To leave Daqiu territory this night, the timing and geography were actually unfavorable. The moonlight was like a silver plate, spreading white frost for a thousand miles, leaving Mo Zi’s ship disguise with nowhere to hide. The river wind was fierce and strong, the flowing water swirled and sank—changing course would be difficult to manage calmly. Perhaps only the people were aligned.
“The elder brother ahead spoke incorrectly. It’s not that the ship is poor, but that we’re novices, unstable on the river, so we’ve lost face before our predecessors.” As the two ships drew closer, Mo Zi saw the appearance of the leader on the other side.
Short and lean, a pair of water-rat eyes, a round bean nose, barely any whiskers divided on either side of his mouth. He truly looked like a rat.
Rat Leader’s gaze moved from the ship’s hull to Mo Zi’s face, his tone slightly better. “Boy, at least you’re honest.”
Mo Zi laughed twice. “Who doesn’t know that under Sidan’s command are strong soldiers—how dare I not be honest?”
“Enough, hurry back. The rapids are just the first wave. There will be river surges soon. New soldiers like you might capsize even piloting a Heavenly Dragon.” Water Rat was clearly very experienced.
But Mo Zi refused. “Just now, to escape the rapids, we expended tremendous effort. Elder brother, I wonder when your shift change is. Can our ship follow yours back?”
Water Rat wrinkled his whole face into folds, like dry cracks in dark earth. “Damn it, I’m not a wet nurse—who has the patience to lead you bunch of stupid soldier eggs? Such worthless cowards—if you filled the river, it would actually be a good thing. At least you wouldn’t drag down our rear when the fighting starts.”
“Elder brother is completely right. If we feed the fish, it’s because we lack ability. How about this—I don’t want to trouble elder brother. It’s just that the ship’s bottom has some leaks. The rapids haven’t passed yet—just let it lean against your ship briefly to stabilize, then we’ll leave.” Mo Zi let him scold her into appearing meek, yet wasn’t the slightest bit angry, still speaking in a pleasant tone.
The bows were almost touching. She and Water Rat were already face to face, but he detected nothing wrong. After all, anyone encountered on this line, besides one’s own ships, warranted no second thought.
This was also within Mo Zi’s expectations.
“Babbling on and on, annoying to death. Whatever, whatever. In any case, I don’t have time to teach nurslings.” Water Rat handed the torch to his subordinate and walked away.
Mo Zi’s ship quietly sailed past, seeing the situation on Water Rat’s ship crystal clear.
Zan Jin’s voice was low and concentrated. “One large flat hold, about twenty heads visible at the windows. Left wing, one soldier every five paces—over thirty men. Same on the right. Don’t know about the bottom hold.”
Mo Zi looked at the small cabin window frames on the other ship’s hull. “Forty frames on each side, at least one archer behind each frame. Looking at its water displacement, full load capacity—indicating complete configuration. Most conservative estimate: two hundred people.”
Ding Gou exhaled a long breath, chuckling. “I’ve followed you so long without truly fighting. This time I finally get close combat to show my prowess.”
Luo Ying and Xiao Yi said nothing. Sharp short swords flashed silver light at their sleeves.
Seeing Mo Zi approach, Xiao Wei asked, “What’s your plan?” He had never imagined that in close combat, he would need to take orders from a woman, but after experiencing so much, his heart was no longer entirely resistant.
“Shortly, I’ll find an excuse to lead people aboard. Once we enter the main cabin, you act. From left to right, first eliminate those on deck. Move quickly, try not to alert those in the bottom hold. Wei Jia stays behind, conceals himself—if anyone comes out of the main cabin, shoot arrows.” This was called a sniper. “Then we’ll solve the ones below together.”
