“Quickly enter the city, the faster the better, the more the better, if my guess is correct, an order to halt entry will soon come down from the city walls.”
After making up his mind, Xu Hai repeatedly urged the disguised Japanese pirates to hurry into the city, aiming to get as many inside as possible before the order was issued.
The more who entered, the easier it would be to control the gates.
At the same time, Xu Hai summoned a trusted aide, whispered instructions to him, and ordered him to slip into the city and relay his commands to General Wang.
Sure enough, the temporary ban on entry was soon announced, and the group of Japanese pirates marveled at Xu Hai’s foresight.
Inside the city, baskets of steaming meat pies and trays of large meat buns were brought up, alongside pots of hearty meat stews and barrels of hot chicken soup, all laid out before General Wang and his men.
Though lacking refinement, the food stirred their appetites, especially in the howling north winds of this bitter winter month, making their mouths water.
“General Wang, the weather’s cold, please enjoy some hot food and soup to warm up and fill your stomachs, there’ll be a victory feast later,” said Liu, the chief of the Suzhou Prefecture’s military office, chuckling as he stood flanked by over a dozen personal guards.
“Chief Liu, much appreciated, the boys are starving,” General Wang clasped his fists, laughing heartily in thanks.
“General Wang, you’re too kind,” Liu returned a slight bow with a smile, then continued, “To make it easier to enjoy the hot food and soup, please, General Wang and all the soldiers, remove your armor, set aside your weapons, and dig in.”
“Hm?! Remove our armor and set aside our weapons?!” General Wang’s face darkened instantly, his voice laced with displeasure as he demanded, “Chief Liu, what’s the meaning of this?! I need an explanation.”
“General Wang, I’m just relaying Lord Shang’s orders, please don’t make things difficult for me. If you don’t believe me, ask Deputy Zhang,” Liu maintained his smile, gesturing toward Deputy Zhang and the two thousand fully armed soldiers nearby.
It was both a suggestion for General Wang to verify with Deputy Zhang whether this came from Lord Shang and a subtle warning—see, we’ve got two thousand armed elites here, so please cooperate.
“Zhang Heizi, is this the prefect’s order?” General Wang pointed at Deputy Zhang, asking imperiously.
“General, it is indeed the prefect’s order, please comply,” Deputy Zhang clasped his fists, his meaning clear.
“Pah!” General Wang spat in Deputy Zhang’s direction.
“General Wang, you must have heard the Zhejiang troops shouting outside the city, Lord Shang is in a tough spot too,” Liu said softly.
“Alas!” General Wang began his performance, tilting his head forty-five degrees to the sky, letting out a mournful sigh before lamenting:
“Just because of the Zhejiang troops’ one-sided claims, this is how they treat us?! The heavens bear witness, the heavens bear witness, we’re wronged! We risked our lives, heads on the line, charging through blades and arrows to hunt down the Japanese pirates—for what?! Wasn’t it for His Majesty, for the hundreds of thousands of people in this city, for Lord Shang and all you colleagues?! We fought tooth and nail, bearing dozens of wounds, bringing back captives and spoils, only to be undone by the Zhejiang troops’ baseless shouting?!”
“I now understand how Lord Yue felt in the Storm Pavilion, I get why he didn’t resist such unjust accusations—his heart died, it grew cold! When the heart’s dead, what use is the body?! Sigh, I may strut before my men, but in front of you scholars, I’m less than a pig or dog, such is the fate of us martial men, lowly as we are.”
After his mournful speech, General Wang shook his head, sighing as he slowly began removing his armor and weapons.
His forlorn figure and movements couldn’t help but stir sympathy, even the two thousand elites led by Deputy Zhang were visibly moved.
“General Wang, General Wang, it’s not that serious, Lord Shang hasn’t bought into the Zhejiang troops’ one-sided story. If he had, he’d have ordered us to tie you up long ago—would he still have me bring you hot food and soup? It’s just that the Zhejiang troops outside have a misunderstanding about you, but true gold fears no fire, the innocent will be cleared. General Wang, you’ve fought so hard and won so much, surely you’re not afraid to face the Zhejiang troops. Once we sort this out, your innocence will be proven. For the sake of the city’s hundreds of thousands, for your vindication, Lord Shang’s good intentions—surely you understand, General.”
Liu shook his head with a wry smile, deftly shifting all blame onto the Zhejiang troops outside.
“Sigh, braving blades and arrows, risking life and death, only to face slander and suspicion—who could bear that?” General Wang let out yet another long sigh, too many to count by now.
“I understand how you feel, General Wang, but true gold fears no fire. Since the Zhejiang troops misunderstand you, a confrontation will clear it up. Rest assured, Lord Shang said he absolutely won’t take their word alone. If the Zhejiang troops can’t produce detailed, concrete, and sufficient evidence, he’ll stand up for you, not only proving your innocence but also insisting Lord Zhu apologize to you and make the Zhejiang troops apologize to your men. I believe you’re not afraid of a confrontation, right?” Liu said warmly, ending with a touch of provocation.
“Hmph, an upright man fears no crooked shadow, of course I’m not afraid! It’s Zhu Ping’an who’s jealous and slandering me with baseless accusations—he’s the one who should be scared!” General Wang puffed out his chest, showing no trace of guilt or fear, brimming with confidence. “But when the time comes, Chief Liu, remind Lord Shang of his words. If the Zhejiang troops can’t provide detailed, concrete, and sufficient evidence—just empty claims—make sure he stands up for us! Whether Zhu Ping’an apologizes to me doesn’t matter, but the Zhejiang troops must apologize to my men, give them their innocence and justice! I can take a bit of grievance, I’m graced by imperial favor with a hefty salary and privileges, but these brothers shouldn’t have to—they sell their lives for meager pay, they deserve glory and rewards, not baseless, vile slander and suspicion!”
General Wang spoke with passionate conviction.
His performance, his tone— the disguised Ming soldiers, actually Japanese pirates, nearly couldn’t resist clapping…
The reason General Wang was so confident was that he believed the Zhejiang troops had no evidence.
The proof of his surrender to Xu Hai, the signed and sealed surrender document, was in Xu Hai’s hands—what could Zhu Ping’an possibly have?!
When he surrendered to Xu Hai, only Xu Hai’s pirate army and his own defecting personal guards were present, all tied to him like grasshoppers on a rope—they wouldn’t betray him or testify.
Besides them, everyone else there was dead, and the dead don’t talk.
There were no Zhejiang troops around then!
Even if some Zhejiang soldier had hidden nearby and witnessed it, ha, their testimony—who’d believe it?!
So, General Wang had no fear.
“General Wang has defected! Those entering via the east gate are Japanese pirates!”
A deafening, hoarse, unified shout, accompanied by the sound of hooves, echoed as the Zhejiang troops reached the east gate.
