Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 255

Chapter 255
Within the cabin, the princess indicated a location on the map as she spoke.
“So the plan is, once that child sinks every vessel tonight, I am to combine my forces with the Lord of Bukgeon to seal the pirates’ harbor and initiate the amphibious assault, correct?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And then, as has happened previously, the Bunran pirates will attempt to flee inland, at which point the Dragon Fangs and the young master, positioned within the forest between the shore and the mountains, will eliminate them all simultaneously?”
“That is the strategy.”

The plan was for the Dragon Fangs and me to make a covert landing and establish an ambush behind the enemy lines.
In past attempts to clear the harbor, the ships would escape to sea and the pirates would disperse into the mountains, evading capture. This new strategy was to lie in wait at their rear and capture them all as they fled.

“But are you certain you will be safe? Twenty ships suggests a force of at least five hundred pirates, does it not?”
The princess wore a concerned expression as she questioned the plan I had devised.
She was doubting whether I and the children could truly contend with five hundred pirates—but these were the same children who had defeated two hundred elite members of the Blood Cult. Five hundred common pirates would be a trivial challenge.
It was true the Golden-Furred Wasp Kings were not present, but we had Cheongwol, and the local insect swarms could largely make up the difference. There was little cause for concern.
Furthermore, among those five hundred, only a small number were trained in martial arts. According to Jin-gyu, the former Strangling Lust Demon who was now a junior officer, only one individual possessed notably strong skills.
And even that one was only marginally more powerful than Jin-gyu, meaning a couple of the Dragon Fangs would be more than sufficient to deal with him.

“There is no need for concern. Our group is also quite capable in aquatic environments.”
“Given your past accomplishments… very well. But please, exercise caution. I would be deeply distressed to see a dear friend such as yourself injured or lost.”
“So we are friends now?”
“Naturally! Have we not always been excellent friends who share a deep understanding?”
“Y-Yes.”
The princess was announcing herself to be my intimate female companion.
I decided it was best to simply accept this. To refute her directly might risk a charge of disrespecting the imperial family.
I offered an awkward smile, and the princess then motioned toward Hwa-eun.
“Hwa-eun, you will come with me. She will serve as our liaison for communication.”
The princess was taking Hwa-eun to help synchronize the operation’s timing.
Because we could communicate through thought, it was the most efficient way to relay our respective situations.
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
With that, the princess instructed Hwa-eun to follow and used her lightness technique to leap onto the adjacent ship.
She soared through the air between the vessels and landed securely on the opposite deck.
The officer there, who had been watching anxiously, sighed in visible relief once she landed.
Shortly after, his disciples followed the princess, and finally, only Hwa-eun remained. She grasped my hand firmly and said,
“Please stay safe, So-ryong.”
“I will.”
“Hwa-eun, have no fear. I will protect So-ryong effectively.”
“Alright, Unnie. I am relying on you.”
And so, with Hwa-eun and the princess on the warship, our own boat set sail to skirt the eastern coast of Taiwan Island and drop anchor in the southern bay, as arranged.
The western bay was already prepared with traps by the local natives working with the farmers, so our only option was to sail south around the east. Moreover, the pirate fleet was concentrated in the island’s southwestern bay.
“After navigating the eastern coastline, we will reach the southern river mouth in two days. I will use that time to survey the area with Yeondu and Cho.”
“Understood, young master.”
“Do not worry. Master Do Sagong will undoubtedly deliver us there within two days.”
Immediately after setting sail, I commenced the scouting mission.
We could not risk the pirates acting before we were in place.
I took a position on a small hill overlooking the harbor and alternated shifts with Cho and Yeondu to monitor the enemy.
The first day concluded without incident. I awoke the next morning at dawn’s light to see new activity in the harbor below.
‘Let’s see… Two additional ships? That brings the total to twenty.’
Sure enough, the number of ships had grown to twenty.
The princess had estimated this to be the pirates’ full strength, meaning they had nearly all arrived.
They appeared to be loading cargo onto the ships, suggesting that even if they weren’t departing immediately, it would not be long.
Tonight seemed the ideal time to act.
I promptly contacted Hwa-eun.
“Hwa-eun, what is your status?”
“Bukgeon is nearby, so our arrival was swift. Preparing the ships took some time, but we are now underway.
We have five warships, with four more trailing—nine in total. They will anchor near a neighboring island and, after sunset, move to the front of the pirates’ harbor.”
“Understood.”
Things were proceeding well on Hwa-eun’s end, so I swiftly reached out to Bini through telepathy.
I needed to know her progress.
『Bini, how far have you traveled?』

『A mountain? Which mountain might that be?』

『Hmm… a large mountain…』
Yes, this sort of dialogue was difficult with Bini.
I considered contacting Hwayang, but she would likely just say “food,” so I inquired with Cheongwol instead.
“Cheongwol, did you overhear the crew mentioning our estimated time of arrival?”
As Cheongwol was on deck, I thought she might have useful information—and indeed, her experience allowed for a quick reply.

