It demanded 1 million gold coins as compensation for the attack. Luo He had attached all the evidence he got. "If you refuse," the letter continued.
"Consider this a declaration of war between our two families." The room fell silent. "Arrogant," one muttered. The family leader crushed the letter in his hand. "We refuse." He said coldly.
He turned to one of his subordinates.
"Send word." He said. "To whom?" the man asked. "To the regional official." His eyes gleamed coldly. "We take hostages." He said coldly.
He selected a powerful family member.
A man who governed over a thousand households. A man with strong ties to palace justice in the prosperous silk Ile.
"Capture some Jin family troops," he ordered. "We will use them as leverage." He said. And just like that, the next conflict began to take shape.
Three days had passed from Lin Xuanli's earlier rejection. Then she returned. Lin Xuanli stood at the gates of the Count's mansion once again.
This time she didn't demand justice. She didn't shout. She simply stood there, silent. The guards looked at her differently now. "We will inform Lord He," one said.
Inside Luo He was already aware. "Lady Lin Xuanli had arrived my lord." The guard reported. Luo He nodded slightly. "Bring her in." Luo He commanded. She entered slowly.
Her steps were weaker than before. Her pride fully gone now, not even a speck left. She knelt without being asked. "I was wrong," she said quietly.
Her voice trembled but she didn't stop.
"I thought I could survive on my own, I thought I didn't need anyone." Silence filled the room.
"I have nothing left," she continued. "No family. No status. No protection." Her hands clenched. "Only hatred." She said solemnly.
She lowered her head further. "If you still offer it," A pause. "I will pledge my loyalty." Luo He watched her carefully.
Not with pity but with calculation. "Loyalty is not words," he said calmly. "It is obedience." His words were firm.
She didn't hesitate this time. "I understand." She said. She stepped closer. "From today onward," she said. "My life belongs to you, my master."
A faint pause. "I will give you revenge."
His voice lowered. Lin Xuanli closed her eyes. "Yes, my lord." She bowed obediently. Outside the wind shifted and another piece fell into Luo He's hands.
The message came at dawn. A lone rider, his horse nearly collapsing beneath him, reached the Jin estate gates. His clothes were soaked with sweat and sea salt, his breathing ragged.
"Urgent report !" He gasped as he was led inside. Moments later, he stood before Luo He. "My lord Pirate Island will be attacked. Six thousand pirates, their fleet has already set sail."
The room fell silent. Even the air seemed to tighten. Jin Quan's expression darkened. "Six thousand." He said with a sigh. Jin Mulan stepped forward, her eyes sharp.
"When will they arrive?" She asked hoarsely. "Within a day," the messenger replied. Luo He rose slowly, his face calm as ever. "Prepare the fleet," he said.
No hesitation. No doubt.
Outside, the estate burst into motion.
Soldiers armed themselves. Horses were prepared. Ships were made ready.
Jin Mulan approached Luo He as he stepped toward the docks.
"I'm coming with you," she said firmly.
Luo He looked at her for a moment. He looked at the resolve in her eyes. "Stay close," he said. With that he got back to preparing.
"That's not an answer." Mulan said. Luo He paid no mind to her. Solders came and started loading barrel after barrel of something in to two of the more smaller ships.
"Fine," she said crossing her arms slightly. "But I'm not standing back if things go wrong." She said with resolve in her eyes.
The sea stretched endlessly before them. "Don't act like a child," he said firmly. "Get to the boat and behave like a good girl." This time his voice came low and soft.
Jin Mulan was angry at his remarks, but what can she do. He is her husband, and she will never betray his word though how unfair they might sound.
Dark blue waters rolled beneath the fleet as the ships cut forward with purpose. Three thousand men spread over 40 vessels. The wind filled the sails, carrying them swiftly toward Pirate Island.
Standing at the front of the flagship of the former pirate king now modified even further, the entire hull is now covered with heavy copper plates with no gaps.
In the front is a large ram built to charge into enemy ranks which could break lesser ships in two. Luo He watched the horizon standing from the hilt.
Behind him, soldiers moved in disciplined silence. Jin Mulan stood beside him, her hair tied tightly, her expression focused. "You've already planned this, haven't you?" she asked.
