“Welcome, Ta-Jen Zhu, since I received the Governor’s transfer order, I’ve been looking forward to it, but finally, Ta-Jen Zhu, you’re here. You are here, my heart in my throat, finally can be put in the stomach.”
The governor of Suzhou, Shang Wei, led a group of bureaucrats to the 10-mile long pavilion on the west side of the city early in the morning, and after seeing Zhu Ping An and his party’s dusty appearance, he greeted them from afar, welcoming Zhu Ping An and his party’s arrival in Suzhou with a warm face.
Shang Zhifu is about fifty years old, tall and thin, Hunan people, with a strong Hunan accent.
“My humble servant pays his respects to Governor Shang.”Zhu Pingan hurriedly stepped forward and bowed his hand in salute.
“Quickly, please forgive me, Lord Zhu you have been travelling all the way, the carriage and horses are tired, these red tape will be waived.”Shang Zhifu stepped forward and lifted Zhu Pingan’s arm, not allowing Zhu Pingan to salute, and said with a smile, “Let’s go, first enter the camp to settle in for dinner. I’ve already had people pack up the camp, the tents and bedding are all new, so you can move in straight away. The hot water and meals are also ready, everything will be said after you have eaten and drunk enough.”
“Many thanks to Governor Shang for his compassion.”Zhu Pingan sniffed and expressed his gratitude to Governor Shang.
As expected, Suzhou is the most prosperous place in the Ming Dynasty, and even prepared brand new tents and mattresses for the whole army, it is really a big deal.
“Where where where, you guys came to Suzhou to garrison and guard our safety, it should be us thanking you.”Governor Shang smiled and said, “When we arrive at the camp, we will see what is still missing, and we will be able to make it up tomorrow. In the future, the food and wages needed by your army will be handed over to us, and we will ensure that the soldiers will not go hungry.”
“Thank you, Governor Shang.”
Unexpectedly, Suzhou Prefecture was so generous that it even covered the rations, Zhu Pingan was overjoyed at the words, and thanked Shang Zhifu again and again.
“Ta-Jen Zhu is polite, you are guarding our safety and security, these rations and wages are what we should have borne.”
Governor Shang said with a smile.
“For your army’s camp, we have set up at Maple Bridge Ferry, which is nine miles outside of the West Gate of Heaven, that is, more than a mile ahead of us, covering an area of one hundred acres.”Governor Shang said while leading the way in front.
A mile was very close and arrived quickly.
In this mile or so, Zhu Pingan also saw the prosperity of Suzhou, and this was still nine or ten miles outside of Suzhou city on the outskirts.
All the way to the traffic, the river, merchant ships, cargo ships, all kinds of goods in the waterway on both sides of the endless flow. According to Shang Zhifu, the number of merchants and businessmen has been reduced by about 30% due to the impact of the Japanese invasion.
“This is the legendary Maple Bridge.”
Zhu Pingan was outside the camp, looking at the forty-metre long and five to six-metre wide Maple Bridge in front of him, thinking of the ancient legend “Night Mooring on the Maple Bridge”, he couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.
“Yes, this is the maple bridge where ‘the moon falls and the crow cries and the frost fills the sky, the river maple and the fishing fires sleep with sorrow’, the old name was ‘Fengqiao’, because in ancient times, bandits and thieves often invaded Suzhou by the river, and every night the government had to block off the bridge for safety, thus the name was given to the bridge to ensure safety.to ensure safety, hence the name Seal Bridge, which was later blackmailed into Maple Bridge.”
Shang Zhifu nodded, and also briefly talked about the origin of Fengqiao.
The Zhejun camp was just to the east of Maple Bridge, right next to it, covering an area of about a hundred acres, following the river and backed by a hill.
It was a good camp.
Located in the suburban area nine miles outside of Suzhou, it choked the main land and water traffic route to the Gate of Heaven, the western gate of Suzhou, and protected the western side of Suzhou.
Not only can it choke the western side of Suzhou security, if necessary, it can enter Suzhou city in time for defence, but it can also ensure that the Zhejian army military opportunities and drill space.
Zhu Pingan was satisfied with this.
The camp was surrounded by a fence, and inside, a brand new battalion chief stood neatly in the camp, and the aroma of meals wafted out.
