A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

In late September, Ke Zhenchuan's fleet finally set sail.

An urgent report from the Imperial Guard at the northern entrance of the Qiongzhou Strait, like an arrow released from a bow, shot into the heavily guarded central command tent behind Quanzhou Port at dusk.

When Liu Jingshuang received the message, she was in front of a huge sand table, using a thin bamboo pole to deduce all the possible landing routes of the pirate fleet.

She took the secret report, still warm from the messenger's body, glanced at it, and remained expressionless.

"General?" The adjutant beside her, seeing that she remained silent for a long time, couldn't help but step forward and lower his voice.

Liu Jingshuang handed him the secret report, then turned around and looked back at the sand table.

The intelligence report was brief, but every word was alarming: Ke Zhenchuan's main fleet, consisting of about fifty ships, had already left the strait in batches and was moving northeast. Leading the way were ten light, fast ships, serving as reconnaissance vessels, while the main fleet followed behind, at a distance of about a day's journey.

The lieutenant's expression turned grave after reading the report: "Fifty ships... they've come out in full force! General, should we immediately...?"

"No rush."

Liu Jingshuang interrupted him, lightly tapping the bamboo pole on the sand table, landing precisely on a section of water marked "Reef Area" on the outskirts of Quanzhou Port.

"The ones leading the way are the scouts, the pieces thrown out to see our reaction. The main force is behind them, and that's where the real danger lies."

She raised her head, her gaze sweeping over all the tense generals in the tent. Her voice was as cold as ever, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness.

"Same old rule - let the ones in front come in and shoot, and keep the ones in the back outside."

The tent fell silent instantly, and all the generals looked at Liu Jingshuang.

They couldn't see any tension or panic on the female coach's face, only a rock-solid composure.

The slight anxiety they had felt due to the number of enemies also subsided.

Liu Jingshuang removed the bamboo pole from the sand table and pointed it at the harbor outside the tent, which was already shrouded in twilight: "Tell her that the bait has been cast, and tonight, it's her turn to haul in the net."

At the Quanzhou Shipyard, Shang Wanqing's eighteen new-style fast ships all quietly glided out of the harbor that evening.

On the dock, the last rays of the setting sun dyed the sea orange-red.

Shang Wanqing stood at the bow of the flagship, the sea breeze blowing the ribbon that bound her hair, a few strands of hair sticking to her cheeks, but she didn't care at all.

Each of her eighteen boats had its bottom coated with that slippery fish oil resin, so that when gliding through the water, almost no sound could be heard.

Beneath the waterline of every ship lies a steel ram powerful enough to pierce through enemy vessels.

"The fleet is divided into three groups."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to the ears of every captain behind her:

"Six ships will follow me and lie in ambush at the 'Rocky Beach' off the coast of Quanzhou. Another six ships will cut off their retreat on the waterway towards Mingzhou. The remaining six ships will support the two groups, and intercept any that slip through."

No one asked why, and no one questioned it.

Over the past few months, following this businesswoman, they had witnessed far too many unbelievable shipbuilding techniques and killing tactics. All they knew was that if they listened to her, they could live and win.

"I've memorized them all."

Shang Wanqing turned around, her gaze sweeping over the faces that appeared particularly resolute in the twilight:

"The wind is blowing from the north tonight, so throw the kerosene cans with the wind, not against it."

After she finished speaking, she said no more, but suddenly waved her hand.

"Raise the sails!"

Eighteen jet-black speedboats, like a group of silent predators, instantly filled their sails with wind, silently accelerated, and merged into the vast night, soon becoming one with the deep sea, disappearing from sight.

At midnight, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

Under the cover of night, ten pirate ships cautiously sailed into the waters surrounding Quanzhou Port.

"Boss, there seems to be something ahead." A pirate on the bow, responsible for lookout, pointed ahead in a low voice.

On the sea, several huge pieces of driftwood floated faintly, with human figures tied to them with straw. They rose and fell in the night and on the waves, looking somewhat eerie.

