“The pirates may launch a counterattack, and the Zhejiang army is short on firearms and gunpowder. This is indeed worrisome. I was sent to Jiangnan by imperial decree to oversee the campaign. Zihou, under my oversight, you bravely fought the pirates, leading to this precarious situation. Naturally, I cannot turn a blind eye or a deaf ear. Resolving your difficulties is also my responsibility as the overseer.”
Though Zhu Ping’an’s words were subtle, Zhao Wenhua, an old fox, understood the hint perfectly and responded obligingly.
“Thank you, Master Zhao. But how will you address the difficulties facing Zhejiang?” Zhu Ping’an thanked him and asked slowly.
*Talk is cheap. I’m a practical man—show me tangible benefits.*
“Zihou, you face the risk of being pincered by the Tuolin-Xuhai pirates and the Wang Zhi pirates. The best solution would be to deploy additional troops for joint defence. However, Zhang Jing guards against me more than he does thieves. I’d love to muster troops to assist you in defending Zhejiang, but with Zhang Jing monopolising military authority in Jiangnan, I can’t even deploy a single soldier…”
Zhao Wenhua sighed.
*Hold on.*
*Even if you could send troops, I wouldn’t want them. Garrison soldiers would only cause trouble and consume rations and supplies.*
Zhu Ping’an inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. *If you actually sent troops, I’d have to find a way to refuse you. Thank goodness for Zhang Jing—you not being able to deploy troops is perfect.*
“However, while I can’t send troops, I can help resolve the Zhejiang army’s shortage of firearms and gunpowder. I’ll write a letter to the Capital Armoury Bureau to dispatch one hundred firearms and gunpowder craftsmen to be directly assigned to your Zhejiang army. Don’t doubt it—while we may not control everything in the capital, transferring a hundred or so craftsmen from the Armoury Bureau is child’s play. Additionally, I’ll see how much gunpowder the Armoury Bureau has and try to allocate half of it to you, shipped along with the craftsmen. What do you think, Zihou?”
Zhao Wenhua said confidently.
In Jiangnan, he was constrained by Zhang Jing at every turn, but in the capital, the influence of their Yan Party was extraordinary.
For the Yan Party, arranging craftsmen and gunpowder from the Capital Armoury Bureau was as easy as snapping their fingers.
“Thank you, Master Zhao. The more firearms and craftsmen, the better. However, we don’t need the gunpowder. The Zhejiang army has modified its gunpowder formula, which differs from standard gunpowder. The gunpowder from the capital wouldn’t suit our needs. Instead, please coordinate with the Armoury Bureau to send as much saltpetre, sulphur, and other raw materials for gunpowder production as possible.”
Zhu Ping’an thanked Zhao Wenhua. He was eager for firearms and craftsmen, but the capital’s gunpowder was subpar in potency and imprecise in composition, so he politely declined it.
“Very well. There’s no need to trouble transporting saltpetre and sulphur from the capital. Sichuan produces both, and the capital’s supplies come from there anyway. I’ll write a letter to the Sichuan Provincial Administrator, asking him to send tens of thousands of jin of saltpetre and sulphur. From now on, you won’t need to worry about Zhejiang’s supply of these materials. I’ll inform him that whenever you need saltpetre or sulphur, just ask, and it’ll be shipped directly from Sichuan.”
Zhao Wenhua took it all in stride. The Sichuan Provincial Administrator was a Yan Party member, and saltpetre and sulphur were a mere word away—there was plenty, as the mines belonged to the court. Being generous with the court’s resources was the way to go.
“Thank you, Master Zhao,” Zhu Ping’an said gratefully.
“As for military funds, I can’t help there, but I’ll find a way to secure tens of thousands of shi of grain from elsewhere to ensure your Zhejiang army has no worries about food for men or horses for a year,” Zhao Wenhua added.
“Thank you, Master Zhao, thank you!” Zhu Ping’an was satisfied. Grain was hard currency, and the more, the better.
“So, Zihou, what do you think?” Zhao Wenhua asked.
“How can worries be dispelled? Only with Master Zhao’s help. Thank you for easing my concerns,” Zhu Ping’an said, clasping his hands in gratitude.
Zhao Wenhua laughed heartily, thoroughly pleased. In Zhu Ping’an’s presence, he wrote two letters and ordered them sent to the capital and Sichuan by express courier.
Seeing Zhao Wenhua so cooperative, Zhu Ping’an didn’t delay. With a flourish of his brush, he signed his name at the end of the memorial.
“Excellent. Send it to the capital at once—eight hundred li express, to reach His Majesty as quickly as possible,” Zhao Wenhua said, beaming after receiving Zhu Ping’an’s signature. He patted Zhu Ping’an’s shoulder encouragingly and ordered the memorial dispatched to the capital.
With the oversight credit secured, Zhao Wenhua relaxed completely. Sitting back in his chair, he sipped his tea.
“Zihou, just between us, do you think the pirate threat in Jiangnan can be quelled?” Zhao Wenhua asked.
“Of course it can,” Zhu Ping’an replied without hesitation. “With justice against injustice, and a great nation against a small one, the pirate threat will surely be subdued.”
Zhao Wenhua nodded, then asked, “How long do you think it will take to quell the pirates? Is six months enough?”
*Six months? You’re dreaming. You couldn’t even wipe out the Tuolin-Xuhai pirates in six months, let alone the much larger Wang Zhi gang. Besides, with Japan in its Warring States period, displaced samurai and daimyo seeking gold and resources from the Ming keep the pirate supply endless…*
Zhu Ping’an tugged at the corner of his mouth and shook his head. “Six months isn’t enough to quell the pirates.”
Zhao Wenhua wasn’t surprised by this answer. He had some understanding of the pirates and knew six months was too short.
“If six months isn’t enough, what about a year? Can the Jiangnan pirate threat be quelled in a year?” Zhao Wenhua asked again.
“A year isn’t enough either,” Zhu Ping’an shook his head once more.
“A year isn’t enough?” Zhao Wenhua was surprised this time, puzzled. “Though Zhang Jing has sidelined me from military matters, I know his plans. He’s brought in Shandong spearmen and Guangxi wolf soldiers, placed under the command of Yu Dayou and Tang Kekuan, and is rigorously training them. He aims to deliver a crushing blow to the Tuolin pirates in a major battle, wiping them out, then leveraging that victory to attack the Wang Zhi gang. Though I don’t get along with Zhang Jing, he’s skilled in both civil and military affairs and has notable achievements. With you assisting in Zhejiang, can you really not subdue the Xuhai and Wang Zhi pirates in a year?”
Zhu Ping’an rolled his eyes inwardly. *Zhang Jing is capable, but thanks to your Yan Party, thanks to you, after he won a major victory at Wangjiangjing, you framed and killed him… The promising momentum to suppress the pirates in Jiangnan had just begun when you derailed it. And you think you can wipe out the pirates in a year? Keep dreaming.*
*Historically, you brought down Zhang Jing, then two more governors, before finally pushing Hu Zongxian into the governor’s seat. A year isn’t even enough time for Hu Zongxian to take office, let alone quell the pirates. You’ve got some imagination.*
