Chapter 93 Pirate King Wu Lingguang
"Don't tell me that the county soldiers haven't fought against pirates in the past eight years. If the saint hears this, he will think that you are in league with the pirates."

Li Xuan used the lightest tone to say the harshest words.

"No, I have wiped out at least a hundred pirates since I took office."

Huang Wangheng's face changed drastically and he told Li Xuan about his battle record.

"I heard there are thousands of pirates."

Li Xuan made a sarcastic remark, and then asked: "In the past three years, how many people have been killed by pirates, how many women have been abducted and raped by pirates, and how many people have been displaced?"

"This……"

Huang Wangheng, the Chief Secretary and the Deputy Governor looked at each other, but no one could answer.

In this way, the stalemate in the tent lasted for half a cup of tea.

"You are a senior official, but you don't even know about such an important matter?"

Li Xuan saw that these three officials could not even answer the most basic data. Wearing scarlet official uniforms, they were really just for show!

"The casualties and abductions should be no more than a hundred people! The civilians are also well protected by the county soldiers."

Huang Wangheng broke out in a cold sweat and could only answer like this.

"Your Highness, go out and take a look at the mountains and plains full of war horses and a full 10,000 Qianniu Guards. If it is really as you said, then what are we doing here? Will the Saint still fly into a rage in the court?"

Li Xuan hated these officials the most for speaking without thinking.

"I forgot. Please allow me to go back to the city and investigate."

If Li Xuan's father had not been the Left Prime Minister Li Shizhi, Huang Wangheng would definitely have left in anger.

After all, Li Xuan was not an interviewer, just a young boy, but he was scolded like a grandson.

"I will tell you a story. Of course, you must have heard it before."

"During the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius passed by Mount Tai and saw a woman crying in front of her grave. Confucius asked his disciple Zilu to ask about it and learned that there was a fierce tiger in the area and that the woman's father-in-law, husband, and son had all been killed by the tiger. However, the woman and her family had never left the place where the tiger lurked because there were no harsh government orders there."

"Linhai County should be similar to the foot of Mount Tai during the Spring and Autumn Period!"

Li Xuan compared a tiger to a pirate to question Huang Wangheng.

"I really don't understand what General Li means!"

Huang Wangheng was furious that Li Xuan actually regarded Linhai as a brutal and chaotic place.

If they go back and report to Li Shizhi, they will all have no chance of survival even without the Censor coming.

"I heard that officials in coastal areas charge five strings of cash to allow people to move away from places where pirates have ravaged them. So many people have to live in places where pirates are active because they cannot collect five strings of cash. Isn't this a harsh government like a tiger?"

Li Xuan said to Huang Wangheng indifferently.

He still didn't believe that the government would collude with pirates. If the pirates were caught, they would definitely betray the local officials.

There is no such trace in history!

He felt there might be some other ulterior motive.

Huang Wangheng's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered and said to Li Xuan, "I didn't know there was such a situation. I will definitely investigate it. But I think even if there is, it is an extremely rare case."

"maybe!"

Sun Liu only said one thing, so he couldn't judge. When he went to Haiyou Township, it would become clear whether it was true or not.

"Haven't you figured out which island the pirates are based on?" Li Xuan asked again.

"Pirates are cunning. I haven't figured it out yet."

Huang Wangheng shook his head.

Although he knew that Li Xuan was both civil and military, he did not expect Li Xuan to be so strong.

If I had known this, I wouldn’t have come to see Li Xuan!

"Didn't you kill hundreds of pirates? Didn't you leave any alive?" Li Xuan frowned.

"Ordinary pirates don't know the route, it's only useful if we catch the captain of the ship."

Huang Wangheng replied to Li Xuan.

"With the pirates so rampant, can you still provide me with a ship to cross the sea?"

Li Xuan talked about the ships at sea.

"There are no more seagoing vessels in the coastal counties."

Huang Wangheng said embarrassedly.

All the ships along the coast were taken away by pirates five years ago.

"The Saint has asked the counties of Linhai and Yuyao to provide me with ships. If I don't see enough ships before I go out to sea, don't blame me for impeaching you in front of the Saint for delaying military operations! Also, before the day after tomorrow, send thirty carts fully loaded with silk cloth."

Li Xuan knew that the ship must have come from the large county of Yuhang, which was adjacent to Qiantang Bay (today's Hangzhou Bay) and where there were no pirate invasions.

He said this simply because he had a very bad impression of Huang Wangheng and thought he was too stupid.

"General Li..."

"see a visitor out!"

When Huang Wangheng wanted to explain himself further, he was interrupted by Li Xuan, who waved his hand and asked them to leave the barracks.

Several people walked out of the tent as if they had lost their parents.

When they returned to the carriage, the Chief of Linhai said angrily: "Li Xuan humiliated the governor in this way. Let's cut off his food and grass and see if he still acts arrogantly..."

"You don't want to die. Li Xuan is following the orders of the Saint to fight against the enemy. If you don't give him food and grass, he will execute us on the spot according to military law."

Huang Wangheng pointed at Linhai Changshi and cursed. He took out all the anger he had suffered in front of Li Xuan on Linhai Changshi.

"What about that?"

Linhai Beijia asked Huang Wangheng.

"Now I just hope that Li Xuan can quickly wipe out Wu Lingguang and leave here. There must be a lot of large ships in Yuhang, please ask the governor of Yuhang to mobilize the ships!"

Huang Wangheng finished his words, his eyes sharpened, and he said: "The most important thing now is to prevent those lowly people from causing trouble. Li Xuan obviously got some news..."

……

In the military camp.

