When Zhu Ping'an was in the dense forest valley, Xu Hai and other Japanese pirates were going eastward along the river.
"Order the ship to slow down a bit."
Xu Hai stood at the bow and stared at the rear, but still found no trace of the Ming army. The location of the ambush troops in the rear was also quiet. Reluctantly, he gave orders again.
After Xu Hai's order was issued, the Japanese pirates' fleet slowed down again and moved at a snail's pace on the river.
In this way, they walked slowly for about an incense stick of time, and there was still silence behind them, without any movement.
"I thought Zhu was a brave and resourceful man. Even if he didn't lead his army to pursue us, he would at least send people to pursue us. I didn't expect that I was wrong. He is a coward who actually hid in the city and refused to come out."
Chen Dong shook his head and sighed in disappointment.
"I admit that Zhu is a man of strategy. Our trip failed at the last moment because of him. As for his bravery, he is not brave at all. He is just a scholar. No matter how knowledgeable he is about military affairs, he is still a weak scholar. How can he be brave? He dared not to leave the city to pursue us, which is consistent with his weak scholar characteristics. If Zhu Ping'an fights me head-on, I will chop off his head in three moves!"
Ma Ye stood side by side with Chen Dong and Xu Hai, feeling deep resentment towards Zhu Ping'an and secretly criticizing him for being resourceful but not brave.
"Actually, this is what I expected. Mr. Zhu has already gained enough credit this time, so there is no need for him to take risks outside the city. For him, if he wins the pursuit outside the city, it will only be icing on the cake. If he fails, his achievements will be greatly reduced. If it were me, I would make the same choice. It's just a pity that I wanted to get back at him before leaving." Xu Hai sighed deeply and said disappointedly.
"Brother Xu, it's nothing. There's a long way to go, and you'll get your revenge someday." Chen Dong patted Xu Hai on the shoulder.
"That's right, he will be punished sooner or later!" Ma Ye also said.
"Yes, Brother Chen and Brother Ma are right. Today's revenge will be repaid handsomely tomorrow!" Xu Hai nodded.
"Should we let the men in ambush retreat?" Chen Dong asked. The elite Japanese pirates had been lying in ambush in the rear for nearly two hours. It seemed that the Ming army did not have the courage to chase them. So could they retreat
After hearing Chen Dong's question, Xu Hai waved his hand without thinking, rejecting Chen Dong's idea.
"Don't worry, let them continue their ambush. Maybe Zhu wants to wait until we are far away and safe, and then go out of the city to pretend to chase us, that is, to hold an armed parade. In this way, he may also be credited with chasing and expelling us. Aren't there many examples of Ming people doing this?"
"If Mr. Zhu has this idea, haha, it's a good opportunity to give him a surprise..."
Xu Hai said this and laughed.
He really hoped that Zhu Ping'an had this idea, so that he could take revenge.
Therefore, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, he will not give up.
Therefore, when Chen Dong asked whether to withdraw the ambush on the Japanese pirates, he rejected it so decisively.
"Send the order, have the elite troops continue to ambush until dusk. If the Ming people still haven't caught up with us after sunset, have them withdraw. During this period, you must ambush properly. No noise or movement. You must be like dead people and not make any noise. If anyone reveals their tracks and scares off the Ming people, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
In order to prevent the ambushing Japanese pirates from losing their patience, Xu Hai sent people to give them orders again.
They were strictly ordered to continue the ambush.
It can be said that Xu Hai's order was very timely. When he ordered the Japanese pirates to run all the way to the ambush area, the ambushing Japanese pirates were no longer as serious as they were at the beginning, and had become lazy and careless.
The ambush area chosen by the Japanese pirates happened to be where the shore road must pass. There was a hill with a dense forest on the hill, and there was not even a small path. If they pursued along the river to Taicang, they had to pass through this road.
The Japanese pirates were almost reaching the ambush area along the main road, and the Japanese pirates in charge of guarding the ambush area only discovered his traces.
Obviously slacking off.
The messenger to the Japanese pirates still remembered the first time he came to deliver the message today. At that time, these elite troops had only been lying in ambush here for a short time. He was still two miles away from the ambush area, and the alert Japanese pirates discovered his trace.
Now, they are almost reaching the ambush area, and the vigilance against the Japanese pirates has just been realized. What else can it be but slackness
When they arrived at the ambush area, the messenger found that the Japanese pirates were even more slack. Only less than half of them were decent, and most of the others were not. Some of them were talking in low voices, sharing their experiences of robbing women and beating the old and weak, and they were very excited when they talked about it; some of them were drinking with peanuts and were already half drunk; some were lying in the bushes and snoring... ...
"Yo, but the leader wants us to go back to the boat? It's too cold today. We've been waiting for more than two hours in vain. We're all frozen stiff..."
"Stupid Matsui, it must be true. We have been sitting here drinking cold wind for two hours. If the Ming army wanted to catch up with us, they would have come a long time ago. They haven't come yet, which means they don't have the courage to catch up with us. There is no point in waiting any longer."
When the lurking Japanese pirates saw the alert pirates leading the messenger pirates coming, they started talking at once.
It's the coldest time of the year now, and we're hiding here in the biting cold wind. How can it compare to the comfort of being in the cabin
"Baga! You are the elite! Look at what you have become! Are you setting an ambush?! Who told you to drink? The smell of alcohol can be carried half a mile away with the wind. Aren't you exposing yourself?"
"Captain Xu has ordered us to continue the ambush until the sun sets. If the Ming people haven't caught up with us yet, you can retreat. The leaders will leave ten ships for you in Taicang. During the ambush, you must hide like dead men. If anyone reveals their tracks, the leaders will kill you as a sacrifice!"
"Don't blame me for not reminding you. The leaders were furious because they failed to capture Suzhou City. If you offend them, you will be killed without a burial place. I can guarantee you this! If any of you want to try, you'd better leave a will in advance."
... ...
The messenger ordered the Japanese pirates to use the names of Xu Hai and others to teach the lurking Japanese pirates a lesson, and then conveyed Xu Hai's order.
Although the ambushed Japanese pirates were somewhat disapproving, after all, as the messenger had said, the attack on Suzhou had failed, and the leaders were so angry that they had no place to vent, so they did not dare to offend the leaders.
They lay in ambush seriously, not daring to chat, sleep, or even drink...