“No rush, no rush. Sharpening the axe doesn’t delay the woodcutting. There are plenty of Japanese pirates, and we won’t wipe them out anytime soon. Once your firearms and gunpowder are replenished, we’ll have ample opportunities. No need to hurry for now.”
Zhao Wenhua waved his hand with a smile, indicating there was no urgency. Noticing Zhu Ping’an’s tea was empty, he picked up the teapot and refilled his cup.
“Thank you for your understanding, Master Zhao,” Zhu Ping’an said, clasping his hands in gratitude.
“While defeats against the Japanese pirates have been frequent across Jiangnan, your great victory in Zhejiang, Zihou, is truly commendable. Especially when some people, despite my repeated urging, refuse to send a single soldier, as if the pirates were their pets, afraid that deploying troops might harm them.”
While praising Zhu Ping’an, Zhao Wenhua sarcastically jabbed at Zhang Jing and others, insinuating that Zhang Jing was deliberately harbouring the pirates for his own gain.
Zhu Ping’an didn’t know how to respond, so he simply remained silent.
“Zihou, you don’t know how tough it is for me as an imperial envoy. When I left the capital, I boldly promised His Majesty that I’d head south and, in as little as two or three months or at most half a year, lead the imperial forces to eradicate the pirates, restoring a prosperous and peaceful Jiangnan for His Majesty and a tranquil life for the people.”
“But, alas, I’m ashamed. I’ve repeatedly urged Governor Zhang Jing to deploy troops against the pirates, but not only has he not sent a single soldier, he’s excluded me from military planning entirely. I’m not allowed to touch any military matters, as if I were a thief. Now, let alone leading the campaign, I don’t even have basic access to military information.”
“I can’t get Zhang Jing to act, and it’s the same with Cao Bangfu and the other commanders. I urge them, and they all fall silent.”
“Zihou, I’m in a tough spot. I don’t even know how to report to His Majesty. I’m too ashamed to face him.”
Zhao Wenhua poured out his grievances to Zhu Ping’an, complaining about how uncooperative Zhang Jing and others were and how difficult his position was.
There should be more to come, right? With all this buildup…
As Zhao Wenhua began venting, Zhu Ping’an started counting silently in his mind: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6…
Sure enough, when he reached 8, Zhao Wenhua spoke again.
“Fortunately, heaven doesn’t abandon those who persevere. Your great victory in northern Zhejiang, Zihou, has finally given me something to report to His Majesty with pride.”
Zhao Wenhua stepped forward, patted Zhu Ping’an’s shoulder, and spoke with a gratified expression, his words dripping with insinuation.
He’s still after the credit.
I thought you weren’t just trying to steal credit but wanted to pull me onto your chariot to claim another victory. Yet, after all this, it’s still about taking credit.
“Ahem, Master Zhao, after the victory in the northern Zhejiang ambush, I immediately sent a report to Governor Zhang Jing. I also wrote a detailed confidential memorial about the battle’s events and outcomes, which has already been sent to the capital by express courier.”
Zhu Ping’an coughed, replying to Zhao Wenhua with a touch of embarrassment.
“You reported it that quickly?!” Zhao Wenhua’s face darkened instantly, his expression barely under control.
You… Zhang Jing hasn’t reported to the capital in months, and you, on the other hand, report so diligently and swiftly.
Zhu Ping’an tugged at the corner of his mouth upon hearing this. Why did I report so quickly? I reported so quickly precisely to prevent you from stealing the credit.
“Heh, Lord Zhu is simply fulfilling his duties. After achieving victory, he promptly reported to the capital to bring joy to His Majesty. That’s the duty of a loyal subject,” Hu Zongxian chuckled, speaking up for Zhu Ping’an.
Zhao Wenhua glanced at Hu Zongxian without a word.
“Heh, my lord, you were appointed by His Majesty to oversee the campaign in Jiangnan. Lord Zhu’s great victory in northern Zhejiang is also a result of your leadership.”
“While overseeing Governor Zhang Jing, Governor Zhang clarified the roles of the governor, regional inspectors, and commanders in the anti-pirate operations, urging Lord Zhu and other regional inspectors to eliminate pirates in their jurisdictions. Isn’t Lord Zhu’s victory in northern Zhejiang a testament to your leadership?”
“Moreover, with the teacher-student bond between you and Lord Zhu, your encouragement for him to serve the country loyally and eradicate the pirates—doesn’t that count as leadership?”
“Thus, Lord Zhu’s victory in northern Zhejiang is also your achievement as the overseer.”
Hu Zongxian said with a smile, and with just a few simple sentences, Zhao Wenhua’s record of achievements gained the northern Zhejiang victory.
“Oh, Meilin, you mean…” Zhao Wenhua said, turning to Zhu Ping’an.
You two, playing off each other like this—aren’t you exhausted?
Zhu Ping’an felt tired just watching them. The northern Zhejiang victory couldn’t be shared with them, but the credit for overseeing it was harder to refuse.
Zhao Wenhua was appointed by imperial decree to oversee Jiangnan, and only he had the authority to claim the credit for leadership. No one else could claim it.
In a sense, this northern Zhejiang victory did involve Zhao Wenhua’s influence.
He had repeatedly urged Zhang Jing to act, and regardless of whether his urging was effective or had positive or negative outcomes, it did, to some extent, accelerate Zhang Jing’s clarification of the military authority between the governor and regional inspectors. It also sped up Zhang Jing’s orders to regional inspectors to protect their territories and root out gentry colluding with pirates and civilians secretly aiding them.
Zhao Wenhua oversaw Zhang Jing, who oversaw the regional inspectors, including Zhu Ping’an, the inspector of Zhejiang.
To protect his territory and expose those colluding with pirates, Zhu Ping’an had implemented the ten-household registration and mutual guarantee system. This system provoked a backlash from the pirates, who didn’t want their informants and breeding grounds among the populace eradicated. Desperate, they attacked Jiashan, Pinghu, and Haiyan—three counties that strictly adhered to the system—using brutal terror to disrupt Zhejiang’s implementation of the policy.
To ensure the system wasn’t undermined and to protect the people from the pirates’ harm, Zhu Ping’an ambushed the pirates in northern Zhejiang, achieving a great victory.
Thus, in a certain sense, Zhao Wenhua’s oversight did contribute slightly to the northern Zhejiang ambush victory.
Moreover, if Zhu Ping’an refused to share the victory and also denied Zhao Wenhua’s oversight credit, Zhao Wenhua would surely resent him.
The loss would outweigh the gain.
However, the oversight credit couldn’t be given for free. If they wanted it, they’d have to offer something in return.
This whirlwind of thoughts seemed lengthy but was completed in the span of a single breath.
“Oh, Meilin, you mean…”
Zhao Wenhua had only gotten to the word “mean” when Zhu Ping’an cut in.
“Lord Hu speaks wisely,” Zhu Ping’an declared firmly.
Since he had to give Zhao Wenhua the oversight credit, he might as well do so generously, earning Zhao Wenhua’s favour and making it harder for him to refuse later requests.
“Oh, Zihou, you think so too? Truly, great minds think alike, haha…” Zhao Wenhua was overjoyed to hear Zhu Ping’an agree with Hu Zongxian. It was as if, on a scorching summer day with cracked lips, he’d drunk a cup of chilled nectar. Every pore seemed to shout in satisfaction.
