The night sky was pitch black, and one could not see one's hand in front of one's face. The group of Censor Qian and his companions were carrying torches and lanterns, lighting up the way. Of course, the eight-man sedan chair that Censor Qian was riding in was even brighter. The Eight Bridges were spacious enough, and four typhoon lamps from the Ru kiln were hung on the walls of the sedan chair, illuminating the sedan chair like daylight.
Old Censor Qian sat on a cushion, holding a book, reading with great interest. A beautiful concubine in her twenties, wearing a fox scarf, sat beside Old Censor Qian, occasionally putting a slice of peeled tangerine into his mouth.
"Master, the sky is getting increasingly cloudy, and I think it's going to snow soon. Fortunately, we'll be arriving at your house soon, otherwise I'd probably be trapped on the road by the snow tonight..." The beautiful concubine opened the window of the sedan chair, took a look outside, then closed the curtains, turned around and spoke in a coquettish voice to the old Censor Qian.
"Haha, Li Nu, this is the south, not your north. No matter how much snow falls, it won't trap anyone. Instead, it adds a bit of poetry." Old Censor Qian stretched out his hand and pinched the face of the concubine with eyebrows, and said with a smile, "Green ants and new wine, red clay stove. It's going to snow in the evening, can you drink a cup?"
"Master, you are so eloquent that I want to sit by the fire and have a drink with you." The beautiful concubine fell into the arms of the old censor Qian and said in a tender voice.
"Haha, you are such a greedy slave. When we get home, the master will do as you wish." Old Censor Qian said with great pleasure.
"Master, you know how much I can drink. I get drunk after just one glass. Master, please don't blame me."
The beautiful concubine said coquettishly.
"Haha, if you get drunk, I will carry you to bed and make sure you don't get cold." Old Censor Qian joked while holding his beautiful concubine.
"Last time the master got me drunk, and then, then... the master is so bad~~" The beautiful concubine buried her face in the arms of the old censor Qian, dragging out the last words with coquettish words.
"Hehe..." Old Censor Qian laughed loudly, put down the book in his hand, and placed his hands on the beautiful concubine.
"Dong Dong..." Just as the temperature in the sedan began to rise, there were two consecutive tapping sounds from outside, and then someone outside the sedan reported, "Sir, I have something to report."
"Ahem..." Old Censor Qian pushed the concubine aside, coughed, and sat up straight. At the same time, he did not forget to pick up the book that had been discarded aside. After seeing that the concubine had tidied her clothes and was ready, he reached out to open the curtains, saw the reporter and asked in a deep voice, "General Liu, what do you want to report?"
"My Lord, I just met a villager and got some news. Since it concerns your safety, I dare not delay and have to disturb your meditation. I learned from the villagers that this morning a group of Japanese pirates landed in Shangyu County, Shaoxing Prefecture, and attacked Funing Town, which is more than ten miles away."
Captain Liu reported.
Captain Liu was sent by Hu Zongxian to escort the old censor Qian to safety, and he brought with him a hundred fully armed soldiers.
What? The Japanese pirates landed in Shangyu and looted Funing Town?! Funing Town is only ten miles away from here, doesn't that mean the Japanese pirates are very close and may appear in front of me at any time?!
Old Imperial Censor Qian, who had been calm and composed, heard that Japanese pirates had landed and attacked Funing Town not far ahead. His face suddenly changed drastically, his face turned pale, cold sweat poured down his back, and his hand holding the scroll began to tremble uncontrollably. He hurriedly asked, "How many Japanese pirates landed in Shangyu, and where are they now?"
"Reporting to Lord Qian, there are about 150 Japanese pirates who landed in Shangyu." Captain Liu reported with a fist salute.
"There are only one hundred and fifty people..." Upon hearing this, Old Censor Qian breathed a sigh of relief. His heart was at ease, and his fear and panic disappeared. His pale face regained its color, the cold sweat on his back stopped, his hands holding the scroll stopped shaking, and his back straightened up.
About 150 Japanese pirates!!! Only about 150 Japanese pirates dared to go ashore and plunder!!!
In the past, when the Japanese pirates came ashore to rob, there were usually about 1,800 of them, and sometimes even tens of thousands. But this group of Japanese pirates had only about 150 of them. They were the poorest of the pirates, probably the worst of the bunch!