Li Xuan dispatched a total of one hundred scouts from the Qianniu Guard, dressed as tourists, to gather information in Yuyao, Linhai and other counties.

Keep an eye out for any places where pirates might be.

As soon as there is news, report it immediately to the location of the army.

At the same time, Li Xuan made a plan and personally led people disguised as a caravan to Haiyou Township and other coastal villages.

The caravan had thirty carts loaded with silk, and they were disguised as merchants exchanging silk for pearls and gems.

He ordered the army to be divided into 800 armored knights and to cross the Linhai River to camp.

Afraid of being discovered by the pirates' spies, he dared not get any closer.

The other Qianniu Guard knights are still stationed at the foot of Kuancang Mountain.

Because in the first stage, there is no need for so many knights to go out together. Eight hundred armored cavalry can easily defeat the pirates on land, even if there are thousands of them.

When we cross the sea, we will transfer the main force over.

The next day, Huang Wangheng ordered thirty vehicles to be sent, and the army officially set out.

After another day, we arrived at Linhai River and crossed the river.

Li Xuan took the lead and arrived at the coastal towns with his personal guards and a hundred Qianniu Guards dressed as guards.

He asked the unreliable Li Qiuming to stay in Kuancang Mountain and ordered Chen Hu to lead 800 armored cavalry to be ready to take orders at any time.

If any trace of pirates is found, the Eight Hundred Cavalry will be notified immediately to come over.

……

Shitang Township.

Li Xuan sat in the carriage and asked Xue Cuo to disguise himself as a wealthy businessman.

Although it is a coastal town, it has a desolate and lonely feeling.

Many fields are still barren.

"What do you do?"

An old man was curious about why such a large group of people appeared here.

"We want to exchange silk for pearls and gems."

Xue Cuo greeted the old man.

"Alas! If you have pearls and gems, you won't stay here. There are pirates here. You should leave quickly and don't attract pirates."

The old man waved his hand and advised them to leave Shitang Township.

"The elders are joking. The world is peaceful and prosperous nowadays. There are no pirates!"

Xue Cuo pretended to ignore it and the group continued on their way.

I spent the whole day wandering around Shitang Township.

Li Xuan asked someone to inquire about the situation in Shitang Township and found out that one also needed to pay five strings of coins to leave.

Otherwise, you either have to stay here and face the threat of pirates, or become a refugee.

Li Xuan felt that he was too polite towards Huang Wangheng, so he told Li Longji about it after returning.

For the next ten days or so, Li Xuan's "caravan" circled the seaside.

Passing through one village after another.

But still no pirates were attracted.

Chen Hu led the armored cavalry and kept a distance of thirty to forty miles from Li Xuan, which was a distance where he could provide support at any time.

He was not moving along the coast, but inland.

Li Xuan was not in a hurry. As long as he was not discovered by the pirates' spies, the pirates would not be able to resist the temptation of dozens of carts of silk.

If there is no movement after ten days, it means that he has been discovered, and Li Xuan will think of other ways.

On this day, Li Xuan finally arrived at Haiyou Township.

This is Sun Liu’s hometown. The situation here is even worse, with many houses burned down.

Li Xuan decided to stay in Haiyou Township for a few days before leaving to see if he could catch any fish.

On the third night in Haiyou Township, just as it got dark, Luo Xing ran to Li Xuan who was having dinner and said, "General, dozens of ships suddenly appeared on the sea."

"Hurry up and inform General Chen!"

Li Xuan ordered the messenger to ride three horses to deliver the message.

He finally got what he was waiting for.

He ordered the Qianniu Guards not to rush into battle, and the pirates drove inland after landing.

Lead the pirates inland to give the cavalry room to perform.

It would be best if we could capture Wu Lingguang right away, but we must be prepared for both scenarios.

Intercept the pirates' ship and capture the crew.

The pirates' lair must be destroyed, otherwise, given the coastal environment, the pirates will surely grow stronger.

"Run!"

"The pirates are coming!"

There were also patrolling people in the villages of Haiyou Township. After several encounters, they no longer had any hope of survival and fled from their homes with their children and the elderly.

Come back after the pirates leave.

Although the house may be gone and the food may be looted, at least your life can be saved.

It took the pirates half an hour from the time they appeared to the time they disembarked.

"Hurry, hurry, there is a big caravan stopping in Youhai Township. The silk in their carts is enough for all the brothers to wear new clothes. We must catch them..."

The pirate leader urged the pirates to give chase.

He was none other than the Pirate King Wu Lingguang, whom even Li Longji was talking about.

When he heard there was a big business deal this time, he personally took action.

Then a group of disheveled pirates rushed up howling.

"That bonfire in the wild must be them!"

After Wu Lingguang arrived at the edge of Youhai Township, he pointed to several bonfires that seemed to be guiding them and said.

They no longer headed straight for the village, but quickly rushed to the campfire.

"Damn it! They drove away. Chase them!"

Wu Lingguang shouted loudly.

A single horse pulling silk cannot run fast. And it is said that this merchant has hundreds of guards.

As for the officers and soldiers?

They were not afraid at all because they had been plundering the coastal areas as if they were in an empty land for several years.

It seemed as if the officers and soldiers were afraid of them, and even if they occasionally met them, they would turn around and run away.

At first Wu Lingguang also thought it was a trick.

But this continued for five or six years, and the number of officers and soldiers under his command increased, even to the point of outnumbering that of a county.

This also made Wu Lingguang more and more daring, and he had no scruples when plundering.

He subconsciously believes that the sky is the boss, the sea is the second, and he is the third.

(End of this chapter)