If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

The capture of Black Dragon was so dramatic that no one in the Navy expected it to end like this.

When Zhou Wu pressed the Black Dragon down on the cliff with his knife and blew the horn, everyone's attention was drawn to him.

The pirates were horrified to see their leader captured, while the navy was overjoyed. Many pirates immediately raised the white flag and surrendered, but many more scattered and fled, since many of them had been recruited and did not have much loyalty to Black Dragon.

"I, Heilong, have been wise all my life. It is not unjust for me to fall into your hands."

"Stop trying to flatter yourself, you illiterate wretch. Have you even gone to school? I'm a legitimate graduate of the FBI, MPV, USV, and SUV programs. You think you can compare to me? Heh, fucking idiot."

Zhou Wu showed no respect to Heilong, whose face was filled with embarrassment, but he didn't have the courage to shout anything like "A scholar can be killed but not humiliated."

On the sea, the ships were still chasing each other, but the roles were completely reversed. Before, it was the pirates chasing the navy, but now the pirates were scattering and the navy was chasing after them.

The battle at sea gradually ended at dusk. Despite the navy's all-out attack, many pirates managed to escape, but fortunately, most either surrendered or were sunk and fed to sharks.

While Li Junren was collecting spoils on the sea, Zhou Wu was not idle either. He pressed Heilong to reveal the location of the treasure, but Heilong naturally did not reveal it easily, showing a look of being ready to die.

"Hmph, you want my treasure? No way! Kill me!"

"Oh."

Zhou Wu drew his sword and slashed at the black dragon. The black dragon had only been pretending, and never expected that Zhou Wu, this fool, would actually slash. It was so frightened that it begged for mercy.

"Tell me, tell me, tell me, can't you ask me a couple more times?"

"I'm too lazy to waste words. Anyway, your place is so small, it'll just take a little more time."

"Hmph, the treasure is where I live; there's a secret room there."

Heilong now understands Zhou Wu better. Never try anything funny in front of him, because this little bastard doesn't play by the rules at all.

Following the black dragon's guidance, Zhou Wu indeed found the secret chamber. The treasures inside were astonishing, even to someone as worldly as Zhou Wu.

"No wonder everyone wants to be a bandit, it's such a fast way to make money."

"Hmph, people are all bound by external things."

Zhou Wu's momentary lapse in concentration made Black Dragon laugh at him.

Zhou Wu couldn't stand this insult, so he slapped the other person across the face and didn't stop talking.

"Hey, you illiterate idiot, you're spouting nonsense. Do you even know what you mean? You're just babbling on and on."

Heilong wanted to retort, but fearing another slap, he held back and just glared angrily at Zhou Wu.

Zhou Wu and Li Junren stayed there for three days before they could take stock of all the spoils of victory. They had captured nearly two thousand pirates, seized eighty-six warships, including more than twenty of the Bull Demon King class, and countless riches.

As for the women on the island, upon inquiry, it was found that most of them had been forcibly taken. Zhou Wu suggested releasing them, and Li Junren shared the same idea. So, they were given travel expenses and allowed to give up returning home. If they did not wish to go home, Zhou Wu also said that they could go to Niujia Town and start over.

After this was said, almost no one mentioned going home anymore. After all, being kidnapped by pirates meant their families wouldn't accept them if they went back, so it was better to find a new place and start over.

The navy marched triumphantly back to the capital.

When Li Junren led the navy to the capital's dock, the entire dock was packed with more than a hundred ships of all sizes, which could not stop at all. The crowd on the shore also gathered to watch the spectacle.

This time, Li Tiancheng once again led his officials to the dock to welcome the Crown Prince's victorious return. Compared to Li Zheng's return last time, Li Junren's return this time was much more grand.

The sheer number of warships—over a hundred—was enough to shock everyone. The nearly two thousand prisoners who disembarked were also subjected to being pelted with rotten vegetable leaves and clods of dirt.

Only when he saw this "evidence" laid out before him did Li Tiancheng breathe a sigh of relief. He had truly been tricked by the Fourth Prince, Li Zheng.

"Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission. In this campaign against the White Skull Pirates of the East Sea, we destroyed 128 warships, killed more than 3,000 enemy soldiers, captured 86 warships, and captured the pirate leader Black Dragon alive. Please review this report, Your Majesty."

As soon as Li Junren finished speaking, a guard brought up the Black Dragon and presented it to Li Tiancheng in person.

However, like Zhou Wu, Li Tiancheng was filled with disappointment at first sight. The legendary bandit leader actually looked like this.

As soon as Heilong saw Li Tiancheng's expression, he knew what the other man was thinking. He had seen too many of these kinds of things. If his mouth hadn't been gagged, he would have given Li Tiancheng a good talking-to.

Li Tiancheng waved his hand dismissively, signaling the guards to hurry up and get rid of it, as it annoyed him.

"Father, I have also seized valuables worth approximately six million strings of cash."

As Li Junren approached Li Tiancheng, he whispered something in the latter's ear. Unexpectedly, Li Tiancheng lost his composure and shouted loudly, attracting the attention of everyone around him.

"what!"

Everyone around him was staring blankly at him, so Li Tiancheng quickly waved his hand to indicate that everything was alright, and then whispered to Li Junren.

"Is it really six million strings of cash?"

"It's mostly gold and silver jewelry, but conservatively estimated, it's at least six million strings of cash. I'm afraid if the ministers hear about this, we won't be able to keep the money."

"Yes, yes, my son is the smartest."

Li Tiancheng now wished he could hug and kiss his son. He really was his son, knowing exactly what his father was thinking.

If the Crown Prince had announced this money out loud just now, the ministers would definitely have arranged its use by the next morning.

Since it hasn't been publicly announced yet, this money can go into Li Tiancheng's private treasury, essentially becoming his personal stash. Li Tiancheng can use this money however he wants, and the ministers have no say in it.

But if it goes into the national treasury, then I'm sorry, it has absolutely nothing to do with Your Majesty. This is the country's money, and even ministers can receive a salary from it, but the emperor doesn't.

Now, all Li Tiancheng can think about is money. Warships and prisoners are irrelevant; money is the most important thing.

"It's been a long time since I've bought any jewelry for the Empress. Also, my palace needs a renovation. Last time, a vassal state presented me with a polar bear as tribute, which was quite nice. However, I didn't have the money to keep it at the time, so I returned it. Now that I have the money, I'll have that vassal state send me two more."

Li Tiancheng spent tens of thousands of dollars just on the journey from the dock to the palace.

A victory banquet was a must in the evening, and Li Junren, Zhou Wu, and Lin Niangzi, who were the main contributors to this expedition, were all on the list.

Although the Great Dragon Kingdom did not have an explicit rule that women could not show their faces in public, according to the social customs, women still mostly focused on their families. It was not uncommon for women to show their faces in public, but it was the first time that someone like Madam Lin was able to go to the battlefield to fight.