The Mizusawa Kingdom experienced constant large and small wars every year. The people had become very skilled at responding to them—not because they were accustomed to war, but because they were insignificant and voiceless. Those in power wouldn’t consider their feelings and opinions. Over time, they could only silently endure the consequences that war brought.

Watching their own men march in orderly formation toward the seaside, the women and children could only hide in crude thatched huts and weep silently.

At evening, the sea surface seemed to ignite with orange-red flames, a vast expanse of crimson like blazing fire stretching to the horizon.

Ishikawa Minao led his over two hundred subordinate soldiers in formation at the dock. Facing the setting sun and looking at the several dozen people who had come down from the tower ship in battle formation, he immediately burst into loud laughter.

“If you’re willing to kneel and beg for mercy, I’ll agree to leave you with an intact corpse!”

The warriors who had come with him all laughed uproariously, each rubbing their hands together eagerly. Their greedy eyes stared only at the tower ship—they wanted both the cargo and women aboard!

After hearing Gao Delai’s explanation, Qin Yining smiled and similarly called out loudly, “Ishikawa Minao, if you’re willing to agree to publicize the truth from years ago, clear Sakurai’s name, and kowtow in apology before Sakurai’s grave, I’ll spare your family’s lives!”

Gao Delai immediately translated Qin Yining’s words into Japanese and announced them loudly.

Upon hearing Sakurai’s name, Ishikawa Minao immediately became violent, cursing loudly, “Sakurai, that traitor—I will never forgive him!”

“Is that so? Traitor? Who the real traitor is, you know in your heart!”

Veins bulged at Ishikawa Minao’s temples. He could see the other party knew the events from years ago intimately. Moreover, they had people who could speak Japanese. He didn’t want to give them any opportunity to speak. The events from years ago could only rot in that past time!

“Enough nonsense! Since we’ve agreed to battle, then let’s fight!” Ishikawa Minao looked at the several dozen people lined up in battle formation on the opposite dock, speaking with full confidence.

Qin Yining smiled slightly. “I hope Ishikawa Daimyo won’t regret this. I gave you a chance—you chose not to take it yourself.”

Ishikawa Minao sneered coldly. Just as he was about to speak, sitting on his horse, he seemed to see something strange on the sea surface.

In the direction of the setting sun, from where the burning sunset clouds met the sea, a row of billowing sails was heading straight toward them, already very close! The golden light of the setting sun and the dazzling waves made everyone squint to see. When these ships were still far away, he hadn’t looked carefully at all!

The soldiers began to stir restlessly as everyone saw the fleet rapidly approaching.

One ship, two ships…

In their panic, they couldn’t even count how many ships were coming from the other side. They only felt these ships were overwhelming like a vast net, quickly surrounding the dock.

A green light point slowly rose from the largest ship.

Immediately, a red light point shot up into the sky from the tower ship on shore, as if responding to that distant signal.

Ishikawa Minao was dumbstruck, completely stunned. His subordinate soldiers were even more timidly gripping their spears, their feet in straw sandals retreating uncontrollably.

Qin Yining stood on the deck of the tower ship. The evening breeze stirred her brocade robe, and her light-colored clothing was dyed crimson by the setting sun. Several strands of her long hair danced in the wind. She smiled softly and raised her left hand.

From the twenty-plus large and small warships that had approached, hundreds of small boats were quickly lowered by ropes. Water splashed as warriors roared. Over a thousand people successively landed at the dock.

These were all the Prince’s mansion guards who had taken Li Qitian’s legitimate route after Pang Xiao was “assassinated” by the people of Danfu County. But in reality, they had all been trained for a long time. After transporting treasure and gathering at Jingang, they had been separately loaded onto thirty warships by Qin Yining during the great fire at Jingang.

Pang Xiao had always been renowned for his skill in leading troops. These Prince’s mansion guards he had trained, led by elite Tiger Guards, completed their rapid landing and formation in just an instant. Combined with their excellent weapons, uniform light armor, strict discipline, and absolute obedience to orders, their momentum alone was enough to surpass the Mizusawa Kingdom soldiers a hundredfold. Moreover, over a thousand men against just over two hundred—the numerical superiority alone was enough to drive one to despair.

Ishikawa Minao felt a stifling pain in his chest and realized he had been so tense he had forgotten to breathe.

This had to be fake, right? It was a joke, right?

Hadn’t they said the other side only had a few dozen people?

Hadn’t they said the other side was just a weak noble woman?

Why would a weak woman have such a well-equipped and well-trained force! Such powerful strength would be enough to dominate the entire Japanese mainland!

How could this battle still be fought?

The numerical crushing alone was enough to annihilate them completely.

Ishikawa Minao’s hands trembled.

His subordinate warriors all had reddened eyes, gripping their swords tightly, facing the landing forces in battle formation.

Everyone on the ships was already boiling with excitement, eager to pounce and tear viciously at the enemy. Compared to their earlier worries, now with twenty-plus warships surrounding the harbor and over a thousand of their own troops successfully landed, the exhilaration brought by overwhelming superiority made their fighting spirit soar.

Having won in momentum, before the battle even began, they had already achieved half victory.

Nearby residents heard the commotion. Some curiously came out to look and were shocked by the orderly formation at the dock.

They had never seen so many people in any previous battles!

The people spread the word, running to tell others. In their panic, some fled with their children while others despairingly remained in the village to await death. A large portion gathered on mountain paths, looking despairingly toward the seaside.

Qin Yining instructed Gao Delai, “Speak my words loudly for them to hear.”

“Yes!” Gao Delai’s voice was extremely resonant.

Qin Yining said, “Ishikawa Daimyo, I had no intention of landing on your country’s territory, but you conceal the truth, slander Sakurai Hideaki, refuse to clear Sakurai’s name, and won’t even allow Sakurai Hideaki’s ashes to be buried in his homeland. You are so hypocritical, jealous of the talented, and harmful to subordinates who are utterly loyal to you. Such character will only bring disaster to the Mizusawa Kingdom! Are you still worthy of being a nation’s daimyo!”

Gao Delai’s voice echoed across the seaside as all the Mizusawa Kingdom people looked at each other in bewilderment.

Ishikawa Minao was covered in cold sweat, his face alternating between pale and red as he cursed with a stiff neck, “Bastard! Absolute nonsense!”

“I don’t want to waste words with you. I’ll give you two paths. First, you tell the truth from years ago, bury Sakurai, and kowtow in apology before Sakurai Hideaki’s grave. My army will only remain by the seaside. Once you complete these tasks, we’ll leave immediately without interfering in Mizusawa Kingdom affairs.

“Second, you remain stubborn, refuse to tell the truth from years ago, and continue slandering Sakurai Hideaki. My army will have no choice but to engage you in battle, kill you directly, and then I’ll give Sakurai a proper burial.

“I won’t harm the people of your Mizusawa Kingdom—your people can rest assured, because war is a matter between soldiers. However, I will not spare you!”