The venue was swept clean, and the meat pies were replaced with scallion oil pancakes, millet porridge, and an assortment of side dishes. Finally, those who had been vomiting could enjoy their late-night meal.
As everyone savored their supper, Prefect Shang approached Zhu Ping’an’s side and whispered, “Zi Hou, may I have a word in private?”
“Of course, Prefect Shang, please,” Zhu Ping’an nodded, following Shang to a quiet corner of the venue.
Zhu Ping’an had a rough guess in his mind—Prefect Shang likely had some difficult request to make. At this stage, nine times out of ten, it would be about the battle merits.
“Ha ha, congratulations, Zi Hou. In this defense of Suzhou City, you and your Zhejiang troops have achieved the greatest merit. You led them to annihilate over 30,000 wokou, destroy more than a hundred of their ships, and claim over 16,000 wokou heads, seizing countless weapons and armor. This is the foremost achievement against the wokou menace in Jiangnan since it began—a feat that will surely boost the morale of the empire’s people and soldiers alike. With this merit, your promotion and ennoblement are assured. It won’t be long before I’ll have to address you as my superior,” Prefect Shang said with a hearty congratulations once they reached the secluded spot, teasing that Zhu Ping’an’s rank would soon surpass his own.
“This isn’t just the merit of our Zhejiang troops—it’s also the merit of you and all of Suzhou. The victory in this defense of Suzhou came from your efforts within the city and our Zhejiang troops outside, a seamless collaboration between both sides. Neither could’ve succeeded without the other. Naturally, this merit belongs to us both,” Zhu Ping’an replied, showing no intent to hog the glory and expressing his willingness to share the achievement with Prefect Shang and his people.
Zhu Ping’an wasn’t just paying lip service—he genuinely meant it and was prepared to divide the spoils of this victory.
After all, the merit this time was simply too immense.
From what he recalled of history, in about a year or so, Governor Zhang Jing would muster Shandong pikemen, Guangxi wolf soldiers, and southwestern native troops to achieve the great victory at Wangjiangjing, claiming around 2,000 wokou heads and killing several thousand more. In the *History of the Ming*, that battle was already hailed as “the greatest military achievement in the southeast.”
The results Zhu Ping’an had stumbled into this time were nearly ten times that of Wangjiangjing.
Such a colossal achievement was more than enough to go around—even if shared with Prefect Shang and his group, everyone would still be stuffed to bursting.
“No, no, no—these accomplishments are entirely yours, Zi Hou. We in Suzhou can’t claim a single wokou head. We know our place. None of us stepped a foot outside the city gates—how could we have any kills to our name? Cough, the only one who did leave surrendered to the wokou and nearly handed Suzhou over to them. If not for you swooping in to save the day, the consequences would’ve been unthinkable,” Prefect Shang shook his head vigorously, showing no trace of greed for the credit.
Zhu Ping’an was taken aback. He’d initially assumed Shang had pulled him aside to negotiate a share of the battle merits.
He hadn’t expected Shang to adamantly refuse even a single wokou head.
This surprised Zhu Ping’an.
Thinking Shang might just be too modest, Zhu Ping’an sincerely pressed again, “Prefect Shang, though you didn’t leave the city, the role you played in this defense cannot be understated. Forget the gunpowder, provisions, mules, horses, and equipment you supplied us—just holding the city, wearing down the wokou’s morale, tying up their forces, and splitting their firepower—”
“Zi Hou, thank you for your kindness, but let’s not talk about sharing the merit of exterminating the wokou. As I said, one must have self-awareness. Our contribution in Suzhou during this wokou assault was minimal at best, and we even dragged you down quite a bit. If not for you and your Zhejiang troops turning the tide, Suzhou would’ve fallen long ago. The hundreds of thousands of citizens inside would’ve been ravaged by the wokou, and I, Shang Weichi, would’ve become a sinner of the Great Ming. A snake that covets more than it can swallow, a mantis that overreaches to catch the cicada—if we dared to shamelessly claim a share of your military glory, could we still call ourselves human? How could we face living on, knowing divine retribution would await us?” Prefect Shang waved his hands insistently, firmly rejecting Zhu Ping’an’s offer.
“Prefect Shang, I mean it sincerely…” Zhu Ping’an said with a wry smile.
“Zi Hou, thank you, but I mean it sincerely too,” Shang replied, steadfastly declining.
It seemed Prefect Shang was serious, which left Zhu Ping’an quite surprised.
Noticing Zhu Ping’an’s astonishment, Shang explained candidly, “Zi Hou, with Xu Hai and other wokou amassing over 40,000 to attack, the fact that Suzhou didn’t fall is a stroke of immense fortune amidst misfortune for us officials—especially for me. The merit of holding the city is already more than enough for us. It’s our duty to defend this land, and keeping Suzhou intact is already a heaven-sent achievement. Of course, the lion’s share of that merit still belongs to you and your Zhejiang troops—that’s beyond question.”
Hearing this, Zhu Ping’an couldn’t help but feel puzzled. If Shang truly had no intention of claiming any battle merit, why pull him aside for a private talk? There’d be no need for it.
“Zi Hou, don’t overthink it. I asked you here to discuss the matter of Traitor Wang’s deception at the city,” Prefect Shang said, seeing Zhu Ping’an’s confusion and openly revealing his true purpose.
About Traitor Wang’s deception?
Zhu Ping’an nodded thoughtfully, beginning to grasp Shang’s intent.
“To my shame, Traitor Wang surrendered to the wokou after leaving the city, and I failed to see through it. He even led some wokou inside. If not for you and your Zhejiang troops turning the tide in time, Suzhou would’ve been lost right then and there,” Prefect Shang admitted, his face flushed with embarrassment.
“This wasn’t your fault, Prefect Shang—it was Traitor Wang’s. He ignored warnings, disobeyed your orders, chased the wokou outside, fell into their trap, was captured, and—fearing death and groveling—surrendered, leading them into the city…” Zhu Ping’an shook his head.
“Cough, cough… True as that may be, as Suzhou’s prefect, I failed to see through Traitor Wang’s treachery. I bear the blame for oversight,” Shang coughed awkwardly.
Zhu Ping’an rubbed his chin. Shang wasn’t wrong—while he did have some responsibility for failing to spot the betrayal, it was minor. Still, it was a blemish, one that could significantly impact his career.
“Cough, cough… I asked you here because I have an impertinent request,” Shang said, rubbing his hands sheepishly as he looked at Zhu Ping’an.
“Please go ahead, Prefect Shang,” Zhu Ping’an replied, now certain of what Shang wanted.
