HCB Chapter 1276 Seeking the Unknown Harbor
Chapter 1276 Seeking the Unknown Harbor
An old soldier's hand trembled violently, and he couldn't even hold the knife, which fell to the deck with a thud.
“One thousand taels… that’s enough for my wife and child… for this lifetime…” a burly man muttered to himself, and as he spoke, hot tears welled up uncontrollably.
"One hundred taels! I'll get one hundred taels if I survive! Hahaha!"
After a brief silence, came a roar like a volcanic eruption!
You should know that when they served in the army in the Great Qian Dynasty, their monthly military pay was only two taels of silver!
This windfall is enough to completely transform any impoverished family!
The deathly despair was swept away, replaced by a near-mad frenzy!
They looked at the young prince standing in front of the silver mountain, his expression indifferent, their eyes filled with the most primal and fanatical worship!
Just then, Murong Yan, who had been standing quietly beside Lin Zhen, slowly stepped forward.
She was still wearing that dark black phoenix-themed dress today.
The extreme black and the dazzling silver create the strongest visual impact.
Everyone's attention was drawn to her.
She didn't look at the gold and silver; her phoenix eyes swept over the faces contorted with ecstasy, and her clear, cold, and authoritative voice rang out.
"I hereby swear an oath."
"The names of all the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the Great Qian Dynasty will be engraved in gold on the Heroes' Monument in Chang'an, and will be revered for all eternity!"
If Lin Zhen's reward ignited their desire for wealth...
Murong Yan's promise completely struck at the deepest sense of honor in their hearts!
To bestow titles and privileges upon one's wife and children, and to bring glory to one's ancestors!
At this moment, all the sorrow and fear in the hearts of the soldiers were burned away!
They knew that with such a prince and emperor by their side, they would dare to do anything, let alone risk the East India Company!
Driven by both financial power and a sense of honor, the ravaged fleet miraculously came back to life.
Repair the sails, reinforce the hull, and treat the wounded.
Everything was in perfect order.
On the morning of the third day.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the sea fog.
The lookout's hoarse yet ecstatic roar echoed across the sky.
"Land—!! It's land—!!!"
An island of otherworldly beauty, seemingly untouched by the mortal realm, bursts through the morning mist and into everyone's view.
The entire island is completely covered by lush primeval forests, brimming with wild vitality.
In the center of the island, a towering active volcano is spewing wisps of white smoke into the sky.
Hundreds of waterfalls cascade down the cliffs, forming silver cracks that tear apart the verdant mountains.
The lake at the foot of the mountain is a crystal-clear sapphire embedded in the earth.
Surrounding the island are pearly white, soft sandy beaches, forming the most perfect natural harbor.
Tranquil, peaceful, and with a touch of mystery.
This is not the mundane world.
This is a secluded paradise.
"my God……"
Elizabeth gripped the ship's railing tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
She gazed at this fairyland before her, a place more dreamlike than any island in the Caribbean, her blue eyes filled with indescribable awe.
She turned around abruptly and looked toward the chart room.
That area of the sea was a blank space on her nautical chart!
This means that this island is a virgin territory that she, the "Queen of the Caribbean," has never set foot on!
Elizabeth turned her head again, her gaze fixed on the man's back in the distance.
How did he know about this place?
Could it be... that he truly possesses eyes that can see into the future?
The fleet sailed into a natural harbor surrounded by white sand.
The seawater was crystal clear, and the warm breeze, carrying the fragrance of flowers and fruits, caressed the cheeks of every weathered soldier.
This place is not like a deserted island, but more like a paradise that can cleanse the soul from the smoke of war.
"Order the fleet to anchor and rest here!"
Lin Zhen's voice precisely shattered the tranquility.
"Yue Fei, lead your men ashore to survey the terrain, find water sources, and build camps and sentry posts!"
"Elizabeth, take inventory of all damaged ships and organize manpower for a comprehensive repair!"
"Ghost Shadow, your men are in charge of internal security and supply guarding. I don't want to see any accidents!"
"Yes!"
