“I believe today is destined to be recorded in history, and Leader Wang will surely not regret today’s choice.”
Zhu Ping’an spoke with both confidence and charisma.
“Only the victorious leave their names in history. If we fail, we’ll vanish into the river of time. With bad luck, we might even be reviled for eternity, never to rise again,” Wang Zhi chuckled.
“If we join forces and still fail, there’s only one possibility,” Zhu Ping’an said with a faint smile.
“Oh? What possibility?” Wang Zhi asked curiously.
“That we didn’t truly join forces,” Zhu Ping’an spread his hands, chuckling.
“Hahaha, well said, well said, Lord Zhu makes a fine point,” Wang Zhi burst into hearty laughter.
Seeing Wang Zhi laughing at the table, the surrounding pirates relaxed. If their king was getting along so well with this Zhu fellow, there was no issue, so they ate, drank, and caroused with ease.
At the main table, out of the pirates’ sight, Wang Zhi’s smile faded, his face turning serious as he addressed Zhu Ping’an, “Lord Zhu, though we’ve agreed to join forces, as you said, true cooperation is premature. On my side, I need to convince my men. They made me king because I brought them wealth. Stopping them from raiding the coast cuts off their income, so I must devise strategies, or I’ll face challenges and backlash. On your side, though you’re Zhejiang’s Governor, granting me amnesty exceeds your authority. Without an imperial edict, how can my brothers feel secure?”
Zhu Ping’an had anticipated Wang Zhi’s concerns and had prepared solutions.
Wang Zhi’s issue was obvious, if he couldn’t control his pirates, he’d lose his qualification to ally with Zhu Ping’an.
As for Wang Zhi’s mention of amnesty exceeding Zhu’s authority and needing an imperial edict, that wasn’t insurmountable.
First, Zhu had the right to submit secret memorials to Emperor Jiajing, he could request an amnesty edict, formal or informal, as long as it came from the emperor.
If no edict was forthcoming, Zhu could fabricate a vague imperial verbal order to appease Wang Zhi, who couldn’t verify it with the emperor.
It was a last resort.
Once their plan succeeded and the emperor was pleased, securing an edict wouldn’t be difficult.
Forging an imperial edict, however, Zhu wouldn’t dare, it was a capital crime if exposed.
Historically, Hu Zongxian was arrested and died in prison because a letter to Yan Shifan and a drafted edict were found in Luo Longwen’s home, enraging Emperor Jiajing.
A fabricated verbal order, being untraceable, left no evidence, and Zhu could deny it.
With these plans in mind, Zhu Ping’an adjusted his attire and responded earnestly as soon as Wang Zhi finished, “Leader Wang, you must restrain your men upon returning. If you fail to do so and they continue plundering, you, as the supreme pirate leader, will be deemed the mastermind and planner. This would be greatly detrimental to you, Leader Wang, you must prevent this.”
“Ahem, I’ll do my best. Lord Zhu, you know my pirates come from varied sources, some I subdued, some joined me, some are two-faced, and others are sent by Japanese daimyos to obey me. Restraining them will take effort and time,” Wang Zhi coughed, speaking slowly.
Wang Zhi’s words held truth, he didn’t fully control his pirates, who came from diverse origins, including those from defeated pirate leaders Lu Qi and Shen Jiu, Chen Sipan’s men after his defeat, voluntary joiners, and true Japanese sent by daimyos. His forces were faction-riddled.
While leading them to plunder, they obeyed, but if he stopped their raids on Jiangnan, some would defy him. Plundering was their purpose as pirates.
Halting it outright was challenging.
Wang Zhi also said this to deflect responsibility for previously sending pirates to attack Shaoxing.
“Leader Wang’s point has merit, but upon returning, you must show sincerity and goodwill to the court,” Zhu Ping’an said, narrowing his eyes.
“Please enlighten me, Lord Zhu,” Wang Zhi clasped his fists.
Zhu Ping’an opened his eyes, chuckling, and said slowly, “I’m tasked by Governor Zhang to clear pirate strongholds along Jiangsu and Zhejiang’s coast and inland. Most coastal strongholds are held by your pirates, Leader Wang. Upon returning, please recall them. Additionally, besides your strongholds, there are others held by different pirate groups. Why not send men to join me in eradicating them?”
Wang Zhi pondered briefly, then nodded slowly, clasping his fists, “Setting aside our alliance, Lord Zhu’s act of pardoning my mother, wife, and children from prison shows sincerity. Reciprocity is due, I should comply. Upon returning, I’ll order the recall of pirates from Jiangsu and Zhejiang’s coastal strongholds, handing them over to you, Lord Zhu. Additionally, I’ll send my adopted son, Mao Haifeng, to assist you in clearing other pirate strongholds along the coast.”
“Thank you, Leader Wang,” Zhu Ping’an bowed in gratitude.
With Wang Zhi’s commitment, Zhu’s goal was achieved, clearing Wang’s coastal strongholds without a single soldier and gaining Mao Haifeng’s aid to eliminate other pirate bases.
Other pirate forces paled compared to Wang Zhi’s, and without his interference, they’d be easily crushed, especially with Mao Haifeng’s help.
“Lord Zhu, about the court’s amnesty edict…” Wang Zhi looked at Zhu Ping’an, awaiting his response.
“Leader Wang, you know I have the right to submit secret memorials directly to His Majesty. I’ll request amnesty via memorial, and your future actions and merits will also be reported. Moreover, my mentor is the current Second Minister Xu Jie. My ability to escape Yan Song’s faction’s schemes is due to him. I’ll write to Master Xu to advocate for your amnesty before His Majesty. With this, securing an edict won’t be difficult,” Zhu Ping’an said candidly, meeting Wang Zhi’s gaze, leveraging influence as he spoke.
“I entrust this to you, Lord Zhu,” Wang Zhi nodded, clasping his fists.
“Since we’ve formed an alliance, I’ll spare no effort, striving for our dream,” Zhu Ping’an bowed in return.
