The next day, the sun was still below the horizon, the world was pitch black, Zhu Ping’an got up early, and finished washing up.
Zhu Ping’an prepared to make one more effort, hoping that after a night’s sleep, Zhang Jing could accept his suggestion.
Do one’s best, leave the rest to fate, that was all.
Zhu Ping’an pushed open the door of the guest room, walked towards the room where the steward lived, wanting to ask the steward to go and announce again, before the whole army went straight to Qingpu, to see Zhang Jing once more, or to chat while eating breakfast, to make one more effort.
Zhu Ping’an walked halfway, when he heard a burst of hurried and joyful footsteps coming from around the corner, then he saw Steward Wang trotting all the way, his face brimming with excitement and thrill, just like he had picked up a hundred jin of gold outside.
When people encounter happy events, their spirits are refreshed, that was exactly it.
“Steward Wang……”
Zhu Ping’an reached out to call Steward Wang, wanting him to pass the message to the back courtyard again, that he wanted to see Zhang Jing, or to have breakfast together, to talk while eating.
“Lord Zhu, please forgive me, Lord Zhu, if there’s something, I’ll come later to listen to your instructions. Right now, I have an urgent matter to convey, the angel from the capital has arrived, the master has to go to the front courtyard to receive the decree, Lord Zhu, please wait a moment.”
Steward Wang trotted along busily, without time to give Zhu Ping’an a full salute, hastily performed a salute, said while running to the back courtyard.
“What?!”
Zhu Ping’an heard that someone from the capital had come, to have Zhang Jing go to the front courtyard to receive the decree, suddenly felt that something was terribly wrong, looking at Steward Wang’s joyful and excited appearance, he couldn’t help but let out a long sigh, too late, too late, the big matter was too late, everything was too late.
This was not some good or happy event!
The angel from the capital brought not some commendation! But a pair of shackles!
Yan Song and their speed was too fast!
Alas!
The wheels of history rolled on, wanting to change it oneself, too difficult!
Zhu Ping’an stood in place, watching Steward Wang in the distance trotting to the back courtyard, while arranging the servants and maids he met along the way to hang lanterns and decorations, prepare to receive the decree, prepare reward money…… he could only sigh one after another.
Soon, Zhang Jing came striding from the back courtyard, wearing a brand new official robe, his steady face showing joy.
Zhang Jing saw Zhu Ping’an standing in place from afar, while striding, waved to Zhu Ping’an.
Zhu Ping’an went forward to meet him.
“Zihou, wait for me to receive the decree, then we’ll rush to Qingpu, I didn’t expect that not long after I reported the victory, the angel arrived, now you don’t have to worry. Wang Quan, instruct someone to prepare breakfast for Lord Zhu, Zihou, you eat first, I’ll go and come back…..”
Zhang Jing hastily instructed a couple of sentences, then continued to stride hurriedly to the front courtyard, to welcome the angel, to receive the decree.
Zhu Ping’an watched Zhang Jing’s figure hurrying away, couldn’t help but close his eyes, and sighed.
Alas
Lord Zhang, once you go, you won’t be able to come back……
Alas.
What a pity, Lord Zhang, pity for you, pity for this great situation of exterminating the Japanese pirates, even more pity for the people of Jiangnan.
While Zhang Jing went to the front courtyard to receive the decree, the maids and servants in the courtyard all got excitedly busy, sweeping the courtyard, hanging lanterns and decorations, busy while discussing with faces full of excitement, not knowing how the emperor would commend our great master, whether he would be promoted, whether our madam’s imperial mandate as lady would also rise, then whether our madam would give us reward money again, oh, just gave a wave of reward money, another wave, we would be embarrassed to accept, but, no matter how embarrassed, we have to accept, this is happy money, we need to share in the master’s and madam’s good fortune.
The matter instructed by Zhang Jing, Steward Wang quickly implemented, Zhang Jing hadn’t reached the front courtyard yet, breakfast was delivered here.
Rice porridge, steamed buns, radish side dish, boiled eggs in plain water, and a stack of salted fish.
Very sumptuous.
But, Zhu Ping’an had no appetite at all, his mood was terribly bad, knowing the historical trend, effort, effort, and more effort,妄图 changing history, but reality responded to himself with resounding slaps time and time again.
Yang Jisheng that was one time, he went to find Yang Jisheng, pointed out the fatal flaw in the memorial, a bout of effort, couldn’t change it.
Zhang Jing this was another time, told Zhang Jing in advance more than once, last night efforts time and time again, also couldn’t change it.
Zhu Ping’an’s chest seemed to have a ball of fire burning, stuffy, depressed, and full of unwillingness.
“My lord, is the food not to your taste, what flavor of breakfast do you like, I’ll let the back kitchen make it again.”
The servant saw Zhu Ping’an’s poor complexion, and not moving his chopsticks, thought the food was not to this young high official’s taste, hurriedly said.
“Thank you, these dishes are just fine, it’s just that I have no appetite today, you go down.”
Zhu Ping’an waved his hand, dismissed the person who delivered the meal.
“My lord, take your time, I’ll take my leave.” The servant sensibly retreated.
After the time for a cup of tea, there was still no movement from the front courtyard, Zhu Ping’an couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope, perhaps he was wrong.
The imperial decree from the capital, was not to arrest Zhang Jing?!
Perhaps, due to his participation, history had shifted unknowingly, in the original history, after Zhang Jing served as Jiangnan governor, facing Zhao Wenhua’s urging to send troops, Zhang Jing insisted on the plan, unmoved, waiting for the wolf soldiers and other guest troops to arrive, after integration, then sent troops, achieved the great victory at Wangjiangjing.
In history, before the great victory at Wangjiangjing, under Zhang Jing’s leadership, the Jiangnan military aspect, had no notable anti-Japanese operations and achievements.
However, his arrival and participation, changed this situation, he led the Zhejiang army to southern Zhejiang to remove Japanese pirate strongholds, beheaded thousands of Japanese pirate heads.
Because Zhang Jing was the Jiangnan governor, Zhejiang belonged to Jiangnan, he belonged to Zhang Jing’s subordinate, the southern Zhejiang battles and achievements could be said to be Zhang Jing’s achievements as well, in this way, after Zhang Jing took office as governor, he still had some accomplishments.
In addition, due to his influence, today’s great victory at Wangjiangjing, compared to the historical Wangjiangjing great victory, the results were more than one-third larger.
Perhaps because of this, Emperor Jiajing did not have as much anger and dissatisfaction with Zhang Jing as in history, this imperial decree, perhaps was to commend Zhang Jing, perhaps the emperor still had some anger and dissatisfaction, this imperial decree was not to arrest Zhang Jing, perhaps it was punishment, but not to the extent of arresting and bringing to the capital.
As time slowly passed, there was still no movement from the front courtyard, Zhu Ping’an couldn’t help but feel hope again.
As long as it was not to arrest Zhang Jing, to bring to the capital for questioning, then there was hope, now the situation of exterminating Japanese pirates was excellent. As long as according to Zhang Jing’s plan, the five armies encircle Tuolin Xu Hai gang Japanese pirate lair, even if there were real Japanese crossing the sea to aid, could not save Xu Hai gang Japanese pirates, with the momentum of victory, the five armies encircle Tuolin, pay some price, must be able to annihilate Tuolin Xu Hai gang Japanese pirates in one fell swoop.