The orders poured out like mercury, and the massive fleet once again transformed into a sophisticated war machine, operating efficiently.
Tens of thousands of soldiers landed on the island in batches.
They felled trees to build tents, hunted fish for food, or washed away months of blood and exhaustion in the clear lake.
The entire island came alive with activity because of their arrival, filled with the vibrant energy of surviving a catastrophe.
However, beneath this vibrant scene, a sense of unease lingers.
Only Murong Yan felt a sense of unease.
It's so quiet.
The island was breathtakingly quiet.
Apart from their own voices, there was no sound from any other living creature.
There were no birdsong, no animal roars, not even the most common chirping of insects.
This vibrant green space is, in fact, utterly desolate inside.
It seems that some more terrifying entity had cleared the area before they even landed on the island.
She whispered her concerns to Lin Zhen.
After listening, a rare look of seriousness crossed Lin Zhen's usually composed face.
He had already sensed this strangeness, but did not point it out in order to keep the morale of the troops stable.
"Yan'er, don't worry." He pulled her into his arms, his voice low and gentle. "Perhaps we made too much noise and scared away the little creatures on the island."
"I hope so."
Murong Yan leaned against him, knowing it was just words of comfort, but still chose to believe him.
into the night.
A campfire blazed in the makeshift camp, and the air was filled with the sounds of people.
The soldiers huddled around the fire, devouring roasted meat and drinking strong liquor, boasting with spittle flying as they recounted their daytime discoveries.
"That tree in the woods to the west is thicker than the mainmast of our flagship! Its fruit is bigger than a head, and so sweet it sticks to your teeth!"
"The golden-scaled fish I caught in the lake to the north was as long as me! Its scales were as shiny as gold!"
"This island is a treasure trove! If it weren't for the prince's order not to wander around, I would definitely go and check out that volcano; maybe I could find some gems!"
Hearing these excited discussions, Lin Zhen and Murong Yan exchanged a smile.
Whatever is hidden deep within this island.
At least for now, it has allowed these soldiers who escaped death to rediscover a long-lost joy.
However, the joyful atmosphere was shattered at its peak by a series of hurried, distorted footsteps!
"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"
An outer sentry rushed into the camp. He didn't scramble or crawl, but his steps were shaky from extreme fear, and his face was drained of color, leaving only pure horror!
"problem occurs!"
"West...west side, watchtower number three!"
"problem occurs!"
hum!
Upon hearing this, all the commotion ceased abruptly.
The laughing soldiers froze, their expressions hardening.
The camp, which was bustling with activity just a moment ago, suddenly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"Why panic!"
Like a tiger awakened from its trance, Yue Fei suddenly stood up, grabbed the sentry by the collar, and roared like thunder.
"Explain clearly, what happened!"
“I…I don’t know…” The sentry’s voice trembled with fear. “Half an hour ago, everything was normal at Watchtower No. 3.”
"But... but just now, I looked through the binoculars... and the people on the watchtower... were all gone!"
"Gone?!"
Yue Fei's pupils suddenly contracted!
The No. 3 watchtower was a spy he personally set up on the westernmost side of the defensive perimeter, guarded by ten of the most elite veterans of the Shenji Battalion!
How could ten battle-hardened veterans simply vanish without a trace?!
"Are you sure?!" Yue Fei's eyes sharpened.
"Absolutely true!" The sentry was almost suffocating under the oppressive killing intent. "I checked it several times! There's no one on the watchtower! And... and the campfire there... is out too..."
The campfire has gone out?
Yue Fei's heart sank.
Something big has happened.
"Men!" He turned abruptly, his voice filled with chilling killing intent. "Assemble a team and come with me to Watchtower Number Three!"
"and many more."
A calm voice rang out.
Lin Zhen slowly stood up.
He didn't look at anyone.
His gaze passed over the flickering campfire and landed on the dark jungle swallowed by the night in the distance.
There was not a trace of panic in his eyes, only the coldness and certainty of a hunter who had finally waited for his prey to step into the trap.
"There's no need to go."
He spoke calmly.
"They...have arrived."