After the reinforcements from the other gates finally trickled in, none escaped a furious tongue-lashing from Prefect Shang.
The safer the situation became, the more Shang realized how dire it had been. Truly, if Zhu Ping’an and the Zhejiang troops hadn’t descended like divine saviors, Suzhou would’ve fallen to the pirates without a doubt. Shang himself would’ve faced two choices: leap from the walls or surrender.
One meant the end of his physical life, the other his political one—living like a rat in the gutter, dreading the day the court’s pirate-hunting forces would sever his head and send it to the capital, leaving his name cursed for eternity.
If it had come to that, he’d have chosen to jump. Life was precious, but reputation was worth more.
As a scholar of the emperor and a disciple of Confucius, how could he bear the stain of being a traitor? Only death could absolve him.
*These damned fools!* They groveled to him daily, swearing obedience and loyalty, yet when his life hung in the balance, they dragged their feet. If not for Zi Hou, their “rescue” would’ve been a funeral procession. It was clear Suzhou’s ranks needed a thorough purge!
After berating the tardy reinforcements, Shang lost interest in dealing with them further. With a wave of his hand, he assigned them all to Zhu Ping’an’s command, citing his role as the city’s defense chief.
Zhu Ping’an was equally incensed by these latecomers. Had they arrived sooner, the Zhejiang troops wouldn’t have suffered such losses—over a hundred casualties, the worst toll since the unit’s formation!
Likewise, the east gate’s defenders wouldn’t have lost over a thousand men.
If he hadn’t been vigilant, Suzhou would’ve fallen, and hundreds of thousands of citizens would’ve been ravaged by the pirates.
Fuming, Zhu Ping’an assigned the reinforcements the dirtiest, most grueling tasks—hauling stones, boiling oil, and the like.
After dinner, Zhu Ping’an gathered the civil and military officials on the walls to organize the night’s defenses.
“All troops will rotate in three shifts for night watch. Stay sharp against a pirate night raid—give it your all. Anyone caught slacking will face severe punishment, no exceptions. Consider this your warning!”
“Deputy Zhang, have your men hang silver bells along the outer walls. Night sentries, if you hear a bell ring, light torches immediately and sound the alarm. If pirates are spotted climbing, shoot them down with arrows and arquebuses, or stab them with spears and blades!”
“Deputy Liu, build observation posts along the walls—every sixty meters. They don’t need to be fancy, just sturdy and functional. Assign six sentries per post, two per shift, to monitor the pirates’ every move all night.”
“Deputy Han, dig pits at the wall’s base and bury large jars every three hundred meters to detect pirate tunneling. Assign six men per jar, two per shift, to listen for digging sounds and pinpoint their direction. Report any odd noises to me immediately—we’ll be ready to dig counter-tunnels or wells.”
“Order the other gates to do the same.”
Zhu Ping’an issued his orders methodically, one after another. Prefect Shang, listening nearby, nodded repeatedly, inwardly praising Zhu’s meticulousness and orderliness. *Zi Hou is truly exceptional.*
As night fell, Zhu Ping’an swapped his attire for a common Zhejiang soldier’s padded armor, patrolling the walls with Liu Dadao, Liu Mu, and others guarding him.
He wore the ordinary armor to avoid standing out, wary of pirate snipers targeting officers.
While he trusted the Zhejiang troops, Zhu Ping’an had zero faith in the other guards. He knew the garrison system too well—riddled with rot from the core.
Officers above were corrupt, seizing military lands, skimming rations, and forcing soldiers into private labor like farming, logging, or kiln work. Military households became slaves, prompting mass desertions. The ranks dwindled, filled with the old, weak, and sick, leaving them with no fighting strength.
The rank-and-file garrison soldiers were just coasting—spiritless, undisciplined, indulging in gambling and vice, their combat ability pitifully weak.
On his rounds, Zhu Ping’an caught several cases of negligence: two soldiers snoring against the wall, three gambling with dice in a corner, another drinking on duty.
“Sixty lashes with the cane as a warning! Next offense, execution without mercy!” Zhu Ping’an snapped, ordering their immediate punishment.
The sixty lashes left them bloodied and wailing, one even passing out—revived by a splash of cold water.
After this crackdown, discipline on the walls improved markedly. At least the night watch didn’t dare slack off anymore.
“Zi Hou, it’s late. Go rest below. Leave the night watch to us,” Prefect Shang said, concerned as Zhu Ping’an kept patrolling tirelessly into the night.
He feared Zhu might collapse, leaving the defense leaderless.
“Prefect Shang, don’t worry—I’m in good shape. One night won’t hurt me; I’ll rest tomorrow. If I’m right, the pirates will retreat after tonight,” Zhu Ping’an said, rubbing his temples lightly with a smile.
“They’ll retreat after tonight? Are you certain, Zi Hou?” Shang asked, delighted by the prospect.
“The pirates’ heavy losses today have sealed their defeat—it’s inevitable they’ll withdraw. They’re lingering below out of reluctance. Given their state, a night raid is their last desperate hope. As long as we stay vigilant and crush any attempt, they’ll have no choice but to abandon their delusions and retreat to their Tuolin lair. They can’t afford to dawdle, or their base will be at risk,” Zhu Ping’an said confidently.
“If so, then I’ll trouble you tonight, Zi Hou. I’ll stay on the walls too. If you need anything, just call—I’ll support you fully,” Shang said, bowing deeply.
“You’re too kind, Prefect. This is my duty,” Zhu Ping’an replied, returning治returning the gesture.
As Zhu Ping’an and Shang exchanged bows, the pirate camp below buzzed with preparations for a night raid.
“Matsumoto-kun, I hear your true Japanese have men called ninja—experts in assassination, night raids, and infiltration. Is that true?” Xu Hai asked a Japanese pirate.
“Indeed. I have five ninja under my command—highly skilled, each adept at killing, climbing, and night operations,” Matsumoto Tatsuo replied proudly.
“Bring them to me. I have a use for them,” Xu Hai said, nodding with satisfaction.
“Hai!” Matsumoto bowed low.
