Cao Wenzhao led two thousand five hundred Guanning Iron Cavalry as they boarded the large sea vessels.
Coastal Regional Commander Chen Hongfan had been waiting in Dengzhou under direct orders from Zhu Youjian. The moment Cao Wenzhao arrived, he stepped aboard Chen Hongfan's flagship, and the fleet immediately put to sea.
Chen Hongfan commanded eight thousand soldiers.
Cao Wenzhao brought two thousand five hundred elite Guanning Iron Cavalry.
Together, they numbered ten thousand.
On paper, it was an impressive force.
In reality, their fleet was pitiful.
Chen Hongfan possessed no truly seaworthy warships. His vessels were aged, poorly maintained, and riddled with problems. As for naval cannons, there were barely any worth mentioning. Even if a few iron tubes could be found bolted to decks, there was insufficient gunpowder and a shortage of proper cannonballs.
The cause was simple.
Money.
Throughout the Great Ming, military funds were stretched thin. Without silver, there were no repairs. Without repairs, there were no reliable ships. Without reliable ships, talk of naval superiority was empty wind.
After leaving Dengzhou, the battered fleet headed north. They passed through the Bohai Strait. On the opposite shore, Jinzhou was clearly visible.
Jinzhou had long fallen into Qing hands. Banner troops stood atop its walls.
Cao Wenzhao stood at the prow, staring at the city.
"Alas," he murmured quietly. "Jinzhou is clearly Great Ming territory. If only I could disembark right now, storm ashore, and reclaim it."
Chen Hongfan quickly cautioned him. "General Cao, landing directly from ships to assault a fortified coastal city is no different from seeking death."
Cao Wenzhao nodded. "I am not reckless."
Chen Hongfan sighed. "Even holding Pi Island will not be easy."
Cao Wenzhao chuckled. "This general is confident."
Chen Hongfan frowned. "The key to defending Pi Island lies at sea. Once the Qing coerce the Joseon navy into action, the island will face grave danger."
Cao Wenzhao replied calmly, "Precisely because naval warfare is decisive, I am confident."
Chen Hongfan stared at him in disbelief.
With these decrepit ships? Against Joseon's navy? Joseon might be small, but its navy was no joke.
Was this renowned general truly reliable?
Testing the waters, Chen Hongfan asked carefully, "General Cao, upon what do you base such confidence?"
"Upon what?" Cao Wenzhao grinned. "I came from Henan."
Chen Hongfan blinked. "No, I mean, what is the basis for victory?"
"Justice will defeat evil," Cao Wenzhao declared solemnly. "The films shown in Luoyang have made this very clear."
Chen Hongfan nearly choked.
He is insane.
He decided silently that if the battle turned unfavorable, he would flee immediately with his own ships.
What he did not notice was Cao Wenzhao's nephew, Cao Bianjiao, leaning in to whisper urgently.
"Uncle, General Chen is asking about our real advantage. Why are you speaking nonsense? Can you not answer properly?"
Cao Wenzhao lowered his voice and gave a conspiratorial laugh.
"We cannot casually reveal Dao Xuan Tianzun's navy. We do not yet know whether Chen Hongfan is trustworthy. What if he learns about the immortal ships and secretly informs the Qing to prepare countermeasures? Better to appear foolish than expose our trump card."
Cao Bianjiao inhaled sharply. "Uncle. You mean you sometimes pretend to miss the point?"
Cao Wenzhao snorted softly. "In other matters, perhaps. In warfare, never."
---
Not long after, the fleet reached Pi Island.
Shen Shikui had been waiting anxiously. He personally came to the beach to receive them.
Upon seeing Cao Wenzhao, Shen Shikui's face brightened.
"General Cao! With a renowned commander like you reinforcing us, my heart is greatly relieved."
"You flatter me," Cao Wenzhao replied, clasping his fists. "I bring only two thousand five hundred cavalry. On land, we can do little alone. The true crux lies with the navy."
At the word navy, Shen Shikui's expression twisted into a tight knot of anxiety.
"From the northern shore," he explained, "my men observe daily the opposite coast at Tieshan Commandery. The Qing are gathering there in great numbers. Tens of thousands. Five thousand Joseon soldiers as well. Their fleet is assembling. Over a dozen large turtle ships have already arrived. More vessels continue to gather."
At the mention of turtle ships, Chen Hongfan visibly shuddered.
Joseon turtle ships were infamous.
During the Japanese invasions, the armored vessels led by Kurushima Michifusa had been utterly routed by the Joseon navy. Turtle ships were clad in iron plating, their decks covered like a shell. Enemy soldiers attempting to board would suddenly find long spears thrusting upward through hidden openings.
Boarding such ships was a nightmare.
The Japanese warriors of old had paid dearly for underestimating them.
Chen Hongfan felt his heart sink further.
Cao Wenzhao, however, showed no fear.
Instead, he laughed.
"Good. Let them gather thoroughly. Once they are all assembled, we will round them up in one sweep. That saves us the trouble of chasing scattered remnants later."
Chen Hongfan said nothing.
Shen Shikui shook his head weakly. "Rounding them up? If we can merely hold Pi Island, that will already be a miracle."
Cao Wenzhao strode inland confidently.
On paper, Pi Island housed twelve thousand defenders. In reality, many were family members, craftsmen, or laborers. Shen Shikui could count on perhaps seven thousand actual fighting men.
Chen Hongfan's eight thousand were unreliable.
Cao Wenzhao calculated quickly.
With his two thousand five hundred Guanning Iron Cavalry added, fewer than ten thousand dependable troops could hold the beaches.
That was sufficient.
They only needed to prevent enemy landings that slipped past naval defenses.
As for the sea battle itself, that would be left entirely to Dao Xuan Tianzun's fleet.
"General Shen," Cao Wenzhao said, "please accompany me along the shoreline. I wish to inspect the terrain and determine optimal defensive placements."
Shen Shikui nodded. "This way."
They had walked only a short distance when Cao Wenzhao suddenly lunged forward.
"Turtle!"
Shen Shikui stiffened. "Enemy turtle ships already?"
To everyone's astonishment, Cao Wenzhao flopped down into the sand and lifted a large sea turtle with both hands.
He grinned broadly.
"Bianjiao, take this back. I wonder if Dao Xuan Tianzun would enjoy eating it."
The surrounding officers burst into laughter.
"Put that thing down. Sea turtle meat tastes terrible."
"Besides, they are intelligent creatures. Eating one invites bad karma."
Shen Shikui and Chen Hongfan exchanged looks.
It is over.
This so called renowned General Cao Wenzhao.
Renowned only in name.