Zhang Jing’s Summons
The next morning, at dawn, Zhu Ping’an gathered the commanders of the Zhejiang Army for a meeting, instructing them to prepare for the army’s expansion.
The eight thousand new recruits would be distributed among their ranks. Each battalion’s strength would increase from the original four units of 640 men to six units of 960 men, with an additional forty men, bringing each battalion to a full thousand.
As for promoting officers, Zhu Ping’an ordered the results of past performance evaluations to be publicly posted. The results would be displayed for three days, during which anyone with objections could request a review. After three days, promotions and appointments would strictly follow the evaluation scores.
The newly promoted officers would also be publicly listed for three days. Once the new recruits arrived, these officers would immediately assume their posts.
“Sir, with eight thousand new recruits, we’ll need to equip them with muskets, cotton armor, tents, bedding, and more. Our equipment camp lacks enough craftsmen, and we’re short on iron ingots, cloth, cotton, and other materials,” Ou Zhige said, scratching his head and outlining the challenges—tight timelines, heavy tasks, and insufficient manpower and resources.
“No need to worry about iron ingots and such. I’ve already ordered supplies to be allocated from various regions. As for craftsmen, I’ve issued orders to temporarily conscript local artisans to join the camp. They’ll work in an assembly line to help you produce weapons and equipment in time,” Zhu Ping’an said with a smile. He had already anticipated and addressed the issues Ou Zhige raised.
“Thank you, sir! The equipment camp guarantees completion of the task,” Ou Zhige said, patting his chest confidently.
Before the expansion meeting concluded, a messenger knocked and reported that a courier sent by Governor-General Zhang Jing had arrived and was waiting outside the yamen.
“Invite him in at once,” Zhu Ping’an instructed the messenger, then turned to the room. “Alright, proceed as discussed. You’re all dismissed to make preparations.”
“Yes, sir!” The commanders saluted and left.
Soon, the courier, led by the messenger, entered.
“This humble officer pays respects to the Governor,” the courier said, bowing respectfully to Zhu Ping’an.
“No need for formalities. What instructions does the Governor-General have?” Zhu Ping’an waved his hand and asked.
“Reporting to Your Excellency, the Governor-General has moved his headquarters to Jiaxing City. He specifically ordered me to inform Your Excellency to proceed to Jiaxing immediately to discuss matters concerning the suppression and pacification of the Japanese pirates,” the courier reported faithfully.
“Which officials are attending this meeting?” Zhu Ping’an asked.
“I don’t know the specifics, only that the Governor-General instructed me to summon Your Excellency,” the courier replied, keeping his lips sealed.
Since no further details were forthcoming, Zhu Ping’an didn’t press. He ordered the courier to be offered a simple meal and tea while he arranged affairs at the yamen. Once ready, he would set out for Jiaxing to meet Zhang Jing.
Soon, Zhu Ping’an finalized his arrangements, bid farewell to Li Shu and the others, and departed with five hundred Zhejiang Army soldiers as escorts. The pirates had been rampant lately, necessitating a strong escort for safety.
Shaoxing was over two hundred *li* from Jiaxing. Zhu Ping’an and his party rode swiftly, aiming to reach Jiaxing City by evening.
While passing through a certain area in Hangzhou Prefecture, Zhu Ping’an’s group spotted a village engulfed in flames from a distance.
The fire was fierce, spreading across a wide area.
“With flames this intense, the entire village must be burning,” Zhu Ping’an said, squinting. “Under normal circumstances, a fire would affect only a few households, not the whole village. This must be the work of pirates setting the village ablaze.”
Muttering “Guangzong Yaozu” under his breath, Zhu Ping’an narrowed his eyes at the village and immediately ordered Liu Dagang, “Dagang, take two hundred cavalry and circle around to cut off their retreat. I’ll lead the rest to press from the front. We must deal with these pirates.”
“Yes, Young Master!” Liu Dagang saluted, gathered two hundred men, and rode off to flank the village.
“Your Excellency, shouldn’t we prioritize our journey? The Governor-General is waiting in Jiaxing. Perhaps we should take a detour to avoid this,” the courier suggested, urging Zhu Ping’an to bypass the village.
“If we hadn’t encountered this, it’d be one thing. But now that we have, how can I let it pass? Turning a blind eye and a deaf ear—how could I face the people of this land? Don’t worry, there aren’t many pirates in the village. It won’t delay us long,” Zhu Ping’an said, shaking his head firmly.
“Please forgive my boldness, Your Excellency, but how do you know there aren’t many pirates? If you’re mistaken, isn’t it dangerous? We only have five hundred men,” the courier said, visibly concerned.
“I know the pirates. Their goal is plunder, and for efficiency, they send small groups to raid villages. Larger groups target towns, and even larger ones aim for counties or prefectural cities,” Zhu Ping’an said confidently.
*I’m a man with a radar. Once it’s on, the map is open—how could I misjudge?*
In his vision, a column of black smoke rose from the village, but it wasn’t thick, indicating a small number of pirates.
“Your Excellency, as the saying goes, ‘As long as the green hills remain, there’s no shortage of firewood.’ If things go south, we should retreat,” the courier advised.
“Naturally,” Zhu Ping’an nodded, agreeing.
Once Liu Dagang’s group disappeared into the woods, Zhu Ping’an waved his hand, ordering the remaining Zhejiang Army soldiers to follow him in a frontal assault on the burning village.
In the village, a small band of pirates—about fifty strong—was setting fires everywhere.
“Damn it! Yesterday we came to Zhejiang and found nothing, and today’s another bust. They got away! Burn it all—torch every house in this village! Let’s see where they’ll live when they come back!” the pirate leader cursed, directing his men to set the village ablaze.
Because Zhu Ping’an had ordered Zhejiang’s residents, especially in the north, to seek refuge in walled counties or prefectural cities, the village was empty. Frustrated at finding no one, the pirates vented their rage by burning the houses.
“Boss, boss, look ahead! We spotted a group of soldiers on horseback charging this way. Should we avoid them?” a sharp-eyed pirate reported to the leader, having noticed Zhu Ping’an’s group.
Zhu Ping’an hadn’t concealed his approach, so being spotted was expected.
“Coward! Avoid what? Let’s see how many soldiers there are first,” the pirate leader snapped, glaring at him.
“Boss, it looks like about two hundred,” the sharp-eyed pirate confirmed.
“Only two hundred? Nothing to fear,” the leader scoffed. They’d clashed with plenty of garrison troops before—weaklings, all of them. Two hundred was no threat.
