Chen Hongfan had not even figured out who the approaching fleet belonged to when he saw their formation suddenly tighten.
Then they accelerated.
The lead ship surged forward like a beast scenting blood. The colorful banners of Dao Xuan Tianzun unfurled high above its mast, snapping loudly in the wind.
The sight alone was enough to drain the color from Chen Hongfan's face.
There was no mistaking it.
This fleet was not passing by.
This fleet had chosen him.
"This is bad! That strange fleet is charging straight at us!" Chen Hongfan shouted, his voice cracking. "Signal them! Quickly! Tell them we are the Great Ming Navy! The Great Ming Navy!"
His crew were already half dead from fear.
They scrambled to wave flags in chaotic motions, trying desperately to identify themselves. The gestures were disorganized, frantic, almost pathetic.
It did not matter.
The sailors of Gao Family Village had already received a clear command from Dao Xuan Tianzun.
Execute all deserters.
A divine mandate left no room for negotiation.
The Wanli Sunshine replied with a short and blunt flag signal.
"Damn you all."
"They're signaling back!" Chen Hongfan cried. "What does it say?"
"I… I cannot read it clearly, sir," a subordinate stammered, sweat dripping down his temple. "But I am certain they are cursing us!"
"They're almost upon us!" Chen Hongfan shrieked. "Loose arrows! Now!"
The Wanli Sunshine, a monstrous warship nearly sixty meters long, bore down upon Chen Hongfan's twenty meter Cangshan class vessel.
The size difference alone was crushing.
The crew of the smaller ship screamed as one. Their hands trembled so violently that drawing bows became impossible.
Then came the impact.
Crash.
The reinforced bow of the Wanli Sunshine smashed into the smaller ship. Wood splintered. The hull cracked with a long, tortured groan.
Chen Hongfan's vessel split cleanly into two halves.
The broken remains bobbed briefly like two grotesque fish heads before slowly sinking beneath the waves.
Chen Hongfan and several survivors plunged into the icy sea, flailing desperately for floating debris.
From the gunwale of the Wanli Sunshine, a Gao Family Village militiaman calmly leaned out with a flintlock rifle.
He aimed at Chen Hongfan, who was still thrashing in panic.
He pulled the trigger.
An execution was an execution.
Simply ramming the ship was not quite proper enough to qualify as execution by firing squad.
---
Meanwhile, the main Qing forces had begun their assault on Pi Island.
The vanguard, however, was merely a feint.
Eight Banners cavalrymen, utterly unaccustomed to naval combat, sat awkwardly in their boats. They pretended to prepare for a frontal landing, creating noise and confusion to distract the Ming defenders.
Behind them followed the Han forces under Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi.
These three were masters of half hearted enthusiasm.
They led their troops, together with five thousand Joseon soldiers, aboard large ships arranged in impressive formation. From a distance, the fleet looked overwhelming, like a full scale invasion force bearing down upon Pi Island's main harbor.
"Fire! Fire!"
The coastal batteries roared.
Heavy cannons belched flame. Solid iron shot thundered across the sea.
Water erupted around the Qing ships in towering geysers.
Amphibious assaults had always been cruel affairs. Even staged theatrics could not avoid casualties.
Cannonballs tore through hulls. Splintered wood flew. Soldiers were flung screaming into the sea.
Many Qing soldiers were inexperienced sailors. Every violent pitch of their ships sent more men tumbling overboard.
In the rear, the Han forces reluctantly fished survivors out of the water.
Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi maintained their performance carefully. Their shouts were loud. Their flags were bold. Their ships, however, remained suspiciously far from the fiercest cannon fire.
The Qing vanguard absorbed the brunt of the bombardment.
Casualties mounted quickly.
On Pi Island, morale soared.
"Ha! These Manchu barbarians are not so terrifying after all!" a Ming soldier shouted.
"Hold the line! We can win this!"
The soldiers cheered.
The generals did not.
Shen Shikui frowned deeply.
"The Manchu fighting spirit is not this weak," he murmured. "The pressure on our main harbor is too light."
Jin Riguan asked quietly, "You believe they may attempt a landing elsewhere?"
Shen Shikui nodded.
"I suspect they have dispatched small vessels to circle to our rear. We must guard against that. General Cao, what do you think?"
Cao Wenzhao shrugged casually.
"No need for concern. Secure the main harbor and all will be well."
Shen Shikui stared at him.
Jin Riguan blinked.
Where did such confidence come from?
Night fell.
It was the first watch.
The sun had just slipped below the horizon. The world was wrapped in dim twilight. Shapes blurred. Details faded.
On the northeastern coast of Pi Island, Aobai and Zhun Ta led a small commando force of elite Manchu warriors.
They rowed quietly.
Their objective was simple. Create chaos. Draw attention. Break morale.
Both men were prepared to die.
At this moment in history, Aobai was still a vigorous young general, fierce and fearless. He did not know that one day he would become a powerful regent challenging the Kangxi Emperor. He did not know he would eventually fall from power. He certainly did not know that centuries later he would be turned into a meme version of Santa Claus forced to dance every winter on future networks.
Right now, he was simply a warrior.
"Row faster," Aobai whispered. "Quietly. No sound."
He licked the edge of his blade.
"Soon," he muttered, "this blade will drink."
Then a voice rang out across the dark sea.
"Manchu barbarians ahead. You are surrounded."
It was young.
Shockingly young.
Aobai jolted upright.
"What nonsense is this?"
Lights suddenly flared around them.
Not one or two.
Many.
A hidden fleet had been waiting.
At the bow of the lead vessel stood two teenage boys, gazes steady and calm.
Shi Lang spoke.
"You may now choose your preferred method of death. Options include being blown apart by cannon fire, riddled with musket rounds, or drowning in the sea after jumping overboard. You have ten seconds to decide."
He paused.
"One. Two."
He waved his hand impatiently.
"Forget it. Brothers, charge!"
The fleet surged forward.
Aobai stared in disbelief. The enemy ships were enormous and astonishingly fast.
His small stealth boats were toys in comparison.
Retreat.
That was the only choice.
He shouted for his men to turn around.
Then another fleet emerged behind them, blocking their escape.
At its helm stood a one eyed pirate wearing a distinctive eye patch.
He laughed loudly.
"Such excitement! I arrived at just the right time!"
He laughed again before lowering his voice into something cold and thunderous.
"The Great Pirate, Demon Star, is here! Manchu barbarians, not one of you will escape today!"
Aobai cursed inwardly.
Pirates?
The Ming had allied with pirates?
A heavy foreboding settled in his chest.
With a tremendous crash, a Gao Family Village warship smashed into the Qing boats.
Manchu soldiers were thrown into the dark sea, their cries swallowed by the waves.