Creak, creak, the city gate slowly opened inward, revealing a sliver of light in the dark, tunnel-like entrance.
Seeing the gate gradually open, Xu Hai’s heart surged with excitement, his spirits soaring.
This was one of the grandest, most prosperous cities under heaven! Apart from the imperial capital at the emperor’s feet and the secondary capital of Yingtian, among all the cities of the Great Ming, this one before him stood as the largest and most thriving.
Soon, this top-tier city would fall into his hands, bowing at his feet.
Though the pirates’ momentum was currently formidable, with war and smoke spreading across Jiangnan, they had so far only captured a dozen or so county towns. Not a single major city had been taken—not even by the pirate king Wang Zhi.
If he, Xu Hai, seized Suzhou City, it would be a first among the pirates—surpassing even Wang Zhi!
Once Suzhou fell, his fame would surely spread like wildfire among the pirates, drawing ambitious warlords from all directions to join him, far outnumbering those who flocked to him when he held Tuolin’s lair.
With Suzhou’s vast wealth, he could swiftly arm these new recruits, forging them into a fighting force.
Then, his wings would be fully grown, and standing toe-to-toe with Wang Zhi would be within reach.
Hahaha!
Suzhou City was truly his blessed land! Sure, he’d lost some men at Fengqiao early on, but who sails through life without setbacks? Once he took Suzhou, riding this momentum to rise and grow stronger, dealing with that so-called top scholar would be as easy as a father disciplining a son—a piece of cake!
That damned top scholar! Just a fleeting moment of glory! When the time came, he’d make him kneel at his feet!
The gate was heavy, and with stones and debris behind it needing clearing, it opened slowly. From a mere crack, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it had widened to just enough for one person to pass…
Listening to the creaking sound, watching the gate open wider, Xu Hai’s grin stretched broader.
Though his heart raced, his mind stayed cool, keeping the situation under control. Seeing the gate now wide enough for a single person, he lowered his head and ordered General Wang, “Alright, General Wang, lead everyone toward the gate. The sooner we enter, the sooner we’re secure—let’s not drag this out and risk complications.”
“Yes, yes, this surrendered general will lead the Great King and all the heroes into the city,” General Wang replied, not daring to hesitate, nodding repeatedly.
“Move! Into the city! Once inside, I ask the Great King and all you heroes to look after us,” General Wang said, tugging his reins and heading toward the gate first.
The sun hung high, and the pirates followed closely, faces beaming with smiles, radiating killing intent.
Once they entered, this city would become a living hell.
In the distance, the “routed and fleeing” pirates at the North Gate and Northwest Gate began gathering, ready to charge the East Gate. The moment it fell, a firework signal would rise, and they’d storm in immediately.
As he approached the gate, Xu Hai’s hand gripped his sword hilt tightly. The closer he got to success, the more cautious he had to be.
Years of experience had taught him that!
This was the final hurdle. The gate was a third open, allowing only three soldiers abreast. If a shout of halt came from the wall now, all would be lost!
Fortunately, even as General Wang’s horse stepped fully into the gate, no call to stop came from above.
Even as General Wang’s horse tail passed through, followed by his guards filing in, still no sound of restraint echoed from the wall.
It was secure now!
Xu Hai’s grip on his sword loosened slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips, his heart brimming with joy.
Just as the front ranks of pirates began entering, a faint sound of gunfire and shouts of battle drifted from the south.
Fighting at Fengqiao Camp?!
Xu Hai instantly recognized it—the top scholar at Fengqiao Camp was stirring trouble again. Not now, not at this critical moment!
“Quick, faster—get into the city!” Xu Hai couldn’t help shouting, urging the pirates to speed up.
“Catch the leader first, shoot the horse before the rider! If the prefect and his officials come down to greet us, control them immediately—capture them alive if possible, but if not, dead works too! Speed is key!” After urging them, Xu Hai quietly instructed the frontmost pirates to seize Prefect Shang and the officials upon entry.
As he finished, the gunfire and shouts from Fengqiao grew denser, the battle intensifying.
Could that top scholar have noticed something off and be trying to warn them?!
But Xu Hai had anticipated that scholar being a thorn in his side. He’d stationed heavy forces around Fengqiao Camp, encircling the Zhejiang troops tightly. Even if the scholar wanted to alert them, he couldn’t break through.
Hmph!
Recalling his losses at Fengqiao Camp days ago, Xu Hai’s anger simmered.
Once he took Suzhou and grew stronger, he’d make that damned top scholar pay!
Top scholar?! Heaven’s favored son?! Hmph, in front of him, he was nothing. When the time came, he’d force him to kneel, humiliating him thoroughly to erase that past disgrace!
“Faster still!”
Hearing the gunfire from Fengqiao grow even more frequent, a vague unease crept into Xu Hai’s heart, and he urged them on again.
The group sped up, but the stones blocking the gate were hard to clear, keeping it just over a third open—still only three abreast could enter.
So far, only seventy or eighty pirates had made it inside.
As Xu Hai pressed them to hurry, a sudden earth-shaking explosion roared from the south.
“Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!”
The blast was so fierce it shook the ground, even causing the city wall to tremble slightly.
It was like an earthquake.
The massive explosion instantly recalled the one at Fengqiao days earlier.
There was no avoiding the connection!
This blast came from Fengqiao too.
Amid the explosion, faint screams and curses in Japanese could be heard.
“Trouble at Fengqiao!” Xu Hai’s face paled instantly, turning in shock toward Fengqiao Camp. In the distance, he saw flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky.
On the wall, Prefect Shang was about to lead his officials down to welcome the triumphant General Wang when the explosion halted them. They instinctively looked toward Fengqiao, seeing fire and smoke rising, with distant screams faintly audible.
From their high vantage point, they saw far more clearly than Xu Hai below.
They also spotted a cavalry unit breaking out of Fengqiao Camp, charging straight for Suzhou City.
