Chapter 6: Sailing on the River
Fu Qinghe nodded, aware that his concern was causing him to lose his composure, yet he was puzzled as to why Lin Fu could think so calmly. He mused that given Lin Fu's obsession with the young lady, it would perhaps be more reasonable for him to be completely out of sorts.
Xiao Man glanced at Lin Fu, her astonishment revealing a clear sense of confusion: How could it possibly be him who saved Mr. Fu?
Upon entering the reed marsh, it became apparent that hiding with the two women deep within was no easy task. In autumn, the river water is abundant, and the shallow waters near Xisha Island are quite deep. The vast reeds on both sides of the riverbank only have their flower tops visible above the water, making it likely that if a person were to enter, their head would not remain above the surface. Additionally, the water is thick with aquatic plants, making it easy to become entangled. Taking two women who cannot swim into the depths of the reed marsh is more challenging than traversing the Yangtze River. Lin Ba and Fu Qinghe discussed waiting until the pirates divided their forces. As long as there are fewer than ten pirates guarding the pleasure boat, they could even kill and seize the ship. Even if pirates were to pursue them through the water, with the dense aquatic vegetation, it would be easy to get caught. Lin Ba and Fu Qinghe considered that after the pirates divided their forces, if the number of guards was low, they would have a chance to fight back. There was also a greater possibility that the number of pirates was not large, and they would need to split their forces to guard the ship. Not knowing the pirates' true strength, they would be hesitant to pursue recklessly.
As the boat reached the depths of the reed marsh, a commotion arose ahead: "Damn it, the naval ships from Ninghai Town, two fast paddle boats are about to encircle us. Damn it, everyone draw your knives and get ready to fight..."
The flower windows on both sides were secured from the outside with wooden wedges to prevent the prisoners from opening the windows and jumping out to escape. In the thick fog, Lin Ba touched the front and vaguely saw four pirates lying haphazardly under the canopy at the bow of the ship. From the sounds, only two were snoring, and it was impossible to discern whether the other two pirates were truly asleep. The fog obscured the view of the situation on the deck at the stern of the pirate ship, but it was possible to hear several pirates boasting about their exploits with women.
Lin Buxin thought that there were still several injured pirates recuperating in the cabin
In the moment of stillness, when no useful information could be heard, he retreated and detailed the situation he observed to Fu Qinghe
Lin Bugang was just about to retreat when he saw a pirate lying under the awning suddenly sit up and exclaim, "Who is there?"
Lin Fuxin thought that this girl could at most be considered a loli who had just entered junior high school. Her soft body pressed closely against him, her thin clothing revealing the sensation of her chest, which was as soft as two apricots. It was a feeling of not having fully developed yet, and seeing her long eyelashes framing tear-filled beautiful eyes, her delicate little face looking pitiful, with swollen eyelids, it was unclear how long she had cried yesterday. This sight evoked feelings of compassion and affection in Lin Fuxin, reminding him of a girl who sat in front of him during junior high school.
In the past, Lin Fu could be considered a typical "otaku" by modern standards, being completely oblivious to the world outside and solely focused on reading the classics. However, despite his rote learning, he possessed some knowledge, albeit lacking adaptability.
"The little girls dare to escape, which is good; we can catch them and satisfy the brothers' cravings, then kill them with a single knife—those masters over there can't blame us for being untrustworthy." A coarse voice came from the right cabin.
The pirate ship raised its sails to catch the wind, advancing in an S-shaped course along the river's central channel. Lin Ba observed a large sand island floating on the river's surface in the distance. At this moment, there was a time difference of over a thousand years from the future he had seen in his dreams. A millennium was enough for rivers to change course and sand to accumulate into islands. He thought that many of the coastal cities he was familiar with might still be underwater. Calculating the ship's speed and time, he realized that the large island before him had not yet exited the jurisdiction of Weiyang Prefecture, so it should not be the Chongming Island from his memories. On the other hand, Lin Ba doubted whether Chongming Island had emerged from the water at this time.
