Upon hearing Zhang Juzheng inquire whether Zhu Ping had any chance, Xu Jie, who was sipping tea, set down his cup and slowly shook his head. “At least for the present, Zi Hou has no opportunity to take a seat at the table. However, when the position of governor has changed hands multiple times yet still fails to eradicate the Japanese pirate scourge in Jiangnan, that is when Zi Hou may have a chance to compete for it.”
“That is truly a pity. Zi Hou has repeatedly established military merits. If Zi Hou were to take over the position of Jiangnan governor, I believe Zi Hou would have the ability to swiftly pacify the Japanese pirate scourge in Jiangnan.” Zhang Juzheng said, his emotions somewhat complex.
“Zi Hou does indeed have the capability, but in many instances, ability is certainly important, yet it cannot determine everything.”
Xu Jie gazed out the window and said slowly.
Zhang Juzheng was deeply touched within, not just for Zhu Ping; his own personal experiences were no different.
For a moment, the study fell into silence.
Outside Jiaxing City, in the temporary camp of the Zhejiang army, the Zhejiang soldiers were training vigorously amid the cold wind.
Zhu Ping inspected the area and was greatly satisfied. After continuous operations in southern Zhejiang, the newly recruited soldiers had become veterans.
The morale of the Zhejiang army was at its peak.
Of course, with frequent drills, the consumption of gunpowder and firearms by the Zhejiang army was considerable, but there was no alternative. Elite musketeers were forged through gunpowder and bullets; this could not be skimped on. Zhu Ping would not commit the folly of gaining a minor advantage only to suffer a major loss.
Fortunately, in rooting out the Japanese pirate strongholds, the Zhejiang army had seized ample supplies, greatly replenishing the army’s stores.
With silver at hand, the equipment battalion worked overtime to produce firearms and gunpowder. Though the shortfall in firearms remained significant, the gunpowder had been substantially restocked. At the current rate of consumption for the Zhejiang army’s firearms, it would suffice for ten days to half a month of continuous operations.
“Report!!!!”
A Zhejiang scout, having verified his identity, galloped straight into the camp, dismounted, and dashed to the outside of Zhu Ping’s tent to report vital military intelligence.
“Come in. It is Er Niu, is it? Do you have important military intelligence to report to me?” After the scout entered the tent, Zhu Ping glanced at him once and accurately called out his name, inquiring whether there was significant military news to relay.
Scout Er Niu had not expected Zhu Ping to know his name, and he immediately stood straighter with excitement. “Report, yes, important military intelligence. As per your orders to monitor the Japanese pirates at Tuo Lin day and night, just as anticipated, today thirty-two Japanese ships arrived from the outer sea, bringing over six thousand reinforcements of true Japanese pirates. The Tuo Lin pirates have guided them to their lair, making the pirates’ forces even stronger than before.”
“Very good. Go and have a hot meal, then rest well.” Zhu Ping patted Er Niu’s shoulder.
After Er Niu departed.
Zhu Ping stroked his chin in thought. The arrival of reinforcements for Xu Hai’s pirates was entirely within his expectations.
Compared to Wang Zhi, Xu Hai could be called a Han traitor, more akin to a guide for the enemy, leading true Japanese pirates to burn, kill, and plunder in the Ming dynasty.
Zhu Ping was more inclined to exterminate Xu Hai.
Now that Xu Hai’s reinforcements had arrived, he should strike while they were not yet settled, launching a surprise attack to deliver a heavy blow.
If Zhang Jing had not been toppled by Zhao Wenhua, the main army would already have surrounded the Tuo Lin pirates by now, absolutely preventing the true Japanese from so easily joining the Tuo Lin pirates. They would surely have set an ambush on the road as the true Japanese rushed to the Tuo Lin lair, catching them off guard, and then the main army would converge for an annihilation battle…
What a pity!
Such a pity!
Zhang Jing, the key military figure in Jiangnan, had been brought down by Zhao Wenhua, leaving Jiangnan’s military without a unifying voice, unable to organise a multi-pronged encirclement by the armies.
Though Zhao Wenhua held the authority of supervising general, he was merely that; his rank and legitimacy were insufficient to command and mobilise the Jiangnan forces, rendering his words ineffective without proper authority.
Moreover, Zhao Wenhua was the chief culprit in falsely accusing and toppling Zhang Jing. Zhang Jing had deep ties with the wolf soldiers, who now viewed Zhao Wenhua with enmity. At this juncture, Zhao Wenhua could not command the wolf soldiers and even had to guard against them turning against him.
Beyond the wolf soldiers, many guest troops summoned by Zhang Jing, as well as the garrison officers and men, harboured hostility towards Zhao Wenhua.
After all, Zhang Jing was their former commander; though he had been rather strict with them, he had also looked after them well, doing his utmost to make up their overdue pay and rations, and to supplement and repair their armour and weapons.
With Zhao Wenhua using false accusations to bring down their decent former leader Zhang Jing, how could they not feel enmity?
As for why it was false accusation!
Whether Zhao Wenhua had falsely accused Zhang Jing was clearer to them than anyone, for they had been direct participants in Zhang Jing’s deployments and arrangements. Claims of nurturing the Japanese without fighting, fearing the Japanese without engaging, or squandering funds to feed the Japanese were all utter nonsense, pure fabrications!
Everyone knew the combat prowess of the garrison troops; in battles against the Japanese pirates, how could they possibly match them? It was not as if they had never fought the pirates before.
How could they possibly defeat the Japanese pirates?
Could they afford not to mobilise and deploy troops? They absolutely needed to bring in capable forces to combat the pirates!
If they did not mobilise and simply relied on garrison troops to fight the pirates, would that not be reckless warfare? Would that not be courting death? Would that not be seeking defeat? If they rashly sallied forth in reckless battle against the pirates and lost, would that not embolden the pirates further and severely damage their own morale, making the eventual extermination of the pirates even more difficult?
Precisely because the garrison troops could not defeat the Japanese pirates, Governor Zhang had summoned guest troops such as the Shandong spearmen and Guangxi wolf soldiers. Until those Shandong spearmen and Guangxi wolf soldiers arrived and were integrated and reorganised with the garrison troops, Governor Zhang had ordered the local garrisons and county forces to prioritise defending the cities, and without his command, they were not to engage the pirates rashly.
This was a matter of necessity!
Moreover, once the Shandong spearmen and Guangxi wolf soldiers had arrived and been reorganised, had not Governor Zhang launched an offensive, achieving the great victory at Wangjiangjing!
Yet, the very commander who had defeated the pirates and secured the great victory at Wangjiangjing, their old leader Governor Zhang, had been falsely accused and impeached by Zhao Wenhua, and brought down!
How could this not fill them with enmity?
To win over these hostile guest troops and garrison soldiers would depend on Zhao Wenhua’s cunning; through money, power, interests, and so forth.
Thus, for Zhao Wenhua to command these guest troops and local garrisons, it would take no small amount of time.
Considering how the golden opportunity to encircle and annihilate Xu Hai’s band of pirates at Tuo Lin had been ruined by Zhao Wenhua, Zhu Ping could not help but curse inwardly. A treacherous minister harming the nation, useless at accomplishing anything yet expert at ruining it, bringing calamity to the country and its people; the process of exterminating Xu Hai’s pirate band would now be delayed by who knew how long! The common folk would have to endure further ravages by the pirates!
What a pity, what a hateful shame.
At this moment, Zhu Ping fervently wished he could ascend to the governor’s seat. That way, he could leverage his foreknowledge from history, execute his own plans, swiftly pacify the Japanese pirate scourge in Jiangnan, and restore peace to the Jiangnan populace.
