhao Yu said, "The plan is good, but how can I trust you? If you collude with the pirates to act as an inside agent in my Great Song Dynasty, and plot to ambush my Great Song navy, and you succeed, then my Great Song seas will be at your mercy to plunder."
After a pause, Zhao Yu continued, "Furthermore, as far as I know, your husband Zheng Long died under the cannons of my Great Song Dynasty. How could I possibly know? Won't you take this opportunity to avenge your husband?"
Shi Honggu knew she was a thief, and in the eyes of Zhao Yu and his ilk, she was not someone to be trusted. It was normal for Zhao Yu to suspect her.
The key point is that if, as Zhao Yu said, these pirates ambushed the Song navy and seized Song warships, the Song dynasty would indeed be at a disadvantage, and would even have to rely on them for future maritime trade.
Moreover, just as Zhao Yu said, Zheng Long died during the Song Dynasty's naval operation to suppress pirates. As Zheng Long's fiancée and successor, Shi Honggu had every reason to avenge him.
To be honest, Shi Honggu admired Zhao Yu very much; he grasped the key point at a glance.
To this, Shi Honggu didn't waste any words, but said frankly, "Although I have been engaged, I have never been married and am still a virgin. I believe I still have some beauty. If Your Majesty takes a liking to me, I am willing to offer myself to you to prove that I have no feelings for Zheng Long. Furthermore, I still have parents and brothers who are alive, and I am willing to invite them to stay in Hangzhou for a while."
Zhao Yu never expected that Shi Honggu would be so decisive and courageous.
After staring at Shi Honggu's increasingly attractive face for a while, Zhao Yu finally asked her, "What are you after?"
Shi Honggu said calmly, "What this sinner seeks is neither the glory of rank and emolument, nor the wealth of gold and jade, but only to wash away the name of a traitor, to become a commoner of the Great Song Dynasty, and to live out my remaining days."
Looking back, Song Tongzhi, the Privy Councilor, gathered heroes from Liangshan and roamed Hebei and Jiangnan with great prestige. However, he was also a man of great principle, knowing that the wilderness was not a place to stay for long. He promptly surrendered to the Celestial Dynasty, dedicated himself to the country, made countless contributions, brought glory to his ancestors, and was granted titles and honors to his wife and children.
Looking back today, Song Tongzhi, the Privy Councilor, was incredibly wise to lead the Liangshan heroes to accept the imperial pardon. Compared to those who resisted to the death and suffered disgrace, the difference was like night and day.
Even the Liangshan heroes, such as Song Tongzhi and the Privy Councilor, were able to realize their mistakes and return to the right path. How dare we, the pirates of the sea, remain stubbornly unenlightened?
The woman, a former pirate, once mingled among the sea pirates and saw that people like Zheng Long had no ambition, only knowing how to plunder and commit momentary violence, unaware that Heaven's justice was clear and the royal army was invincible. Relying on their superior ships, they dared to oppose the Great Song Dynasty, but they were like ants trying to shake a tree, courting their own destruction.
The criminal woman had long desired to be granted amnesty, but she had been hampered by a lack of opportunity and good fortune.
If Your Majesty would grant us a sliver of hope, we, the sinful women, are willing to act as your inside agents, luring the barbarian pirates into a trap, and helping the royal army to wipe out the sea pirates in one fell swoop. We are even more willing to surrender with our people, offering all our ships and weapons, so that the seas may be pacified for thousands of miles, and merchants may travel freely without hindrance.
In this way, the sinful woman can both avenge her past shame and serve the Song Dynasty with utmost loyalty; this is her greatest wish.
In this life, perhaps influenced by "Water Margin", or perhaps because Song Jiang and his gang (especially Song Jiang) were indeed capable, Zhao Yu valued Song Jiang and the Liangshan heroes highly. This has led to Song Jiang now being promoted to the position of Privy Councilor, holding the prestigious position of Junior Guardian, a high-ranking official of the second rank, and, most importantly, having real power, making him a true prime minister.
The key point is that Song Jiang is only in his fifties, which is far too young for someone in politics. He is so young that it is possible for him to become prime minister in the future.
Most of the Liangshan heroes who accepted the imperial pardon along with Song Jiang have now been given important positions.
Wu Yong, for example, was stationed in Japan and had already become a powerful regional official.
Guan Sheng, Yang Zhi, and others are now generals who hold military power.
More importantly, nearly one-third of the Song Dynasty's navy was in the hands of the Liangshan faction.
Looking at it this way, it's clear how right Song Jiang was to lead the Liangshan heroes to accept the imperial amnesty.
In modern parlance, this would be described as: "To gain official position, one must commit murder and arson and then accept amnesty."
It's no wonder that Shi Honggu wanted to emulate Song Jiang.
