“Just thirty-odd pirates? If I were Young Lord Zhu, I’d have left half the troops to deal with the pirates and led the other half to continue the journey. That way, neither travel nor pirate suppression would be delayed—a perfect solution,” Lord Tu said, still unrelenting, speaking to Zhu Ping’an in a lecturing tone.
“Lord Tu’s advice is noted,” Zhu Ping’an replied calmly, choosing not to argue further.
“Enough. Zihou wasn’t truly late, and he eliminated thirty-six pirates—a meritorious act. Let’s drop the matter of tardiness,” Zhang Jing said from the main seat, waving his hand.
He then gestured toward Lord Tu, introducing him to Zhu Ping’an. “Zihou, you arrived late, so I’ll introduce him again. This is Lord Tu Dashan, recently transferred from the Sichuan-Hunan Governor-General to Left Vice Minister of the Yingtian Ministry of War and Yingtian Inspector, also overseeing military affairs. Lord Tu is well-versed in military matters. During his time as Sichuan-Hunan Inspector, he assisted former Governor-General Zhang Yue in quelling the large-scale rebellion led by the Miao leaders Long Xubao and Wu Hei Miao. After Zhang Yue’s death, Lord Tu took over as Governor-General, luring and killing the remaining Long clan rebel Long Azai and others, wiping out their clan and extinguishing the rekindling Miao rebellion. You, as Yingtian Inspector, and he, as Zhejiang Inspector, must work together to assist me in swiftly eradicating the pirates.”
“So it’s Lord Tu. Your reputation precedes you, resounding like thunder,” Zhu Ping’an said politely, cupping his hands in greeting.
*Reputation?* In his modern life, Zhu Ping’an had never heard of Tu Dashan, suggesting he wasn’t particularly famous.
It was only after arriving in the Ming Dynasty, when demoted to Jingnan, that Zhu Ping’an learned of the Sichuan-Hunan region’s Governor-General established to suppress Miao rebellions. Governor-General Zhang Yue had quelled the uprising but died of illness, and Tu, then Sichuan-Hunan Inspector, succeeded him.
Zhu Ping’an had only read in the gazette about Tu’s use of a hefty bounty to lure and kill Long Azai and his clan.
Still, a former Governor-General was a significant figure.
Though his jurisdiction was smaller than Zhang Jing’s, he had been a Governor-General, nominally on par with Zhang Jing, which explained his haughty demeanor.
“I’ve long heard of Young Lord Zhu’s reputation, but seeing you today, I’m somewhat disappointed,” Tu Dashan said coolly.
The atmosphere turned awkward and cold.
“Then I’ll have to keep striving,” Zhu Ping’an said with a slight tug at the corner of his mouth, unsure why Tu Dashan kept targeting him.
“Let’s get to the point. I’ve gathered you all today to unify our strategy against the pirates,” Zhang Jing said, steering the discussion back on track.
“Gentlemen, I needn’t elaborate on the pirate crisis in Jiangnan. In recent days, Xu Hai’s pirate band in Taolin has been rampaging through South Zhili and northern Zhejiang, while Wang Zhi’s pirates repeatedly raid various parts of Jiangnan. Beyond these two major groups, countless smaller pirate bands frequently attack our southeastern coast, burning, killing, and plundering without restraint. The people suffer greatly, living in dire straits, yet our local armies consistently fail against these pirates. I ask you all: why do our forces keep losing to them?” Zhang Jing asked gravely, his gaze sweeping the room.
The room fell silent.
“Mencius said: ‘Heaven’s timing is less than the advantage of terrain, and terrain is less than the unity of people.’ Why do our forces keep failing? Is it because we lack heaven’s timing, terrain, or unity? If not, why do we lose so often?” Zhang Jing’s eyes scanned the room again, pressing the question.
Why did the official army keep losing?
The pirates crossed oceans to fight on foreign soil, committing atrocities in the Ming Dynasty, yet they repeatedly defeated the Ming forces.
Was it a lack of heaven’s timing?
Nonsense! How could the pirates be more attuned to heaven’s timing than the Ming army?
Was it a lack of terrain?
Impossible. The Ming army fought on home ground, while the pirates were far from theirs. How could they have the advantage?
Was it a lack of unity?
Even less likely. The pirates, committing heinous acts, were unjust, while the Ming army, fighting them, was righteous. How could they lack unity?
If the Ming army had heaven’s timing, terrain, and unity, why did they keep losing?
It defied explanation. Was Mencius wrong? Or Sun Tzu?
“Governor-General, the pirates aren’t just true Japanese—there are many Ming traitors, the so-called ‘false pirates.’ In some pirate groups, false pirates make up over forty percent, even sixty percent in others. Only during large-scale raids do true Japanese dominate, brought in by these traitors. With false pirates, the pirates can exploit heaven’s timing, terrain, and unity,” a martial general stood and answered.
This general, over forty, was burly with a full beard, looking every bit a fierce warrior.
He seemed closely tied to Tu Dashan, seated behind him. Zhu Ping’an noticed Tu whispering to him, and the general showed Tu great respect.
Perhaps a trusted general Tu brought from his Sichuan-Hunan days.
“Well said, General Li Fengshi. At least you see the surface,” Zhang Jing nodded slightly, speaking calmly.
Li Fengshi? Zhu Ping’an searched his memory but found no trace of the name from his modern knowledge.
“The surface?” Li Fengshi paused, confused.
“Yes, the surface. You see that many false pirates aid the true ones, but you miss that some profit-driven Jiangnan gentry foster pirates for their own gain. You miss that shortsighted, greedy Jiangnan commoners, for petty profits, forsake their heritage and support the pirates!” Zhang Jing said sternly, his voice filled with indignation.
“What? Jiangnan gentry fostering pirates?” Li Fengshi was stunned, his face full of disbelief.
Zhu Ping’an couldn’t help but look up at Zhang Jing.
Everyone in the room turned their attention to him.
“Indeed, these degenerate Jiangnan gentry are the primary reason our forces keep failing to suppress the pirates,” Zhang Jing said firmly, nodding with conviction.
“Does the pirate scourge harm all the people? No. While it seems to affect everyone in Jiangnan, that’s not the truth. After the closure of Zhejiang and Fujian’s maritime offices, the court banned all overseas trade. Some corrupt Jiangnan gentry, to continue their overseas commerce and sell their goods abroad, have supported the pirates’ presence in Jiangnan, using them to export goods and earn silver!” Zhang Jing explained further.
