in2ebook Chapter 625 The Exiles of 8ga Island 6
Chapter 625 The Exiles of 8ga Island 6
June 3rd, early morning.
The soldiers in the watchtower were the first to spot the black dot on the horizon. At first, it was just one, then two, three… Soon, the entire fleet came into view, its sails billowing like a moving forest.
"General Wang's fleet has arrived! General Wang's fleet has arrived!"
The sound of bugles echoed throughout the island. In the harbor, all ships were cleared from their berths, and dockworkers began final preparations. Inside the camp, Qin soldiers stood in formation, ready for the welcoming ceremony.
Li Xin stood atop the general's mansion's watchtower, holding a bronze telescope gifted to him by Ying Wuyou—one of several replicas that the princess had specially commissioned to be made before the fleet set sail last year. Through the telescope, the details of the fleet were clearly visible: the five leading giant ships were battered and bruised, their hulls covered in repair marks, but the black "Qin" flag still flew high.
"Give the order," Li Xin put down his binoculars, "to greet them with the highest level of courtesy."
A crowd quickly gathered at the port. Qin soldiers stood in formation, while exiles and Japanese were allowed to watch from a distance, separated by soldiers. Yan Mu stood in the crowd, his heart pounding. His hand reached for his waist—where a sharpened shard of a mining pick was hidden, wrapped in a strip of cloth.
Today is the day. Li Xin is busy welcoming Wang Ben, so the defenses will inevitably be lax. The Japanese have already made arrangements; at noon, they will launch attacks simultaneously from the mines, farmland, and port.
He looked around. Several of his accomplices, scattered among the crowd, nodded slightly at him. Further away, some Japanese laborers were also watching, their eyes flickering uncertainly.
The fleet slowly entered the harbor. The lead ship was larger than any other vessel on the island, its prow carved with ferocious animal heads, and its hull was deeply drafted, clearly heavily laden with cargo. The deck was crowded with people, most of them weathered but still in good spirits.
The gangplank was lowered, and the group disembarked. Leading them was a general in his forties, with a dark, iron-black complexion, clad in black armor, and a long sword at his waist—the renowned general Wang Ben. Behind him followed a dozen or so generals and civil officials, as well as several young men.
Li Xin stepped forward, and the two exchanged greetings.
"General Li, it's been three years, but you still look as dashing as ever," Wang Ben said in a loud voice.
"General Wang, you have traveled a long way and must be tired." Li Xin returned the greeting. "Food and wine have been prepared on the island to welcome you back, General."
The two walked side by side toward the general's mansion, followed by their entourage. The exiles who had gathered around craned their necks, trying to get a clear look at the people returning from overseas and to find out what they had brought back.
Yan Mu noticed that there was a boy of about sixteen or seventeen years old behind Wang Ben. Although he was dressed in the uniform of an ordinary soldier, he had an extraordinary temperament and his eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Wang Ben's—he should be Wang Ben's youngest son, Wang Li.
The welcoming ceremony lasted for an hour. A banquet was held inside the general's residence, attended by all the main generals of Wang Ben's fleet and officers under Li Xin. During the banquet, Wang Ben briefly explained the purpose of his visit.
Li Xin listened intently, but he knew in his heart that beneath the surface of the lively atmosphere, undercurrents were surging. He glanced outside the hall, and the deputy general nodded slightly—everything was under control.
At 2:45 PM, Yan Mu left the crowd and quietly headed towards the mine. The agreed time was 3:45 PM, and he needed to meet up with the Japanese beforehand.
The mine was closed today, and the laborers were resting in the camp. Yan Mu entered Mine No. 3—the agreed meeting point. More than twenty people had already gathered inside, including his seven companions and a dozen or so Japanese, led by a local Japanese leader with tattoos on his face named Xiong Xi.
"Is everything ready?" Yan Mu asked in a low voice.
Xiong Xi nodded and said in broken Qin language, "My men... fifty, outside the mine. Weapons... pickaxes, shovels, knives."
"What about the Qin army?"
"The shift change... begins at noon. Right now... there are fewer people."
Yan Mu's heart tightened. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. At noon, attacks were launched simultaneously at the mines, farmland, and port, creating chaos. He and Xiong Xi led their men to seize the ships in the port, while the others were tasked with containing the Qin army.
“Remember,” Yan Mu glanced at everyone, “don’t linger in the fight, seize the ship and retreat. Head east to what the Japanese call the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’.”
Everyone nodded, their eyes flashing with tension and determination.
At noon, we arrived.
The farmland was the first to become chaotic.
Dozens of Japanese laborers suddenly sprang into action, attacking the Qin soldiers supervising them with farm tools. Caught off guard, two soldiers fell to the ground instantly, while the rest fought back fiercely, sounding the alarm.
Almost simultaneously, a commotion arose from the direction of the port. A group of Japanese boatmen attempted to seize small boats from the berths, clashing with the guards. The sounds of clashing swords, shouts, and screams mingled together.
At the mine, Yan Mu heard commotion in the distance and knew the time had come.
"Let's do it!"
More than twenty men rushed out of the mine and charged at the guards at the mine entrance. The guards numbered only four and were caught off guard by the sudden attack. However, the Qin army was well-trained, and although outnumbered, they fought and retreated, holding the entrance firmly.
"Quick! Take the entrance!" Yan Mu roared, wielding his sharpened pickaxe as he charged toward a soldier.
The pickaxe pierced a gap in the armor, and blood splattered. The soldier groaned and fell to the ground. But the other three soldiers had already formed a battle formation, their halberds pointing forward, temporarily blocking their path.
"Go around!" Xiong Xi led the Japanese soldiers to attack from the side.
Just then, a horn sounded from high above the mine. Immediately afterwards, a rain of arrows fell from the sky!
Not just a few arrows, but dozens, even hundreds! The arrows landed precisely around the rioters, and several Japanese soldiers at the forefront fell to the ground instantly, struck by arrows.
Yan Mu looked up and saw that the mine was now filled with Qin archers. Leading them was Li Xin's deputy, who held a long sword and coldly watched the scene below.
We've fallen for their trap!
"Withdraw! Withdraw back to the mine!" Yan Mu shouted.
But it was too late. Qin soldiers appeared at all the mine exits, armed with shields and halberds, pressing forward relentlessly. The rioters were surrounded, unable to advance or retreat.
The situation was similar in the ports and farmlands. The seemingly lax defenses were actually a carefully laid trap. As soon as the Japanese uprising began, the Qin army, which had been lying in ambush, quickly moved out and suppressed it with overwhelming force.
Inside the general's mansion, the banquet continued. The faint sounds of commotion outside could be heard, but those at the table seemed oblivious.
Wang Ben put down his wine cup and looked at Li Xin: "General Li, aren't you going to take a look?"
Li Xin remained calm: "A minor disturbance is nothing to me. General Wang has come a long way and mustn't let such a small matter spoil your enjoyment of the meal."
Wang Ben smiled: "General Li is a skilled commander, I admire him."
The two raised their glasses in a toast, as if the shouts of battle outside were merely background music.