“Yes!”
Reminded by him, the soldiers who were about to grab their knives to kill finally reacted.
One by one, they began to quickly search for rags and the like.
Under their efforts, it took less than a quarter of an hour for the Japanese prisoners on the plank to finally shut up, one by one.
Although their mouths were gagged, communication between the two sides remained a problem. While knives could be used for communication during battle, language was still necessary after the battle was over.
“Send someone to call those samurai from the Taira clan. We’ve been feeding them for so long; they should be able to understand us!”
The language barrier was indeed the biggest problem. Although they had brought a few guides among their retinue, these guides were needed everywhere as translators at this moment, and their numbers were simply insufficient.
Seeing them trying to communicate like chickens talking to ducks, and failing to understand how to explain to the prisoners that they weren't planning to kill them but to remove the caltrops from their bodies after a lot of effort, Feng Yuanbao couldn't help but speak up.
“That’s a good idea. It’s a good opportunity to interrogate them and see if there are any big fish among them!”
Reminded by him, the surrounding officers and generals finally reacted.
Soon, the samurai who had been hiding in the ship’s cabin, taking care of Taira Masamori, were dragged onto the deck to serve as translators.
Looking at their blood-soaked companions, even though these samurai didn't know each other and served different family factions, they all felt a sense of shared misfortune, like rabbits dying and foxes mourning.
However, with their help, the prisoners finally stopped their unnecessary resistance.
There weren't enough military doctors, so the soldiers who had been wielding butcher knives joined the ranks of military doctors. They dipped their carried daggers into the seawater, which was already glowing red, and considered it disinfection.
A wooden stick was stuffed into their mouths, and the dagger in their hands directly cut through the flesh. Amidst the prisoners' low growls, a caltrop was removed.
For the continuously bleeding wounds, a ladle of seawater was poured on, followed by a piece of torn sackcloth, presumably ripped from somewhere. This was almost all the preferential treatment these prisoners could receive.
As for whether these people's wounds would become infected or if they would die, it could only be left to their own fate.
Even Feng Yuanbao, who had almost never been on the battlefield, quickly adapted to the situation.
It wasn't until it was completely dark that the cleanup of these prisoners finally stopped.
Returning to the ship’s cabin, the samurai from the Taira clan collectively fell silent.
“Kojiro, what happened up there?”
Although his face was still a little pale and his voice weak, Taira Masamori still asked.
“Lord Patriarch, the navy of Chikuzen Province has been annihilated. Even their general, Kurozawa Akimitsu, was shot and killed on the spot, his body falling into the sea and being eaten by sharks…”
After Kojiro finished speaking, the cabin fell silent.
Although this outcome was foreseen, when it actually happened, Taira Masamori still felt an inexplicable heartache.
“How many survivors did those Song troops leave alive?”
After a long silence, Taira Masamori asked again.
“There are probably over two thousand captured. The entire navy of Chikuzen Province is likely completely finished…”
“How many escaped?”
Taira Masamori was not concerned about those captured or those who had died in battle at this moment. What worried him most was how many had escaped.
In Japan, defeat in battle was a capital offense. Especially when the main general had died, even the deserters who escaped would face severe punishment.
The people of Chikuzen Province, from all over the Saikai-do, would certainly not be able to stay there. To survive, they could only flee to other places.
With their rout, the news of their betrayal of Japan would surely spread quickly.
At this moment, Taira Masamori no longer hoped that this news could be completely concealed. He only hoped that this news would break out after he returned to the Taira family.
Otherwise, the unsuspecting Taira family would surely suffer an unprecedented disaster!
Since Japan was defeated by the Tang Dynasty at the mouth of the Shirakawa River that year, Japan began to imitate the Tang Dynasty’s household registration system and legal system, dividing the entire Japan into five capitals and seven circuits.
The so-called Saikai-do was the present-day Chikushi Island, and later Kyushu Island.
Although Japan sounded like a country, its area was only the size of the palm of a hand.
Even though navigation technology was not developed, and their shipbuilding skills were indeed terrible.
However, from here to the Taira family’s sphere of influence, it would only take about 7 days at full speed!
Seven days might not be much in normal times, but at this moment, the life and death of the Taira family hung in the balance within these few days!
“There are probably at least three to four hundred people who escaped…”
After Kojiro finished speaking, he too fell silent.
“No, help me up. I have to see Mr. Yuan!”
Even though Taira Masamori’s body was extremely weak, he now had to force himself to get up and plan for the family.
“But Lord Patriarch, your body…”
Seeing his face so pale that it was almost bloodless, the samurai beside him quickly reached out to support him.
“At this point, how can I care about these things? If we delay any further, the entire Taira family will truly be gone!”
With a wry smile, Taira Masamori directly interrupted them.
No matter what, he had to deliver this news back to the Taira family before those people did, so that the Taira family could be prepared to fight!
Only by surviving the first wave of sneak attacks from those people could most of the Taira family survive!
“Sir, Taira Masamori is here. He says he wants to see you!”
The sea breeze was gentle, and the bright moon hung high in the sky. Just as Yuan Xingchi was about to have some wine, the coachman who had been guarding his door suddenly pushed the door open and walked in.
“Let him in. I figured he would come by now. By the way, have someone prepare a small boat for him!”
Stretching his body at length, Yuan Xingchi slowly said.
“You know his intentions?”
The coachman asked with some confusion.
“What else could it be? Of course, he wants to send someone home to report! In this day and age, it’s not easy to be a traitor!”