Whether it is out of morality or profit, Ang Lee must completely eradicate this group of pirates in the waters of Malacca for the Tang Empire, and turn the waters of Malacca into a sea of peace and happiness.

Li An also has this ability, annihilating pirates is not a very difficult thing for the current Tang Dynasty sailors, as long as it is a head-on confrontation, pirates can be said to be vulnerable, but if pirates play shady tricks, hide in the dense jungle of dozens or hundreds of miles deep on the big island, and come out to harass from time to time, it will be more troublesome.

Under normal circumstances, the strength of the imperial court can only control the cities and strategic places of the country, as for the less important large number of bandits and bandits entrenched in the mountains, they can only be helpless, and it is very difficult to exterminate them all.

Of course, if there are too many bandits entrenched in a certain mountain forest, and there is a posture of confrontation with the imperial court, in this case, the imperial court will send a large number of regular troops to exterminate it in order to maintain its rule.

And due to the familiarity with the terrain and the accumulation of years of operation, many bandits were able to defeat the army sent by the imperial court to a certain extent after they grew stronger, disgrace the huge imperial court.

There are also a large number of bandits in the mountainous areas of the Tang Empire, and there are also a large number of bandits in poor areas, but after Li An set off industrialization, the equipment level of the Tang army has been greatly improved, and the envoys of each town have been equipped with a huge artillery force, which can attack the entrenched bandits from a long distance, and really eliminate a lot of evil bandits and bandits.

But until now, there are still a large number of bandits in the mountains and rivers in the Tang Empire, because there are too many of them, they can't all be exterminated, as long as they are not too much, there is not much harm to the development of the Tang Empire, and they can only be put down temporarily.

However, this huge pirate group in the waters of Malacca has seriously endangered the national interests of the Tang Empire and must be eliminated as soon as possible, so Ang Lee will definitely not be relentless.

After leaving the country of Gudi, Li An ordered the fleet to sail directly in the direction of due south, aiming directly at the rising sea island in the direction of due south, this island is still very large, about 2,000 square kilometers, and there are a large number of islands around, the number is as high as nearly 300.

These islands are covered with a lot of vegetation, abundant rainfall, producing crops such as timber, coconut, cocoa, rice, etc., and the highest mountain on the largest island rises nearly a kilometer above sea level, which can be described as a very good island.

This island is actually the Natuna Island in later generations, and the archipelago is also called the Natuna Islands, which has always been the dividing line between the Chinese Empire and foreign countries, and the ships in the west will enter the territory of China as long as they cross the Natuna Islands.

Historically, the Natuna Islands were ruled by the Chinese Empire for more than 200 years, that is, during the entire Ming Dynasty, the Natuna Islands belonged to the Chinese Empire.

In the period of Zheng He in history, people called Natuna Island as Wansheng Shitangyu, the whole island is an important supply base for Zheng He to go to the Western Ocean, in this supply base, there are good deep-water ports, a large number of barracks, and the personnel on duty are also very large, not only carpenters, bricklayers, but also carvers, painters and lacquer workers, etc., almost forming a small society.

Later, people called Wansheng Shitangyu as Anbuna Island, Zheng He after the last time he went to the Western Ocean, considering the important role of this island, proposed to send soldiers and horses to garrison here, after the Daimyo Emperor learned, he felt that Zheng He said very reasonable, so he agreed, and gave the island the name of Anbuna, after that, many Daimyo shipwrights came to this overseas island with the emperor's edict and their families, and lived, and for a long period of time, enjoyed a wonderful life like a paradise.

In fact, since Zheng He went to the West, Natuna Island has been directly managed by the Daimyo court, and it can be regarded as the territory of the Ming court, but because it is isolated overseas, it is more difficult to manage, so all the Ming people who live on this island do not have to pay taxes, and their lives are quite easy.

The first batch of Ming people on this island were ordered by the Ming Emperor to come to garrison the island, which means that this island is the first directly governed place in the history of China, and the wife of the first generation of people Zeng Yuanfang is still alive to more than ninety years old, because of her noble character, she has always enjoyed a very high honor, and is respected by the local people as her great-mother.

