On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The night sky of Quanzhou Port was torn apart by the cold light of torches and soldiers in black armor.

The merchant ship "Golden Fleece" was surrounded by dozens of navy clippers, with the black muzzles of their muskets pointed at the side of the ship.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards cavalry leaped onto the deck like hawks and headed straight for the cabin.

Baron Ferdinand's blond hair stood out in the chaos. He tried to rush to the boat at the stern, but was pinned to the deck by two Tiberians. His gorgeous tight-fitting jacket was stained.

"Baron Ferdinand," said Yan Feng, a captain of the Minyue Commandery, dressed in dark black, as he slowly stepped onto the deck. His voice was as cold as steel. "You are suspected of colluding with the Nanyang king, inciting rebellion, smuggling arms, and engaging in prohibited transactions. By order of the Nanyang Protectorate, you are to be arrested immediately!"

"Slander! This is slander!" Ferdinand struggled, his blue eyes filled with anger and fear. "I am the Baron of the Kingdom of Castile! You have no right..."

"In the Daqian territory, anyone who violates the Daqian law is a criminal." Yan Feng interrupted him, his eyes sweeping over the several trusted crew members who were escorted up and the trembling Dayak guide "Scorpion".

"take away!"

"Scorpion" looked ashen. Seeing Yan Feng's cold gaze, he trembled all over and collapsed to the ground.

At the same time, in a secluded inn in Quanzhou Port.

The fat body of Batulu, the local king of Dingxiang Island, was blocked in the corner of the guest room by several embroidered-uniform guards, his face pale.

"King Baturu," a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard said calmly, "by order of the Protectorate, you are requested to temporarily reside in Quanzhou and cooperate with the investigation."

"I, I didn't do anything." Baturu's voice trembled.

"The Black Stone of Emerald Island is colluding with the West and plotting evil. What is the intention of His Majesty the King of Earth to leave the island secretly at this time?" The captain's eyes were as sharp as knives.

Batulu collapsed to the ground, sweat dripping from his face. Ferdinand's promise and the threat of the Emerald Isle vanished before the iron fist of the empire.

Nanyang, Emerald Island.

The waves beat violently against the rugged rocks.

The local king "Black Stone" stood with his burly body on the rough lookout tower, with hideous tattoos on his dark face and a wild and fierce light flashing in his eyes.

Behind him, hundreds of Emerald Island warriors, holding brand new cross steel swords and carrying Castilian muskets on their shoulders, were howling and preparing to board the ship.

Several looted Daqian merchant ships were converted into warships, with simple protective plates installed on the sides.

"Warriors!" Black Stone raised a Western steel sword and said in a hoarse voice, "The coward Batulu of Dingxiang Island has been frightened out of his wits! Our Western friends have given us the sharpest swords and the most powerful muskets! Today, we will flatten Dingxiang Island! Take away all their cloves! Kill all their men! The women and treasures will all be yours!"

"Roar!" The pirate warriors howled like beasts, brandished their weapons, and rushed towards the ship.

As the fleet left the Emerald Island Harbor, three peculiarly shaped speedboats suddenly appeared on the sea ahead!

The ships have long and narrow hulls and tall masts. They are the new “Flying Fish Class” clippers of the Daqian Navy - “Haiyan”, “Haiying” and “Hai Falcon”!

"It's the Daqian Navy!" exclaimed the pirate on the lookout.

"What are you afraid of!" Black Stone grinned. "We have muskets too! Charge forward! Sink them!"

The Emerald Island fleet, relying on its sheer numbers, sped forward! The pirates raised their muskets, ready to fire.

On the bridge of the "Haiyan", the commander of the Burning Thunder Division Task Force calmly ordered: "Target, enemy lead ship. Test fire a single Burning Thunder high-explosive bomb."

"Yes!"

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, a dark projectile pierced the air and landed precisely ten feet in front of the bow of Black Stone's flagship!

"Boom——!"

A deafening roar!

A huge water column with a diameter of dozens of feet suddenly exploded on the sea surface!

The violent shock wave lifted the bow of the flagship!

The sea water poured down like a rainstorm!

The pirates on the deck were shaken to the ground, their muskets fell out of their hands, and they screamed in pain!

Heishi grabbed the side of the boat tightly and avoided being blown away!

He stared at the water column rising into the sky in horror, and the fierce look in his eyes was replaced by unbelievable fear!

"What is that, the devil?"

"Target, enemy fleet's left flank. Incendiary bombs, covering fire."

The commander of the Petrel's voice remained steady.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The broadside guns of the three "Exocet-class" clippers fired at the same time!

Dozens of projectiles with trails of fire whizzed out!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The left wing of the Emerald Island fleet was instantly engulfed in flames!

The incendiary bomb exploded, and sticky kerosene splashed everywhere, clinging to the sails, decks, and pirates and burning fiercely!

Shrill howls echoed across the sea! Pirates jumped into the sea in terror, their ships colliding with each other and becoming a chaotic mess!

On the Blackstone flagship, the pirates were terrified and turned the ship around while crying and madly fled towards the Emerald Island!

Lilac Island and the treasured woman all became jokes in the face of the devastating artillery fire.

On the bridge of the "Haiyan," the commander lowered his telescope. "The target is scattered. Cease firing. Notice to Emerald Island that Black Stone has three days to surrender all Western weapons and envoys and to apologize to the Quanzhou Protectorate. Otherwise, both Emerald Island and Black Stone will perish together!"

