Lu Ying, Wang Daxia, and the others were encountering Japanese Pirates for the first time. Upon hearing this, far from being afraid, they grew exceptionally excited. Donning armor beneath their clothes, they went out to watch the commotion.
On the canal, they found themselves surrounded by Japanese Pirates attacking from both front and rear. The pirates manned over a dozen light sailboats, flying flags with blue borders and white backgrounds, featuring a blazing red sun at the center surrounded by three clouds. This symbolized the Land of the Rising Sun—a common banner among Japanese Pirates.
Though flying the pirates' flag, only a few had shaven Yin-Yang Heads and carried long swords at their waists. The spring nights in Jiangnan were still chilly, yet they stood rigidly on the small sailboats, bare-legged in robes, without even shoes or socks.
Most of the pirates were dressed like ordinary Ming men, indicating this group consisted mainly of fake pirates supplemented by a few genuine ones—a band specifically targeting merchant convoys.
The merchant ship Shunfeng remained busy yet orderly, accustomed to such pirate harassment. The sailors immediately transformed into gunners. The ship had ten gun ports in total—four on each side and one at both the bow and stern—with dark muzzles protruding, ready for battle.
Luo Longwen reacted most intensely: he was carrying five thousand taels of gold! If the pirates seized it, how could he ever face his patron Yan Shifan?
Luo Longwen promptly ordered the guards from the Three Links Escort Agency to join the ship's defense. The guards were well-equipped, possessing government-specially approved matchlock guns and firearms—items normally banned among civilians. The agency had used money to pull strings and bribe Yan Shifan for the usage permit.
Suffering from gout and finding it hard to move, Luo Longwen put on his glasses and, leaning on a cane, stepped out of the cabin. He asked the shipmaster, "How do you plan to deal with these pirates?"
The shipmaster replied, "We'll fire cannons ahead to blast a path through the water, hoist all five sails, and charge forward. Those small boats are like mantis trying to stop a chariot—they can't hinder our large ship. Once we reach Zhenjiang Port, where the Ming navy is stationed, the pirates won't dare pursue, and we'll be safe."
Having dealt with various Japanese Pirates for the past five years, Luo Longwen was well aware of their cunning and brutality. "It's not that simple. Pirates don't fight unprepared battles. These small boats are likely a decoy to lull us into complacency. We've been on this water route for a month, and every time we docked for supplies, we were probably spotted by their informants at the ports. They confirmed this ship is laden with valuable cargo, so they're waiting for us in this section."
Hearing this, the shipmaster realized this refined antique dealer was no ordinary merchant. "What do you suggest we do to escape?"
Luo Longwen scanned both banks of the canal and said, "If I were the pirates, I'd have artillery emplacements ahead on the shore. As we charge forward, they'd open fire, shredding our sails and snapping the masts. Our ship, heavy with cargo, would be immobilized. Then the pirates would swarm aboard like ants. With their numbers, even our superior weapons wouldn't suffice—we'd be overwhelmed."
His words even swayed Lu Ying, who found his reasoning sound. If Japanese Pirates were so easily dealt with, they wouldn't have plagued the Ming for a century without being eradicated.
Luo Longwen said, "Captain, for safety's sake, we should turn the ship around and return to the previous port to anchor. We'll continue by daylight. The night journey is too perilous.""This..." The shipmaster hesitated, feeling Luo Longwen was being overly cautious. Even if there were cannons onshore, how accurate could they possibly be? Their ship was sailing smoothly with wind and current, moving swiftly. As long as they gritted their teeth and charged through the line of fire, they could break through the Japanese Pirates' ambush and escape to safety.
But what if? A shipwreck and loss of lives could happen.
Drawing from years of experience in the martial world, the shipmaster gathered all the merchants and presented Luo Longwen's suggestion. "You're all esteemed guests, and this concerns everyone's interests. What do you think? Should we advance or retreat?"
