I'm interested to see what the Nuova Italians think of the situation in China. They might appreciate the efforts of Alboino Spinola a bit more after they see that mess. 
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I'm interested to see what the Nuova Italians think of the situation in China. They might appreciate the efforts of Alboino Spinola a bit more after they see that mess.
Realistically, they won't know about the mess just after one expedition to southern coast of China.
Well, rebels will make up the majority of the states but I try to get a few in.
Special
Chapter 186
It certainly didn't take long for one of the generals to report a hostile army heading in their direction. Dang knew that neighboring officials were often jealous of the prosperity of his region so they naturally wanted it for themselves. However, Dang wasn't about to just give it to them without a fight. He and the other officials understood that prosperity alone wasn't enough to stave off invasions. They needed powerful armies that could at least fend off invaders to protect those living within. Otherwise, they would be easy pickings for anyone who was both jealous and in charge of a capable army.
Even when the emperor was still alive, there were many disagreement between the officials. The regions might be carved out on maps but the strong determined the actual borders. It was not unheard of when a powerful viceroy occupied towns of a neighboring region to gain the benefits of controlling the land. Unless the owner of the occupied towns could do anything about it, the border between the two powers would be changed to accommodate the viceroy. In an attempt to avoid such a scenario from even happening, Dang and the others spared no expenses in expanding their military force into two standing armies led by capable generals.
The eunuchs weren't alarmed by the two existing armies when Dang explained that rebels were a problem. Rebellions weren't likely within the region but that didn't mean rebels wouldn't enter the region. The two armies were partly used to protect against the rebels so Dang and the other officials weren't completely lying. Still, they were less worried about the rebels and more worried about their neighbors who viewed greedily at their lands. The rebels could be pacified if the people were offered decent jobs and a brighter future. Their neighbors wouldn't be suffice unless they had more power and wealth.
None of the officials had foreseen the collapse of the Ming Empire so the two generals weren't quite prepared for what was to come. They obeyed the orders of patrolling the borders but neither of them expected any of their neighbors to really take action. Experience told them that most of the corrupted officials might talk big but they were cowards preferring to prey on the weak. To see an actual hostile army was the last thing they expected but their assumption about corrupted officials wasn't inaccurate either. The hostile army was led by a rebel general who was expanding his domain to include more of Ming.
Special
Chapter 187
There was a sense of relief when the hostile army withdrew upon seeing the army that waited to greet them. The rebel general was likely expecting easy pickings so he wisely avoided a confrontation with rather unfavorable odds. Tang was just content that bloodshed wasn't needed since the region needed all the soldiers it could muster to defend the citizens there. Any killed soldiers would be difficult to replace since training new recruits required time that was quite the luxury. New recruits were already being trained en mass but no one expected these men to be professional soldiers anytime soon.
There was an agreement that, if a new emperor was selected, the chaos might be more manageable by officials across the empire. The death of the eunuchs might have destabilized the empire further considering the power they held in the empire's politics. Their departure would see other people take their place in the power vacuum which was where things could get very messy. The selection of a new emperor was difficult enough with all those related to the royal bloodline claiming to be the next emperor. Several of those even held high offices like viceroy so it shouldn't come as a surprise they would use their military strength to come out ahead.
If there were internal struggles to grab power inside the court, the empire officials could easily split up into many factions with each faction backing one of the more popular emperor candidates. Those factions would want to gather support across the empire seeing the officials side with the faction they saw as the strongest. A civil war would ensue that would spare no one within Ming. Dang and the other officials would have to take a side if they didn't want to be without allies. Whatever the result of the conflict, Ming would be in pieces and unable to ever recover from the effects of such a civil war.
When the news of the massacred officials reached the region, the local officials were even more convinced that Ming was descending into chaos. Neighboring regions were already experiencing vast changes where officials were defeated by rebels. New states had risen up from those regions as their rulers claimed to be the next emperor of China. Dang and the others didn't want to follow suit but they saw the danger of remaining the subjects of Ming. They would be viewed as pro-government which, while true, would be a dangerous path to take when they basically antagonized all their neighbors. The last thing they needed was to give their neighbors an excuse to gang up on them.
