You have truly caused me great suffering!

Large-scale marches cannot be kept secret from anyone, especially in places like this.

Therefore, Li Yanqi did not hold back at all, and directly set up his forces to launch a surprise attack on the port, control the main road of the Tokaido, and ensure the smooth flow of the supply line.

The navy deployed only a small number of ships, totaling ten.

However, the operation was very swift, with the dark gun barrel openings on the warships pointing towards the port of Kinai.

Fighting on the Tokaido route, which is very close to these two landmasses, is different from the situation in the southern wilderness, where there is no need to worry about storms.

Li Yanqi had already identified some sailboats in the harbor as belonging to the Suruga Kingdom's navy.

Although it was called a navy, it was actually just a bunch of small sailboats. They didn't need cannons at all; you could just ram them and smash them to pieces.

It was early morning, the sun had just risen, and wisps of white mist shrouded the gray sea, resembling clouds floating on the water.

A Japanese warship, its sails billowing, was slowly moving across the water.

Just then, a loud crash came from the bow of the ship. A sailor holding a black bowl dropped it to the ground and stared blankly ahead.

Several people were drawn to the scene and turned to look.

Although they knew they were going to be attacked, their superiors were cunning and didn't tell them who the enemy was.

He was also afraid that all his men would run away.

Jing Jun earned a formidable reputation in Japan. Although he did not participate in many battles, he always used swift and decisive methods, killing his opponents in one strike.

Coupled with the propaganda of the mob, Jing Jun has been demonized in Japan.

Now, amidst the mist, two enormous, city-like black shadows slowly emerged, like ancient monsters emerging from the fog.

It's hard not to make them feel fear.

A moment later, more shadows emerged from the fog, and the Japanese who saw this were stunned for a while.

Finally, a loud, hoarse shout came from the ship.

The Grand Jing Navy couldn't understand what they were saying at all, but they were very clear about the order to seize the port.

On the opposite sailboat, the clanging of gongs rang out, and the whole ship was in a flurry of activity. The captain, brandishing a Japanese sword, kept giving orders, telling everyone to take up the oars immediately.

The wooden boat soon began to turn around, and most of the able-bodied men grabbed the oars to make the boat move faster.

As the boat turned around and headed back, the captain looked back and his expression changed drastically.

There were more than two such giant ships, their large sails seemingly obscuring the entire sea surface.

Although there have been various rumors circulating recently that Okage will attack the entire territory of Japan, especially the Kanto and Tokaido areas.

But they were still very shocked. Limited by national strength, everything in Japan was small, and no one had ever seen such a magnificent and terrifying navy.

In fact, this is only a small part of the garrisoned navy, and the Japanese garrison in Chenghai Navy is a very small part.

The Central Plains are so vast and rich that, as long as they don't act recklessly, the national strength they unleash will be terrifying.

For the surrounding small countries, this is a complete game-changer.

Especially during this period, because the climate had been relatively mild and pleasant, almost all the major regimes were corrupt and complacent.

To the Japanese sailors, they suddenly saw two balls of fire light up in the misty fog behind them.

They first heard a buzzing in their ears, and then heard two thunderous "boom" sounds from the cannons. Not far away, the sea was already splashing white waves from the shells.

At such a distance, with the speed of the cannonball, it arrived almost simultaneously with the sound.

The Japanese, more or less, had all heard the legend of the Great Jing Cannon. After all, those rioters roamed all over Japan and brought many stories of the Jing Army to various places.

They were indeed trained by Jing Jun, but they never saw Jing Jun's true colors; what they saw was all superficial.

And what they can't see is especially mysterious.

So when the cannons fired, the Japanese soldiers and crew didn't need their captains to shout; they all rowed frantically on their own initiative.

All around were the sounds of people panting heavily, and everyone rowing the boat was working incredibly hard. There were also some strange, unintelligible cries.

However, their sails were too small, and the speed difference was enormous, so the distance between the two sides was still gradually closing.

By the end, the Japanese soldiers and crew could hear the waterwheels on the ships of the Daikyo Navy stirring the water with a "whoosh," and even the faint noise of gears squeezing and rubbing against wood.

Those warships had long hulls so that they could be equipped with several waterwheels on both sides for rapid pursuit; when the wind was calm, ordinary wooden boats simply couldn't outrun them.

"It's over." A Japanese sailor lowered his hands, stopped rowing, and his eyes were filled with despair.

The sound of cannons rang out again, and some Japanese soldiers were still shouting and preparing to fight back on the shore.

Some small boats even rammed into the warships of the Great Jing Navy.

Samurai from Suruga Province have already built fortifications and deployed troops and sentry ships at ports along the main route of the Tokaido.

Despite the massive army's advance, some among them chose not to retreat but to hold their ground.

