Chapter 26: Rescuing the Captured Villagers

After a minor victory, the fishing village enjoyed a brief moment of calm. Yet Li Chuan remained vigilant, fully aware that the Japanese pirates were cunning predators whose retaliation after defeat was often even fiercer. At that moment, a fisherman who had narrowly escaped brought crucial intelligence—the villagers kidnapped by the pirates were being held on a nearby isolated island.

This island was called Black Reef Island, surrounded by sea on three sides, with a sheer cliff on the fourth. Its treacherous natural terrain, combined with the pirates’ tight defenses, made it nearly a natural prison.

Li Chuan convened his core team to devise a plan. Reports from the village indicated that not only were the captives imprisoned on Black Reef Island, but the pirates also stored supplies and weapons there. If they could infiltrate the island to rescue the villagers and destroy the pirates’ stockpiles, it would deal a severe blow to the bandits.

“I’ve heard about Black Reef Island,” said an elderly fisherman from a neighboring village. “The reefs are dense, and the currents are swift. Even seasoned fishermen must be extremely cautious when approaching. Besides, it’s been one of the pirates’ strongholds for a long time, heavily guarded. Rescuing people won’t be easy.”

“No matter how difficult, we must try,” Lana declared resolutely. “We can’t abandon our people.”

“Exactly,” Li Chuan nodded, his gaze steely. “We’re not just rescuing them; we need to uncover the pirates’ true nature. They’ve plundered countless coastal villages over the years, striking mysteriously. This time, we’ll make them pay.”

The others nodded in agreement. Yet the challenge was how to infiltrate the island without alerting the pirates’ main force.

After analysis, Li Chuan decided on a two-step strategy. First, dispatch an elite team of fishermen to pretend to fish nearby, drawing the pirates’ attention. Then, while their focus was diverted, he would lead a small squad to quietly infiltrate the island for the rescue.

“The infiltration must be swift and stealthy,” Li Chuan emphasized before the operation. “Our goal is to save the captives and sabotage the pirates’ supplies, avoiding direct confrontation as much as possible.”

That night, a dozen experienced fishermen chosen from the village gathered by the shore. Their eyes were firm, and their clothes were smeared with mud and ash to blend into the darkness. Their boats, disguised as ordinary fishing vessels, concealed bows, daggers, and fuel.

“Remember, once I signal, provide immediate support,” Li Chuan said to Liu Bo, in charge of external backup, who nodded solemnly.

Black Reef Island was a night’s sail from the village. Under cover of darkness, the team silently rowed toward the island. Amid the waves, Li Chuan stood at the bow, staring at the pitch-black sea ahead. He knew that any misstep could result not only in failure to rescue but total annihilation.

Near dawn, they reached waters near Black Reef Island. The boats were carefully hidden behind a reef, and the team donned diving gear—simple but practical equipment used by fishermen for underwater catches.

“How many pirates are on the island?” Lana asked, determined to accompany the mission.

“Between one hundred and one hundred fifty,” Li Chuan replied. “But intelligence suggests most leave in the morning to patrol at sea. The garrison left behind is likely small.”

“Then we must hurry,” Lana whispered.

“Exactly,” Li Chuan nodded. “We’ll enter through underwater tunnels to avoid sentries and first confirm the captives’ exact whereabouts.”

Silently, they submerged and navigated through dark reefs with skilled diving. Occasionally, they heard the footsteps of patrolling pirates, but the complex terrain kept their approach concealed.

Li Chuan led the team to land on Black Reef Island, entering through a hidden cave. The island’s terrain was intricate, with natural cave networks converted by the pirates into storage and prison facilities.

They cautiously advanced and finally discovered the captives chained together deep inside a cave. The villagers were gaunt and pale, clearly abused over a long period.

“Don’t make a sound. We’re here to save you,” Li Chuan whispered.

Hope flickered in the villagers’ eyes at the sight of familiar faces.

Suddenly, Li Chuan noticed neatly stacked wooden crates deeper in the cave. Curious, he approached and found them filled with bows, gunpowder, and other combat supplies—clearly not homemade by the pirates but sourced from more sophisticated forces.

“This is…” Lana frowned. “Could it be the pirates have supporters?”

“Yes,” Li Chuan’s expression grew grave. “The craftsmanship of these materials is beyond their capability. Someone must be backing them.”

He immediately realized the threat was far greater than anticipated. To eradicate this maritime scourge, they had to identify the hidden masterminds.

After confirming the situation, Li Chuan ordered immediate action. Using tools they brought, they pried the chains and quickly freed the villagers, then set fire to the pirates’ supplies with the gasoline they carried.

“Move quickly! Retreat while the smoke covers us!” Li Chuan led the villagers rushing out of the cave toward the boats hidden behind the reef.

But just as they neared the shore, shouts rang out—pirates had discovered the disturbance and were pursuing along the island’s narrow paths!

“Archers, prepare!” Li Chuan commanded. The team unleashed a volley of flaming arrows, forcing the enemy to pause briefly before regrouping to continue the chase.

With the pirates closing in, Li Chuan decisively fired the prearranged signal flare to call the support boats offshore.

Moments later, backup vessels sped from behind the reef. The villagers were quickly ferried aboard, while Li Chuan and a few men held the rear, stalling the pursuers.

