Chapter 137 I'll Make You a Great General

Before dawn, Nanjing was already bustling with activity.

Liu Chao got up at the crack of dawn and personally donned his armor to go into battle—he certainly wouldn't actually go to the battlefield, but he had to make a good impression. Wearing a brand-new suit of armor, which accentuated his chubby, white face, he looked every bit like a theatrical performer. But no one dared to laugh.

Five thousand elite soldiers arrayed themselves below the city walls, their swords and spears forming a forest, their banners fluttering in the wind. These soldiers, who yesterday huddled trembling on the city walls, were now all spirited and ready to fight a battle they were certain to win. They certainly knew that the Japanese pirates outside the city had collapsed, and this battle was their chance to reap the rewards.

Shi Potian and the others stood atop the city wall, overlooking the military formation below. Qu Feiyan yawned, "So early, I'm so sleepy..."

Longkui said calmly, "You should watch the show early; the best is yet to come."

Liu Chaoyong, mounted on his horse, looked up at Long Kui on the city wall. Seeing Long Kui nod slightly, he immediately waved his hand and shouted, "Leave the city!"

The city gates swung open, and the drawbridge was slowly lowered. Five thousand elite soldiers filed out, charging menacingly towards the Japanese pirate camp.

Shi Potian stood atop the city wall, gazing at the distant Japanese pirate camp. The camp was quiet; the torches had long since gone out, with only a few wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys.

Qu Feiyan joked, "Hattori Senjun wouldn't be lying to us, would he? Did he actually set up an ambush to lure the enemy out of the city, and then launch a surprise attack to seize it?"

Longkui smiled slightly: "Then your little brother will be taking the head of a general amidst a vast army."

Finally, there was movement in the distant Japanese pirate camp. Several sentries seemed to have just noticed the Ming army's movements, shouting in panic. The camp was immediately thrown into chaos. The Japanese pirates rushed out of their tents, some hurriedly putting on their clothes, some frantically searching for their weapons, and others running straight towards the riverbank.

Liu Chaoyong, mounted on his horse, watched this scene from afar, feeling greatly reassured. He waved his hand, and the drums thundered, the Ming army shouted in unison, and accelerated their charge.

The Japanese pirates offered no effective resistance, abandoning their weapons, flags, and looted valuables as they desperately fled towards the boats on the riverbank. Hattori Sengun rushed out of his tent, shouting for his men to hold their ground, but no one listened. Left with no choice, he led a few dozen trusted men and followed the crowd back to the riverbank.

"Retreat! Retreat to the ships!" Hattori Sengun roared.

When the Ming army stormed into the camp, it was already empty. The Japanese pirates had run faster than rabbits, not even having time to pack up their tents, and the food in the pots was still steaming. Liu Chaoyong was overjoyed and repeatedly ordered, "Pursue! Pursue them! Don't let them escape!"

However, the Japanese pirates left behind valuables along the way, and the government soldiers were only concerned with scrambling for the loot on the ground. By the time they caught up with the pirates and reached the riverbank, the pirate fleet had already sailed away from the shore.

Hattori Sengun stood at the bow of the ship, his eyes filled with resentment and anger, and shouted sternly at the soldiers on the shore: "You untrustworthy Tang people, we will return!"

Liu Chaoyong watched with admiration, secretly impressed—this performance was even more realistic than the opera troupe under his command.

"Fire arrows! Fire arrows!" Liu Chao shouted.

Arrows rained down on the Japanese pirate fleet. The pirates raised their shields to parry, but many were still struck. Hattori Sengun deflected several arrows with his sword, shouting angrily, "Liu Chaoyong, you wait! I, Hattori Sengun, swear to avenge this!"

Liu Chaoyong laughed loudly: "If you dare to come back, our family will wipe out your entire army!"

The Japanese pirate fleet gradually sailed away, eventually disappearing into the morning mist. Only then did Liu Chaoyong stop smiling, turn to look at the spoils scattered on the ground, and grin from ear to ear.

"Quickly! Quickly take inventory! Move everything back to the city!" he shouted.

This battle was very fruitful.

Inside the Japanese pirates' camp, tents, food, weapons, and armor were piled up like small mountains. Of course, the most valuable items were the heads of the Japanese pirates—hundreds of genuine Japanese heads, which was an extraordinary achievement.

