Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

"Brother, Admiral Yang reports that our army has captured Huaping Island, and not a single garrison soldier escaped. Taiwan itself should not yet have discovered our movements," said the seventh prince, Prince Han, Lobsang Heshuoqi, respectfully to his elder brother, Prince Qin, Chosiji. Not yet twenty years old, he had been sent by his father to the army to participate in the Battle of Pingtai. This was a tradition of the Ikemingan family; once princes came of age, they were sent to the battlefield for experience. Lobsang Heshuoqi's mother was Aisin-Gioro Makata, the second daughter of Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty, the Imperial Noble Consort of the Great Wei State. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, he, with half Manchu blood, was more eager than other princes to distinguish himself on the battlefield, and finally seized this opportunity. Chosiji liked his younger brother very much and, fearing he might make a mistake, specially arranged for him to be in charge of delivering military documents. He was also very clever, always putting his brother first and never vying for attention.

"Today is April 15th, and we'll arrive at Keelung tomorrow. This Yang Laijia is truly a talent; he said he'd arrive on April 16th, and he really did! His style of doing things is also quite unique!" Zhuo Siji exclaimed upon hearing the report. As Zheng Chenggong's former bodyguard, Yang Laijia was extremely knowledgeable about the Zheng army and the customs and culture of the Taiwan Strait. He proposed taking advantage of the "sending off the king's ship" to launch a surprise attack on Keelung, and he accurately calculated the sailing speed, saying that they would depart on April 9th ​​and arrive on April 16th, and indeed they did! Moreover, this admiral was also extremely skilled in naval warfare, leading fifty fast ships, flying the banner of the Zheng navy, and serving as the vanguard of the entire army. When they encountered Bird Island, which was garrisoned, he sent his men disguised as supply ships to land and launch a surprise attack. Along the way, they successively captured Pengjiashan, Meihuaping, and Huapingyu islands, killing thirty Zheng soldiers, capturing one hundred and six Zheng soldiers, and taking eight ships of various sizes. The beacon towers on the islands were taken down before they could even be lit. What's even more remarkable is that this man was also loyal and grateful for the kindness of his former master, repeatedly pleading with him to spare the lives of the Zheng family after the platform was opened. This is quite different from other surrendered generals like Guo Yi.

After his reflections, the King of Qin decisively issued military orders: "Order Yang Laijia to launch a surprise attack on Jilong Island at dawn tomorrow when the sea fog rises; order Hong Chongpu, Li Zhengying, and Ayuqi to follow behind Yang Laijia's troops; order Seter and Li Rong to each lead their troops to disguise themselves as Zheng's navy and blockade the waters from Xiaoliuqiu to Jilong, and seize any fishing boats they encounter; the rest of the troops shall follow me and hide behind Huaping Island and reefs, and shall not leave without orders."

In the early morning of April 16th, 1673 (the 29th year of the Qianyuan era), several patrol boats were listlessly moored at the Jilongyu Wharf. The old soldiers guarding the wharf yawned, their faces filled with anticipation as they gazed towards Jilong City to the south of the island. Today was the day for "sending off the King's Ship," a tradition of the Tanka people who had made their living at sea for generations. Although the garrison of Jilongyu could not return home to participate in this celebration, Jilong City would send supply ships with food and even fine wine on this day. The wine-loving old soldiers were already impatient!
Three large sailing ships flying the Dongning flag appeared before the veterans' eyes. After the deck was lowered, more than a hundred elite soldiers and more than a hundred laborers carrying chickens, ducks, fish, meat and fine wine disembarked. The leader was a general with a handsome appearance, refined manners and a bronze complexion full of vitality.

"May I ask if the messenger was sent by Vice Commander Chen to deliver our rewards?" the leading veteran asked, bowing and scraping.

Na Jiang blinked and chuckled, “Indeed, today we’re sending off the king’s ship. Vice Commander Chen ordered me to send extra food and wine to the brothers on each island, and to personally deliver them to each brother without fail. Quickly summon your officers and the brothers on the mountain to come down, and after we’ve counted the supplies, I still have to go to Flower Bottle Island.”

"Please wait a moment, I'll ask Captain Liu to come over right away," the old soldier said, his joy growing with delight. He happily ran towards Chicken Cage Head Mountain on the island. Soon, Captain Liu came down the mountain with seventy or eighty soldiers.

"So you're Battalion Commander Liu? Are all the brothers here?" the general asked with a smile.

