“Alas, no matter what, General Wang can be said to have died for the country. Take note of this: after the battle, prepare a fine coffin. If we can’t find General Wang’s body, make him a cenotaph. Also, remind me to write an elegy and epitaph for him, it’s the least I can do after working together.”
Prefect Shang sighed, instructing an official behind him to arrange a cenotaph for General Wang, along with an elegy and epitaph from him.
“Understood, Lord Prefect,” the official nodded firmly, committing the task to memory.
“Look, isn’t that General Wang leading the way?”
Just as Prefect Shang was lost in mourning for General Wang, a sudden, astonished shout interrupted his thoughts.
“Who?! General Wang?!”
Prefect Shang, startled, looked out beyond the city. Indeed, the figure leading the troop bore a striking resemblance to General Wang, his armor identical to the ancestral set General Wang wore. His eyes widened in disbelief.
General Wang was alive?! Had he seen correctly?!
Prefect Shang rubbed his eyes and looked again, still that familiar figure, that familiar armor.
He turned to the deputy beside him, uncertain, and asked, “Does that look like General Wang to you?”
“Lord Prefect, you’re not mistaken. The leader is undoubtedly General Wang, I’m certain of it,” the deputy replied confidently. Having followed General Wang for over a decade, he could recognize him from afar with a single glance.
Even if General Wang were reduced to ashes, he might not recognize him, but as long as he wasn’t ashes, he’d never mistake him.
He had that confidence.
“Your eyes are sharp. Can you see if there are any pirate pursuers behind General Wang’s group?” Prefect Shang asked again.
The deputy peered carefully for a moment, then shook his head firmly, “Sir, there are no pirate pursuers behind General Wang and his men.”
“So General Wang won and is returning in triumph? But that doesn’t add up, he only took a thousand men out of the city, and now he’s returning with sixteen or seventeen hundred. How did he mysteriously gain six or seven hundred more?”
Prefect Shang gazed out beyond the city with a complex expression, feeling that the most unacceptable, worst-case scenario had emerged.
General Wang had fallen for the pirates’ lure, led his troops out, and walked into an ambush, only to be captured.
To survive, General Wang had defected, surrendered to the pirates, and was now leading them to attack or deceive the city.
Otherwise, where had those extra six or seven hundred come from? They must be pirates.
“Sir, what do we do now?” The deputy, clearly also considering this worst-case scenario, sought Prefect Shang’s guidance.
“We’re in extraordinary times with an unclear distinction between friend and foe. What else can we do but prepare to defend the city? When General Wang and his men arrive, have them halt beyond arrow range and wait calmly. We’ll assess them further before deciding our next move. In such times, General Wang risked his life chasing pirates for Suzhou City’s sake, surely he’d understand,” Prefect Shang said, glaring at the deputy before issuing his orders.
“Understood. By the Prefect’s command, prepare to defend the city! Everyone, get the thunderstones and rolling logs in place, string the bows and crossbows, load the firearms in advance, but no one fires without orders from the Prefect or me!”
The deputy saluted, rushing along the wall to relay Prefect Shang’s commands, ensuring the soldiers were ready to defend.
Soon after the city wall was prepared, General Wang and his troop arrived about a li from the gate.
“Don’t get nervous later, and don’t look at me, no matter what, don’t look at me, or it’ll raise suspicion. Just do as I taught you: call for the gate to open as normal. You’re General Wang, returning victorious. And don’t even think about turning back, you can’t. Not only have you all swallowed our unique Japanese poison, which will rot your insides in three days without the antidote, but right now, with one word from me, you’d be riddled with hidden arrows and hacked to death.”
Xu Hai, riding alongside General Wang with his helmet pulled low, was among the troop. Looking at Suzhou City, so close now, he smirked with ambition, issuing a threatening command to General Wang.
“Rest assured, Great King. A wise man knows when to yield. This surrendered general understands and will harbor no second thoughts. I’ve memorized all the responses you prepared for different scenarios,” General Wang nodded firmly.
“There might be unexpected situations, but just remember: you’re General Wang, returning in victory. Handle it boldly! Trick the gate open, and you’ll have earned great merit, ten thousand in gold, and the fourth seat in our Righteous Assembly will be yours!”
Xu Hai waved grandly, promising generously.
Ten thousand in gold…
Hearing Xu Hai’s offer, General Wang’s eyes bulged like a bull’s, and he pounded his chest, vowing to deceive the gate open.
He had no interest in the fourth seat in the pirates’ Righteous Assembly, but gold? That gripped him tight. With that much gold, betraying the court was worth it. He could go into hiding, wait out the storm, then reemerge with a new identity, using the gold to pave his way, maybe even climb higher than before.
Seeing General Wang fired up like he’d been injected with adrenaline, Xu Hai nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the hundred-plus surrendered soldiers, “You’re all the same, trick the gate open, and you’ll each get three hundred taels of silver. I swear on my Xu family ancestors: after we take Suzhou City, your families and relatives, as long as they hang the peach talismans I gave you on their doors, will be untouched when we enter, no harm to their lives or property.”
Before setting out, Xu Hai had given General Wang ten cherry-blossom-carved peach talismans and each surrendered soldier five. Each talisman could protect one household from pirate harm, enough to shield their own homes and those of close friends and kin.
With rewards and safety assured, the hundred-plus surrendered soldiers grew excited, pledging loyalty to Xu Hai and vowing to fully cooperate in tricking the gate.
Xu Hai nodded, pleased.
Soon, Suzhou City loomed right before them.
“General Wang, these are extraordinary times, please forgive us. I ask you and your brothers to halt beyond arrow range and not approach further. Otherwise, forgive my rudeness, swords and arrows have no eyes, and I’d hate to accidentally harm you or your men,” the deputy shouted, ordering General Wang’s group to stop beyond arrow range as they approached on horseback.
“Zhang Heizi, you’ve gone mad! You recognize me and still dare block me outside the gate, telling me to stand beyond arrow range? Are you tired of living?! You little punk, you’re a traitor through and through, keeping me out so you can usurp my place, huh?!” General Wang whipped his horse forward, pointing his lash at the deputy on the wall and unleashing a torrent of curses.
Sweat beaded on the deputy’s forehead, “General Wang, you’re exaggerating, you’ve wronged me. These are extraordinary times, please bear with us.”
“Bear with your head! Open the gate now and let me and my brothers in for a hot meal and some soup! You lot, hiding like turtles, didn’t dare leave the city, but these brothers braved the cold and risked their lives with me to chase the pirates, and we won big! Don’t let their hearts grow cold!” General Wang snapped, waving his whip arrogantly.
This was per Xu Hai’s instructions, the more overbearing and brash, the better, fitting the demeanor of a victorious general.
