From cute to empress

Chapter 279 Bonfire of Friendship

I stood up suddenly and grabbed the side of the boat, hardly believing my eyes. Where the sea and the sky met, a lush green leaped out amid the raging waves, like a bright light rising in despair, illuminating our hope of survival.

"It's land! We're saved!"

Deafening cheers erupted on the deck. The joy of surviving the disaster diluted the fatigue and fear of the past few days, and everyone's face was filled with the glow of rebirth.

"Your Majesty, we finally found it!" Zhen Youcai also showed a long-lost smile on his face. He held my hand tightly, and his excitement was beyond words.

I took a deep breath, calmed my excitement, and turned to Zheng He and instructed, "Zheng He, organize people to go ashore immediately. Remember to be cautious and don't take it lightly."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zheng He took the order and directed the crew to lower the lifeboat and prepare for landing.

The island is much larger than we imagined. It is full of lush vegetation, birds singing and flowers blooming, which is in sharp contrast to the rough waves we experienced at sea before. It is as if we have accidentally entered a paradise.

The boat slowly approached the shore, and we set foot on this unfamiliar land. To my surprise, the islanders had already been waiting on the shore for a long time. They were dark-skinned, wearing simple animal skin clothing, holding various weapons in their hands, and looked at us, the uninvited guests, curiously.

The leader was an old man with a burly figure, wearing a feather crown on his head and holding a scepter inlaid with gems in his hand. He must be the indigenous chief of this island.

I signaled the guards behind me not to act rashly, then walked forward with a smile and said in the local language, which I wasn't very fluent in, "Dear Chief, hello, we are from a country far away in the East..."

Before I could finish my words, I was interrupted by the chief. He mumbled a lot in a language I had never heard before, and then made a gesture of invitation.

Although I didn't understand his language, I could tell from his expression and actions that he was welcoming us. I turned to look at Zhen Youcai, and he shook his head slightly, indicating that he didn't understand either.

At this moment, a young indigenous woman walked out of the crowd and said in not very standard Daxia language: "Dear guests, our chief says, welcome to our homeland..."

The young woman, Lina, was the chief's daughter. She had once learned the Bactrian language from a passing merchant. Through her translation, I learned that this island was called "Island of Hope," and that its inhabitants had lived a peaceful life for generations, enjoying abundant natural resources such as rare spices, gemstones, and exotic animals. Their culture was also unique, with a reverence for nature, a belief in the gods, and a simple yet happy life.

I presented the chief with the silk, porcelain and tea I brought with me and expressed my desire to establish friendly relations with them. The chief was very happy and graciously invited us to join his tribe's campfire dinner and expressed his willingness to share his resources and culture with us.

At the bonfire dinner, we enjoyed barbecue, fruit, and fine wine, watched the indigenous people perform songs and dances, and felt their warmth and simplicity. The chief and I had a very pleasant conversation, and we agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between our two places in the future, for mutual benefit and common development.

Zhen Youcai was surrounded by a group of indigenous warriors, who were fascinated by his martial arts and challenged him to a duel. Zhen Youcai, unfailingly skilled, sparred with them, learning from each other and striving for mutual improvement. I observed that Zhen Youcai had learned some unique combat techniques from them, such as crafting traps from vines and branches, and using weapons like blowgun darts and poison darts—techniques that might prove useful in future adventures.

During his rest and recuperation on the "Island of Hope," Zheng He was also active. Drawing on his knowledge of navigation, he collaborated with the chieftain to map the surrounding waters and record detailed information on routes, hydrology, and climate. This valuable information provided crucial clues for our fleet's search for new trade routes.

Just as we were about to leave the "Island of Hope" and continue our voyage, the sailor on the lookout suddenly shouted urgently: "Ship! Ship! Ship spotted!"

I was startled and asked hurriedly, "What ship is it? How far away is it from us?"

"It looks like... a pirate ship! It's about half a day's sail away from us!"

"Pirates?!" My heart sank and an ominous premonition came over me.

"How many ships are there? How many people?" Zhen Youcai walked over quickly and asked in a deep voice.

The sailor on the lookout said in a trembling voice, "It's just... just one ship, but it's huge, and it looks like there's quite a few people on board!"

Pirates are the most feared word on this sea. They commit murder, looting, and all manner of evil, a nightmare for all merchant ships. Although our fleet is well-equipped with sophisticated weapons and well-trained soldiers, we must remain vigilant against these ruthless pirates.

I immediately gave the order: "Pass it down, everyone, get into combat mode! All artillery ready, swords drawn, be prepared to fight!"

The order was quickly relayed, and the once peaceful and tranquil deck suddenly became filled with a tense atmosphere. Soldiers rushed to tell each other, quickly taking up their respective combat positions, checking their weapons and equipment, and preparing for the upcoming battle.

I looked at Zheng He. He had a serious expression and a furrowed brow. He was obviously worried about the impending danger.

"Sir Zheng, you are experienced and knowledgeable. In your opinion, how should we respond?" I asked.

Zheng He pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, pirates are cunning and we must not underestimate them. In my opinion, we should make full use of our ships and artillery to deal with them, and try to avoid close combat."

I nodded. Zheng He's words resonated with me. Our fleet, though large, was not particularly adept at close combat. The pirate ships, on the other hand, were smaller, faster, and more adept at melee combat. We must exploit our strengths and mitigate our weaknesses, leveraging our advantages to remain invincible.

"Pass the order, all ships adjust their formation and advance in a defensive formation! Gunners, prepare your guns and fire immediately once they come within range!"

"Yes!"

With my order, the fleet slowly adjusted its formation, preparing to meet the upcoming challenge.

On the sea, the wind was getting stronger and stronger, and the waves were getting more and more violent, as if foreshadowing the coming of a storm...