Because of the worship of this great-mother, an archipelago in the west is called the Great-Mother West Islands, and even the southernmost territory of the later Chinese Empire is also called Great-Mother Dark Sand, which refers to the great-mother, the wife of Zeng Yuanfang, the first generation of soldiers and civilians on this island.

Later, at the beginning of the 17th century, the Netherlands, the first power in the West, occupied Java and Jakarta and established the headquarters of the East Indies, and the Ambuna Islands of the Chinese Empire also fell into the hands of the Dutch, and were ruled for more than 300 years.

After World War II, the Japanese were completely defeated, and the Dutch made a comeback, trying to regain control of his colonies, but after World War II, the people of the world have awakened, the Netherlands lost three wars and three times, and completely lost its colony in Yazhou, and then, the Ambuna Islands returned to the hands of Indonesia, not the Chinese Empire, which has to be regrettable.

The Chinese Empire also included the Ambuna Islands into its territorial scope, but due to the influence of strength, there was no way to actually control the island, so it had no choice but to give up, but with the gradual strengthening of the Chinese Empire, there is still hope for the recovery of the so-called Natuna Islands in the future.

The Natuna Islands are extremely rich in resources, not to mention oil and gas resources, which are extremely rich, in addition, there are a large number of fishery resources, and the scenery is also very good.

For now, the biggest advantage is the geographical location, after the western merchant ships pass through the Strait of Malacca, it will not be long before they pass through the Natuna Islands, and it is still very good to stop for supplies.

As long as the development is good, in the future, Natuna will definitely become a very prosperous county in the Tang Empire, of course, the name Natuna must be removed, or it is better to call it Changhai County, in the era of the Tang Dynasty, this island is called Changhai Island.

Before heading south, Ang Lee had already begun to collect information from various areas in the south from various sources, including the island of Rising Sea, and learned that this island has now been occupied by pirates and has become a veritable pirate lair.

This group of pirates has 5,000 people, and it is the largest group of pirates on the periphery of the Black Wolf, and this group of pirates is actually part of the Black Wolf Pirate Group, belonging to the peripheral group, not the core group, and is similar to the vassal states between countries.

Li An attaches great importance to the strategic position of the island, so this island must be taken, and it must be occupied for a long time, so that this larger island can become a county town in Datang, and the elite soldiers and horses stationed for a long time cannot be less than 1,000 people, and it must also be equipped with advanced artillery units to fight the invading enemy.

From Gudi Country, it takes several days to reach Rising Sea Island, even if Ang Lee's fleet is a high-speed steam ship.

On the way out, Li An has already begun to study how to attack the rising sea island, although the island topographic map given by the fishermen in Guangzhou is too simple, and many reefs are not marked accurately enough, but it is enough to attack the pirate, and the focus of Li An's research at the moment is how to avoid the reef and shallow water, and successfully occupy the rising sea island.

"Big brother, there is a big ship that sends a distress signal, I don't know what it means?"

Li Feiyu walked into the cabin and spoke.

"Could it be pirates?"

Li An said lightly.

Li Feiyu said with a smile: "Big brother, pirates will have such courage to dare to throw themselves into the net. ”

"That's right, aren't pirates stupid? Let's go out and have a look. ”

Li An stepped out of the cabin, walked to the command platform, and habitually picked up the high-powered binoculars and looked at the ships that were greeting in the distance.

"It's the banner of Wenguo, this small country has just been established for a few years, and it already has some connections with Datang, and it is not attached for the time being, hey, they look as if they have suffered a big disaster, and they are all disgraced."

Ang Lee recognized Wenguo's flag and saw the panicked faces.

"Big brother, let the soldiers go up and check carefully, so as not to cheat."

Li Feiyu suggested.

Li An nodded, and let a large steam ship next to him lean forward, ready to thoroughly inspect the other ship, to find out what was going on with the other ship.

"Li Shilang, the situation has been investigated, the other party is the envoy of Wenguo, preparing to go to Chang'an City, on the way to the pirate attack, their princess's boat was plundered by pirates, the princess and many ministers fell into the hands of pirates, and the soldiers and some officials who did not want to be captured by the pirates jumped into the sea, and were rescued by a ship that followed."

