Ming Dynasty: He was ordered to give lectures in prison, but Lao Zhu eavesdropped and made people nu

Chapter 697 Dangerous Tracking
On that morning when the Japanese warships pressed towards the coast of the Ming Dynasty like a dark cloud, Hu Guang was studying military books in the military camp. The rapid sound of horse hooves broke the morning tranquility. A messenger covered in dust rushed into the tent and knelt on one knee: "Report! The Japanese pirates raided three coastal towns, and countless civilians were killed and injured!"

Hu Guang snapped the military book in his hand shut, and he stood up suddenly, with his armor making a crisp clanging sound. His resolute face, which had been blown by the sea breeze for many years, suddenly became gloomy, and the scar between his eyebrows left in the battle against the Japanese looked particularly hideous.

"Order the entire army to prepare for battle immediately!" His voice echoed in the tent like thunder.

Three days later, Hu Guang led his elite navy to the attacked coast. The sight before him made the veins on his sword-holding hand pop out - the fishing village was reduced to scorched earth, the sea breeze was mixed with the smell of blood and ashes, and the surviving people were in tattered clothes, with fear in their eyes. An old fisherman who had lost his left arm knelt down in front of Hu Guang, tears streaming down his face: "General, they kidnapped my daughter and the young people in the village"

Hu Guang helped the old man up and said in a low but firm voice: "Don't worry, old man, I will definitely rescue the villagers and avenge the blood debt!"

As night fell, Hu Guang stared at the map of Japan in the makeshift military tent. The oil lamp stretched his shadow very long, casting it on the tent cloth like a tiger ready to attack. Deputy General Zhao Yong lifted the curtain and entered: "General, the spies reported that the main force of Japan has withdrawn to the main island, and its king is personally supervising the battle. The prisoners are being held in Kashima Castle."

Hu Guang poked his finger heavily at the location of Kashima on the map: "Divide the troops into two groups. You lead 3,000 elite troops to attack Kashima at night to rescue the people; I will lead the main force to pursue the King of Japan. This beast is cunning and will not sit in an isolated city."

"But General, Japan is a mountainous country with steep terrain. There may be ambushes."

"That's why he didn't expect us to go straight to Huanglong." A sharp light flashed in Hu Guang's eyes, "Pass the order down, prepare firearms and three days of dry food, and set off at dawn."

At dawn the next day, the two teams moved separately like arrows from a bow. The main fleet led by Hu Guang rode the wind and waves and headed straight for the main island of Japan. At the junction of the sea and the sky, the morning sun dyed the clouds blood-red, as if foreshadowing the upcoming battle.

The landing was unexpectedly smooth. The Japanese obviously did not expect the Ming army to counterattack so quickly, and the coastal defenders collapsed at the first blow. Hu Guang interrogated the prisoners and learned that the Japanese king Tokugawa Yoshiaki had fled to the Shengyue Mountain in the north, where there was a complex cave system that was easy to defend but difficult to attack.

"General, this journey is dangerous. It is better to consolidate the beachhead first," the staff officer advised.

Hu Guang shook his head, raindrops dripping down his helmet. "Speed ​​is of the essence in war. Give him time to gather reinforcements, and we will be in a tough battle." He turned to the soldiers ready to go, "The Japanese pirates slaughtered my people and kidnapped my compatriots. Today they will pay with blood! Those who dare to follow me into the mountains to capture the king, step forward!"

Three thousand elite soldiers marched forward in unison, their footsteps shaking the earth like thunder.

The mountain road was more rugged than expected. In the dense primeval forest, Japanese ninjas constantly launched sneak attacks, poison arrows shot from the dark, and traps suddenly opened underfoot. Hu Guang's army lost men every day, but he always walked at the front of the team and bandaged the wounds of the injured soldiers with his own hands.

At dusk on the fifth day, they finally reached the main peak of Shengyue Mountain. A waterfall hung like a silver thread, and a dark entrance could be vaguely seen behind it. The local guide knelt down and begged: "Sir, that is the residence of ghosts and gods, and no one who goes in has ever come out!"

