For a long time, except for a few fishermen staying on the shore, no other boats appeared.
It was already dark at this time, and you could hear the soft sound of waves and the "coo-coo-coo" calls of unknown birds among the water plants on the riverside.
From time to time, a few night birds fluttered on the river surface and disappeared into the reeds.
At this time, the moon has not yet come out, but the mist has grown from the water plants and filled the air.
Soon the entire river surface was covered with a veil, making it look even more mysterious.
Zhang Yu and the others were all muttering: They didn't know whether the young prince was just having fun or if he really wanted to arrest someone.
It doesn't look like anyone is coming.
They didn't dare to ask, so they could only wait quietly.
Zhu Bai suddenly curled up his lips: "Here he comes, prepare for battle. This time, we can't let him run away again."
He handed the binoculars to Zhang Yu, and Zhang Yu took a look.
Sure enough, a small boat came quietly and quickly from upstream without lighting up.
In addition to the boatman rowing the oar, he could vaguely see a burly man holding a knife standing on the boat.
Zhu Bai saw the boat approaching and said to the captain: "Swing the boat out and stop it."
The captain hurriedly directed the boatman to row the boat across the river.
Zhu Bai took his bow and arrow, walked over and stood beside the boat.
Only now did Zhang Yu understand the reason why Zhu Bai chose this place to ambush.
The river suddenly narrowed here, and the official ship was anchored across the river, anchored at both ends, and no one could get around it.
The man on the boat bowed his hands to Zhu Bai and said, "Oh, I don't know which young master is doing the work. Can you be accommodating and let the little people pass?"
Zhu Bai raised his hand coldly, half-smiling but not smiling: "It's a robbery. Hand over all your belongings."
Zhang Yu and Fugui couldn't help but glance at Zhu Bai in surprise: What the hell? This kid spent a long time trying to rob someone?
The man said: "The young master was joking. I don't know where the villain offended the young master."
Zhu Bai raised his chin to the people in the cabin: "It's no big deal, I just want to see who is in your cabin."
Only then did everyone see that there was another person in the cabin.
It's just that the man huddled up, covering his whole body with a hood and hood, hiding in the darkness. His appearance, age, and height couldn't be seen.
The man said: "This is my sister. She has not left the imperial court. She is ugly and shy to see people. Recently she has been suffering from chicken pox, so we have to travel at night to see the doctor. Please be merciful, young master."
Zhu Bai raised his bow, nocked an arrow, and drew the bow. He aimed an arrow at the man.
His movements were smooth and flowing, without any hesitation.
The man never thought that Zhu Bai would shoot him directly. His eyes widened and he fell straight into the river.
Zhu Bai lowered his bow and cursed: "Damn, you're so verbose. I can't even make up a decent excuse. It's a waste of my time."
The boatman screamed in fright, jumped into the water and abandoned the boat.
Zhu Bai took out a firecracker and said to the people in the cabin: "You'd better come out on your own. Either way, you'll die if you don't come out."
The person in the cabin chuckled: "How did you think that I was still alive and escaped through the waterway?"
Zhang Yu and others' hairs stood up: Isn't this Xiang'er's voice?
Hasn't she been locked up in prison and burned into charcoal?
The man came out of the cabin and lifted his cloak.
It's really fragrant.
Zhu Bai said calmly: "The Japanese pirates came from the southeast to attract the navy. They wanted to clear the waterway and allow one person to escape from the sea to Ryukyu. This person cannot go by land because the checkpoint cannot be passed. Then this person can only be He committed a crime or became a slave. And going down the river by water is faster than by land. For the Japanese pirates to mobilize troops like this, I guess this person must be very important to them. For example, he commanded and planned this robbery of the salt merchant. the one they regard as their leader.”
Xiang'er tilted her head and said, "Then how do you know that person is me?"
Zhu Bai said: "I didn't know at first. I just found out after hearing what your accomplice said. I also realized that setting fire to the cell last night was not only to silence you, but also to fake your death so that you could escape."
He really didn't expect that such a sophisticated plan was thought up by a girl who was only a few years older than him.
The prefect said that when he arrived, the cell door was locked and it was already on fire.
In other words, someone in the government office should open the cell door and release Xiang'er, and someone should send her out of Yangzhou City.
This was what made him most angry.
Xiang'er: "Then have you ever thought that I was afraid that you would come after me, so I asked someone to bring the boat in to pick me up."
Just as he finished speaking, there was a shouting sound from behind, and a ship approached, densely packed with Japanese pirates wielding knives.
Zhang Yu called: "Prepare for battle. Firegunners prepare. Just attack them all, don't separate the front and rear ranks."
Now that the opponent can't touch them, they can naturally kill as many as they can.
Zhu Bai didn't look back and gave Xiang'er a cold smile: "It doesn't matter. As long as I kill you, it doesn't matter who comes."
After saying that, he clicked the trigger, and there was a loud "bang" sound. Xiang'er's chest was blood red and she fell into the river.
The figure rose and fell, struggling for a moment before being submerged by the dark waves.
The Japanese pirates screamed when they saw it, turned around and ran away again.
There was thunder and lightning on Zhubai's ship here, and after a burst of gunfire, many people fell down there.
But their boats are small and they can run fast. By the time Zhu Bai and the others came across, they had disappeared.
Zhang Yu whispered: "Your Highness, it's better not to chase. The situation on the dark sea is worse than on the river."
"Yes, and besides, Mr. Wu and the others are still guarding the sea, and these Japanese pirates can't run far." Zhu Bai nodded and told the soldiers, "Don't mention to anyone that we robbed and killed the Japanese pirates tonight."
Zhu Bai and the others returned to the navy general's office.
Then he wandered around every day and waited for three days before Wu Zhen and the others came back.
Wu Zhen got off the boat and walked while laughing: "It's so exciting. I chased them all the way to Ryukyu and captured the Japanese pirate warship."
Zhu Bai sighed: These Japanese pirates really valued Xiang'er, and they suffered heavy losses trying to save her.
When Wu Zhen came in and saw Zhu Bai, he was stunned: "Your Highness."
He hasn't left yet! !
Zhu Bai said: "Congratulations to Mr. Wu for your great achievements. It's time for me to answer the question."
In fact, yesterday, Lao Zhu asked people to hurry up and send a letter to Zhu Bai: "If you want to know how to try, stop playing. Come back quickly."
Lao Zhu's frustration can be vaguely seen between the lines.
Wu Zhen cupped his hands and said: "Thank you King Xiang for your warship. I sent someone to send you overland to respond to the sky."
From Jiangyin to Yingtian, take the waterway against the current, while the land route is shorter and faster.
The key is that he must ensure that the young prince will not go to other places on his way back.
Compared with the usual bustle, Zhu Bai was particularly quiet on the way back this time, frowning as if thinking about something.
Fugui asked in a low voice: "Your Highness, is there anything difficult?"
Zhu Bai said: "Fugui, you said those Japanese pirates traveled to and from Yangzhou City many times. Who provided them with directions and identities?"
