The Wokou were merely probing when Robert Bennett charged over with George Foster.

The Wokou’s first reaction was to flee.

“Attack!” Robert Bennett even raised his blade and shouted.

At that moment, dust billowed above the forest.

The Wokou’s eyes narrowed...

Just then, George Foster overtook his young master, sprinting forward in a few strides.

He leapt into the air and slashed down with his blade.

The Wokou instinctively raised his sword to block.

At this time, the southern garrison was in shambles, and their weapons were just as useless, but George Foster had borrowed a thick-backed saber.

Clang!

The ordinary Japanese sword in the Wokou’s hand—snapped!

The thick-backed saber followed through with the chop.

George Foster landed, gripping the saber with both hands, maintaining a kneeling stance on one knee.

The Wokou stood there in a daze.

A thin line of blood slowly appeared on his forehead.

Thud!

The Wokou collapsed.

Robert Bennett turned and shouted, “The enemy has lost their nerve, attack!”

At this moment, only one thought filled William Adams’s mind: “It’s a trap. Run!”

He was the first to bolt.

So much for the bearing of a famous general—it became a joke in an instant.

“After them!”

Robert Bennett raised his long blade and gave chase.

But this body was truly in poor shape; after only a few steps, it felt as if his lungs were on fire.

In the woods,

All was silent, except for the sound of branches being dragged behind.

“This empty fort strategy... actually worked?”

A soldier suddenly raised his arm and cheered, “Victory!”

This was the army’s cheer after slaying an enemy general or defeating the enemy.

On the main road, Robert Bennett turned, bent over, and shouted, “David Brooks, damn it, the Wokou are scattering—what are you waiting for, get after them!”

With their leader fleeing first, the Wokou fell into chaos; formations and regrouping were forgotten as they scattered in all directions.

David Brooks snapped out of his daze, “Chase! Hunt them down!”

A trusted aide beside him said, “Banner officer, how can we let that sickly guy command us?”

Smack!

David Brooks slapped him and cursed, “Who are you to call him a sickly guy?”

“Then what should I call him?” The aide clutched his face, thinking, doesn’t the banner officer look down on the live-in son-in-law?

“Call him James Bennett!” David Brooks mounted his horse and charged out of the woods.

His eyes shone as he shouted, “Men, here’s your chance for merit—charge!”

A dozen soldiers rushed out, dust billowing behind them, as if a mighty army was on the move.

The Wokou looked back and were dumbfounded.

“There’s a great army—we’re doomed!”

Husband and wife are birds in the same forest, but when disaster strikes, they fly their separate ways. When the father dies, the mother remarries—everyone looks out for themselves... The Wokou scattered even further.

Robert Bennett stood there, panting, as David Brooks galloped past him, shouting, “Well done, Maocai!”

At this moment, Robert Bennett only wanted to earn merit, urging, “Don’t stop! Keep chasing, drive them into the wilderness—at least ten li!”

“Understood!” David Brooks replied instinctively, then spurred his horse onward. Halfway, he paused, glancing back at Robert Bennett, thinking, why am I treating him like a superior?

The following infantry rushed past Robert Bennett, their gazes—

Full of naked admiration.

Robert Bennett felt as if he were back in the South American jungle, commanding his troops, cursing, “A bunch of lazybones, hurry up and chase!”

No one took offense; instead, they felt that Master Maocai truly understood the art of war and the importance of speed.

“By the way, where’s Shitou? That kid!”

Robert Bennett turned and saw George Foster charging at the very front, swinging his blade...

A head fell to the ground.

“That’s my young master’s achievement!”

George Foster bent down, picked up the head, and shouted to the pursuing David Brooks.

“I acknowledge it!” David Brooks laughed heartily.

If the Wokou had fled together, not even for his life would David Brooks have dared to pursue. But now, with the Wokou scattered everywhere...

“This is my chance to earn merit for grandpa!”

Behind, dozens of convicts wielding all sorts of ‘weapons’ burst from the woods, feverishly charging at the fleeing Wokou.

This was their chance to atone!

They really did chase and kill for ten li, just as Robert Bennett had ordered.

Gradually, the officers and convicts returned.

Everyone was exhausted to the point of collapse, but also wild with excitement.

Twenty-five Wokou heads!

You know, just recently, the Zhejiang coastal garrison killed a dozen Wokou and dared to call it a great victory.

But here—twenty-five heads.

Robert Bennett had regained some energy, smiling as he looked at everyone.

The crowd stopped.

Looking at this pale-faced youth with his long hair casually tied up, the confidence and composure between his brows was truly admirable.

No one knew who started it, but someone shouted, “James Bennett, mighty and brave!”

They had earned merit!

When this victory report reached Nanjing, those officials would surely be overjoyed.

In these ravaged coastal times, this victory could bring them promotion and fortune!

And all of this was thanks to the fifteen-year-old James Bennett before them.

“James Bennett, mighty and brave!”

Long blades and all sorts of weapons were raised high.

With merit in hand, I’ll finally get promoted and rich... David Brooks couldn’t help but raise his long blade as well.

In the spring sunlight of the afternoon,

The youth kicked the approaching servant George Foster, cursing, “You chased after them alone and didn’t even think to wait.”