From cute to empress

Chapter 283: Fight for Ocean Domination

The sharp horn sounded like a flash of lightning, instantly shattering the calm on the sea. My heart shuddered, and a sense of foreboding washed over me.

"Pirates! It's pirates!" the sailor on the lookout shouted in horror, his voice full of disbelief and fear.

In the distant fog, several huge warships emerged like ghosts, with black hulls and bright red flags. The hideous golden sea monster on the flags seemed to come alive, exuding a terrifying murderous aura.

"Prepare for battle!" the boatswain roared, commanding the crew to enter combat status.

The calm sea surface suddenly boiled up, the rumbling sound of cannons was deafening, and the cannonballs fired by the pirate ship, carrying the breath of death, whistled towards our fleet.

"Protect His Majesty!" Zhen Youcai stood in front of me with a long sword in his hand, his eyes firm and sharp.

I forced myself to calm down. Now is not the time to be afraid. I am the empress and the spiritual pillar of this fleet. I cannot panic!

"Pass the order down, all warships fight back with all their might!" I shouted the order, and although my voice was trembling, it was full of strength.

For a moment, the sea was transformed into a battlefield, filled with roaring gunfire and deafening cries of murder. The pirate ships, relying on their powerful ships and cannons, attacked us frantically, while we used nimble positioning and precise firepower to counter them. Both sides were locked in a desperate struggle.

"Boom!" A cannonball landed next to my flagship, sending up a massive wave that nearly capsized the ship. I lost my balance and nearly fell, but Zhen Youcai, quick-witted, caught me.

"Your Majesty, are you okay?" he asked with concern, a hint of anxiety in his tone.

"I'm fine," I shook my head, looking forward with a determined gaze, "We will definitely defeat them!"

The battle intensified. The Pirate King's flagship, a massive three-masted sailing ship, was like a monster from hell, rampaging and unstoppable. With its powerful firepower, it continuously compressed our space for maneuver, and the situation became increasingly unfavorable for us.

"We can't go on like this, we will be defeated one by one!" I said anxiously, thinking of countermeasures quickly in my mind.

"Your Majesty, let me take people to burn their flagship!" Zhen Youcai suggested, with a determination to face death in his eyes.

I understand what he means. This is the only way out at the moment, but it also means huge risks.

"No, it's too dangerous!" I decisively rejected his proposal, "You can't take the risk!"

"Your Majesty, this is our only chance of victory!" Zhen Youcai insisted, "Please believe me, I will definitely complete the task!"

Just then, Zheng He came up from the deck. He took a look at the battle situation and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, please allow me..." "What's your plan, Mr. Zheng?" I asked eagerly, as if grasping at a lifeline. Zheng He was a veteran and experienced fighter. Since he volunteered, he must have a plan to defeat the enemy.

"Your Majesty," Zheng He calmly explained, pointing to the nautical chart. "Although the pirate ships have formidable firepower, they are not as fast as us. We can exploit the wind and currents to divert the battle to this narrow strait. The reefs on both sides of the strait are densely packed, making it difficult for large warships to maneuver. This way, we can offset the pirate ships' firepower advantage."

My eyes lit up. Zheng He's strategy was bold and ingenious, exactly the solution we needed to break the impasse. "Alright! As Mr. Zheng says, pass the order down. All warships turn around. Target—Misty Strait!"

As soon as the order was given, the fleet sprang into action. The well-trained sailors maneuvered their warships, nimbly weaving through the artillery fire like fish. The Pirate King had clearly not anticipated our voluntary entry into unfavorable terrain, and for a moment he panicked, but quickly recovered and commanded his fleet to pursue us relentlessly.

Once again, the deafening roar of cannons echoed across the sea. This time, we weren't passive defenders. Instead, we took advantage of the strait's terrain and engaged the pirate ships. Zheng He was a truly experienced navigator. Under his command, our fleet always managed to escape danger and seize opportunities to deliver a decisive blow to the pirate ships.

At this moment, the boatswain ran over covered in blood, "Your Majesty, we successfully sneaked into the pirate flagship, but..." He hesitated, as if he had something to hide.

"But what? Tell me quickly!" My heart tightened and a bad premonition came to my mind.

The boatswain took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "There's a mysterious man in black with great martial arts skills by the Pirate King's side. We've suffered heavy losses..."

"What?!" My heart sank. Was I going to fail again this time?

Just when we were at a loss, a huge fleet suddenly appeared on the sea, with black hulls and white flags embroidered with an eagle with its wings spread.

"Who are those?" I looked at the fleet that suddenly appeared, my heart full of doubts.

"Oh no! It's the Eagle Empire's fleet!" Zheng He's face changed and he said in a serious tone, "Why are they here?"

I was startled. The Eagle Empire is a powerful maritime nation with great ambitions, and has always been eyeing our maritime trade. With their appearance, are they friend or foe?

At this moment, a golden flag slowly rose on the flagship of the Eagle Empire, and its target was clearly pointed at... us!

"Your Majesty, the pirate ships have reinforced their defenses. Their artillery fire has concentrated its force, blocking the narrowest exit of the strait. I'm afraid we'll have trouble breaking through!" Zheng He's voice tinged with anxiety. I gripped the railing tightly, staring at the dense barrage of artillery fire ahead, my heart pounding with anxiety. The pirate king is incredibly cunning; he's seen through our intentions so quickly. It seems this battle will be even more difficult than we imagined.

"Pass the order down, all warships must break out at all costs!" I took a deep breath, with a determined light flashing in my eyes. Even if it is a dangerous place, I will break out!

The deafening roar of artillery fire rang out again, and the sea was suddenly filled with smoke, obscuring the sky. Our warships bravely advanced, fearlessly charging towards the enemy, but the pirate ships' firepower was too fierce, and our fleet suffered heavy losses. Several warships were hit and caught fire, and the sea was covered with broken planks and the bodies of sailors.

"Your Majesty, this isn't going to work! We'll be trapped here and die!" Zheng He said anxiously, his face flushed in the firelight, his forehead covered in sweat. "I know our situation is extremely critical, but facing such intense fire, what can we do? Is our victory truly doomed?"

At this moment, a huge fleet suddenly appeared on the sea, with black hulls and white flags embroidered with an eagle with its wings spread.

At that moment, a golden flag slowly rose from the Eagle Empire's flagship, its target pointed directly at... us! Before I could give the order, a small boat sped over from the Eagle Empire's flagship and docked directly on our deck.

A man in silver armor and a black cape, flanked by a group of soldiers, strode onto the deck. He removed his helmet, revealing a handsome, angular face. His deep eyes gleamed with an unfathomable light. He smiled at me and spoke in a deep, magnetic voice, "I've long heard of the great reputation of Her Majesty the Great Ming Empress. Seeing her today, I can see she's truly worthy of the reputation..."