Close-Quarters Gunner

The fleet quickly dispersed.

Among Zhao Yannian's group were indeed skilled boatmen who quickly distributed their fleet evenly around the island, and then gradually tightened the encirclement.

Finally, a small number of people Shangdu each ship went ashore to search for the remaining Japanese pirates.

Ox Mountain Island had over a thousand Japanese pirates, but at the first outpost on the beach, only about two hundred were lost.

Those who were trying to launch their boats out to sea were also killed one after another.

Most of the Japanese pirates knew they couldn't escape, so they could only find places to hide on the island.

"How can those people's muskets be so powerful? Could they be the legendary Divine Machine Battalion?!"

"Even the Divine Machine Battalion's muskets wouldn't be this powerful. Besides, they're responsible for protecting the capital. They didn't even send troops when there was such a huge commotion back then. Why would they be attacking from the sea now?"

A group of over thirty Japanese pirates, not daring to return to their camp, hid among the strange rocks and ravines, occasionally peeking out to look around.

"Hiding here isn't a solution; let's blend in with the servants."

"If they ask us about it later, just say we were captured too. With our power and influence, those lackeys won't dare betray us."

One of the underlings scolded, "Don't get your hopes up! Those lackeys are all near the leader's main room so he can use it, but that old monk and that ghost-like man went straight for the leader's main room."

"Can't they see you all eating and drinking well, your faces shiny with oil? Going over there now would be suicide."

The foreman said decisively, "Hide! They can't stay here permanently. As long as we can evade their search, we still have a chance."

Among the pirates, one suddenly said nervously, "Whenever a slave tries to escape and hides on the island, is this what they're thinking too?"

Ox Mountain Island is not very large, but it has never had any slaves and has successfully evaded searches.

Bang!

A pirate who was peering out suddenly had his head split open and fell to the ground.

The pirates in the ditch shouted wildly and fled.

Their formation was scattered, and they charged around wildly, brandishing their swords, seemingly no different from when they used to plunder and kill, except today they were using it to escape.

The petty thug was provoked and jumped out of the ditch, intending to retaliate.

He had killed quite a few government musketeers; once they got close, the musketeers were about as good as the regular government soldiers.

But when he realized the distance, his ferocity immediately diminished.

The group of men carrying muskets were more than two hundred paces away from him.

Relying on his martial arts skills, he dodged more than a dozen shots, and even had a bloody gash on his forehead, before finally rushing close and slashing with his sword.

When!!

The Japanese sword struck the gun barrel, sending sparks flying.

The minor Mulian slashes, all of which were blocked by the authentic Southern Shaolin "Lesser Yaksha Staff Technique".

The gun barrel, forged using a new metallurgical formula from the Fire God Secret Formula, combined with Shaolin internal energy, is powerful enough to counter this kind of sword strike.

The monk's robes fluttered in the wind, and his movements were extremely agile.

Two more blows came simultaneously from the side, one shattering his ankle and the other striking his temple.

The leader felt a sharp pain in his foot, then his mind went blank. "Baka! I've practiced kendo for over ten years!"

The monk in front of him thrust his spear forward, and the barrel pierced the monk's throat.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

The three monks chanted a Buddhist prayer in unison, then kicked the corpse away.

"My fellow disciples and I have been practicing the Yaksha Staff Formation for almost twenty years!"

The other monks had already given chase and pursued them.

The young monk who had just shot the man in the throat looked at the bloodstains on the gun barrel, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his face paled.

"Junior brother, the Yaksha Wisdom King is meant to subdue demons."

The monk beside him said, "The Japanese pirates have indeed committed demonic acts; we are here to subdue them."

The young monk said, "That's just an excuse to fool ourselves; in reality, they are indeed human."

"After I go back, I will return to secular life..."

Seeing the shocked expressions on his two senior brothers' faces, he added, "But my family used to be fishing families by the sea. Now that we've returned to secular life, I can't let these Japanese pirates get away with it!"

The young monk rushed out.

"Senior brother, hurry and chase after them!"

It only took about an hour for the group to search the island thoroughly.

Groups of people gathered one after another in front of Kichinosuke's house.

The houses in this area are actually not far apart.

Chu Tianshu and Chan Master Miaokong have already searched all these houses and killed the Japanese pirates hiding inside.

When Zhao Yannian arrived, Chu Tianshu was holding a bundle of Japanese swords, pulling them out one by one to examine the quality of the blades.