As for Shi Honggu's desire to submit to Zhao Yu, it was even simpler. She wanted to find a powerful backer.
Then let me ask you this: not to mention the entire Song Dynasty, but even in the entire world, is there anyone with a greater backer than Zhao Yu?
Therefore, Shi Honggu is truly a heroine among women, the kind of woman who could be the subject of a movie in the future.
Zhao Yu naturally accepted this.
Why wouldn't Zhao Yu be happy to have female pirates, solve the problem of piracy, and promote maritime trade?
Most importantly, the Bodhisattva lowers his brows, while the Vajra glares fiercely.
There is a dialogue like this in "Nirvana in Fire".
Mei Changsu explained his strategies and tactics to Prince Jing, saying, "Look at this man in my courtyard, his name is Tong Lu. He is responsible for all my communications with the outside world, and I trust him completely. However, I have left his mother in Langzhou to take care of her. So it's two sides of the same coin. I entrust Tong Lu with important responsibilities and trust him completely, which is my sincerity; I leave his family in my hands as a precaution, which is my tactic."
The underlying logic between people and between nations is often like this.
Why was Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, born in Handan, the capital of Zhao?
Isn't it because he was once a hostage?
Grasping both carrots and sticks at the same time doesn't feel out of place.
Don't forget, even when a Bodhisattva lowers his head, there must be a Vajra glaring beside him.
Experts understand the complexities of human nature.
Many factors can cause a person to change their mind and do something unexpected.
Therefore, experts often have two plans:
First, I am sincerely good to you;
Secondly, if you act against your original intentions, I still have leverage and means to restrain you.
Isn't using underhanded tactics a bit too insidious?
of course not.
Because this is the art of emperors.
Zhao Yu could trust in a person's kindness, but he also wouldn't underestimate the evil in human nature. Otherwise, why would the old saying go, "One should not have the heart to harm others, but one must have the heart to guard against others"?
Objectively speaking, this is human nature.
Zhao Yu had watched "Nirvana in Fire" and had been emperor for over twenty years, leading the Song Dynasty from the brink of death to its current status as a dominant power sweeping across Northeast Asia.
How could Zhao Yu not understand that no matter how well or eloquently Shi Honggu spoke, he could not completely believe her?
Therefore, Zhao Yu took Shi Honggu in and sent people to bring Shi Honggu and the families of all the Tanka thieves who participated in the operation to Hangzhou for a short stay.
After that, Zhao Yu summoned Li Jun and tasked him with eliminating the pirates along with Shi Honggu and Yuwen Xuzhong. He promised a generous reward if the task was successful, but punishment if it failed.
After three months of planning and coordination, dozens of pirate groups, totaling over 100,000 people and thousands of ships, gathered at Daxingyu Island.
This island guards a vital passage between Fujian and Guangdong. Its towering mountains provide ideal shelter for ships and troops, making it the perfect location chosen by foreign bandits to join forces and attack Srivijaya.
While pretending to discuss the division of spoils after conquering Srivijaya with the leader of the bandits, Shi Honggu secretly drew up a map of the bandits' defenses, grain storage locations, and warship anchorages, and sent it to the spies sent by Yuwen Xuzhong.
Knowing that the foreign bandits were suspicious, Shi Honggu deliberately advocated "first defeating the Song Dynasty's Quanzhou navy, then planning to conquer Srivijaya" in order to draw a clear line between herself and the Song Dynasty and gain the trust of the bandit leader.
On the other hand, Li Jun had already dispatched the six southeastern naval forces to gather in the Penghu Islands, silently blocking all the sea outlets of Daxingyu Island.
On the day of the decisive battle, the sea breeze was fierce, the tide was calm, and the shore was wide.
Over a thousand Song Dynasty warships arrived in the waters off Daxing Island in the dark, their masts like a forest, their armor frosted with dew, yet there was not a sound of human voices.
On the watchtower of the flagship "Nanjing", Li Jun held a telescope and stared at the brightly lit anchorage of pirate ships on the south side of the island. At midnight, he ordered a fierce attack on Daxingyu Island according to the plan he had made with Shi Honggu.
In an instant, the Song army warships covering the sea all sailed toward Daxing Island. At the same time, the portholes on the sides of the ships opened, and the menacing muzzles of the black and shiny Li Lin cannons were suddenly revealed.
These Li Lin cannons were all new firearms improved by the Ministry of Works under Li Lin's orders. The cannon bodies were cast with high-quality steel, the caliber was thicker, the barrel was longer, and the range and power were far superior to the old Li Lin cannons.
Soon, the Song Dynasty's warships were arranged in groups of three, forming a triangular formation, with their cannons pointed directly at the mountains and anchorage of Daxing Island.
"Ignite it—fire!"
With a series of thunderous commands, sparks flew from the cannon barrels, and thousands of exploding shells streaked through the air, hurtling towards the island's shore.
