At noon that day, the weather, contrary to its usual gloom, turned bright and sunny, dispelling the haze and cold wind, bringing warmth.
“The heavens are kind—a good omen.”
Dressed in an extravagant royal robe that defied convention, with a gem-encrusted Japanese sword hanging at his waist and wooden clogs on his feet, Wang Zhi stepped out of the pirate camp. He looked up at the radiant sunlight, smiled, and gave a highly satisfied nod.
“My Lord, I can’t help myself. Zhu Ping’an’s banquet is likely a Hongmen Banquet. Please, My Lord, don’t go.”
Zhao Hang, following closely behind Wang Zhi, couldn’t resist urging him once more.
“What’s there to fear about a Hongmen Banquet? Didn’t Liu Bang attend one too? True gold fears no fire, and a true king fears no Hongmen Banquet! As long as I’m a true king, no Hongmen Banquet can hold me! Even if Zhu Ping’an sets one up, he can’t keep this true king, Wang Zhi!”
Wang Zhi waved his hand confidently, then continued, “This duel was my proposal to begin with. We lost, and if I don’t attend the banquet, wouldn’t that make me a dishonorable man who breaks his word?”
Turning to Zhao Hang, Wang Zhi chuckled and asked, “Old Zhao, do you think I’m a dishonorable man who breaks his word?”
“How could that be? My Lord is a hero of our time!” Zhao Hang shook his head vigorously, denying it repeatedly.
“Then that settles it. It’s just a banquet at the Zhejiang army’s camp. Look at you all, acting like it’s a life-or-death farewell. Stop it—it’s bad luck! I’ve long wanted to meet this new Zhejiang Governor, Zhu Ping’an. The ‘big matter’ he mentioned—I can’t refuse that. And my mother, wife, and son—I can’t refuse them either.” Wang Zhi chuckled, then waved to Zhao Hang and the others who had come to see him off. “Go back, do the tasks I assigned, and wait for my return! If this trip succeeds, our grand ambitions will be within reach.”
“My Lord, let me go with you,” Mao Haifeng volunteered.
“Then what’s the point of appointing you temporary Grand Commander?” Wang Zhi turned and glared at him, his authority unquestionable.
Mao Haifeng shrank back.
“My Lord, isn’t three hundred men a bit too few? Should we bring three thousand elite soldiers instead?” Wang Xiao’er glanced at the three hundred elite pirates behind them, feeling the number was insufficient, and sought Wang Zhi’s opinion.
As Wang Zhi’s personal guard general, Wang Xiao’er was accompanying him and had carefully selected these three hundred of the fiercest pirates to protect him.
“Are we going to a banquet or attacking their camp? Three thousand—you sure dare to dream! Even three hundred feels like too many. Whether the Zhejiang army’s camp will even let us in is another question! If we bring too many, people will mock me, Wang Zhi, for being a coward!”
Wang Zhi also glared at Wang Xiao’er, exasperated.
“He wouldn’t dare! Let him come to our camp then,” Wang Xiao’er retorted, puffing out his chest.
“Who lost the bet?” Wang Zhi shot back with a glare.
Wang Xiao’er didn’t dare say more.
“Uncle Wang, my foster father’s safety is in your hands,” Mao Haifeng stepped forward and solemnly kowtowed to Wang Xiao’er.
“Rest assured, even if we face mountains of blades or seas of fire, we three hundred guards will bring My Lord back safely!” Wang Xiao’er pounded his chest firmly.
“Let’s go!” Wang Zhi waved his hand grandly, striding toward the Zhejiang army’s camp without looking back.
“My Lord, forgive my offense—duty calls. I’ll go ahead. Please stay in the center.” Wang Xiao’er quickly caught up, apologized with a clasped fist, and led a few burly pirates to overtake Wang Zhi, positioning him in the middle for protection.
Mao Haifeng and the others escorted Wang Zhi’s group to the bridge before stopping.
