Chapter 954 - 793: Departure

Chen Ji scrutinized Huang Que before him, his expression resolute and his gaze hawk-like.

The scholar examinee dressed in Daoist robe and speaking elegantly at the Qi Family Literary Gathering was gone, replaced by a ruthless Jianghu magnate, the greatest salt smuggler in Southern Zhili.

"Brother Huang, long time no see."

As Chen Ji scrutinized Huang Que, Huang Que also scrutinized Chen Ji. He didn’t rush to speak but turned his head vigilantly towards Yuan Xing and the others.

Chen Ji laughed and said, "No worries, we’re all on the same side."

Yuan Xing elbowed Jiang Chai beside him: "Did you hear? We’re all on the same side."

Jiang Chai rolled his eyes.

Huang Que smiled broadly: "When I heard about the landlord’s death, I didn’t shed a tear but locked myself in a room, drinking until I was thoroughly drunk. Upon the news that the landlord was still alive, I hurried from Jinling overnight, but in haste, I didn’t bring any good wine."

Chen Ji nodded: "Please keep it confidential, Brother Huang."

Huang Que agreed: "Don’t worry, Landlord. I’ve brought over nineteen hundred people this time, including four hundred ruffians from the Red Gate—they’re the most reliable. In this Jiangnan territory, with numerous strongholds, if it weren’t for these men holding the fort, I alone couldn’t handle those Green Forest Heroes. On my way here, I heard there are four to five thousand pirates and worried we wouldn’t have enough manpower, but to my surprise, the landlord has invited the Cao Guild for help."

Chen Ji asked in return: "Cao Guild?"

Huang Que was suspicious: "Landlord doesn’t know? Is the landlord not..."

He suddenly changed his tone: "I just saw Lü Qi and Tian Kuang from the Four Beams and Eight Pillars have arrived, and now matters concerning the Cao Guild are managed by these two. If they’ve come, the Gang Leader should also be here..."

Chen Ji remained silent, looking south of the city, lost in thought.

Huang Que lightly coughed: "Landlord is in Jiangnan this time, also to fight for Lord Zhang’s position as Grand Secretary?"

"Not only that," Chen Ji shook his head: "Now isn’t the time for reminiscing. We must first deal with the pirates properly—an extra incense time could save lives."

Huang Que said seriously: "Indeed."

Chen Ji shouted, "Ah Xing."

Yuan Xing’s eyes sparkled: "Here."

Chen Ji pointed to the Great Wokou Leader on the ground: "Go, take his head."

"Got it!" Yuan Xing walked over to the Great Wokou Leader, raised his knife, and with a swift motion, carried his head towards the battlefield.

He leapt onto the rooftop, climbed to the highest point, and raised the head above his own, shouting hoarsely: "Enemy leader executed!"

...

...

Yuan Xing’s voice echoed far, drawing everyone’s attention to him. Once the pirates saw the head in his hand, they suddenly grew distressed, losing their will to fight.

Among the pirates, someone cried out, immediately retreating northward in the city.

The Salt Gang and Cao Guild men were invigorated, fiercely pursuing the pirates to the north side of Jingjiang County.

The pirates originally intended to open the North City Gate to escape, but upon arriving beneath the gate, they discovered the Anti-Japanese Army had long sealed the North Gate completely with bricks and sand, making it impossible to open and exit within half a day.

There are two ways to seal a city. If merely defending, one uses wooden beams to brace the door, reinforced with sandbags. But sealing the road means preventing someone from escaping from inside, not just defending against an attack.

Over two thousand pirates found themselves trapped in front of the city gate. Seeing no escape, they immediately raised their swords, turning to face the pursuing Salt Gang and Cao Guild members.

Amidst the pirates, orders rang out again. At once, some pirates, under cover, began to reload gunpowder into matchlock guns. Over a hundred pirates lined up in three rows, attempting to mimic the Anti-Japanese Army’s three-row style shooting, but in their haste, couldn’t manage it.

The Salt Gang and Cao Guild members hesitated upon seeing the pirates pull out matchlock guns but, noting their bumbling manner, charged forward again to surround them.

Moments later, someone among the pirates suddenly shouted, and the pirates collectively dropped their Japanese swords, raising their hands high, speaking something in Japanese.

The Salt Gang and Cao Guild were puzzled: "What’s going on?"

From the crowd beneath the North City Wall, a pirate squeezed out.

He stripped off his upper garments, knelt on the ground, offering his Japanese sword, and said awkwardly in Han language: "We surrender! We have vainly resisted the heavenly might, weary and exhausted, aware of our great sins, wish to lead our troops to surrender, abandon Matsubara Clan’s era title, crest, and become slaves, only begging for the survival of my soldiers!"

The Salt Gang man in the front row puzzled: "Why does this fool have a routine?"

"Should we still kill them?"

"What are you talking about, is there ever a rule to kill those who surrender?"

"Better wait for the landlord to decide."

At this moment, the crowd parted like waves, and the pirates looked up to see Chen Ji wearing a mask as he passed through the people, with Huang Que, Yuan Xing, and others following behind him.

The Salt Gang saw Huang Que behind Chen Ji, and for a moment, they exchanged puzzled glances and whispered among themselves.

Word had spread that there was a noble supporting Huang Que, providing both money and manpower, but they never knew who it was. A person capable of putting up hundreds of thousands of silver taels and commanding over six hundred men must surely have an extraordinary background.