Lu Ying said, "I support Boss Zhang. Caution ensures a long life. My wife is pregnant and must not be frightened."
Wang Daxia cooperatively stroked her bulging belly. "Exactly, what if it harms the fetus? My humble life doesn't matter, but I must bear a son for the Ximen family." What a paragon of wifely virtue and maternal devotion Wang Daxia was!
Lu Ying's alias was Ximen Ying.
Wei Caiwei said, "I agree. Safety first. Saving a life is difficult, but losing one is all too easy."
Ding Wu said, "I can't let the shrew at home wait alone in an empty room. I also agree to turn back."
The Hua Brothers of the White Lotus Sect strongly opposed: "I disagree. How can we give up eating for fear of choking? Are we to be intimidated by a small group of Japanese Pirates? Captain, charge forward!"
The passengers had paid half their fare upfront, with the remainder due upon unloading at the port. Motivated by profit, the shipmaster decided to follow the majority—especially since Luo Longwen had paid the highest fare, followed by Lu Ying, while Ding Wu and the Hua Brothers were mere individual travelers who paid less. It didn't take much thought to figure out whose opinion carried more weight.
The shipmaster immediately ordered, "Turn the helm! Reverse course! Head back!"
The sailors obeyed and began working frantically. Seeing their prey attempting to flee, the Japanese Pirates gave a command, and the pirates on board steered their small sailboats, launching a coordinated assault toward the large merchant ship.
Lu Ying and the others watched in confusion: It was clearly like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—if the small boats collided with them, they would capsize. Why were they charging to their deaths?
Luo Longwen, who understood the Japanese Pirates best, roared loudly, "Those small sailboats have bombs! They'll light the fuses before crashing into us, then jump into the water and swim away. Our ship's hull will be blown open by the suicidal sailboats! Quickly, fire at the small sailboats and detonate them early!"
The Japanese Pirates were truly vicious. If they couldn't have the ship, they'd rather blow a hole in its bottom and sink it to the depths, ensuring no one could have it.
At this critical juncture between life and death, the sailors, escorts, Lu Ying's household guards, Ding Wu, and the Hua Brothers all picked up their firearms and fired volleys at the oncoming sailboats.
Even Wang Daxia, with her protruding belly, took up a gun and aimed at the small sailboats.
Only Wei Caiwei crouched in a corner, using her medicine chest as a shield to protect herself. She watched helplessly as the others opened fire and fought the Japanese Pirates—she had no skill with blades or guns.
Even the seemingly frail Luo Longwen shouldered a firearm and fired with practiced ease, clearly an experienced marksman.
Boom!
Explosions erupted one after another as sailboats ignited and self-destructed from the gunfire before they could crash into the large merchant ship, blooming like white lotuses.
Seeing their suicide boat tactic foiled by Luo Longwen, the Japanese Pirates realized they had bitten off more than they could chew tonight. Not one to linger in a losing battle, they abandoned their sailboats early, swimming to shore to escape, vanishing into the drizzly spring night.The appearance and disappearance of the Japanese Pirates were both so abrupt that if not for the burning small sailboats drifting on the canal, the life-threatening moment just now would have felt like a nightmare, leaving one trembling with fear even after waking.
It was their first encounter with the Japanese Pirates, and both Lu Ying and Wang Daxia experienced their cunning and ruthlessness—swift in attack and even swifter in retreat. No wonder even fierce generals like Yu Dayou had suffered defeats at their hands.
The shipmaster calmly directed the vessel to turn around and head back toward Guazhou Port from whence they came.
Everyone expressed gratitude to Luo Longwen for his sharp eyes in identifying the enemy. Otherwise, tonight would have ended either in robbery by the Japanese Pirates or in their ships being blown apart, sinking to feed the fish—either way, the outcome would have been grim.
The shipmaster brought out his privately stored fine wine to share with everyone, using it to ward off the spring chill and celebrate their narrow escape. Luo Longwen declined, citing that he was currently taking medication, while Wang Daxia also abstained, using pregnancy as an excuse and drinking only plain water instead.
