“Has the Zhejiang troops’ sudden change halted Prefect Shang’s steps? Originally intending to descend early to welcome General Wang and his party into the city, he now lingered on the city wall.”
Compared to the triumphant return of General Wang and his men, the Zhejiang troops’ upheaval evidently caused him greater concern and preoccupation.
Soon, the vanguard of the Zhejiang troops approached within about three li of Suzhou’s southern gate; at the speed of cavalry, three li was merely the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
“Quick, gallop along the city wall to the southern gate and pass my orders: command the guards at the southern gate to open the gate and let the Zhejiang troops enter the city, while ordering the soldiers on the wall to support the Zhejiang troops with long-range weapons like crossbows and firearms.”
Prefect Shang grabbed one of his personal guards, handed him his token, patted his shoulder, and urged him to hasten to the southern gate with the orders.
“Yes, sir!”
The guard took the token and was about to mount his horse when Prefect Shang called him back.
“Wait! Listen carefully: if the Japanese pirates catch up and are still two li from the gate, regardless of how many Zhejiang troops haven’t entered the city, the gate must be closed immediately; if necessary, take any measures! Tell any Zhejiang troops who haven’t entered to seek shelter elsewhere. Remember, when I say ‘if necessary,’ I mean if anyone obstructs the closing of the gate—no matter who they are—close it at once, using any means necessary, including killing without mercy!”
Prefect Shang looked at the guard with a grave expression, issuing his stern instructions.
“Yes, sir! I’ve got it.” The guard nodded firmly, mounted his horse, struck its hindquarters hard, and galloped off.
“I’m sorry, Zihou, I must take responsibility for the hundreds of thousands of people in the city; I trust you’ll understand…”
Prefect Shang gazed into the distance at the approaching Zhejiang cavalry, closed his eyes, and murmured to himself.
Just as Prefect Shang shut his eyes and whispered, he heard exclamations around him.
“What’s wrong? What’s happened now? Have the Japanese pirates caught up with the Zhejiang troops again?” Prefect Shang hurriedly opened his eyes and looked towards the southern gate.
But he saw that the vanguard of the Zhejiang cavalry, nearing the southern gate, had turned east, galloping along the official road towards the eastern gate.
His ears were filled with astonished voices.
“What’s going on?! The Zhejiang troops broke out to come here—weren’t they heading into the city? Why did they bypass the southern gate when they were almost there?!”
“What’s happening? The Zhejiang troops turned towards the eastern gate when they were just over a li from the southern gate?!”
“They didn’t even call out at the gate? Could it be they feared the pirates catching up and deliberately headed to the eastern gate to shake them off? Or did they see from afar that the southern gate wasn’t open yet, while the eastern gate was, so they turned there? But the prefect has already sent someone galloping to open the southern gate to receive them!”
…
Hearing the surprised voices around him, Prefect Shang was also puzzled, unsure why the Zhejiang troops had suddenly veered towards the eastern gate; could it really be that they were eager to enter the city, saw the southern gate still closed and the eastern gate open, and thus turned there?
“Listen, it sounds like the Zhejiang troops are shouting something?” Suddenly, someone with sharp ears said in astonishment.
But the distance was too great to make out what the Zhejiang troops were shouting; only a vague, howling sound could be heard.
The Zhejiang troops galloped from the southern gate along the official road towards the eastern gate; to those on the city wall, it seemed they were desperate to enter the city, sparing no effort, whipping their horses’ hindquarters furiously as they raced towards the eastern gate.
As the Zhejiang troops drew closer, more people could hear they were shouting something, though it still wasn’t clear.
“Pass my orders down: request General Wang and his men to enter the city quickly; the Zhejiang troops are almost here, and we must avoid congestion.”
“Also, if the Japanese pirates pursue them, just like at the southern gate, once the pirates approach within two li of the gate, close it immediately—regardless of whether the Zhejiang troops or General Wang’s men have all entered—to prevent the pirates from chasing them into the city!”
“Additionally, check how many of General Wang’s men have entered; have food and drink prepared for those who’ve come in to fill their stomachs first.”
Prefect Shang, watching the nearing Zhejiang troops, issued orders to the guard behind him.
“Yes, sir!”
The guard accepted the command and went down to relay Prefect Shang’s orders.
Soon, the guard returned to report, “Prefect, I’ve passed on your orders; General Wang and his men have sped up. So far, over four hundred have entered the city, including General Wang himself. He’s directing his troops to enter and said he’ll come to pay his respects to you once all his men are inside.”
“What, only over four hundred have entered?” Prefect Shang frowned in dissatisfaction upon hearing this and said to the guard, “Go down again and urge General Wang to speed up even more; send more men to clear obstacles at the gate and open it wider. The Zhejiang troops will arrive soon, with pursuing pirates behind them; we must get as many Zhejiang troops into the city as possible before the pirates get within two li of the gate.”
“Yes, sir!” The guard went down the wall once more to convey Prefect Shang’s orders.
Xu Hai, below the city, also noticed the commotion at the Zhejiang troops’ Fengqiao camp and saw the distant, galloping Zhejiang cavalry.
As the guard came down with Prefect Shang’s orders, Xu Hai learned that the Zhejiang troops were heading towards the eastern gate.
“Damn that Zhu Ping’an, damn those Zhejiang troops—what are they up to? Couldn’t they have broken out at any other time—why now?! Could Zhu Ping’an have noticed something?! No, even Suzhou City, right under our noses, hasn’t spotted anything; how could Zhu Ping’an, ten li away at Fengqiao camp, have figured it out?!”
“It must just be bad luck! Hurry into the city, speed up even more; we must enter before the Zhejiang troops arrive! Once everyone’s inside, the gate must be closed to keep the Zhejiang troops out, lest they ruin everything!”
Though he thought this, Xu Hai couldn’t help but grow increasingly anxious, the unease in his heart mounting.
In his agitation, Xu Hai repeatedly urged the pirates to hasten their entry into the city.
Fortunately, with the guard’s second trip down the wall, more people in the city mobilised, clearing obstacles behind the gate and opening it wider; now four could enter at once, boosting the efficiency of entry significantly.
Xu Hai grabbed a local pirate, whispered a few words to him, and ordered him to cut the queue and enter the city to find General Wang.
Soon, this pirate slipped into the city, found General Wang, and relayed Xu Hai’s instructions.
General Wang glanced at Xu Hai and nodded firmly.
“Head Wang, call more men, speed up the clearing of obstacles, and open the gate as wide as possible…”
General Wang first directed his men to hasten the clearing of the gate’s obstacles, then said to the soldiers guarding the city, “Keep the captured pirates detained at the open space near the gate entrance for now; their hands and feet are bound, and my men will watch them, so you needn’t worry. Once all the captured pirates are inside, we’ll deal with them together.”
As the highest-ranking officer at the eastern gate, General Wang—though not the direct superior of these gate guards—outranked them; as long as his words didn’t conflict with Prefect Shang’s orders, they were effective, and the gate guards naturally had no objections.
