The name “Jiangyin” derives from its geographical position: “south of the river” (yin, meaning the shady side, as opposed to yang, the sunny side). Situated south of the Yangtze River, Jiangyin was the fief of Lord Chunshen, Huang Xie, during the Spring and Autumn Period, earning it the moniker “Chunshen’s Old Fief.” A prosperous hub in the fertile Jiangnan region, it was known as the “land of fish and rice,” a strategic linchpin of the Three Wu region, and a bustling crossroads for the Baiyue people’s boats and carriages.
At this moment, Jiangyin County was adorned with festive lanterns, immersed in the joyous atmosphere of the New Year.
“Boss Wu, may your business thrive and your family prosper! Happy New Year!”
“Haha, Boss Liu, thank you for the kind words! Wishing you great success and a booming business in the new year!”
“Hahaha, Boss Wu, we’re rivals! Wishing my business to soar—aren’t you worried I’ll steal your customers?”
“Boss Liu, whether you take my business or I take yours, let’s see who’s got the skills!”
“Hahaha, well said! Let’s compete fair and square…”
On the streets, people dressed in new clothes carried gifts to visit friends and relatives. Meeting acquaintances, they exchanged New Year’s greetings and auspicious words. Even old rivals shared smiles and festive cheer.
In the alleys, children scampered about in groups of three or five, showing off their new outfits. They dug into their pockets for rare treats—candied coins, preserved fruits, melon seeds, and sweets—eating with exaggerated delight.
Mischievous kids clutched lit incense sticks, pulling firecrackers from their pockets and placing them on the ground or in odd spots. Covering one ear, they’d nervously yet excitedly extend the incense to light the fuse.
*Pop!*
Amid the firecrackers’ blasts, the children shrieked with glee, laughing uncontrollably—especially when they startled passersby, who’d chase them, shouting, “You little brats, don’t run!”
Laughter echoed from every courtyard, and the aromas of wine, meat, and dishes wafted through the air.
It was the New Year…
Every household, young and old, was steeped in festive joy, completely unaware that miles away, dozens of pirate ships were slicing through the waves, sailing up the river toward Jiangyin County.
“Row faster! The boss said speed is key! Catch them off guard!” a pirate sub-leader barked, brandishing a whip to urge his men to row harder, lashing anyone who slacked.
“Storm the county! The women inside are yours to pick, yours to take! The boss said, except for the gentry and wealthy merchants’ homes, you can burn, kill, and loot the rest to your heart’s content! Whatever you grab is yours!”
The sub-leader waved his whip, rallying the pirates.
With the promise of rewards and the threat of the whip, the pirates rowed furiously, their ships darting forward like arrows.
In no time, the pirate fleet reached the moat outside Jiangyin County.
“We’re here! We’re here!”
Amid the clamor, Ryuzoji Nobutake and Matsuura Shimazaburo emerged from the cabin onto the deck.
Before them lay Jiangyin County.
The city walls stretched endlessly, standing eight meters tall, with a foundation of five layers of massive stones and walls of large blue bricks. The visible sub-city had four towers, three guard posts, and over twenty watchtowers and battlements. A horse-racing path ran along the top, wide enough for galloping. Outside, a moat connected to the mighty Yangtze River. It was a formidable fortress.
“My heavens, what a massive city! Lord Xu, Lord Maye, aren’t we supposed to attack Jiangyin? Why are we attacking this giant? Is this… is this the Ming’s secondary capital, Yingtian?!” Matsuura Shimazaburo exclaimed, assuming Xu Hai and Maye had brought them to attack the Ming’s secondary capital, Yingtian. The sight rattled him.
Though they prided themselves on their martial prowess and scorned the Ming soldiers’ fighting ability, they weren’t arrogant enough to think a few thousand men could take the Ming’s capital! In Japan, even attacking a minor daimyo’s small city required over ten thousand troops!
“Ahem, Lord Xu, Lord Maye, attacking the Ming capital… we should wait until our lord sends his grand army,” Ryuzoji Nobutake coughed, echoing the sentiment.
“Hahaha, General Ryuzoji, General Matsuura, this isn’t Yingtian, the Ming’s secondary capital. This is Jiangyin County,” Maye burst out laughing.
These Japanese were such frogs in a well, with no perspective! Just a county city, and they mistook it for the capital! How small and poor must Japan be for them to think a mere county was a capital? No wonder Japanese warriors were so fierce—born in harsh, impoverished lands, they had to fight tooth and nail for scraps. It made sense.
“Nani?! This isn’t Yingtian? This is just Jiangyin County?!”
“A county?! A mere county is this massive?! Then how grand must Yingtian be?! And the Ming’s current capital?! I… I can’t even imagine how majestic the capital must be!” Matsuura Shimazaburo and Ryuzoji Nobutake gaped in disbelief.
It was unimaginable!
In their eyes, such a colossal city was merely the Ming’s lowest administrative unit—a county!
If a county was this grand, they couldn’t fathom the scale of a prefectural city, a provincial capital, or the imperial capital!
“Quick, quick, quick! Before the gate guards react, get off the ships and charge the gate!” the pirate leaders shouted, following Xu Hai’s orders. As soon as the ships docked, they kicked and shoved their men to disembark and rush the county gate.
The gate guards weren’t entirely clueless. Though they were busy drinking and feasting inside the gatehouse, the commotion of the pirates disembarking and the screams of villagers outside alerted them, albeit belatedly.
“Trouble! Pirates! The pirates are here!”
“Quick, stop drinking! Close the gate! Don’t let them in! If they get inside, we’re all done for!”
“Close it, close it, hurry!”
The gate guards scrambled in panic, stumbling off their wine-laden table, crawling and rolling to shut the gate.
In their frantic rush, they managed to slam the gate shut just one second before the pirates reached it.
“Thank heavens, we closed the gate before those devils got in! I’m telling you, we’ve earned major merit this time! If the pirates had gotten in, our county wouldn’t be celebrating the New Year—it’d be a ghost festival!” an old, white-haired guard, reeking of alcohol, gasped in relief, feeling like he’d escaped death.
“We know! The pirates have been burning, killing, and looting everywhere—too many places to count. Every village, fort, or county they breach turns into a river of blood, a living hell!”
“If they got in, forget our wives and mothers—even our sows wouldn’t be spared!”
The guards collapsed behind the gate, cursing the pirates while savoring their narrow escape.
