Global colonization began with Ming Dynasty pirates.

Just as Li Jiu and his fleet were locked in a fierce battle with Lin Chenfeng,

On the eastern side of Nan Gantang Island, a small boat stealthily approached a shoreline. Subsequently, several small boats were launched, and numerous young and strong men rowed along the boats, landing directly on the beach on the eastern side of the island.

This was the surprise attack team led by Lin Hao.

There were over 150 people in total, including 30 soldiers from Yiwu, such as Lin Kaishan. Most of them were those who had participated in the night raid on Xishan Village with Lin Hao, while the rest were new recruits who had performed outstandingly in the recent training sessions.

Everyone trained day and night on Dongluo Island for this moment.

Lin Hao instructed the boy beside him, "Eleven, after everyone has landed, sail the boat to the agreed-upon island and wait for me. If things go smoothly, come directly to the western village; if things don't go well, come here to pick us up."

Lin Shiyi looked at Lin Hao and pleaded, "Young Master, please let me go with you. I want to participate in this operation with you."

"I appreciate your kindness, but I can only feel at ease leaving my future in your hands," Lin Hao said, patting Lin Shiyi on the shoulder.

"Please rest assured, young master, I will ensure the safety of our escape route." Lin Shiyi nodded emphatically.

After everyone had landed, nothing had happened, and no smoke had risen from the hilltop. Lin Hao finally breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

He then looked up at the sky and said to the group, "It's Shen Shi (3-5 PM) now. We must reach the mountain behind the bandit camp before dark, otherwise the journey will be even more difficult at night."

"Everyone, listen up! Begin climbing the mountain."

The mountains on Nangantan Island aren't high, but they are indeed difficult to traverse. Because the area has never been developed, the trees are so dense they almost block out the moonlight, the ground is damp and slippery, and vines grow rampant. The ground is covered with decaying branches and leaves, making a faint crunching sound underfoot. You never know if you're walking on solid ground, a cave, or even snakes.

Some people tripped over tree roots, some stepped into a deep pit and twisted their ankles, and some even slipped into the valley and got bruised and battered.

Lin Hao led Lin San, Lin Jiu, and others at the front, with Lin Kaishan and others beside him, holding machetes and constantly chopping at the vines.

The team advanced slowly but steadily. At each mountaintop, Lin Hao would take out his binoculars to observe the sea and determine their location.

Time passed slowly, and the hillside became increasingly steep, but fortunately, the targeted mountain training of the past few days came in full handy. Apart from the two who accidentally twisted their ankles, no one else had fallen behind for the time being.

Although most of them were covered in mud and their hands and faces were scratched by thorns, no one complained and they just silently followed Lin Hao.

"Rest for fifteen minutes," Lin Hao ordered in a low voice. "Drink water and eat dry rations, then continue on our way in fifteen minutes."

Upon hearing this, everyone leaned against tree stumps, then took out their dry rations and ate them silently.

.........

On the west side of Nangantang Island, Li Jiu's large Fujian boat slowly approached the dock and then came to a safe stop.

Li Jiu was the first to disembark from the Fujian ship.

"Congratulations, Boss! You've returned victorious and with a full haul! I'm here to offer my congratulations."

A sharp-eyed man spotted Li Jiu and immediately stepped forward to flatter him. They knew that the chief had gone to receive more than ten thousand taels of silver today, and the silver being continuously unloaded from the Fujian ship proved that today's harvest was quite bountiful.

Fifteen thousand taels—just thinking about it makes these people tremble.

However, his deliberate congratulations seemed to have the opposite effect. Li Jiu looked at the other person with a stern voice, then kicked him, sending him flying.

"You bastard, stop talking!"

Li Jiu was a burly man, while the fawning servant was thin and weak. He was kicked and fell to the ground, spitting blood, but he dared not cry out. He could only suppress his convulsions in pain.

Seeing this, the others became even more apprehensive and dared not say a word.

"Why bother arguing with these servants, brother? Today is a day of great harvest, we should celebrate," the second-in-command said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Jiu's anger subsided slightly. Thinking of the silver on the ship, his mood improved considerably: "Yes, that's true. My brothers have worked hard; each of you carry a box of silver back."

After speaking, Li Jiu looked at the pirates who were staring at him in fear, thought for a moment, and announced, "Tonight, there is no limit to food and drink. Everyone can eat and drink to their heart's content."

Cheers erupted from the crowd, who shouted that their leader was wise.

However, the other leaders exchanged glances, all sensing the dissatisfaction in each other's eyes. A box of silver was only five or six hundred taels, and together they only had two thousand taels. The remaining ten thousand taels had all been taken by Li Jiu alone. No one was willing to accept this distribution.

.........

Regardless of what others thought, the atmosphere in Li Jiu's bandit stronghold became lively.

With everyone indulging in feasting and drinking to their hearts' content today, everyone has started to behave recklessly. After all, such a good thing doesn't usually come around.

But recent events have led some to remark, "The Four Seas Gang are truly good people. Since we met them, our standard of living as pirates has improved dramatically. How many extra meals have they given us? The only regret is that all that money has nothing to do with us."

At this point, someone mentioned their experiences on Dongluo Island, saying that they always gave 30% of their profits to their subordinates, which immediately aroused envy among the crowd. Others mentioned that they had meat at every meal there, which made everyone exclaim in disbelief.

As night deepened, the lively atmosphere in the village gradually subsided.

Until the dead of night.

"Rise and don your armor!"

At the summit of the back mountain, Lin Hao gave a low command.

Then the guards woke up the others, opened the backpacks they had been carrying, took out the leather armor inside, and put it on.

Lin Hao, Lin San, Lin Jiu, and the others began to put on their armor with the help of others.

The six suits of armor captured were riddled with holes after being used in musket experiments. However, the advantage of this type of lamellar armor was its ease of repair; simply removing and replacing the damaged plates was sufficient. Therefore, Lin Hao had already had these suits repaired over the past few days. At this moment, Lin Hao was wearing the most heavily armored suit of visible armor, while the others wore the remaining five suits of concealed armor.

As for leather armor, needless to say, the Four Seas Gang's whaling activities have never stopped, and they have no shortage of whale hides. Therefore, everyone involved in this mission is equipped with a set of leather armor.

With everything ready, Lin Hao looked at everyone and said, "Check your weapons, gag them!"

Everyone checked that their weapons were securely fastened, then placed a small wooden stick hanging around their necks into their mouths. This "mouth gag" was a small wooden stick placed in the mouth to prevent soldiers from accidentally making noise or shouting.

Seeing that everyone was ready, Lin Hao glanced at the bandit camp below the mountain and said to everyone, "Follow my steps and go down the mountain. No one is allowed to make a sound. Even if you fall, don't say a word."

Led by Lin Hao, the group of over a hundred people made their way down the mountain to the bandit stronghold by the dim moonlight. They moved silently through the darkness like giant, silent beasts. Half an hour later, Lin Hao finally brought them to the foot of the mountain, where the bandits' stronghold was less than ten meters ahead.

The sentry post that was originally there was now deserted, presumably someone had gotten drunk somewhere.

"Ready!" Lin Hao raised his right fist high, ready to give the order to launch an attack.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the village.

"Kill them!"

Moments later, flames erupted throughout the village, accompanied by sounds of hacking, shouting, and weeping.

To Lin Hao's astonishment, the village, which had just been deathly silent, suddenly became as bright as day.