Chapter 35: On the Ship

Yagyu Ichiro observed the river below. Most of the small boats that had arrived earlier had been sunk by cannonballs, and the two or three remaining were his last straws.

He was preparing to swing onto a small boat using the rope of his grappling hook when Li Sheng's subordinate Datou suddenly rushed over, crying and hugging Yagyu Ichiro's thigh, shouting: "Lord Yagyu Ichiro, save me!"

"Get lost!" Yagyu Ichiro kicked him violently, sending him flying over the railing. He fell into the water with a splash, creating a large spray.

At the same time, he rushed toward the gunwale of the large ship, preparing to jump. But just as he was about to step onto the railing, a cannonball fell from the sky and exploded on the gunwale nearby.

Yagyu Ichiro was blown away by the incoming blast, and the grappling hook on the gunwale was snapped, cutting off his path back to the small boats.

The remaining River Bandits on the small boats saw this and gave up on waiting for Yagyu Ichiro. Since the grappling hook was broken and the connection between the large ship and the small boats was severed, when if not now should they run?

So the two or three small boats immediately turned their bows and headed out of Xijin Ferry. If they were allowed to leave the ferry, they could travel along the Yangtze River into the East China Sea, and catching them then would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

"Send a signal to the Red Boat Rescue Team and have them help intercept the enemy ships." Lin Zuo said to those behind him on the bank.

The soldier who had been standing on the rock heard Lin Zuo's order and waved his torch up and down toward the opposite riverbank.

Shortly after he sent the signal, several small red boats painted with red lacquer emerged from the reed marshes and sped toward the center of the river.

Su Xiaoxi stood at the bow, with young women standing behind her. The river wind blew through their hair, and the firelight reflected on their faces, making them look exceptionally heroic.

Datou struggled in the water, trying hard to swim toward the riverbank.

He also grew up by the water, so his swimming skills were quite good. After being kicked into the river by Yagyu Ichiro, he dove and swam for a distance, avoiding the battlefield center where cannonballs were flying, and then swam to the bank under the cover of night.

The moment he touched the bank, Datou felt the excitement of surviving a disaster. Being able to save his life in such a situation could be considered a blessing from his ancestors.

He made up his mind that once he got ashore, he would leave Zhenjiang Prefecture immediately and find a remote place to live under an assumed name. Anyway, the money he had made over the past few years was enough for him to live in luxury for the rest of his life.

However, just as he stood up and walked a few steps, several dark shadows pounced from the bushes on the bank, forcibly pinning him to the ground and binding him.

"Take him away." Tang Zheng said loudly, directing several soldiers to escort the trussed-up Datou away.

Although he had only been picking up scraps far outside the battlefield, catching some fish that had slipped through the net, Tang Zheng felt a sense of accomplishment.

As a child, he had admired his father and had once boasted that he would become an Embroidered Uniform Guard when he grew up. Unfortunately, his ideals were defeated by reality after his father's death. In the ten years since, he had been drifting through life, not even daring to mention his father's identity to others.

This was his first time on a battlefield. The scene of cannons and fire reflecting each other, the whooshing sound of arrows cutting through the air, and the faint smell of blood permeating the air brought him a strange stimulation. It seemed that the dream buried deep in his heart ten years ago had surged up once again.

He hoped his father's spirit in heaven could be proud of his son.

Tang Zheng thought silently, lost in thought for a moment, when he vaguely heard two soldiers nearby talking.

"Miss Su is truly a heroine among women."

"That's right, such courage and responsibility, even ordinary men cannot compare."

Tang Zheng was stunned and couldn't help but interrupt: "Which Miss Su are you talking about?"

"Which Miss Su could it be? Miss Su Xiaoxi, of course."

"Su Xiaoxi? Where is she?"

"There." The soldier gestured toward the center of the river: "On the ship."

Tang Zheng subconsciously looked toward the center of the river. In the pitch black, he only saw the burning tribute ship.

"On the ship?" Tang Zheng slapped his forehead: "Damn it!"

The next moment, he ran toward the fishing boat docked nearby. The soldier who had just spoken shouted at him from behind, but he couldn't hear anything at all.

Tang Zheng ran wildly all the way to the fishing boat, then gasped for breath and shouted to the fishermen: "Brothers, hurry and take me to that burning ship."

A fisherman couldn't help but advise: "It's too dangerous there."

"No matter how dangerous, I have to go!"

Seeing Tang Zheng's firm attitude, the fishermen looked at each other and said: "Since Lord Tang says so, we brothers will accompany you one more time."

Su Xiaoxi stood on the Red Boat, facing several small boats of River Bandits. As the distance between the two sides closed rapidly, she could even see the ferocious faces of those River Bandits.

These River Bandits knew very well that if they couldn't break out of Xijindu, they would be wiped out tonight. Therefore, they were all desperate men, daring to fight to the death with anyone blocking their way.

The lead River Bandit pointed his blade forward and shouted: "Charge through!" The other River Bandits also waved their weapons, issuing threatening curses.

However, Su Xiaoxi was not afraid.

"Light the fire, block the river channel." She ordered loudly.

The female crew members behind her lit the thatch on their boats, and several fire-ships lined up, charging head-on toward the River Bandits' boats.

"Everyone, abandon ship!"

Following Su Xiaoxi's order, all the crew members on the Red Boat jumped into the water.

The River Bandits' boats were getting closer and closer to the fire-ships. Because of their high speed, it was now difficult to turn or avoid them.

The firelight illuminated the terrified faces of the River Bandits. A moment later, the fire-ships collided with the River Bandits' boats, and with the help of the river wind, the fire spread rapidly to the River Bandits' boats.

Desperate screams rang out instantly.

"Xiaoxi!"

"Xiaoxi, where are you?"

Tang Zheng used all his strength to climb onto the ship engulfed in flames, shouting as he climbed, but unfortunately, no one answered him.

Worried that Su Xiaoxi was trapped in the cabin, Tang Zheng gritted his teeth and rushed into the sea of fire. Behind him, a burning mast collapsed with a boom, blocking his path back.

"Xiaoxi!"

"Su Xiaoxi!"

"Answer me quickly!"

"Hey, I'm here." A vague voice suddenly came from afar, lifting Tang Zheng's spirits.

He looked toward the direction of the voice and saw a blurry shadow waving at him in the river a hundred meters away. Judging by the silhouette, hair, and movements, it was undoubtedly Su Xiaoxi.

Tang Zheng opened his mouth, suddenly feeling he didn't know what to say.

Who said Su Xiaoxi was on the ship?

Isn't this setting someone up?

So I took such a big risk to board the fire-ship just to go sightseeing? ### CHAPTER 36