“Township of Zhenjiang Wuxi suffered a sudden raid by Japanese pirates. The 30,000 taels of silver for city wall construction and 5,000 shi of grain that Wuxi County had just collected were looted clean by the Japanese pirates. Materials such as bricks, stones, timber for building the city walls were burned to ashes by the Japanese pirates. The southern wards of the city were burned, killed, and plundered by the Japanese pirates. Hundreds of civilian houses in the city were destroyed, with heavy casualties and losses…”
In the temporary camp of the Zhejiang army, Zhu Ping’an received an urgent report of the Japanese pirates’ raid on Zhenjiang Wuxi. He read through the report once and placed it on the table to one side.
There were already three urgent reports there.
“First Jiangsu Wuxian, then Yangzhou Jiangdu County, then Huai’an Muyang County, now Zhenjiang Wuxi. In just three days, the Tuolin Xu Hai and the Japanese pirates have already attacked four counties!”
Zhu Ping’an took out a map and marked the areas attacked by the Japanese pirates over these three days with a charcoal pencil.
The Tuolin Japanese pirates had become active again. It seemed they had received reinforcements from the true Japanese, and had shaken off the shadow of defeat at Wangjiangjing.
Yangzhou Jiangdu County, Huai’an Muyang County, Zhenjiang Wuxi, these three places were all prosperous areas. Having suffered raids by the Japanese pirates, the losses were severe.
After studying the map for a while, Zhu Ping’an discovered that these three places had one thing in common: their city wall construction silver had all been robbed by the Japanese pirates.
Wuxi had only just collected the silver and grain for building the city walls, and had not even started construction, yet it was robbed by the Japanese pirates. How tragic…
Huai’an Muyang County had also just collected the silver, and had only levelled the ground, when it was attacked by the Japanese pirates.
Jiangdu had city walls, but they were old and in disrepair. Recently, several tens of thousands of taels of silver had been collected to prepare for repairs, but work had not yet begun, and it was also robbed by the Japanese pirates.
This made Zhu Ping’an highly suspicious of Luo Longwen. Could this fellow have already colluded with the Japanese pirates at this time?!
Although the Japanese pirates did not only rob this construction silver, but also harmed many ordinary people, once, twice, three times, the construction silver in three places was robbed by the Japanese pirates. Three coincidences were problematic.
Luo Longwen was responsible for supervising city wall construction in the Jiangnan region. Since he came down to Jiangnan, apart from collecting silver everywhere, he had been urging local areas to raise funds and grain for building city walls. Apart from the local prefects and magistrates, he knew the most about the city wall construction situations in various places.
If Luo Longwen had already colluded with the Japanese, it would not be surprising that the Japanese pirates repeatedly and precisely raided and looted.
Better to believe it exists than not!
One must guard against it!
Zhejiang also had places where new city walls were to be built or repaired.
“Someone come!” Zhu Ping’an called for people and ordered the Zhejiang army to strengthen patrols and protection in places where city walls were being built or repaired.
Another day passed, and Zhu Ping’an received another urgent report: Suzhou’s Changshu County had been attacked by Japanese pirates.
Changshu’s ancient city walls were intact and did not need repairs, with no losses in construction funds or grain, but the Japanese pirates used a strategy of inside-outside collusion to seize Changshu County city. The Japanese pirates entered the city to burn, kill, and plunder, with heavy casualties among the people. The county yamen treasury was also looted clean. The Changshu County Lieutenant was killed in battle, and the Changshu Magistrate disguised himself as a servant to escape.
The Tuolin Japanese pirates were too arrogant!
After reading it, Zhu Ping’an slammed the report heavily on the table. He could no longer hold back and took Liu Dandao and others straight to Zhao Wenhua’s residence to pay a visit.
“I’m sorry, Lord Zhu, my master has gone out on inspection and is not at the residence.” The gatekeeper said with an apologetic face.
“Then may I ask where Master Zhao has gone for inspection, and when Master Zhao will return?” Zhu Ping’an asked.
“This is difficult for me, sir. The master does not inform me when he goes out on inspection. I truly do not know where the master has gone for inspection or when he will return. Please forgive me, Lord Zhu.” The gatekeeper shook his head with a troubled expression.
“Forget it, then I shall come another time to pay respects to Master Zhao.” Zhu Ping’an saw that he could not get any information and had to leave temporarily.