The cold words echoed across the sea through the amplified brass tubes, and also struck deeply into the heart of Heishi who had fled back to the island.

He slumped on the muddy beach, looking at the three speeding ships on the sea that looked like the god of death, his whole body cold.

Castile's muskets were like children's toys in front of the Burning Sky Thunder.

Deep in the East China Sea, there is the "Black Water Ocean".

The leaden sky hung low, and the sea breeze carried a salty chill. The Daqian Navy's two massive ironclad warships, the Zhenhai and Dingyuan, stood like silent steel fortresses, guarding the cutting-edge Polang, arrayed in a V-shaped formation.

The black coiled dragon flag fluttered on the masthead.

A few miles away, fifteen Castilian warships flying the double-headed eagle flag were lined up in battle formation like a floating castle.

The tall ship's tower and dense gun ports exude a heavy sense of oppression.

On the bridge of the "Breaking Waves", Lin Zhen was wearing a black cloak, his posture as straight as a pine tree.

His deep eyes calmly scanned the Western fleet through the telescope.

On the deck of the flagship "Santa Maria", a Western general dressed in gorgeous military uniform and wearing a ribbon was also holding a monocular telescope and observing the Daqian fleet.

Neither side raised the battle flag nor fired warning shots. Only the roar of the waves and the whimper of the sea breeze echoed in the dead silence.

"Marshal," Admiral Zhao Meng whispered, "The Western Fleet's guns are ready but not loaded."

"They're observing," Lin Zhen said in a low voice, "observing the Breaking Wave."

On the "Santa Maria", Count Alvarez put down his telescope and frowned.

He had never seen a warship of such a shape: the low and smooth hull was covered with dark steel plates, and the huge triple-mounted turret in the middle of the ship slowly rotated, with an astonishingly thick muzzle.

This was completely different from the Eastern ships he knew.

"My Lord," the adjutant whispered, "the Daqian Fleet seems to be waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Alvarez said solemnly, "Waiting for us to open fire? Or for us to retreat?"

He weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

This fleet was tasked with opening up eastern trade routes for the Kingdom of Castile, rather than engaging in a full-scale war with an unknown and powerful empire.

Baron Ferdinand's communication was interrupted, the movement of Emerald Island failed, and everything about this silent and dangerous fleet was beyond expectations.

"Orders," Alvarez said solemnly, "The fleet, turn fifteen degrees to port, head southeast, maintain distance and continue observation."

"Yes!"

The huge body of the Castilian fleet slowly turned, cautiously distancing itself from the Daqian fleet, but not moving far away, like a circling vulture.

"Marshal," Zhao Meng asked, "shall we pursue?"

"No need." Lin Zhen put down the telescope, "Maintain the formation, monitor its movements, and send a message to the Jinling Western Ocean Main Fleet. The East China Sea's intentions are unclear."

"Yes!"

The huge turret of the "Wavebreaker" was still locked on the receding Western fleet, and the cold muzzle flashed with silent deterrence under the lead-gray sky.

The waves in the East China Sea became increasingly violent amid the silent confrontation between the two empires.

Jinling, Imperial Study.

The candlelight cast Murong Yan's pale figure on the huge Western nautical chart.

The eunuch silently presented three urgent reports: Quanzhou captured Ferdinand and controlled Baturu; Emerald Island burned thunder to scare the enemy, and Black Stone was defeated; the East China Sea and Western Ocean fleets confronted each other and retreated without fighting.

Murong Yan's eyes were calm, and her fingertips gently slid between the "Emerald Island" and the "Black Water Ocean".

"Ferdinand Baturu's Strict Interrogation and Confession Report"

"Emerald Island Black Stone ordered the Nanyang Protectorate to send an envoy to reprimand those who surrender their weapons and apologize within a certain time limit. If they fail to do so, they will be exterminated."

"East Sea Fleet." Her eyes fell on the Santa Maria logo. "The Western Ocean exploration has been thwarted, but their resolve has not died."

She walked slowly to the desk and dipped her scarlet brush into ink.

"deliver an imperial order."

"First, secretly order the East China Sea Patrol Fleet and the Western Fleet to monitor their movements day and night, and report in detail on their ship configurations, artillery deployments, and navigation patterns. The Zhenhai, Dingyuan, and Polang ships will rotate patrols to maintain deterrence. No fire may be opened unless under attack."

"Secondly, order the Ministry of Rites to select personnel fluent in Western languages ​​and familiar with foreign affairs to establish a Western Interpretation Office. This office will collect information on the customs, laws, systems, and military strength of the Kingdom of Castile and other Western countries."

"Third, secretly order Chu Xiling of the Torpedo Division to classify the observations of the Western main battleships as top secret and analyze them immediately. Accelerate the construction of the follow-up ships of the Wave-Breaking Class. Expand the production capacity of new armor-piercing explosive and incendiary bombs."

"Fourth," Murong Yan paused, a sharp glint flashing in her phoenix eyes, "I hereby inform the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works that the budget for the second phase of the Quanzhou Zhennan Port project, the Nanyang immigration settlement, and the construction of the Borneo fortress will be increased by 30%. The national treasury must ensure that it increases revenue and reduces expenditure!"

The decree was announced.

Murong Yan stood in front of the sea chart, her moon-white sleeves emitting a cool luster under the candlelight.

The smoke of war on Emerald Island has temporarily died down, and the giant warships are hovering in the East China Sea.