novelSusiti Chapter 255 Killing Pigs
Chapter 255 Killing Pigs
Chapter 255 Killing Pigs
In fact, Zhu Chen realized something was wrong the moment the first arrow fell, and as the firelight lit up the gentle slope and the rustling footsteps continued, he became even more certain that he had fallen into a trap.
Everything ahead was designed to drive them towards the south bank of the Qinhuai River, where people had already been lying in ambush, waiting for them to come over.
But Zhu Chen still didn't want to give up.
"Go!" he growled, grabbed Zhu Mancang, and ran eastward with his back bent.
His legs had been soaking in the mud for half a day, and they were cold and heavy, making it feel like he was dragging two wooden stakes when he ran.
The hem of his brocade robe was soaked through and clung to his legs, requiring all his strength to take each step.
Zhu Mancang followed behind him, his ring-bladed sword held horizontally in front of him, his body slightly hunched over, like a wild beast protecting its cubs.
His eyes were wide open in the darkness, his pupils reflecting the flickering torches on the gentle slope.
The footsteps on the slope grew louder and louder.
"Bang!" The second gunshot rang out.
The bullets flew over their heads, hit the muddy ground, and splashed up a cloud of wet mud.
Zhu Chen subconsciously shrank his neck and quickened his pace.
"Big brother, charge forward, don't look back!" Zhu Mancang shouted.
Zhu Chen didn't look back. He gritted his teeth and struggled to climb a low earthen embankment. Above the embankment was a patch of withered yellow reeds, the reeds waist-high, rustling in the wind. He plunged headfirst into the reeds, the dry grass scratching his face, causing both pain and itchiness.
The sound of a bowstring came from behind.
"Whoosh!" An arrow struck the muddy ground less than two feet from Zhu Chen's side, its fletching trembling a few times before disappearing into the soil.
He felt a chill run down his spine, tripped over a stone, and fell forward, landing face-first in the mud.
"Big brother!" Zhu Mancang rushed up and grabbed him.
Just then, the torches on the gentle slope suddenly scattered. Seven or eight torches lit up in different directions, forming a semi-circular encirclement that closed in on them.
The firelight illuminated more than a dozen figures, some holding swords and shields, some carrying spears, and several others holding bows, flintlock pistols, wooden clubs, and long axes, their weapons gleaming coldly in the firelight.
They were unhurried, their pace neither fast nor slow, as if they were hunting a prey that could no longer run.
Zhu Chen's heart sank to the bottom.
He had been operating in Jiangning for over a decade, with over a hundred people under his command, including martial arts instructors, guards, and bodyguards. But at this moment, those people were either resting at home, out on business, or scattered. Most of the remaining people were still far away at the Zhu residence, drinking and eating meat.
Zhu Mancang was the only one by his side, and the encirclement was tightening.
"Go west!" Zhu Chen still didn't give up. He changed direction and headed southwest.
The west side leads to the Silk Market, where there are many alleys; perhaps we can find a narrow passage to squeeze out.
Zhu Mancang turned around after him, but after running a dozen steps, two torches lit up in the darkness ahead, and someone blocked the road to the west.
Zhu Chen glanced at the Qinhuai River subconsciously.
The river was to the north, and the pleasure boats on it were still burning, with cries and screams echoing. Jump into the river? The water temperature in December could freeze a person to death halfway there. Not to mention, even if you did get into the water, you'd have to wade through that muddy area. Did you really have that chance?
To the south is a gentle slope, from which the ambush troops charged down.
There is no way out.
Zhu Chen stopped and turned around to face the approaching torches.
He drew his ring-handled sword from his waist. The sword was old, even with one or two nicks. It was the first sword he had made after saving up money in his early years, and he hadn't replaced it or had a chance to use it all these years.
"Full warehouse." Zhu Chen's voice suddenly calmed down.
"Big brother, I'm here."
Are you scared?
Zhu Mancang grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth: "What's there to be afraid of? Back in Hangzhou, when the government troops' ships caught up with us, you single-handedly killed four of them. All the brothers admired you. Even if I die now, I'll take a few down with me."
Zhu Chen didn't speak again. He lifted the hem of his brocade robe and tucked it into his belt, revealing two mud-stained legs. Then he gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands, the tip pointing downwards, and turned slightly to face the enemy with his left shoulder.
In the firelight, Li Fu and the others walked down the gentle slope.
A dozen or so men, armed with knives, guns, bows, and shields, formed a formidable and imposing group.
"Can't you at least let me die knowing why?" Zhu Chen gave a bitter laugh and shouted, "Whose heroes are you? So many of you are attacking me, fully equipped. Could you be soldiers under the command of the Prince of Zhennan?"
"He's stalling for reinforcements." Li Fu remained unmoved and ordered, "Send him down to ask Yama, the King of Hell."
The bowstring immediately rang.
Zhu Chen seemed to have anticipated this, and with a quick sidestep, the arrow grazed his shoulder, tearing the sleeve of his brocade robe.
Zhu Mancang, standing beside him, did not react so quickly. He only managed to parry the arrow when it came in front of him, barely managing to knock it away, but his hand was numb from the impact.
