Zhu Pingan directed the Zhejiang army to clear the gateway passage at the fastest possible speed. Once finished, the main army entered the city. Zhu Pingan left five hundred men to guard the gate at the entrance, then led the remaining Zhejiang soldiers in pursuit of the Japanese pirates, advancing rapidly on a forced march.
Smoke from fires rose everywhere in the city, and cries of grief mingled with screams without cease. Along the way, they encountered many scenes of murder, arson, and looting. Some were committed by small bands of Japanese pirates, while others were the work of local ruffians, thugs, and villains taking advantage of the chaos to rob.
Zhu Pingan detached three companies of one hundred men each to suppress the pirates and local troublemakers causing disorder along the route. The main force continued northward toward the north gate without pause.
Halfway there, they met a squad of Zhejiang vanguard troops galloping back from the direction of the north gate.
Seeing the vanguard rushing towards them from afar, Zhu Pingan assumed they had come to request reinforcements, so he urged the army to quicken its pace.
“Report, my lord. The Japanese pirates have already escaped through the north gate!” The squad leader ran up, dropped to one knee, and reported.
“What? How have the pirates already escaped through the north gate?! Could the Songjiang north gate defenders not even hold for the time it takes one stick of incense to burn?!”
Zhu Pingan could scarcely believe the report. What on earth were the Songjiang defenders doing? They could not even hold for that short time?!
With the advantage of city walls and fighting on home ground, was it really so difficult to defend for the duration of one stick of incense?
Even if they had piled miscellaneous obstacles in the gateway like the pirates did, it would still take the pirates that long to clear them!
“In reply to my lord, they did not defend the gate at all. It is said that the Songjiang Prefect ordered the gate opened, allowing the pirates to escape…”
The squad leader reported helplessly.
Zhu Pingan’s face darkened instantly. He was furious beyond measure. One fears not god-like opponents, but pig-like teammates!
If this Songjiang Prefect were in his own jurisdiction, Zhu Pingan would have him arrested and beheaded on the spot!
Unfortunately, the man fell under Hu Zongxian’s jurisdiction. All the same, he could not be let off. That very night, Zhu Pingan would send an official document informing Hu Zongxian of the Songjiang Prefect’s crimes of failing to defend the city and privately releasing the pirates, demanding severe punishment!
“My vanguard has already gone out of the city in pursuit of the pirates. General Liu specially ordered me to come and report to my lord,” the squad leader continued.
“Pursue outside the city!”
Zhu Pingan waved his hand and ordered the army to head for the north gate and exit the city to chase the pirates. He dispatched one battalion of Zhejiang troops, travelling light and in simplified formation, to go ahead out of the city and follow the vanguard’s pursuit route, reinforcing the Zhejiang vanguard.
Although Zhu Pingan knew it was likely they would not catch the pirates, even if they failed, they must at least bite off a piece of flesh.
As they pursued all the way to the north gate, Zhu Pingan was stunned. The north gate was actually closed! The battalion of Zhejiang troops he had just sent out was at the gate arguing with the defenders! Bloody hell, they had let the pirates escape, yet now they would not let his army out to pursue them!
“Open the gate quickly! We Zhejiang troops must go out to chase the Japanese pirates!” the Zhejiang soldiers shouted angrily.
“We are sorry, but our Prefect has ordered the gate closed to prevent the pirates from turning back to attack Songjiang city again!”
The north gate defenders refused to open it.
“You dare not fight the pirates and let them escape through the gate, but we Zhejiang troops dare to fight. Open the gate at once. Do not delay our pursuit!”
“I am sorry, but the Prefect has ordered the gate closed as a precaution against the pirates. Without the Prefect’s command, we cannot open it!”
“You bastards! You let the pirates escape through the gate, yet you will not let us out to pursue them. Are you in league with the pirates?!”
“Watch your mouth! Who is in league with the pirates?! Our Prefect ordered the gate closed. If you have complaints, go to our Prefect!”
…
By the time Zhu Pingan arrived with the main army at the gate, the defenders still refused to open it. They repeated over and over that the Prefect had ordered the gate closed, and without his command to open it, they could not do so!
Damn it all! At this moment, Zhu Pingan felt like flaying the Songjiang Prefect alive! This was no longer a pig teammate. This was an accomplice of the pirates! And prevent the pirates from turning back to attack the city? If the pirates really did turn back, could they hold the city?!
“This official is Zhu Pingan, Zhejiang Governor. Open the city gate at once!” Zhu Pingan stepped forward and ordered the defenders to open it.
“You say you are Governor Zhu of Zhejiang. What proof do you have?!” the defending officer came forward to question him, though lacking confidence.
“Here is this official’s token…” Zhu Pingan reached for his waist, but felt nothing. Only then did he remember that earlier at the city gate, he had given his waist token to the defenders to take to the Songjiang Prefect to convey his message.
“Where is your token?” The defending officer now spoke with full confidence.
Even if the man opposite really was the Zhejiang Governor, not only had their own Prefect ordered the gate closed, but since he carried no token, how could they verify whether he truly was the Zhejiang Governor? Without verifying his identity, why should they obey his order? This way, they avoided choosing between his command to open the gate and the Prefect’s to keep it closed.
“This official’s token has already been taken by your men to see your Prefect. Your Prefect knows this official’s identity. Open the gate now!”
Zhu Pingan said expressionlessly.
“We are sorry, but without the token, we cannot verify Your Excellency’s identity. Moreover, our Prefect has not informed us… We must seek instructions from the Prefect.” The defending officer stalled.
Zhu Pingan saw through his intentions and could not be bothered to argue further. He ordered expressionlessly, “This official now commands you to open the city gate. This official will bear all consequences! If you delay opening it, you will bear the consequences yourselves!”
“I am sorry, sir. I will send someone to seek instructions from the Prefect…” The defending officer continued to delay.
“Where are the tiger crouching cannons? Bring them up. I will count to ten. If the gate is not opened by then, this official will blast it open!”
Zhu Pingan waved his hand, ordering all the tiger crouching cannons brought forward, loaded with powder, aimed at the gate. He began the countdown.
“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…”
The defending officer began to panic. “My lord, please do not make things difficult for us. I will send someone at once to seek instructions from the Prefect.”
He whispered to a subordinate, ordering him to go to the prefectural yamen, inform Prefect Han of the situation, and seek his instructions.
“Five, four, three…”
Zhu Pingan ignored him completely and continued counting expressionlessly.
“My lord, please give us a little time. We have already sent someone to seek instructions from the Prefect,” the defending officer said hurriedly.
“Two!”
Zhu Pingan continued expressionlessly.
“My lord…” Cold sweat appeared on the defending officer’s forehead. His face showed inner conflict, fear, and indecision.
“One!”
As Zhu Pingan counted and raised his hand, it looked as though he was about to order firing. The gunners had already brought torches close to the fuses of the tiger crouching cannons, awaiting only Zhu Pingan’s command.
“Open the gate! Open the gate! Quickly open the city gate!” Seeing that Zhu Pingan meant business, the defending officer dared delay no longer and shouted the order to open the gate.
