Yangzhou City

"Japanese pirates?!"

Hearing the reply from the bow, everyone exchanged bewildered looks.

What kind of place was Yangzhou?

It was the hub of the Jiang-Huai water network. With the Grand Canal as its lifeblood, it enjoyed the advantages of being "the throat of grain transport and the hub of the salt merchants." The Grand Canal ran straight through the city, with twenty-four docks lining both banks. They were never empty, day or night, nourishing the city's prosperity and refinement.

It could be said that Yangzhou's fame was great, and its defenses were equally formidable.

Though they had heard before setting out that Japanese pirates were running rampant along the coast, they had not expected the pirates to penetrate so deeply into this blessed land and cause such a tremendous disturbance.

"Don't rush. Speak slowly."

Li Yan stopped everyone and questioned him in a grave voice.

The man at the bow took the bowl of water, drank a mouthful, and only then managed to catch his breath. "Those Japanese pirates came from the mouth of the Yangtze. After landing at Nantong Langshan, they raided Rugao, Jingjiang, and other places with lightning speed, then split into three routes and advanced straight toward Yangzhou."

"They're extremely familiar with the terrain and the imperial army's defensive lines. They easily slipped past the encirclement and even laid an ambush in the deep mountains. I heard they used some terrifying sorcery."

"The reinforcements from Yangzhou Garrison, led by Commander Hong Dai, were ambushed and wiped out. Other places sent emergency aid, and checkpoints were established on both land and water to prevent the pirates from sneaking into the city."

After hearing this, Lin Yu's face flushed red. He suddenly turned and returned to the cabin, tore the hemp cloth from Lin Yaozu's mouth, and slapped him