“Please take the seat of honor, Lord Zhu, and try our local barbarian tea. It may not compare to the famous teas of the Central Plains, but it has its own unique flavor.”
Madam Wa ushered Zhu Ping’an to the main seat on the high platform, refusing to let him decline. She firmly pulled him to sit in the place of honor.
Zhu Ping’an felt a bit embarrassed—not about sitting in the main seat, but because his strength couldn’t match that of a woman in her fifties. He’d tried to politely refuse, but she dragged him to the seat with ease. Truly humbling…
Madam Wa was indeed a legendary female general, worthy of her place in history. Well over fifty, she could still ride horses, wield dual blades, charge into battle, and slay pirates.
Her physical prowess was truly admirable.
“Lord Zhu, have some tea. I doubled the tea leaves for you—see how it tastes. This is our Tusi’s unique Dragon Spine Tea. It’s not well-known outside, but in our Tusi, even ten pounds of Longjing wouldn’t trade for an ounce of fine Dragon Spine Tea.”
Without needing Madam Wa’s instruction, Cen Dalu eagerly poured the tea, holding the cup with both hands and presenting it to Zhu Ping’an with utmost courtesy.
“You rascal, brewing such strong tea! Aren’t you afraid it’ll overwhelm Lord Zhu?” Madam Wa said, half-laughing, half-scolding.
“It’s good. Truly fine tea.”
Zhu Ping’an took a sip. Honestly, he couldn’t discern the nuances of tea quality, but this one had a robust flavor.
“Lord Zhu, if you like it, I’ll have all the Dragon Spine Tea from Grandmother’s tent packed for you,” Cen Dalu said, patting his chest.
“No need to pack it all. If you give it all to me, what will Madam drink? A gentleman doesn’t take what others cherish. Just a bit to take back and savor will do.”
Zhu Ping’an waved his hand, chuckling.
“No worries, my lord. No need to be polite. Our Tusi has plenty of Dragon Spine Tea. You can have more when you’re back,” Cen Dalu insisted.
Madam Wa: “…”
“Lord Zhu, you’ve just arrived today. Why the rush to leave tomorrow?” Madam Wa asked, puzzled. “Though I don’t understand the Governor’s strategies, my instincts tell me the battle against the Tuolin pirates is about to begin. I also heard that the Zhejiang troops under your command are eager and ready to fight. Why then are you breaking camp to leave tomorrow?”
“I’m returning to southern Zhejiang to clear out the coastal strongholds of the pirate Wang Zhi and to keep watch over the pirates at Lishui Port.”
Zhu Ping’an spoke slowly.
This was meant to be done with great fanfare, to stir up a storm. There was no need to hide it.
“What?!”
Madam Wa couldn’t help but exclaim, looking at Zhu Ping’an in disbelief. “Lord Zhu, are you planning to wage war against Wang Zhi? That’s Wang Zhi—the largest pirate force, far stronger than the Tuolin pirates. Now is the time to gather the forces of the south to crush the Tuolin pirates. Yet you’re leading the Zhejiang troops to face Wang Zhi?! If things go as expected, for quite some time, you’ll be fighting alone, with no reinforcements available to support you!”
“That’s strange. Just now, your Zhejiang soldiers were saying you brought them to fight Xu Hai’s pirates. How come after a trip to the Governor’s mansion, your plans changed, and now you’re heading to southern Zhejiang to fight Wang Zhi? If you’re targeting Wang Zhi, why trek all this way? Got nothing better to do?” Cen Dalu scratched his head, full of questions.
“Could it be Governor Zhang’s orders?” Madam Wa suddenly realized.
“Heh, maybe the Governor thinks with our wolf soldiers here, Xu Hai’s pirates are no match,” Cen Dalu said with a grin, scratching his head.
Madam Wa shot him a glare, choosing not to dwell on the topic. Politics were too complex, especially when it involved Zhang Jing. She neither dared nor wanted to dig deeper. Some things were better left unknown.
Steering away from the subject, Madam Wa clasped her fists and invited Zhu Ping’an to review the wolf soldiers. “Lord Zhu, you’ve fought the pirates multiple times, always emerging victorious with rich experience. Our wolf soldiers are about to face the pirates. Please review them, offer criticism, and share your insights.”
“I’ve long heard of the wolf soldiers’ valor. Today, I’m honored to see them. Criticism is unnecessary, but having fought the pirates, we’ve gained some experience. I can share a few insights,” Zhu Ping’an agreed readily, speaking courteously.
“I’ll lead the troops for you, my lord. Please inspect them.”
Cen Dalu rubbed his hands eagerly, leaping off the platform. He shouted to gather the wolf soldiers, directing them to form ranks.
Soon, a 200-man wolf soldier unit was assembled, arranged in their usual battle formation.
The wolf soldiers’ formation was vastly different from Central Plains military arrays and equally distinct from the Zhejiang troops. They organized in groups of seven, unlike the Central Plains’ standard formations.
“Roar!”
A seven-man unit shouted, six thrusting their long spears forward while the seventh, wielding a heavy blade, mimicked severing heads.
“Our wolf soldiers form units of seven: six strike with spears, one takes heads. The merits earned are shared among the seven,” Madam Wa explained to Zhu Ping’an.
Zhu Ping’an nodded. Historically, it was said that Qi Jiguang’s Mandarin Duck Formation drew inspiration from this wolf soldier array.
“Our wolf soldiers have strict discipline. They can die but cannot retreat. ‘If one unit meets the enemy, one man charges, and the unit fights to save him. If none survive, the entire unit is executed,’” Madam Wa shared their military code.
“Hm, this is a form of collective responsibility, similar in principle to our Zhejiang troops’ discipline,” Zhu Ping’an nodded slightly.
“Your army also uses collective responsibility?” Madam Wa was slightly surprised.
“Our collective responsibility applies from top to bottom, with no exceptions. If I, as a subordinate officer, flee out of cowardice, my superior is equally guilty. If a junior officer’s cowardice or desertion leads to a senior officer’s death, all subordinate officers one rank below are executed. If a soldier’s cowardice or desertion causes their squad leader’s death, the entire squad is executed. If one deserts, the whole unit is punished…” Zhu Ping’an briefly explained the Zhejiang troops’ system.
Madam Wa couldn’t help but click her tongue. “Your army’s collective responsibility is even stricter…”
Below, the wolf soldiers’ formation shifted again, this time demonstrating a two-man field tactic: one soldier with a spear in front, another with a crossbow behind, a knife held in the crossbowman’s mouth. After firing the quiver’s bolts, the crossbow was hung at the waist, and the knife was drawn to fight alongside the spearman.
The wolf soldiers then showcased marching, engaging, field combat, and enemy-blocking formations, their morale soaring.
“Impressive. High morale, seamless coordination, and skilled drills—a truly formidable force,” Zhu Ping’an said approvingly after observing.
“You’re too kind, my lord. Our wolf soldiers surely have flaws. Please don’t hold back in pointing them out,” Madam Wa said, shaking her head.
“A single review doesn’t reveal the wolf soldiers’ shortcomings. However, I do have considerable experience fighting pirates and have studied their tactics. There are a few points where the wolf soldiers should be particularly vigilant.”
Zhu Ping’an spoke slowly.
“Please share your guidance, my lord,” Madam Wa said, clasping her fists.
