novelhk Chapter 2: The Shift
Chapter 2: The Shift
Zhu Jiheng did not answer Zheng's question, but patted her hand reassuringly and whispered:
"Now is not the time for idle chatter; let's talk about it once we're in a safe place."
Then, he looked at the cavalry adjutant and said in a deep voice, "This place is not safe to stay any longer. The gunfire will inevitably attract more Qing soldiers. Immediately take a headcount, gather the grain from the wagons, clean up the battlefield, and prepare to evacuate!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" The adjutant thumped his chest and bowed, his movements clean and efficient. He then turned and gave the order again in a loud voice.
Zhu Jiheng saw that the line infantry quickly dispersed, some guarding the surroundings, others starting to search the carriages, while the Zhu Ming imperial family and officials' families, who had been hiding in fear, also gathered around.
The adjutant also noticed them. Instead of ordering them to be driven away, he whispered to Zhu Jiheng, "Your Highness, should we take those people with us? If we take them along, it might slow down our march."
Zhu Jiheng glanced at the members of the imperial family and officials, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head: "Leave them some rations and let them escape on their own."
There were other things he didn't say outright. To him, these people were useless, a bunch of imperial relatives who only knew how to loaf around and wait to die. Bringing them along would be a waste of food. As for those officials... most of them were high-ranking officials who were forced to move back to the mainland by the Qing court and were used to a life of luxury. They were equally useless to Zhu Jiheng now.
The adjutant accepted the order and left. Zhu Jiheng watched his retreating figure, but in his heart he was calculating the other type of unit, the Tier 6 ship, that he had obtained from the newbie gift pack. The Tier 6 ship, like the General's Guard and Line Infantry, had been automatically summoned to this world and was now anchored on the coast less than 20 miles away.
Zhu Jiheng knew that they had to get to the seaside as soon as possible to meet up with them, because the sea was their only way to survive.
He had no intention of continuing guerrilla warfare in Taiwan. It was too close to the mainland, and the Qing government would not give him enough room for early development. Just because of his surname, the Qing government would try to wipe him out at any cost as long as they knew of his existence.
Therefore, he planned to go to Southeast Asia, to develop in a place far away from the Qing government's sphere of influence, and then launch a counterattack after he had accumulated enough strength through this total war system.
Just as Zhu Jiheng was making his calculations, his adjutant quickly returned and reported to him: "Your Highness, the Qing army has been completely annihilated. We have captured twenty-three horses, a small amount of weapons, and some provisions. In accordance with your orders, we have left them a small amount of rations."
"Very good." Zhu Jiheng nodded, turned to his wives and concubines, and instructed them, "Get in the carriage, we're leaving now."
After saying that, he looked at his adjutant and ordered, "Take the horses and hurry toward the coast. We must board the ship before the Qing army can react."
"Yes, sir!"
Upon receiving Zhu Jiheng's order, the silent and elite line infantry and general's guard immediately sprang into action, moving all the horses except those pulling the carriages carrying the Prince of Lu's family away, lining them up, and marching towards the coast.
When the clansmen and officials saw that the army was about to abandon them, they hurriedly tried to follow and loudly begged Zhu Jiheng to take them with him, but they were driven away by the general's guards. Seeing that the army was going further and further away, they had no choice but to give up following and instead scramble for the rations left on the carriages.
"Husband, where are we... going?" Sitting in the carriage, Madam Zheng finally couldn't help but ask softly. She watched the soldiers skillfully carry out their orders, their every move exuding an aura that was far beyond that of ordinary local militia or defeated soldiers.
Zhu Jiheng grasped her hand firmly: "Let's go to the seaside. There's our boat there. With the vast sea and sky, we'll have room to maneuver."
He did not explain the origin of the ship, but the certainty in his tone temporarily calmed Zheng down. She also wisely refrained from asking about the origin of the ship and the soldiers, and simply held her two children in her arms, while comforting Consort Chen, who was still in shock.
Twenty li is neither a short nor a long distance. For a team eager to escape its predicament, it is only a half-day's march. The wheels rolled and the horses' hooves pounded on the dirt road with a dull sound, mixed with the soldiers' uniform and heavy steps.
The line infantry marched in silence, maintaining a tight formation at all times, while the general's cavalry were positioned on the front and rear flanks of the column, vigilantly scanning the woods on both sides of the road and the paddy fields in the distance that had been temporarily abandoned due to the war.
The adjutant rode a sturdy horse, closely following Zhu Jiheng's carriage, ready to receive orders at any time.
Zhu Jiheng glanced at the sky. It was midday, the time of day with the best light. He couldn't help but worry that the sixth-class warship moored on the shore might be spotted by Qing patrol boats.
After all, the Qing army had just conquered Taiwan, and Shi Lang's Fujian navy had a huge force in this sea area. If they were discovered, everything would be over.
"Speed up!"
Thinking of this, Zhu Jiheng gave his adjutant a somewhat worried order, which the latter immediately understood. He spurred his horse forward and conveyed the order to speed up in a low but stern voice.
The pace of the troops quickened noticeably, and the soldiers' foreheads were covered in a fine sheen of sweat, but no one complained. The loyalty and discipline ingrained in their bones sustained them forward.
Time passed quickly during the intense march, and after more than an hour, the blue sea finally came into view, and they could faintly smell the salty, fishy scent unique to the ocean in the air.
However, at that moment, a scout from the general's guard suddenly rode up from behind, his voice urgent, and he clasped his hands and shouted:
"Your Highness! Smoke and dust have been detected behind us; it appears to be pursuing Qing troops!"
Zhu Jiheng's heart sank. His worst fears had come true; the gunshots had indeed attracted flies.
"How large is the pursuing force? How far away are they?" he asked in a deep voice.
"There are about a hundred cavalrymen, about five or six miles away!" the scout replied quickly.
Upon hearing that they were cavalry, Zhu Jiheng's heart sank even further. The distance of five or six miles was only a matter of ten minutes for the cavalry to catch up with them, which was not enough time for them to reach the shore and board the boat.
Thinking of this, he immediately ordered his adjutant, "Pass on my order: the general's guard will immediately escort the carriage to the coast to rendezvous with the level 6 ship. Line infantry will find advantageous terrain and ambush the pursuing troops!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" The adjutant responded without hesitation and immediately rode forward and backward to relay the order. The general's guards, who had been protecting the flanks of the formation, also moved closer.
Zhu Jiheng jumped down from the carriage. Zheng, who was on the carriage, was startled and hurriedly tried to tug at his sleeve, saying urgently, "Husband! Aren't you coming with us?"
"You board the ship first, I will retreat with them." Zhu Jiheng patted her hand reassuringly, then ordered the approaching general's guards to escort the carriage away.
The adjutant rushed back at that moment, and seeing him get out of the carriage, he quickly advised, "Your Highness, swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield. You should retreat back to the ship first!"
Zhu Jiheng shook his head and said, "I cannot abandon my soldiers. I will fight alongside you."
Now that he has decided to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming, he can no longer live a life of ease and comfort. The battlefield is the best school for men. Only by experiencing the baptism of war can he become a qualified leader.
Seeing Zhu Jiheng's resolute attitude, the adjutant had no choice but to give up trying to persuade him, but still insisted that he stay in a safe place.