Xiao Wei nodded silently. With the outcome of Chu Liu dead and Chu Yu gone, if they could bring back a Daqiu ship, it would count as compensation for this journey. In fact, he was quite surprised Mo Zi would adopt such bold and aggressive tactics. Originally he opposed her boarding the enemy ship, but who else but her? Not only could she speak Daqiu, she knew ships inside and out, and possessed flexible adaptability. Moreover, with experts closely following her, plus Hua Yi and the Qianniu Guards accompanying her, nothing should go wrong.
Wei Jia’s eyes flashed brightly, raising his eyebrows to indicate receipt of orders.
“Chou Yu, your task is the same as General Xiao and his men—act together.” She turned to Old Guan and Fei Xia. “Once the situation changes and we retreat back, we’ll have to force our way through, so you must be ready to depart at any moment.”
The two received their orders.
“Hua Yi, you protect him.” Who “him” was went without saying.
“He told me to come up and protect you.” Hua Yi didn’t listen to her. “I’ll accompany you. He has experts by his side.”
Mo Zi recalled those two middle-aged swordsmen called Luo Yi and Zheng Yi. “Your senior brothers?”
Hua Yi tacitly agreed.
“I’ve discovered that those who come out of your school have cold faces and cold tones—you’d scare children. Except for Xiao Yi.” Mo Zi thought about it. “Over the years, she’s changed from talkative to taciturn. You all must bear full responsibility.”
“…” Hua Yi continued his silence. Watching the minister talk with her, he knew full well that engaging in verbal sparring with her would absolutely gain him nothing.
After finishing her instructions, Mo Zi deliberately had people run about, pretending to be very busy with inspections.
Before long, she called out to the soldiers on the Jiao ship, “The lamp oil on our ship has all spilled, and the stern has impact cracks. Please help me ask your leader—can you spare us some supplies? I came from the capital. I don’t have much else, but I do have twenty jars of sorghum wine. I’m willing to exchange ten jars.”
Soldiers—few don’t love wine. Even when wine is prohibited during military campaigns or patrols, armies might lack anything but never wine. Therefore, when the young soldier heard about wine, he couldn’t be slow about it and turned to run into the large cabin.
Before long, he ran back quickly. “The boss says it’s fine, but you have to move the wine onto the ship first.”
“Of course.” Mo Zi quickly had people carry out ten jars of wine from the bottom hold, then had Zan Jin and the others receive them, board the other ship, and walk toward the large cabin.
Just as the young soldier pulled the door open for them to enter, Zan Jin transmitted sound to her ear. “Moving.”
Mo Zi didn’t look back. Stepping inside with one foot, the large cabin was divided into three rooms—left, center, right. She now stood in the central cabin, where eight military officers were gathered in a corner playing dice. After all, the battle with Great Zhou hadn’t started yet, so the atmosphere on the river surface was much more relaxed than at the checkpoint water fortress ships.
“Esteemed predecessors, where should we put this wine?” She smiled to attract their attention, wanting to draw them over.
When the soldiers saw ten large jars of wine, they were delighted beyond words. Tossing aside the dice, they came forward.
“Boss—” someone shouted toward the right room. “Haven’t smelled wine fragrance in over a month. Can we crack open a jar to smell it?”
Someone else shouted, “Boss, just one sip—is that okay?”
Water Rat’s voice came out. “Smell it first. Wait till I come out before drinking.”
The crowd immediately surrounded the wine jars.
Mo Zi gave a look, and Hua Yi waved to his people. In the blink of an eye, they laid down everyone in this cabin room, and without making a sound.
Ding Gou took time to check the left room, made a sleeping gesture to Mo Zi, and held up twelve fingers.
Mo Zi said softly, “Hua Yi,” closed her hand in a circle into a fist, then extended her index finger pointing left, quickly making a slashing motion.
Though Hua Yi had never cooperated with her before, her commanding gestures were extremely concise, allowing him to immediately understand her meaning. He promptly entered the left cabin with Ding Gou.
Mo Zi lifted the cloth curtain and saw only two people inside—one was Water Rat, the other seemed to be his deputy. A terrain map was spread on the table.
