“You and I are neighbours looking out for each other. No need for thanks.” Zhu Ping’an smiled and waved his hand, then took a step forward. His gaze burned intensely as he looked at Hu Zongxian. “Lord Hu, the Tokiwa Japanese pirates plotting against Songjiang Prefecture City is a crisis, but also an opportunity.”
“What does Lord Zhu mean?” Hu Zongxian looked up at Zhu Ping’an.
“The mantis hunts the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The Japanese pirates plot against Songjiang Prefecture. We can plot against the Japanese pirates in turn.” Zhu Ping’an gazed intently at Hu Zongxian and extended an invitation. “Jiangnan has suffered under the Japanese pirates for too long. If you and I join forces, we can wipe them out.”
Hu Zongxian listened but did not reply. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and paced back and forth in thought.
Zhu Ping’an watched Hu Zongxian expectantly.
If Hu Zongxian joined forces with him, their troops would be more than sufficient. The chances of wiping out the Japanese pirates would be much greater.
Seconds ticked by. Finally, Hu Zongxian raised his head, faced Zhu Ping’an, and slowly shook his head.
Hm?!
Zhu Ping’an was somewhat surprised. He had thought Hu Zongxian had ambition and boldness, so he should accept the invitation to join forces and ambush the Japanese pirates plotting against Songjiang Prefecture City. He had not expected Hu Zongxian, after much internal struggle, to shake his head and refuse the invitation.
Zhu Ping’an could not help but feel disappointed.
“Lord Zhu, Lord Zhao recommended me to take charge as Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang. This is a critical time for Lord Zhao in his bid for the position of Governor-General. If I join forces with Lord Zhu, it would be fine if we win. If we lose, I am not afraid for myself, but I fear implicating Lord Zhao.”
Hu Zongxian explained himself.
Zhu Ping’an nodded slightly. “Hm, it was my oversight.”
Back then, Zhao Wenhua had rejected Zhu Ping’an’s suggestion to organise troops to encircle and annihilate the Tokiwa Japanese pirates. Hu Zongxian was aligned with Zhao Wenhua, so it was only natural for him to stay consistent with Zhao Wenhua and refuse the invitation to join forces and send troops against the Japanese pirates.
Though the goal had not been fully achieved, the matter was settled. Zhu Ping’an exchanged a few brief pleasantries with Hu Zongxian, then rose to take his leave.
The Japanese pirates did not know when they would attack Songjiang Prefecture City. He needed to set out for Jinshan to respond at the first moment.
“Lord Zhu, please wait a moment.” Hu Zongxian called out to Zhu Ping’an.
Zhu Ping’an wondered what Hu Zongxian wanted. Had he changed his mind and decided to join forces against the Japanese pirates?!
Zhu Ping’an stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Hu Zongxian.
He saw Hu Zongxian walk to the desk, lean over to pick up a brush, and write with swift, flowing strokes. He finished quickly, then took a large official seal from the locked box on the table, blew on it, and stamped it firmly onto the paper.
“Though I cannot join Lord Zhu in sending troops, well, the Japanese pirate problem in Suzhou and Songjiang is severe. As the new Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang, I am overwhelmed. Given that the Zhejiang army is stationed in Jiaxing City, close to Suzhou and Songjiang, I request that Lord Zhu dispatch the Zhejiang army to assist in defending Songjiang Prefecture City.”
Hu Zongxian handed the document, stamped with the Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang’s seal, to Zhu Ping’an with both hands.
Zhu Ping’an took the document from Hu Zongxian, scanned it once. The document was Hu Zongxian’s request, in his capacity as Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang, for Zhu Ping’an to send the Zhejiang army to assist in defending Songjiang Prefecture City. It matched what Hu Zongxian had said.
Hu Zongxian was giving him a legitimate reason to send troops to Songjiang Prefecture City.
Although he had Zhao Wenhua’s order to mobilise the Zhejiang army to monitor the Tokiwa Japanese pirates, having this request from Hu Zongxian, the Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang, to send the Zhejiang army to assist in defending Songjiang Prefecture City made it even more proper and justified.