Thick fog enveloped the area, visibility limited to only seven or eight steps ahead. The pirate ship in front was setting sail, showing no signs of slowing down despite the fog.
"Young Master Lin saved me," said Fu Qinghe. "There are not many thieves on the ship; Young Master Lin and I will wait for the right moment to take action..."
You are correct. Fu Qinghe acknowledged that Lin Fu's analysis was reasonable, feeling as if he were a venomous snake lurking in the grass, patiently waiting for the opportunity to strike with lethal precision. It is truly strange how he had previously misjudged such a character.
A good opportunity! Lin Fu whispered softly, picking up a short knife, and stealthily made his way towards the bow of the boat with Fu Qinghe. The pleasure boat was sealed within the inner side of the river bend, while the pirates on the front sailboat were on high alert. The swift paddle boat from Ninghai Town had already approached closely and started shooting arrows. Naturally, the pirates in front would not pay attention to this side, leaving two heavily injured pirates on the pleasure boat focused intently on the battle situation ahead.
Lin Fu's tightly furrowed brows did not relax; he harbored an almost instinctive aversion towards the so-called officials and soldiers. There seemed to be a lingering pain in his head from where a bullet had struck. He and Fu Qinghe quickly hid in the tail cabin, fearing that the pirates might adjust the ship's defenses and encounter them.
On the main mast of the pirate ship, a lookout is set up on the crossbeam, allowing for a distant view of enemy movements. Listening to the commotion ahead, Fu Qinghe's face reveals surprise; the arrival of the officials and soldiers to rescue them is certainly preferable to their killing and seizing the ship. The pirate ship has already entered the deeper part of the reed marsh, and considering the short waterway, a fast paddle boat is quicker than a pirate sailing ship. This group of pirates has no choice but to engage in a fierce battle, as escaping without sustaining any injuries is impossible.
Lin Bu secretly cursed under his breath: These young ladies are indeed quite pragmatic
The pirate ship dragged the painted boat into a narrow inlet surrounded by reeds. With strong defenses and complete weaponry, the pirate ship was prepared for a fierce battle. Naturally, they adjusted the positions of the two vessels, allowing the painted boat to move to the inner side while the pirate ship sealed off the inlet from the outside. All the pirates rushed to the front to defend against the impending threat, leaving only two severely injured pirates in the painted boat, significantly affecting its combat capability
Fu Qinghe furrowed his brows in contemplation and said, "They used wooden wedges to block the windows from the outside, anticipating the people inside. They did not consider that there might be others on the boat..." He intended to take advantage of the thick fog to sneak over, pry open the window, rescue the two individuals first, and then look for an opportunity to reach the shore.
They did not go down to the aft lower deck, but instead remained at the aft bulkhead on the main deck, monitoring the developments outside.
Let her go get it herself, are we afraid she will jump overboard and escape? We just need to keep an eye on the main person... Another pirate curled up comfortably, kicked the cabin door open with his foot, allowing the maid Su Mei to go to the aft cabin to fetch the book herself
"You son of a bitch, if I were to slice your thigh, why wouldn't I cut off your balls? How dare you think about women, it really pisses me off..." A burst of laughter followed.
How many compartments are there in the aft hold? Lin Fu first retreated to the cargo hold that was placed back in the book box. Hearing the light footsteps, when Xiao Man pushed the door open, he suddenly covered her mouth and nose from behind, preventing her from making a sound, and whispered in her ear: "It’s me! Don’t make a sound." Only after she recognized his face did he release his hand.