“Who let you in?” Seeing her, Water Rat immediately rolled up the terrain map, his expression displeased.
Mo Zi quickly closed the curtain. “Elder brother, I actually wanted to ask where to get supplies. However, if you don’t come out, your brothers are going to snatch all the wine.” Making eye contact, she had Xiao Yi kick a wine jar.
Hearing the sound of rolling jars, Water Rat lifted his foot to walk out. “Damn it, whoever drinks first, I’ll whip him.”
The footsteps drew near. Mo Zi and Luo Ying each guarded one side of the door.
Just as Water Rat’s hand lifted the curtain, his deputy asked, “Why did it suddenly get quiet out there?”
Luo Ying frowned.
Mo Zi reacted extremely quickly. With both hands she grabbed the cloth curtain and yanked it down, wrapping Water Rat’s head, pulling him out. As he struggled with muffled sounds, she slapped his neck—a poison needle from her hidden weapon penetrated.
Water Rat died instantly.
The instant the curtain was yanked down, Luo Ying saw clearly the position of Water Rat’s deputy. Her short sword flew out, stabbing straight into his throat. Though it cut off his cry for help, it still leaked half a surprised shout.
Outside the right cabin, a soldier immediately knocked on the window. “Boss, what’s wrong?”
“Zan Jin, Luo Ying, put the people back by the table, backs to the window. Xiao Yi, bring me a jar of wine, opened.” Mo Zi said quietly.
“Boss?” The soldier saw no movement inside and was about to knock again when the window opened. He was guarding the right wing and only knew a ship from the same fortress had stopped alongside, but hadn’t seen Mo Zi. Seeing only an unfamiliar face, he immediately became alert. “Who are you?”
“I’m the leader from the Chi ship, wanting to borrow some lumber and lamp oil from your boss to repair the ship.” Mo Zi smiled, her gaze searching behind the soldier.
Xiao Wei’s people hadn’t arrived yet.
The soldier was a veteran in his thirties. He looked at Water Rat with his back turned, his gaze uncertain. “Boss?”
Though Mo Zi was smiling, her palms were sweating nervously. If the other side discovered the flaw and the surprise attack became an open assault, it would be terrible. Not only would it trigger a fierce battle, but it would also alert other patrol ships.
She bent down, scooped out a ladle of wine, and brought it before the veteran. “This wine is extremely strong—three cups and you’re down. I told your boss, but he refused to believe it. After drinking three cups straight, he collapsed. Smell it—the flavor is fragrant, mellow, and potent enough, right?”
The veteran’s nose was full of wine smell. He muttered, “How can you drink wine during patrol? If the general finds out, he’ll definitely enforce military law. Also, I see something’s not right about you. If you’re taking supplies, just take them—why give wine? Using these shady, sinister methods is truly suspicious. Come—”
Mo Zi’s third needle shot out.
The veteran’s eyes widened as he fell backward, caught by Xiao Wei who gently laid him on the ground.
“Almost couldn’t delay any longer.” Mo Zi breathed a sigh of relief. “General Xiao came just in time.”
“What’s the situation inside?” Xiao Wei was surprised that Mo Zi used poison to kill, but he asked nothing—at least not now.
“General Xiao, wait a moment. I’ll go out and check.” Mo Zi walked back to the central cabin.
Ding Gou and Hua Yi were already waiting there, telling her it was resolved.
Leading the group to meet with Xiao Wei’s men on deck, they went down to the bottom hold in one breath, catching the Daqiu archers completely off guard. With Zan Jin and Ding Gou on the left, Xiao Wei and Hua Yi on the right, plus Mo Zi devising strategies, and Yuan Cheng’s support from behind, they could have devoured an entire army, let alone just a warship. Though the numbers were comparable, the strength was severely tilted. Before long, they had cleaned this specimen from outside to inside.
The only one complaining was Wei Jia, saying he didn’t get to use his precious bow and arrows—his arms just got numb from holding them up.