Chapter 127 Hattori Army

The ship left Anqing and sailed downstream, heading straight for Nanjing.

Not far down the river, a series of urgent shouts suddenly came from behind.

Everyone turned around and saw a small boat speeding towards them from behind, with two men standing at the bow – the Yangtze River Double Flying Fish.

"Young Master Lin! Young Hero Lin, wait a minute!"

Shi Potian suddenly remembered that he had saved the two of them under the walls of Anqing, but he had forgotten about them after killing the Japanese pirates.

He hurriedly called out, "Boatman, slow down, wait for them to come aboard."

The large ship slowed down, and the small boat belonging to Double Flying Fish quickly approached. The two men leaped onto the large ship, covered in sweat and panting heavily.

The two men were still wrapped in strips of cloth, from which blood was seeping, clearly injuries sustained in the fight against the Japanese pirates. They had been astonished by Shi Potian's godlike martial arts skills at the foot of the city, and later, officials had come out of the city to kneel before Long Kui, so they dared not approach to greet him.

Later, after he left, he remembered that he had something to ask Shi Potian.

One of them clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Young Master Lin, we've finally caught up with you!"

Another person said, "Young Master Escort, do you still recognize our Yangtze River Double Flying Fish?"

Shi Potian laughed: "Of course I know you. You guys tried to steal the sword manual before. You didn't catch up with me this time because you still want the sword manual, did you?"

Two fish in the Yangtze River shake their heads like rattles.

"Young Master Escort, don't joke around, we're scared."

"Young Master Escort is a peerless martial artist, known as the Invincible in the South. How could we dare to even entertain such a thought? Even Master Long is gone."

Lin Zhennan said, "The infamous Yangtze River Twin Flying Fish are two hall masters of the Jiujiang Gang, Hall Master Qi and Hall Master Yi. Why aren't you enjoying your lives as outlaws? What are you doing here in Anqing fighting Japanese pirates and becoming anti-Japanese heroes?"

When Changjiang Shuangfeiyu saw that Lin Zhennan recognized him, he couldn't help but feel secretly pleased.

Master Qi sighed and said, "We brothers work on the Yangtze River. A few days ago, we heard from passing merchant ships that a large group of Japanese pirates are sailing up the river and intend to attack Nanjing. Although we brothers are not very capable, we cannot just stand by and watch the Japanese pirates come to us and swagger around."

Master Yi continued, "As soon as Master Long heard that the Japanese pirates were coming to Nanjing, he led the brothers from the Nanchang branch there. My brother and I thought that having more men by Master Long's side would be a good help, so we followed along. Unexpectedly, when we arrived in Anqing, we encountered this group of Japanese pirates burning, killing, and looting outside the city. We brothers couldn't stand it, so we rushed up and fought with the Japanese pirates."

Qu Feiyan asked curiously, "Master Long Xiang? Which Master Long Xiang?"

Master Qi said, "It's Master Long, the leader of the Nanchang branch of the Sun Moon Sect! Master Long is known for his unparalleled benevolence and righteousness. Who in the underworld doesn't know him? As soon as he heard that the Japanese pirates were coming, he didn't hesitate and immediately called his brothers to go."

Qu Feiyan glanced at Long Kui.

Longkui remained calm, only her lips curled slightly upward, seemingly showing considerable admiration for this "Master Long".

Lin Zhennan asked, "Two hall masters, is it true that the Japanese pirates are going to attack Nanjing?"

Master Qi's expression was grave: "It's absolutely true! Our Jiujiang Gang is well-informed. Merchant ships downstream can no longer get through; they've all been plundered by Japanese pirates. It's said the pirates have dozens of ships and at least a thousand men!"

"Thousands of people?" Qu Feiyan gasped.

Sarutobi Higetsu frowned and said, "Where would Hattori Sengun have so many people? He only has a few hundred followers in Japan. Even if he has recently subdued a lot of pirates, can he really mobilize them all?"

After saying that, he looked at Hattori Shichiro, who had been left at the stern of the ship, walked over, squatted down in front of him, and asked, "How many of you are there? Tell the truth."

Hattori Shichiro's eyes darted around, and he said in broken Chinese, "My brother has tens of thousands of soldiers under his command. If you release me, I can plead for you..."

