Mo Sang – CH 360

Extra Chapter – The Birth of a Maritime Overlord

A sky full of starlight spilled across the boundless sea. In the distance, a dark, rocky island resembled a lurking monster, holding its breath.

A rocket rose from the sea, whistling as it plunged into the island, followed by another.

The continuous barrage of rockets struck the island, awakening the lurking monster in agony. Fires blazed on the island, lights shone, and then a cacophony of activity erupted as ships rushed out of the harbor.

In the darkness surrounding the island, lanterns rapidly rose from the masts of the ships, torches flickering erratically.

Screams and screams spread from the island, mingling with the roar of the waves and the cries of seagulls, echoing in all directions.

Far away, a fleet of silent warships lay anchored, rows of archers standing guard at their bows.

Surrounding the warships were several large ships with towering overhead cranes, one of which had an exceptionally high and large crane.

Gu Xi stood behind Li Sangrou, observing the large group of ships maneuvering and fighting around the reef island.

“How’s it going?” Li Sangrou reached back and patted Gu Xi with the back of her hand, asking with a smile.

“It’s got some strategy,” Gu Xi said, placing his hand on Li Sangrou’s shoulder. “The Ma sisters’ ability to manipulate people is better than their fighting skills.”

Li Sangrou glanced at Gu Xi sideways.

This encirclement and suppression operation was actually his idea!

The powerful clans and pirates in the southwest region colluded, working together from within and without. The numerous islands along the coast, with their complex terrain, made governance extremely difficult. With the Ma sisters acting as their naval collaborators, General Yang decided to first eliminate the pirates.

How to best eliminate them all in one fell swoop? General Yang specifically traveled to Fuzhou to consult Gu Xi in person, only to be bluntly rebuffed by Gu Xi.

Gu Xi was a founding general who had pacified the country. Now that the realm was roughly at peace, he needed to keep his dragon-slaying sword hidden, enjoying the tranquility. To draw it again would be extremely unlucky.

General Yang was both amused and exasperated by Gu Xi’s retort. Upon reflection, he realized Gu Xi was quite right.

The leader, Eldest Lady Ma, having received news from Li Sangrou, brought her sister, the second leader, to see General Yang and request permission to lead the charge in this purge.

General Yang considered it for a few moments and agreed.

He commanded two naval forces, one overt and one covert. To ensure a swift and clean victory, leading with the covert force of the Ma clan was indeed the most advantageous approach.

With the cooperation of General Yang’s navy and supplies from various places on land, in just over half a month, Chief Ma, employing a variety of methods, scattered, crippled, and wiped out thirty or forty gangs of varying sizes at sea. More than half were either killed or absorbed, and the remaining small portion was all driven into the Jiaolong Gang.

Under Chief Ma’s covert command and arrangement, the Jiaolong Gang, now numerous and powerful, had become the largest and only major gang at sea.

This direct confrontation with the Jiaolong Gang was Gu Xi’s idea.

With this resounding victory of defeating a superior force with a smaller one, Chief Ma’s status as the maritime overlord was firmly established and elevated.

“Qiao An led his five hundred Yunmeng Guards to annihilate four or five thousand barbarians; that’s roughly how it happened.” Gu Xi clicked his tongue again.

Although this victory of the Ma family gang against the Jiaolong Gang, a victory of the smaller force, was Gu Xi’s idea, he had still scorned it countless times.

The Ma family gang wasn’t large, but each member was a carefully selected elite soldier, honed for a year or two, their skills as sharp as an extension of their own limbs, and their fighting prowess formidable.

For the past six months, General Yang and various local authorities had jointly controlled the export of grain by sea. The Ma family gang had been provided with plenty of meat, vegetables, rice, and flour, while the Jiaolong gang had only enough seafood, leaving them half-starved for the next six months.

The Ma sisters’ warships were all built by the Yu family shipyard in Hangzhou, sturdy and fast, far superior to the Jiaolong gang’s numerous dilapidated vessels.

As for swords, spears, bows, and arrows, the Ma sisters possessed only the finest pieces.

“Isn’t that what you said? If you can crush them with a hundred thousand, you can’t use ninety-nine thousand,” Li Sangrou added with a smile, intently watching the battle.

“That’s true, but it’s a bit boring,” Gu Xi said, unfolding his folding fan and yawning to indicate his genuine boredom.

As dawn broke, the sun peeked over the horizon, its rays illuminating the sea and shimmering golden light on the waves.

“General Yang has taken a liking to this island?” Li Sangrou carefully examined the reef island belonging to the Jiaolong Gang.

“It’s a good place. There’s water, it’s big enough, it has a harbor, and the mountain in the middle is high enough. We could build a ring of huge stones around the shore and a watchtower on top…hmm, really nice. Shall we go up and take a look later?” Gu Xi smiled, observing the island closely.

