Chapter 254: Resisting the Japanese Pirates
The identity of a prince is always a warning sign, no matter where it’s displayed.
As soon as the Eldest Prince arrived at Donghai Commandery, he demanded to see Cao Ji.
He entered the Donghai Commandery’s capital city and stayed in the prefect’s office residence, just like Cheng Yuan.
The Donghai Commandery’s capital city isn’t far from the seaport—only about ten li (roughly five kiloters).
That short a distance—if Cao Ji wanted to co, he could ride a horse and be there within half a day.
As for the Eldest Prince’s request to et Cao Ji, even if Cao Ji was reluctant to leave the military camp, he couldn’t behave like he did with Cheng Yuan—showing up only on the day of the welco banquet. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be considered disrespectful; under the Laws of Great Wei, it could an implicating three generations of his family!
When those with guilty consciences heard that the Eldest Prince wanted to et Cao Ji, they beca even more anxious and uneasy.
Who in Donghai Commandery doesn’t know Cao Ji?
General Cao is the head of their entire criminal syndicate!
Everyone already suspected that the official delegation’s intention was “not good.” They were on high alert, wary of investigations, afraid that the visitors would find so evidence. Then suddenly, the official delegation sent a prince himself, accompanied by a group of soldiers, who specifically nad Cao Ji and requested to et their head. Who wouldn’t be panicked by that?
If they hadn’t found anything suspicious, why would they demand to see their leader by na?
The Prefect and others wanted to help Cao Ji dodge the summons, using excuses like the security of the mariti border, or that as a general Cao Ji couldn’t leave the camp without permission, in hopes of blocking the Eldest Prince’s eting request.
However, the Eldest Prince coldly dismissed these reasons, arrogantly insisting that as a prince, doesn’t he even have the right to see a general? The tens of thousands of naval troops guarding the mariti frontier—would they fail to hold their ground just because Cao Ji wasn't there? Is Cao Ji really so indispensable? Are the other commanders only there to mouth empty slogans without regard for the Imperial Court?
His arrogance and domineering attitude left the officials ashad at their faces.
Everyone knew the Eldest Prince said those things on purpose.
He was speaking to the officials and also sending a clear ssage to Cao Ji, who was still ten li away.
Now that the Eldest Prince had made his stance so clear, if the officials didn’t want to directly brand Cao Ji with the charge of rebellion, their only choice was to relay the ssage to Cao Ji so that he could figure out a way to handle this himself.
What could Cao Ji possibly do upon hearing this?
If he wanted to counter the Eldest Prince’s “unreasonable” summons and openly justify why he couldn’t leave the camp, the only thing he could do was to prove his indispensability as a general.
So Cao Ji staged a “naval resistance against the Japanese pirates”!
Right in front of the Eldest Prince and Cheng Yuan!
On the very night the ssage reached him, coincidentally, Japanese pirates attacked the mariti border!
You ask, since the Japanese pirates ca for a surprise attack, would the navy just stand by?
Of course not—they had to resist the pirates!
As a naval commander, at such a critical mont, Cao Ji naturally had to fight alongside his soldiers against the Japanese pirates.
When war cos, as a general, what could be more important than fighting, defending the territory, and protecting the people?
All else must co after that!
So, sorry, Eldest Prince, about your request to see him—it's not that Cao Ji is unwilling, but he’s really tied down by urgent matters.
Cao Ji openly orchestrated fighting the Japanese pirates as a justification.
This childish trick not only infuriated the Eldest Prince to the point of laughter but even Cheng Yuan thought Cao Ji had beco dull-witted from holding power too long.
They all knew that the Eldest Prince ca to investigate their corruption, bribery, and collusion with the Japanese pirates. Yet this fool, at such a critical mont, didn’t distance himself from the pirates. Worse, he even contacted them to stage this farce?!
Did he really think they wouldn’t find evidence?
Although Cheng Yuan was annoyed by Cao Ji’s stunt, he was the first to openly step up, declaring they too were here to resist the Japanese pirates and willing to support General Cao!
Resisting the pirates was everyone’s duty in Great Wei.
With righteousness and imperial mandate on their side, upon hearing that Cao Ji was resisting the Japanese pirates, Cheng Yuan didn’t even notify Cao Ji but imdiately led his troops, boarding warships, and appeared at the harbor.
A dark swarm of warships appeared at the seaport, imposing and magnificent. The sails and masts rattled in the wind, leaving Cao Ji’s navy soldiers dumbfounded.
Cao Ji, who had just been relieved having dodged the Eldest Prince’s summons, was stunned when he heard that Cheng Yuan had shown up at the harbor. Anger welled up in his chest!
He sensed trouble and hurried to the seaport to intercept Cheng Yuan.
Unfortunately, Cao Ji underestimated Cheng Yuan’s shalessness and determination to seize every opportunity to probe the navy’s strength. By the ti Cao Ji arrived, all he saw was a dark line of warships surging out of the harbor.
Cao Ji felt like he was about to vomit blood!
He had been thinking about how to deal with the Eldest Prince but forgot that Cheng Yuan, under the flag of “clearing out the Japanese pirates,” was lurking nearby with eager eyes watching their military camp!
Wasn’t this exactly the chance the shaless whelp was looking for?
Cheng Yuan seized the opportunity without letting go.
Relying on Cao Ji’s “resistance against the Japanese pirates” act, he ventured out of the harbor, observed the naval vessels at the seaport, understood the mariti terrain nearby, and at sunset, fought alongside Cao Ji’s navy in a genuine battle against the Japanese pirates.
The Japanese pirates ca from the sea, presumably from so island, but since Cheng Yuan had been cruising near the area all day, Cao Ji never actually contacted the pirates to inform them of the situation.
So that day’s resistance was truly “twilight and arrow feathers flew together; blood mixed with the endless sky”—a stunning performance.
In front of Cao Ji, without using any gunpowder packets, Cheng Yuan achieved a great victory: he killed over half the Japanese pirates and seized more than a dozen of their ships.
Cheng Yuan was thrilled; Cao Ji’s face was as dark as coal.
Because after resisting the pirates, Cheng Yuan even docked his fleet on the other side of the harbor.
No matter what Cao Ji said, Cheng Yuan only responded with one line: “We are all allies, all here to fight the Japanese pirates. The pirates are rampant and ruthless. We are concerned for your safety and are willing to resist the pirates together with you!”
What a load of nonsense about resisting the pirates!
Cheng Yuan’s righteous deanor only highlighted Cao Ji’s pain from a failed sche that cost him dearly.
One misstep allowed the enemy deep into their camp, but worse, how was he supposed to secretly contact the Japanese pirates now that Cheng Yuan was there too?
The sea was empty; any boat that ca by would be obvious!
Now the Japanese pirates suffered such heavy losses—these brainless fools would only go more berserk next.
Cao Ji was genuinely frustrated and troubled.
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