The pirates vastly outnumbered their foes, swarming toward the high slope in dense, chaotic masses. In contrast, the Zhejiang troops atop the slope were pitifully few—only a few hundred.
The two forces weren’t even in the same league.
The pirates were confident that once they reached the top, a single bite from each of them could tear the Zhejiang soldiers apart alive!
Yet, just as the emboldened pirates charged halfway up the slope, a rapid clanging of gongs erupted from the summit.
“Orders from the commander! Sound the retreat! Withdraw at once!”
“Don’t tangle with the pirates—pull back immediately!”
“The pirates outnumber us heavily. We’ve already reaped plenty of gains—no need to fight them to the death. It’s not worth it. Retreat, retreat, retreat! Quick, back to the woods, back to Suzhou! The victory feast is already prepared in the city!”
As the gongs rang out, the Zhejiang squad and platoon leaders shouted, urgently commanding their men to fall back.
“Pull back, pull back! Quick, back to Suzhou for the feast!”
“Let’s go! Retreat to the city—meat and wine await!”
“No need to see us off, you turtles! You’ve received Grandpa’s gifts—kneel and thank us! We’re off to the city for a banquet!”
Hearing the retreat signal and their officers’ orders, the Zhejiang troops turned and bolted. As they fled, they didn’t miss the chance to hurl a few biting taunts at the pirates mere steps away.
“Damn it! They’re running!”
“No way they’re escaping! Charge! Kill them all—dead, dead, dead! Slaughter every last one!”
“They strut around, set fires, shoot sneaky arrows, and now they want to run? No way it’s that easy! Charge—they’ve got so few men. Catch them, and we’ll hack them to bits! I’ll drink their blood and eat their flesh to quench my hate!”
“Hahaha! You cursed Ming dogs finally know fear—realize you can’t beat us and want to flee? Too late! Not one of you is getting away—stay and atone with your lives!”
The pirates, halfway up the slope, saw the Zhejiang troops turn tail and roared, speeding up their assault.
They’d already reached the midpoint, just twenty meters from the Zhejiang soldiers. The enemy had only now started running, slow to pick up speed, while the pirates were in full charge—far faster. The gap between them shrank rapidly.
Behind the high slope lay a gentle incline, and beyond that, a forest. By the time the pirates crested the peak, the Zhejiang troops were only ten meters ahead, descending the incline. Their downhill speed widened the gap again.
But as the pirates barreled down the incline too, the distance closed once more—closer and closer.
“Damn it, the pirates are pissed! Brothers, run faster—faster! Get to the woods—they won’t dare follow us there!”
“Run, quick! They’re catching up! If they tangle with us, even with three heads and six arms, we’re done for!”
The fleeing Zhejiang soldiers glanced back at the frenzied pirates snapping at their heels, faces paling as the gap dwindled. They shouted in panic, urging each other on.
“Damn it, they’re almost on us! Hurry, into the woods!”
“We’ve already profited enough—no need to die fighting them! The feast’s waiting in the city—good wine, good food, rewards too! Run—into the woods, and we’re safe!”
The trailing Zhejiang troops stole a look behind, then yelled frantically, sprinting toward the trees with desperate speed.
“Why’s the woods safe?” one soldier panted as he ran.
“You idiot! Don’t you know ‘never enter a forest’? Once we’re in, the pirates won’t dare chase us!”
A chorus of Zhejiang voices answered, then grumbled, “Move it, no chatter! Hurry—the pirates are furious! If they catch us, half of us are done for!”
“Brothers, faster, faster! Into the woods, and we’re safe!”
Howling, the Zhejiang troops dashed toward the forest, legs pumping furiously, moving as fast as they could.
Some even tossed their bows and arrows to lighten their load, cursing the clunky weight.
“Hahaha! I can see the panic on those Ming dogs’ faces! They’re scared now—too late!”
“Chase them! No escape! I’ll slaughter them all to ease my hate! My brother was only eighteen—never even touched a woman—and he drowned in that river! I’ll kill them all for him!”
“Save me a few alive! Tonight, I’m going in—gotta take a back door or two!”
“Hahaha! We’ll pick you some pretty ones, hold their legs for you, let you have your fun! No reward needed—just wanna hear them scream under you, begging for life and death alike!”
Seeing the Zhejiang troops scamper like rabbits—some even ditching their weapons—the pirates laughed savagely, speeding up their pursuit while hurling vicious threats.
By now, they were just seven or eight meters from the rearmost Zhejiang soldiers. Both sides could hear every word crystal clear.
The pirates caught the Zhejiang cries to run faster, to reach the woods for safety. The Zhejiang troops heard the pirates’ vows to chase and kill them all.
The pirates cursed their katanas’ short reach. If only they were ten meters long—a single swing could’ve cleaved through several Zhejiang soldiers!
These damned Zhejiang troops! This time, we’ve got our chance—no escape! At Fengqiao Camp, they humiliated us, killed so many brothers. Forget those felled by their cannons—just that final explosion alone took countless lives, not a single body left whole. Pitiful!
And at Suzhou’s walls, we nearly had the city tricked into our hands—until these Zhejiang bastards stirred the pot, ruined our plans, and cost us more brothers in a failed gamble!
Just now, they kept shouting about “gifts,” landing blow after blow. How many brothers died in that river—burned, shot, drowned, frozen? Too many to count!
And our wind-riding ships—nearly all torched—thanks to these cursed Zhejiang troops!
Now, with a chance for revenge in sight, how could they not be thrilled?
Run?
No way!
The pirates chased harder, feet flying. Just as they were about to catch up, the Zhejiang troops plunged into the forest, vanishing into the trees!
“Damn it! Five meters short! They made it into the woods!”
The lead pirate halted at the forest’s edge, cursing in frustration. Just five or six meters more, and he’d have grabbed the stragglers.
“What are you standing there for? Chase them! Damn it, we finally got a shot—if they escape, I’ll regret it forever!”
Seeing the frontrunners hesitate, the pirates behind swore and charged into the forest.
“Wait, wait! The ancestors said, ‘Never enter a forest!’ What if the Zhejiang troops set an ambush inside?” the pirates at the edge shouted nervously.