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Sarutobi Higetsu slapped him across the face: "Bullshit! Do you think I don't know how many men Hattori Sengun has under his command? If you don't tell the truth, I'll throw you into the river to feed the fish!"

Hattori Shichiro, despite bleeding from the corner of his mouth, refused to admit anything: "Not... tens of thousands! There were at least five thousand! My brother is highly skilled in martial arts, and has many experts under his command. No matter how powerful you are, going there will only be suicide!"

Qu Feiyan then asked, "When will you arrive in Nanjing?"

Hattori Shichiro said, "My elder brother's army arrived in Nanjing two days ago. I was the vanguard and went upstream to see if any Tang soldiers would come down to support us. But the soldiers fled at the sight of us, let alone come to our aid. We might as well go all the way and try to seize Anqing City."

Long Kui said, "You dare to leave Nanjing and explore upstream? With your elder brother's small force, do you think the Nanjing garrison will leave the city to attack you?"

Hattori Shichiro couldn't help but sneer, "Attack out of the city? The gates of Nanjing are tightly shut, not a single soldier has appeared. By now, our elder brother might have already stormed into the city and broken down the gates."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.

Qu Feiyan slapped Hattori Shichiro across the face.

"What are you so smug about? With my little brother around, it's best if he's already run away. If he's still in Nanjing, he's doomed."

Shi Potian stood up, walked to the bow of the boat, looked at the Yangtze River rolling eastward ahead, remained silent for a moment, then turned to the boatman and said, "Boatman, go faster."

Longkui asked Sarutobi Higetsu, "Brother Sarutobi, how skilled is Hattori Sengun in martial arts?"

Sarutobi Higetsu said, "He's about on par with me, but as for whether he's a skilled warrior, I don't know."

Longkui nodded: "Nanjing has high walls and thick defenses, with tens of thousands of troops defending it. It won't be easy to break through. But if the officials guarding the city are like that prefect of Anqing, then the people below the city will suffer."

Shi Potian remained silent. He thought of the civilians being hunted by Japanese pirates beneath Anqing's walls, the cowardly soldiers huddled on the city walls, and the mother kowtowing to her child. If the officials of Nanjing were like the prefect of Anqing, then what about the people outside the city…?

He dared not think any further.

The Yangtze River Twin Flying Fish gazed ahead, their eyes filled with anxiety, and murmured, "Master Dragon, please don't act rashly..."

Qu Feiyan leaned closer and asked, "Hall Master Qi, who is this Master Long? Why are you all so worried about him?"

Master Qi said, "Master Long is a great hero on the Yangtze River, who specializes in robbing the rich to help the poor and acting on behalf of Heaven. If it weren't for Master Long holding things up on the river all these years, I don't know how many people would have been oppressed by those corrupt officials and river bandits. It was Master Long who saved our lives."

Master Yi added, "Master Long is highly skilled in martial arts and a righteous man. Who on the Yangtze River wouldn't give him a thumbs up? When the Japanese pirates attacked, Master Long was the first to lead men to Nanjing. We brothers admire his courage!"

Qu Feiyan blinked. "Isn't this Dragon Incense Master from the Sun Moon Sect? How come he's become a great hero of a righteous sect in your mouths?"

Master Qi scoffed, "Do any of the reputable sects have gone to fight the Japanese pirates?"

The boat moved swiftly downstream. The green mountains on both banks were like dark eyebrows, and the river wind blew, making everyone's clothes flutter.

Shi Potian stood at the bow of the ship, gazing ahead with a determined look in his eyes.

No matter how many Japanese pirates were outside Nanjing, no matter how powerful Hattori's army was, he was determined to drive them away.

It wasn't for any Dragon Incense Master, nor for those officials.

It is for those innocent good people like those in Anqing, for those mothers who kowtow while holding their children, and for those elderly people who kneel on the ground calling out "benefactor".

It's because the Japanese pirates were evil people.

The ship moved swiftly like an arrow; Nanjing was getting closer and closer.

Author Zuo Dao Renjian personally recommends: I hope you enjoy the story of "Dog Brother Transmigrates into Lin Pingzhi: The Tai Xuan Scripture Suppresses All Nations" on Cola Novels.