Chapter 187
There was a sense of relief when the hostile army withdrew upon seeing the army that waited to greet them. The rebel general was likely expecting easy pickings so he wisely avoided a confrontation with rather unfavorable odds. Tang was just content that bloodshed wasn't needed since the region needed all the soldiers it could muster to defend the citizens there. Any killed soldiers would be difficult to replace since training new recruits required time that was quite the luxury. New recruits were already being trained en mass but no one expected these men to be professional soldiers anytime soon.
There was an agreement that, if a new emperor was selected, the chaos might be more manageable by officials across the empire. The death of the eunuchs might have destabilized the empire further considering the power they held in the empire's politics. Their departure would see other people take their place in the power vacuum which was where things could get very messy. The selection of a new emperor was difficult enough with all those related to the royal bloodline claiming to be the next emperor. Several of those even held high offices like viceroy so it shouldn't come as a surprise they would use their military strength to come out ahead.
If there were internal struggles to grab power inside the court, the empire officials could easily split up into many factions with each faction backing one of the more popular emperor candidates. Those factions would want to gather support across the empire seeing the officials side with the faction they saw as the strongest. A civil war would ensue that would spare no one within Ming. Dang and the other officials would have to take a side if they didn't want to be without allies. Whatever the result of the conflict, Ming would be in pieces and unable to ever recover from the effects of such a civil war.
When the news of the massacred officials reached the region, the local officials were even more convinced that Ming was descending into chaos. Neighboring regions were already experiencing vast changes where officials were defeated by rebels. New states had risen up from those regions as their rulers claimed to be the next emperor of China. Dang and the others didn't want to follow suit but they saw the danger of remaining the subjects of Ming. They would be viewed as pro-government which, while true, would be a dangerous path to take when they basically antagonized all their neighbors. The last thing they needed was to give their neighbors an excuse to gang up on them.
We won't know that for quite awhile. There are still so many states to cover.
Special
Chapter 188
Dang and the other officials needed to come up with a fitting name for their new state. They might appear to be rebelling against the empire but they had no intentions of doing so. If an emperor was selected through proper procedures, then they would happily swear allegiance to the new emperor. Their loyalty remained with the royal family and the Ming government which, at the moment, couldn't handle the confusion throughout the empire. For the safety of the civilians living under their rule, the creation of a new state was unavoidable. They couldn't aid the new emperor if they were defeated by their neighbors.
They already announced that they would back the next emperor if he could justify his claim for the throne. This wasn't as uncommon as one would think since many officials across the empire hoped to get their people behind their actions. Some like Dang actually meant what they were saying while others were simply using it to gather supporters to bolster their strengths. Some states went as far as advertising a potential candidate as their ruler to gain the supports of peasants. Tang said that these states were particularly bothersome since they often relied on propaganda and violence to achieve their goals.
Dang was very nervous about the reaction of those living under their rule. No matter how they explained it, the creation of a new state was essentially a rebellion against the empire. It wasn't that Ming was completely destroyed following the series of events after the massacre. There were still remnants of the empire clinging on that had yet to become a part of another state. The various states eyed those land hungrily seeing potential expansion. Dang's region would face a similar situation if the officials continued using the Ming flag. Their land would be a lot harder to take but, being isolated from the rest of Ming, their battles would be anything but easy.
In the end, Dang's worries were uncalled for when he learned that the civilians were fully supportive of them. The peasants had enjoyed higher standard of living under these officials so they trusted the judgements of Dang and the other officials. They also didn't doubt that Dang's group would return the Ming once the empire had settled down. With confusions throughout the empire as new states were forming, the peasants wanted a strong government to rule over them so they could continue their content lives. Dang and the other officials had proven what they could accomplish so they had the complete support of the people under their rule.
I hope Dang names his country something that rhymes with his name. He could be the next Fan, King of Yan.
Ming isn't dead. She's just in many little pieces struggling to survive.
I hope Dang names his country something that rhymes with his name. He could be the next Fan, King of Yan.