"Yes," said Luo He. "How many ships will you use this time?" Asked Jin Mulan.
"Three," he said. She turned sharply, "three?" "Yes. That's enough." He said.
When they reached The Pirate Island, the atmosphere was tense. Jin Sang stood waiting at the shore, along side his fleet, armour still stained from earlier skirmishes.
"You came fast," he said. "Report," Luo He replied. "Enemy fleet around 60 to 70 ships. Large formation. They'll reach here soon." Luo He nodded slightly. "Good." Jin Sang blinked. "Good, how is it going to be good?" He asked.
"We end this here." He said coldly. At that moment, the full strength of the Jin family was clear. 2,000 men stationed at Gold Island under General Shin Lee.
3,000 men already on Pirate Island under Jin Sang. 3,000 reinforcements brought by Luo He from the 4,000 guarding the mansion. A total of 9,000 men.
Luo He boarded the flagship of the former pirate king. The ship towered over the others. Dark wood reinforced with metal plating, its deck modified and strengthened.
New mechanisms had been installed, allowing it to fire projectiles far beyond normal range. Jin Sang stepped beside him. "You've improved it." He said casually starting a conversation.
"Just enough," Luo He said, ending it with no remorse. Soon, only six ships were left at the harbour. The massive flagship and two smaller vessels in the lead.
The remaining thirty was just bystanders, where Luo He forcibly placed Jin Mulan. Out of the reach of battle but completely in range enough to enjoy the battle.
Jin Mulan frowned. "You're really doing this without me?" She cursed frantically.
"Yes. I take risks with my life, but not with yours, specially when you are not fully capable of defending your self."
"You really going to do this with just three ship. That's not strategy that's insanity." She said. "Step back, relax, and enjoy the show." Luo He replied.
The two smaller ships were packed tightly with explosives. Barrels stacked from deck to hull. Fuses carefully prepared. One sailors stood on each ship. No more.
One sailor swallowed nervously. "My lord if something goes wrong?" He asked. "It won't." Luo He said calmly. The man straightened immediately. "Yes my lord. It won't." He said confidently.
The sea grew darker as the enemy approached. On the horizon sails carrying the pirate flag. Dozens of them.
The pirate fleet moved like a storm, their ships tightly packed, cutting through the waves with aggressive intent.
"68 ships," Jin Sang muttered. Jin Mulan narrowed her eyes. "That's more than I expected." She said. Luo He didn't react.
"Advance the bait," he ordered. The two ships set to explode were set in place after moving forward.
From the enemy fleet. "Unidentified ships ahead!" The massage came from the crows nest of the leading ship.
"Intercept them!" The captain commanded. The pirates shifted formation, tightening their lines as they moved to surround the approaching vessels.
On the flagship. Luo He raised his hand. "Prepare." He said. The crew moved instantly. Weapons aligned. "Fire." He shouted.
The sea roared. Projectiles tore through the air with terrifying speed. They struck the enemy fleet before the pirates could react. Three ships were hit directly.
Two exploded instantly, wood and bodies scattering into the sea. The third was crippled, its mast snapping, flames spreading across its deck.
"What?!" "They have long range weapons!" "Hold formation!" Confusion spread through the pirate fleet. Then "They're unmanned!" Some one shouted in the mist of the confusion.
The bait ships drifted closer. No crew. No control. Just floating hulls. "Traps!" someone shouted. But it was too late. The pirate fleet had no weapons to counter the distance.
No way to strike back. So they made a decision. "Full speed ahead! Chase them down!" The captain commanded on-board the flagship.
The fleet surged forward. Sails stretched. Waves split. They rushed toward the bait Driven by greed and anger.
On the bait ships the sailors lit the fuses.
Flames crawled along the lines. Then
they jumped. Vanishing into the sea.
Seconds passed, the world shattered.
Two massive explosion tore through the pirate fleet. Fire erupted across the water. The shockwave blasted outward, flipping ships, snapping hulls, throwing men into the air like broken dolls.
Wood splintered. Screams filled the sky. Nearly forty ships were destroyed instantly. Another dozen or so caught fire, flames spreading uncontrollably.
Smoke covered the battlefield. The once mighty fleet was reduced to chaos. On her ship, Jin Mulan stared blankly.