As the Japanese pirates charged forward in a desperate rush, the Zhejiang army’s position unleashed another disciplined, dense volley of “bang, bang, bang” musket fire.
The Japanese pirates who’d reached within ten or so metres of the Zhejiang line fell in droves once again.
But the Japanese pirates grew even more excited, because this time, three more Zhejiang muskets misfired, affecting five or six soldiers.
“Hahaha, see, their muskets can’t take it anymore, another volley, and they’re digging their own graves!”
“Charge, brothers, the Zhejiang army’s done for, victory’s in sight!”
Seeing the Zhejiang firearms misfire again, the Japanese pirates howled with glee, their courage surging sixfold as they rushed forward.
The reinforcing Japanese pirates at the rear also saw multiple misfires on the Zhejiang line, their excitement spiked, they quickened their pace, three steps merging into two, as if a horde of skirtless women awaited ahead, running faster still.
Even the main Japanese pirate force holding the rear grew thrilled.
Chen Dong clapped his hands in excitement, chuckling, “Heh heh heh, it’s done now, the Zhejiang muskets can’t hold up, they’re misfiring, their morale must be crumbling, while our lads’ spirits are soaring, look at them, fierce as tigers swallowing miles, the Zhejiang army’s Fengqiao camp will soon be history, we can start thinking about breakfast!”
“Hahaha, I thought the Zhejiang army was tough, but they’re faltering already, just so-so after all.”
Ma Ye burst into hearty laughter.
“Yoshi! Yoshi! That’s it, charge up, tear them apart!” Beitiao Dao San waved his hand vigorously, exhilarated.
Xu Hai smiled faintly, his furrowed brow finally relaxing, he let out a long breath, “Good, the tide has turned, this tough bone’s finally about to crack, let’s go, breakfast at Fengqiao camp, a brief rest, then we breach Suzhou city by noon, tonight we’ll hold a victory feast there!”
“Let’s go, off to Fengqiao camp for breakfast!”
“Hahaha, breakfast time!”
The Japanese pirates grew lighthearted and jovial, stepping forward slowly, the main force advancing at a leisurely pace.
“Reserves forward, the rest fall back to cool the barrels!” Zhu Ping’an shouted loudly from the Zhejiang position.
No choice, the muskets of this era had limited quality, continuous firing had overheated the barrels, another volley would cause even more misfires.
But Zhu Ping’an had anticipated this, he’d already ordered cold water prepared to cool the barrels.
Buckets of icy water stood ready behind the lines, the retreating soldiers could immediately use it to cool their muskets.
At Zhu Ping’an’s command, the soldiers on the line fell back to cool their barrels, the pre-arranged reserves stepped up seamlessly to take their place.
By now, the frontmost Japanese pirates had reached within ten metres of the Zhejiang position, in the dim morning light, both sides could vaguely make out each other’s faces.
The pirates saw the Zhejiang front line retreat, replaced by fresh troops, as seasoned battlefield veterans, they instantly recognised this as the reserves stepping in.
A quick glance at the numbers gave them a rough estimate, the Zhejiang reserves were at least thirty percent fewer than before.
The reserves were split into three waves, two teams per wave.
Risk it all, endure three more waves, and the Zhejiang army would be fish on the chopping block, victory was within reach, charge!
The pirates, like sharks scenting blood, surged forward frantically, especially the four thousand reinforcements from the rear, moving at lightning speed, they were safer back there, outpacing the front ranks by far.
They were less than thirty metres from the leading wave, about to converge.
“Heh, see that? The Zhejiang reserves are up, their numbers down by at least thirty percent, their firepower’s dropped by a third too, they’re out of tricks, look, their line’s in three waves, three more volleys at most, and our lads will shred them on the chopping block!”
Chen Dong said excitedly.
Xu Hai nodded with a smile, “Brother Chen’s spot on, after three more volleys, the Zhejiang army’s history.”
“Yoshi, Lord Xu, Lord Chen, Lord Ma, my blade’s itching for blood, excuse me, I’ll take it for a feast of fresh blood!” Beitiao Dao San, seeing the tide turn, couldn’t resist, he bowed to Xu Hai and the others, drew his Japanese blade, and led his retainers and guards out of the main force, charging ahead.
“Heh, that guy’s bloodlust is something else…” Chen Dong shook his head with a smile, watching Beitiao Dao San’s back.
“Ruthlessness keeps you standing, he crossed the sea to make a name here.” Ma Ye smirked dismissively.
Xu Hai smiled without a word.
The Zhejiang reserves had fired their second volley, the pirate vanguard braved the musket fire to within ten metres of the line, about to breach it, the nimble pirates already planned to leap in after three or four more steps, feral grins on their faces, when suddenly, the ground gave way beneath the front ranks, amid swirling dust, they plummeted like dumplings into a trench.
Squish… squish… a continuous sound of metal piercing flesh echoed from the trench bottom.
“Ah!”
“It hurts like hell!”
The pirates who fell let out agonised screams, skewered like candied hawthorns on short spears, blood pooling into rivers.
Damn it, the Zhejiang army was cunning, they’d dug a trench nearly three metres wide and two deep right before their line, covering it with a thin layer of soil as camouflage, causing the pirates to stumble in.
The most devious part, they’d lined the trench with a dense layer of short spears, turning the fallen pirates into kebabs.
“Watch out, watch out, there’s a trench ahead! Damn Zhejiang army set a trap! Stop, quick!”
The pirates trailing behind cursed loudly, slamming on the brakes, barely teetering on the trench’s edge, avoiding the drop.
That was close, nearly lost their lives.
Their relieved smirks hadn’t fully formed when their faces drained of colour, terror surfacing…
They’d stopped too abruptly, those behind couldn’t brake in time, crashing into them.
“What the hell…”
The pirates who’d just steadied themselves on the edge only had time to curse before being shoved into the trench.
Squish, a spear pierced right through, a scream, a head tilt, and they were gone.
But the pirates who’d pushed them in didn’t get to gloat, they soon followed suit, knocked in by those behind who couldn’t stop, “squish,” skewered like their predecessors, a scream, and their short, sinful lives ended.
Plop, plop, squish, squish…
Charging too fast and braking too late, the pirates fell into the trench like a chain of tumbling gourds, six or seven rows dropping in succession before they finally halted at the edge, narrowly avoiding the fate of those before them.
