While General Wang and his surviving soldiers scrambled to pledge loyalty to the pirates, willing to help them deceive the city to save their lives, Prefect Shang of Suzhou, holding a pigeon-delivered letter, rode swiftly along the wide path atop the city wall under the protection of his guards, galloping straight to the East Gate.
“Where’s General Wang, where is he?” Upon reaching the East Gate, Prefect Shang hurriedly dismounted, shouting loudly.
“Prefect, General Wang, he…” The deputy general’s eyes flickered, his words halting and hesitant.
“Is General Wang injured, or has something unfortunate happened…”
Seeing the deputy’s demeanor, Prefect Shang assumed General Wang had met with misfortune, his heart sinking as he asked nervously.
Though General Wang had his flaws, among the crippled he was a standout, one of the few capable commanders in the city, with pirates besieging them outside, they couldn’t afford to lose a key general now.
“No, Lord Prefect, General Wang isn’t injured.” The deputy shook his head, still hesitating.
“Oh, good that he’s fine, just after repelling the pirates, it’s normal to be tired and rest or eat, no need to be shy about it, take me to him.” Hearing General Wang wasn’t hurt, Prefect Shang thought he might be dining or napping, so he asked the deputy to lead the way.
“Ahem, Prefect, we can’t find General Wang right now…” The deputy chose his words carefully, replying softly.
“Can’t find him? What do you mean? Did he go into the city to find women for some fun and relaxation?”
Prefect Shang frowned slightly, though repelling the pirates was a hard-earned feat, it didn’t seem urgent enough to seek women so soon, at least not until the pirates had fully retreated from Suzhou’s borders.
“Ahem, Lord Prefect, General Wang didn’t go into the city for women either, he, he…” The deputy shook his head, stammering.
“Enough, I don’t have time for riddles, tell me where General Wang is, straight out, no beating around the bush.”
Prefect Shang grew impatient, sensing something off, his gaze piercing as he demanded an answer.
“Reporting to Lord Prefect, General Wang, after we repelled the pirates, led a thousand troops out of the city to pursue them.”
The deputy dared not withhold any longer, bowing with clasped fists, spilling the full story of General Wang’s pursuit.
“What?! General Wang went out to chase the pirates?!”
Prefect Shang recoiled as if struck by an arrow, stumbling, his face turning deathly pale.
“Prefect, Lord Prefect, what’s wrong? Are you unwell?” The deputy’s heart skipped, rushing to support him.
“How could General Wang chase the pirates out of the city?! Didn’t I repeatedly order no one to pursue them outside?!”
Prefect Shang paced frantically like a headless fly, circling several times, then questioned the deputy in a mix of irritation and fury.
“Lord Prefect, when General Wang insisted on going, I tried to dissuade him repeatedly, but he said a general in the field need not heed the lord’s command, that the opportunity was fleeting, I’m of low rank and little influence, he was determined to go, what could I do?”
The deputy explained with a wronged expression, feeling like a mouse caught between bellows, squeezed from both sides.
“Ugh, this is bad! Zhu Ping’an’s pigeon message confirmed that the pirates outside have been rounding up hiding villagers these past two days, shaving their heads into pirate styles, dressing them in pirate clothes, forcing them to attack the city to die, tricking us into underestimating their strength, thinking them weak, luring us out to chase them. General Wang fell right into their trap.”
Prefect Shang spun like an ant on a hot pan atop the wall, fuming, panicking, and worrying all at once.
“What?!”
Hearing this, the deputy panicked too.
No wonder the pirates seemed so feeble, it was all villagers forced to attack.
That explained why they were so weak, so clueless about warfare, it all made sense!
So, doesn’t that mean the general’s in danger?! And the thousand troops with him too?!
The deputy’s heart sank, suddenly understanding why the prefect had been so rattled.
“Lord Prefect, what do we do now?” The deputy asked, lost and helpless.
“What else can we do, lock the gates tight, no one opens them without my direct order! No matter who it is, no exceptions, got it?!” Prefect Shang ordered sternly.
“Prefect, what if it’s General Wang?” The deputy asked hesitantly.
“I just said, no matter who! Only when I give the word can the gates open. General Wang’s no exception! Now, do you understand?!”
Prefect Shang slapped the deputy’s shoulder hard, emphasizing each word with grave authority.
“Yes, yes, I understand, no matter who, it must be reported to you, only your order opens the gate, otherwise, no matter who, no matter the situation, I won’t open it.”
The deputy finally grasped Prefect Shang’s intent, nodding firmly, pledging his compliance.
“Good, I’ll order reinforcements here, the East Gate’s yours for now, don’t let me down! I’ll check the other gates, if they’re fine, I’ll return to hold the East Gate.”
Prefect Shang nodded with satisfaction, gave the deputy his instructions, then mounted his horse, riding off to inspect the other gates without delay.
With General Wang chasing pirates from the East Gate, what about the North and Northwest Gates?! Hopefully no one else had followed his example!
Prefect Shang raced along the wall, reaching the North Gate quickly, relieved to find no one had pursued the pirates, he shared Zhu Ping’an’s message, warning them of the pirates’ ploy to lure troops out, strictly forbidding pursuit without his orders, threatening severe punishment for disobedience.
Then he hurried to the Northwest Gate, thankfully finding no one had chased the pirates there either.
Prefect Shang breathed half a sigh of relief, but the thought of the East Gate kept his nerves on edge.
He urgently gathered a thousand troops and five hundred able-bodied men from the city, North Gate, and Northwest Gate, rushing them to reinforce the East Gate.
Prefect Shang personally went to oversee the East Gate, bringing along officials versed in military matters to assist.
By the time he reached the East Gate, he heard a sudden uproar from the soldiers on the wall, pointing and gesturing toward the distance.