“Thank you, Lord Hu.” Zhu Ping’an carefully tucked the document inside his clothes and cupped his hands in thanks to Hu Zongxian.
Leaving Hu Zongxian’s residence, Zhu Ping’an returned to the Zhejiang army camp. In the dead of night, he led three hundred Zhejiang troops out of the camp and headed towards Jinshan in Songjiang Prefecture.
He could not bring more Zhejiang troops, or the camp might be exposed as weak, alerting the Japanese pirates.
As Zhu Ping’an set out on his urgent night journey, the Tokiwa Japanese pirates’ camp was in wild revelry. Jars of wine had their clay seals broken open, pots of stewed meat gave off thick aromas, weeping and struggling women were about, and beastly men in human form grinned broadly, guzzling bowl after bowl of wine, chomping on meat with cheeks bulging, their greasy, filthy hands roaming over the crying, struggling women.
“Thanks to General Ryuzoji and General Matsuura crossing the sea to aid us, our Tokiwa Japanese pirates’ camp has regained its strength.”
Xu Hai raised his wine cup in a toast to Ryuzoji Taka and Matsuura Motoyasu, his attitude very warm.
Ryuzoji Taka was an old man of about fifty, dressed in a kimono with a shaved pate, lean but sturdy. His small eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s. On his kneeling legs rested a Japanese sword inlaid with gems, and beside him, a kimono-clad Japanese woman served him.
Matsuura Motoyasu was a burly Japanese pirate in his early twenties, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with a fierce ghost tattoo on his neck. In his arms, he held a tearful Ming dynasty girl, groping her greedily up and down, as if he could not wait to take her right there, like a beast in heat.
“Heh heh heh, General Xu serves our lord. We are all retainers, aiding each other. No need for thanks.”
Ryuzoji Taka chuckled and raised his wine cup.
Matsuura Motoyasu reluctantly withdrew his hand from between the girl’s legs, picked up his cup, shook it arrogantly towards Xu Hai, drained it in one gulp, and let out a satisfied sigh. “Good wine. This Great Ming is truly a fine place. The women of Great Ming have real flavour, the fine wines of Great Ming have real flavour, and the wealth of Great Ming has even more flavour. In just these few days, the gold, silver, jewels, silks, and satins my men have looted could nearly fill my ship’s cabin. Hahaha, old Taka, we should have come to Great Ming long ago. How could the people of Great Ming deserve such a treasure land? With our bravery, with our Japanese swords, this rich, honey-flowing land should rightfully be ours.”
With that, Matsuura Motoyasu looked at Xu Hai and chuckled. “The people of Great Ming I speak of do not include General Xu.”
“Of course, General Xu serves our lord and is already one of us.” Ryuzoji Taka narrowed his eyes at Xu Hai.
“I am deeply honoured.” Xu Hai chuckled.
Xu Hai knew when to pick up and put down. For now, he still needed to rely on them, so he naturally went along with their words.
Of course, deep down, Xu Hai had no sense of homeland or country. To hell with Great Ming, to hell with Hizen Matsuura, to hell with Japan. He cared only for himself, his power, his pleasures, his wealth and glory.
Indeed, those who engaged in Japanese pirate activities would hardly have any patriotic feelings, nor any sense of propriety, righteousness, integrity, or shame.
“General Xu, the great city of Songjiang Prefecture you mentioned, have you prepared the strategy for it? When do we set out to take it?”
Ryuzoji Taka asked with concern.
“My spies are already infiltrated into Songjiang Prefecture City. Give me two more days to send them grease, weapons, and armour, and we can march to seize the city.”
Xu Hai said confidently.
“I say, why bother with all that trouble? The people of Great Ming are weak chickens and mere dogs, not worth a strike. With just my warriors and their Japanese swords in hand, we can directly storm the gates and break in. How many cities have we breached in this time?!”
Matsuura Motoyasu dismissed it, roughly toying with the girl in his arms. Seeing her aggrieved, weak, and unable to resist, he laughed heartily in delight.
“General Matsuura, Songjiang Prefecture City is not comparable to those small cities. You will see when you get there.”
Xu Hai smiled slightly. He rather enjoyed seeing their ignorance.