Well, he isn't the only one involved in the name making so the name doesn't necessarily rhyme with his.
Special
Chapter 189
A week after the massacre of top officials at Ming's capital, a new state had risen from the chaos. There had been fierce debates between Dang, Tang and the others as they argued the best name for their state. They were superstitious and believed that a proper name would go a long way for their region. Their state might never become an empire but the name would be remembered by generations to come. The officials hoped to one day see their state play a role in the rebirth of Ming. The empire had collapsed but she hadn't been fully annexed. There was still hope.
Clinging onto the hope, the officials decided on a word that would symbolize the term. Their state would be known as Miao. In Chinese, Miao was often understood as a sapling. The officials saw China experiencing an aftermath of a disaster that left Ming in pieces. In a place filled with many deaths and much suffering, their state would be a sapling that would give off an aura to provide strength to those in need. It would continue growing and thriving in China as the sapling eventually become a mighty tree. They hoped that this mighty tree would one day cover all of China protecting all those living under it.
Yet, the officials understood that the mighty tree cannot do this alone. It would grow but the sapling's growth was determined by many other factors that weren't controlled by the officials themselves. To truly reach its full extent, the sapling needed the blessing of the emperor himself. The rightful emperor was known as the son of heaven who was destined to bring Ming back to her greatness. Miao would, as a result, fight under the emperor to reunite the empire once again which had been the main objective of Dang and the other officials. They only needed to wait patiently for the son of heaven to appear before them.
Once the state's name was determined, the officials were busy determining their borders. Before the collapse of Ming, borders didn't matter as much since internal struggles didn't really affect the region. With full autonomy and the necessity of defending their people and interests, the borders must be determined. They mustn't take too much land making them appear as ambitious aggressors while taking too little would put them in a less favorable position. As soon as the borders were mapped out, the Miao state was born and it was a beacon of hope for all those living within it.
Special
Chapter 190
Lin stood on his ship inspecting his sailors. He once served as an admiral under the Ming empire but, since the massacre of the officials, he was convinced that Ming was no more. There might be remnants of the empire in various parts of China but those would be integrated into the other states sooner or later. He had the island of Hainan to worry about. Hainan had been his home since he was born and he never left the island. Because of his proven ability aboard a ship, he soon became an officer before his final promotion to admiral. A large portion of the Ming navy was under his command until the collapse of the empire.
As the admiral, Lin gave his men the option to stay or leave. The option was simple since the sailors couldn't hope to survive in the volatile situation that engulfed much of Ming. New states were forming with men recruited into armies to fight for their new rulers. The sailors might excel on the sea but they would be demoted to ordinary soldiers if they returned home. Fleets were expensive to maintain so many of the new states didn't even bother constructing a navy. With their livelihood threatened back home, the sailors were essentially stuck in Hainan where, at the very least, they were promised a future.
The problem with those living in Hainan was that the island was relatively underdeveloped. There were mainly shipbuilding industries on the island with small scale agriculture. Some trade had existed but those ended as soon as Ming collapsed. Fleets were expensive to maintain so, with the large fleet under Lin's command, there was no need for further expansion. As a result, the shipbuilding industry was basically useless which put a large portion of inhabitants of Hainan out of jobs. The agriculture wasn't close to supporting local population, let alone the sailors who were serving under Lin.
The Ming empire had largely neglected the development of Hainan but that wasn't a unique story. Once the eunuchs were in power, wealth and power were largely centered at the capital and the cities in the region. Large portion of the empire was left to fend for itself and, while some regions like the one under Dang prospered under sound policies, other regions struggled to get by which was the reason for rebellion. Hainan served mainly as a naval base to fend off possible naval attacks from the west. The shipbuilding industry was subsidized by the Ming government which meant that the collapse of the empire saw the end of the industry as a whole.