"Damn it, it's just another one of those empty gestures from the Xinwu court!"

The leader spat into the sea, cursing, "Trying to be mysterious, thinking we're easy to scare? Charge! If we don't get our first sip of hot soup in Quanzhou Port before dawn, how are we going to explain to the boss when we get back!"

He knew in his heart that this vanguard mission was to scout ahead for the main force.

They need to ascertain the true strength and weaknesses of Quanzhou Port, and the deployment of the Xinwu Navy. If they can successfully harass the port and burn a few ships, it will be a great achievement.

Without the slightest hesitation, the ten speedboats accelerated forward.

However, just as they drove past the driftwood line with scarecrows stuck in it, something unexpected happened!

"kill!"

A cold, clear shout seemed to come from hell.

On either side of their shipping lane, in what they thought was a shallow, reef area unnavigable by ships, six black ghosts suddenly emerged!

The six ships were incredibly fast; they practically skimmed the water's surface as they emerged from the darkness and instantly took up the upwind position.

"It's Xinwu's ship! There's an ambush!" The pirate fleet was thrown into chaos.

But they didn't even have time to turn the boat around.

"Throw!"

Shang Wanqing stood at the bow of the flagship and coldly uttered a single word.

On the six fast boats, the sailors, who were already prepared, lit earthenware pots filled with kerosene and threw them out with all their might.

Dozens of fireballs traced deadly arcs across the night sky, and with the help of the strong north wind, they struck the ten pirate ships huddled together with deadly accuracy.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The earthenware pot shattered, spilling kerosene, which instantly ignited upon contact with an open flame.

Almost in the blink of an eye, the three pirate ships at the forefront transformed into three enormous torches.

The fire, carried by the wind, spread rapidly, engulfing the sails, decks, and everything inside the cabins in raging flames.

A heart-wrenching scream pierced the night sky.

Countless pirates, their bodies ablaze, jumped from the ships into the icy sea like dumplings being dropped into boiling water, only to find that the flames, coated with kerosene, could still burn on the surface.

"Retreat! Retreat!" The leader was terrified. He roared and ordered the remaining ships to turn around.

But when they frantically turned their boat around, they were devastated to find that their escape route had been blocked by six other equally dark speedboats.

Flames loomed ahead, pursuers were closing in from behind.

The pirates' vanguard fleet was completely trapped in an ambush.

What followed could no longer be called a battle; it was a one-sided massacre.

The crossbows on the new fast ships emitted a deathly sharp sound, and rows of short arrows pinned the pirates who tried to jump ship to the deck.

Occasionally, one or two ships, relying on their sturdy hulls, would attempt to ram them, but before they could even get close, the menacing ram on the bow of the Xinwu Express would suddenly extend, like the fangs of a venomous snake, tearing a huge gash in their midsection.

Seawater surged in wildly, accompanied by desperate cries, and one pirate ship after another slowly sank into the dark depths of the sea amidst flames and collisions.

As dawn broke, the sounds of fighting on the sea finally ceased.

The sea, which was bustling just last night, is now only filled with scattered floating planks, a few charred masts, and an overwhelming stench of blood and burnt flesh.

None of the pirates' ten vanguard fast ships escaped; they all perished here.

Shang Wanqing stood at the bow of the flagship, the first rays of dawn shining on her face. Her expression remained cold, and the exhaustion from a sleepless night could not conceal the obsessive chill in her eyes.

She glanced at the still calm sea to the southeast, and she knew that Ke Zhenchuan's main fleet was there.

This is just the beginning.

She slowly turned around and gave new orders to the sailors behind her, who were tired but had unusually excited eyes.

"Return to Hong Kong for supplies."

The fleet began to change course and head towards Quanzhou Port, which was bathed in the morning light.

Shang Wanqing's voice carried clearly to everyone's ears in the cool morning sea breeze.

"To be continued tomorrow night."

On deck, the sailors had already begun to get to work.

They moved the empty shelves aside and carried out more sealed kerosene cans one by one from the hold, neatly stacking them along the ship's side.