The captured artisans, disheveled and filthy, crawled out of their tents. Upon seeing the Japanese pirates flee and the government troops arrive, they immediately knelt on the ground and wailed.

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Liu Chaoyong personally stepped forward to comfort the craftsmen: "Don't cry, with our family here, we can wipe out those mere Japanese pirates with a snap of our fingers."

The craftsmen kowtowed repeatedly, chanting "Your Honor, the Upright Official!" Liu Chaoyong's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter, and the fat on his face jiggled.

On the city wall, Qu Feiyan watched this scene and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "This damned eunuch really thinks he's won a battle; his acting is quite convincing."

Longkui said calmly, "He is the eunuch in charge of the Nanjing garrison, and he is most skilled at acting. Otherwise, there are so many generals in Nanjing, how could he possibly get a chance to perform?"

Shi Potian suddenly realized.

Sarutobi Higetsu thought to himself, "Even a useless person has their uses."

Lin Zhennan sighed, "No matter what, the people of Nanjing can finally sleep peacefully."

Madam Wang frowned slightly: "It's a pity that those Japanese pirates still managed to escape. If you ask me, it would have been better to kill them all."

Last night, during the discussion, Madam Wang expressed her reservations about Hattori Senjun acknowledging Shi Potian as his master. The Fuwei Escort Agency is a private security agency; how could they be involved with armed bandits like the Japanese pirates? Does this mean Ping'er will also become a pirate in the future?

If she knew that Sarutobi Hiyori had long planned to make Shi Potian the "Cao Cao of Fusang," she would find everything perfectly logical.

Liu Chaoyong directed his soldiers to carry the spoils back into the city, and then ordered the Japanese pirate camp to be burned down. The fire soared into the sky, billowing thick smoke visible for miles around. The people of Nanjing flooded the streets, cheering and spreading the news.

"The Japanese pirates have been driven away! The Japanese pirates have been driven away!"

"Eunuch Liu is mighty! The Ming Dynasty is mighty!"

Liu Chaoyong rode on his horse, basking in the cheers of the people, his face beaming like a blooming flower. Yet, his gaze kept drifting unconsciously towards the city walls.

The young man on the city wall is the true leader of the group.

Hattori Shichiro was bound hand and foot and led into the city, his mouth stuffed with rags, only able to make muffled noises. Liu Chaoyong casually questioned him a few times, then waved his hand dismissively: "Take him away and await the court's judgment!"

As Hattori Shichiro was being dragged away, he glanced back at the city gate and happened to see Shi Potian standing there. He trembled all over and dared not look back again.

He couldn't understand why Shi Potian had singled him out but let his elder brother Hattori Senjun go.

On the city wall, Qu Feiyan leaned over the crenellations, gazing at the bustling scene below, and suddenly asked, "Little brother, do you think the commander's army will really help us?"

Shi Potian said earnestly, "I'm willing to believe him."

Qu Feiyan shook her head: "It's more reliable to strike his weak point and feed him some poison to control him. People's hearts are fickle, and they might change their minds."

Shi Potian smiled but did not answer.

Longkui stood beside him, watching the smoke gradually dissipate in the distance, and said softly, "Your little brother just hopes that fewer people will die in the future. Even if he might be deceived, he's willing to try."

"However, your brother has a knack for judging people. I also believe that Hattori Sengun will keep his promise. I can see that he is truly loyal to his lord, the young镖头."

Qu Feiyan took Shi Potian's arm and said with a smile, "That's true. If it weren't for your belief in me, I might already be dead at the hands of the Songshan Sect."

A morning breeze swept across the city walls, carrying the scent of cooking fires and the crisp coolness of the river. In the distance, on the Yangtze River, the Japanese pirate fleet had long since vanished, while cheers from Nanjing still echoed through the streets and alleys.

However, no one noticed that the Yangtze River Twin Flying Fish had long since disappeared and was no longer by Shi Potian's side.

With the Japanese pirates gone and Nanjing no longer under attack, the group prepared to descend the city wall and continue their journey. Long Kui looked at Shi Potian and smiled as she spoke:

"Young Master Escort has performed such a great service, should we have Eunuch Liu report it to the imperial court and have you appointed as a Grand General?"