Chapter 190
Lin stood on his ship inspecting his sailors. He once served as an admiral under the Ming empire but, since the massacre of the officials, he was convinced that Ming was no more. There might be remnants of the empire in various parts of China but those would be integrated into the other states sooner or later. He had the island of Hainan to worry about. Hainan had been his home since he was born and he never left the island. Because of his proven ability aboard a ship, he soon became an officer before his final promotion to admiral. A large portion of the Ming navy was under his command until the collapse of the empire.
As the admiral, Lin gave his men the option to stay or leave. The option was simple since the sailors couldn't hope to survive in the volatile situation that engulfed much of Ming. New states were forming with men recruited into armies to fight for their new rulers. The sailors might excel on the sea but they would be demoted to ordinary soldiers if they returned home. Fleets were expensive to maintain so many of the new states didn't even bother constructing a navy. With their livelihood threatened back home, the sailors were essentially stuck in Hainan where, at the very least, they were promised a future.
The problem with those living in Hainan was that the island was relatively underdeveloped. There were mainly shipbuilding industries on the island with small scale agriculture. Some trade had existed but those ended as soon as Ming collapsed. Fleets were expensive to maintain so, with the large fleet under Lin's command, there was no need for further expansion. As a result, the shipbuilding industry was basically useless which put a large portion of inhabitants of Hainan out of jobs. The agriculture wasn't close to supporting local population, let alone the sailors who were serving under Lin.
The Ming empire had largely neglected the development of Hainan but that wasn't a unique story. Once the eunuchs were in power, wealth and power were largely centered at the capital and the cities in the region. Large portion of the empire was left to fend for itself and, while some regions like the one under Dang prospered under sound policies, other regions struggled to get by which was the reason for rebellion. Hainan served mainly as a naval base to fend off possible naval attacks from the west. The shipbuilding industry was subsidized by the Ming government which meant that the collapse of the empire saw the end of the industry as a whole.
Special
Chapter 191
Min stood behind Lin while his brother inspected the sailors. The two of them were very close and joined the Ming navy at the same time. Lin was always a step ahead seeing him being promoted faster but Min had worked hard to keep pace. By the time Lin became admiral, Min was an officer who answered directly to the admiral. Since then, Min had became Lin's right hand. No one argued against this since they had seen personally what Min was capable of. He earned their respect by proving his mettle on the battlefield so no one could accuse his promotion made possible by his relationship with Lin.
The brothers discussed long hours about their future. To leave Hainan wasn't exactly an option when they knew no one outside Hainan. The ships under their command was impressive but the high maintenance meant the fleets were more of a liability than anything. While the brothers hated piracy, they couldn't help but see that as their only way out. Piracy wasn't something they were proud of. If anything, they despised piracy and often led their fleet to fight pirates that dared to venture into Ming waters. However, they were left without any other alternatives given how underdeveloped Hainan was.
The brothers never planned to resort to piracy for long. They just needed to gather enough funds and supplies to develop Hainan so it was self-sustaining. Afterwards, they could mothball the bulk of their fleet leaving a small portion to patrol the local waters and fight any threats that came their way. Once they decided on this approach, the brothers met with the other officers to share their view. The other officers weren't happy to hear about the news but they couldn't come up with alternatives. Thus, the fleet would be modified into a pirate fleet that would sail the local seas and pounce on any opportunity that might arise.
Initially, the brothers believed that merchant ships should be their main focus. The goods aboard those ships would nicely fund the development of Hainan making their days as pirates rather short. However, they soon realized that the collapse of Ming would see most, if not all, merchant ships give up on the journey to the Ming trade centers. Therefore, merchant ships weren't a reliable source of income which would force the brothers to consider other targets. After some thoughts, they decided that raids along the coast was necessary as they attacked coastal villages and towns to acquire more resources.
Chapter 191
Min stood behind Lin while his brother inspected the sailors. The two of them were very close and joined the Ming navy at the same time. Lin was always a step ahead seeing him being promoted faster but Min had worked hard to keep pace. By the time Lin became admiral, Min was an officer who answered directly to the admiral. Since then, Min had became Lin's right hand. No one argued against this since they had seen personally what Min was capable of. He earned their respect by proving his mettle on the battlefield so no one could accuse his promotion made possible by his relationship with Lin.
