In the stillness of the night, within the study of the Zhejiang Governor’s residence, Zhu Ping’an let out a long sigh. “Alas.”
“Brother Zhu, all three Japanese pirate assassins have been captured. Why are you still sighing?” Li Shu, accompanied by Hua’er and Qin’er, brought a late-night snack for Zhu Ping’an. Hearing his sigh, she asked with concern.
“Yes, Young Master—no, my Lord. Capturing three Japanese pirate assassins is great news. Why the long sighs?” Hua’er and Qin’er, carrying food baskets, placed the snacks on Zhu Ping’an’s desk and echoed Li Shu’s question.
“It’s certainly good that the assassins were caught,” Zhu Ping’an said, picking up reports of pirate activities from various regions. He shook his head, frowning. “But the pirate problem in Zhejiang is growing worse by the day. In just the past three days, eighteen pirate incidents have been reported. And that’s not counting those concealed or unreported. If every region reported honestly, I’d wager the number would be at least double.”
“How serious is it?” Li Shu asked.
“Very serious,” Zhu Ping’an nodded, tapping the reports. “More serious than I imagined.”
Li Shu stepped forward and picked up one of the reports. “Rui’an County reports: Three days ago, a large group of Japanese pirates landed at Rui’an’s eastern border. Soldiers and civilians united to defend the city, killing over ten pirates. However, Hundred-Commander Li Han and Gao Liang died in battle, along with fifty-seven soldiers, thirty-two constables, and sixty-three able-bodied civilians. The city gate was briefly overrun. At the critical moment, local gentry Zhang Tianqiang and his nephew Zhang Yangshu organized eight hundred militia to reinforce the city. After a desperate fight, Zhang Tianqiang perished, Zhang Yangshu was injured, and nearly a hundred militia were killed or wounded. They barely saved Rui’an County. The pirates then sacked Wangji Town, burning, killing, and looting, slaughtering over a thousand civilians in retaliation.”
Li Shu read the Rui’an report softly, her brows furrowing. She remained silent for a long time, unable to calm her emotions.
“The pirates are so cruel! Failing to take Rui’an, they killed over a thousand civilians to vent their anger. They’re worse than beasts!” Hua’er said indignantly, her eyes moist.
“Don’t insult beasts, Hua’er. These pirates are beneath them,” Qin’er added, equally furious.
Li Shu picked up another report. “Wenzhou Prefecture reports: Two days ago, a pirate force of several thousand, aboard eighteen large ships, invaded Zhejiang’s coast, burning and looting along the way until reaching Huanghua Sea in Leqing. At the time, Puqi Garrison troops were patrolling by boat. Spotting the pirate ships from afar, they fled. Puqi’s Deputy Thousand-Commander Qin Guang and Hundred-Commander Ji Yong, feeling the heavy duty to protect the land and people, fought alone. Surrounded by eighteen pirate ships, Qin Guang and Ji Yong led their men, firing crossbows and arrows, killing many pirates. Exhausted and captured, they refused to surrender despite the pirates’ attempts to persuade them. Enraged, the pirates hacked them to death, and both died heroically.”
Li Shu finished reading, her brows knitting again.
“The Puqi Garrison soldiers are useless, fleeing at the sight of pirates! They eat the people’s grain for nothing. My Lord, you must punish them severely so they won’t dare run again. Qin Guang and Ji Yong, though—they had backbone. It’s a pity they were killed by the pirates,” Hua’er remarked, condemning the fleeing soldiers and mourning the fallen officers.
“Tiantai County reports: Two days ago, over three thousand pirates attacked Tiantai. County Magistrate Wang Fugui’s whereabouts are unknown, and the county fell. Thousands of civilians were slaughtered by the pirates in a horrific scene. Local gentry Wang Pei, over seventy years old, rallied the locals to resist, organizing a thousand militia to fortify defenses. To rescue Tiantai, Wang Pei led the militia through Shishou Slope, where they were ambushed by pirates. Wang Pei commanded the militia to form a spear array, but they were overwhelmed. The pirates broke through, killing at close range. Over half the militia perished, and Wang Pei died in battle.”
Li Shu read another report softly, falling silent once more.
As she went through report after report, Li Shu and the others finally understood why Zhu Ping’an was sighing.
The pirate situation in Zhejiang was dire. These reports detailed frequent pirate successes, with heavy losses everywhere—ranging from fallen soldiers to entire counties overrun, civilians massacred, and devastating casualties. How could Zhu Ping’an not sigh?
“My Lord, don’t sigh. There are troops in the garrisons. Just issue orders to the garrisons to heighten their defenses and fight the pirates properly,” Hua’er said, trying to comfort him. To her, the solution was simple: order the garrisons to fight.
“Hua’er’s right,” Qin’er said, unusually agreeing with her.
“The garrisons?” Zhu Ping’an let out a bitter chuckle.
“Are the garrisons really that useless?” Li Shu asked, incredulous, having heard Zhu Ping’an’s chuckle.
Coming from a noble family, Li Shu knew a bit about the garrison system, a cornerstone of the Ming Dynasty’s military. She was aware that the garrisons weren’t what they used to be—plagued by lax discipline, filled with the old and weak, and diminished in combat ability. But could they truly be *this* useless?
“The garrisons can’t be relied on. You noticed in the reports, didn’t you? Several instances of garrison troops fleeing at the sight of pirates. If they run from the enemy, how can we count on them?” Zhu Ping’an said with a shrug, his tone flat.
Li Shu and the others nodded.
Zhu Ping’an continued, “Also, did you notice something else? Many reports mention local gentry organizing militia to resist the pirates.”
“What’s wrong with local gentry organizing civilians to fight pirates? It shows they’re responsible,” Hua’er asked, puzzled.
“The fact that local gentry are forming militia to resist pirates shows that Zhejiang’s garrisons are effectively defunct. They’re increasingly useless, crumbling against the pirates. That’s why local gentry have no choice but to organize militia to join the fight, to protect their homes and families and combat the pirates,” Zhu Ping’an explained, letting out another helpless sigh.
“And that Puqi Garrison that fled? It’s one of Zhejiang’s three major garrisons. I checked the archives—Puqi’s equipment and defenses are among the best in Zhejiang. While other garrisons have fallen into disrepair, Puqi maintained strict readiness. The region faces pirate attacks almost yearly, so their resources, personnel, and oversight are top-notch. Yet even this model garrison fled at the sight of pirates. If they’re unreliable, the other garrisons are even less dependable.”
Zhu Ping’an’s disappointment in the garrisons was palpable.
