From cute to empress

Chapter 284 The New Silk Road

Amidst the deafening roar of artillery fire, I clung to the side of the boat, letting the wind ruffle my hair. The scene before me was horrific: countless wreckage drifted on the sea, wounded soldiers groaned in pain, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.

Zheng He was extremely anxious and kept suggesting that I retreat, but I understood that if we retreated, all our efforts over the past few months would be wasted and the Ming Dynasty's maritime trade would suffer a severe blow.

Just as I was feeling hopeless, a strange fleet suddenly appeared on the horizon. Their black hulls were as majestic as steel behemoths, and atop their white banners, a soaring eagle seemed poised to tear through the heavens. Who were they? Friend or foe? My heart leaped into my throat.

"Your Majesty, it's the Eagle Empire's fleet!" Zheng He's voice was trembling. I knew that the Eagle Empire was the most powerful country on the Western continent. Their fleet was well-known for its well-equipped and brave combat. If they came with ill intentions... I didn't dare to think about it anymore.

The boat docked, and the silver-armored man walked up to me with an imposing manner. His deep eyes lingered on Zhen Youcai and me for a moment, and a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Your Majesty, I have long heard that the Ming Dynasty is rich in natural resources and has many outstanding people. Seeing it today, I can see that it is indeed well-deserved."

He spoke surprisingly fluent Chinese. I suppressed my doubts and asked cautiously, "You have come all the way here, what brings you here?"

"Haha, Your Majesty, there's no need to be nervous," he said with a hearty laugh. "My name is Arthur, and I'm the fleet commander of the Eagle Empire. We came here to hunt down the Pirate King, but we didn't expect to encounter the Ming fleet here."

Pirate King? I was struck by the thought. Could it be that they, like us, are here to eliminate pirates?

Arthur seemed to see through my thoughts. He nodded and said firmly, "The Pirate King commits all kinds of evil, including murder, looting, and plundering. He is our common enemy! We are willing to join forces with the Ming Dynasty to wipe out this gang of villains!"

"Really?" A glimmer of hope ignited in my heart. If we can get help from the Eagle Empire, we may still have a chance of survival.

Arthur nodded solemnly. He turned and pointed at the fleet behind him, saying loudly: "For justice and peace, let us fight side by side and completely destroy the Pirate King!"

His voice echoed across the sea, and the soldiers of the Eagle Empire shouted in unison, their voices shaking the sky.

At that moment, my heart was filled with hope. I knew the dawn was coming. I turned to look at Zhen Youcai. His deep eyes gleamed with determination. I knew we were ready to fight.

"Pass the order down, prepare for battle!" I drew the sword at my waist and pointed it straight ahead, "Today, we will make the pirate king pay for his blood debt with blood!" The war drums beat and the horns blew.

Zhen Youcai and I stood side by side at the bow, gazing at the vast expanse of the sea, our hearts awash with pride. The sea breeze whirled the battle flag, making it flutter and rustle, as if cheering us on.

"Mengmeng, are you scared?" Zhen Youcai held my hand tightly, his eyes full of worry.

I shook my head, held his rough hand tightly, and said firmly: "As long as you are here, I am not afraid."

As soon as he finished speaking, a deafening cry of battle resounded through the air. Like a pack of ferocious sharks, the Pirate King's fleet pounced upon us. Cannons roared, arrows rained down, and the sea erupted in a torrent of surging waves.

"Kill!" I drew the sword from my waist, shouted loudly, and led the charge.

Zhen Youcai followed closely behind. The spear in his hand was like a silver dragon. Wherever he passed, the pirates fell into the water.

"For the Ming Dynasty! For victory!" Inspired by me, the soldiers' morale was high and they fought a desperate battle with the pirates.

I brandished my sword, slashing left and right, with a heroic air. Blood stained my battle robe, but I cared nothing, my eyes only filled with the desire for victory.

During the fierce battle, I saw a burly man on the pirate king's flagship holding a huge axe, madly hacking at our soldiers.

"Pirate King!" I gritted my teeth and rushed towards him with my sword.

Zhen Youcai stopped me and said in a deep voice, "Mengmeng, you stay here and command. I'll go deal with him!"

I nodded and watched him leap out like a cheetah and go straight for the Pirate King's head.

On the sea, two figures clashed fiercely, swords flashing and sabers flashing, murderous intent billowing. In the end, Zhen Youcai, relying on his extraordinary martial arts and courage, beheaded the pirate king.

The fall of the Pirate King completely crushed the pirates' fighting spirit. They threw away their weapons and armor and knelt down to beg for mercy.

I stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the sea that had returned to calm, feeling a lot of emotions in my heart.

"Your Majesty, we won!" Zheng He knelt down in front of me excitedly.

I nodded, my eyes sweeping across the tired yet excited faces, and I said loudly, "Soldiers, we not only defeated the pirates, but also opened up a new Maritime Silk Road! The future of the Ming Dynasty will be even more glorious!"

"Long live! Long live! Long live!" The deafening cheers resounded through the sky and echoed over the sea for a long time.

Under Arthur's guidance, we arrived at a mysterious sea area, where islands are scattered everywhere, the water is crystal clear, and there are countless rare treasures.

"Your Majesty, this is the secret trade route of our Eagle Empire. I hope we can share the wealth here together." Arthur pointed at the map with a sincere tone.

I looked at the unfamiliar islands on the map, my heart filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"Your Majesty, look!" Zheng He pointed to an island in the distance and exclaimed, "There seems to be a gold mine there!"

I followed his finger and saw the island shimmering with dazzling gold... The joy of victory filled my heart, but Zheng He's discovery was like a thunderclap, exploding in my ears. A gold mine! What this meant was self-evident. I suppressed my excitement and ordered the fleet to sail towards the shimmering golden island.

As we got closer, we realized it wasn't an island, but an endless stretch of coastline. The golden beach shone in the sun, as if it were covered in gold.

"Your Majesty, we've made a fortune!" the boatswain shouted excitedly, his rough face full of disbelief.

I stepped off the boat, my feet touching the soft sand. I grabbed a handful of fine sand, and golden powder trickled down through my fingers. It was truly gold!

"There's not only gold here," Arthur walked over and pointed to the dense forest not far away, "but also countless precious woods and various spices."

I followed his direction and saw a lush forest with a strange fragrance.

"Your Majesty, let's establish the first trading post here!" Zheng He suggested.

I nodded and agreed to his proposal. Soon, the boatswain led a team of people to build houses and cultivate land on the coast.

The people here were warm and hospitable, and were full of curiosity about us, the guests from afar. We exchanged porcelain, silk and tea for their gold, spices and gems.

In just a few days, a simple yet vibrant trading post was established. Watching the merchants and busy sailors coming and going, I felt a sense of accomplishment.

"Mengmeng, look!" That evening, Zhen Youcai suddenly pointed to the sea in the distance with a serious expression.

I followed his gaze and saw a huge black sailboat appear where the sea and sky met. It was anchored there quietly, like a dormant beast, emitting a chilling aura...