The brothers discussed long hours about their future. To leave Hainan wasn't exactly an option when they knew no one outside Hainan. The ships under their command was impressive but the high maintenance meant the fleets were more of a liability than anything. While the brothers hated piracy, they couldn't help but see that as their only way out. Piracy wasn't something they were proud of. If anything, they despised piracy and often led their fleet to fight pirates that dared to venture into Ming waters. However, they were left without any other alternatives given how underdeveloped Hainan was.
The brothers never planned to resort to piracy for long. They just needed to gather enough funds and supplies to develop Hainan so it was self-sustaining. Afterwards, they could mothball the bulk of their fleet leaving a small portion to patrol the local waters and fight any threats that came their way. Once they decided on this approach, the brothers met with the other officers to share their view. The other officers weren't happy to hear about the news but they couldn't come up with alternatives. Thus, the fleet would be modified into a pirate fleet that would sail the local seas and pounce on any opportunity that might arise.
Initially, the brothers believed that merchant ships should be their main focus. The goods aboard those ships would nicely fund the development of Hainan making their days as pirates rather short. However, they soon realized that the collapse of Ming would see most, if not all, merchant ships give up on the journey to the Ming trade centers. Therefore, merchant ships weren't a reliable source of income which would force the brothers to consider other targets. After some thoughts, they decided that raids along the coast was necessary as they attacked coastal villages and towns to acquire more resources.
They should have called it Yang instead of Miao. Then Dang and Tang could rule it jointly as kings of Yang.
Min and Lin, hmmm? They should rename Hainan to something with more rhyme.
Min and Lin, hmmm? They should rename Hainan to something with more rhyme.
All pirates must die! You shall be defeated by Miao, the kitty empire!
The pirates will be defeated. We won't know by whose hands just yet.
They should have called it Yang instead of Miao. Then Dang and Tang could rule it jointly as kings of Yang.
Min and Lin, hmmm? They should rename Hainan to something with more rhyme.
Rhyming isn't everything.
Special
Chapter 192
Lin and his officers didn't feel triumph after their first successful raid of a coastal town in the north. The garrison surrendered upon spotting their ships so it was a matter of taking food and supplies from the locals. Lin remembered the stares of the locals while his sailors carried all the goods to his ships. He would never forget the stares of those who could never forgive them for their act. The pirate admiral knew that his actions were wrong but he had those in Hainan to think about. In these trying times, only the strong could reign supreme and Lin had no intentions of being weak.
As more raids took place, Lin and his officers grew more accustomed to their actions. They were able to convince themselves that, after a few more good hauls, they could say goodbye to their days of piracy for good. Their storage was filling up rather nicely while agriculture on the island was widely developed to support the local population. The raids along the coast ensured food and supplies but there was still a need for more ducats to purchase goods from the west. With their base in Hainan, it was feasible to travel to Southeast Asia to purchase the goods that were difficult to acquire in a war torn China.
The pirate admiral had been careful about launching raids outside of China. He feared that his fleet might get the attention of the local powers who would feel threatened. A combined fleet by those nations would spell disaster for Lin who wished to maintain his strength if possible. He had mostly targeted the easier prey to minimize the losses on his side which had been working quite well. There were the occasional merchant ship that somehow wondered into the seas south of China. Being outside the waters of Southeast Asian nations, those ships were seen by Lin as fair game and he didn't hesitate to capture them.
Once those merchant ships were captured, Lin was faced with a problem as to how he would deal with them. The merchants arrived from the west so, if he released them, they would return home and spread the news of his pirate fleet. This was the last thing he wanted to do. Yet, he couldn't exactly let them stay on Hainan where food resources were carefully rationed to ensure they lasted a long time. The two brothers discussed and they agreed to quietly dispatch the merchant crew with a number of their trusted men. They weren't proud of these executions but they saw it as necessary for their survival.
