“Feng Gonggong asked me to pass on his regards to Young Zhu.”
During the welcoming banquet for the imperial envoy, a young eunuch took advantage of the crowd’s inattention to slip a note into Zhu Ping’an’s hand.
Zhu Ping’an nodded slightly, discreetly tucking the note into his sleeve. He opened it while going to the washroom to change clothes.
“Young Zhu, feel free to act boldly. His Majesty has decreed that anyone impeaching Young Zhu will first face investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot. Currently, no one dares to impeach Young Zhu. Additionally, the governor position is about to be appointed. There are five candidates. Right Assistant Minister of the Censorate Zhou Jiang tops the list, followed by Zhao Wenhua. Barring surprises, the governor will be one of these two. Young Zhu is also on the candidate list, though at the bottom. If the Japanese pirate threat in Jiangnan cannot be quickly quelled, Young Zhu may have a chance in the future.”
Feng Bao was very cautious. The handwriting on the note was not Feng Bao’s, but the information was certainly from him.
After reading the note, Zhu Ping’an stroked his chin. No wonder he had not received any impeachment news lately. It turned out Emperor Jiajing had issued a warning: anyone impeaching him would first be investigated by the factory guards. Heh, how many people in this world could withstand scrutiny? So, for this period, no one dared to impeach him.
It seemed his recent string of military merits, plus presenting the white turtle as an auspicious sign, had worked on Emperor Jiajing.
Hmm, in exchange for a temporary protective talisman from Emperor Jiajing.
This was a soft reward. Well, all things considered, Emperor Jiajing was not too stingy. It was barely acceptable.
As for the governor position, Feng Bao mentioned the candidate list, with Zhou Jiang at the top, most likely to succeed as governor. This matched history.
Additionally, he had not expected to be on the five-person candidate list for governor himself. This was an unexpected delight.
Being on the candidate list meant he was under consideration and comparison. If the governor changed in the future, candidates from the list would be prioritised.
At the end of the note, Feng Bao subtly reminded him that if the Japanese pirate issue in Jiangnan could not be quickly resolved, there would be an opportunity later.
This meant Emperor Jiajing and the court hoped for a swift pacification of the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan. Their expectation for the new governor was to quickly end the threat. If the new governor failed to do so and fell short of expectations, replacing the Jiangnan governor would become inevitable.
This aligned with history too.
After Zhang Jing, governors changed frequently until Hu Zongxian took the seat and stabilised things.
If the governor changed and he performed outstandingly, his chances of succeeding would increase greatly.
After the banquet ended and guests dispersed, it was a moonlit night with a high wind. Zhu Ping’an returned to the temporary Zhejiang army camp outside the city and burned the note with an oil lamp to destroy it.
The imperial envoy stayed for two days before returning to the capital. Zhao Wenhua organised Zhu Ping’an and others to see him off.
Among those seeing him off, Luo Longwen was absent. That fellow was still bedridden from his stick injuries, handling all eating, drinking, and excreting from bed.
In these few days, the Takayama pirates struck everywhere and succeeded repeatedly. One report after another reached Zhu Ping’an’s hands.
Zhu Ping’an sensed that the day the Takayama pirates attacked Songjiang Prefecture city was approaching.
On this day, Zhu Ping’an received news from Zhao Gou and Wang Tie: Xu Hai had selected six hundred pirates and ordered them to secretly infiltrate Songjiang Prefecture city. They knew this because several of their subordinates among the pirates had been selected. Due to their low status, they could not access deeper intelligence.
But from this intelligence, it could be determined that the Takayama pirates were about to strike Songjiang Prefecture city.
With six hundred pirates secretly infiltrating Songjiang Prefecture city, their intent for an inside-outside collaboration to breach the city was obvious.
All these messages pointed to Songjiang Prefecture city.
The time was just these few days.
Zhu Ping’an prepared to head to Songjiang Prefecture to join Liu Daknife and the three thousand Zhejiang troops lurking in Jinshan there. When the pirates attacked Songjiang Prefecture city, they would strike from behind, catching them off guard.
Before setting off, Zhu Ping’an went to see Hu Zongxian. Now Hu Zongxian was the Patrol Inspector of Suzhou and Songjiang. For the battle at Songjiang Prefecture city, courtesy and reason required informing Hu Zongxian, the local host; he could not bypass him.
Hu Zongxian had been appointed Patrol Inspector of Suzhou and Songjiang and was about to head to Suzhou city to assume office.
Hu Zongxian was still in Jiaxing city and had not yet set off for Suzhou because of Zhao Wenhua.
Zhao Wenhua was also going to Suzhou. Since he had collected many gifts in Jiaxing, his household goods were plentiful, and moving required time.
Additionally, Zhu Ping’an learned that Hu Zongxian was recruiting Shandong spearmen and had reportedly brought them under his command.
Hu Zongxian had also tried to win over the Miao troops but failed. The Miao troops felt deep loyalty to Zhang Jing and harboured strong hostility towards Zhao Wenhua and Hu Zongxian, who had framed Zhang Jing. Despite Hu Zongxian’s repeated efforts, he could not change their animosity for the time being.
Early in the morning, Zhu Ping’an arrived at Hu Zongxian’s residence. At that moment, a long queue had already formed outside Hu Zongxian’s mansion.
The queue included officials, gentry, and wealthy merchants, all there to pay respects to the new Patrol Inspector of Suzhou and Songjiang, Hu Zongxian.
Zhu Ping’an sent in a calling card, and soon Hu Zongxian hurried over personally to welcome him inside from the gate.
From afar, Zhu Ping’an smelled a strong odour of alcohol on Hu Zongxian. It seemed Hu Zongxian had been constantly at banquets these days.
“Lord Zhu honours us with your presence. I failed to welcome you from afar; please forgive me, Lord Zhu.” Hu Zongxian said with a hearty laugh.
“Lord Hu is too polite. Ping’an came uninvited and unannounced; it is I who have been abrupt and intrusive.” Zhu Ping’an smiled in response, entering Hu Zongxian’s residence alongside him as he spoke.
“Not at all, not at all. This way, please, Lord Zhu.” Hu Zongxian waved his hands repeatedly, leading Zhu Ping’an to his study.
Visibly, Hu Zongxian’s residence was much livelier than last time, with clearly more servants coming and going.
In the study, Hu Zongxian poured a cup of tea for Zhu Ping’an and himself, inviting Zhu Ping’an to taste it.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhu Ping’an stated his purpose, mentioning he had received intelligence that the Takayama pirates might attack Songjiang Prefecture city.
“Is Lord Zhu’s intelligence accurate?” Hu Zongxian asked immediately, jolted to attention.
“The information I have is that Takayama secretly sent several hundred pirates, disguised, to infiltrate Songjiang Prefecture city. For Takayama pirates to dispatch several hundred to secretly enter Songjiang Prefecture city without reason, their plot against the city is plain to see.”
Zhu Ping’an said slowly, omitting the source of the intelligence and informing Hu Zongxian of the several hundred pirates infiltrating Songjiang.
“It seems the Takayama pirates do indeed harbour intentions towards Songjiang Prefecture city. Many thanks to Lord Zhu for the reminder. I will immediately write a letter ordering Songjiang Prefecture city to heighten alerts, mobilise nearby troops into the city for defence, and give the pirates no opportunity.”
Hu Zongxian took it very seriously, cupping his hands repeatedly in thanks to Zhu Ping’an. As Patrol Inspector of Suzhou and Songjiang now, if Songjiang Prefecture city fell, he would not get off lightly.
