Chapter 56: Waiting Respectfully for the Arrival of Director Liu

  （0056）

  Zhang Zhun originally thought that the other party might be someone from Zheng Yiguan's side. Xue Zhi Die can build ships and has some connection with these pirate leaders, the largest pirate leader in the southern coastal area is naturally Zheng Zhilong, although he has already accepted the amnesty of Xiong Wenchang. It was just unexpected that the one who would capture Xue Zhi Die would be Liu Xiang. Speaking of which, Zhang Zhun had some understanding of the grudges between Zheng Zhilong and Liu Xiang when he occasionally flipped through street stall magazines in his previous life.

  Liu Xiang was also a pirate leader active in the southeastern coastal areas, and had poor relations with Zheng Zhilong, Yan Siqi, Yang Tianxing and others. Later, he even defected to the Dutch and served as a vanguard for the Dutch expansion in East Asia. With the support of the Dutch, Liu Xiang's strength expanded rapidly, almost catching up with Zheng Zhilong.

  Zheng Zhilong harbored a deep hatred for Liu Xiang, taking action multiple times to thoroughly eliminate him, but was unable to catch him. Liu Xiang's strength wasn't originally considered strong, but with the support of the Dutch, his influence on Taiwan Island was quite large, frequently raiding the Fujian coast and infuriating the Fujian Governor Zhou Weixian, who gathered Zheng Zhilong and others to launch a massive siege against Liu Xiang.

  However, with the help of the Dutch, Liu Xiang finally escaped from the siege and continued to wreak havoc in the southeastern coastal areas. It wasn't until May of Chongzhen's 8th year that both sides clashed fiercely in the waters off Guangdong's Tianwei Island, where Liu Xiang was defeated and killed, bringing an end to the intense battle. In this battle, Zheng Zhilong's younger brother, Zheng Zhihu, also unfortunately died, making the cost of victory quite high.

  This year is the seventh year of Chongzhen, and Liu Xiang should still be active in the surrounding areas of Taiwan, continuing to serve as a pawn for the Dutch. Zheng Zhilong had already accepted the imperial court's amnesty and hung up the flag of the Ming naval forces, he always considered Fujian as his own territory, so naturally he could not tolerate Liu Xiang coming to harass him, therefore, the relationship between the two was extremely tense, and whenever they met on the sea, they would definitely engage in a bloody battle.

  Liu Xiang's people actually ran to Shandong, it's really a strange thing.

  How could Xue Zhī Dié and her companion have any connection with Liu Xiang who was thousands of miles away?

  Zhang Zhun sneered and said bluntly, "Sorry, I don't know any Liu Da General Manager."

  Rubink was furious and wanted to say something, but found it wasn't good to say. Now both sides were fighting, a life-and-death situation, what else could be said? Even so, Rubink couldn't help but say: "You don't know our General Liu, that's okay, we will completely destroy this place! At that time, you will naturally recognize our general! I'm telling you, if you don't hand over those two women, within three months, our fleet will flatten this place!"

  Zhang Zhun tilted his head back and laughed loudly, saying disdainfully: "In that case, I'll wait respectfully for the arrival of General Liu's great presence!"

  Rubing was both angry and anxious, unable to believe that Zhang Zhun was not even afraid of Liu Xiang. The opponent was neither soft nor hard, yet he had the upper hand, which was unprecedented. In his desperation, he raised his spear and charged fiercely at Zhang Zhun. He wanted to capture Zhang Zhun first and turn the tide of the battle around.

  Zhang Zhun smiled and said: "This is the right way! What's the point of saying so much nonsense?"

  With a flick of his trident, he charged towards Rubink.

  In the blink of an eye, the two were entwined together.

  Rubin is after all a pirate leader, and his hand-to-hand combat skills are still quite impressive. The spear in his hand is wielded with great agility. Zhang Zhun wants to defeat him, but it's not that easy. However, Zhang Zhun is not in a hurry at all. Because the battle between the guards and the pirates has almost come to an end, and there are at least twenty pirate corpses lying on the beach.

  According to the battle plan formulated earlier, Yang Zhiyuan and Hao Linyong led their respective teams to launch a frontal assault, forcing the pirates to retreat to the sea. Yin Fengyi and Zou Mingjia led their respective teams to encircle the pirates from both sides, dividing them into separate groups. The remaining bodyguards followed Yang Qiang and others to insert from the flank, bypassing the rocks and appearing on the side of the pirates.

  This is going to split the pirates and annihilate them one by one.

  Concentrate superior forces, annihilate the enemy one by one. Even in such a small-scale battle, this can be applied. The pirates who were split up immediately suffered multiple attacks from long spears and tridents. Those who escaped the first wave of attack could not escape the second wave of attack.

