Having successfully claimed the credit for overseeing the great victory in northern Zhejiang, Zhao Wenhua was in high spirits. After so long in Jiangnan, he finally had a notable achievement to his name. Whether overseeing others or reporting to the Emperor, he now had the confidence to do so.
“Meilin, quickly draft a memorial reporting the success of overseeing the northern Zhejiang victory. Have it sent to His Majesty by express courier at once.”
After receiving Zhu Ping’an’s approval, Zhao Wenhua couldn’t wait a moment longer and instructed Hu Zongxian to draft the memorial immediately.
He wanted to present the memorial claiming credit for overseeing the northern Zhejiang victory to Emperor Jiajing as soon as possible, letting the Emperor know of his accomplishments in Jiangnan. This would solidify his legitimacy to remain in Jiangnan as the overseer.
Jiangnan was truly a land of opportunity. In just a few months here, he had amassed more silver than he had in over a decade in the capital.
If he could stay for a year or two, he couldn’t even imagine how much silver he might collect—perhaps even rivalling the wealth of Donglou.
The sensation of counting money until his hands cramped was simply too delightful. These days in Jiangnan had become addictive.
To stay in Jiangnan longer, he needed to show results to the Emperor. This memorial about overseeing the northern Zhejiang victory was a fine achievement. He believed that once the Emperor saw it, he would recognise the value of his oversight in Jiangnan, affirming that he still had much to accomplish here and granting him more time in the region.
Moreover, the northern Tartars and southern Japanese pirates were the two greatest challenges facing the empire, and the two most vexing issues for the Emperor. If he could resolve the pirate problem in Jiangnan, alleviating one of the Emperor’s major concerns, he would achieve monumental merit, potentially securing a place in the Grand Secretariat.
“As you command,” Hu Zongxian nodded without hesitation, then turned to Zhu Ping’an, courteously clasping his hands. “Lord Zhu, may I borrow your brush, ink, paper, and memorial paper to draft the report?”
“No need for formalities, Lord Hu. Please, go ahead,” Zhu Ping’an warmly invited Hu Zongxian to use the materials.
He even ground the ink for Hu Zongxian as the latter spread out the paper.
As he had decided, since he couldn’t avoid giving them the oversight credit, he would do so generously, earning their goodwill and making it easier to request support later, which they would find hard to refuse.
Hu Zongxian picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, then sheepishly scratched his chin, unable to write.
He had no detailed knowledge of the northern Zhejiang ambush victory. He only knew that Zhu Ping’an had ambushed the pirates and won a great battle, but he didn’t know where it happened, how it was fought, how many pirates were involved, the scale of the victory, how many pirates were killed, how many heads were taken, how many were captured, or how much armour and weaponry was seized. Without this data, how could he write a memorial?
“Ahem, Lord Zhu, I’ll need you to recount the details and results of the northern Zhejiang ambush so I can draft the memorial…”
Hu Zongxian coughed, set down the brush, and looked at Zhu Ping’an with some embarrassment, seeking his help.
“It happened like this: I led the Zhejiang troops…” Zhu Ping’an began to recount the events in detail.
“What? Zihou, not only did you kill so many pirates, but you also captured the pirate leader Maye?!”
Zhao Wenhua and Hu Zongxian’s eyes widened in shock when Zhu Ping’an mentioned capturing the pirate leader Maye.
The news they had received only mentioned that Zhu Ping’an had killed thousands of pirates and captured hundreds, but there was no word of capturing Maye. This was an unexpected delight.
Capturing the pirate leader Maye!
Zhao Wenhua was overjoyed. The greater Zhu Ping’an’s victory in northern Zhejiang, the greater his own oversight credit.
“Is this true?”
Zhao Wenhua still found it hard to believe.
“Of course it’s true. The pirate leader Maye is currently locked up in my yamen’s prison. If Master Zhao is interested, I can take you to see him,” Zhu Ping’an said confidently, his voice resonant.
“Good. Once Meilin finishes drafting the memorial, we’ll go see this pirate leader Maye,” Zhao Wenhua nodded.
After Zhu Ping’an recounted the entire northern Zhejiang ambush, Hu Zongxian began writing, his brush flowing smoothly without pause. In less time than it takes to burn a stick of incense, he completed the memorial reporting the oversight of the northern Zhejiang victory.
“Excellent. As expected of Meilin. Well done, very well done. Hmm, add this line here: ‘I humbly beseech Your Majesty to heed my words, not as exaggeration, but to understand the gravity of the pirate threat in Jiangnan and the difficulty of oversight. Yet, with capable and valiant officials like Zhejiang Inspector Zhu Ping’an, who bravely achieved this great victory, it is clear that the pirates are not invincible. They can be defeated and eradicated. The eradication of the Jiangnan pirate threat begins here. I beseech Your Majesty to await the good news of my oversight in exterminating the Jiangnan pirates…’”
Zhao Wenhua carefully read the memorial twice, then pointed to a spot near the end, instructing Hu Zongxian.
He then turned to Zhu Ping’an, seeking his opinion. “Zihou, what do you think?”
Zhu Ping’an naturally had no objections.
Hu Zongxian added the passage as Zhao Wenhua requested, showed it to him again, and Zhao Wenhua reviewed it carefully once more, declaring it excellent. He instructed Hu Zongxian to transcribe it onto the official memorial paper.
Once the memorial was transcribed, Zhao Wenhua signed it, with Hu Zongxian adding his name afterward.
Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhu Ping’an, his meaning clear—he wanted Zhu Ping’an to sign as well.
Zhu Ping’an didn’t hesitate. He took the brush but couldn’t help sighing as he prepared to write.
“What’s wrong, Zihou? Are you unwilling to sign?” Zhao Wenhua asked slowly, his gaze sharp.
“Not at all, not at all. I was just thinking of Zhejiang’s situation and couldn’t help but sigh,” Zhu Ping’an said, his face full of worry.
“Why is that? You’ve achieved a great victory in northern Zhejiang, and Zhejiang’s situation is excellent. Why the sigh?” Zhao Wenhua asked, puzzled.
“Master Zhao, although we won this time, Zhejiang faces grave dangers ahead,” Zhu Ping’an said, his expression troubled.
“What dangers?” Zhao Wenhua asked.
“First and foremost, retaliation from the Tuolin pirates! We caused them heavy losses and dealt them a severe blow. How could they not seek revenge?” Zhu Ping’an said, spreading his hands.
Zhao Wenhua nodded. That made sense.
“Moreover, Zhejiang doesn’t just face the Tuolin pirates. In Zhoushan’s Ligang, the Wang Zhi pirate gang, far larger than the Tuolin pirates, is entrenched.”
“The Tuolin pirates attacked northern Zhejiang to retaliate against my ten-household registration and mutual guarantee system, aiming to disrupt it. If the Tuolin pirates sought to sabotage it, would the Wang Zhi gang sit idly by and let the system succeed, eradicating their informants and networks among Zhejiang’s populace? They certainly won’t. So, Zhejiang must also guard against retaliation and sabotage from the Wang Zhi gang.”
“Facing retaliation from the two largest pirate groups, as Zhejiang’s inspector, how can I not be worried, Master Zhao?”
Zhu Ping’an explained with a sigh.