Special
Chapter 193
The coastal raids went as planned until one storm day when the pirate fleet encountered more resistance than they expected. The pirate fleet was returning from a good raid when the lookout reported the sighting of a merchant ship. The conditions were absolutely terrible as the waves were becoming more fierce. It would be wise to quickly dock and wait out the storm. Lin knew that remaining in the storm could cost them all their lives so he ignored the merchant ship and gave orders to head towards the nearest town. He doubted the locals would resist so his fleet could freely use their dock to shelter them from the storm.
The town Lin was thinking of soon came into view and he didn't bother checking to see if the garrison was willing to surrender. He assumed that they could enter without problems since they had made quite a reputation for themselves in these parts of the China. What they weren't expecting was that the garrison had been given a number of new weapons which they eagerly waited to use. Seeing the pirate ships made the garrisons blood boil as they vowed for revenge only a few weeks ago. They brought their weapons to the towers where they had a clear view of the pirate ships and the weapons were sheltered from the rain.
The coastal town was part of a new state that had only sprung up recently. The locals were willing to subjugate to the new state on the promise they would be protected by the pirates. The new state wasn't quite in a position to challenge the pirates given their lack of warships to perform naval battles but the weapons were gifts to show that the state had the interests of the locals in mind. The state officials gifted the weapons to show their commitment but they never expected the locals to put them to use so quickly. Like the state officials, Lin's pirate fleet was about to get a very nasty surprise.
The local garrison had a week to practice with the weapons and they were simply amazed by the devastating powers of these weapons that were known as cannons. They heard that cannons were brought from a place in the far west which they never even heard of. Yet, they grew confident that the cannons were more than enough to defeat the pirate fleet, especially if the pirates weren't expecting the surprise they had planned. The storm made visibility difficult but the large silhouette of the pirate ships and the relatively close range made it very difficult to miss. The garrison took aim and soon fired their first volley.
Chapter 193
The coastal raids went as planned until one storm day when the pirate fleet encountered more resistance than they expected. The pirate fleet was returning from a good raid when the lookout reported the sighting of a merchant ship. The conditions were absolutely terrible as the waves were becoming more fierce. It would be wise to quickly dock and wait out the storm. Lin knew that remaining in the storm could cost them all their lives so he ignored the merchant ship and gave orders to head towards the nearest town. He doubted the locals would resist so his fleet could freely use their dock to shelter them from the storm.
The town Lin was thinking of soon came into view and he didn't bother checking to see if the garrison was willing to surrender. He assumed that they could enter without problems since they had made quite a reputation for themselves in these parts of the China. What they weren't expecting was that the garrison had been given a number of new weapons which they eagerly waited to use. Seeing the pirate ships made the garrisons blood boil as they vowed for revenge only a few weeks ago. They brought their weapons to the towers where they had a clear view of the pirate ships and the weapons were sheltered from the rain.
The coastal town was part of a new state that had only sprung up recently. The locals were willing to subjugate to the new state on the promise they would be protected by the pirates. The new state wasn't quite in a position to challenge the pirates given their lack of warships to perform naval battles but the weapons were gifts to show that the state had the interests of the locals in mind. The state officials gifted the weapons to show their commitment but they never expected the locals to put them to use so quickly. Like the state officials, Lin's pirate fleet was about to get a very nasty surprise.
The local garrison had a week to practice with the weapons and they were simply amazed by the devastating powers of these weapons that were known as cannons. They heard that cannons were brought from a place in the far west which they never even heard of. Yet, they grew confident that the cannons were more than enough to defeat the pirate fleet, especially if the pirates weren't expecting the surprise they had planned. The storm made visibility difficult but the large silhouette of the pirate ships and the relatively close range made it very difficult to miss. The garrison took aim and soon fired their first volley.
Special
Chapter 194
Min was on deck giving orders for docking when a cannon landed only a meter from him blowing him to pieces. The explosion also wounded a number of others and shook the ship itself. Lin was in his cabin when the cannonball exploded and quickly rushed above deck to investigate. He arrived to see a number of men in terrible conditions in need of medical help. He quickly got those men below deck while asking about what happened. Before any of his sailors could respond, a second volley was fired seeing further damage to the ship. Lin's instinct told him that they were being attacked and the enemy could only be the garrison.
