In Zhoushan Dinghai Harbor, bells began clanging wildly.
The moment the alarm sounded, sailors dropped whatever they were holding. Some were repairing sails. Some were polishing gun barrels. Some were gambling in corners where they thought no officer would notice. All of them ran.
They rushed back to their barracks, pulled on uniforms at record speed, grabbed weapons and equipment, and stuffed a few personal treasures into their packs. A red thread charm from a fiancée. A pair of hand stitched insoles from a mother. A small wooden talisman engraved with Dao Xuan Tianzun's name.
Then they sprinted toward the grand parade ground.
Within an astonishingly short time, a massive formation had taken shape.
Gao Family Village sailors stood shoulder to shoulder with reformed pirates. Newly conscripted fishermen from coastal villages filled out the ranks. Five to six thousand men packed the square so tightly that from above it would have looked like a steel-gray sea.
The newest recruits had the weakest discipline.
Even after forming up, a few of them were still whispering.
"What happened?"
"Why such a huge mobilization?"
From the ranks of the reformed pirates, someone barked sharply.
"Greenhorns, shut your mouths! You think this is a fish market? If the officers hear you, that's fifty laps around the field."
The recruits immediately stiffened and fell silent.
A moment later, Jiang Cheng stepped onto the platform.
His voice rang out across the square.
"The Manchus are preparing to attack Pi Island. Pi Island is our dynasty's most critical base for harassing the Manchu heartland and checking Joseon. Pi Island must not fall."
He finished the sentence, but in his own heart he felt the weight of it.
He was not a legendary commander. Not some battlefield genius whose name made enemies tremble. He managed fleets competently, but he always felt that something was missing. Some spark.
If only Shi Lang and Zheng Sen would grow up faster, he thought. Those two boys carried something different in their bones.
Just then, a hand gently patted his shoulder.
Jiang Cheng turned.
Li Daoxuan had arrived.
Overjoyed, Jiang Cheng immediately stepped aside and yielded the platform.
Li Daoxuan faced the thousands of sailors.
"Gentlemen," he began calmly, "you are not ignorant foot soldiers. From the day you enlisted, our instructors taught you more than how to fire a cannon. You learned to read. To understand maps. To analyze politics. To comprehend the world."
The formation stood utterly still.
"You know what Pi Island means. If it falls, Joseon will become fully bound to the Qing. The Manchus will be freed from a strategic thorn in their side. They will attack our Great Ming with greater ease."
He paused briefly.
"For various reasons, we cannot yet engage the Manchus directly on land."
A ripple moved through the ranks.
"But at sea," Li Daoxuan continued, voice steady and firm, "we will not allow them even the slightest advantage."
The soldiers' spirits surged.
"We do not fear the Manchus!"
"Dao Xuan Tianzun protect us!"
Li Daoxuan raised his hand.
"All forces. Attack. Our destination is Pi Island. Strike the Manchu navy hard. Ensure Pi Island remains firmly in the hands of the Great Ming."
The roar that answered him seemed to shake the harbor itself.
"All forces, attack!"
The entire Zhoushan Dinghai Harbor exploded into motion.
Men ran toward assigned ships. Officers shouted. Ropes were cast off. Cannons were secured. Supply crates were hauled aboard.
Jiang Cheng sprinted toward the flagship Wanli Sunshine.
After only a few steps, Wang Zheng rushed up beside him and shoved something into his arms.
"Take this."
It was a marine chronometer.
Jiang Cheng nodded, cradled it carefully, and continued running.
Nearby, from a dry dock, a steam powered paddle wheeler rolled forward.
It was the Little White Two.
Built with all his strength and stubborn pride by Bai Gongzi.
Bai Gongzi stood at the bow, waving enthusiastically.
"Instructor Jiang! Take my ship too!"
Jiang Cheng blinked. "Is the Little White Two battle ready?"
Bai Gongzi scratched his head. "I honestly don't know. That's why you should take it. Let it see real combat."
Jiang Cheng hesitated for only a second. "Fine."
Bai Gongzi jumped ashore, leaving behind a crew of test sailors.
The sailors looked conflicted. They had hoped to serve aboard celestial vessels directly blessed by Dao Xuan Tianzun. Instead, they were assigned to a mortal built steam contraption that still rattled when turning.
They grumbled quietly.
Then they saw Li Daoxuan walking along the dock.
Without warning, he leaped into the sea.
He cut through the water like a silver arrow, reached the Little White Two in moments, and sprang from the surface in a clean arc, landing on deck with a splash of spray.
The sailors froze in shock, then snapped into salute.
"Greetings, Dao Xuan Tianzun."
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly.
"This Little White Two is impressive. I will ride this ship to Pi Island."
The sailors stared in disbelief.
There were clearly celestial ships nearby, yet Tianzun chose this vessel?
Why?
No one dared question divine reasoning.
In an instant, their earlier disappointment vanished. Their chests swelled with pride.
The fleet began to move.
One ship after another left harbor.
Sails unfurled. Steam paddles churned. The great formation turned northward.
The sea route to Pi Island would soon burn with war.
---
Nagasaki Harbor
Meanwhile, at Nagasaki Harbor in Japan, Shi Lang, Zheng Sen, and Yao Xingjuan had just docked.
Not long before, Shi Lang and Zheng Sen had reinforced Yao Xingjuan. Together they annihilated the Laidao Pirates, cleared the battlefield, and seized the pirate treasure.
Now they had sailed to Nagasaki.
The moment their boots touched the dock, merchants swarmed them.
Some shouted in Chinese. Others in Japanese.
"Are you sea merchants from the Great Ming?"
"Have you brought the newest Tang goods?"
Shi Lang looked slightly lost. It was his first time in Japan.
Zheng Sen stepped forward and replied in fluent Japanese.
"Yes. We are from the Great Ming. What goods do you seek?"
"Chocolate!" one merchant shouted excitedly. "Do you have chocolate?"
Yao Xingjuan laughed. "I have chocolate."
The crowd surged toward him immediately.
The scramble was chaotic.
Within moments, Yao Xingjuan's limited stock was completely sold out.
Shi Lang frowned. "Is something strange here? Are they really this desperate?"
Zheng Sen spoke briefly with a local merchant, then returned laughing.
"I understand now. Not long ago, my second uncle came here with many novel Tang goods. The Nagasaki Magistrate, Nabeshima Katsushige, admired them greatly and praised them in public."
Shi Lang nodded slowly.
When powerful men show preference, the masses follow.
A trend was born from the top.
Zheng Sen grinned.
"Second Uncle opened the market for us. We just need to unload everything while prices are high. Once the novelty fades, the price will drop."
Shi Lang raised an eyebrow.
"You're three years younger than me, yet you're already better at business."
Zheng Sen waved casually.
"Family tradition."
At that moment, the embroidered Dao Xuan Tianzun on Shi Lang's chest suddenly opened its eyes.
"Shi Lang. Zheng Sen. Sell your remaining goods quickly. Then leave Nagasaki Harbor and sail for Pi Island. Rendezvous with the main fleet off its coast."
Both boys straightened instantly.
"As you command."
War was coming.