Chapter 117: The East Meets West
Chapter 117 – Sound East, Strike West
“Summing up the analysis above, it’s already conclusive that Gaden is planning an attack against us, while we believe that he’s trying to divert our main force through a feint attack, and his real target is the Port of Fullan.”
In the meeting room of the naval base, the people were discussing the latest news obtained from Clement, and an officer specializing in analyzing intelligence said so.
Austin was a bit incredulous, Fullan Harbor was the location of the Navy’s main base, “If that’s the case, then they have a lot of guts.”
The intelligence officer speculated, “According to other pirate captives caught, Gaden’s strength has risen dramatically after he recently annexed several pirate groups, his men have increased to six to seven hundred, it may be that this is the reason that gives him the self-confidence to fight against us.”
Austin nodded, “It seems that while we are targeting Gaden, he is also plotting against us.”
Captain Quirk of the Hope asked, “Commander, what do we do? Do we take the trick and leave our main force in Port Fullan and wait for Gaden’s attack?”
Austin shook his head, “We have to reconsider, there’s no direct evidence yet that they’re trying to lure us away and then attack Fullan Harbor, we can’t just stay dry in the base and sit back and watch them loot the rest of the place, what if they’re not feinting elsewhere?”
Damn! In if only the Navy had a little more manpower. After the large pirate groups of hundreds of people like Shark and Quake were finished, what was left were small gangs of up to a hundred people, and the navy could divide their forces without fear. Now that the Mud Loach Pirate Corps has grown so much in strength, it would be a bit of a stretch to spread out the troops again.
At this point, someone spoke, “As long as there are enough troops, we can aid other places while keeping Port Fullan safe, and Major Joyce’s 3rd Infantry Battalion is gathering nearby.”
The crowd turned their attention to the officer, the captain of a paddle-sailed battleship by the name of Yarman.
Seeing the crowd looking at him in unison, Captain Yalman scrunched his neck and said with a bit of hesitation:
“Uh …… shouldn’t we take advantage of our Army brethren’s strength and have the 3rd Infantry Battalion help us defend the Port of Fullan when we receive the distress signal, while we can then focus our forces on getting to the site of the incident.”
“How can this …… this be? Eliminating the pirates is a task given to the Navy by Lord Gleeman, isn’t it too incompetent of us to let the Army intervene?”
As expected, someone immediately came out to retort, none other than the captain of the Hope, Quake.
When this guy was a pirate, he was beaten up by the first and second battalions in Lake Town, and his heart was more or less against the army.
In Austin asked him to join the Navy, he also made a point of asking the composition of the Navy, after learning that the entire army in addition to the commander Austin a person with a background in the army, the others are either newly recruited or pirate prisoners, he only made up his mind to join the Navy.
Although the other officers did not speak out, it was clear from their expressions that their hearts still favored Quirk.
But Admiral Austin was in agreement with Captain Yarman’s suggestion, and he said:
“Gentlemen, we should prioritize how to go about accomplishing our mission, any means is fine, even with the help of others.”
“The construction of the second batch of windjammers is going very well, once it is completed we have to go south to open up the route, the matter of the pirates can’t be delayed any longer.”
“Originally our first goal was to take out Mudskipper Gaden, if he sends himself to the door it couldn’t be better, and since he has annexed other gangs, it saves us from having to deal with them one by one.”
He instructed his intelligence officer, “You’ll have to make good use of Clement and try to figure out Gaden’s true intentions.”
Seeing the Admiral take such a stance, the other officers had no choice but to say yes.
The meeting finally decided to eliminate the pirates in conjunction with the 3rd Battalion Infantry, but this had to be done with the permission of the staff, and Austin immediately sent his men off to Lakewood.
……
In the period of time that followed, Gaden’s pirate group suddenly quieted down, not only was Alda not attacked by him, but there was no news of him from the other territories either. It was obvious that the other party was building up their strength, perhaps overhauling their armored warships, or perhaps digesting the newly annexed pirate corps in preparation for the upcoming great war.
In order to cope with the pirate attack, the navy once again strengthened its training up and down, and Austin obtained authorization from the staff department, and the 3rd Infantry Battalion stationed near the port of Fulan temporarily came under his command.
During this period, Intelligence Officer Duran arranged for brothel owner Clement to contact the Loach Pirates a few times, and the information obtained through these contacts indicated that “Loach” Gaden did have the intention of attacking from the east, and its goal was indeed the port of Fulan, but the exact date of the pirate’s launching of the operation was not yet known.
On October 10th, a distant beacon signal was suddenly observed, and the navy immediately dispatched warships to the port, and the 3rd Infantry Battalion took over the defense of the port of Fulan. At the same time, under the authorization of Intelligence Officer Duran, Clement released the Fish Falcon, which carried the message that the main naval force had departed.
When the rescue fleet arrived, the pirates had already retreated, and according to the local militia’s report, the pirates just ran a bluff outside the fort and left, and the number of people who came was small.
Austin concluded that this was a “test” operation by Gadsden to determine whether the feint could draw out the main naval force.
……
A week later, at noon on October 17th, the Hope and several other ships returned to the base port from an exercise in which they had recently practiced communicating at sea using a new type of semaphore.
The officers and men lowered their canvas and inspected the ship, and after confirming that everything was in order, all but those who had stayed on watch went ashore and headed for the mess hall, discussing lunch dishes along the way.
Suddenly the bells on the base chimed, indicating that an alarm signal had been received.
Quake muttered, “I hope it’s for real this time! Gaden the bastard.” He immediately rushed to the war room with the other officers. The sailors, meanwhile, regrouped, ready to go.
In the combat meeting, Austin decided to let the Navy stay at Port Fullan and send the 3rd Infantry Battalion forward to rescue them, because according to the observation of the soldiers on duty, it was most convenient to go there by land where the signal was sent this time.
The fish falcon carrying the message “the navy has left” also once again lifted its wings and flew away to the far side.
In a few hours, 10 pirate ships with skull and crossbones flag appeared on the sea near the port of Fu Lan, and the pirate leader Gaden immediately commanded his fleet to rush over to the port of Fu Lan after receiving the news.
He stood on the deck and ordered loudly, “This time when you go ashore give me a big robbery, make sure to make a big noise and rob out the prestige of our pirate group.”
Then emphasized, “But be sure to give me to remember, only five hours, five hours later must come back to the ship, by then whether the people have arrived or not, I will order the fleet to return.”
“Hurrah!” “Hurrah!” The pirates chanted in response to their leader, rubbing their fists and preparing to do something big.
Gaden drew his sword and pointed to the east, “Order the slaves to increase their speed! Assault on Port Fullan!”
“Boss, that’s not right!”
A shout from a lookout ruined the atmosphere.
Gaden, who was disturbed from his good mood, held back his nameless fire and asked loudly, “What’s wrong!”
The lookout on the mast pointed to the east with a look of fear, “The navy isn’t leaving, they …… they’re charging towards us!”
(End of chapter)