Chapter 25: Li Chuan’s Path to Leadership
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The fishing village’s victory not only inspired all its inhabitants but also spread throughout the surrounding settlements. Though these coastal villages had never witnessed the Japanese pirates’ brutality with their own eyes, they had long been terrified by their reputation. After hearing that the fishing village had successfully repelled the pirates, quite a few village chiefs and clan elders came to visit, driven by both curiosity and doubt.
“Li Chuan, your victory over the Japanese pirates this time is truly satisfying!” exclaimed an elderly man dressed in rags but still full of vigor. He was Elder Zhou, the clan chief of nearby Sandtail Village.
Li Chuan cupped his hands modestly. “You flatter me, Elder Zhou. It was merely our fishing village’s effort to defend itself.”
“Defending yourselves is commendable, but the pirates’ strength is hardly so easy to shake.” Concern showed in Elder Zhou’s eyes. “After suffering a defeat, they will surely return. When they do, I fear a single fishing village will not be able to withstand them.”
Another village chief standing nearby nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Those pirates are unreasonable. They will never let this matter rest.”
Lanna stepped out from the crowd and spoke bluntly. “The Japanese pirates will not let this rest—we know that very well. But if everyone joins together to resist the invasion, there will be no need to fear them any longer.”
“Join together?” Quiet discussion rippled through the crowd.
“Li Chuan.” A strong, broad-shouldered middle-aged man stepped forward. He was the head fisherman of a nearby village. “The Japanese pirates are not ordinary bandits. They have warships, weapons, and well-trained soldiers. We are merely common folk who make our living by the sea. Can we truly stand against them?”
Li Chuan’s gaze remained steady, and his voice was firm. “I do not deny the pirates’ strength, but that does not mean we can only wait for death. Our village’s victory is the best proof. As long as we have sound strategies and the determination to work together, any enemy can be defeated.”
To dispel the crowd’s misgivings, Li Chuan decided to publicly display the spoils the fishing village had seized in battle.
In the open ground at the village entrance, the villagers laid out the weapons, armor, battle flags, and some of the cargo left behind by the pirates. Though the objects were marked with rust from seawater, they still conveyed the pirates’ formidable equipment and disciplined organization.
Elder Zhou stroked his beard as he carefully examined a flag bearing the pirates’ emblem. “You actually managed to seize these things? It seems you truly fought a hard battle.”
“This is only the beginning.” Li Chuan pointed toward a massive iron-spiked net nearby. “This is what we used to ambush the enemy ships. It is simple, but highly effective. Once the pirates’ vessels are trapped, even their greatest strength is useless.”
Someone in the crowd murmured, “That is indeed a good method. We fishermen know the sea better than anyone. By making use of the terrain and our tools, we can certainly make up for our inferior equipment.”
Li Chuan seized the moment. “Exactly. We do not need to meet the pirates head-on. They are unfamiliar with these waters, while we are native fishermen who know the tides, reefs, and winds like the backs of our hands. If we make full use of those advantages, victory will be within our grasp.”
Lanna stood beside Li Chuan and added, “A single village truly is not enough. Our plan is to establish a joint defense system and unite the strength of the surrounding villages. This will not only improve our ability to resist the pirates but also reduce conflicts between villages. We can share resources and stand together through every danger.”
Silence fell over the crowd.
At last, Elder Zhou spoke. “What you say sounds sensible, but if we truly unite, how will the resources be divided among the villages? And when the pirates come, will your fishing village have the final say?”
Li Chuan recognized the probing in his words and answered openly. “I understand your concerns, Elder Zhou. We can sit down and discuss the matter of resources and distribution. Everything will be open and transparent. As for command, I have no desire to fight for power. I only hope to bind everyone’s strength together. If there is someone better suited to lead us, I will gladly follow their arrangements.”
His words eased the doubts in the crowd somewhat.
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Lanna continued, “Our next priority is to organize joint patrol teams and mutual-aid groups. The patrol teams will monitor the pirates’ movements, while the mutual-aid groups will help villages in difficulty overcome their hardships. As long as we stand united, we will surely be able to protect our homes.”
That evening, representatives from the surrounding villages were invited to remain and discuss the details of the joint defense plan.
Li Chuan patiently answered everyone’s questions, while Lanna recorded the needs and concerns of each village. After several hours of discussion, some of the villages tentatively expressed their willingness to join the joint defense system.
“Li Chuan, you are an honest man.” Elder Zhou patted him on the shoulder. “Although I still have some concerns, I am willing to give this a try. Sandtail Village will first send ten men to join the patrol team.”
The other village chiefs also voiced their support. Their levels of commitment varied, but Li Chuan’s sincerity and ability had clearly moved them.
At dawn the next day, thick smoke rose from the open ground of the fishing village. The villagers had lit bonfires to send a signal to the settlements in the distance—the new joint defense system was rapidly taking shape.
Standing at the village entrance and watching the approaching lines of villagers, Lanna revealed a faint, relieved smile. “It seems everyone has begun to believe in us.”
Li Chuan nodded, anticipation in his voice. “This is only the beginning. The Japanese pirates will not give us much time. We must seize every opportunity to strengthen the alliance.”
More challenges awaited him, but his gaze remained resolute.
At dawn, Li Chuan stood atop the fishing village’s watchtower, gazing across the vast sea. His thoughts had already shifted from the joy of victory to plans for the future. The battle against the Japanese pirates was far from over; indeed, it was about to become even more arduous. Although the fishing village’s victory had raised everyone’s morale, it had been only a small-scale, probing counterattack. To eliminate the pirate threat once and for all, they would need to rely on a far greater force.
