The rise of the poor

Xu Hai ordered that all the Japanese pirates' shields be distributed to the eight hundred Japanese pirates covering the rear, and that each of them also receive a set of armor. He even promised them a reward: "If we can hold out for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, we can retreat back to the city. At that time, all the Japanese pirates covering the rear will be richly rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and a woman!"

"Anyone who retreats without authorization will be executed without mercy!"

Under Xu Hai's combination of carrot and stick tactics, the Japanese pirates who turned to cover the rear, though still cursing, gripped their shields tightly.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, we have armor, and a shield protecting the front row. Let's go for it!

The Japanese pirates covering the rear gripped their shields and weapons tightly.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry into the city! We only have the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Anyone who dares to cause trouble at the city gate, I'll kill them!"

Taking advantage of the rearguard action, the Japanese pirates hastened their retreat into Songjiang Prefecture. To expedite the retreat, Xu Hai dispatched his personal guards to maintain order. The order of entry was based on merit, and anyone who dared to fight at the gate was to be executed without any legal proceedings, thus addressing the problem at its root.

Xu Hai's personal guards killed six Japanese pirates who were fighting for entry into the city and disrupting order at the gate, which deterred the rest of the pirates from fighting at the gate and greatly improved the efficiency of entering the city.

"Come on, you dog soldiers! We've got shields, we're not afraid of your muskets! Come and die if you dare!"

“Come on, you dog soldiers. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, we can retreat into the city.”

The Japanese pirates covering the rear gripped their shields tightly, gritted their teeth, and shouted at the Zhejiang army charging towards them, trying to bolster their morale.

"The Japanese pirates have shields, so we'll fire when they get close. They don't have bows and arrows or muskets, so we'll fire when they're twenty meters away!"

"Fifty meters, keep going, forty meters, keep going, thirty meters, twenty meters, ready, fire!"

"Tiger crouching cannon, firing upwards!"

The Zhejiang troops pursuing the Japanese pirates approached them in orderly ranks. Noticing that the front ranks of the rearguard were protected by shields and had no ranged weapons, they closed in to within twenty meters, until they could see the whites of the pirates' eyes. Then they stopped, divided into groups of three, raised their muskets, aimed at the pirates, and pulled the triggers.

Dozens of tiger-squatting cannons were also loaded with shotgun shells and their fuses were lit.

"Bang bang bang!"

A series of neat and rapid volleys of gunfire rang out, flashes of light appeared, and smoke billowed from the front ranks of the Zhejiang army.

"Boom!"

The Tiger Crouching Cannon roared like thunder, its massive flashes of light accompanied by a deluge of black shrapnel raining down on the Japanese pirates covering their rear.

The gunpowder used in the Zhejiang Army's firearms was an improved version of black powder, which was more than twice as powerful as the gunpowder of that era.

Under the fire of the Zhejiang army's muskets and tiger-squatting cannons, the Japanese pirates' shields covering the rear were as fragile as paper, exploding with a loud bang.

In particular, the tiger-squatting cannons, fired upwards, bypassed the front-row shields and fired in an arc at the Japanese pirates behind them, causing enormous damage.

A series of screams and cries for help erupted as the Japanese pirates realized that their shields and armor could not provide them with safety. The Zhejiang army's firearms were too powerful; the bullets and shrapnel easily tore through the shields and armor, and the remaining force pierced through their limbs and bodies.

After a round of firearms from the Zhejiang army, over a hundred Japanese pirates covering the rear fell dead, and the remaining pirates trembled in fear.

The Zhejiang troops gave them no time to hesitate. After the first Zhejiang troops fired, they retreated to reload, and the Zhejiang troops in the back advanced, alternating smoothly.

"bang bang bang"

"boom blah blah"

The Zhejiang army's firearms emitted a series of neat and dense sounds amidst the flames, and the smoke of battle filled the air once again.

The Japanese pirates covering the rear let out another scream, and more and more of them fell.