"It is indeed your humble servant. May I ask your honorable name, sir?" Seeing that it was an unfamiliar face, Liu, the battalion commander, was somewhat puzzled.

"I've been gone too long, the brothers have forgotten me, Yang Laijia~" Yang Laijia sighed softly, then suddenly shouted, "Take him down!"

Without breaking a sweat, they easily captured Jilong Island. Taking advantage of the lingering fog and the festive atmosphere still lingering in Jilong City, Yang Laijia led fifty fast ships towards Jilong City on the opposite side of the island. Behind him followed the Korean navy led by Hong Chongpu and Li Zhengying, and the Jinzhou navy led by A Yuqi. Although they were flying the Zheng army's flags, the sheer number of warships still alerted the garrison, who dispatched warships to intercept them.

"Fire!" Seeing that he could no longer conceal the attack, Yang Laijia calmly gave the order. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" The sharp cannon fire sank one warship after another. After defeating the Zheng army's intercepting fleet, the Wei army quickly landed on Jilong Beach and then marched towards Jilong City. The sudden attack threw the soldiers and civilians who were crowding the beach waiting to watch the royal ship launch into chaos. The people, young and old, rushed into the city, and the dense crowd prevented the city gates from closing in time. The Wei army took advantage of the situation and rushed into the city, slaughtering indiscriminately. Upon hearing the news, Jilong's deputy general, Chen Yan, hurriedly led more than two hundred personal guards to intercept them. Most of Taiwan's elite troops had been taken to war by the Prince of Yanping, and the current garrison was mostly hastily recruited from the island's civilians. Although Chen Yan had three thousand men, only his personal guards were truly capable of fighting. It was a drop in the ocean, and they were quickly all killed in battle. Chen Yan himself was also killed by the swarming Wei army.

"This humble general has fulfilled his mission and captured Keelung City. Although most of the garrison was annihilated and not a single ship escaped the port, a small number of defeated soldiers and civilians fled to Tamsui and Hazai Nanshe (Hazai Nanshe). This humble general suggests that we immediately capture these two places to prevent our army's whereabouts from being revealed," Yang Laijia reported to Cho Siji.

"Admiral Yang, you've worked hard! From Keelung to Dongning, there are many high mountains. As long as no ships escape, even if someone tries to escape to Dongning by land to report the news, by the time they reach them after crossing the mountains, it will be too late! Hahaha~" Chosiji laughed heartily.

"Your Highness, both Tamsui and Hazai Nanshe have ships. This humble general is willing to lead the army to capture Tamsui!" Yang Laijia volunteered, eager to make another contribution to the war effort.

“With Admiral Yang leading the army, I am naturally at ease,” Chosiji readily agreed.

"I am willing to lead the army to capture Hazi Nanshe," said the young King of Han, Luo Buzang, and He Shuoqi, eager to volunteer for the battle.

Chosiji glanced at Lobsang and Shuoqi. His seventh brother wanted to lead an army on his own, and he didn't want to offend him. However, this was Lobsang's first time leading an army, and he lacked experience and was unfamiliar with the terrain of Taiwan. He needed to find a mature and prudent general who was familiar with the local customs and conditions to assist him. After thinking it over, his gaze fell on Guo Yi, the admiral of the Huguang Navy. This man was a former general who had surrendered to the Zheng family, and he was familiar with the Zheng army and a seasoned warrior.

Feeling the commander's intense gaze, Guo Yi stepped forward and said, "This humble general is willing to follow His Highness Prince Han to attack Hazi Nanshe."

"Excellent! With a fierce general like Admiral Guo assisting Seventh Brother, what worries do we have about not achieving our goals!" Chosiji patted Guo Yi on the shoulder with admiration and ordered Prince Han, Luobuzang, and Shuoqi, Admiral Guo Yi of the Huguang Navy, and General Wang Guotai of Liaonan to lead 15,000 cavalry and infantry to attack Hazinanshe, control the port, and then cross the mountains and take the land route to attack Dongning; he himself would lead 65,000 troops, with Yang Laijia as the vanguard, to attack Danshui by water.

"Seventh brother, there are many aboriginal people in Taiwan. Even after years of ruling Taiwan, the Zheng family was unable to completely subdue them. You must carefully appease these aboriginal people and prevent them from interfering with our military operations," Chosiji carefully instructed his younger brother before parting. (End of this chapter)