Lin shouted for Min but there was no reply. He demanded to know where his brother was when one of the sailors claimed to have seen Min blown to pieces by a cannonball. Lin couldn't believe what he just heard and roughed up the sailor before asking him to repeat himself. Lin watched as tears dripped down the sailor's face as he heard the same thing. He couldn't believe his brother was gone. Min was speaking with him an hour ago about how this was supposed to be their last day of piracy. They could finally settle down on Hainan and rule over the people there by creating a new state of their own.
The pirate admiral shouted at the top of his lung before bursting into tears. A third volley reminded Lin that they were still attacked and he felt anger surging within him. The pirate admiral had planned to simply dock and leave once the storm subsided but the death of his brother made him change his mind. He would not let the locals live when they took someone so dear to him. Lin knew that they took food and supplies from the coastal settlements but they avoided harming the locals if possible. This time, the locals were the aggressors and they had to be punished. He mustn't let his brother's death be in vain.
Lin gave orders to pick up speed and for his men to prepare for battle. His officers understood the emotions going through their admiral's mind since they knew the person Min was. Min was very likeable and reliable. The sailors respected the man who never viewed himself as superior. His death brought much sadness to the crew aboard the ship and all the sailors wanted to avenge him. Even the badly wounded sailors, once they heard about Min's death, volunteered to fight when they were in no condition to even stand. The local garrison might have gotten devastating weapons but, by firing the volleys, they had signed their death warrants.
Chapter 194
Min was on deck giving orders for docking when a cannon landed only a meter from him blowing him to pieces. The explosion also wounded a number of others and shook the ship itself. Lin was in his cabin when the cannonball exploded and quickly rushed above deck to investigate. He arrived to see a number of men in terrible conditions in need of medical help. He quickly got those men below deck while asking about what happened. Before any of his sailors could respond, a second volley was fired seeing further damage to the ship. Lin's instinct told him that they were being attacked and the enemy could only be the garrison.
Lin shouted for Min but there was no reply. He demanded to know where his brother was when one of the sailors claimed to have seen Min blown to pieces by a cannonball. Lin couldn't believe what he just heard and roughed up the sailor before asking him to repeat himself. Lin watched as tears dripped down the sailor's face as he heard the same thing. He couldn't believe his brother was gone. Min was speaking with him an hour ago about how this was supposed to be their last day of piracy. They could finally settle down on Hainan and rule over the people there by creating a new state of their own.
The pirate admiral shouted at the top of his lung before bursting into tears. A third volley reminded Lin that they were still attacked and he felt anger surging within him. The pirate admiral had planned to simply dock and leave once the storm subsided but the death of his brother made him change his mind. He would not let the locals live when they took someone so dear to him. Lin knew that they took food and supplies from the coastal settlements but they avoided harming the locals if possible. This time, the locals were the aggressors and they had to be punished. He mustn't let his brother's death be in vain.
Lin gave orders to pick up speed and for his men to prepare for battle. His officers understood the emotions going through their admiral's mind since they knew the person Min was. Min was very likeable and reliable. The sailors respected the man who never viewed himself as superior. His death brought much sadness to the crew aboard the ship and all the sailors wanted to avenge him. Even the badly wounded sailors, once they heard about Min's death, volunteered to fight when they were in no condition to even stand. The local garrison might have gotten devastating weapons but, by firing the volleys, they had signed their death warrants.
Getting blown apart by a cannonball doesn't sound like the best way to go.
Indeed, rhyming isn't everything; it's the only thing.
Indeed, rhyming isn't everything; it's the only thing.
Getting blown apart by a cannonball doesn't sound like the best way to go.
Indeed, rhyming isn't everything; it's the only thing.
At least the death was swift. Since you are such a big fan of rhyming, I think you should do your updates with Naples and the iAAR all with rhymes.