“Understood. Thank you. I will come for you shortly.”
It was time to assemble the children and the Dragon Fangs.
I issued an order to Cho.
“Cho, remain here. When I give the signal, puncture the hulls of every ship in the harbor. Understood?”
–Chororok!
“Remember, do not shatter them completely—just ensure they sink gradually, as you did before.”
–Chorurut?
A feeling of desire emanated from Cho; he wished to cleave them neatly in two.
But I could not permit that.
If one ship was destroyed noisily, the others might attempt to flee and ruin the entire plan.
“Too much commotion could alert the others and allow them to escape.”
–Chororu.
I sensed his disappointment, but Cho had accepted the command.
I gave his head a pat and then departed quietly with Yeondu for the river estuary.
We traveled through the air until we reached the estuary, where the sea opened up widely below.
Scanning from above, I soon located our ship, resting peacefully in the moonlit water.
“There it is, Yeondu.”
–Shaaa.
We alighted on the deck, where the children and the Dragon Fangs hurried to welcome us.
–Chororok.
–Kiiit.
–Pii!
As I embraced those who rushed over, I heard the voices of Hyung-nim and Ji-ryong.
“So-ryong, what is the situation?”
“Young master, what is the status?”
“Twenty-two pirate ships are now present.”
“So they have all nearly arrived. The sun is down—let us proceed up the river.”
Beneath a cloud-draped moon, Yeondu, with Yo-hwa’s thread fastened around her waist, glided over the river’s surface upstream.
Guided by Yeondu, the ship moved steadily against the current of the river flowing into the sea.
After some time traveling, the boat drew near a sandbar, and Do Sagong spoke softly.
[So-ryong-nim, that location should be suitable.]
The sandbar was densely covered in tropical vegetation, providing a perfect spot to conceal the ship.
I immediately instructed Yeondu to steer us toward it.
“Yeondu, guide the ship to that sandbar.”
–Shaaa!
–Screeech. Thump.
Soon, the sound of the ship’s flat bottom grating against the sand arose from below.
For any other hull, this would be concerning, but ours was a flat-bottomed craft, so resting on the sand was not an issue.
“We have arrived. Everyone, disembark.”
–Thump!
At my word, Cheongwol was the first to jump down, landing on the sand.
Then Bini and the other children leaped down one by one onto the sandy shore.
Hwayang also jumped down, immediately dropping to her knees and slapping her thighs at me.
–Pii!
I waited a moment for Cheongwol to stretch after landing, then issued the order.
“Alright, let us proceed. We have little time to set the traps before sunrise.”
“Yes, young master.”
A few disciples of Botaram, left by the princess, stayed behind to guard the ship as a precaution.
The Dragon Fangs, the children, and I began our movement at once.
There was still time before dawn, but the distance to cover was significant.
For those moving by night, time was already pressing.
“Let’s go, Cheongwol!”
–Krrrrt!
We moved silently through the dark rainforest of Taiwan Island under the cover of night, heading for the pirates’ harbor.
***
Because sound carries further in the night, I was particularly cautious to prevent Cheongwol from breaking any branches or trees.
We advanced along a narrow path where the trees and undergrowth were thin.
After a time, the pirate harbor, dimly illuminated in the distance, became visible.
They seemed concerned only with an attack from the sea—sentries were placed solely at the harbor itself. No one was watching the rear, from which we were approaching.
Yeondu ascended into the sky once more, and I joined her. From this vantage, we carefully studied the landscape before deploying our forces.
“Cheongwol, you will hold this position. When they rush in, break trees, hurl rocks—do whatever is necessary to frighten them away from this path. Make them believe certain death awaits them here. Understood?”
–Krrrrt.
“If any get past you to the rear, Seol, Bing, and Dong will deal with them. Neutralize them the instant they appear.”
–Kku kku!
–Kkuuuu!
–Kkoot!
Cheongwol was stationed on the left flank, where the forest met the sea.
Seol, Bing, and Dong were positioned behind her.
Cheongwol’s role was to panic the pirates into turning and fleeing in the opposite direction.
Next, I took Bini, Yeondu, and the Dragon Fangs to the other side and gave them their instructions.
Their objective was the same.
“Bini, Yeondu, the two of you will manage this side. Use any means to drive them toward the center.”
–Shaaa!
–Chorut!
“Hyung-nim and the Dragon Fangs, please provide support behind these two. We must channel all the pirates into the middle.”
“Understood, So-ryong.”
“Do not worry, young master.”
With Yeondu and Bini causing fear at the front, the Dragon Fangs would handle any who broke through.
Once both flanks were secure, I moved to the center.
From above, I verified everyone’s placements, then brought Yohwa and Cheongyu to the very center—where our primary trap was set.
“Yohwa, you can generate mist here, can you not?”
–Kiiit.
“Excellent. Then produce as much as you can.”
I had not requested Yohwa’s mist in some time, so I wished to confirm she was still able. She affirmed that she was.
“And Cheongyu, can you call upon snakes to populate the mist and the area behind it?”
–Shiaa!
Yohwa’s mist would form at the center.
And within that mist—Cheongyu’s poisonous snakes.
Any pirate who stumbled into the fog would be seized by Yohwa or meet their end from snake bites.
Once all units were in place, the voice of Tang Hwa-eun reached me.
『So-ryong, we are in position.』
All the players were ready—now the performance could begin.
To start, I sent the signal to Cho.
『Cho, begin!』
–Chorurut!
Cho’s thrilled voice replied immediately.
Around twenty ships to handle.
–Creak… Screeeeech.
The sound of wood straining and tearing echoed from the harbor, followed by a surge of noise. I could feel Cho’s exhilaration.
『Chorurut! “Daddy, it is finished!”』
The message was clear: the ships’ hulls had been breached.
『Tang Hwa-eun! Now!』
–Buuuuung!
–Dum dum dum dum dum.
The blast of horns and the pounding of war drums erupted from the sea.
The harbor descended into bedlam as the drumbeats reverberated through the night air.
Pirates sprinted toward their ships, only to find them already sinking before they could be boarded.
In a frenzy, they plunged into the water and began swimming for the shore—directly toward us.
‘Alright, kids! Company is coming!’
I sent the mental signal to each of the connected children.
–Krrrrt.
–Chorut!
–Chorurut!
–Piiik!
Their enthusiastic replies echoed back at once—and then I heard Hwayang’s voice.
It was then I realized:
‘Wait… where did I put her again?’