Hu Guang laughed loudly, his laughter echoing in the valley: "We, the soldiers of the Great Ming Dynasty, have no fear of ghosts and gods!" He took off the wine bag from his waist, drank it with his head tilted back, and then poured the remaining wine into the waterfall, "Today I will teach the King of Japan what the power of the heavenly soldiers is!"

The cave was damp and cold, and the light of the torches was swallowed up by the endless darkness. The sound of water drops dripping on the rock wall and the sound of the underground river in the distance intertwined into a strange melody. The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly and their breathing became rapid.

"Keep in formation!" Hu Guang's voice produced a strange echo in the cave. "Since the Japanese king chose this place to hide, he must be at the end of his rope. We are a righteous army, and evil spirits cannot invade us!" As they went deeper, the cave became more and more complicated. Once, they walked into a dead end, and when they turned back, they found that the way they came was blocked by fallen rocks. Hu Guang personally explored and found a narrow gap: "Go through it!" He took off his armor and squeezed in first. The sharp rock scratched his arm, and blood dripped down his elbow, but he seemed not to notice.

Seven days later, when the dry food was about to run out, a faint voice suddenly came from the front. Hu Guang raised his hand to signal the whole army to be silent, and he quietly moved forward along the rock wall. Turning a corner, a huge underground cave appeared in front of them, with a bonfire in the center, and dozens of Japanese warriors guarding a middle-aged man in gorgeous armor.

The man was drinking wildly and talking loudly in Japanese, and the warriors around him laughed flatteringly. Although Hu Guang did not understand Japanese, judging from his demeanor and behavior, he must be the King of Japan.

He retreated back into the darkness and deployed in a low voice: "Archers occupy the high ground, musketeers block the exit, and the rest of you follow me to attack from the front. Remember, the first priority is to capture the King of Wa alive!"

After everything was arranged, Hu Guang arranged his armor and walked into the light of the cave with a torch in hand. The Japanese warriors drew their swords in astonishment, but were frightened by the Ming army archers who suddenly appeared on the surrounding rock walls.

"Tokugawa Yoshiaki!" Hu Guang's voice was as loud as a bell. "The Great Ming General Hu Guang is here, why don't you surrender quickly!"

The Japanese king pushed aside the warriors who were protecting him and squinted his eyes at the muddy but imposing Ming general. He suddenly laughed and said in stiff Chinese: "With just your few men, you dare to go deep into my holy land?" He clapped his hands, and more warriors emerged from the darkness, "Ming people, you should surrender!"

Hu Guang remained calm and said, "I will give you one last chance. Lay down your weapons and return the captives. I will report to the emperor and he will spare your life."

The King of Japan sneered and drew his sword: "I have heard that the people of Ming are good at debate. Today I see that it is true. But what is the use of eloquence under the sword?"

The atmosphere in the cave was tense. Hu Guang glanced at the pale and skinny captives behind the Japanese king - they were the captured Ming Dynasty people. He took a deep breath and suddenly shouted: "Prepare the Flying Dragon Cannon!"

Four Ming soldiers quickly pushed out an object covered with oilcloth. When they lifted the cover, they revealed a small copper cannon with a flying dragon pattern carved on the cannon. The Japanese warriors became agitated when they saw this - using firearms in this enclosed space would mean mutual destruction.

The King of Japan's face changed slightly, but he forced himself to remain calm: "You are just bluffing! If you fire in such a small space, you will die!"

Hu Guang personally lit the torch and approached the fuse: "Since I dared to come here, I have no intention of returning alive. But you must know that once the Flying Dragon Cannon is fired, the roof of the cave will collapse. Your Tokugawa family's century-old foundation will end here today!" His finger was only an inch away from the fuse, "Finally, I ask you, do you surrender or not?"

The cave was dead silent, with only the crackling of burning torches. The Japanese king's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and his eyes wandered between the cannon and Hu Guang's resolute face. Finally, the sword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.

"I surrender."

(End of this chapter)