Chapter 18: Lanna Arrives at the Battlefield

Although the Japanese pirate raids had temporarily subsided, the scars they left behind remained clearly visible. The village entrance was in ruins, the damaged houses had yet to be repaired, and the young women who had just been rescued from the pirates were in a daze, afraid to even approach the coastline. Faced with such a scene, the villagers felt more fear than hope.

The village chief sighed and said to Li Chuan, "Chuan, although we managed to repel the pirates this time thanks to your strategy, who knows how many more they will bring next time? We are... after all, just fishermen!"

Li Chuan swept his gaze over the villagers and saw that their eyes were full of hesitation. He knew that for this small fishing village to survive the future storms, relying on himself alone would not be enough. He had to rouse all the villagers.

"Village Chief, uncles and elders," Li Chuan walked into the crowd, his tone firm, "The Japanese pirates are not terrifying. They are merely a group of rampant bandits. As long as we work together, it is not impossible for us to win!"

The villagers looked at each other, but no one stepped forward to support him. Seeing this, an idea occurred to Li Chuan: "Very well, since you do not believe me, I will prove it to you with facts—I will show you that fishermen can also fight the Japanese pirates!"

Early the next morning, Li Chuan took several young men to the open space outside the village. Holding an ordinary bamboo pole, he said loudly to the gathering villagers, "This is a bamboo pole. It is usually used for punting boats or catching fish, but if used well, it can become a weapon!" With that, he raised the pole and thrust it out several times in quick succession, his movements clean and crisp, whistling through the air.

Subsequently, he demonstrated how to use the bamboo pole to trip enemies, block pirate swords, and how to use fishing nets from their boats to bind the limbs of their foes. Li Chuan's movements were agile and efficient, leaving the watching villagers stunned. They had never imagined that daily fishing gear could be so flexibly turned into weapons.

"I use a bamboo pole to punt my boat every day, why didn't I ever think of using it like this?" a middle-aged fisherman could not help but remark.

"Chuan, truly worthy of someone who has seen the world!" another exclaimed sincerely.

Seeing the villagers' growing interest, Li Chuan struck while the iron was hot: "These are just the basics. The pirates are brutal, but their tactics have weaknesses. They are better at land battles, while we—" he pointed to the sea, "have plenty of wisdom from the ocean!"

The villagers were gradually moved by Li Chuan’s words and began to surround him, asking how to handle the next pirate raid. Li Chuan immediately gathered all the able-bodied men in the village to set up a defense line on the beach.

"The pirates' ships have a deep draft, so they slow down when approaching the shore. This is our chance." Li Chuan pointed to a shallow area and said, "We can set up sharpened wooden stakes here and hide them under the water. Once the pirate ships hit them, they will lose their mobility."

The villagers sprang into action, cutting down bamboo and trees, sharpening them, and fixing them into the seabed. Li Chuan led another group to create more hidden traps—digging pits on the shore, covering them with camouflaged straw mats, and placing sharp bamboo spikes at the bottom.

"These may not necessarily kill the enemy, but they are enough to delay their attack," Li Chuan explained.

In addition to traps, Li Chuan led the villagers in making simple weapons. He sharpened bamboo poles and hardened them over a fire to create simple spears. He also found a few rusted short swords among the items seized from the pirates and instructed the villagers to sharpen the blades with whetstones.

"Spears are for long-range thrusting, and short swords are suitable for close combat. Remember, do not be greedy for kills during battle; as long as you can survive, that is victory," Li Chuan repeatedly urged the villagers.

Beyond weapons, he also modified fishing nets into man-traps. By tying heavy stones to the edges of the nets, he trained the villagers on how to throw them to capture the enemy.

The villagers were initially unfamiliar with these tactics, but under Li Chuan's patient guidance, they gradually mastered the techniques. A young fisherman said excitedly, "Brother Chuan, these things are simply miraculous! I feel like I could take on two pirates by myself now!"

Li Chuan smiled and patted his shoulder: "Don't get too happy yet; real combat is far more dangerous than training. Remember, teamwork is more important than individual bravery."

To prepare for a possible night raid by the pirates, Li Chuan also organized a night drill. He divided the villagers into two teams, one posing as pirates and the other responsible for ambushes and counterattacks. Through this drill, the villagers learned how to remain silent in the dark, how to use signals to pass messages, and how to break out of enemy encirclements.

