Chapter 107: Smooth Sailing
Although the news of the national mourning hadn’t reached Zhejiang at the time, and the ignorant are blameless, that only applies if one was innocent to begin with. In his case, it should be called compounding punishments for multiple crimes!
Demotion and investigation count as light punishments.
Thinking of the tragic aftermath, a chill ran from his tailbone straight to the back of his head. The Commander wanted to cry but had no tears, truly wishing he could take a knife and end himself on the spot.
Just as he hesitated between hanging and self-stabbing, he heard thieves had broken into the Lin Mansion and suddenly felt he had grasped a lifesaving straw.
As long as he caught the thieves and pinned the crime of destroying the River Blocking Rope on them.
Then he wouldn’t just have merit; at least merits and faults would offset.
That’s why he gathered Household Soldiers, hurried on fast horses, and rushed here overnight.
If not for his own life, how would a grand Commander like him care about the Lin Clan’s local tyrants and evil gentry.
Now, the Commander’s only goal was to round up this gang of thieves and make the case airtight!
He thought the thieves trapped in the mansion were at the end of their road.
Unexpectedly, they came up with such a muddle through scheme.
Truly, cunning to the extreme! Sly to the extreme!
Under his orders, several groups surrounded and intercepted together, exerting immense strength, finally managing to gradually calm the crowd.
His Household Soldiers kept shouting: “Sit down, all sit in place!”
At this moment, another boom came from inside the mansion, followed by flames shooting skyward.
The crowd that had just calmed was startled again, scattering in all directions.
Many Lin Mansion women, wearing only bustiers and undergarments, screamed and ran, exposing large expanses of snow-white skin with spring views spilling out.
The Commander’s Household Soldiers had strict discipline and could hold back.
Patrol Office Soldiers and Clerk militiamen, where had they seen such a scene? Their eyes were all glued to the surging snow waves.
Even bolder ones directly groped them.
The women, molested, panicked even more, screaming nonstop, spurring the other Lin Mansion people to scatter chaotically too. Some had already fled a mile or two, and Household Soldiers hurriedly mounted to chase.
In an instant, chaos erupted again before the Lin Mansion gate, chickens flying and dogs jumping.
Beside the Commander, a Household Soldier cupped his hands and said: “General, there seem to be thief remnants left inside the mansion. Let me take men to check.”
The Commander pondered a moment, then slowly shook his head.
First, gunpowder can be detonated by fuse; the thieves might not be in the mansion—it could be a feint to split his forces, making it easier to muddle through.
Second, the situation inside is unclear; Household Soldiers charging in rashly could suffer casualties. Even if thieves are really inside, just guard the exits and catch them in the trap.
With this in mind, the Commander asked the Patrol Inspector: “Where does the Manor Back Door lead?”
Bewilderment appeared on the Patrol Inspector’s face as he looked toward the Militia Captain.
The captain hurriedly said: “Out the back door is just one or two li to the Yongning River. The thieves can’t get far!”
The Commander thought inwardly: “This is bad!”
The Commander hurriedly told the Household Soldiers: “Get twenty men to circle to the back door with me!”
……
At this time, Lin Mansion Back Door.
In the dim morning light, Crew Members filed aboard carrying the last bits of gold, silver, and valuables.
“Sixth ship crew complete!”
“Fifth ship crew complete!”
……
On the seven Bird Ships, reports kept coming.
“Third ship crew complete!”
After counting, Lei Sanxiang said: “Helmsman, even the first ship is complete. Let’s go!”
“Set sail!”
At Lin Qian’s order, the seven Bird Ships slowly rowed oars and departed.
“Thieves, don’t run!” Distant hoofbeats arrived, mixed with a sky-piercing roar.
Outside the Lin Mansion west wall, a cavalry troop galloped up.
Though only over twenty men, all wore Armor and wielded Long Knives, their fierce aura overwhelming.
“Whoosh!”
Amid the gallop, a rider drew bow and loosed an arrow with a tearing sound.
“Thud!”
Beside Lin Qian, a Crew Member’s Shield took the arrow with a thud; the Crew Member staggered, nearly falling.
Fortunately, such Mounted Archery was only from the lead rider.
Lin Qian ordered: “Raise guns!”
Crew Members from behind drew ten Matchlock Guns from the Cabin, loaded powder and shot, lit fuses, and blew steadily.
The waterway here was narrow—no hoisting sail, only slow rowing; cavalry catching up was just a matter of time.
Lin Qian watched the closing cavalry, calculating distance.
When they entered twenty paces, Lin Qian shouted: “Fire!”
“Hiss—”
“Bang bang bang…”
Ten Matchlock Guns fired, white smoke billowing.
Far off, two horses’ chests burst in blood mist, front legs buckling as riders tumbled.
Another rider’s arm was hit, most of it shredding into airborne gore, hanging by skin.
That rider screamed and fell.
At this sight, remaining cavalry charged even harder, fearless.
Lin Qian said: “Crossbow Bolts!”
Matchlock gunners fell back to reload; twelve crossbowmen neared the ship’s rail, aiming sharp Crossbow Bolts.
“Whoosh!”
Then the leader loosed an arrow, meteor-fast, straight at Lin Qian.
Lu Zhou reacted swiftly, raising his Shield to block.
“Thud!” The arrow buried deep, feathers quivering; tip pierced through, five inches from Lu Zhou’s throat.
“Fire!” Lin Qian’s face unchanged, cavalry now in fifteen paces—he bellowed the order.
Crossbow strings twanged around him.
Blood mist bloomed again; several more riders fell.
The archer too was hit and tumbled, rolling in dust before rising—unpierced, but a deep gouge scarred his right shoulder and arm; the bolt had glanced off.
Remaining cavalry now mere ten paces away, upon them in moments.
Lin Qian roared: “Now!”
Lei Sanxiang rose, grinning savagely as he hurled a black rectangular cylinder arm-length, fuse end lit and burning fast.
Dawn had just broken; surroundings still dim.
It landed with a gunpowder hiss, then erupted in blinding white light and smoke.
Cavalry were flash-blinded, seeing nothing.
Mounts panicked, bolting wildly.
One rider lost control, plunging straight into the waterway.
His cloth-covered Armor soaked, weighing him down; blind and flailing, he gulped water but grabbed the bank, surviving.
“Exhilarating! Again!” Lei Sanxiang guffawed wildly, lit a Carbon Heat Agent, and tossed it ashore.
Another blinding white flash erupted.
The Carbon Heat Agent reduced litharge to molten lead, spilling across the ground and igniting vegetation into roaring flames.
Lei Sanxiang shielded his eyes with one hand, lit another Carbon Heat Agent with the other, then tossed it to the bank after igniting the fuse.
This one didn’t go off.
Lin Qian’s handmade Carbon Heat Agent sticks: two bangs out of three was sheer luck.
Seeing Lei Sanxiang reach for more, Lin Qian stopped him.
Shore cavalry now in total disarray, chase impossible.
The lead Bird Ship had entered the Yongning River.
Northwest wind on the river; Bird Ships rode downstream with wind and current, flying along.
“Right rudder, hoist sail!”