Thanks to their familiarity with the terrain and swift tactics, they escaped the pirates’ pursuit. By the time they returned to the village, dawn had broken, and crowds gathered to welcome home their rescued loved ones in joyous celebration.

Yet Li Chuan’s face remained somber. Though victorious, the dark shadow looming behind the pirates grew ever clearer. They were no mere isolated bandits—what hidden forces lay behind them? How would they face even greater challenges ahead?

In the morning light, the freed villagers embraced freedom. The cries of children, the tears of joy from women, and the long-suppressed shouts of men mingled to proclaim the victory’s significance. But standing at the village entrance, Li Chuan remained unmoved by the festive atmosphere. His gaze was cold, his mind troubled by unanswered questions.

“Why do these pirates have so many high-quality weapons and gunpowder? Far more than they need,” he murmured. The discovery convinced him the pirates were not acting alone but puppets of some secret power. The thought filled him with dread.

Among the rescued was a middle-aged fisherman named Uncle Chen, frail from mistreatment but still sharp-eyed. Li Chuan sought him out to glean more information.

“Li Chuan, be careful. These pirates aren’t acting on their own,” Uncle Chen said bluntly. “Every few days, a big ship docks—bringing crates. The people aren’t pirates but well-dressed Central Plains men.”

“Central Plains men?” Li Chuan’s eyes flashed with shock. “What do they bring?”

“Gunpowder, bows, and some parts that look like ship components,” Uncle Chen frowned. “The pirates treat those men with utmost respect, barely daring to speak loudly.”

Li Chuan’s suspicion deepened. He pressed, “Did those men say anything? Where did their ship come from?”

“Not much, just mentions of ‘trade’ and ‘great profit’,” Uncle Chen sighed. “We poor folk don’t understand much more.”

The villagers’ testimony provided vital clues. The involvement of inland merchants complicated matters. “If merchants from the mainland collude with the pirates, it’s not just our villages at risk—neighboring towns might be affected as well,” Li Chuan thought grimly.

To verify his suspicions, he sent several adept swimmers disguised as ordinary fishermen to scout the coastal areas. Meanwhile, he gathered respected village elders to discuss expanding their gains.

“We cannot stop now,” Li Chuan said during the meeting. “The pirates are wounded and will surely retaliate. We must prepare and uncover their true leaders.”

“Li Chuan, you are capable,” an elderly village chief said slowly. “These pirates deserve death, but we’re just small fishing villages. How can we fight such a force? Our manpower and resources won’t last long.”

“Chief, you’re right,” Li Chuan nodded firmly. “But precisely because we are limited, we cannot just wait for death. I will reach out to nearby villages; we must unite.”

The next morning, Li Chuan set out with a few trusted men to neighboring fishing villages. Using their recent victories as proof, he persuaded them to join an alliance against the pirates.

“Li Chuan, your village has won some battles, but we don’t even have decent weapons. How can we fight?” a village chief asked pragmatically.

“We can share resources,” Li Chuan replied. “I know you have blacksmiths who can craft simple weapons or repair boats. Our village has accumulated bows and arrows we can distribute.”

“What about the pirates’ firearms? None of us have seen such weapons.”

“Firearms are tough to counter, but with terrain advantage and flexible tactics, we can avoid direct clashes,” Li Chuan patiently explained. “Most importantly, if we don’t resist, we’ll all end up captives.”

Li Chuan’s resolve moved many. After a full day of effort, he secured the allegiance of three village chiefs. The alliance was formed, and the villages agreed to jointly finance and build a more elite fleet of fishermen.

At the same time, scouts returned with more detailed intelligence from around Black Reef Island. The pirates’ operation was not isolated but part of a maritime network of several strongholds. Their ships and supply routes were well hidden but not impossible to trace.

Li Chuan decided to strike these bases before the pirates fully recovered. After consulting with allied chiefs, they devised a plan:

1. Disperse attacks: Each village’s fleet would target one stronghold, setting obstacles along the way to cut off pirate reinforcements.

2. Lure the enemy deep: Use false intelligence to draw the pirate main force away, preventing quick support.

3. War economy: Attempt to capture pirate ships and supplies during battles to strengthen their own forces.

With the plan in place, Li Chuan led his team in the first assault on the nearest pirate stronghold, a camp hidden in a small bay storing provisions and weapons, and holding prisoners from other villages.

Under cover of night, they stealthily approached via reef paths exposed by the ebbing tides. Then the fishermen threw torches onto the pirates’ gunpowder warehouse.

Boom! The explosion shattered the night, engulfing the camp in flames. The pirates panicked and scattered, while Li Chuan’s team seized the moment to liberate captives and capture large quantities of weapons and food.

The raid was a resounding success. A key pirate base was utterly destroyed, and the victory greatly boosted morale across the allied fishing villages, strengthening their unity.

However, after the battle, Li Chuan found a map among the pirate camp’s belongings. It marked multiple strongholds and bore complex symbols resembling secret codes.

“This map must hold crucial secrets,” Lana analyzed. “It might lead us to the pirates’ true masterminds.”

Li Chuan nodded, a chill in his eyes. “Next, we must decipher these codes. The more complex the forces behind the pirates, the more thoroughly we must act.”