"Chuan, this set of tactics is truly brilliant! In the past, whenever we encountered pirates, we only knew how to run, but now we've finally learned how to fight!" the village chief said with a look of relief.

Li Chuan, however, remained calm: "This is just the first step. The pirates are not only numerous but also well-equipped. They will surely return, and we must prepare for the worst."

Over the next few days, the entire fishing village was plunged into tense preparations. The villagers were busy building defense lines and making weapons; even the women and the elderly joined in the logistics work. They were responsible for storing food, boiling water, and making torches and warning signals.

As the defensive system gradually improved, the villagers' morale soared. They transitioned from initial fear to anticipation, and even began to look forward to the next confrontation with the pirates.

Li Chuan stood on the beach, gazing at the distant horizon. He knew the real test was still ahead, but it was all worth it. He silently clenched his fists and vowed to himself: "No matter what, I will not let the pirates set foot on this land again!"

The night breeze blew gently, and the waves lapped against the shore. The lights of the fishing village brightened the night and ignited the villagers' hope for the future.

***

A few days later, a fishing boat rushed back to the village entrance. The people on board jumped ashore, looking panicked: "The pirates are coming again! They are gathering at the small bay to the east, and they will likely attack by tomorrow morning!"

The news exploded in the village like a thunderclap. The villagers swarmed around Li Chuan. "Chuan, what should we do? They've come so quickly this time; can we still hold on?" an elderly fisherman asked, trembling.

Li Chuan remained calm and composed, saying in a deep voice: "Everyone, no need to panic. The faster the pirates come, the more it shows they haven't made full preparations. This time, we will fight with wisdom and show them what we are made of!"

He immediately gathered the village chief and several core members to quickly finalize the counterattack plan.

According to the intelligence gathered, the pirates were expected to land during the morning high tide. They were familiar with the layout of the shallows and would likely attack in two prongs: one group launching a frontal assault from the sea, and the other circling through the woods to attack from the village's flank.

Li Chuan directed the villagers to set the main defense line near the trap zone by the coastline and arranged for a dozen young men to ambush in the woods on the flank. Their mission was to first block the enemy with bamboo spikes, then surround the main pirate force with fishing nets, coordinating with the frontal troops to create a pincer movement.

"Remember, everyone must follow orders; no unauthorized actions," Li Chuan's voice was firm and powerful. "As long as we work together, we will definitely win this battle!"

The villagers nodded silently, their eyes filled with a resolute light. They had never felt the power of unity so clearly before.

The morning sea was shrouded in a thin mist as the pirate fleet approached slowly from the distance. Li Chuan led the villagers to hide behind the defense line, holding their breath in anticipation.

As the tide rose, three small pirate boats gradually approached the shallows. However, they clearly had not noticed the sharpened wooden stakes hidden beneath the water. A harsh collision sound echoed as the bottom of one of the boats was pierced by the stakes, and seawater rushed in rapidly. The pirates on board panicked, jumping into the water one after another, trying to swim back to the shore.

"Release!" At Li Chuan's command, the villagers hidden on the shore immediately swung their fishing nets, firmly trapping the pirates who had fallen into the water. At the same time, another group of villagers used sharpened bamboo spears to strike at the enemies struggling to break free.

"Charge!" The villagers erupted with a thunderous shout, rushing onto the shallows to engage the pirates in a head-on clash.

Meanwhile, the villagers ambushed in the woods also encountered the flanking pirates. The enemies moved cautiously, unaware of the pits under their feet. A scream broke the silence as several pirates fell into the pre-dug traps, their feet pierced by bamboo spikes, collapsing in pain.

"Now!" The ambushing villagers swarmed out from all directions, pinning the pirates down with nets and spears. Their attacks were precise and swift, leaving the enemy no chance to counterattack.

The battle on the beach reached a fever pitch. Relying on their superior weaponry and combat experience, the pirates gradually recovered from the chaos and began to launch a counter-offensive against the villagers. One pirate warrior brandished a long sword, instantly cutting down two villagers, and the situation became critical.

"Step back!" Li Chuan rushed forward, confronting the pirate warrior with his spear. He dodged the opponent's fierce blade and skillfully utilized the reach of the spear, forcing the opponent to retreat three times in a row. Seizing the moment when the pirate warrior's stamina wavered slightly, he decisively struck, driving the spear tip straight into the enemy's throat. A fatal blow.