After the second group of Japanese pirates finished firing, they retreated, and the third group of Japanese pirates took turns stepping forward, leveling their muskets, and pulling the triggers.

After a series of screams, the Japanese pirates fell in droves.

"Standing here like idiots is just waiting to die. Whether we retreat or stand still, we'll die anyway. We might as well charge up and fight those damned government soldiers!"

"If we can hold out for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, we can retreat into the city. At least half a cup of tea has passed now! Let's launch a charge, disrupt the enemy's plans, and prevent them from firing. Then we'll be saved!"

"Let's make one final push, then we can retreat!"

Incited by some other Japanese pirates, the Japanese pirates covering the rear brandished their swords and launched a deadly charge against the Zhejiang army, stepping over the bodies of the dead pirates.

"bang bang bang"

They were greeted by the orderly array of muskets from the Zhejiang army, as well as a dense, overwhelming barrage of Tiger Crouching Cannon shells.

The charging Japanese pirates fell in droves in an instant.
With the Japanese pirates covering their rear and Xu Hai's personal guards maintaining order, the Japanese pirates retreated quickly under the threat of death. While the rearguard Japanese pirates were charging in with their lives, the remaining Japanese pirates quickly retreated into the city.

"Damn it! What are the guards on the city walls doing?! The city walls haven't even been occupied by the Japanese pirates, so why are they just watching them retreat into the city?! Are they made of clay or wood?! Are they just decorations?!"

"Are the defenders on the city walls accomplices of the Japanese pirates?!"

"Not firing a single arrow, not sending a single soldier out—are they defending the city, or are we?! Are we just going to sit back and watch the show?!"

"Are you deaf? We just shouted at you, did you not hear us?!"

When the Zhejiang soldiers saw the entire Japanese pirate army retreat into Songjiang Prefecture, they were furious. What was wrong with the garrison of Songjiang Prefecture? Why didn't they fire a single arrow or send out a single soldier? They just watched us fight to the death with the Japanese pirates outside, and then watched them retreat into the city. Were they accomplices of the Japanese pirates?!
Hey brothers, this is an inside job! We're here to rescue you, are you just going to stand up there and watch the show?!

Zhu Ping'an frowned as he watched the Japanese pirate army retreat into Songjiang Prefecture. The defenders on the city walls dared not rush down to intercept the pirates; could they not even fire arrows or muskets from the walls?!
"Great! Our men have retreated into the city. We've completed our rearguard action and can now enter the city!"

"Great! Retreat! The soldiers' firearms are too powerful. If we don't retreat now, we'll all be done for!"

"Let's get out of here quickly. Luckily we're alright. We still have a hundred taels of silver and a woman. Things will be better now."

The Japanese pirates who were covering the rear discovered that their main army had basically retreated into the city. They were both crying and laughing at their narrow escape. They had completed the rearguard action and could finally retreat into the city. They immediately turned around and ran towards the city gate without hesitation.

"Bang bang bang."

A burst of dense and orderly volleys of gunfire erupted from the Zhejiang army.

Another batch of fleeing Japanese pirates fell.

The surviving Japanese pirates who were covering the rear ran for their lives, taking two steps at a time, wishing they had been given one less leg.

Step by step, we got closer and closer to the city gate.

Just as the leading Japanese pirates were about to reach the city gate, they suddenly heard a creaking sound, and the city gate suddenly closed rapidly in their sight.

"No, no! We haven't even entered the city yet! Open the door! Open the door and let us in!"

"Damn it, Xu Hai, you bastard! You broke your promise! You said you'd cover our retreat for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, then we could retreat back into the city. Why are you closing the gates?! We covered your retreat, and you're the one covering ours?!"

"We covered your retreat, and you dared to cover ours! I curse your whole family to a terrible death!"

As the fleeing Japanese pirates saw the city gates close before their eyes, they cried out in despair and rage. (End of Chapter)