After the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, the Censorate, and the factory guards reached a consensus, they quickly drafted and sealed the document. Just as Emperor Jiajing finished his morning cultivation, their joint report was presented to him.
“Hmm, not bad. I gave them three days, and in just a day and a half, they’ve sorted it out,” Emperor Jiajing nodded with satisfaction.
After reading the joint report, he grew even more pleased, nodding slightly as he said, “Good. Suzhou Prefecture has done well, and that Zhu lad’s not bad either. Neither the captives nor the heads show any signs of fraud—it seems he’s truly achieved an extraordinary victory.”
“Once the factory guards sent to Suzhou send back their report, if it’s confirmed that no villages or townsfolk around Suzhou were killed to fake merits, we can be certain little Lord Zhu has secured a remarkable triumph,” Huang Jin, standing bowed at his side, added softly.
“Heh, I doubt that Zhu lad would dare,” Emperor Jiajing chuckled lightly.
“Yes, yes, back then little Lord Zhu even impeached Zhao Daying for killing innocents to claim merits,” Huang Jin chimed in.
“Hmm, good point. Now that you mention it, I recall that. He once impeached someone for killing innocents to fake achievements. If he turned into the very person he condemned, I’d be sorely disappointed. I’d have to punish him even more severely,” Emperor Jiajing said, nodding as Huang Jin’s reminder jogged his memory of Zhu Ping’an’s impeachment of Zhao Daying.
“And if it’s confirmed that little Lord Zhu didn’t kill innocents to claim merits?” Huang Jin deliberately spoke up for Zhu Ping’an.
Little Lord Zhu had saved His Majesty’s appetite multiple times now—it was only right to put in a good word for him.
Through the interrogations and verifications, Huang Jin was already convinced in his heart that Zhu Ping’an had indeed achieved an extraordinary victory this time, earning a glorious merit, even though the factory guards sent to Suzhou hadn’t yet reported back.
But this victory was surely beyond doubt.
If Zhu Ping’an had killed innocents to fake merits, it’d be impossible for the heads presented among the captives to show no trace of it during verification. Moreover, the captives delivered this time—after multiple rounds of separate interrogations—had all proven to be genuine wokou, with not a shred of falsehood. Their testimonies confirmed that the wokou who’d ambushed Suzhou numbered over forty thousand. Apart from those captured and a few hundred who narrowly escaped, the rest had perished under Zhu Ping’an’s chain of stratagems.
Zhu Ping’an had left a deep psychological scar on these captured wokou. They’d even given him a nickname: “Fiery Butcher.”
The “Fiery Butcher” didn’t mean Zhu Ping’an was hot-tempered—it referred to his habitual use of firearms. Gunpowder, muskets, cannons—the wokou had been so thoroughly blasted by the Zhejiang army’s firepower that it left an indelible trauma. The mere sound of firearms sent them into a panic, and even hearing the word “firearm” made them tremble uncontrollably.
“Punishments must be severe, but rewards must be generous too. For a meritorious vassal, I won’t be stingy—especially with Zhu, who’s repeatedly earned merits. This time, his achievement is so grand and satisfying that, by both reason and sentiment, I must reward him handsomely,” Emperor Jiajing said without hesitation.
“Rewarding the worthy and punishing the guilty—Your Majesty is wise,” Huang Jin promptly offered a flattering remark.
“Hmm, no point in just waiting around. Huang Ban, go to Wuyi Hall and inform the duty ministers to prepare for a captives’ presentation ceremony at the Meridian Gate. The tiny eastern island nation, with its wolfish ambitions, dares to covet our divine land, harass our southeastern coast, burn, kill, loot, and harm our people—committing every evil imaginable. They’ve brought this doom upon themselves! Whether Zhu killed innocents or not, the over four hundred wokou captives he sent from Suzhou are undeniably real wokou! It’s clear Suzhou has won a great victory, washing away the shame of the wokou’s long-standing border raids and disturbances, striking a heavy blow to their arrogance, exalting the divine might of our Great Ming, and boosting the morale of our troops and people!”
“Set the Meridian Gate captives’ presentation ceremony for the day after the factory guards return from Suzhou with their report! Order the Wuyi Hall duty ministers to prepare in advance,” Emperor Jiajing instructed Huang Jin to relay the decree to Wuyi Hall for the ceremony’s preparations.
In truth, Emperor Jiajing had already inwardly acknowledged the merits of Suzhou and Zhu Ping’an.
Indeed, as he’d said, the interrogations and verifications by the Three Judicial Offices and factory guards of the Suzhou captives and heads had already proven that Suzhou had achieved an extraordinary victory.
Regardless of whether Zhu Ping’an had killed innocents to fake merits, at the very least, these four hundred-plus wokou captives were genuine.
That made the great victory real.
If Zhu Ping’an hadn’t killed innocents, this victory would be even more glorious—452 wokou captured, forty thousand exterminated. If he had, the victory would shrink a bit—452 captured, with the forty thousand reduced by however many innocents were falsely claimed.
“As you command,” Huang Jin accepted the order, his mind churning.
He hadn’t expected His Majesty to order preparations for a Meridian Gate captives’ presentation ceremony. Zhu was truly in for a stroke of luck this time.
How many years had it been since the Great Ming last held such a ceremony?
At least since His Majesty’s ascension, there’d never been one—this would be the first in the current reign.
With this ceremony, Zhu’s name wouldn’t just resound across the land—it’d be etched into history.
“Also, have them start discussing Zhu Ping’an’s rewards from now on, assuming he didn’t kill innocents to fake merits. Back during the Sea Sacrifice victory, when Zhu killed three hundred wokou, they debated for over a month. Now, with over four hundred captured and forty thousand exterminated, who knows how long they’ll take—better start early. If the factory guards’ report from Suzhou shows Zhu did kill innocents, we can decide his punishment then,” Emperor Jiajing added to Huang Jin.
“As you command,” Huang Jin accepted again.
It seemed little Lord Zhu still held a place in the emperor’s heart. That His Majesty ordered Wuyi Hall to discuss rewards assuming Zhu hadn’t killed innocents showed his trust. Deep down, he believed Zhu Ping’an wouldn’t stoop to such deceit.
That’s why he’d instructed Wuyi Hall to base their reward discussions on Zhu having no such misconduct.
If he didn’t trust Zhu Ping’an and believe he was innocent of killing innocents, why would he have them start deliberating his rewards early?
Now, Huang Jin could imagine how much the Wuyi Hall duty ministers would agonise over Zhu’s rewards once he delivered the decree.
Three hundred wokou had stumped them for over ten days—forty thousand would probably take half a year.
Huang Jin lingered a moment longer, bowed, and, seeing no further instructions from Emperor Jiajing, retreated from the hall.
He hurried toward Wuyi Hall.
If I walk faster, the duty ministers can start deliberating little Lord Zhu’s rewards sooner, and he can receive his honours earlier.