  The formation of the pirates was soon disrupted by Yang Zhiyuan and others. This was intentional. Only in a melee could the triangular spear of the guardsmen be most effective. The pirates, after abandoning their firearms that were not loaded in time, used only short blades, about twenty centimeters long, half as long as the triangular spear.

  Such a weapon is suitable for use in narrow cabins, and can also be conveniently held in the mouth, even when diving. However, once ashore, such a weapon is not very useful. Encountering a strange weapon like the trident, it's clear that one cannot gain the upper hand, especially when caught off guard by the guards.

  Rubinck was also too careless and didn't think that there would be a guard squad like this, the pirates were not mentally prepared at all, and as soon as they started fighting, they were at a disadvantage. If they had made some preparations beforehand, the pirates' guns wouldn't have been completely useless. In the end, it was still because the pirates were too careless.

  They have been living on the ocean for years, landing wherever they want, and no one can stop them. Even the regular Ming army is not their opponent. Unless they encounter Zheng Zhilong's fleet. Who would have thought that someone would try to wrap their dumplings here?

  This group of people is simply crazy!

  That's right, they're all crazy!

  They had no feud with the pirates, yet they charged forward fearlessly, brandishing their tridents.

  This strange weapon, if not careful, would be stabbed and bleed endlessly. In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen pirates fell to the ground. They lay on the beach, covering their wounds in pain, staring blankly as their blood slowly flowed out, and then slowly lost consciousness.

  What's even more detestable is that the guards had a complete advantage in numbers, and they didn't feel ashamed of taking on fewer people with more. The coordination between the three-man and five-man teams of the guards was also exceptionally outstanding. The pirates fought individually, although valiantly, but being at a disadvantage in terms of numbers and surrounded, they were quickly defeated and routed.

  "Fall back!"

  "Recall the ship!"

  Rubinck realized something was amiss and hastily ordered a retreat.

  The remaining pirates hastily jumped into the sea and swam hard towards the ship, without even wanting a lifeboat.

  There's no way, taking a punt would definitely take too much time.

  These freaks of the guard are too ruthless, each and every one of them is a master who doesn't care about their own life. If they run slightly slower, it's a fatal outcome. The pirates are also human, they also cherish their lives, who would want to stay on shore and die for nothing?

  The pirates retreated by swimming, and the guards immediately boarded the boats to pursue them at sea. In terms of swimming skills, the guards were indeed inferior to the pirates and had to use boats to catch up. Yang Qiang, Yang Zhuyu, and Hao Linyong's movements were quick, and they occupied three boats. As for the others, they could only watch from the shore.

  Yang Zixuan led the way, collecting all the firearms and searching for ammunition on the pirates' bodies. The use of firearms was not a secret to them, they all understood that much, and after mutual polishing, they actually figured it out. Not long after, all thirteen guns were reloaded with ammunition.

  The target of the rifle's aim was, of course, Rubink.

  Rubin has been haunted by Zhang Zhun and cannot escape.

  When he could have escaped, he suddenly found that the breath of death had completely enveloped him - the muzzles of thirteen rifles were uniformly aimed at him.

  "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

  A string of explosions, waves of black smoke rising, thirteen fire guns firing in succession.

  Rubin tried to avoid the gunfire by running fast and making agile dodges, but his luck was apparently not as good as Zhang's. Because Yang Zixuan had enough time to speculate on the direction he might escape from, and arranged for the shotgun to fire at different angles. Unfortunately, there were no effective obstacles around Rubin on the vast beach.

  "Pffft!"

  Rubin's thigh was hit.

  He was running at full speed and lost control of his body, falling headfirst onto the sandy beach.

  "Reload and continue firing."

  Zhang Zhun retreated back to Yang Zixuan's side and calmly said.

  The guardsmen reloaded their muskets.

  They have plenty of time and aren't in a hurry.

  Rubin, who had fallen to the ground, struggled to get up on the beach, but found that his thigh was bleeding profusely and he couldn't move vigorously. Under helplessness, he could only sit up halfway, staring fiercely at Zhang Zhun, shouting hysterically: "Don't be smug! Liu Dazong will avenge me! At that time, you will all die! All of you will die!"

  Thirteen rifles were aimed at him once again.

  Zhang Zhun smiled and nodded slightly.

  "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

  It was another intense burst of gunfire, like a string of firecrackers exploding in rapid succession.

  Rubin's body was like a red dye house, with fresh blood gushing out. Then he fell silently to the ground. Being shot by thirteen guns at the same time, even if it were Daluo Golden Immortal, would be unbearable. Not being beaten into a pulp was already lucky.

  Zhang walked over, took a look at Rubink's wound, and then came back, carefully examining the three different rifles. He looked puzzled and said, "Can someone tell me what's different about these three rifles compared to others? The power of these three rifles is much greater than other rifles."

  Yang Zixuan and others were unable to respond.

  Zhang Zhun could only disappointingly suppress his inner doubts.