"Well, what if the Japanese pirates come out and attack us while we are beating drums and shouting? Although the county magistrate said that the Japanese pirates dare not fight us, we should be prepared for the worst. I heard that a garrison fought with the Japanese pirates in the field, and they were all killed by them. They couldn't do it, so how can we?"
Among the young and strong people who were lined up outside Taiping County, beating drums and shouting for war, one man said worriedly to his companion beside him.
"What are you afraid of? The magistrate is standing in front of us." The young man next to him said nonchalantly.
“But, it’s better to be afraid of ten thousand than ten thousand…” The man was still worried. Before he finished speaking, he heard a creaking sound, and then he saw the gate of Taiping County opened. Fierce Japanese pirates poured out of the gate one after another. Then the man became speechless, his eyes widened, as if he had seen a ghost.
"Fuck! Ergou, you have a bad mouth!" The young man next to him couldn't help but widen his eyes and cursed his companion.
"I, I... I didn't expect that the Japanese pirates would really come out." The man said angrily, and then asked tremblingly, "Why did the Japanese pirates come out? Didn't the magistrate say that the Japanese pirates dare not fight us?!"
"A man's death is as bad as his eggs falling to the sky! What are you afraid of! The magistrate saved Jingnan, saved your family and ours. We will repay the magistrate even if we risk our lives." The young man next to him spat heavily, gritted his teeth and looked at the Japanese pirates who were coming out one after another, and said fiercely.
"Words, words... Although that's what I said, but, wouldn't it be better if I could survive?"
Worried about what the young and strong man said, they were trembling.
"What are you afraid of! Just like the magistrate said, just do it!" The young man next to him punched him.
"Fuck!" The worried young man gritted his teeth, shouted fiercely, and his attitude became firm.
In fact, when the gates of Taiping County were opened and the Japanese pirates filed out, Zhu Ping'an's heart couldn't help but skip a beat. He thought that the Japanese pirates would not care about reuniting with Lord Jiang and were determined to fight him. However, when he saw that there were only about three hundred Japanese pirates, Zhu Ping'an's heart calmed down again.
Zhu Ping'an knew very well that the Japanese pirates were testing him to see how strong he was. If he was vulnerable, the Japanese pirates would definitely not let go of this opportunity and the Japanese pirate army behind them would surely swallow him up. If they found out that he was not a soft persimmon, the Japanese pirates would definitely not fight him to the death here. He could not afford to waste time. He had to conserve his strength and rush to Taizhou City in time to meet up with Lord Jiangmen and attack Taizhou together.
Everything is under control.
"Everyone, pay attention. Follow the drill on the road and form a semicircular chariot formation. Use the chariots as your camp. If the Japanese pirates come to attack, shoot them with bows and arrows if they are far away, and stop them with spears if they are close. No matter how the Japanese pirates provoke you, do not go out to fight."
Facing the Japanese pirates who came out in a line, Zhu Ping'an didn't even blink. He stood calmly in front of everyone, raised his arm, and directed everyone to form a battle formation. He was like a giant pillar supporting the sky, as steady as a mountain and unmoved by any wind or cloud.
When everyone saw how calm the magistrate was, they immediately felt reassured, and the tense atmosphere calmed down a lot. Following Zhu Ping'an's command, the young and strong men untied the horses, cows, and donkeys from the carriages, looked after them together, pushed the carriages across the front row, and began to form a semicircular defensive formation.
At this moment, the effect of Zhu Ping'an's repeated drills on the way here came into play. Although the situation was serious and critical, everyone had set up a semicircular defensive chariot formation many times on the road and were quite familiar with it. Under Zhu Ping'an's command, everyone followed the steps and quickly arranged the vehicles into a semicircular defensive chariot formation, and placed the antlers on the carriage at the outside of the formation to further strengthen the defense of the formation.
The gate of Taiping County was more than a mile away from where Zhu Ping'an's troops were stationed. Before Hojo Jiro and other Japanese pirates could get to them, everyone had already arranged a semicircular defensive chariot formation and was ready for battle.
When everyone was arranging the chariot array, Zhu Ping'an walked up to Liu Dafu, patted him on the shoulder and said to him, "Dafu, go to the woods behind and tell the brothers in the woods that when the Japanese pirates come to the front of the array, shake the trees and drag the branches vigorously, making the louder the better; if the Japanese pirates still don't retreat, open the bag and release all the birds in the two sacks that you caught."
"Don't worry, sir." Liu Dayu nodded in response, clasped his fists, turned around and ran quickly towards the woods.
As soon as Liu Dafu turned around and ran away, Hojo Jiro and other Japanese pirates had already rushed to within 300 meters of the formation.
The Japanese pirates came over with ferocious faces, and found from a distance that the chariot formation blocking their way was even more ferocious. There were ferocious deer antlers placed outside the carriages. The entire semicircular defensive chariot formation was like a hedgehog with its spines spread out on its back, and it was impossible to attack it.
"Divide the archers into three teams and take turns shooting arrows! First team, shoot!"
When the Japanese pirates were still more than a hundred steps away and within the range of their bows and arrows, Zhu Ping'an loudly gave orders to everyone.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…
For a moment, arrows rained down like rain, flying towards the Japanese pirates who were coming to attack them.
However, after a period of fierce operation, the result was idiotic. It was still the same problem. The bows and arrows of the young and strong men were soft and weak, their speed was not fast, and their accuracy was not great. Hojo Jiro and other Japanese pirates were all experienced in battle and had long been on guard against the bows and arrows of the young and strong men. While rushing to kill, they dispersed to both sides in time and avoided this round of arrows. Except for four or five Japanese pirates who were unlucky enough to be hit by arrows, the other Japanese pirates were unharmed. Even while dodging, Hojo Jiro and dozens of fierce Japanese pirates performed their specialty of catching arrows with their bare hands.
"Hahaha, a bunch of women..."
"Ming dogs, are you not full? Come on, I just pooped this morning, come and eat..."
Hojo Jiro and other Japanese pirates laughed arrogantly, waved the feather arrows they received, and mocked everyone in various ways.
"Kill them, let these Ming dogs see what a man is!"
A bunch of incompetent people, none of them can fight. Hojo Jiro looked down upon the fighting ability of the young and strong men at this moment. He waved his Japanese sword and shouted loudly to the Japanese pirates, taking the lead in charging at the young and strong men.
"The second team releases its arrows."
Facing the pirates' taunts, Zhu Ping'an curled his lips in disdain, and once again commanded everyone to shoot arrows when the pirates launched a charge. Although the rain of arrows was not lethal enough, the pirates were blocked a hundred steps away, and the goal had been achieved.
The second round of arrow rain was even less lethal than the first. This time, only two Japanese pirates were unlucky enough to be hit by arrows, while the rest were unharmed. Hojo Jiro and other young and strong men mocked and insulted them even more fiercely.
"Da Dao, after the third round of arrows, when the pirates are relaxed and taunting, you command the crossbows to fire!"
While the Japanese pirates were mocking him, Zhu Ping'an whispered to Liu Dadao.
Liu Dadao took the order and conveyed Zhu Ping'an's instructions to Liu Daqiang and other archery experts without leaving any trace.