Chan Master Miaokong stood aside chanting scriptures, looking somewhat embarrassed. When he saw Zhao Yannian arrive, he quickly waved to him.

Zhao Yannian said, "Master."

"Yannian."

Chan Master Miaokong said kindly, "There are still over a hundred benefactors in these houses who were abducted to the island. Go and comfort them later and explain everything clearly."

"We are not pirates here to seize territory, but to rescue them."

Zhao Yannian nodded repeatedly and said, "Master, you have a kind face. It would be more effective if you spoke with us."

The embarrassment on Miaokong's face reappeared.

"When the Layman Tian stormed here, he was at the height of his power, almost causing them to faint."

"This humble monk also came using Sonic Art, which only made matters worse, knocking them all unconscious in one fell swoop."

"Who would have thought that when they woke up, they didn't quite remember Layman Tian, but they did remember that it was this humble monk who had frightened them into fainting, and they were terrified when they faced this humble monk."

Zhao Yannian suddenly realized.

"It's not that they don't remember me, it's just that I was sensible enough not to rush over to them."

Chu Tianshu approached with a smile, "The master probably thinks that as an old monk, he has a natural affinity. He's used to being treated kindly outside and hasn't noticed this."

Zhao Yannian quickly changed the subject for the old monk, asking, "Layman Tian, what are you doing with these Japanese swords?"

Chu Tianshu said, "There are more than a dozen bundles of these knives in the warehouse. I think the quality is pretty good. I'll take them all back as spoils of war."

Zhao Yannian frowned instinctively. "Our Shaolin has its own monk's sword, why use these Japanese swords?"

Even the Shaolin ' knives might not be enough.

Chu Tianshu said, "You have already witnessed the power of the Divine Fire Gun today. From now on, in addition to the workshops directly controlled by the Southern Shaolin, the weapon workshops run by you lay disciples can also replicate this spear."

"So, will you be making guns or knives?"

Zhao Yannian blurted out, "Of course, it's about making guns."

That's right.

Chu Tianshu laughed, "But even if you all made guns, it would still take a long time to popularize this kind of gun."

"Before this, most people still needed to use knives, but the old knives were worn out, and there weren't any good new ones being produced. What could be done?"

Zhao Yannian thought about it and agreed that it made sense.

"But this knife..."

He was still a little uneasy. "Just looking at this knife, I knew it was used by Japanese pirates."

Chu Tianshu laughed and said, "Your identities were previously unknown, and carrying this knife certainly raised suspicions."

"But later, everyone knew we were fighting Japanese pirates, and carrying these kinds of knives, people would immediately recognize them as captured weapons."

"This is honor!"

Chu Tianshu patted Zhao Yannian on the shoulder with a smile, "It's just the beginning stage, so it's not shameful to use other people's spoils."

"The more we take, the more we win."

"Now that I've explained this to you today, you'll be the one to explain it to others if they can't grasp the concepts."

Zhao Yannian was finally able to put his worries aside.

This lay Buddhist, despite his young age, possessed extraordinary martial arts skills, yet he was not overly reserved or arrogant in his interactions with others.

It seems that his attitude is the same whether he is dealing with Chan Master Miaokong, monks, or lay disciples, which makes people feel a sense of closeness without even realizing it.

"Wait a minute."

Zhao Yannian suddenly realized, "Besides the workshops in the mountains, even shops in various places can replicate this kind of gun."

"Wouldn't it be easy for this secret to be leaked and stolen by others once it gets out?"

Chu Tianshu had already discussed this point with Xu Ben, Miaofan, and others.

"It's inevitable that structural elements will be disassembled and learned, but the metallurgical proportions will be strictly controlled."

Chu Tianshu explained, "Moreover, the Divine Fire Gun's immense power is largely due to the technology of its ammunition."

"From now on, while other workshops manufacture guns, the workshops directly under the Southern Shaolin Temple can specialize in producing ammunition. This remains a secret."

Zhao Yannian was relieved.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Chan Master Miaokong continued, "Once this news spreads, not only will the original Southern Shaolin sects take action, but as Layman Tian mentioned, they will also recruit local militias and train them with swords."

"Yannian, Pingtan County is now in your hands."

He then looked at Chu Tianshu.

"From now on, we four brothers must always accompany Layman Tian and not give Chen Zuqi the opportunity to behead him to establish his authority."

Chu Tianshu smiled and said, "Chen Zuqi might not be among the first to come knocking."

(End of this chapter)