Li Yanqi somewhat acknowledged this spirit of resistance, but she didn't hold back at all.

The ruler of Suruga Province was Taira no Mitsumori, a remnant of the Taira clan. After the Taira clan was destroyed, they fled Ise Province.

Now, with more than 3,000 people gathered, they are still considered a very strong force in Japan. Not long ago, they wiped out a mob and recruited some of the young and strong prisoners into their ranks.

These Lang faction warriors would never have accepted the mob, but circumstances forced them to submit.

They have a deep-seated hatred for Jing Jun and know that a fight is inevitable sooner or later, so they will unite all forces that can be united.

But in reality, the addition of the mob had the opposite effect.

First of all, these rioters, because they were created by Da Jing, have a cowardly spirit in their bones, fearing Jing like a tiger.

Before the fighting even started, they began spreading rumors everywhere that the Jing army was invincible and how terrifying it was.

They first demoralized their own troops, and then when the Jing army actually arrived, they dropped their weapons and fled.

Moreover, they all had deep-seated hatred for the nobles and distrusted them, believing that the noble lords would surely kill them after using them.

The rift between the Japanese mobs and the nobility was irreparable.

No matter what kind of leader, they cannot mend this rift.

Taira no Michimori was made the vanguard and placed at the forefront because the Taira clan had lost territory and had no bargaining power.

The commander-in-chief of the Japanese allied forces was Hatakeyama Yoshimi of Musashi. In addition to his headquarters in the Naniwa-kyo region, he also commanded allied forces in the Shimōsa and Hitachi regions.

Seeing that Hiramitsu's defenses were about to be breached, and knowing that such an important shipping route as the Tokaido could not be so easily occupied, Hatakeyama Yoshihiro immediately ordered reinforcements.

Starting from the main camp, a group of warriors wearing helmets resembling bull heads and pointed bamboo hats marched in front and behind each other, each gathered around colorful flags.

Amidst the fluttering military flags, the spears resembled a dense forest stripped of its leaves.

Japanese swords were excellent, but not every samurai had one; many used spears as their weapon.

Their spears, unlike the white-shafted spears of the Western Army, were very thin and not long enough.

This is determined by their smelting capabilities; they may have excellent forging techniques, but their ability to cast iron is lacking.

In recent years, the Song, Liao, and Xia dynasties have been engaged in fierce competition, leading to a rapid advancement in casting technology that has already surpassed other parts of the world. Taira no Michimori led a cavalry unit, waiting by the sea to engage the enemy.

After the Taira clan was destroyed, no one thought he should still be alive. If he hadn't died in this battle, he would definitely have been ridiculed.

Even if they won, they wouldn't have their territory anymore. Unless he abandoned his Taira clan identity and pledged allegiance to these barbarians of Kanto.

Moreover, unlike the group of barbarians from Kanto behind him, Hiramitsu had witnessed the Jing army's fighting prowess.

Just as the Khitans surrendered at the sight of the Jurchen soldiers and dared not even fight, they knew they had no chance of winning when they saw the Jing army.

The gap is too big.

After dodging arrows, crossbow bolts, and cannon fire, you finally reach the enemy, only to find that your weapon cannot penetrate their armor.

What utter despair!

The armor on the warhorses opposite them was thicker than that on their own side.

In such a battlefield of cold weapons, armor was far more important than weapons.

In the Song Dynasty, you could even carry a simple knife when traveling, but secretly possessing armor was considered rebellion.

Soon, a small group of horsemen from Jing's army came galloping towards them.

Before Zhang Mao framed Taira no Tadamasa, the Kage army and the Taira clan were allies and had been stationed at Hyōjin-dori. Therefore, Taira no Mitsumori knew some things about the Kage army.

Judging from the size of this squad, it should be a scout unit.

The scouts pressed their faces against his to gather intelligence.

Hiramitsu was instantly filled with rage, feeling humiliated.

"Follow me!"

Although there was only a small squad of seven cavalrymen on the other side, they were not in a hurry when they saw the Japanese soldiers charging up. Instead, they raised their arms and started firing crossbows.

They then fought and retreated, their archery and horsemanship skills leaving the Japanese speechless.

In fact, this was quite common on the Youyun battlefield. To be honest, the Jurchen Tartars' archery skills were even slightly better than those of the Jing army.

But in this battlefield, it's already considered a divine skill.

To reiterate, the ten-year war between the Jurchen soldiers and the Dingnan army was a war unlike any other in the world.

Looking across the world today, there is no other opponent like this, not even one that is comparable.

Yelü Dashi and Wanyan Balisu, who escaped from this battlefield, suddenly found themselves at war after heading west.

They played quite well.

Even the Mongol cavalry that later swept across Eurasia could not compare with this group of Jin soldiers and Dingnan Army in terms of individual soldier quality and combat ability.

