allonlinenovel Chapter 295 Governing the Japanese
Chapter 295 Governing the Japanese
Upon hearing the news, the court was thrown into an uproar. Minister Wang, realizing his son had been captured by Japanese pirates and that he himself was exposed, was frantic with worry. He immediately knelt before the emperor, tears streaming down his face, and begged His Majesty to send troops to rescue him. "Your Majesty," Minister Wang pleaded, his voice trembling with grief, "my son has been kidnapped by those Japanese pirates, his fate unknown. I was forced to act rashly. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and save him! I am willing… I am willing to retire and return to my hometown, and confess all my dealings with the Japanese."
Gu Mochen sat on the dragon throne, his brows furrowed, his expression grave. He knew this matter was thorny; mishandling it would not only alienate his ministers but could also trigger unrest in the coastal regions. "My esteemed ministers, how should this matter be handled?" Gu Mochen's gaze swept over the officials in the court, his voice authoritative.
Prime Minister Ji Yun stepped forward and respectfully said, “Your Majesty, the Japanese pirates have been rampant for a long time, and the Eastern Seas have always coveted our Great Xia. This time, they dared to kidnap Lord Wang’s son, which is truly disrespectful to our dynasty. If they are not severely punished, they will surely become even more unscrupulous in the future. I am afraid that they will kidnap other people’s children again, and that someone will betray Your Majesty again. I believe that the most urgent task is to send elite troops to Lu City, to defeat the Eastern Seas decisively, and to rescue Lord Wang safely.”
However, the Minister of War offered a different perspective: "Your Majesty, our forces are currently dispersed, and there are frequent battles on the western border. If we were to send a large number of troops to Lu City at this time, the western border defenses would be weakened, giving foreign enemies an opportunity to exploit the situation. Moreover, the pirates are elusive, making rescue operations extremely difficult. If we were to send troops rashly, we fear we would suffer heavy losses."
For a time, the court was divided into two factions, arguing endlessly. Some ministers advocated immediate military action to demonstrate national power; others believed that a longer-term plan should be devised to avoid unnecessary losses. Gu Mochen listened to the ministers' debate, his heart filled with hesitation. Meanwhile, Lord Wang was also very frightened. He was already a useless pawn in Japan's war effort; if even the Emperor abandoned him, his son would never return.
At this moment, Lord Sun, who had been silent all along, stepped forward. His face was pale, and his expression was tense. He knelt on the ground with a thud: "Your Majesty, this matter is all due to my incompetence in governing Lu City, which led to the Prince of Wang suffering this calamity and Lord Wang turning against me. I deserve to die a thousand deaths. I beg Your Majesty to punish me." Lord Sun knew that his career was probably over.
The Emperor looked at Minister Sun, his eyes filled with both displeasure and pity: "Minister Sun, let's set this matter aside for now. The most urgent task now is to discuss how to rescue Young Master Wang. As the magistrate of Lucheng, you know the local situation best. Do you have any good ideas?"
Lord Sun hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, pirates frequently appear along the coast of Lu City. Although I have sent troops to suppress them many times, the results have been minimal. This time, the Japanese pirates have abducted Prince Wang, and they will surely guard him closely. I believe that we should first send someone to infiltrate the pirates' lair to find out the situation before formulating a rescue plan. At the same time, we should contact the garrison commanders of the coastal cities and ask them to strengthen their vigilance to prevent the pirates from escaping.”
The Emperor nodded slightly, agreeing with Minister Sun's words. "This matter will be entrusted to Minister Sun. You must rescue Young Master Wang safely as quickly as possible. Any mishap will be severely punished."
After receiving the order, Lord Sun dared not slacken in the slightest and immediately returned to Lu City to arrange the rescue. He gathered the elite soldiers of Lu City, selected several highly skilled, resourceful, and brave soldiers, and formed a suicide squad to infiltrate the pirate's lair. At the same time, he sent people to various coastal cities to discuss plans for coordinated operations with the garrison commanders.
Led by local fishermen, the suicide squad stealthily approached the pirates' lair under cover of darkness. Carefully avoiding the pirates' patrols, they successfully infiltrated the lair. After some reconnaissance, they discovered that Prince Wang was being held captive in a sturdy stone house, heavily guarded.
