“Brother Haifeng, I’ve heard the Zhejiang army likes to bury gunpowder traps along the road to ambush opponents. As they retreat, we must be cautious not to fall for Zhu Ping’an’s tricks. There’s an old saying in the Central Plains: ‘You may not have a heart to harm others, but you must always guard against them,’” Otomo Sadakawa warned Mao Haifeng, urging caution against Zhu Ping’an’s schemes.
“Don’t worry. Our men have been watching them closely. They can’t even fart without us knowing,” Mao Haifeng replied confidently.
“Yoshi! As long as Zhu Ping’an doesn’t pull any demonic tricks, in today’s decisive battle, we live, they die. This day next year will be Zhu Ping’an’s memorial day!” Otomo Sadakawa declared with full assurance.
“Haha, exactly! Zhu Ping’an won a few times against that washed-up Xu Hai and thinks he can beat us. Back then, Xu Hai was attacking cities, but now, without city walls to protect them, he still believes he can win. He’s fallen into the scholar’s old trap—armchair strategizing! Daring to face us in open battle, where does he get the courage? But this is good for us. We must teach him a lesson!” Mao Haifeng laughed.
Like Otomo Sadakawa, he was brimming with confidence about facing the Zhejiang army in open combat.
At that moment, a pirate entered Mao Haifeng’s command tent and reported, “The Zhejiang army has withdrawn from the pass.”
“That was faster than expected,” Mao Haifeng remarked, surprised by the speed of their retreat, which exceeded his expectations.
“Haha, practice makes perfect. The government troops are well-trained in running away. Eight out of ten we’ve faced have fled,” Otomo Sadakawa chuckled.
“Did the Zhejiang army pull any tricks during their retreat? Did they bury gunpowder or anything like that?” Mao Haifeng asked.
“No, we kept a close eye on them. They retreated cleanly, without any tampering. Just to be sure, as soon as they left, our men followed and checked the ground with shovels. It’s clean—they didn’t do anything,” the pirate reported confidently, patting his chest.
They were cautious, having heard how the Zhejiang army buried thousands of pounds of gunpowder to trap Xu Hai’s men. They had thoroughly dug up the Zhejiang army’s abandoned camp and the path to the pass, confirming no traps were set.
“Haha, Zhu Ping’an’s got some guts after all,” Mao Haifeng said, his impression of Zhu Ping’an shifting upon hearing he hadn’t resorted to tricks during the retreat.
“Whether he’s a real man will be clear in the battle! Let’s see if he’s just a silver-tipped wax spear—shiny but useless!” Otomo Sadakawa said, hand on his sword, brimming with fighting spirit.
“Brother Otomo speaks wisely. If he lacks the strength to face us in open battle, his move today is foolish! Zhao Kuo was the master of armchair strategizing; Zhu Ping’an is second!” Mao Haifeng said, equally eager for battle.
Outside the tent, the Zhejiang army’s fervent war drums and their repeated cries of “You want to fight? Then fight!” echoed.
“Since they seek death, we’ll oblige!” Mao Haifeng stood, his gaze resolute, waving his hand. “Break camp, advance to the pass, and fight the Zhejiang army to the death!”
“Well said, Chief! Since they seek death, we’ll oblige!” The pirate messenger, blood boiling, eagerly rushed out to relay the order.
The pirates had been listening to the Zhejiang army’s high-spirited chants of “You want to fight? Then fight!” and watching their morale soar. They’d been holding back their own energy.
Now, hearing Mao Haifeng say the Zhejiang army’s call for battle was a death wish and that they’d fulfill it, the pirates felt their morale surge. The Zhejiang army was seeking death, and in the coming battle, only the Zhejiang army would fall!
Thus, they began shouting in unison, “Since they seek death, we’ll oblige!” one after another.
In an instant, the pirates’ morale soared.
Hearing the echoing cries of “Since they seek death, we’ll oblige!” and seeing his men’s morale visibly skyrocketing, Mao Haifeng couldn’t help but grin. The army’s spirit was ready—this battle was in the bag!
“Yoshi! As expected of Brother Haifeng. Our army’s morale is soaring, yesterday’s ambush setback is gone, and our spirits are high. We’ll surely crush that Zhu Ping’an!” Otomo Sadakawa clasped his fists, praising Mao Haifeng.
“Hahaha, it’s nothing. True merit is earned on the battlefield,” Mao Haifeng laughed, waving it off.
“The army’s spirit is ready! Victory is assured!” Otomo Sadakawa declared confidently.
The pirates’ high morale made breaking camp faster than usual—by a third. They quickly packed up and marched toward the pass.
“Brother Otomo, there’s an old saying in our Central Plains: ‘The right time is not as good as the right place, and the right place is not as good as the right people.’ In this battle, we must work together seamlessly—you are me, and I am you. Together, we’ll crush Zhu Ping’an’s Zhejiang army!” Mao Haifeng said to Otomo Sadakawa from horseback.
“Brother Haifeng, rest assured. We’re one, sharing glory and defeat. In this battle, I follow your lead!” Otomo Sadakawa replied, patting his chest.
“Thank you for your trust, Brother Otomo. United, we’ll share the glory of crushing Zhu!” Mao Haifeng said confidently.
“Brother Haifeng, give the order. I’ll lead the vanguard, tearing a gap in the Zhejiang army’s formation!” Otomo Sadakawa requested, clasping his fists.
“Why use a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken? Brother Otomo, select 2,000 elite men from your ranks, and I’ll pick 3,000 from mine, forming a 5,000-strong vanguard to break their lines. Such elites in open battle will surely pierce their formation! Then, our main forces will press forward. Victory is certain—it’s just a matter of how great it will be! I want a complete victory, annihilating the Zhejiang army and capturing Zhu Ping’an alive to show King Hui what we’re capable of!” Mao Haifeng said with a wave, his eyes gleaming with ambition as he glanced at the pass.
“Good! I’ll commit my elite Mawei guards—veterans who’ve followed me for years, each worth a hundred men. We’ll make the Zhejiang army’s heads roll!” Otomo Sadakawa accepted without hesitation, even pledging his personal guard.
“With Brother Otomo’s full support, this is exhilarating! I’ll commit my personal guard too. We’ll sweep them away and crush the Zhejiang army in one blow!” Mao Haifeng extended his hand to Otomo Sadakawa.
Otomo Sadakawa clasped it firmly. They exchanged a smile, their confidence infecting the pirates behind them.
“Ten thousand victories!”
“Ten thousand victories!”
The pirates, brandishing their motley weapons, shouted chaotically, their voices shaking the heavens.
From top to bottom, the pirates believed—absolutely believed—that without ambushes or tricks, in a fair open battle, the Zhejiang army was no match. In the coming fight, they would crush them effortlessly, making heads roll and rivers run red with Zhejiang blood.