The bandit stronghold nestled in the mountains exploded with a bang, its wooden walls and stone walls crumbling like paper, and the stored grain and fodder were set ablaze, billowing thick smoke straight into the sky.
Pirate ships in the anchorage had no way to avoid being hit; shells blasted through the decks, turning the sleeping pirates on the deck into bloody messes.
Before they could react, a second round of artillery fire followed.
The bandit leader realized he was under attack and ordered his warships to weigh anchor and break out of the encirclement.
In the chaos, the pirate groups were too busy to take care of themselves. Their oars collided and their masts and sails became entangled, turning the vast anchorage into a complete mess in an instant.
Only Shi Honggu, who had received prior notice, led the Tanka thieves and, just before the cannons were fired, sailed away from Daxingyu in their own boats, flying the flag of the Great Song Dynasty.
When the Tanka thieves reached a safe area and looked back, they saw flames soaring into the sky over Daxing Island. The fire was fueled by the wind, and the wind fanned the flames, making it seem as if the entire Daxing Island was shrouded in terrifying artillery fire, with the sea glowing red across the sky.
Seeing this, many Tanka thieves were filled with lingering fear.
If it weren't for the fact that their leader, Shi Honggu, was favored by the imperial court and decisively accepted the court's offer of amnesty, they might have perished in the fire right now.
After the Tanka bandits retreated to a safe place, the Song Dynasty navy continued to fire, the muzzle flashes forming a continuous line, like a galaxy falling onto the sea.
Those pirate ships that attempted to break out from the east, west, and north had only sailed a short distance when they ran into the chain of iron chains that the Song army had already laid out. The ships were hooked by the iron chains and could not move. They were then bombarded into dust by the ensuing artillery fire.
A few fast boats that managed to break through the iron chains were caught up by the Song Dynasty navy lying in ambush on the perimeter. The red-coated cannons fired at close range, destroying the boats and killing all the crew members.
As the sun rose high in the sky, the artillery fire gradually subsided.
The waters off Daxingyu Island were littered with corpses and thick smoke; more than 100,000 pirates were either dead or captured, and thousands of warships were reduced to charred remains.
The Song soldiers stood at the bow of the ship, facing the howling sea wind, looking at the sea surface stained red with blood, and shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor!" The sound echoed through the sea and sky.
The Tanka thieves watched all of this quietly as spectators.
Soon, the good news reached Hangzhou.
Emperor Zhao Yu issued an imperial edict ordering all pirates, along with their families, to be hanged in Guangzhou and Qiongzhou ports as a warning to others.
This matter not only caused a great stir in the Song Dynasty, but also spread to the Southeast Asian Peninsula, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, making those who wanted to become pirates dare not operate in the waters of the Song Dynasty.
Next, Zhao Yu overruled the objections of the crowd and, based on the merits rendered by the Tanka rebels, appointed Shi Honggu as the Commandant of the Pacification of the Seas, a rank of seventh grade, in charge of patrolling the waters of Fujian and Guangdong. All the Tanka people under her command were incorporated into the Song Dynasty navy, known as the "Pacification of the Seas Camp," and stationed at two fortresses, Daxing Island and the Penghu Islands.
The Tanka people were already skilled swimmers, and they quickly became a formidable force in the southeastern coastal defense.
Incidentally, Zhao Yu did not take Shi Honggu into his harem, but after she became pregnant, he let her return to command the Jinghai Camp.
Zhao Yu did this for several reasons. First, he already had too many sons, so he didn't need Shi Honggu. Second, Shi Honggu preferred the sea and didn't want to be Zhao Yu's kept woman. Third, Zhao Yu wanted to have a descendant outside the royal family, just in case.
By the way, the Song Dynasty claimed to have killed all the pirates, but that was not actually the case.
For pirates who were willing to hand over their hidden gold, silver, jewels, and goods, the Song Dynasty not only spared their lives but also gave them 10% of the gold, silver, jewels, or goods, as well as the status of a law-abiding citizen, allowing them to live a comfortable life as wealthy men.
Because of this policy, the Song Dynasty not only didn't spend any money to suppress the pirates, but also made a fortune.
Apart from rewarding the soldiers who went into battle, the rest of the money went into Zhao Yu's private pocket.
From then on, there were no more large groups of pirates harassing the waters between Fujian and Guangdong, and merchant ships could travel freely. The already prosperous maritime trade became even more prosperous.
It is important to note that, after this incident, Zhao Yu suddenly realized the importance of the Strait of Srivijaya (also known as the Strait of Malacca).
The fact that such an important place was not under his control made Zhao Yu restless and unable to eat or sleep.
Therefore, Zhao Yu turned his attention to the Indochina Peninsula and Southeast Asia...
...(End of chapter)