“Zihou, do you know where I went before coming here?” Zhao Wenhua asked Zhu Ping’an.
Zhu Ping’an shook his head slightly.
But in his mind, he was clear. Zhao Wenhua had come from Yingtian, traveling from north to south. There weren’t many places along the way worth mentioning, and given his actions since arriving in Jiangnan, the only place that stood out was Jiaxing. It was almost certain he’d gone to Jiaxing to oversee Governor Zhang Jing and urge him to deploy troops against the Japanese pirates.
Sure enough, the next moment, Zhao Wenhua revealed the answer himself. “I went to Jiaxing to supervise Zhang Jing’s deployment against the pirates.”
“Guess what he said?” Zhao Wenhua angrily set down his teacup.
Without waiting for Zhu Ping’an to respond, Zhao Wenhua continued, fuming, “He said he’d deploy when the time was right. I asked him, ‘When is the right time?’ He said, ‘The right time is the right time.’ I… He’s playing word games with me! It’s utterly outrageous, utterly outrageous!”
“Lord Zhao, please calm yourself.” Hu Zongxian poured Zhao Wenhua a cup of tea, soothing him.
“Believe it or not, my supervision of Zhang Jing isn’t out of personal enmity but for the public good. His Majesty longs for the pacification of Jiangnan’s pirate problem, and the people ravaged by the pirates’ burning, killing, and plundering are desperately hoping for peace.” Zhao Wenhua took a sip of tea, calming slightly, and addressed Hu Zongxian and Zhu Ping’an.
“Lord Zhao’s heart for the country and the people is something I deeply admire.” Hu Zongxian seized the chance to flatter.
“Meilin truly understands me.” Zhao Wenhua nodded with satisfaction.
Zhu Ping’an remained impassive, but inwardly he scoffed. *When you first arrived in Jiangnan, the first thing you did wasn’t to supervise Zhang Jing but to demand twenty thousand taels of silver from him. Only after he refused did you start frantically pressuring him.*
*If you were truly devoted to serving His Majesty, easing his worries, and bringing peace to the people, you’d be wholeheartedly—or at least earnestly—supporting Zhang Jing. You wouldn’t be asking him for twenty thousand taels of silver. You’d be helping him secure provisions and weapons, ensuring he has no logistical concerns. You wouldn’t just show up at his residence to urge him to deploy, and when he doesn’t, write a memorial to impeach him…*
*And I know history. Your relentless pressure on Zhang Jing isn’t about eradicating the pirates—it’s about setting a trap for him.*
While Zhu Ping’an inwardly sneered at Zhao Wenhua, he was suddenly interrupted by Zhao Wenhua’s question.
“Zihou, do you think Zhang Jing is a competent Governor of Jiangnan?” Zhao Wenhua asked Zhu Ping’an directly.
“After Governor Zhang was appointed by His Majesty, he transferred Shandong spearmen, Guangxi wolf soldiers, and other elite troops to Jiangnan. He dispatched generals to lead them, trained these guest troops—such as the Shandong spearmen and Guangxi wolf soldiers—stockpiled provisions, and has been diligently preparing for the pirate suppression campaign…”
Zhu Ping’an spoke slowly, not directly stating whether Zhang Jing was competent but listing his actions since taking office.
The implication was clear.
While Zhang Jing hadn’t yet launched an offensive against the pirates, he’d been meticulously preparing for their eradication.
The pirate threat was formidable, and the local garrison troops were unreliable, so he had to bring in capable guest troops from Shandong and Guangxi. But these troops had just arrived—soldiers didn’t know their generals, generals didn’t know their soldiers, and they were unfamiliar with the local forces. Training was essential to ensure generals could command the guest troops seamlessly and that guest and local troops could coordinate effectively. Only then could they confidently deploy against the pirates.
Moreover, as the saying goes, provisions precede troops. To mobilize, they needed to secure rations and military supplies for logistics.
If guest troops were brought in but their rations weren’t guaranteed, would they fight wholeheartedly? Worse, if they mutinied due to lack of provisions, wouldn’t that mean enemies on both fronts?
The local garrison troops were no different. They’d been owed rations for who knows how long. If they were sent to fight without being paid, how could they be expected to risk their lives?
Local troop mutinies weren’t rare—Zhu Ping’an had witnessed one himself. Some local soldiers even defected to the pirates!
To eradicate the pirates, these preparations were essential.
Zhao Wenhua listened to Zhu Ping’an’s response and gave a dismissive chuckle. “Heh, these are all empty gestures. Zhang Jing has been governor for months—what has he done? How many pirates has he eliminated? Not a single one!”
“Since he took office, the pirates in Tuolin have grown bolder, occupying more territory and ravaging more people. Just over the New Year period, the Tuolin pirates raided over a hundred times. Songjiang Prefecture is nine-tenths deserted, with every household in mourning. On my way here, I saw dozens of funerals. This is the ‘new atmosphere’ under Governor Zhang!”
“He’s betrayed His Majesty’s trust and expectations. His Majesty appointed him governor, hoping day and night for news of the pirates’ defeat. But him? He hasn’t killed a single pirate!”
“He’s betrayed the people’s hopes. Zihou, go out and listen—whether in Yingtian, Suzhou, Jiaxing, or even your Shaoxing, how many people, openly or in secret, curse Zhang Jing? They say he’s not the people’s guardian but the pirates’ guardian, watching them burn, kill, and plunder without sending a single soldier, refusing to let other officials send troops, as if he’s afraid of harming a single pirate…”
“He is not a competent governor!”
Zhao Wenhua passionately listed Zhang Jing’s failures, concluding that he was unfit for the role.
“I also believe Governor Zhang’s strategy for suppressing the pirates is too conservative, too slow. He could do better, but alas, the pirates grow fiercer. Xu Hai’s faction in Tuolin is expanding, Wang Zhi in Ligang is increasingly brazen, the suffering of Jiangnan’s people worsens, and the people’s hope fades…”
Hu Zongxian echoed, this time not just agreeing with Zhao Wenhua but genuinely believing Zhang Jing was unfit.
If he, Hu Zongxian, were governor, he’d surely outperform Zhang Jing—tenfold, a hundredfold.
“What do you think, Zihou?” Zhao Wenhua fixed Zhu Ping’an with a piercing gaze, asking bluntly.
Zhu Ping’an: *…*
*Zhang Jing is at least more competent than you, Zhao Wenhua.* Of course, Zhu Ping’an couldn’t say that aloud and remained silent.
“If you were to take his place, I believe you’d be far more competent than Zhang Jing, outperforming him tenfold, a hundredfold…”
Zhao Wenhua didn’t press Zhu Ping’an to speak. Instead, he walked over, patted Zhu Ping’an’s shoulder, and said meaningfully.
Zhu Ping’an’s pulse quickened.
“Well, we’ve disturbed you long enough and won’t keep you from your duties. Meilin, let’s go.”
Zhao Wenhua beckoned to Hu Zongxian and headed out.
“Farewell, Lord Zhu.” Hu Zongxian cupped his hands to Zhu Ping’an and followed Zhao Wenhua out.