Haha, there are only 150 Japanese pirates, while we have 138 fully armed officers and 100 regular soldiers. Besides, before leaving office, I specially recruited 30 guards with good skills and equipped them with sophisticated armor, which is better than that of regular army. Not counting other guards and servants, we have a total of 268 combat-ready soldiers, which is more than 100 more than the Japanese pirates.
With such a force, there is no problem in protecting oneself. The Japanese pirates came ashore to plunder wealth, not to fight. They would not bite bones. When the Japanese pirates saw our large and powerful team from afar, they would definitely avoid us. Haha, of course, if the Japanese pirates were unlucky and ran into us, then I would have made a great contribution. Two hundred and sixty-eight people against one hundred and fifty Japanese pirates, the result can be imagined with eyes closed. They can definitely defeat the Japanese pirates easily, and maybe even capture dozens of their heads!
Haha, the old censor resigned and returned home. On the way, he encountered Japanese pirates. He remained calm in the face of danger, commanded the troops in a proper way, and wiped out the Japanese pirates, and also made great contributions in killing Japanese pirates...
Haha, this is a legendary story that will be passed down through the ages! It is also a great achievement! My name will also spread throughout Jiangnan and Ming Dynasty through the court reports, and maybe even reach the emperor's ears and be recorded in history.
Haha, originally, when I retired, I could only bless my eldest son. But with such a merit, it is enough to bless my younger son.
Thinking of this, the old censor Qian couldn't help but curl his lips, and even thought of the title of the next issue of the official newspaper: The old censor retired and returned to his hometown to encounter Japanese pirates, like Lian Po who was still strong and made great contributions... ...
"Master Qian, the latest news is that in Funing Town ahead, Shaoxing prefect Liu and Captain Xu of the garrison led two thousand soldiers and surrounded the Japanese pirates in a wooden courtyard in Funing Town."
Captain Liu then reported.
"ah... "
Upon hearing this, Old Imperial Censor Qian couldn't help but sigh with a little regret. Prefect Liu led more than 2,000 soldiers to surround more than 100 Japanese pirates. There was a gap of nearly 20 times in strength. The Japanese pirates couldn't escape even if they had wings!
How could the old censor Qian not feel regretful since he could not achieve the feat of defeating the Japanese invaders and could not show favor to his young son
However, there are some regrets, but more of them are peace of mind. This is also good. I am old, and safety is still the most important thing. Liu Zhifu, Xu Qianhu and others surrounded and wiped out the Japanese pirates in Funing Town, which is ten miles away. Then I will be safe, because my hometown, Qianjia Village, is four miles ahead.
"Master Qian, although the Japanese pirates are surrounded by Master Liu and Captain Xu in Funing Town, for safety reasons, in order to prevent any Japanese pirates who escaped from the net from colliding with you, should we change our route and stay at Hujiabao for one night? I will find out the situation tomorrow and make sure that everything is safe before continuing on our journey?"
Captain Liu asked for instructions.
Hujiabao is right next to it. About a mile along the path, there is a fort with high walls and towers, which focuses on defense. Relying on Hujiabao and the more than 200 people on our side, we are not afraid even if there are 1,000 Japanese pirates coming to attack!
That's why Captain Liu made such a suggestion.
Upon hearing this, Old Censor Qian pondered for a moment and shook his head. "There's nothing to be afraid of with only a few hundred Japanese invaders, let alone the few that have escaped the net! My hometown is just four miles ahead. Let's make a concerted effort and talk about it when we get there."
This is what Old Censor Qian thought. If there were any Japanese pirates who had escaped the net, they would definitely not dare to take the official road. In order to evade pursuit, they would definitely take the small roads and go through the mountains and forests. It would be safer to take the main road, but it would be dangerous to take the small road to Hujiabao.
In addition, if there are really Japanese pirates who escape the net, my hometown will also face the risk of being attacked by the Japanese pirates. I have brought 268 combat forces with me. If I can arrive at my hometown in time, I can also provide additional protection for my hometown.
Of course, if you really encounter Japanese pirates who have escaped the net, haha, that would be even better, and you should get credit for it.
“Yes!”
Captain Liu did not insist and followed the order. In fact, he did not think there was any risk in this trip. There were only more than a hundred Japanese pirates, and they were surrounded by heavy troops. What could happen? He was just afraid that some Japanese pirates who escaped would run into the old censor Qian and his family, ruining the old censor Qian's good mood of returning home. Even if he encountered Japanese pirates who escaped, with the knife in his hand, the soldiers under his command, and more than a hundred officers, he would definitely make the Japanese pirates surrender!