However, just as the suicide squad was preparing to carry out their rescue plan, an accident occurred. One of the team members accidentally made a noise during the operation, alerting the pirates. Immediately, alarms blared in the pirate hideout, and the pirates grabbed their weapons and charged at the suicide squad. The suicide squad members, undaunted by the danger, engaged the pirates in a fierce battle.
During the battle, the suicide squad members fought bravely, but due to the overwhelming number of pirates, they gradually found themselves in a difficult situation. Just when they were on the verge of total annihilation, the garrison commanders of the coastal cities arrived with reinforcements. They joined forces with the suicide squad, launching a fierce attack on the pirates. Caught in a pincer movement, the pirates panicked and scattered in all directions.
After a fierce battle, the pirates were successfully repelled, and Prince Wang was rescued safely. Upon hearing the news, Lord Sun finally felt relieved. He immediately sent someone to escort Prince Wang back to the capital and reported the rescue operation to the Emperor.
The Emperor was overjoyed to learn of Prince Wang's safe return. He was also quite satisfied with Minister Sun's performance, and instead of punishing him, he commended him: "Minister Sun, your contribution to this rescue operation is indispensable. Considering your many years of governing Lu City, although you have had minor faults, your outstanding performance this time is a special reward. You will remain in Lu City, and I will find a few more capable people to assist you. I hope you will be even more diligent in the future and safeguard the peace of this region."
Lord Sun was moved to tears and immediately knelt down to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty is wise. I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust."
Following this incident, the court officials realized the severity of the piracy problem along the coast. They submitted memorials to the emperor, suggesting strengthening military defenses along the coast and intensifying the crackdown on pirates. The emperor adopted their suggestions, ordering the establishment of more military outposts and the training of the navy along the coast, while also encouraging the people to report pirates and promising generous rewards to those who did so. As for Lord Wang, he simply took his family and retired to his hometown.
Under the court's vigorous crackdown, the pirate forces along the coast were gradually weakened, and the lives of the people returned to peace. On the day Lord Wang left, he said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, I thank you for sparing my life and for saving my son. There may be other crises in the coastal cities, so I hope you will pay close attention. I take my leave."
Upon hearing this, Gu Mochen paid even closer attention to the coastal areas. He also learned that some unscrupulous merchants had seen a business opportunity and were colluding with local officials to trade privately with the Japanese for huge profits. These trade activities, in turn, provided pirates with supplies and weapons, causing the piracy problem to show signs of resurgence.
One day, while inspecting the coastal areas, Lord Sun discovered some suspicious vessels. He ordered an investigation, which revealed that these vessels were engaged in illegal trade with the Japanese. Realizing the seriousness of the matter, Lord Sun immediately reported it to the imperial court.
Upon learning of this, the emperor was furious: "These lawless scoundrels dared to disregard the law and collude with the Japanese. Their crimes are unforgivable. Minister Sun, this matter is entrusted to you. You must bring these unscrupulous merchants and officials to justice and punish them severely."
After receiving his orders, Lord Sun launched another operation. He led his soldiers in a covert investigation, gathering substantial evidence. After careful planning, he successfully dismantled several illegal trading posts and arrested a number of unscrupulous merchants and officials.
During the interrogation, Lord Sun discovered that behind these illegal trade activities lay a vast interest group. This group involved several high-ranking officials in the imperial court, who colluded with each other, willing to harm national interests for personal gain. Lord Sun knew this was a thorny issue, but he did not back down; he decided to investigate the matter thoroughly.
He wrote down his investigation findings in a memorial and presented it to Gu Mochen. Gu Mochen was shocked after reading it. He had never imagined that so many officials in the court were involved in illegal trade activities. "Minister Sun, this matter is of great importance. You must act with utmost care. I will fully support you in eradicating this interest group completely."
With the emperor's support, Lord Sun's confidence soared. He continued his in-depth investigation, gradually uncovering the true nature of this interest group. Through his efforts, one implicated official after another was investigated and punished, and illegal trade activities were effectively curbed.
Following this series of events, the court's prestige was further enhanced, the situation in the coastal areas was completely stabilized, and the troublemaking in Japan ceased. Lord Sun, through his wisdom and courage, became a meritorious official in the court, highly valued by the emperor and beloved by the people. He remained in Lucheng, though he could now speak directly with the emperor.