Zhu Ping’an did not return to the camp outside the city, but instead turned back to Hu Zongxian’s residence. Hu Zongxian was also not at home. His gatekeeper informed him that the Jiaxing Prefect had sent someone to invite him this morning, and Hu Zongxian had gone to the appointment.
Jiaxing Prefect Zhao Chong!!!
Hearing the name of Jiaxing Prefect Zhao Chong, Zhu Ping’an could not help but frown, feeling very displeased in his heart.
This Jiaxing Prefect who had colluded with the Japanese pirates had actually escaped a disaster.
In this Wangjiangjing great victory, Zhang Jing had used the surrendered Jiaxing Prefect Zhao Chong to deceive Xu Hai, causing Xu Hai to suffer a惨 defeat at Wangjiangjing.
In Zhang Jing’s memorial on the Wangjiangjing great victory, it was also reported truthfully.
No matter how one looked at it, Zhao Chong was in a must-die situation, but unexpectedly, Jiaxing Prefect Zhao Chong had managed to whitewash himself.
He did not know how Zhao Chong had worked through his connections with Zhao Wenhua, but he could guess: nothing more than heavy bribes to Zhao Wenhua.
After the Wangjiangjing great victory, Zhao Wenhua and Hu Zongxian submitted memorials, stating that Zhao Chong’s troops had not surrendered to the Japanese pirates, but that he had endured humiliation and pretended to surrender to the Japanese pirates, acting as a spy, all to capture the Tuolin Japanese pirate chief Xu Hai in one fell swoop.
Zhao Wenhua claimed that the reason Wangjiangjing achieved a great victory was that Zhao Chong, under his Zhao Wenhua’s instructions, contacted the Tuolin Japanese pirate chief Xu Hai and deceived him into coming. Originally, they could have eliminated Xu Hai in one stroke, but unfortunately, due to Zhang Jing’s delay in deploying troops, they missed the opportunity, resulting in the effort falling short, allowing Xu Hai to lead his defeated remnants back to the Tuolin lair.
After Zhao Wenhua and Hu Zongxian submitted their memorials, Yan Song also endorsed them. In this way, not only was Zhao Chong innocent, but he even had merit.
Hah, who could one reason with about this.
Zhao Chong had clearly surrendered to the Japanese pirates and become a traitorous lackey, yet who would have thought he could turn around and become a meritorious minister of the Wangjiangjing great victory!
It was truly infuriating!
With a gloomy face, Zhu Ping’an left Hu Zongxian’s residence. Hu Zongxian going to meet Zhao Chong’s invitation, without doubt, Zhao Wenhua must also have gone, because Hu Zongxian was almost inseparable from Zhao Wenhua, like Jiao inseparable from Meng, Meng inseparable from Jiao. This time, Zhao Chong inviting Hu Zongxian and Zhao Wenhua was undoubtedly to thank them heavily afterwards.
Damn Zhao Chong!
It was because of these incompetent fools that the people in the jurisdiction suffered so much!
I must make these bastards suffer the punishment they deserve! Zhu Ping’an’s face was sombre as he silently swore in his heart.
Before noon, Zhu Ping’an went to Zhao Wenhua’s residence again and learned that Zhao Wenhua was still out on inspection and had not returned.
What nonsense inspection!
He had gone to Zhao Chong’s place to collect gifts, that was more like it!
Zhu Ping’an had no choice but to leave.
In the afternoon, Zhu Ping’an went again, and Zhao Wenhua still had not returned. As Zhu Ping’an turned to leave, he saw from afar several carriages slowly approaching under the escort of attendants.
Zhu Ping’an looked at the emblem on the carriages and found it somewhat familiar; it seemed to be Zhao Wenhua’s carriage. Zhu Ping’an stopped his departing steps and waited to one side.
Sure enough, as the carriage drew near, Zhao Wenhua lifted the window curtain and saw Zhu Ping’an waiting outside the door. He was somewhat surprised and chuckled, “Zihou, what a rare guest. What wind has blown you here? You have never taken the initiative to come to my residence before.”
As Zhao Wenhua’s carriage approached, Zhu Ping’an smelled a strong odour of alcohol. When Zhao Wenhua spoke, the smell of alcohol was even stronger.
