Snowflakes drifted gently from the sky, the weather damp and cold. The Japanese pirates trudging through Jiashan County shivered, hands and feet tucked in, but their hearts burned with anticipation. Their leader, Ma Ye, had declared that today they could unleash havoc—burning, killing, and plundering without restraint. Any young maidens or wives they encountered could be ravaged at will, so long as they were killed afterward.
“It’s cold now, but just thinking about warming my hands in a young wife’s curves later makes my heart glow,” one pirate said.
“Rubbish, glowing heart? Er Dan, I’d say your heart’s itching like mad,” another retorted.
“Hahaha…”
As the pirates marched, their formation was sloppy, their crude and inhumane banter filling the air with raucous laughter. Their spirits were high.
Five *li* ahead of the boisterous pirate advance, Zhu Ping’an stood on a high vantage point, gazing into the distance.
In his line of sight, a pillar of black and red qi—signifying murderous intent and impending bloodshed—rose into the sky from about five *li* away, steadily moving toward his position.
“The pirates are approaching. Prepare yourselves and await my next command,” Zhu Ping’an said, noting the rolling aura of killing intent and calamity. Drawing on experience, he estimated the pirates’ distance and issued orders to his Zhejiang troops below.
“Yes, sir!” came a chorus of responses from the valley below.
These Zhejiang soldiers weren’t clad in padded military armour but in festive clothing, adorned with red ribbons. Some carried baskets tied with red cords, brimming with goods; others pushed wheelbarrows, over a dozen in total, loaded with chickens, ducks, geese, silk, candlesticks, jewellery boxes, mirrors, scissors, and embroidery. Some drove carriages, also over a dozen, piled with new quilts, mattresses, pillows, tables, chairs, and an array of dazzling dowry items.
Naturally, a grand red bridal sedan, borne by four bearers, was included.
Behind the sedan followed a group of people with gongs and drums, accompanied by several ostentatiously made-up matchmakers in exaggerated attire.
At first glance, it was clearly a wealthy family sending off a daughter to be married.
On the slopes flanking the valley, more Zhejiang soldiers lay hidden in trenches, camouflaged with dried grass and branches dusted with a thin layer of snow. Their disguise blended seamlessly with the surroundings, nearly impossible to spot without close inspection.
Beside them were loaded muskets, with bayonets from the equipment camp and two spare barrels to maintain firepower. In addition to the muskets, over a dozen Tiger Crouching Cannons, covered with dried grass, stood ready. Ammunition and spare barrels were positioned nearby to ensure sustained fire.
This valley was the only route from Jiashan County to Dongshan Village and Shangpo Village. The pirates, bent on retaliating against these villages, would inevitably pass through here.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhu Ping’an judged the pirates to be just over three *li* away. He issued another order: “Those disguised as the bridal escort, fall back half a *li*. Start playing music and set off firecrackers. When you reach this valley, light a string of firecrackers, eat some snacks, and act as if you’re resting briefly.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Zhejiang soldiers disguised as the bridal party sprang into action, carrying the red sedan, pushing wheelbarrows, shouldering baskets, and driving carriages as they moved back.
Soon, the disguised troops, now half a *li* back, began beating gongs and drums, blowing suona horns, and setting off firecrackers.
*Dong dong dong…* The gongs and drums roared.
*Clang clang clang…* The festive gongs rang out.
*Di du di na…* The suona’s piercing notes soared.
Amid the crackling firecrackers and lively chatter, a joyous atmosphere erupted.
The disguised Zhejiang soldiers marched, playing music and setting off firecrackers, the sounds of gongs, drums, and explosions carrying far into the distance.
Two *li* away, some sharp-eared pirates faintly caught the sounds of firecrackers and music.
“What’s going on up ahead? Sounds like gongs, drums, and firecrackers.”
“The New Year and the first day are over. Why’s someone setting off firecrackers and playing music now?”
“Is a village holding a festival? Or is there some celebration? Maybe a wedding or a big birthday?”
The pirates speculated with keen interest.
“Hahaha, whatever it is, they’re out of luck running into us. Doesn’t matter what kind of celebration it is—when they meet us, it’s *our* celebration!”
“If it’s a wedding, we’ll take turns being the groom. The bride will have thousands of husbands at once—she’ll be thrilled to death. Heh, if not thrilled, we’ll make sure she’s done for! This time, we’re leaving no survivors.”
“If it’s a birthday, heh, perfect. No need for another one—next year’s today will be your memorial day.”
“Move faster! Let’s go see what’s happening up there!”
The pirates roared with laughter, eager to investigate the source of the music and firecrackers.
Spurred by curiosity, they quickened their pace, their formation growing even more disordered.
After about half a *li*, the sounds grew louder—gongs, drums, suona, and firecrackers. Every pirate could hear them now.
“That horn’s tune—I know it’s a wedding. Back in the day, I was the best suona player in ten villages. I’d know that festive melody anywhere.”
“A wedding’s perfect. We’ll all take turns as the groom.”
“Hahaha, yeah, let’s be grooms!”
The pirates grew ecstatic, practically drooling, hastening their steps, desperate to get a taste of the bride.
Whether true Japanese pirates or local collaborators, none were decent. They were greedy, traitorous, shameless, and many were downright perverse. Destroying a wedding and violating the bride was, for them, an immense physical and psychological thrill.
As the pirates sped up, the festive sounds ahead became clearer and louder.
Gongs, drums, suona, firecrackers, and the cheerful chatter of congratulations echoed from the valley ahead.
A bit of fun to warm up before slaughtering a village—what could be better? The pirates howled with excitement, charging toward the valley. “Kill! Kill! Grab the bride! Be the groom!”
Their commotion alerted the “bridal escort” in the valley. A young man playing the suona, who was relieving himself at a bend, was the first to spot the pirates charging from afar. As if terrified out of his wits, he dropped his suona, didn’t even pull up his trousers, and sprinted back into the valley, shouting, “Pirates! The pirates are coming! Everyone, run!”
Instantly, chaos erupted in the valley. Dowry items were scattered everywhere, and the bridal escort scattered like headless flies.
When the pirates reached the valley, they saw a panicked, fleeing bridal party. The valley was littered with abandoned dowry—gold, silver, jewels, silks, fine furniture, and more.
The dowry was so abundant it nearly blocked the valley.
“Hahaha, it’s a wealthy merchant’s household! This haul’s worth looting several villages!”
The pirates stormed into the valley, thrilled at the sight of the scattered dowry.
Especially when they glimpsed the graceful figure of a bride in a red wedding dress, her head covered with a red veil, fleeing deeper into the valley with the escort, the pirates’ excitement surged, their blood boiling.