Reeds, also known as bulrushes, are what is described as "jianjia" in the Book of Songs; gazing at the grayish-white expanse of reeds that meets the river and sky, Lin Baixin thought that if he could unexpectedly seize the two women and hide them in the reed marsh, the possibility of escape would be somewhat greater
Xiao Man hesitated for a moment, yet her small hand did not pull away, holding Lin Fu's hand. Surprisingly, she felt that the useless scholar, whom she usually looked down upon, could also bring her a sense of security. After a night filled with panic and near despair, anyone's presence would make her involuntarily rely on them. The young girl was unaware of the distinctions in her feelings; she thought to herself that she was actually willing to let him hold her hand. Remembering the awkwardness of being pressed against him earlier, she felt a tinge of shyness and was somewhat embarrassed to look up at him. Obediently, she watched as he selected a few books and some old wooden hairpins, following him out of the tail cabin.
Seeing Fu Qinghe, Xiao Man was once again filled with surprise, and tears finally could not be restrained as she softly wept, "I heard from the thieves outside that Uncle Fu has died, and the young lady almost fainted from crying, thinking all hope was lost..." At this moment, she seemed to suddenly remember that Lin Fu was just a useless scholar, and shyly struggled to stand up from his embrace, placing all her hopes on Fu Qinghe, "Uncle Fu, you must go and eliminate all those thieves..."
Lin Bu paid no attention to what Fu Qinghe was thinking and continued to analyze: "The pirates are likely to exchange the meat ticket boy for ransom money, and it is very possible that the two ships will separate. As long as there are fewer than ten pirates on the pleasure boat, even if we are discovered later, we still have a chance to fight back"
"Enough of the nonsense, cut off your tongue!" Another voice scolded the person ahead.
As the boat entered the reed marsh from the river mouth, the flocks of birds hidden within the reeds shot into the sky like a rain of arrows, creating an extraordinarily spectacular scene. Lin Fu gazed at the thick layer of bird droppings accumulated in the marsh, pondering that this deserted island was indeed a paradise for birds. He wondered if the people on both banks would find the sight of the birds under this sky unusual—after all, the naval garrison of Ninghai Army Town was right on the southern bank!
Fu Qinghe's plan is not very feasible, and Lin Fu does not directly deny it, but quietly reminds him: "Miss Su Mei is locked up in the front..." Several pirates on the ship are guarding the bow, and a few injured pirates are in the cabin next to Su Mei. It is difficult to ensure that no noise will be made when pulling out the wooden wedges from outside to open the window and rescue her. Moreover, after quietly rescuing her, they would need to immediately enter the water to avoid being discovered by the pirates. Although the fog on the river makes it easier to hide their movements, it also allows them to roughly determine the direction of the shore based on the water flow. However, at this moment, the ship has already exited the mouth of the Bai Shui River and entered the Yangtze River. This section is the downstream of the Yangtze River, where the water is vast and the autumn tide has not receded, making the river nearly twenty to thirty miles wide. Even if the pirates do not pursue them into the water, Lin Fu does not feel confident that he can safely swim someone to the shore. He sees that Fu Qinghe is somewhat anxious and reassures him, "There are still dozens of hostages on the ship. This group of pirates will definitely wait until they receive the ransom before truly setting sail for Jin'an..."
The Xisha Islands before us are a large sandbank that gradually emerged after the establishment of our dynasty. Although the area is extensive, it is unstable, with its shape continuously changing over the past century due to the fluctuations in the strength of the river and sea tides.
Pay close attention to the sounds at the bow of the ship, as Lin Fu and Fu Qinghe quietly discuss the details of the rescue
There are still dozens of meat coupons on the ship that need to be exchanged for ransom silver. The pirates need to find a place to rest temporarily. Just as Fu Qinghe anticipated, the pirate ship is towing the pleasure boat straight towards Xisha Island.
