Traveling through the late Ming Dynasty to promote Chinese civilization

Chapter 421 Entering the City to Suppress the Bandits

The calamity in Linhai County continued. The ronin and the Satsuma Domain's main samurai had formed a tacit understanding: the former specialized in robbing wealthy households, while the latter, having tasted success in the prefectural government, focused on robbing officials. Each side preyed on its own. In terms of wealth, the gentry of Jiangnan were undoubtedly the richest in the land, and even this small prefecture of Taizhou had its share of nouveau riche. However, the officials were no less impressive. Those who could serve as officials in Jiangnan were not benevolent, and after a few years in office, they had amassed considerable wealth. Both the ronin and the Satsuma Domain samurai had plundered their entire fortunes.

The looting began at noon and continued into the next day. Excited by the violence, the Japanese pirates reveled all night, robbing and venting their lust. Not only did they lose money, but the wives, concubines, and daughters of gentry and officials also suffered. The entire county was plunged into panic and misery. However, despite the chaos, a bloodbath did not occur. On one hand, the pirates were hesitant; on the other hand, the people and officials dared not resist, thus avoiding provoking the pirates and preventing a large-scale massacre.

At noon the next day, exactly one day and one night after the city fell, an army dressed in neat red uniforms appeared outside the north gate of Linhai County. The Qiongzhou soldiers who were waiting there were overjoyed and went to greet them.

The team was led by Battalion Commander Shi Ying. Because this "deployment" was only symbolic, Liu Ye and the others marched at a normal pace with the main force. He was only sent to lead a part of the battalion as the vanguard, following the footsteps of the Japanese pirates all the way to Linhai County. After landing, the Japanese pirates looted wherever they went, like locusts passing through, and their tracks were easy to find.

Shi Ying frowned as he looked at the wide-open city gates and asked, "Why are you attacking the city? This wasn't in the original plan. Did you help the Japanese attack the city?"

The platoon leader responsible for monitoring the Japanese pirates was originally transferred from the first battalion. Upon hearing this, he protested, "Reporting to the battalion commander, we didn't intervene. Besides, we don't have heavy artillery, and we only have one platoon. We couldn't help even if we wanted to. The Japanese used a trick to lure the defenders out of the city, and then took advantage of the chaos to attack the city..."

Shi Ying's face turned grim: "You didn't follow Shimazu Mitsuhisa, but instead stayed here. It seems things have gotten out of control?"

The platoon leader said with shame, "I'm useless. After the Japanese entered the city, they stopped listening to us and are now looting the city on a large scale... We tried to stop them, but it wasn't very effective. Moreover, Shimazu Mitsuhisa even considered turning against us. Although we didn't actually do it, it was obvious..."

Upon hearing this, Shi Ying's anger flared. He pulled out his Patriot Type 5 pistol, a weapon used by officers, and said coldly, "These Japanese are arrogant and ignorant. If we don't teach them a lesson, they'll think we're made of clay. Everyone, prepare for battle and march into the town to quell the unrest!"

All the soldiers responded in unison, "Yes, sir!" and quickly took off their rifles from their backs and fixed their bayonets.

“As for you…” Shi Ying stared at the platoon leader, “Although the fault is not entirely yours, you failed to complete your mission and must be punished. I will recommend to the general that you be relieved of your platoon leader position and demoted to private first class, temporarily commanding the platoon until a new platoon leader is appointed.”

The platoon leader was filled with shame, his face flushed red, and he bowed his head and agreed: "I know I was wrong and I am willing to accept any punishment."

As Shi Ying watched the thick smoke rising from the city, he loaded bullets into his pistol and said, "Now I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Pick up your gun, take your men back to the ranks, and come with me into the city to crush these Japanese."

"Yes! Your subordinate will certainly atone for your sins. However, your subordinate suggests that we not load bullets and directly use bayonets. The city has a dense network of streets and alleys, and the terrain is complex. Moreover, the Japanese are skilled in close combat in small areas, and they are fast and swift. It is not suitable to use volley fire to engage the enemy. Not only will the shooting effect be poor, but in the chaos, bullets may also injure our own men. In addition, the Japanese are mixed with civilians, and bullets have no eyes. If too many civilians are injured, it will not be good for the general's reputation."

Shi Yingheng nodded: "Your time with the Japanese hasn't been wasted. Good suggestion. Let's go straight for bayonets." Then he turned to all the soldiers and instructed, "Everyone remember: we have nothing to do with these Japanese. We are here to wipe them out. Any Japanese in sight are enemies. Do not stop attacking without my order! Do you understand?"

All the soldiers shouted in unison, "We understand!" Their voices echoed through the sky.

Quartz waved his hand: "Let's set off now and begin the battle!"

The five companies of soldiers filed into the city according to their company formation. After passing through the narrow gate, they began to jog forward, their thunderous footsteps echoing through the streets. However, the Japanese pirates, caught up in the excitement of their looting, were completely unaware of the commotion. Little did they know that a catastrophe was about to befall them.

The ronin closest to the north gate were the first to suffer. Rows and rows of Qiongzhou soldiers burst through the gate like divine soldiers descending from the sky. Whether they were packing their spoils and covered in silk, or naked and having sex with white-skinned women, none of them expected to be attacked. Without exception, they were all pierced through the heart by bayonets.

The battle broke out suddenly, and the advance was swift. In less than half an hour, the five companies of the First Battalion had wiped out the Japanese pirates in the north of the city and began to advance southward.

By the time the Japanese pirates finally began to realize the danger, the first battalion of soldiers had already advanced to the vicinity of the county government office in the center of the city. This was also the area where the ronin and Satsuma samurai were most concentrated, as wealthy gentry and high-ranking officials mostly lived nearby.

The shouts of battle startled the ronin who were committing the violence. After all, they were samurai who had fought alongside the daimyo for many years. Although they were down on their luck, their combat experience and battlefield awareness were still there. Soon, one ronin after another rushed out from the various mansions and courtyards. Without any organization, they spontaneously gathered together. In no time, about two hundred people had gathered in the open space in front of the county government office.

At this moment, Shi Ying led his direct guard company to advance to the vicinity of the county government office, where they ran into the group of ronin who had gathered together. After being recruited by Shimazu Mitsuhisa, the ronin had only stayed in Lingao for a day or two before heading to Zhejiang. They had not had any direct contact with the Qiongzhou garrison soldiers, but upon seeing the soldiers in their bright armor and the drops of blood dripping from their bayonets, they knew without any explanation that these people were the enemy. Without any mobilization, they roared and pounced on them.

The guards, having warmed up, were in excellent fighting condition. Seeing the enemy gathered in one place, saving them the trouble of searching house to house, they roared and charged forward with their bayonets.