Li Sangrou’s gaze shifted from the dozen or so fleeing ships to the vessels flying the Ma Family Gang’s flag, one after another approaching the shore. Then, her eyes narrowed as she looked closer at the sturdy ship surrounded by three Ma Family Gang warships.

The Ma Family Gang leader said she would kill Hou Qiang with her own hands.

On the boat surrounded by the Ma family gang’s three boats, Hou Qiang and Hou Cui stood side-by-side at the bow, knives in hand. Beside them, a dozen or so of their trusted men, covered in blood, gripped their knives and angrily glared at the Ma family gang surrounding them.

“Tieqian! My father saved you! The Hou family has been incredibly kind to you!” Hou Cui cried out in anguish upon seeing Tieqian on the opposite boat.

Tieqian merely swung his knife at her.

“Mother Yan! You want to kill me, don’t you? Come and kill me! I, Hou Qiang, will take responsibility for my actions! My sister has done nothing wrong to you!” Hou Qiang roared at the Ma family leader beside Hou Cui.

“My surname is Ma, not Yan. You are not worthy to know my name!” The Ma family leader looked from Hou Qiang to the blood-soaked Hou Cui, then to the cabin that Hou Qiang and Hou Cui were protecting.

Inside the cabin were their blood relatives, just like in the village back then—her parents, Elder Brother and sister-in-law, younger brother and sister…

“Bow.” Chief Ma sheathed her sword.

The female guard beside her handed Chief Ma a bow and arrow.

Chief Ma drew the bow, aimed at Hou Qiang, and released it.

The dark iron arrow pierced Hou Qiang’s face, penetrating his mouth and eyes, disappearing completely.

Hou Qiang fell backward onto the deck. Hou Cui screamed, clutching her knife, and knelt before him.

“Let them go,” Chief Ma glanced at Second Chief Ma and ordered.

Her revenge was complete. As for the Hou family and the countless lives the Heibei Jiaolong had taken, countless calamities lay ahead for them to pay for.

As the sun rose high in the sky, the Ma family’s dozens of large ships, laden with goods, unloaded their cargo from the rocky island, hoisted their sails, and sailed into the open sea.

General Yang’s navy surrounded them, capturing the remaining pirates and landing on the rocky island.

Li Sangrou’s and Gu Xi’s large ship slowly turned around and headed towards Hangzhou Bay.

A small boat, like a surfer riding the waves, sped towards the large ship on the undulating sea.

The large ship lowered a rope ladder. Hei Ma and Mazha boarded first, followed by Sister-in-law Yu, shipyard owner in Hangzhou, and finally Datou and Chuantiao, along with a dozen or so elite naval soldiers.

Li Sangrou had already come down from the watchtower and bent down to watch Sister-in-law Yu climb up the rope ladder. Seeing her board the ship, she smiled and said, “Well? Got a good look?”

Sister-in-law Yu waved frantically at Li Sangrou. “I was terrified! Boss, let me catch my breath! I was so scared!”

Gu Xi stood beside Li Sangrou, pouting at the pale-faced Sister-in-law Yu.

Li Sangrou had summoned Sister-in-law Yu to let her see how her ship performed in actual combat so she could improve it. Originally, she had Sister-in-law Yu accompany her from the watchtower, but Sister-in-law Yu said she couldn’t see clearly from there and needed to be as close as possible.

Li Sangrou granted her wish and sent her onto Chief Ma’s fleet.

“That young lady, when she came to see the ship, was so lovely…sigh! Just like Chief Ma, she looks like a beautiful young lady, but while Chief Ma doesn’t kill, she does…” Sister-in-law Yu waved again.

“Sister-in-law, a bowl of hot soup will do the trick.” Da Chang brought out a bowl of hot soup and handed it to Sister-in-law Yu.

Sister-in-law Yu took it, tasted it, and found the temperature just right. She drank it all in one gulp and immediately felt much better.

“Did you see it clearly?” Li Sangrou asked again with a smile.

“I saw it clearly, there are many things that need to be changed! Boss, where is this boat headed? I need to hurry back.” Sister-in-law Yu, having caught her breath, was eager to disembark.

“To your shipyard in Hangzhou. This is your boat too. Perfect timing. Go and check on the sailing. It’s not a favorable wind right now, but didn’t you say you could use the wind even when it’s not favorable? Go take a look.” Li Sangrou stepped back, gesturing to Sister-in-law Yu.

“This boat isn’t good enough?” Gu Xi leaned slightly closer to Li Sangrou, frowning as he asked.

“Hmm, not fast enough, not sturdy enough, not big enough. Once a truly good boat is built, we’ll go out to sea and let you unleash your dragon-slaying sword.” Li Sangrou laughed.

“How much money are we still short for road construction?” Gu Xi raised an eyebrow.

“A lot is still short, but we’ll earn the money back through business. With your sword, you can pave a path for trade. Then the world will be at peace, and we must win people over with virtue.” Li Sangrou patted Gu Xi with the back of her hand.

“Yes, yes, win people over with virtue!” Gu Xi laughed heartily.