Chris Bolton had previously gathered them for a secret discussion, revealing Robert Bennett's analysis, which shocked this group of generals.

In these times, no one's record is clean. If the Nanjing authorities wanted to use them as scapegoats, it would be easy to find evidence of their crimes.

If the Japanese pirates escaped, everyone would have to clean up their act—those who deserved death would die, those who deserved exile would be exiled.

Seeing this, Robert Bennett shook his head. He had already gotten the confession he wanted, so he stepped out of the crowd and called for David Brooks.

The voice of a prisoner came, “...The leader has said many times that Ming soldiers are useless. All these years, they've never taken the initiative to attack us, so we shouldn't be afraid. If word gets out, the leader won't run...”

“It’s not appropriate for the prisoners to follow. Leave half your men to watch them,” Robert Bennett ordered.

“That’s what I was thinking, but...” David Brooks said awkwardly, “But I thought, with more men following James, it would boost our presence.”

“My authority doesn’t need that kind of support,” Robert Bennett said with a smile.

At this moment, Chris Bolton and the others all turned to look at Robert Bennett.

Robert Bennett's earlier words echoed in their ears.

—The Japanese pirates have ravaged the south for years, especially in recent times. Have any officers or soldiers ever taken the initiative to attack?

“Truly a master strategist!” Chris Bolton suddenly felt that, as a commander of a thousand households, he was lacking in confidence.

It seemed James really didn’t need his own men to bolster his authority... David Brooks was taken aback, then saluted and stepped back: “I’ll go make the arrangements right away.”

Just then, the prisoner seized the moment when everyone was looking at Robert Bennett, and suddenly lunged out, targeting the seemingly weakest Robert Bennett.

The Japanese pirates owed countless blood debts in the south; once captured, death was certain.

If the prisoner wanted a chance at survival, he had to take a hostage.

Robert Bennett was the best target.

“Young master!”

George Foster drew his sword.

David Brooks rushed toward Robert Bennett, shouting, “Protect James!”

Chris Bolton's eyes widened in fury, “Loose the arrows!”

But it was too late!

Years of peace had made the southern garrison soldiers lose their vigilance.

As the prisoner charged forward, something suddenly appeared in Robert Bennett's hand.

He even had time to aim with one eye, pull back, and release.

Snap!

The prisoner clutched his eye, screaming as he fell.

Robert Bennett tossed the object to George Foster, clapped his hands, and said, “A stone, for you to shoot birds.”

George Foster caught it one-handed. Everyone looked and saw it was a slingshot.

But the small slingshot, gleaming with a metallic sheen, was a style no one had ever seen before.

George Foster said happily, “I’ll shoot some birds for you to roast later, young master.”

The prisoner was pinned down by several soldiers, shouting in despair, “If you dare go to the coast, you’ll surely die. When I die, hundreds will go with me—how satisfying, how satisfying!”

“Bah!” George Foster spat in his face. “With just fifteen men, my young master defeated dozens of you. Now we have hundreds of troops—those hundred or so pirates at sea aren’t even enough to get stuck in my young master’s teeth.”

Seeing Robert Bennett unharmed, David Brooks went over and kicked the prisoner, then turned and laughed at George Foster: “Shitou, you’re absolutely right. With James here, I’m not afraid of anything!”

“I don’t eat people,” Robert Bennett chuckled. The soldiers, thinking it over, felt a surge of courage.

“Let’s move out!” Chris Bolton shouted.

On the third day, Robert Bennett and the others approached the coast.

Meanwhile, Emily Carter intercepted the messenger heading to Nanjing.

Upon learning that a group of Japanese pirates had landed at Songjiang Prefecture and were near the route Robert Bennett was taking to Taizhou Prefecture, Emily Carter's face turned grim.

“If anything happens to the honored one...” Matthew Bolton twitched the corner of his mouth, “Bad omens never fail, but good ones never work.”

“Over a hundred pirates, but there are plenty of local garrison troops. Shouldn’t be a problem, right?” someone said.

“The southern soldiers are useless,” Matthew Bolton said with a bitter smile. “Now we can only hope the honored one is blessed and can avoid those vicious pirates.”

Let’s hope so... Emily Carter took a deep breath. “From now on, change horses but not riders.”

The sound of hooves shattered the spring air, heading south all the way...

Chapter 8: Luring the Enemy

Nanhui Spit.

Here, the waters of the Qiantang River merge with those of the Yangtze, hence the name Nanhui Spit.

The future bustling metropolis of Shanghai was, at this moment, still just a small place.

As the easternmost part of Shanghai County, Nanhui Spit was sparsely populated.

A small boat slowly docked. Two Japanese pirates disguised as Ming commoners came ashore and headed straight toward Shanghai County.

Not long after they left, two Ming scouts emerged from behind the rocks on the shore.

“James the strategist, we finally caught them.”

“If only James were our commander, I’d dare to go to sea and fight the pirates.”

“Shut up! If the commander’s confidants hear you, we’ll be dead men.”

“Damn it, these days, the capable can’t become officials, while the useless keep getting promoted. Come on, let’s go report back.”

In a fishing village seven or eight li away, Robert Bennett was breathing heavily.

This was the home of the local grain chief. Robert Bennett's lung illness had flared up on the way, and now he sat in the house, his face flushed.

Chris Bolton and the others paced anxiously outside.

“Cough, cough, cough!”