The best way to showcase the fighting prowess of these two formidable forces is through their scouts.

Whether it was the Jurchen scouts or the Dingnan Army scouts, they were all elites among elites.

If encountered in the wild, they are a nightmare for enemies.

Now, this group of people are shooting Ping Mansheng's pursuers into a sorry state, while they themselves are still able to handle the situation with ease.

Seeing this, Hiramitsu stopped his men from continuing the pursuit and wanted to return to the fortress.

Realizing they were about to leave, the seven scouts immediately turned back and began to harass them.

Their distance control is extremely precise; I wonder how long it will take to master that.

Pingyan immediately felt as if he were being targeted by a wild beast, unable to escape and unable to fight back.

He desperately wanted to fight the enemy, even if it meant dying under Jingren's blade, to at least preserve the reputation of the Taira clan. But the enemy didn't even give him a chance to fight back.

A sense of powerlessness washed over me again.

Li Yanqi's army had already attacked from the flank, and the coastal fortifications were being swept away one by one.
-
Hiramitsu didn't want to run away, but he was being driven backward; he couldn't very well run into a hail of arrows.

Once all the defensive fortifications are removed, they'll have no choice but to flee.

He felt this was too suffocating; he couldn't live, and he couldn't even die!
Several riders galloped up in front of him, but he did not look up; at this moment, he was already utterly despondent.

The newcomer was Hatakeyama Yoshi, who was in his thirties and the leader of Musashi Province.

It is said that he is very skilled in both strategy and martial arts, and rarely suffers losses in the conflicts between powerful figures in the Guandong region. This time, he was elected as the leader of the alliance.

Beside Hatakeyama Yoshi was another familiar face, Hiramitsu Mori, whose real name was Yamana Tokihiro.

Even with a formidable enemy at hand, he still revealed a hint of hatred in his eyes when he saw this person.

The two sides had a deep-seated grudge that was hard to resolve. Back then, the Taira clan controlled the ferry crossing and monopolized trade with the Song Dynasty. While making a fortune, they also trained a large number of warriors.

It's so that we can act decisively at crucial moments.

A servant knelt beside him, and Hatakeyama Yoshishige stepped on the man's back to dismount.

"Why did you step down!" Hatakeyama Yoshi reprimanded him angrily.

Ping Mansheng was covered in blood, but he didn't say much, appearing reckless and indifferent, ready to fight or kill at will.

Since things have come to this point, there is no need to say more.

As if guessing what he was thinking, Hatakeyama Yoshihide said loudly, "Don't be afraid, everyone. We are surrounded by mountains and the sea. Even if we lose this battle, we can still go into the mountains and continue fighting them!"

"Yes, keep fighting!"

Hatakeyama Yoshiyuki glanced at Hiramitsu Mori and asked, "Can it still hold up?"

Even Hiramitsu, who had already resolved to die, was stunned when he heard the news.

However, he really didn't value his own life. Faced with such a shameless question, he actually agreed.

At this time, someone presented a proclamation, written in the voice of the Great Jing Emperor.

I have heard that you islands of the East Sea, remote in the corners of the sea, were originally vassals of China, receiving investiture and following the imperial calendar since ancient times. However, since the end of the Tang Dynasty, your country has defied the natural order, usurping the title of "Emperor," falsely claiming the titles of the Three Sovereigns of antiquity, seizing the imperial regalia, establishing your own court, and neglecting to pay tribute.

This is utterly outrageous and will arouse the wrath of both gods and men!

Now, I have received the Mandate of Heaven to continue the great legacy of the Jing Dynasty, sweep away the Central Plains, annihilate the Jin invaders, and bring peace to the world.

Wherever the iron cavalry went, the dust of the barbarians was swept away; the dragon banner pointed east, and the sea trembled.

You insignificant island barbarians, how dare you defy your allegiance and hold your own army?

Within your borders, powerful clans hold sway:
Now I am dispatching General Li Yanqi, leading a thousand warships and one hundred thousand armored soldiers, to annihilate the enemy!

All powerful chieftains of the Eastern Kingdom must:
They destroyed their city walls and fortifications, registered their households, bound them with their faces bound and holding jade discs in their mouths, and bowed their heads in surrender.

Those who act compliantly and seize the opportunity will be granted hereditary titles and bestowed with the Grand Jing crown and belt; those who dare to resist the Heavenly Army will be executed along with their entire clan without mercy! The gold of Pingquan will be used entirely for military expenses; the fertile fields of Guandong will be distributed among the meritorious officials.

The proclamation was issued far and wide, so that all may know.

Hatakeyama Yoshihide threw the manifesto in his hand down forcefully, and, still not satisfied, stomped on it a few times. (End of Chapter)