It was still pitch black before dawn. Scarlet dots of light appeared one after another on the winding river in the distance, like poisonous cobras. These were the wind lanterns on the masts of the Japanese ships.
"The Japanese pirates are coming!"
When Zhu Ping'an stood on Fengqiao and saw scarlet spots of light in the distant river, he knew that the Japanese pirates were coming by boat.
In order to prevent the Japanese pirates' ships from reaching Suzhou city directly through the canal, Zhu Ping'an ordered people to pull up six chains in a row on the river three miles before Fengqiao.
These chains were installed decades ago when Suzhou Prefecture was repairing the canal. Lock buckles were reserved and they were not used normally. Once the city of Suzhou was in danger, the iron chains could be strung across the river to prevent ships from passing through the canal.
The iron chains across the river were as thick as arms and were not so easy to break. Even if the Japanese pirates wanted to imitate Wang Jun and burn the chains with fire, it would not be easy because the wise working people had learned from Wang Jun's experience of burning the iron chains with fire. Two iron chains were placed under the water, so he could not burn them even if he wanted to, because there was no fire that could burn underwater in those days.
In addition, even after they finally broke the six iron chains with great difficulty, there were a total of thirteen such arrangements along the river. Zhu Ping'an had his men pull up all the iron chains, which was enough to keep the Japanese pirates busy for two days.
In the distant river, Japanese ships came one after another. On the largest flagship, Xu Hai looked at the city of Suzhou in the distance ahead, and a surge of ambition surged in his heart. If he conquered this huge city, he, Xu Hai, would not be the Xu Hai of today. He would have the capital and reputation, and would be on par with Hui Wang Wang Zhi.
What Wang Zhi can do, I Xu Hai can do too! What Wang Zhi can't do, I Xu Hai can do!
From today on, my life will take another step forward! How can the magnificent history be without the contribution of Xu Hai
Thinking of this, the ambitious Xu Hai couldn't help but burst into laughter, and shouted to the Japanese pirates under his command: "Hahaha, my men, what can we do if we are discovered by the Ming people? My army has more than 30,000 people, and the Ming army has only more than 10,000 people. Since they have discovered us, we might as well not hide anymore and just go straight to Huanglong and attack."
"A woman with her legs spread apart can certainly make people feel comfortable, but a woman who fights back desperately is more interesting, isn't it?! The more she fights back, the more she struggles, the more we have to overpower her, lie on top of her, and when she finally shivers, we will feel more conquered, more accomplished, and more satisfied. Now Suzhou City is just like that little woman who is resisting and struggling, just waiting for us to pounce on her, overpower her, lie on top of her, and shiver for a while!"
Xu Hai pointed at the Suzhou city in the distance, and tried his best to incite the Japanese pirates under his command.
"Yo, Chief Xu is right. We've been discovered, so what? We'll just storm in. The Ming people we've seen along the way are all rats. They can only run away in panic. They're all eunuchs without balls. What Fengqiao Camp? What Suzhou City? We'll rush over and take it down in no time. Hahahaha..."
Hojo Dosan held his Japanese sword with one hand and put his other hand on his waist, laughing arrogantly.
Ma Ye, Chen Dong and other Ming pirates glared at him. According to you, we are also rats?! We are also eunuchs without balls?!
"Hehe, the rats I just mentioned do not include you. You are the heroes among the Ming people." Hojo Michisan also realized something was wrong at this time. The saliva map cannon just now accidentally injured friendly forces, and he hurriedly made amends.
"Alright, alright, stop teasing Hojo-kun. You all know that Hojo-kun is talking about the common people and soldiers."
Xu Hai smiled and waved his hand.
"Haha, okay, I won't tease you anymore. We still need to save our strength to attack Fengqiao Camp first, and then Suzhou City."
Ma Ye, Chen Dong and others forced a smile, and one of them slapped Hojo Michizo on the shoulder, and then passed on the matter.
"First we will attack Fengqiao Camp, then Suzhou City!"
"First we will attack Fengqiao Camp, then Suzhou City!"
Under the instigation of Xu Hai, Ma Ye, Chen Dong and others, the Japanese pirates excitedly waved their weapons and shouted. Their momentum was like hungry wolves rushing down the hillside. As long as they got off the boat, they would overturn everything in their way.
"The Fengqiao Camp is three miles ahead. Everyone, be alert. Don't let the boat capsize in the ditch. The little girl didn't lie down and fell into the ditch."
Xu Hai looked at the Japanese pirates under his command, who were all provoked and screaming like chickens, and cooled them down appropriately.
"Don't worry, leader. The ditch that could capsize our ship has not appeared yet." The Japanese pirates shouted.
"Bang!"
Suddenly there was a noise at the front, and then the front boat hit the iron chain across the river and stopped suddenly. Under the huge inertia, the boat suddenly tilted up, and then swung sideways sharply. Many of the Japanese pirates on the front boat fell into the river like dumplings under the influence of gravity and huge inertia.
Plop, plop, the Japanese pirates fell into the icy river water one by one, struggling and calling for help.
The second ship also couldn't stop and crashed into the front ship. Many of the Japanese pirates who had lost their balance on the ship also fell into the river.
Then came the third and fourth ships, and after hitting four ships in a row, the ship at the back finally dropped anchor and stopped hitting the other ship.
"What's wrong? What's wrong? What happened in front?! How is the ship in front sailing?! Is it sailing with its eyes closed?!" The flagship where Xu Hai and others were was also relatively forward, and it made an emergency stop to avoid a collision with the ship in front. Xu Hai and other Japanese chiefs could not help but shout angrily.
They just said don't capsize in the gutter, but the boat in front of them started to shake violently and almost capsized, and then they hit several boats in the back. It felt like a slap in the face, how could I not be angry
"Captain, the Ming army has put chains as thick as arms in the river channel to block the river. Because it was dark, our lead ship didn't see it and ran into it. It almost capsized. Many of our brothers fell into the icy river water. Fortunately, they were all rescued. However, with these chains, our fleet can no longer move forward."
A Japanese pirate came from the front in a small boat and reported the incident to Xu Hai and other Japanese chiefs on the flagship.
"Yes, the cunning Ming army. They must be afraid of us, afraid that we will attack directly, so they despicably rot the iron chains on the river!"
Hojo Michisan cursed angrily.
"Cut it off! Or burn it off. Didn't someone in ancient times use fire to burn off an iron chain?!"
Chen Dong suggested.
"Look back, the Ming army is treacherous. They also set up two iron chains more than two feet below the water surface and pulled them straight. We tried, but we couldn't pull them out of the water and burn them."
The Japanese pirates on the small boat quickly reported back.
When Chen Dong heard that there were iron chains under the water, he couldn't help but curse angrily.