Fu Qinghe had seen the swift paddle boats of Ninghai Town and thought to himself that regardless of the incompetence of the officials and soldiers, the two swift paddle boats would have at least eighty to ninety soldiers on board, which should be more than sufficient to deal with thirty pirates
"Do not move inside, I will go take a look..." said the pirate
As Lin Fu gazed far ahead at the sandy island, Fu Qinghe remarked, "The pirates may take a rest at Xisha Island"
Lin Fu and Fu Qinghe lay in wait in the aft cabin for the right opportunity. Occasionally, two or three pirates would walk around the stern deck, but no one came down to check the aft cabin. After resting for half a day in the aft cabin, Fu Qinghe had regained most of his strength. The injuries he sustained were a nuisance, but he could still endure them. Listening to the silence at the stern, he and Lin Fu quietly made their way out, only to discover that the thick fog on the river had dissipated, and the sun was shining brightly overhead, with lush vegetation lining both banks.
Lin Fu was taken aback, not knowing how his whereabouts had been exposed. He held his breath, waiting for the pirates to search and kill two people before jumping into the water to escape. He heard the front cabin door creak open and then heard Su Mei's maid, Xiao Man, say from inside: "My young lady has a box of books in the aft cabin and instructed me to fetch two books, along with some other items."
The pirates will certainly allocate some manpower to negotiate with the families of the captives for ransom, and then bring the captives ashore. Early in the morning, Lin Ba, hiding outside the flower hall where the captives were held, listened for a while. Inside, more than thirty young boys were imprisoned, and it was unclear where this group of pirates had abducted so many captives, but it could be confirmed that there was indeed profit to be made from these captives. This would be an excellent opportunity for them to take action and rescue the captives.
Xiao Man opened her eyes in panic and looked at Lin Fu. She never expected him to be hiding on the boat. The fear and grievances from the night seemed to find an outlet all at once. She held back her voice, tightly grasping the fabric of Lin Fu's chest, preventing her soft body from collapsing into his embrace. In a low voice, she pleaded, "Young Master Lin, you must save me and the young lady..." Completely forgetting that just last night, this man had seemed utterly useless in her eyes.
Lin Fu pointed to the ground and said to Xiao Man, "Master Fu is below..." informing her that Fu Qinghe was in the lower cabin, hoping to instill a sense of hope in her heart, so that she would not feel entirely like a burden.
The terrain of Sand Island is flat, with most of the island consisting of shallow waters. Its ability to withstand river floods and sea tides is extremely weak, and the soil fertility is poor. Furthermore, in recent years, rampant piracy in the rivers and seas has deterred anyone from cultivating the island, which remains uninhabited to this day. In autumn, the shallow waters of Sand Island are covered with blooming white flowers of reeds, making it an ideal landing and hiding spot for pirates invading along the river from the East China Sea.
Lin Bu was unclear about Su Mei's views on his past self, but he remembered that Su Mei still treated him with courtesy. This young woman, however, did not conceal her thoughts; whatever was on her mind was clearly reflected in her eyes. Lin Bu felt frustrated, grabbed her hand, and said: "Now is not the time for idle chatter. Hurry and take the items back, so as not to arouse the thief's suspicion, and let Miss Su feel at ease..."
Lin Fu lightly tapped three times on the cabin wall with his fingers, and after a moment, Fu Qinghe entered holding the short spear
Lin Fu whispered some instructions into Xiao Man's ear before allowing her to return to the bow of the ship. He hid in the shadows, watching her enter the forward cabin. It was unclear what impression Xiao Man left on the watchful pirates, but he could hear someone loudly complaining: "Damn it, this work is not meant for humans; the deck is all punctured! I don't know what Captain Zhao is thinking. What benefits could they possibly offer that are better than these two ladies?"
The estuary of the Bai Shui River is less than 300 miles from the Yangtze River's mouth. If the pirates do not delay along the way and proceed downstream, they could reach the sea before dusk. Once they are at sea, it would be even more difficult to rescue the captives. However, this group of pirates has left dozens of hostages on the ship, indicating that they likely intend to complete this transaction before departing, which gives them ample time. Lin Ba does not wish for Fu Qinghe to be too hasty.