The next morning, with snowflakes still falling and the sky pitch black, the Zhejiang army had already eaten breakfast, packed up their camp, and prepared to set out.
“After we leave, immediately move the camp into Shaoxing city and strengthen its defenses. Send cavalry to patrol within a thirty-mile radius of the city, set up multiple hidden sentries, and guard against pirate raids. Your primary task is to protect Shaoxing’s safety. If pirates attack, prioritize defense, leverage our firearms advantage, and avoid open-field battles,” Zhu Ping’an instructed Liu Mu, who was seeing him off, repeatedly before departing.
For this campaign to southern Zhejiang, Zhu Ping’an was leading eight thousand Zhejiang troops, including Liu Dadao, leaving Liu Mu and the remaining troops to defend Shaoxing.
Among them, Liu Mu was calmer and more composed than Liu Dadao and the others, making him Zhu Ping’an’s most trusted choice to guard Shaoxing.
Zhu Ping’an had calculated that, with him leading troops to southern Zhejiang, there was a high chance Wang Zhi would send a secondary force to raid Shaoxing.
This campaign to southern Zhejiang was no secret—widely known, with the pirates likely already informed. After Zhu Ping’an took eight thousand troops, Shaoxing’s defenses would be thin, a fact the pirates wouldn’t miss.
A relatively undefended Shaoxing, the seat of the regional governor, was a tempting target.
Thus, precautions were essential.
Although Zhu Ping’an held Wang Zhi’s mother and family as leverage to control the scale of the conflict, that would only take effect once contact was established with Wang Zhi. Before then, several fierce battles were inevitable, and they had to hold firm early on.
“Don’t worry, my lord. I’ll follow your strategy for defending Suzhou and ensure Shaoxing is impregnable,” Liu Mu clasped his fists, solemnly promising.
“Good. Keep this letter of authority. If war breaks out in Shaoxing, present it to command all forces in the city, including constables and soldiers. All armed personnel will be under your unified command,” Zhu Ping’an nodded, pulling out a sealed document bearing the governor’s seal and handing it to Liu Mu.
“My lord, this… commanding all forces in the city is too great a responsibility. I’m of low rank and fear I may not be up to the task…” Liu Mu hesitated, worried he couldn’t handle it.
“In wartime, the greatest danger is a lack of unified command. The city has garrisons and constables—if there’s no single leader, they’ll be like scattered sand in a crisis, a disaster against ruthless pirates. You may not outshine city officials in other areas, but in commanding defenses against pirates, none of them match you,” Zhu Ping’an said seriously, looking at Liu Mu. “Besides, I don’t trust anyone else to lead the Zhejiang army.”
Under Zhu Ping’an’s influence, the Zhejiang army’s firearm proficiency was unmatched in this era. Even generals like Qi Jiguang or Yu Dayou, without sufficient familiarity, couldn’t unleash the army’s full potential.
They still thought in terms of cold weapons.
Only leaders trained within the Zhejiang army could bring out its true strength.
“I understand. Rest assured, my lord, I won’t let you down,” Liu Mu accepted the letter, tucking it into his robe, and promised solemnly.
“Good. I trust you with Shaoxing’s safety,” Zhu Ping’an nodded, patting Liu Mu’s shoulder. “The city’s security is in your hands.”
“Leave it to me, my lord. As long as I’m here, the city stands. Even if I’m gone, the city will stand,” Liu Mu straightened his chest, pledging with a readiness to die.
“No grim talk. The city stands, and so do you,” Zhu Ping’an patted his shoulder firmly, adding, “Besides defending, keep everything as usual.”
“You’re right, my lord. Our Zhejiang army is made to fight pirates. If they don’t come, fine. If they do, they’re just merits for us,” Liu Mu said with confidence.
“Good. With that resolve, think thrice before acting, and you’ll do well,” Zhu Ping’an nodded, satisfied.
“After I leave, the equipment camp must ramp up production of gunpowder and firearms. I’m allocating ten thousand taels of silver for your full discretion. Don’t worry about spending—if it’s not enough, request more. My only demand is to produce as much gunpowder and firearms as possible. With continuous battles ahead, we’ll need plenty,” Zhu Ping’an instructed the equipment camp.
In an era without lathes or machinery, production relied on manpower and was far less efficient than modern times.
The equipment camp was understaffed, and their output of gunpowder and firearms couldn’t keep up with the Zhejiang army’s needs.
With more battles looming, the demand would only grow.
“Rest assured, my lord. We’ve recruited more craftsmen and trained apprentices who are nearly ready. We’ve stockpiled saltpeter and other materials. I’ll oversee round-the-clock production to ensure the army’s supply,” Master Ou and others promised.
“Quantity matters, but so does rest. Organize assembly-line shifts, balancing work and rest,” Zhu Ping’an instructed.
“Yes, sir. You taught us about assembly lines before, and we’ve divided gunpowder and firearm production into steps. This has greatly boosted efficiency,” Master Ou and others said, clasping their fists.
“While producing, also explore making tools or molds to improve efficiency,” Zhu Ping’an directed.
“Don’t worry, my lord. Inspired by our last discussion, we’ve started crafting tools. We’ve made a prototype barrel-boring machine. It’s manual, but it’s already doubled our speed,” Master Ou replied.
“Excellent. Keep it up,” Zhu Ping’an said, patting Master Ou’s shoulder encouragingly.
Master Ou beamed with pride.
While Zhu Ping’an was instructing the equipment camp, Liu Dadao pulled Liu Mu aside and said seriously, “Mu, if—hypothetically—Shaoxing faces its darkest hour, even at the cost of your life, ensure the Young Mistress and the young master and miss are taken to safety.”
“Naturally. Our lives were given by the lord. It’s our duty to lay them down for him. You lot, too—following the lord into battle, even with Wang Zhi’s family in hand, with his strength, fierce battles are inevitable. I won’t be there, so you must protect the lord with your lives,” Liu Mu urged just as seriously.
“Don’t worry. Our minds may not be as sharp as yours, but our skills are no less. With our armor, even in a sea of enemies, we’ll keep the lord safe. If it comes to a crisis, we’ll protect him even if it means being ground to dust,” Liu Dadao thumped his chest confidently.
