“General, your words make sense, but the Prefect’s warning still echoes in my ears. Please, reconsider…”
Though the deputy found General Wang’s reasoning compelling, Shang Weichi’s instructions lingered in his mind, prompting him to caution once more.
“Reconsider? Reconsider your head! Haven’t I already said it?! The battlefield shifts in an instant, and a general must seize the moment! ‘A general in the field may defy even the emperor’s orders’—let alone the Prefect’s! Look, the pirates outside are in total collapse, a chaotic mess. This is a heaven-sent opportunity! Miss it, and it’s gone forever!”
“That cannon cart just now—did you feel its power?! Could the gate have withstood it?! If they can rig one cart, they can rig another. While they’re reeling from this rout, we strike, scatter their souls, and crush them utterly so they’ll never dare covet Suzhou again. That’s the way to break this stalemate!”
“And another thing—the past few times we repelled their assaults, we killed over a thousand pirates, but because we stayed on the walls, following the Prefect’s orders, we didn’t claim a single head! No heads, no merit to report! Did our brothers bleed for nothing?!”
“Now, the pirates are in full retreat, more broken than ever before. Strike while they’re down—this is our chance to chase them down and harvest merit!”
“Those fleeing pirates down there? They’re not just pirates—they’re merit, promotions, and riches!”
“One pirate head is worth at least fifty taels of silver, plus the chance for promotion and wealth!”
“Brothers, do you want promotions and riches?! If you do, follow me out of the city to hunt these pirates! This is a golden opportunity to reap their heads—miss this village, and there’s no next shop!”
General Wang couldn’t hold back any longer. After scolding his deputy, he raised his arm and rallied the troops on the wall.
“One pirate head—fifty taels of silver! Gather enough, and it’s promotions and riches…”
“The pirates out there are like lambs in the field—chase them, and you’ll herd a flock! The chance for glory is here!”
“We beat them back before but got no heads. Now’s our shot—don’t let it slip away!”
“General, we’re with you!”
The soldiers on the wall responded eagerly, clamoring to join General Wang in the pursuit.
“Hahaha, good! Follow me out of the city, and I’ll lead you to promotions and riches!”
Seeing his men’s enthusiastic response, General Wang grinned broadly, his chest swelling with pride and ambition.
Today is my lucky day—my rise begins now! With so many soldiers joining me, we’ll harvest thousands of pirate heads. As their commander, their kills will be credited to me—at least enough to jump two or three ranks!
But when he turned and saw his deputy, his brow furrowed. Patting the deputy’s shoulder with a hint of displeasure, he ordered, “As for you—since you’re so worried about a feigned retreat and defying the Prefect, stay behind. Take your unit and guard the gate!”
“General, I…” The deputy’s face flushed, trying to explain.
General Wang cut him off, clapping his shoulder heavily again with impatience. “No need to say more! Guarding the gate is just as vital. If the pirates are faking it, the city depends on you! Hold the gate well—unless I return, don’t open it for anyone!”
“Yes, sir!” The deputy clasped his fists, accepting the order.
“Move out! Follow me to chase the pirates—I’ll lead you to glory and wealth!”
General Wang raised his arm again to the cheering troops, leading them down the stone steps from the wall.
Soon, at the open ground before the gate, General Wang mounted a black steed, hefting a massive blade reminiscent of Lord Guan’s. With a thunderous shout—“Promotions and riches await us today! Charge!”—he spurred his horse forward, galloping toward the gate like a descended deity or Guan Yu reborn, radiating awe-inspiring might.
“Charge! Promotions and riches—today!” A thousand soldiers roared with excitement, following General Wang toward the gate.
Of the thousand accompanying him, a hundred were his personal cavalry guard, while the rest were infantry.
*Creak! Creak!*
The troops at the gate swiftly removed the iron braces and support beams, opening the gate with a groaning sound.
“Kill!”
A thousand soldiers surged out behind General Wang, shouting as they charged like tigers down a mountain.
The moment the gate opened, the pirates took notice.
“Leader, look! The troops are really coming out to chase us! You’re a genius—you said they’d come, and they did!”
A pirate beside Xu Hai, spotting the gate creaking open, exclaimed with excitement and admiration.
“Hahaha, everything is within my grasp!” Xu Hai laughed heartily, his heart pounding with exhilaration.
“Leader, you’re a god among men!”
The surrounding pirates showered him with flattery.
“Enough flattery! Stick to the plan—retreat to the ambush zone quickly. Drop some armor along the way to look like we’re fleeing in panic. Every thirty to fifty meters, leave dozens of captured villagers behind as ‘merit’ for them!”
Xu Hai shook his head with a smile, waving his hand to issue orders.
Instantly, the pirates began discarding armor and fleeing in feigned disarray, their chaos intensifying.
As General Wang led his troops out of the gate, many pirates who hadn’t escaped in time dropped to their knees, begging.
“Lord, lord, we’re common folk, not pirates!”
“Spare us, lord! We were captured by the pirates just yesterday—we’re not one of them…”
“Lord, save us!”
The kneeling figures pleaded desperately.
“Hahaha, how laughable! Begging now? Too late! Where was this when you betrayed the court and your ancestors to join the pirates?! Boys, don’t hold back—cut them all down and take their heads! These are our merits, our tickets to promotions and riches!”
General Wang laughed uproariously at the sight. Spurring his horse forward, he swung his greatsword, beheading the nearest kneeling pirate in a flash of blood as the head rolled to the ground.
His personal guard followed suit, charging on horseback and slashing mercilessly at the pleading figures.
Realizing the troops showed no mercy and ignored their cries, the kneeling pirates understood that staying meant death. They scrambled to their feet and ran.
“Kill!”
General Wang led his thousand men in pursuit. Soon, the dozens of fleeing pirates were overtaken and beheaded.
Reaping dozens of heads right out of the gate, General Wang and his soldiers were elated, their confidence and courage soaring.
