Slowly, the retreating figures of the Japanese pirates gradually disappeared in the southern sky, and they could no longer be seen standing on the city wall.
"it's time."
Zhu Ping'an looked away from the sky where the Japanese pirates disappeared, turned to Liu Dadao and ordered, "beat the drums and gather the troops, get ready to go."
Drums sounded, mules and horses neighed, armor and stomachs rubbed, and soon more than 800 Zhejiang troops were ready to go.
This puts the defenders on the city wall to shame. If it were them, they would be considered extraordinary if they could gather even one-fifth of them.
The magistrate Shang and other officials couldn't help but admire Zhu Pingan's ability in training and commanding the troops. This Zhejiang army had only been formed for less than half a year, but it was already trained by Zhu Pingan to execute orders and prohibitions. It was really amazing.
"Open the city gate! The whole army marches out!" Zhu Ping'an held the horse's rein in one hand, raised the other, and ordered loudly.
With a creaking creak, the city gate slowly opened, and more than 800 Zhejiang troops riding mules and horses lined up in neat formation and drove out of the city in an orderly manner.
"Zihou, officers and men, please be careful on your journey. I will prepare a celebration banquet for you in the city." Magistrate Shang led a group of officials to see them off outside the city gate.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Shang. With Mr. Shang's kind words, I hope this trip can give the Japanese pirates a gift they will never forget." Zhu Ping'an rode on horseback and thanked Magistrate Shang, saying with a smile.
"No matter what the outcome of this trip is, Zihou, you all deserve to be the hosts of the most luxurious celebration banquet."
Magistrate Shang said with emotion that this was his true words. Zhu Pingan and the Zhejiang Army under his command were the saviors of Suzhou City.
Without Zhu Pingan and the Zhejiang Army, Suzhou City would have fallen. Thanks to Zhu Pingan, he turned the tide and saved Suzhou City. He also captured tens of thousands of Japanese pirates and made the greatest contribution since the Japanese invasion in the south of the Yangtze River.
Therefore, Zhu Ping'an and the others deserve the most luxurious celebration banquet, no matter how luxurious it is.
"Thank you, Sir Shang. Sir, please stay. We will set off now." Zhu Pingan said goodbye with his hands.
"Zihou/Master Zhu, have a nice trip."
Magistrate Shang led a group of officials to send Zhu Ping'an off.
"Set off!"
Zhu Ping'an pulled the reins and took the lead in riding away. Liu Dadao and others were guarding him, and more than 800 Zhejiang troops followed closely behind.
Seeing Zhu Ping'an leading the Zhejiang army away, an official who was seeing him off couldn't help but touched his forehead and said to Magistrate Shang in confusion, "Sir, the Japanese pirates are retreating to the south. Master Zhu and the others are chasing the Japanese pirates, so how can they go northeast?"
?Is it the wrong direction?"
"Yes, sir, is the direction wrong?" Hearing this, all the officials also had the same confusion.
Hearing the confusion of his officials, in fact, Magistrate Shang had similar confusion. He didn't know why Zhu Ping'an went to the northeast, but in order to maintain his dignity as a superior officer, even if he didn't know, Magistrate Shang looked like I know but I'm too lazy to tell you.
, Dan Dan said, "Zi Hou went to the northeast. Of course he has his reasons. If you can easily guess it, then you are all Zi Hou. Return to the city, close the city gate tightly, and step up patrols to prevent the Japanese pirates from leaving.
Return. In addition, recruit the master chefs from all the major restaurants in the city to prepare the best ingredients and enough wine and meat to prepare a celebration banquet for Zihou and the Zhejiang Army."
"Follow your orders." All the officials accepted the orders one after another.
When Zhu Pingan led the Zhejiang army to the northeast, Liu Dadao was as confused as Lord Shang and others. While riding his horse to protect Zhu Pingan, he asked doubtfully, "Sir, the Japanese pirates are retreating south and taking a boat to the southeast.
If we go northeast, we won't be able to catch up with the Japanese pirates."
Liu Mu also had the same confusion.
"Haha, why do we have to catch up with the Japanese pirates? We have to go ahead of the Japanese pirates." Zhu Pingan said with a smile.
"Get ahead of the Japanese pirates? Us?" Liu Dadao looked incredulous.
"That's right, when the Japanese pirates came, they came by boat, and when they left, they would definitely leave by boat, and they would definitely go on the same river they came from. Going out to sea through the Taicang outlet, this is the only river that can get away from the Japanese pirates' ships.
The general direction of this river is southeast, but it takes a sharp northward turn in Kunshan, and the direction turns north for several miles, and then turns southeast again, heading towards the Taicang outlet."
"The destination of our trip is Kunshan! The shortest straight line between the two points is the shortest. We will ride our horses to the northeast directly to Kunshan. It is about 60 miles away. It will save nearly 20 miles compared to the Japanese pirates' waterway."
Zhu Pingan explained with a smile.
"The Japanese pirates have been gone for so long, can we get ahead of them?" Liu Dadao asked again.
"Of course you can get ahead of the Japanese pirates." Zhu Pingan replied confidently.
"Sir, although I don't have much education, I still know how hundreds of rivers flow into the sea. The rivers all flow towards the sea. The Japanese pirates are following the current, so their speed is not slow. Can we get ahead of the Japanese pirates?"
Although Liu Dadao firmly believed in Zhu Pingan's words, he was still a little worried. After all, the Japanese pirates had been gone for so long and it was still smooth sailing.
"Haha, don't worry. First of all, it is the twelfth lunar month of winter, there is little precipitation, the water volume of the river is greatly reduced, the water speed is slow, and the east wind is blowing today. For the Japanese pirates who retreated to Tuolin's lair, it is a headwind, and the Japanese boats
The speed of the ship will be greatly affected. We ride mules and horses much faster than them. Secondly, haha, the Japanese pirates will definitely set up ambushes along the way in order to ambush the pursuers. In order to achieve their goal, their speed will be deliberately slowed down.
Speed to wait for the pursuers. In summary, both heaven and the Japanese pirates themselves will greatly reduce the speed of the Japanese pirates' retreat. We rush to Kunshan at full speed and we will definitely be able to get ahead of them."
Zhu Ping'an smiled slightly and explained to them simply while galloping at full speed.
Zhu Ping'an was sure that the Japanese pirates would definitely set up an ambush along the way. This was their traditional skill and would not be lost.
Zhu Ping'an chose to go northeast to Kunshan instead of staying behind the Japanese pirates. In addition to the shortest straight line between the two points, he also wanted to avoid the ambush set by the Japanese pirates.
There are too many places suitable for ambush along the way, including hills, dry reed swamps, grasslands, dense forests, even villages, etc. There are so many that Zhu Pingan cannot guess where the Japanese pirates will set up an ambush.
However, the only thing that can be determined is that the Japanese pirates must have set up an ambush on their way.
If you want to avoid an ambush, it's easy, just find another way.
You go your way, and I'll go mine.
If you are willing to set up an ambush, then go ahead and set up an ambush. It will be exhausted again and again, so that you can wait until the flowers have withered and you will not be able to wait for me. I will give you a big gift in front of the road you must pass.
As long as you take a boat back to Tuolin's lair, you must accept my gift. It won't work if you don't accept it.