Before he could catch his breath, Li Fu and his men had already charged over.
"Clang!" The two knives clashed, sparks flying everywhere.
Li Fu almost dropped his sword, so he quickly raised his shield to his chest.
Jiang Sanbao, wielding a long spear, thrust it out from behind the shield.
Zhu Mancang sidestepped, and with a flick of his wrist, the sharp blade sliced across Wei Erdi's chest and abdomen, leaving a white mark on his leather armor.
Zhu Chen charged forward silently, and Wu Shangyuan raised his large shield to block him.
A long spear emerged from behind the shield, its tip aimed directly at Zhu Chen's throat.
Zhu Chen took a step back, sweeping his ring-bladed sword to deflect the spears. But more spears came from both sides, like the quills of a hedgehog, impossible to defend against.
With another "whoosh," the flustered Zhu Mancang was chopped down by Chang Ke's axe and forced to kneel on the ground.
The second axe swung down immediately. Zhu Mancang dared not take it head-on, so he rolled to the side to dodge it. But the axe blade grazed his back, cutting through his cotton-padded coat and the inner layer of flesh, and blood immediately seeped out.
He moved nimbly, dodging the next shot on the ground. Just as he squatted down and tried to stand up, he felt a sharp pain in his ankle. The next moment, he fell backward to the ground, having been hit by a hook-and-sickle spear and hooked down.
The soldiers gave him no further chance; two spears thrust forward one after the other, easily piercing his chest and abdomen, and killing him.
"Full house!" Zhu Chen felt sorrow in his heart and wanted to rush over, but two or three spears pierced through at the same time, forcing him to retreat repeatedly. As he retreated, he said, "Even if you kill me, you will not be able to leave Jiangning."
No one answered him.
More than ten people slowly approached, forming a solid military formation. They advanced in a wall formation, and two or three of them went around behind Zhu Chen to block his retreat.
"It's not too late to back down now," Zhu Chen's tone softened. "I still have some assets in Jiangning. Just name your price. Money, shops, women—I'll give you as much as you want."
Still, no one answered him.
A fierce glint flashed in Zhu Chen's eyes. He suddenly sprang to his feet, slashing horizontally with his ring-shaped blade, aiming straight for the exposed neck of the swordsman and shield bearer, Wu Shangyuan.
This is a cornered beast's last stand.
But no one gave him that chance. A long spear thrust out from behind the shield, piercing Zhu Chen's right shoulder blade.
Zhu Chen was in pain, and the ring-shaped knife slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
Another spear thrust out, piercing his left rib with such force that it almost pierced through his body.
Zhu Chen's knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground.
Blood gushed from his shoulder and ribs, soaking his brocade robe. He lowered his head, panting heavily, making a "whooshing" sound in his throat.
Li Fu stepped forward.
Zhu Chen raised his head and looked at him with an expression that was hard to describe—a mixture of hatred, resentment, and relief.
The steel knife sliced cleanly and swiftly across his neck.
Zhu Chen's eyes widened, his mouth gaped open, and the sound from his throat turned into a hissing, leaky noise. His body swayed, then he fell forward, his face buried in the mud and blood.
The riverbank was quiet for a moment.
The fire on the pleasure boat was still burning, casting a dark red glow on the horizon. The sounds of the Qinhuai River and the shouts of pedestrians in the distance mingled together, like the noisy background noise of the night.
Li Fu stood up, wiped the knife on Zhu Chen's brocade robe, and ordered, "Cut off his head."
Then he pointed to the riverbank and ordered, "There might still be people over there. Search them, and don't leave any survivors. I'll only give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
The crowd readily accepted the order and dispersed.
On the stone steps across the Qinhuai River, Shao Shuyi saw the flames from the flares and the torches that lit up one after another, and knew that Li Fu had started fighting with the people who had come ashore.
Without any hesitation, he immediately gathered his men, slipped into the nearest dark alley, and quickly left.
There was no need to delay any longer. The two small awning boats that were supposed to ferry them across the river had encountered some mishap and failed to arrive in time. Their "role" was over, and it was best to retreat as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the officials seemed quite lazy, and no one had come over for so long, which made it easier for them to leave.
On the river, Bian Yuanheng, enraged, ordered his men to fire arrows, which felled the enemy's fire commander to the ground.
This guy seems to be a die-hard Zhu Chen loyalist. After firing the first shot, he hid somewhere to reload his ammunition, then came out and fired another shot, hitting one of their people.
After he was shot, no one on the pleasure boat offered any resistance.
Flames shot into the sky, and people jumped into the river like dumplings being dropped into a pot, shouting for help.
Bian Yuanheng ignored it and ordered his men to move away from the pleasure boat, join the other four men on their boat, and sail downstream.
They wouldn't go back to the grocery store; instead, they left overnight as planned, heading to the Yangtze River first.
Not long after they left, the two small awning boats that Shao Shuyi had been longing for finally appeared.
The boatmen looked left and right, then turned around and left, disappearing into a tributary harbor.
The painted boat continued to burn, its flames reflecting off half the river.
As it burned, the ship's structure slowly disintegrated and collapsed with a crash.
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