They had tried asking the Red Gate Stick about it, but the Red Gate society was very tight-knit, and they wouldn’t even drink together with outsiders, offering no chance for questioning.

Now it seems that it must be this person in front of them. Otherwise, with Huang Que’s temperament, how could he willingly fall into line behind another?

Chen Ji walked up to the pirates in front of everyone, looking at the Japanese swords held high, silently contemplating something.

Huang Que stepped forward: "Landlord, let me handle the pirates, I will deal with them appropriately."

Chen Ji turned to him: "How will you handle this?"

Huang Que bowed his head: "Landlord, please don’t ask, I’ll find a use for them."

Chen Ji nodded: "Alright, I’ll leave them to you. Now that Jingjiang County is secured, we must set out immediately."

Huang Que was a bit surprised: "Landlord is leaving? Does the Landlord have other matters to attend to?"

Chen Ji smiled: "Defeating the pirates was just incidental, now that the groundwork is laid, it’s time for the moment when the map reveals the hidden dagger, we must act before they realize."

Huang Que felt a bit lost, then chuckled: "Forget it, it’s not the first time Huang couldn’t understand what the Landlord planned. During my time in the Imperial Capital, I mindlessly served as the Landlord’s blade, and after that, I felt a bit annoyed. Now I’m serving again, but willingly this time."

Chen Ji patted his shoulder: "You’re a friend, not a blade... Here are two tasks for you."

Huang Que folded his hands: "Please instruct, Landlord."

Chen Ji instructed: "Immediately send someone with fast horses to Jinling, proclaiming the victory at Jingjiang along the way. Also, pickle the heads of the deceased pirates with lime and send them all to Jinling. I want all the citizens of Jiangnan to know that we fought pirates in Jingjiang and emerged victorious."

Huang Que nodded in agreement: "Rest assured, Landlord, I’ll handle it shortly."

Chen Ji murmured: "I’ll take four hundred Red Gate Sticks with me, along with matchlock guns and gunpowder cannons, leaving you to oversee affairs in Jingjiang. Open the official granary to settle the citizens, and make sure no miscreants exploit the chaos."

"Rest assured," Huang Que waved, calling the Salt Gang members to bring ropes, tying the pirates by the hands one by one, two lines of twenty each.

Once the Salt Gang members had secured the pirates, Lü Qi stepped out of the Cao Guild, who was involved in the jailbreak at Taiye Pond.

Lü Qi came up to Chen Ji, clasping his fists: "With this matter settled, we, the Cao Guild, must take our leave."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, clasping his fists in return: "Many thanks for your help."

Yuan Xing suddenly leaned forward and asked: "Was it you who led the Cao Guild, where is your Gang Leader? I’d like to see what they look like..."

Jiang Chai tried to signal, but Yuan Xing acted as if he hadn’t noticed.

Lü Qi laughed and explained: "We were merely passing by, aiding against pirate chaos, but the Gang Leader is not here."

Yuan Xing uttered, expressing slight disappointment: "Alright."

Lü Qi wasted no words, beckoning the members of the Cao Guild to leave swiftly, not intending to stay the night.

Chen Ji watched the Cao Guild leaving, and Yuan Xing sidled up to him, whispering: "Foster father, I’ve heard about you and that person..."

Before he could finish, Jiang Chai covered his mouth and led him away.

Leaving behind the elderly and weak of the Anti-Japanese Army, Chen Ji only took Zheng Jiye, Uncle Zheng, and several able-bodied men, leading the Red Gate Sticks out of Jingjiang County City under the stars, along with one hundred eighty-two matchlock guns and ten gunpowder cannons.

Upon exiting the city, he suddenly paused, noticing that most of the Cao Guild members had departed, only an empty three-masted ship remained on the river, its hull adorned with eight lanterns.

The ship had extinguished its lights, drifting alone on the river.

Chen Ji didn’t pause, continuing towards the dock, where the pirates’ Anzai Tower Ship slowly approached the shore. While people wondered who was steering the ship, Old Ears emerged from the ship’s railing, lowering a gangplank: "Everyone aboard, everyone aboard, now with the favorable wind, we can reach Haimen by dawn."

Chen Ji boarded first, followed by Jin Zhu, Heavenly Horse, Chen Yu, and Chen Xu. Jin Zhu watched Chen Ji’s silhouette, then glanced at the distant river ship, whispering doubtfully: "Can it really not be Chen Ji? Otherwise, guessing the Commandery Princess might be on that ship, how could he hold back from meeting?"

Heavenly Horse gestured in sign language: "Back when Zhang Ye led the charge against Wunian Mountain, stopping before Konghui Peak, and the people on the peak didn’t come to meet him, it must be the same reasoning."

Jin Zhu was speechless for a while, then sighed: "That couldn’t be the same thing..."

He suddenly sighed: "It’s different."

Once everyone had boarded, Old Ears went beside the mast and grabbed the ropes, with a casual shake, the sails filled with wind. The other ship on the river slowly sailed as well, one going west, and the other east.

Chen Ji stood at the ship’s bow, gazing into the distance where the great river ended, Old Ears walked over with his hands behind his back, laughing: "Blades are sharper than fists, firearms sharper than blades, sword seeds sharper than firearms, but there’s something in this world sharper than sword seeds called righteousness. You’ve worked hard in Jingjiang for so long, now you’ve defeated the pirates, righteousness is in your hands, what do you plan to do?"

Chen Ji watched as a hint of gray light appeared from the east: "First find someone to test its sharpness."