This victory greatly boosted morale; the villagers' spirits were high as they gradually drove the pirates into a desperate corner.

Seeing their main force defeated, the remaining pirates scrambled to retreat, abandoning their boats and fleeing. The villagers did not pursue rashly but quickly cleared the battlefield and tended to the wounded.

"We won! We actually beat the pirates!" a young man shouted excitedly.

The village chief was moved to tears, gripping Li Chuan's hand and saying, "Chuan, all of this is thanks to you! If it weren't for you, our village would have been gone long ago!"

After the battle, Li Chuan organized the villagers to reset the defense lines and had everyone summarize the gains and losses of the fight. He realized that although this battle was a victory, the villagers' combat capability was still limited. If the pirates brought more ships and troops next time, the fishing village might not win again.

"We cannot rely on luck to win every battle," Li Chuan said seriously. "We must strengthen our training and find ways to obtain more weapons and resources."

The villagers expressed their willingness to follow his command and protect their home together.

Standing on the beach, Li Chuan gazed at the distant horizon. His heart was filled with fighting spirit, and his conviction grew firmer: "The pirates are only the first enemy; there will be more challenges waiting for me in the future. For the peace of my hometown, I must become stronger!"

Meanwhile, while Lanna's fleet was on its return journey, it encountered a merchant ship. The merchant crew reported in terror: "A fishing village in the waters ahead is being ransacked by pirates! The villagers have no power to resist; the situation is dire!"

Upon hearing this news, a sense of unease rose in Lanna's heart: "A fishing village? Is it Li Chuan's hometown?" She immediately ordered: "Change course immediately, full speed ahead!"

A crew member reminded her, "Your Highness, this area is fraught with danger; we might fall into a pirate ambush."

Lanna's tone was firm: "This is not the time for hesitation. A destroyed fishing village would cause great damage to the peace of the entire sea, and besides..." she paused, whispering, "I cannot let Li Chuan face such a crisis alone."

When Lanna's fleet arrived, they witnessed the fierce battle between the fishing village and the pirates. The villagers were resisting stubbornly under Li Chuan's command, but the pirates' numbers were gradually suppressing the defense line.

Lanna did not hesitate to order fire: "Aim at the pirate ships! Cut off their retreat!"

As the cannons roared, several pirate ships were sunk, and the remaining ones retreated in a panic. The pirate main force was cut off from their retreat, and their morale plummeted. Lanna led her guards to land from the flank and joined the villagers in battle.

Li Chuan saw Lanna appear, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, but it immediately turned into a smile: "Why are you here?"

Lanna, while wielding her sword against the pirates, laughed: "You really know how to stir up trouble! If I hadn't met that merchant ship, I wouldn't have known you were staging a sea battle here."

Li Chuan swung his spear to pierce an enemy, responding with a smile: "Then I must thank you for arriving in time, otherwise this would have been quite tricky."

The two fought back-to-back, in perfect sync. Their arrival quickly turned the tide of the battle. The pirate leader was personally killed by Lanna, and the surviving enemies dropped their weapons and fled in a sorry state.

After the battle, Lanna took the initiative to assist Li Chuan in comforting the villagers and directed her guards to distribute food and medicine. The villagers were immensely grateful, calling her a "noble benefactor sent from heaven."

The village chief bowed to Lanna, sighing with emotion: "Thanks to your timely arrival, we were spared from disaster. If there is a chance, please allow our entire village to repay your kindness."

Lanna shook her head and smiled: "Repayment is unnecessary. This ocean connects the Southern Seas to the Northern Lands; your safety concerns the balance of the entire sea. Protecting you is also protecting ourselves."

At night, Li Chuan and Lanna sat on the beach at the village entrance, looking at the calm sea in the distance.

Li Chuan sighed: "This victory was just luck. The villagers' strength is too weak; if the pirates return in full force next time, I'm afraid we won't be able to cope."

Lanna nodded: "You are right. This is not only a crisis for your fishing village but also a hidden danger for the entire coast of the Southern Seas." She paused, her gaze firm: "If you are willing, I can help you build a real maritime defense force, and even turn your village into a fortress on the sea."

Li Chuan was startled: "You are willing to help me?"

Lanna smiled slightly: "We have fought side by side countless times; do you still need to ask if I am willing?"