Zhu Ping’an glanced at the wisps of smoke rising from the pirate camp and the chaotic sprawl of their tents, mentally calculating the time. He turned to Prefect Shang with a serious expression, bowing respectfully. “Lord Shang, I’ll need to trouble you with one more thing.”
“Zihou, no need for formalities. You’re the commander of this defense—whatever you need, just say it,” Shang replied with a chuckle, returning the bow.
“Lord Shang, I won’t stand on ceremony then. In the next half hour, please gather as many mules and horses as possible within the city. The more, the better,” Zhu Ping’an said directly.
“No problem, leave it to me. I won’t let you down,” Shang agreed instantly, though curiosity crept into his voice. “But, Zihou, what do you need the mules and horses for? If it’s to replace the warhorses lost at the gate, there’s no rush. After this battle, I’ll personally fund a herd far superior in number and quality…”
Shang trailed off, musing aloud, assuming Zhu Ping’an meant to replenish the浙军’s losses from the gate skirmish.
“Lord Shang, it’s not about replacing the losses from the gate. It’s for when the pirates retreat—I’ll lead half the浙军 on mules and horses to give them a farewell escort and deliver a little parting gift,” Zhu Ping’an said with a faint, meaningful smile.
Shang’s face paled at the mention of leaving the city, his hands waving frantically. “Zihou, no! You mustn’t venture out lightly! Holding the city keeps us invincible—outside, it’s a death trap! The pirates are ferocious, numerous, and skilled in open combat. Wang’s fate is a glaring warning!”
“Lord Shang, rest easy. That was then, this is now. Back then, the pirates feigned retreat, and I warned against pursuit. This time, their defeat is real—they’re truly withdrawing. Besides, I’m not like that fool Wang—I don’t act without absolute certainty. I’ll take only half the浙军. Once I’m out, lock the gates tight. Suzhou will remain impregnable. With mules and horses, the open land is ours to roam. No matter how fierce or field-savvy the pirates are, if they can’t catch me, what can they do?” Zhu Ping’an reassured him with a confident grin.
“Uh…” Shang hesitated, still uneasy.
“Lord Shang, didn’t you say I’m the defense commander? Was that just talk?” Zhu Ping’an teased lightly.
“Of course not! You’re the real deal, Zihou. I’ll arrange the mules and horses—won’t let you down,” Shang replied hastily.
With that, Shang summoned his aides, barking orders to scour every衙门, district, street, and household for mules and horses within half an hour, no excuses.
“Take the衙门’s stock by my authority. For civilian ones, explain it’s for the government—we’ll compensate them and return them post-battle, with full market value for any losses,” Shang instructed firmly before they dispersed.
“Dadao, grab breakfast quick, then rest up. In about half an hour, we’ll see the pirates off and deliver our gift—something they’ll never forget,” Zhu Ping’an said, clapping Liu Dadao and the others on the shoulders.
“Sir, no need to trouble yourself—it’s too much honor for those pirates. We’ll handle it, ensure the gift’s delivered. You and Lord Shang wait in the city,” Liu Dadao and Liu Mu protested.
“No more arguing. Delivering a gift isn’t so simple—it’s an art. It has to be irresistible. I need to go myself to be sure. Or do you lack the confidence to protect me?” Zhu Ping’an countered with a smile, goading them playfully.
“We’ve got the confidence! With us here, no pirate’s touching a hair on your head!” Liu Dadao thumped his chest, the sound echoing.
“Then it’s settled. Eat up and rest,” Zhu Ping’an said, patting their shoulders again.
He surveyed the walls. Aside from the sentries, the other soldiers sat on the ground, enjoying breakfast.
Zhu Ping’an joined a group of them, finding an open spot. He sat cross-legged, sipping hot porridge, spearing two rolls with his chopsticks, and setting a bowl of stir-fry and pickled greens beside him. He cracked a boiled egg on the ground, peeling it while chatting idly with the men.
The浙军 took it in stride—they were used to this. But the other guards gawked in disbelief.
A high official like Zhu Ping’an—a fourth-rank appointee, the defense commander, even outranking Shang—sitting on the dirt, eating the same grub? His stir-fry was leftovers, less hearty than theirs, yet he dug in without complaint, peeling his egg on the ground and bantering about mundane things.
He even tossed out a bawdy joke: a butcher visits a brothel, forgets his cash, and the madam sends a lackey home with him. His wife asks why five taels—outrageous! The butcher claims he got caught watering down meat, and they’d report him unless he paid. She forks over the silver.
Laughter erupted along the wall, breaking the ice. The guards warmed to him, the mood light and easy.
“Lord Zhu’s so down-to-earth…” they murmured, touched. Some envied the浙军—serving under a bold, clever, and approachable leader like Zhu Ping’an was a rare privilege.
After breakfast, Shang’s aides trickled back from their mule-and-horse hunt, but the haul was slim.
Hundreds of officials scoured the city, yet they returned with fewer than five hundred animals.
“Are the locals resisting? Not enough coin offered?” Shang asked, frowning.
“They’re cooperative,” an aide replied. “Once they heard it was for fighting pirates, they handed them over gladly—many refused payment. We had to sneak coins into their homes and tell them after we’d left.”
“Then why so few?” Shang pressed, displeased.
“Sir,江南 isn’t horse country. Few city folk own mules or horses—mostly rich households. Small families can’t afford them. Villages have a bit more, but in the city, this is it. There are two or three hundred donkeys, but they’re cart-pullers or mill-workers, untrained for riding. That’d take ten days to fix…”
“Less than five hundred? Too few,” Shang muttered, brow furrowed. How would he explain this to Zihou?
“Sir, there are more horses…” a timid aide piped up.
“Where? Speak up and fetch them! No time for dawdling!” Shang snapped.
“The city garrison has three or four hundred…” the aide whispered.
“What use do they have for them? Take my token—requisition every last one. Tell them it’s a military order—disobey at their peril!” Shang barked, unfastening his waistband and handing it over.
“Yes, sir!” The aide took the token and hurried off.
