“Governor, if I go to clear Wang Zhi’s strongholds in Ningbo, it will inevitably provoke a fierce retaliation from Wang Zhi. Once hostilities break out, they’ll be uncontrollable. I’m not afraid of engaging Wang Zhi’s Wokou in battle. Even without your orders, Governor, I would eventually confront Wang Zhi’s Wokou until the Wokou in Zhejiang are eradicated—this is my duty as Zhejiang’s Governor. But not now. The Zhejiang army is not yet prepared.”
Zhu Ping’an clasped his hands, his expression one of helpless difficulty.
Starting a war with Wang Zhi now? Zhu Ping’an calculated that his side didn’t even have a sliver of a chance of winning.
There wasn’t enough gunpowder to sustain the Zhejiang army for three days. Without firearms, the veteran Zhejiang soldiers could still put up a fight, but the ten thousand new recruits would be nearly useless. They were barely more than university students who’d undergone a month of military training—how much combat ability could they have? Facing ferocious, ruthless, and battle-hardened Wokou, their already limited combat strength would be unimaginable in its ineffectiveness.
In contrast, Governor Zhang had prepared for about six months to wage war against Xu Hai, the second-tier Wokou leader. Zhu Ping’an had been Zhejiang’s Governor for less than a month, and now he was being asked to confront Wang Zhi, the top-tier Wokou leader. This was truly an unreasonable demand.
Zhu Ping’an wasn’t afraid of battle and knew he would eventually have to face Wang Zhi’s Wokou, but not now. At the very least, he needed the new Zhejiang recruits to train for several more months and for supplies of firearms, tiger cannons, and gunpowder to be replenished.
“Zihou, not everything waits until you’re fully prepared,” Zhang Jing said, looking at Zhu Ping’an with an unyielding tone. “The Emperor is waiting for us to make progress in Jiangnan. This is critical to annihilating Xu Hai’s Wokou. Zihou, ‘Use me in the first battle, and I will ensure victory’—have you forgotten your own words?”
Zhu Ping’an had already outlined the Zhejiang army’s difficulties, but Zhang Jing remained resolute. It seemed this order was non-negotiable.
Facing Zhang Jing’s unwavering gaze, Zhu Ping’an fell silent for a few seconds before clasping his hands and accepting the order. “Zhu Ping’an, Right Vice Minister of the Nanjing Ministry of War and Zhejiang Governor, accepts the order. Tomorrow, I will lead the Zhejiang army back to Shaoxing, muster eight thousand troops, hold a military oath ceremony in Shaoxing, march to Ningbo, clear Wang Zhi’s coastal strongholds, and monitor the Wokou at Liyang Port!”
“Well done! That’s the Zihou I know!” Zhang Jing nodded in satisfaction, moving to the phase of offering rewards. “I know you face difficulties. Whatever requests you have, speak them freely.”
This was Zhu Ping’an’s due, and he also needed to plan ahead. According to historical trends, after the Wangjiangjing victory, Zhang Jing’s political career would come to an end, and Zhao Wenhua would begin to dominate Jiangnan.
Zhu Ping’an seized the opportunity to make a bold request. “Governor, I’ve recruited ten thousand new Zhejiang troops, and their food, equipment, and maintenance require funds. I request that you issue a directive allowing Zhejiang to retain half of its salt revenue for military funding and half of its grain reserves for the soldiers’ provisions until the Wokou in Zhejiang are eradicated. This will ensure the Zhejiang army has no worries about supplies.”
Zhu Ping’an expected Zhang Jing to negotiate a reduction, but after a moment’s thought, Zhang Jing waved his hand decisively. “Approved. I’ll have the directive issued shortly, permitting Zhejiang to retain half its salt revenue for military funding and half its grain reserves for provisions.”
“Many thanks, Governor!” Zhu Ping’an was overjoyed, repeatedly clasping his hands in gratitude. “On behalf of the Zhejiang army and the people of Zhejiang, I thank you, Governor.”
Once Zhang Jing issued the directive, it would become precedent, difficult for future governors to overturn.
With half the salt revenue and grain reserves, military funding and provisions would no longer be a concern.
“Any other requests? Speak them all, Zihou,” Zhang Jing said, gesturing for Zhu Ping’an to continue.
“Many thanks, Governor. I won’t hold back, then. We also need livestock—large quantities of livestock. Good horses, packhorses, mules, donkeys, and oxen. The more, the better,” Zhu Ping’an said, seizing the opportunity.
Livestock would aid the Zhejiang army in transporting supplies and speeding up marches. Speed was critical in military operations, and this would be a significant advantage.
“Good horses are in short supply, and many have already requested them. I can’t show favoritism. However, I can coordinate several thousand packhorses, mules, and donkeys for you. I recently arranged for over ten thousand mules and horses from the northwest and southeast, and they should arrive in a few days. In a few days, I’ll allocate four to five thousand to you, but I can’t guarantee more than that,” Zhang Jing nodded, promising Zhu Ping’an four to five thousand mules and horses.
“Many thanks, Governor,” Zhu Ping’an said, clasping his hands in gratitude.
“Any other requests?” Zhang Jing asked again.
Knowing when to stop, Zhu Ping’an clasped his hands and said, “This is enough.”
Seeing Zhu Ping’an’s restraint and lack of excessive demands, Zhang Jing felt a twinge of guilt.
In truth, sending Zhu Ping’an and the Zhejiang army to southern Zhejiang to engage Wang Zhi’s Wokou wasn’t solely to dispel Xu Hai’s concerns and lure him to attack Jiaxing. The primary reason was to prevent Zhu Ping’an from participating in the campaign to annihilate the Tuolin Wokou, thereby completely blocking Zhao Wenhua from meddling in the battle.
Zhao Wenhua and Hu Zongxian had recently visited Zhu Ping’an’s office, attempting to win him over, a fact known to many.
Though Zhang Jing trusted Zhu Ping’an, he distrusted Zhao Wenhua even more. To ensure absolute security, he followed Li Tianchong’s advice and resolved to send Zhu Ping’an and the Zhejiang army to southern Zhejiang, excluding them from the Tuolin Wokou campaign.
This way, military plans and deployments could justifiably be kept from Zhu Ping’an, preventing Zhao Wenhua from accessing them through him.
There were numerous indications that some members of the Yan faction had unclear, dubious ties with the Wokou.
If Zhao Wenhua obtained military plans and deployments, it wouldn’t be long before the Wokou learned of them.
Zhu Ping’an was, in a sense, implicated by his association with Zhao Wenhua.
Zhang Jing was aware of this but couldn’t afford to take risks. Better safe than sorry. For the sake of the greater good, he had to send Zhu Ping’an to southern Zhejiang.
Feeling apologetic, Zhang Jing offered Zhu Ping’an a hint. “Zihou, for this task I’m assigning you, you must take action. You must hold the military oath ceremony and lead your troops to Ningbo’s coast to clear the Wokou strongholds. As for the results—say, how many strongholds you clear—I won’t set specific requirements. You can control the intensity yourself. However, before Xu Hai attacks Jiaxing blown away by the machinegun fire.
“I understand,” Zhu Ping’an nodded.
This task essentially meant pitting him and the Zhejiang army against Wang Zhi’s Wokou, with the focus on engagement rather than specific results.
Zhang Jing also knew that now wasn’t the time to wage war against Wang Zhi’s Wokou.
But controlling the intensity was the challenge.
War is unpredictable. You can decide when to start it, but not when it ends or how far it escalates. War is inherently uncontrollable and impossible to fully manage.