“Lord Zhu please, all generals please, enter the camp to have your meal, eat your stomach first.”Governor Shang and the others invited Zhu Pingan and the others into the camp.
Zhu Pingan led a group of generals to thank them and enter the camp, a table and chairs had already been set up, after Zhu Pingan and the others were seated, the meal came up. There were fish and meat, chicken and duck, a full ten dishes and one soup, the meal was sufficient in quantity and flavour, all the way to the dusty, hungry generals of the Zhejiang army feasted on the food and ate with great satisfaction.
“Oh, Zhu Ta-Jen said, we also have the friendship of the same Yamen.”During the banquet, Governor Shang said to Zhu Pingan with a gentle smile after the tea was over thirty years old, “Eleven years ago, after I was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree, I first worked as an editor of the Hanlin Academy for two years, and later changed to the position of Inspector General, and four years ago, I was dispatched to Suzhou as the Governor.”
“Oh, so it’s a senior, late student Ping’an is out of line.”Zhu Pingan came to a realisation, and busily got up to salute again.
“Oh, sit down, just now is not said, we do not whole these false rituals, the current eat and drink enough is important.”Shang Zhifu pulled Zhu Pingan to a halt as soon as he got up and waved his hand with a smile, “I said this, not to pose as a senior, but to say that we have different relationships and don’t need to be so rusty. I am in charge of Suzhou, you are stationed in Suzhou to protect Suzhou’s security, we need to co-operate and work closely together.”
“This is natural, I am stationed in the defence of Suzhou, and Governor Shang is on the same boat, we must co-operate and work closely together.”Zhu Pingan naturally nodded his head in agreement, this was something he could not have asked for.
“With these words from Lord Zhu, I am relieved.”Governor Shang nodded with satisfaction, then patted the spot on his heart and said, “Hearing the news that Governor Zhang is going to transfer you to lead the Zhejian army to station in Suzhou, I am relieved in this heart.”
“Why did Governor Shang say this?”Zhu Pingan asked.
“Zi Hou, how is the view of my Suzhou?”Shang Zhifu asked without answering.
“This way, the city outskirts of ten miles also traffic, sails, prosperity far beyond other places, worthy of ‘heaven above, under the Suzhou and Hangzhou’. Suzhou is worthy of being the first class rich and prosperous place in the world.”
Zhu Pingan returned.
“Not bad, Suzhou is clothed in the world, but it is not a false rumour. Prosperous but not Hua Hanchuankou, Hua but not prosperous Guangling Fu, the most prosperous metropolis on earth, except for the capital Wu Xia have. My Ming tax relies on the southeast, and the southeast tax relies on suzhou province, songjiang province, there has been ‘suzhou pine tax half a day down’. The inner house of gold and silver, the Ministry of Cang silver, canal silver, the light of the temple palace meals, sacrificial food folding silver, the Ministry of Works, the four divisions of the silver, all kinds of material folding silver, the Ministry of Livestock material silver, medicine silver, more rely on my suzhou province and songjiang province. It is not an exaggeration to say that my Suzhou Prefecture bears one tenth of my Ming’s taxes.”
“Now, the Japanese invaders have occupied Songjiang Prefecture, Tuo Lin and other places, looting everywhere, Songjiang Prefecture is almost destroyed.”
“Bold Japanese bandits, not satisfied with the Songjiang Province, the prosperous Suzhou, I also salivate, this period of time, the Japanese have been several times from the mouth of the Yangtze River back to the river, invaded my Suzhou, the southern area, burned, killed and looted, raped the people’s girls, captive women and children, I have the intention to kill the bandits, although I have studied the book of military affairs, but is not good at military affairs, on the command of the troops, marching formations, offensive and defensive strategies are not very good at line, now has been burnt to a crisp.I’m not very good at commanding troops, marching, and strategy of attack and defence, and I’m already burnt out now. Songjiang House destroyed, Suzhou House can not be destroyed, or cur Ming financial crisis.”
Shang Zhifu said to the end, can not help but sigh, and then looked at Zhu Pingan, eyes bright said: “Your Excellency Zhu knows military affairs, defending the city, the Japanese have a record of war, rate two thousand Zhejiang army stationed in suzhou, solved my burning need ah.”
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