The rise of the poor

Seeing Matsuura Shigeyo killed by concentrated fire, Zhu Pingan gave the five gunners a thumbs up with satisfaction, "Not bad, you all hit that big fish. After the battle, once we verify that guy's identity, you'll all get credit!"

"Thank you, sir." The five gunners were immediately excited and put in their best effort to continue performing well.

After Matsuura Shigeyo was killed in the bombing, the Japanese pirates perfectly demonstrated what it means to scatter like monkeys when a tree falls and what it means to be a mob. As soon as Matsuura Shigeyo died, the morale of the Japanese pirates collapsed. Their leader, who was all naked and full of energy, was dead. What was the point of us charging forward? Did we have a death wish? If we didn't run now, when would we?
They scattered in all directions, the Japanese pirates scrambling to run away. I knew I couldn't outrun the Zhejiang army's muskets, but as long as I was faster than my Japanese comrades, that was enough.

The Japanese pirates facing the Zhejiang army fled in panic, and the Zhejiang army took the opportunity to deliver a neat and dense volley of fire from their muskets, leaving behind more than a hundred corpses!
The Japanese pirates were routed too quickly on the front lines. When they fled, Xu Hai and Ryūzōji Takagi hadn't even managed to flank them yet.

"They lost?! Matsuura Shigeyo lost?!"

"What happened? How could they lose so quickly?! What is Matsuura Shigeyo doing? Isn't he supposed to be a famous and formidable force in Hizen Province?! How could he lose so quickly?! Even if you had 1,500 pigs, you wouldn't lose this fast!"

When Xu Hai saw the Japanese pirates being defeated so quickly and unexpectedly, he opened his mouth wide in disbelief.

"Look back, I noticed it just now. Matsuura Shigeaki took off his armor, went shirtless, and charged to the front. He stirred up the killing intent over there. It looked like he was about to reach the Zhejiang army's lines. I was happy for them, but then, without me noticing, Matsuura Shigeaki was blown up by the Zhejiang army's cannons."

A Japanese pirate guard stepped forward and reported what he had seen to Xu Hai.

"Damn, what kind of idiot charges into battle without his armor? Does he think he's invincible?!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Hai couldn't help but curse. What a bunch of pig-like teammates! They were planning a three-pronged attack, but before they could even get their flanking maneuver in place, Matsuura Shigeyo, who was in charge of the main frontal assault, was killed. The front line collapsed!

How can we fight this!
Xu Hai had expected Matsuura Moye to be defeated. To be honest, it would be difficult for anyone to win by leading a motley crew without an absolute numerical advantage to attack the Zhejiang army's formation head-on. The Zhejiang army's firearms were too sharp. Usually, if the motley crew suffered 20% casualties, they would collapse. However, Xu Hai did not expect Matsuura Moye to be defeated so quickly!
Xu Hai originally planned for Matsuura Shigeyo to act as the main support, drawing as much firepower and manpower as possible from the Zhejiang army, while he and Ryūzōji Takagi would launch a fierce attack on the Zhejiang army's flanks and rear from the sides and rear. As long as one side engaged the Zhejiang army in close combat, they would have a great chance to defeat the Zhejiang army head-on due to their numerical superiority!

Defeat the Zhejiang army and personally remove the nightmare that has been haunting him!

This is something Xu Hai has always dreamed of achieving!
The Zhejiang army only has about three thousand soldiers, and they have a great chance to defeat the Zhejiang army head-on today!

However, the plan was well-conceived, but reality was too cruel. Matsuura Shigeyo died too quickly, and the Japanese pirates were defeated too quickly on the front lines.

Damn!

Wasn't Matsuura Shigeyo a famous and fierce general from Hizen Province in Japan?! He was hyped up like Lu Bu descended to earth, but I can't believe he's so stupid, actually taking off his armor and charging to the front?! Did he think he was invincible?!
With Matsuura Shigeyo dead and the Japanese forces on the front lines defeated, the Zhejiang army's formation became much harder to break through.