In the morning, Li Chuan summoned the village’s key figures for a meeting. Lanna, Village Chief Liu, several experienced fisherman leaders, and several newly arrived representatives from the surrounding settlements were all present.
“Li Chuan, yesterday’s discussion caused representatives from several villages to waver,” Lanna said directly. “But they still have doubts in their hearts. They are worried that our fishing village merely wants to take advantage of them.”
“Take advantage of them?” Li Chuan gave a soft laugh. “If they truly believe they are being used, then I have failed to make our reasoning clear.” His eyes shone, and his voice was firm. “We must prove through our actions that this is not only for the sake of our fishing village. It is for the survival of every coastal settlement.”
He walked to the table and spread out a map drawn in charcoal. “Everyone, look here. This is our fishing village—Southwind Bay. Five villages, large and small, lie scattered around it. Although the Japanese pirates often raid this area, the terrain favors us. There are many reefs, and the tides are complicated. We can use them as our natural defenses.”
“You mean to build a defensive line at sea?” Village Chief Liu asked.
“Not merely a defensive line.” Li Chuan pointed to several locations on the map. “I intend to establish a joint fisherman fleet. Each village will send its most capable seamen to participate in training, forming a stronger fighting force. At the same time, we will establish defenses at key points and protect our territorial waters.”
A murmur passed through the room.
“Li Chuan, this… this will not be easy!” Elder Zhou, the representative from the surrounding villages, frowned. “Our villagers can barely manage to feed themselves. Where will we find the strength to maintain a fleet?”
Li Chuan had anticipated the question. With a faint smile, he took out a trophy of war—a command token seized from a pirate leader. “This token was taken from a pirate commander. Their ships also carried vast quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and cargo. What does that tell us? The pirates are greedy, but they are also vulnerable. Their wealth was all stolen. If we unite and defeat them, that wealth can become the capital we need for our counterattack.”
Village Chief Liu stroked his beard and nodded. “Li Chuan is right. Rather than wait to be robbed, we should strike back. That wealth was earned through the blood and sweat of our people in the first place. Reclaiming it is the proper course.”
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Over the next several days, Li Chuan visited the surrounding villages one by one. He not only explained the plan but also personally led people in demonstrating how to lay traps and how to use the tides to ambush enemy ships. His actions won the trust of more and more people, and some village chiefs who had initially been skeptical gradually changed their minds.
The open ground of the fishing village grew extraordinarily lively. The villagers busied themselves repairing fishing nets and transforming them into iron-spiked nets designed to trap enemy ships. Others began crafting wooden shields and spears, while some young men volunteered to learn how to use bows and arrows.
Lanna was responsible for distributing supplies. Every day, she took stock of the village’s grain reserves and arranged for resources to be exchanged among the different settlements. Her efficient organization made cooperation between the villages increasingly smooth.
“Li Chuan, you have truly done it this time.” Lanna spoke to him after one meeting, her voice carrying a hint of relief. “But have you considered what we will do if the pirates send more ships?”
“Of course I have.” Li Chuan’s gaze grew distant and profound. “That is why we need more than defense and ambushes. We must also make them afraid. The pirates are so brazen because they believe we have no way to fight back. Once they realize that we can not only counterattack but also capture their ships and supplies, they will hesitate. They will retreat.”
The opportunity came soon enough.
One morning, a sentry hurried down from the watchtower. “Two pirate ships are approaching from the north! It doesn’t look as though there are many men aboard.”
Li Chuan immediately summoned everyone and decided to seize the opportunity for a probing counterattack. He selected five small boats, each crewed by fishermen who knew the tides best, along with archers personally trained by Lanna.
“Remember, our objective is to hold them off and lure them into the ambush zone. Do not become entangled in a prolonged fight. The moment the signal is given, withdraw to the defensive line.” Li Chuan emphasized these instructions to everyone before they departed.
The five small boats glided silently toward the pirates. Using reefs and the moving tide for cover, they edged closer and closer to the enemy ships. By the time the pirates discovered them, the small boats were already less than a hundred yards away.
“Loose!”
At Li Chuan’s command, the archers fired flaming arrows in unison, setting the canvas sails of the pirate ships ablaze in an instant. The enemy fell into confusion and immediately began fighting the flames, while Li Chuan led his men in a swift retreat, luring the ships toward the iron-spiked nets prepared earlier.
With a tremendous splash and crash, the pirates’ flagship became firmly entangled in the iron-spiked net and could not break free. At that moment, the villagers lying in ambush burst out from both sides and launched a fierce attack with their crude weapons.
After a violent struggle, both pirate ships were completely destroyed. The enemy were either dead or had surrendered. It was the fisherman fleet’s first offensive battle, yet it had achieved a decisive victory.
After the battle, the villagers towed the captured pirate vessels back to the fishing village. On board, they discovered several important nautical charts and an assortment of weapons and equipment. These spoils not only strengthened the villagers’ confidence but also provided vital resources for their next plans.
“Li Chuan, we really did it!” a young fisherman cried excitedly. “The Japanese pirates are not so formidable after all!”
“Do not let your guard down.” Li Chuan patted him on the shoulder. “This is only the beginning. After losing these two ships, the pirates will surely send more men. We must continue strengthening our defenses while training more fishermen to join the fleet.”
Lanna stood nearby, watching Li Chuan’s busy figure. A complicated emotion flickered in her eyes. She knew that this man had not only changed the fate of the fishing village; he was gradually becoming the spiritual pillar of them all.
The next step was to establish a true united fleet, link the coastal villages into a single whole, and lay a solid foundation for the complete destruction of the Japanese pirates.
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