Slowly, the retreating Japanese pirates gradually disappeared in the southern sky, and they could not be seen standing on the city wall.

"it's time."

Zhu Ping'an looked away from the sky where the Japanese pirates disappeared, turned his head and said to Liu Dadao, "Beat the drums and gather troops, ready to go."

Drums sounded, mules and horses neighed, and armor rubbed against each other. Soon, more than 800 Zhejiang troops were ready to go.

This made the defenders on the city wall feel ashamed. If it was them, it would be considered an extraordinary performance to be able to gather one-fifth of them.

Shang Zhifu and other officials couldn't help admiring Zhu Pingan's ability to train and command troops. This Zhejiang army has been in the army for less than half a year, and it was banned by Zhu Pingan's command and order. It's really amazing.

"Open the city gate! The whole army is going out!" Zhu Pingan held the rein in one hand, raised the other hand, and ordered loudly.

Creaking, the city gate slowly opened, and more than 800 Zhejiang soldiers rode mules and horses, lined up neatly, and drove their horses out of the city in an orderly manner.

"Zihou, all officers and men, be careful all the way, I will prepare a celebration banquet for you in the city." Shang Zhifu led a group of officials to see them off outside the city gate.

"Thank you, Mr. Shang. With Mr. Shang's good words, I hope this trip can give the Japanese pirates a gift that they will never forget." Zhu Pingan bowed his hands to Shang Zhifu on horseback, and said with a smile.

"Regardless of the outcome of this trip, Zihou, you all deserve to be the hosts of the most luxurious celebration banquet."

Shang Zhifu said with emotion, this is his sincere words, Zhu Pingan and his Zhejiang Army are the saviors of Suzhou City.

If there were no Zhu Pingan and the Zhejiang Army, Suzhou City would have fallen. Thanks to Zhu Pingan, he saved Suzhou City and captured tens of thousands of Japanese pirates.

So, Zhu Ping'an and the others can afford the best and best celebration banquet, no matter how luxurious it is.

"Thank you, Mr. Shang, please stay a little longer, our lords, we are leaving now." Zhu Pingan bowed his hands and said goodbye.

"Zihou/Master Zhu, have a good journey."

Shang Zhifu led a group of officials to send Zhu Pingan off.

"Set off!"

Zhu Ping'an pulled the reins and rode away first, Liu Dadao and others stood aside to protect him, followed by more than 800 Zhejiang troops.

Seeing Zhu Pingan lead the Zhe army away, an official who sent him off couldn't help touching his forehead, and said to Shang Zhifu in doubt, "My lord, the Japanese pirates are retreating to the south. Master Zhu and the others are chasing the Japanese pirates. How can they go northeast?" ? Is the direction wrong?"

"Yes, my lord, is the direction wrong?" Hearing this, all the officials also had the same confusion.

Hearing the confusion of the officials under him, Shangzhifu also had similar confusion. He didn't know why Zhu Ping'an went to the northeast, but in order to maintain his majesty as a superior official, even if he didn't know, Shangzhifu also had a face that I knew but didn't bother to tell you. , said indifferently, "Zi Hou went to the northeast, naturally there is his reason. If you can easily guess, then you are all Zi Hou. Go back to the city, close the city gate, step up patrols, and prevent the Japanese pirates from coming back. Return. In addition, recruit master chefs from all major restaurants in the city to prepare high-quality ingredients, enough wine and meat, and prepare a celebration banquet for Zihou and the Zhejiang army."

"Obey." A group of officials took orders one after another.

When Zhu Pingan led the Zhe army to the northeast, Liu Dadao also had the same confusion as Mr. Shang and the others. While riding his horse to protect Zhu Pingan, he asked suspiciously, "Young master, the Japanese pirates retreated south and went southeast by boat. How can we go to the northeast, so we won't be able to catch up with the Japanese pirates."

Liu Mu also had the same confusion.

"Hehe, why do we have to catch up with the Japanese pirates? We have to go ahead of the Japanese pirates." Zhu Pingan said with a smile.

"Rush ahead of the Japanese pirates? Us?" Liu Dadao looked incredible.

"That's right, when the Japanese pirates came, they came by boat, and when they left, they must also go by boat. The river they came from must be the same river. Only this river can drive away the pirates' sea boats. The general direction of the river is southeast, but it turned northward with a large arc in Kunshan, and the direction turned to the north for a few miles, and then turned southeast again, heading for the Taicang estuary."

"The destination of our trip is Kunshan! Between two points, the straight line is the shortest. We will ride the horse to the northeast and go straight to Kunshan. It will take about 60 miles, which will save nearly 20 miles compared with the Japanese pirates' waterway."

Zhu Pingan explained with a smile.

"The Japanese pirates have been gone for so long, can we catch up with the Japanese pirates?" Liu Dadao asked again.

"Of course we can be ahead of the Japanese pirates." Zhu Pingan replied confidently.

"Young master, although I don't read much, I also know the reason why all rivers flow into the sea. The rivers all flow to the sea. The Japanese pirates follow the water, and the speed is not slow. Can we catch up with the Japanese pirates?"

Although Liu Dadao firmly believed in Zhu Ping'an's words, he was still a little worried. After all, the Japanese pirates had been gone for so long, and it was still going smoothly.

"Hehe, don't worry. First of all, it is the twelfth lunar month of winter, there is little precipitation, the water volume of the river is greatly reduced, and the water flow is slow. Moreover, the east wind is blowing today. It is a headwind for the Japanese pirates who evacuated to Tuolin's lair. Japanese boats The speed of the boat will be greatly affected, and we are much faster than them on mules and horses; secondly, huh, huh, the Japanese pirates are bound to set up ambushes along the way in order to ambush the pursuers. In order to achieve their goal, their speed will be deliberately slowed down Speed, to wait for the pursuers. To sum up, whether it is God or the Japanese pirates themselves, they will greatly reduce the retreat speed of the Japanese pirates. If we rush to Kunshan at full speed, we will be able to catch up with them."

Zhu Ping'an smiled slightly, and while galloping at full speed, explained to them simply.

Zhu Ping'an is sure that the Japanese pirates will definitely set up ambushes along the way. This is their traditional skill and will not be lost.

Zhu Ping'an chose to go northeast to Kunshan instead of staying behind the Japanese pirates. Apart from the shortest straight line between the two points, he also avoided the ambush set by the Japanese pirates.

There are too many places suitable for ambush along the way, hills, dry reeds, barren grasslands, dense forests, and even villages, etc. There are too many, and Zhu Ping'an can't guess that the Japanese pirates will set up an ambush there.

However, the only certainty is that the Japanese pirates must have laid an ambush on their way.

If you want to avoid the ambush, it's easy, just change the road.

You go your way, I go mine.

If you are willing to set up an ambush, then set it up, and let you wait until the flowers are all gone, but you will not be able to wait for the Lord, and I will send a big gift in front of the road you must pass.

As long as you return to Tuolin's lair by boat, you must accept my big gift, and you can't accept it.