The general of the Tang Army reported.

Li An nodded and ordered: "Since it is a friendly country, of course we can't help but help, bring the leader up, this official has something to ask." ”

Soon, a middle-aged man who was soaking wet was brought over.

"The great Tang Dynasty Li Shilang, please accept the bow below."

Seeing that the Tang fleet was so powerful, the minister of Wenguo unconsciously knelt down.

He has lived in Wenguo for a long time, he has never been out of the door too far, let alone seen the strength of the Tang fleet, when he just saw the Tang fleet before, he was taken aback, he couldn't believe his eyes, if he hadn't seen the flag of the Tang Dynasty fluttering in the wind, he would have been scared away.

"Are you going to Chang'an City?"

Ang Lee asked.

"Li Shilang, our king has always admired the Tang Dynasty, and sent me to lead our beautiful princess Her Royal Highness to Chang'an City, ready to officially accept the canonization of the Tang Emperor on behalf of our country, unfortunately the road was attacked by pirates, our soldiers were killed more than 100 people, and the princess was also captured.

So the official said.

"Oh, I see, how long has it been, why don't you go back and report to your Highness the King."

Ang Lee continued to ask.

"It's been a whole day, and I have sent a few soldiers back in a small boat to tell the king the whole bad news, and I will lead this boat to continue to Chang'an City with local products, meet the great Tang Emperor, and complete the important mission assigned by the king."

Shi Chen said righteously.

Li An was very clear about the strength of Wen Guo, and smiled indifferently: "This official will ask, if your Royal Highness the King knows that his precious daughter has been plundered by pirates, what will he do?" ”

"This ...... The king will be angry, he will hate these hateful pirates to death, and will never forgive them. ”

The officials of the country seem to be very unconfident.

"Huh!"

Li Feiyu and other Tang generals couldn't help laughing, and the Wenguo officials were very uncomfortable with their laughter.

Li An couldn't help but smile, and said lightly: "I will never forgive pirates, so your Royal Highness, your Royal Highness, there is no way to deal with pirates?" In this way, you are in a hurry to continue to Chang'an City, because you want my Datang to be the master of your country! ”

The civilian official was very uncomfortable when he was said, and hurriedly said: "Our civil country has 3,000 soldiers and horses, and the city is strong, if the pirates go to attack, they will inevitably fail miserably, but the pirates have been operating on the island for many years, and there are 5,000 men and horses. ”

"Come over and see if the topographic map of Rising Island looks like this."

Ang Lee handed the map to the Wen official.

"The topographic map of the rising island, however, the marking is not accurate enough, and I know more than on this map, after all, the fishermen of my country will also secretly go fishing."

The official suddenly became proud.

Li An said happily: "Then you should quickly mark it and tell everything you know." ”

"Yes, I understand."

The civil official responded happily, and suddenly woke up: "What does Li Shilang mean, is he going to attack Rising Sea Island?" ”

Li An looked at the general and said with a smile: "This official personally led more than a hundred warships to come, is it here to fish?" This path is only 5,000 pirates, and it can be broken in one day. ”

"Wow, that's great, our beautiful princess is saved, saved."

The civil servant almost jumped for joy.

Li An teased: "Then are you still in a hurry to go to Chang'an City?" ”

"Don't worry, don't worry, the lower officials want to take our beautiful princess to Chang'an City together, this is the king's will, so it's good."

Wen Guo said happily.

Subsequently, a more detailed map of the sea conditions of the rising island appeared in front of Li An, so that Li An's confidence in attacking the rising island was greatly increased, and the possible losses would be smaller.

Ang Lee calculated the location of the rising island, which was less than a day away, and would be able to reach this beautiful island at dawn.

Dawn is the time when people are most relaxed, and attacking the pirate's lair at this time is the most appropriate time to minimize their losses.

After nightfall, Li An convened a meeting of officers above the battalion commander level to formalize the battle plan for attacking the island, and asked all units to immediately start preparations and launch an attack on time at dawn tomorrow.