The floating bridges built by the Zhejiang army were still intact. Using them, Wang Zhi and his three hundred men quickly crossed to the other side.
“Nephew Haifeng, you’ve met Zhu Ping’an. Do you think this banquet is a Hongmen Banquet?” Zhao Hang and the others, watching Wang Zhi’s group from afar, asked Mao Haifeng.
“Unless Zhu Ping’an’s lost his mind, this definitely isn’t a Hongmen Banquet. His ambitions are beyond imagination—he wants to pacify the Jiangnan pirate problem. If he dares set up a Hongmen Banquet, Jiangnan will never know peace!”
Mao Haifeng paused for a second before answering slowly.
In his heart, he was certain this banquet wasn’t a trap, but given the circumstances, he couldn’t speak too definitively, lest his words be exploited by those with ulterior motives.
Soon, Wang Zhi’s group crossed the bridge, passed through the open ground, and arrived at the Zhejiang army’s camp. Wang Xiao’er stepped forward to announce their arrival.
“Please wait a moment. Our lord has instructed us to inform him as soon as you arrive,” the guard at the camp’s gate responded with a clasped fist.
“Zhu Ping’an’s giving us a show of force, making us wait here to cool our heels and flaunt his court authority, huh?” Wang Xiao’er grumbled after returning.
Wang Zhi said nothing, quietly observing the camp’s gate, silently counting in his mind.
1, 2, 3, 4…
When Wang Zhi reached 50 in his head, rapid footsteps echoed from behind the gate. It swung open, and an astonishingly young, honest-looking youth appeared in Wang Zhi’s line of sight. Dressed in a governor’s official robe, he wore a warm smile and approached with a dozen men, hurrying toward them.
No need to guess—this was the Zhejiang army’s commander, Governor Zhu Ping’an.
Truly, heroes emerge young. At such an age, he was already a top scholar and Zhejiang Governor.
But his appearance was rather plain, with an honest face. Wang Zhi had imagined someone more dashing.
“Leader Wang’s arrival honors our Zhejiang army’s camp. Please, come in!” Zhu Ping’an stepped out of the gate, smiling warmly as he gave a slight bow, enthusiastically welcoming Wang Zhi.
Wang Zhi had imagined many scenarios for their meeting—Zhu Ping’an exuding authority, delivering a show of force—but he never expected such warmth. From their arrival to Zhu Ping’an’s greeting, only fifty counts had passed.
Moreover, Zhu Ping’an had come out to meet them.
This made Wang Zhi feel valued.
Anyone feels good when respected, and Wang Zhi was no exception. Zhu Ping’an’s warm welcome outside the camp left him quite pleased.
“Lord Zhu, you’re too kind. I’m not worthy,” Wang Zhi chuckled, returning the clasped-fist salute.
“The fine wine and delicacies are ready. Please, Leader Wang, enter the camp.” Zhu Ping’an extended his right hand in a courteous gesture.
“Lord Zhu, can my entourage join us? I won’t lie—my men were worried and insisted on coming along…” Wang Zhi pointed to the over five hundred soldiers behind him.
“Together, together. It’s just a few hundred extra pairs of chopsticks,” Zhu Ping’an said nonchalantly.
Wang Zhi’s impression of Zhu Ping’an instantly soared by +10086. Such magnanimity!
“Then I’ll trouble Lord Zhu,” Wang Zhi said, clasping his fists.
“Leader Wang, you’re too polite.” Zhu Ping’an chuckled, then called to the Zhejiang soldiers inside the gate, “Lay out the red carpet to welcome our honored guests!”
At Zhu Ping’an’s command, dozens of Zhejiang soldiers brought out rolls of red cloth, connecting them end to end, laying a path from the gate inward.
A ten-mile red carpet, a stage set online.
Seeing this, Wang Zhi’s impression of Zhu Ping’an soared another +10086.
