All responsibility will be borne by me, Zhu Pingan.
“My lord, are you heading into the city? This is wonderful; could you take us along?”
Hearing Zhu Pingan’s words, the common folk crowded at the city gates immediately became excited.
“Wonderful, wonderful! The general is going into the city; we are saved! We can go in with them.”
“Make way, make way! Hurry, clear the path!”
The common folk, excited as if they had just found a lifeline, cheered and celebrated.
Zhu Pingan shook his head, about to speak when he noticed the smiles and excitement on the people’s faces wilt as they saw him shake his head. They couldn’t let their disappointment show and, without missing a beat, began crying out in desperation:
“My lord, if you can’t take us, could you at least take my child in? She’s only two years old, and she hasn’t seen the world yet. I’ll stay outside with my wife, just please take my child in!”
“Wuwuwu, my lord, please take my wife in! I’ve never liked her, I’ll divorce her now. Let her serve you by warming your bed and serving you tea, just don’t send her to those filthy places.”
“My lord, please take my mother in! I am an unfilial son. I have always given her simple meals, no fine food or meat, but my life was given by her. I can’t let her die out here with me. Please, my lord, take my mother in. I’ll give you all the silver I have.”
The common folk kneeled, held up babies, and took out their money bags, begging in various ways.
“Good people of the village, please rise. I am not here to enter the city but to bring you into the city,” Zhu Pingan quickly stepped forward to help an elderly person up and shouted loudly to the people on their knees.
“What? Not enter the city? You’re here to bring us in?”
“Bring us in?”
“Is this real? You’re not entering the city?! You’re here to bring us in?!”
The common folk were shocked, their mouths wide open, unable to believe what they had just heard. It made no sense!
“Wait, wait! If this is true, we’ve encountered a truly good official, one who is for the people! If it’s a lie, we won’t lose out either—when they go into the city, we’ll follow.”
A man shouted.
“Right, right, that makes sense! Let’s clear the path for him!”
The crowd quickly made way, giving Zhu Pingan a direct path to the city gates.
“Good people, please stay calm,” Zhu Pingan clasped his hands in a salute to the people and quickly walked towards the city gate.
“Is Governor Su up on the wall? I am Zhu Pingan, I need to see him about something,” Zhu Pingan arrived at the gate and shouted upwards.
“Lord Zhu, I’m here,” Governor Su’s head appeared over the city wall.
“Lord Zhu, the pirates are coming, why isn’t the Zhejiang army at the Fengqiao camp? What brings you here? Are you coming in?” The Minister of the Army of Suzhou quickly called out.
Everyone on the city wall turned their eyes toward Zhu Pingan.
“Governor Shang, gentlemen, I am not here to enter the city. The Zhejiang army will not enter, I have come for the tens of thousands of people outside the city,” Zhu Pingan shook his head forcefully and pointed down to the people below, speaking seriously.
“What? You’re not entering? You came for the people outside the city?”
“Lord Zhu, you came for the people outside the city? What do you mean by that?”
Governor Shang and the officials on the wall were stunned, their mouths open in disbelief. They never expected Zhu Pingan to come for the people outside the city, not to enter himself.
“Lord Zhu, what do you mean by coming for the people outside the city?” Governor Shang asked urgently.
“I ask Governor Shang to open the city gates and let the people outside come in,” Zhu Pingan cupped his hands in a bow.
“No, no, absolutely not!”
“If it’s the Zhejiang army under your command entering, it would be understandable. But opening the gates for common folk is absolutely impossible!”
“There are so many people outside the city, it will take time to let them in. If the pirates come and seize the gate, who will take responsibility? Inside the city, there are still hundreds of thousands of people, and we must be responsible for their safety.”
Before Governor Shang spoke, his officials immediately opposed loudly.
Governor Shang looked helplessly at Zhu Pingan. Though he didn’t speak, his expression clearly showed his reluctance.
“Rest assured, Governor Shang, gentlemen, our Zhejiang army will be stationed outside the city, fully prepared. If the pirates come, they will have to step over our bodies. We will block them with our lives, giving enough time to close the city gates.”
“To allow the people inside, I ask Governor Shang to open the east, south, and north gates to let the people in. My Zhejiang army will station 400 soldiers at each gate, 300 meters from the gates, to block the pirates.”
“We have been monitoring the pirates’ movements. They are still half an hour away, so there is enough time for the people to enter.”
“With the Zhejiang army outside to block them, we won’t give the pirates a chance to seize the gates. We can close the gates later.”
Zhu Pingan shouted towards the city wall, raising his hand.
Upon hearing his words, Governor Shang showed signs of being moved, but his officials still strongly opposed.
“Zhejiang army is too few. Can they really stop the pirates?”
“When the pirates come, they will just run on horseback, and we will be left behind! We ask the Governor to think of the safety of the hundreds of thousands inside the city and not open the gates!”
The officials repeatedly opposed.
“Governor Shang, gentlemen, we rely on the common folk for our livelihood and food. How can we ignore their lives? The pirates are still twenty miles away; there is time to open the gates and let the people in. Our Zhejiang army will be stationed outside, blocking the pirates, and not a single pirate will cross our line before the gates are closed.”
“I am willing to stake my life on it! All responsibility will be borne by me, Zhu Pingan!”
Zhu Pingan pointed to his throat and shouted loudly, veins bulging in his neck.
“Good! Lord Zhu, with such responsibility, I, Shang Weichi, am no coward! I’ll stake my life on it with you!”
“Open the gates! Open the east, south, and north gates! Let the people in!”
After a moment’s hesitation, Governor Shang gritted his teeth and slapped the city wall, disregarding his officials’ opposition, and loudly gave the order.
