“First, when the pirates march and fight, they typically form teams of ten to twenty, with a certain distance between each team. The most ferocious pirates serve as the vanguard and rearguard, while the middle consists of a mix of strong and weak. Thus, when engaging them, you must be cautious of their vanguard and rearguard and counter them with elite troops.”
Zhu Ping’an explained the pirates’ formation habits to Madam Wa, warning her to beware of their vanguard and rearguard.
These were lessons learned through hard experience. The fierce pirates capable of catching arrows barehanded were often their vanguards.
Madam Wa nodded and asked, “How do the pirates’ vanguard and rearguard compare to our wolf soldiers?”
“They are not inferior to your troops,” Zhu Ping’an replied. “In fact, many pirates can catch arrows with their bare hands.”
Hearing this, Madam Wa gained a deeper understanding of the pirates’ strength.
“In terms of troop deployment, the pirates are adept at the ‘divide and conquer’ tactic, encircling government forces,” Zhu Ping’an continued.
“What is this ‘divide and conquer’ tactic?” Madam Wa asked, puzzled.
“As the name suggests, the pirates split their forces into several groups, scattering like fragments, surrounding government troops from all directions. This often creates the illusion that the troops are trapped in an encirclement, causing panic and leaving them vulnerable to the pirates’ attacks.”
Zhu Ping’an explained simply.
“The pirates are indeed cunning. But if their tactic is seen through and we focus our forces to defeat each group one by one, this strategy becomes their own downfall,” Madam Wa nodded, identifying the tactic’s weakness.
*Worthy of a female general etched in history,* Zhu Ping’an thought, giving her a mental thumbs-up.
“Before engaging, the pirates often use feigned attacks. Their usual method is to send one or two men to leap and crouch provocatively in front of the formation, goading government troops to fire arrows or muskets. The pirates wait until the troops’ arrows and firearms are depleted before launching a fierce assault. Sometimes, they drive captured civilians to the forefront, forcing them to charge the government lines, putting the troops in a dilemma. The pirates hide behind the civilians, rushing into the ranks to slaughter.”
Zhu Ping’an went on to describe some of the pirates’ despicable tactics, preparing Madam Wa mentally.
“If the pirates drive civilians to charge our lines, what should we do?” Madam Wa frowned, troubled by the pirates’ shameless methods. She truly didn’t know how to handle such a situation.
“Naturally, we must strive to rescue the civilians while striking the pirates. Archers can shoot over the civilians to hit the pirates hiding behind them; we can attack from the flanks; we can outflank their rear; we can order the civilians to run around the formation or lie down, then shoot the pirates behind them…” Zhu Ping’an listed several solutions in one breath.
“Lord Zhu, you are truly talented,” Madam Wa’s eyes lit up, and she let out a long breath, sincerely praising him.
“In truth, civilians lack organization and discipline and are often timid. Once arrows are fired or firearms discharged, they scatter in panic, sometimes even turning back against the pirates, foiling their schemes. Of course, in extreme cases, we must weigh the greater good against the lesser harm…” Zhu Ping’an added.
“Lord Zhu speaks wisely. In the end, if there’s no other way, we may have to sacrifice some civilians. The blame lies with the pirates and this chaotic world,” Madam Wa nodded, sighing.
“Also, the pirates are fond of setting ambushes—nine out of ten battles involve them. Sometimes, during the heat of battle, they send a detachment to circle behind the government forces, launching a sudden attack that causes panic. If the troops are weak, they collapse immediately. Other times, when retreating—whether because they’re losing or feigning defeat—they set ambushes along hidden retreat paths. As the government troops pass, the hidden pirates strike from behind, attacking from both front and rear, often succeeding. When leading your wolf soldiers against the pirates, Madam, you must be wary of their ambushes.”
Zhu Ping’an shared the pirates’ habit of setting ambushes, urging Madam Wa to stay vigilant.
“A few days ago, Shandong spearmen rushed to aid Jiangyin and defeated the pirates head-on in Jiangyin County. But as the pirates retreated from the city, they set an ambush in a bamboo grove along the only road. When the Shandong spearmen and Jiangyin constables pursued through the grove, the hidden pirates sprang out, attacking from both sides, utterly defeating the allied forces. In the end, only a hundred or so soldiers escaped; the rest were slaughtered by the pirates.”
To bolster his point, Zhu Ping’an cited the example of the Shandong spearmen falling into the pirates’ ambush.
“I heard of the Shandong spearmen’s defeat. I thought they were overhyped and that their general, Li Fengshi, was a paper strategist like Zhao Kuo. I didn’t realize there was this reason. Thank you, Lord Zhu, for the warning. When I lead my troops against the pirates, I’ll be doubly cautious of their ambushes,” Madam Wa nodded, thanking Zhu Ping’an.
A few days ago, when she heard that Li Fengshi’s Shandong spearmen had been nearly annihilated in Jiangyin, she hadn’t delved into the battle’s details. She’d merely scoffed at their overrated reputation, thinking they’d disgraced the guest troops and dismissing Li Fengshi as a useless commander like Zhao Kuo.
She hadn’t expected that the spearmen had defeated the pirates head-on, only to be outmaneuvered by an ambush, leading to their near-total destruction.
“Please continue, Lord Zhu,” Madam Wa said, clasping her fists.
“The pirates are also skilled at deception and misdirection. For instance, if they plan to attack, they might sound the retreat gong. Hearing it, you assume they’re withdrawing and lower your guard, but they launch a full assault. Conversely, when they want to flee, they beat war drums. You hear the drums, assume an attack, and tighten your defenses, but they turn and run. Or, if they aim to attack a city, they set up camp outside, pretending to prepare for a long siege. If they plan to travel by land, they seize boats; if by water, they sink ships deliberately. And so on…”
Zhu Ping’an continued.
“The pirates are truly cunning,” Madam Wa remarked, impressed.
“Lastly, Madam, you must be extremely cautious. The pirates use various means to recruit civilians as informants. They bribe them with small favors, coerce them by threatening or enticing their relatives to join the pirates, or force them through brutal means. These civilians spy on our army’s strengths and weaknesses. The pirates also disguise themselves as civilians—some as farmers working the fields, others as Taoist priests or monks wandering towns, and so forth.”
Zhu Ping’an concluded by warning Madam Wa to beware of the pirates’ use of civilians as spies and to watch for these traitors.
“Thank you, Lord Zhu, for your guidance. I’m truly looking forward to facing the pirates.”
Madam Wa clasped her fists in gratitude, feeling she’d gained invaluable insights and eager to test her skills.