Special
Chapter 195
The garrison got a few more volleys off before the pirate fleet docked. Lin led his men towards the towers where the cannons were situated. The garrison fought fiercely but they were completely outnumbered. They were even outmatched considering that the sailors were seeking revenge and that gave them tremendous strength. The garrison was soon overwhelmed but Lin and his men weren't suffice yet. They turned their sights on the civilians who had taken shelter within their homes. The storm was very fierce but Lin and his men barely noticed the rain and gust. They only sought for the blood of those who took Min from them.
The civilians weren't even aware a battle was taking place outside their homes. The wind gusts muffled the sound of cannons and war cries so the civilians weren't expecting any hostile action taken upon them until Lin and his men started barging through the doors. Every home was barged in with the sailors killing anyone they saw regardless of age or gender. They did thorough searches until they were certain everyone in the household was killed. Lin ordered his men to finish their task before they could take cover from the storm. The pirate admiral was worried that some civilians might flee if they weren't eliminated promptly.
Lin led his sailors and slaughtered the local garrison and civilians to the last man. They burned the town down after taking everything that were worthwhile. Their greatest acquisition was the cannons that were used against them earlier. While these weapons were the reason for Min's death, the pirate admiral recognized their importance for his ships. If he was to protect Hainan from outside threats, he must use the devastating weapons to do so. By the time the town was burned down, the storm had long subsided so the pirate fleet was able to chart its way home. Their days as pirates had officially ended with a massacre to end it.
There was a sense of loneliness when Lin returned to Hainan without his brother. The cannonball did a good job blowing him up resulting in no corpse to bury. Lin gave his brother's remains a proper burial at sea just outside the town following the destruction of it. Hoping to remember his brother, Lin decided to name his state Min. In Chinese, Min was translated as the people which made sense given how everything he and the officers did was for those living on the island. They even became pirates to ensure the survival of those on the island. With the creation of Min, Lin became the first king seeing him finally give up his life out at sea to rule over Hainan.
Curse you pirates! You have won the day, but your people will one day be annihilated as well.
Curse you pirates! You have won the day, but your people will one day be annihilated as well.
They will be punished for their crimes eventually. I like to have my final China special be revolving around a state that would deliver the final blow to Min.
Chapter 196
The Nuova Italian sailors could only watch as their pursuers give up the chase while a larger fleet was heading directly at them. They watched the large fleet eventually surrounding them with no intentions of letting them get away. With the explorer out of commission, the next highest officer took charge and told the men to remain calm. To resist could spell the end for them but captivity seemed like an alternative they would be wise to avoid. One of the foreign ships approached the barques with a man aboard shouting in Cantonese. Luckily, one man aboard Oddone's barque could act as a translator and the men learned that the other side wished to talk.
The officer in charge agreed to talks seeing the other ship move alongside the barque. A large number of armed men boarded the ship as they clearly didn't trust the Nuova Italian sailors aboard. The Nuova Italian sailors still hadn't unsheathed their weapons either with them expecting a skirmish to break out any moment. The officer in charge walked to greet the boarding party and asked them what business they had with the three barques. One of the Chinese men, likely the leader of the boarding party, commented about the skin color of some Nuova Italian men claiming that they must be foreigners. The officer laughed at the comment knowing that he had quite a story to tell.
The Europeans had fully integrated into the local population of Sumatra but their descendents still carried many traits of Europeans that made it very difficult for them to merge in with the locals. The Chinese men who boarded hadn't expected to see foreigner they only heard from stories. They were naturally surprised by the presence of so many when they heard the home of the white people was in the far west. The officer in charge briefly shared the story of Michele which baffled the boarding party with many of them looking skeptically at the officer. They might not believe every word of this Nuova Italian officer but they couldn't deny the evidence before them either.
Once the story was finished, the Chinese men all looked to their leader waiting for instructions. Those were tense moments since the orders of the leader could decide the fate of all the Nuova Italian sailors. They waited patiently for the Chinese leader to eventually make up his mind. The man looked around at the Nuova Italian sailors and told them that they could leave. The boarding party backed off and returned to their ships before the large fleet headed back in the direction of China. The Nuova Italian sailors felt relief that they got to live another day but they soon received terrible news regarding Oddone. The explorer had passed away from his injuries.