Sure enough, Xu Hai saw that the Zhejiang army had changed its formation, with the Zhejiang troops on the front moving to the flanks and rear.

With the Japanese pirates routed on the front, the pressure on the Zhejiang army was relieved, and half of the troops were transferred from the front to strengthen the flanks and rear.

"Damn it!"

When Xu Hai saw the Zhejiang army change its formation and strengthen its flanks and rear, his face turned pale. This made the battle even more difficult. He now only had 1,500 Japanese soldiers attacking the Zhejiang army's flank, and facing the reorganized Zhejiang army, he no longer had an absolute numerical advantage. He felt that attacking the Zhejiang army's flank again would not be very successful.

"Boss, Matsuura Shigeyo is dead, and our brothers on the front lines have been defeated. Should we preserve our strength?" the Japanese pirate guard whispered.

Preserve strength?! It's just retreating!
"Bullshit! Retreating without a fight, is that my style, Xu Hai?!" Xu Hai gripped his katana and cursed loudly!
"The leader's lesson is correct."

The Japanese pirate guards immediately trembled and admitted their mistake. Xu Hai had already placed his hand on his Japanese sword; if they didn't admit their mistake, they would be cut down.

"Unfortunately, Songpu Maoye was defeated too quickly, ruining my plans and causing my plan to attack the Zhejiang army from three sides to die in the womb. For the sake of the grand plan, pass on my order to change direction and enter Songjiang Prefecture City as quickly as possible."

Xu Hai's voice reached the ears of the Japanese pirate guards. What? What was their leader saying? To change direction and storm Songjiang Prefecture City for the sake of the grand plan?!

Isn't this the same direction as preserving strength/retreating?!
Uh

I understand now. The leader's explanation is better. Retreat is the worst explanation. Preserving strength is a slightly better way to describe it. But the leader's idea of ​​turning around and attacking Songjiang Prefecture is brilliant. This is a change of direction to attack, not a retreat!

It's just that the direction coincided with the retreat.

Cow batch!

The leader is indeed a leader; his idea of ​​turning around and killing people in Songjiang Prefecture is simply brilliant, so brilliant it deserves criticism!
"Yes, yes, I will immediately order the brothers to turn around and storm Songjiang Prefecture." The Japanese pirate guards nodded repeatedly.

"Send a message to General Gao Che of Longzao Temple, instructing him to lead his men to turn around and attack Songjiang Prefecture City."

Xu Hai then gave the order.

"Chief, there's no need to relay the message to General Ryuzoji Takakura." The Japanese pirate guard pointed in the direction of Ryuzoji Takakura's army. "Ahem, Chief, look, General Ryuzoji Takakura and his men have already changed direction."

Xu Hai looked up and, sure enough, saw that the Longzao Temple Gaoche army, which was supposed to be maneuvering around the rear of the Zhejiang army, was now turning around and heading towards Songjiang Prefecture.

This was a coincidence. Ryūzōji Takagi changed direction faster than him, after all, he had already changed direction, while Xu Hai and the others had only just given the order.

"Quickly, change direction immediately and storm Songjiang Prefecture City! Don't engage the Zhejiang army!"

Xu Hai shouted loudly and took the lead, turning around and charging towards Songjiang Prefecture.

"Run."

"The Zhejiang army was slow and couldn't catch up with us. They rushed into Songjiang Prefecture first, grabbed a few loot and ran."

Upon receiving the order to change direction, the Japanese pirates rushed off towards Songjiang Prefecture.

Xu Hai and the Ryūzōji chariot retreated too decisively. Zhu Ping'an hadn't expected the Japanese pirates to retreat so quickly. The Japanese pirates on the front had just collapsed, and those flanking and maneuvering to the sides and rear almost simultaneously turned around and ran away. (End of this chapter)