The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

A few days later, an expedited letter from Feng Rushi in the coastal area was delivered to Li Chengfeng.

Feng Rushi reported in the letter that pirates have been rampant recently and are far from being just an ordinary mob.

In order to protect the lives and property of coastal residents, Feng Rushi proposed to relocate coastal residents 200 miles inland and build defensive fortifications to resist pirate attacks.

Li Chengfeng looked at the letter with a gloomy expression.

Moving 200 miles inland? How easy is that!

This will involve the resettlement of tens of thousands of people and will require enormous manpower and material resources.

"Damn pirates!"

Li Chengfeng slammed the letter on the table and cursed angrily.

Feng Rushi had no choice but to do this, but this proposal made him feel torn.

Li Chengfeng paced back and forth in annoyance, the tragic coastal conditions described in Feng Rushi's letter lingering in his mind.

Migrate inland? This is like drinking poison to quench thirst!

If this continues, won’t the Qian Dynasty’s coastline be handed over to others?

Li Chengfeng suddenly stopped, his heart trembling:

I will never retreat! Deal with these greedy pirates.

Only with fists can we make them understand the truth. Suppress! Must suppress!

Li Chengfeng immediately ordered the eunuch beside him:

"Come! Convey my decree. Command the Imperial Guards Commander Zhao Yong to lead 5,000 elite soldiers to the coast immediately."

"Assist Feng Rusi in eliminating the pirates!"

"Also, allocate 500,000 taels of silver from the national treasury to build warships and recruit navy soldiers!"

Feng Rushi mentioned in the letter that recruiting new soldiers had already begun, which was exactly what he wanted.

"Your Majesty, isn't five hundred thousand taels a bit too much? The national treasury is now..."

The Minister of Personnel reminded cautiously.

Li Chengfeng glanced at him coldly.

"A mere five hundred thousand taels can bring peace to the people along the coast. Isn't that worth it?"

"If the pirate problem is not eradicated, the silver in the national treasury will only get smaller and smaller!"

The Minister of Personnel was so frightened that he dared not say anything and quickly kowtowed and agreed.

A few days later, 5,000 imperial troops led by Zhao Yong arrived at the coastal village.

Due to the constant harassment by pirates, most of the houses on the beach have been abandoned, which looks even more desolate against the backdrop of the endless sea.

Feng Rusi came forward in person and asked, "His Majesty sent you?"

"Of course! Your Majesty attaches great importance to the safety of the people along the coast and has specially allocated 500,000 taels."

"Build warships and recruit navy!"

Zhao Yong patted Feng Rushi on the shoulder.

Feng Rusi was overjoyed when he heard this and said:

"Great! With your Majesty's support, we will definitely be able to wipe out these pirates!"

The 5,000 elite soldiers brought by Zhao Yong were all veterans with rich combat experience.

He divided the imperial guards into two parts, one to assist Feng Rushi in training the newly recruited navy, and the other to patrol the coast to prevent pirate invasions.

In just one month, under Zhao Yong's rigorous training, the newly recruited navy was reborn and their combat effectiveness was greatly improved.

However, Zhao Yong did not relax his vigilance because the real decisive battle was still to come.

Feng Rusi's fingers slid across the unfolded coastal defense map, and he began to think:

These pirates are becoming more and more greedy. In the past, they only engaged in minor acts, such as robbing fishing boats and cargo, but now they dare to go deep inland and plunder villages!

Zhao Yong looked at the defense map and said:

"From what I can see, these pirates are definitely not a mob."

"Their actions were well-organized, with measured advances and retreats. I'm afraid there's someone behind the scenes directing them."

Feng Rusi nodded and said:

"I thought so too. If you were just an ordinary pirate, how could you dare to be so arrogant?"

"We must find their lair as soon as possible and catch them all in one fell swoop!"

As he was speaking, a sergeant came hurriedly to report:

"Report! Sir, a suspicious individual has been spotted on the southeastern reef beach. He's suspected to be a pirate spy!"

Zhao Yong chuckled.

"Spies? Just in time! Gather the troops immediately and capture them alive!"

Feng Rushi pondered for a moment.

"No, it's too difficult to capture them alive, and it's easy to alert them. Let's use their own tactics to catch them in a trap!"

He pointed to a place called "Crescent Bay" on the map and said:

"This place is strategically located, easy to defend but difficult to attack. It's a perfect ambush location. Let's..."

Feng Rushi whispered a few words into Zhao Yong's ear, and Zhao Yong grinned after listening.

"Great! This is a great idea! I'll arrange it right away!"

Crescent Bay has towering cliffs on both sides, a narrow sandy beach in the middle, and only a small path leading inland.

Zhao Yong led five hundred elite soldiers to ambush on the cliff, with bows and arrows strung and swords drawn, waiting for the pirates to enter the encirclement.

In order to lure the pirates into the trap, Feng Rushi deliberately spread the news that a small fishing village near Crescent Bay had stockpiled a large amount of food and property.

When the second-in-command of the pirates, "One-Eyed Dragon", heard the news, his eyes suddenly lit up.

He was already annoyed by the imperial court's encirclement and suppression, and was worried that he had no place to vent his anger. How could he not eat this piece of fat meat that was delivered to his door?

"Brothers, follow me! Let's do something big!"

The one-eyed man drew his scimitar and roared.

Just as Feng Rushi expected, the One-Eyed Dragon did not send anyone to scout, but instead led a large force directly into Crescent Bay.

Zhao Yong looked at the dense crowd of pirates below. "Shoot!"

With Zhao Yong's order, arrows rained down from the cliff.

The pirates were caught off guard and fell down in large numbers in an instant.

"There is an ambush! Quickly withdraw!"

The one-eyed man raised his shield to block.

However, it was too late.

Archers on the cliffs on both sides were madly harvesting the lives of pirates, and the narrow beach became their burial place.

The pirates raised their swords and tried to rush up the cliff to engage in close combat with the officers and soldiers.

However, the cliffs were steep and easy to defend but difficult to attack, and the pirates failed several times.

"Sir, the pirate second-in-command, One-Eyed Dragon, is trying to break out!"

A soldier shouted, pointing at the one-eyed man who was hacking desperately.

Zhao Yong sneered.

"Want to run? It's not that easy!"

He drew the sword from his waist, leaped up and jumped off the cliff.

"careful!"

Feng Rushi exclaimed.

Zhao Yong landed steadily and swung his sword to block the one-eyed dragon's attack.

"Who are you?"

The one-eyed man looked at the general in front of him and asked in confusion.

"The one who took your life!"

Zhao Yong's sword flashed and went straight for the one-eyed dragon's throat.

With a "clang" sound, the tip of Zhao Yong's sword touched the one-eyed dragon's throat.

"Tell me! Who ordered you to harass the coastal areas?"

Zhao Yong asked sternly.

The one-eyed dragon's face was pale, and his eyes flickered.

"I... I don't know what you are talking about..."

"Don't tell me? Then go to hell!"

At this moment, a sudden change occurred!

A hidden arrow came through the air and shot straight into Zhao Yong's back!

"General, be careful!"

Without waiting for Feng Rushi to shout.

It was as if Zhao Yong had eyes on his back. The moment the arrow left the bowstring, he suddenly turned sideways and barely avoided the fatal blow.

Without even looking, he swung his hand back and a flying knife flew out of the air and accurately pierced the throat of a pirate not far away.

The archers on the cliff continued to shoot arrows, but the remaining pirates had already been defeated and fled in all directions crying, but there was no way to escape.