Zhu Mo had made up his mind.
Rather than wait for the Portuguese to make a move, it was better to strike first.
The next day, he immediately brought his personal guards and arrived at Hulu Mountain Water Village at noon, then took a boat to Daolichu Mountain outside Lichang Port.
At this time,
This place had already transformed from a dozen artillery points into a base with a cluster of batteries, personally guarded by Lin Mingguo. The soldiers had also built housing, stored large quantities of grain and ammunition. The soldiers had grown to over four hundred, and the cannons had increased to thirty, completely blocking the Lichang Port channel, making it difficult for even a fish to swim out.
Before long, Yu Dayou and Zheng Qin also arrived from the Caihua Mountain area to the north. After several months since their last battle, their reunion was filled with emotion and merriment.
After laughing for a while, Yu Dayou also considered the difficulty of the ultimatum, lamenting:
"Scholar Zhu, if you hadn't come, it would have been truly difficult... The Governor's yamen sent someone to the navy with that ultimatum yesterday. I was worried something would happen, so I personally went to guard Caihua Mountain... Heh, Scholar Zhu, this isn't the first time this has happened in the Great Ming. No matter what they say, you don't need to take it too much to heart..."
With that,
He wore an expression of disdain mixed with detachment.
"Mm-hmm,"
Lin Mingguo chimed in:
"Scholar Zhu, they called us warmongers and talked about private wars... Hah, you don't need to take it to heart! Back then, they said about General Yu, it was truly laughable! What did they say? They said General Yu's wife was a pirate, and that General Yu killed merchants to claim merit, and that Shuangyu Port was a place of trade, which General Yu destroyed, thus provoking the retaliation of the pirates... Oh, there was so much more!"
"Haha,"
Yu Dayou recalled his numerous ups and downs; this was the seventh time. He couldn't help but find the situation so absurd that he actually laughed and said,
"Yes, back then, when General Lin and General Chen and I attacked Shuangyu Port together and captured Wang Zhi, the imperial court was clamoring for action! We were very puzzled at the time, why would fighting the Japanese pirates be wrong? We couldn't comprehend it for a long time...
As you said, it's still true. These Japanese pirates are actually the private soldiers of the powerful officials of various countries! We fought their private soldiers and cut off their financial resources. It's good enough that we're still alive! Hahaha..."
"Hahahaha,"
"Yes, yes."
The officers and soldiers all expressed their feelings. After fighting so many battles and killing so many Japanese pirates over ten to twenty years, yet achieving no merit? Where could they go to reason about this?
Zhu Mo shook his head and sighed,
"They all say that the rectification of names is a great matter for the empire... I only truly understand this feeling in the past few days. Japanese pirates, Japanese pirates, it is precisely because their status is undefined that so many inverted things occur... This time, let us exert ourselves once more and settle the status of these Japanese pirates!"
He immediately picked up paper and brush, hurriedly wrote a document, and handed it to Lin Mingguo, saying, "General Lin, send someone to the island immediately to deliver this. Specifically request that Okamura Sumitada receive it personally."
Yu Dayou, Zheng Qin, and Lin Mingguo glanced at it and asked in surprise, "Scholar Zhu, what is this?"
Zhu Mo smiled faintly and said,
"This is also an ultimatum..."
"Oh?"
"Another ultimatum?"
"What is it for?"
The three leaned closer to read, seeing that it stated:
"Great Ming Fujian Maritime Navy Ultimatum:
Lichang Port has been Chinese territory since ancient times. The illegal occupation of a fine port by various countries is a sin that shall not be discussed for now. Recently, the Portuguese Kingdom's ultimatum demands the release of merchants and civilians on the island. The Fujian Maritime Navy has investigated and found that while there may be so-called merchants and civilians, there are many more pirates. We now officially inform Okamura Sumitada, the de facto controller of Lichang Port:
First, immediately hand over all individuals who have committed crimes within our territory;
Second, Okamura Sumitada and his close associates, along with the bandits, have invaded our country, constituting war crimes. They are hereby ordered to surrender immediately at Zhenhai Guard;
Third, all individuals on the island, if they are genuine merchants and civilians without guilt, may receive permits after verification, and can continue their trade. Otherwise, they will be expelled.
If Okamura Sumitada and his subordinates have not surrendered two hours after the delivery of this ultimatum, the celestial army will arrive. It will then be too late to regret. Great Ming Fujian Maritime Navy."
The three were momentarily unable to comprehend, and exchanged glances. But military orders were like mountains, and Lin Mingguo immediately dispatched someone in a small boat.
Zhu Mo did not wish to explain further. He rejoined the others and stood on a battery a few Zhang from the sea, looking out. He saw the small boat moving slowly, gradually entering the channel.
Yu Dayou seemed to have guessed something and tentatively asked,
"Scholar Zhu, what do you mean by the status of Japanese pirates? Aren't they just bandits?"
Lin Mingguo was also confused, looking at him with anticipation.
Zhu Mo said calmly,
"The Portuguese, and of course other countries, want us to release innocent people. Heh, but how many innocent people and how many bandits are there on this island? If we call them 'Japanese pirates,' they play dumb and claim they are merchants... Then let's clarify it for them once and for all, whether these people are murderers and arsonists, or merchants and traders.
Those who commit murder and arson have violated the Great Ming's criminal law, and all will be tried and convicted. The genuine mountain people and island residents, of course, will be released."
"But how to try them?"
Yu Dayou and Lin Mingguo thought this matter might not be easy. If the Japanese pirates refused to speak, it would indeed be difficult.
Zhu Mo sneered and said calmly,
"Send them to Zhenhai Guard first. I have my own methods."
If it were in the past, with a young man speaking so confidently, veterans like Yu Dayou and Lin Mingguo would never have believed him, even if they were beaten to death. But after experiencing so much, this young man always surprised them. If he dared to say so, he likely had a clever plan.
Lin Mingguo asked again,
"What if Okamura does not respond after two hours? What then? Are we really going to fight?"
"Then we can only forcefully board the island to apprehend the criminals. Remember, this is called apprehending criminals, not war. It is the Fujian Maritime Navy assisting the imperial envoy in apprehending criminals."
...
Soon,
Two hours passed. There was still no movement at the end of the channel.
Zhu Mo immediately lost his patience, thinking angrily, "I gave you a chance, and you didn't take it. Don't blame me for being unmerciful later!"
"General Lin, General Yu, attack!"
"Lichang Port criminals resist arrest, Fujian Maritime Navy forcibly boards the island to apprehend them!"
"Yes, and this way, General Lin, take them in batches. Let's catch two hundred people first. If there are more, Zhenhai Guard won't have room to house them!"
Yu Dayou nodded, thinking: You're still trying to drag this out...
The two immediately directed their forces to act. Yu Dayou returned to Caihua Mountain and led a fleet to enter the channel from the north. During the blockade, Zhu Mo had issued a strict order:
Pirate warships are not allowed to leave their posts, nor are armed personnel allowed to board them. Otherwise, they will be immediately sunk.
Therefore,
Although the pirate water village still had over a hundred warships, they were empty. The armed personnel were all waiting on the wharf. However, the navy did not enter the channel when they were idle, but rather maintained a blockade on the periphery. The pirates felt deeply humiliated and pained by this.