The shipmaster praised Wang Daxia, "Madam Ximen, you truly prove that women are no less capable than men. Nearly every shot hit its mark—most admirable."
Wang Daxia expertly blew on the steaming gun barrel and said, "I come from a military household; it's all family tradition. Growing up surrounded by such influences, I became skilled with all manner of weapons—swords, spears, clubs—I can handle them all with flair. But firearms are what I excel at most. Every time I accompany my husband into the mountains for hunting, my bag is always bigger than his."
Lu Ying gratefully patted Wang Daxia's hand and said, "While others might find their wives a burden, mine is different—she even doubles as a bodyguard."
Ding Wu praised, "To have such a virtuous wife is truly the envy of all."
With the crisis averted, everyone dispersed after drinking, returning to their cabins to sleep. When Wang Daxia returned to the passenger cabin and sat at the dressing table to remove her makeup, she realized that one of the pair of golden sparrow hairpins in her bun was missing—the other had likely fallen onto the deck during the fight against the Japanese Pirates.
So, Wang Daxia took a lantern to search for the hairpin. On the deck, she saw someone leaning against the railing, gazing into the endless darkness. This person was dressed more shabbily than any other passenger in the cabins—it was the itinerant doctor "He Daifu," Wei Caiwei.
Looking at her delicate shoulders, Wang Daxia felt a strong urge to embrace her from behind, wrap her arms around her waist, and warm her back with her own chest.
But it remained just a thought—visible yet untouchable. Wang Daxia firmly remembered that she was a married woman and couldn't be too overt. So, she walked over with the lantern and stopped about a foot away, asking, "He Daifu, have you seen a jade hairpin?"
The night had been too thrilling, and Wei Caiwei found herself unable to sleep, so she had come to the deck for some fresh air. Turning around at the question, she replied, "I haven't seen any hairpin, but I can help Madam Ximen look for it."
Wang Daxia held the lantern while Wei Caiwei crouched down, searching the deck for the hairpin. Wei Caiwei asked her, "Madam Ximen, do you remember where you were earlier?"
Seeing Wei Caiwei's earnest expression, Wang Daxia felt a restless itch in her heart. Noticing that no one was around, her courage surged. She also crouched down, pretending to search for the hairpin, but then deliberately bumped her head against Wei Caiwei's as if by accident. Turning her face, she lightly brushed a kiss against Wei Caiwei's cheek.
Wang Daxia whispered sweet nothings, "I haven't gone anywhere; I've always been right here in your heart."
Wei Caiwei was suddenly taken aback, her eyes fixed on something behind Wang Daxia.
Unaware, Wang Daxia continued her flirtatious words, "The one I truly love is you, yet I have to hide it from everyone, putting on an act in front of my so-called husband. I—""Boss Zhang." Wei Caiwei stood up, interrupting Wang Daxia's sweet nothings.
Hearing this, Wang Daxia's body instantly stiffened. Damn! How much did Luo Longwen overhear?
Should I silence the witness? Steal the five thousand taels of gold and frame the Japanese Pirates?
A murderous intent sprouted in Wang Daxia's heart. He slowly rose to his feet and saw Luo Longwen holding a jade hairpin - the very one he had lost. So he had come to return the lost item out of honesty.
Wei Caiwei took Wang Daxia's hand, pulling him behind her as she placed her slender frame in front, saying: "Actually, the child in Madam Ximen's belly is mine."
Author's note: Luo Longwen: This wandering physician did what I once wanted to but didn't dare to do.
Reading the comments, everyone guessed the Japanese Pirates' identity correctly but misunderstood their purpose. This is a scheme within a scheme, a trap within a trap. After Jinjiang implemented real-name registration, the comments have become much fewer. Zhou still hopes to communicate more with readers. If it's convenient for everyone, please leave more comments.
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