Zhu Pingan and his party, one man with two horses each, changed mounts at post stations without rest, whipping their horses onward, and arrived in Yingtian by the evening of the second day.
Without special permission, external troops could not enter the city. The three hundred Zhejiang soldiers set up a temporary camp outside the walls, while Zhu Pingan took Liu Dadao and ten others into the city.
Out of respect for the newly appointed Governor-General Zhou Yong, Zhu Pingan, upon entering Yingtian city with Liu Dadao and the others, went first to the Governor-General’s yamen to pay his respects.
Unfortunately, he did not get to meet him. Though it was already evening, Governor-General Zhou was not at the yamen. The yamen secretary informed Zhu Pingan that Governor-General Zhou had left early that morning to inspect the various military camps around Yingtian and had not yet returned.
“The Governor-General instructed that if Your Excellency arrived today to pay respects, I should inform you that you and the other gentlemen have travelled far and endured great hardship. Please rest for the night and recover from your fatigue. Come to the yamen tomorrow morning, when the Governor-General will receive you promptly. He asks that Your Excellency arrive on time,” the secretary said, cupping his hands toward Zhu Pingan.
“Thank you for the reminder. I will come promptly tomorrow morning to pay my respects to the Governor-General,” Zhu Pingan replied, then took his leave.
It was too late in the day, and he had to return to the Governor-General’s yamen early the next morning, so Zhu Pingan did not take Liu Dadao and the others to the distant Jinling post station. Instead, he found an inn nearby, checked in, and had only just settled when there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Zhu Pingan said, assuming it was Liu Dadao.
“Heh heh, Zihou, long time no see,” Zhao Wenhua’s voice rang out as the door opened.
Zhu Pingan looked up in surprise and indeed saw Zhao Wenhua, accompanied as always by Hu Zongxian.
“Lord Zhu,” Hu Zongxian greeted, cupping his hands.
“Teacher Zhao, Lord Hu, please come in,” Zhu Pingan said quickly, stepping forward to welcome them, inviting them inside and pouring tea for both.
He had only just arrived in Yingtian and checked into the inn, yet they were already here. Their control over the city was evident.
When Zhang Jing still held the Governor-General’s post, Zhao Wenhua had been sidelined, completely shut out from military matters and intelligence.
Now that Zhang Jing had fallen, Zhao Wenhua had become the master again. Every stir in Yingtian reached his ears.
“Zihou, I must say, you are a Vice Minister of War and Governor of Zhejiang, a high official of ministerial rank. How can you stay in a place like this? The room is cramped, the furnishings old, and it lacks through ventilation from north to south. Such conditions are unworthy of your status. Come, come, we have booked the entire Pengcheng Grand Restaurant ahead and reserved a north-south through suite, the Tianzi room, for you. That is the place worthy of you.”
Zhao Wenhua looked around the room upon entering, criticised it, then warmly invited Zhu Pingan to stay at the restaurant they had taken over.
“Thank you for your consideration, Teacher Zhao, but it is only for one night. We rushed here day and night from Shaoxing and are exhausted. We do not wish to trouble ourselves further, so we will not impose,” Zhu Pingan politely declined.
“This fellow Zhou really shows no consideration for those of you serving in the provinces. The summons was so urgent and abrupt. Is he not forcing people to travel day and night? Men are not made of iron. Who can endure that?”
Zhao Wenhua took the opportunity to disparage Zhou Yong, mocking him for being inconsiderate.
“You have come a long way, Lord Zhu, covered in dust, travelling day and night. It has been truly hard. You must stay somewhere comfortable to restore your energy. I have some useless fellows under me with plenty of strength. I can have them move your things to the Pengcheng Restaurant. That way, Your Excellency need not trouble yourself at all. Simply come and stay,” Hu Zongxian said with a smile, offering to have his men handle the move so Zhu Pingan would not have to exert himself.
Zhu Pingan cupped his hands in thanks. “Thank you for your kindness, Lord Hu, but we have already checked in. We will not trouble you. This inn is acceptable, far better than sleeping rough outdoors.”
Seeing this, Hu Zongxian did not press further.
“Please, Teacher Zhao, Lord Hu, have some tea,” Zhu Pingan said, pouring tea for them and inviting them to sit.
Zhao Wenhua sat, took a sip, and pursed his lips slightly. The tea provided by the inn was mediocre; even his household servants would not drink tea of this quality.
Hu Zongxian’s expression remained unchanged.
“Zihou, do you still remember our wager from back then?” Zhao Wenhua set down his cup and looked at Zhu Pingan.
“Is Teacher Zhao referring to the wager about the Governor-General’s post?” Zhu Pingan asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Exactly. You were right. This time, the Governor-General is indeed not me…” Zhao Wenhua shook his head with a bitter smile. “Who would have thought it would fall to Zhou Yong? Heh, I wonder what those above are thinking.”
“Those above have not yet realised how serious the wokou threat is. The wokou disturbance is far worse than they imagine. When they finally understand the true danger of the wokou, they will set aside factional disputes and appoint someone truly capable of resolving the pirate problem,” Zhu Pingan said slowly, taking a sip of tea.
“Quite right. As a Censor, Zhou Yong is not even competent at criticising corrupt officials or offering frank remonstrance, let alone suppressing the wokou. Zhou Cong has no such ability,” Zhao Wenhua said bluntly, showing no restraint in attacking Zhou Yong’s incompetence.
Zhu Pingan did not respond. He would judge for himself whether Zhou Yong had ability or not.
“Zhou Yong is from Yingcheng in Huguang, a jinshi of the eleventh year of Jiajing. He was appointed magistrate of Yongjia, and after little more than a year was summoned to serve as a Censor in the Bureau of Personnel. At that time, His Majesty toured the south, and Zhou followed in attendance. He submitted memorials criticising corrupt officials and frankly remonstrating against His Majesty’s extravagance, urging frugality. For this he suffered court beating and was demoted to registrar of Zhenyuan. Later he was reinstated as magistrate of Wuyuan, then transferred to main affairs in the Ministry of Revenue, to Director in the Ministry of Rites’ Ceremonial Directorate, to Judicial Commissioner of Shandong, and then to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, until now appointed Governor-General. Looking over Governor-General Zhou’s career, he has no record of suppressing bandits or pacifying rebellions. To suddenly appoint him Governor-General is likely to prove inadequate for the current wokou crisis.”
Hu Zongxian recited Zhou Yong’s curriculum vitae as if reciting from memory, echoing Zhao Wenhua and asserting that Zhou was unfit for the post.
“With the wokou problem growing ever more serious, placing overall authority over wokou suppression in Jiangnan in the hands of someone unfamiliar with anti-pirate operations will harm the great cause of suppression and bring no benefit.”
Hu Zongxian continued.
“Indeed, Meilin speaks truly,” Zhao Wenhua nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Zhu Pingan, his gaze intense. “In our wager, Zihou, do you remember what you said you would do if the next Governor-General were not me, Zhao Wenhua?”
“Of course I remember,” Zhu Pingan nodded.
“Now the time has come. What do you intend to do, Zihou?” Zhao Wenhua pressed, his eyes burning.
“The Zhejiang army has fought continuous campaigns in southern Zhejiang, followed by the battle at Songjiang prefecture. Men and horses are exhausted, weapons and armour need repair, gunpowder is depleted, the soldiers need rest, and military supplies must be replenished. Before coming here, I had already granted the Zhejiang troops rotational leave, for twenty days,” Zhu Pingan said steadily, meeting Zhao Wenhua’s gaze.
“Hahaha, good, good, good. Worthy of Zihou, a man of his word,” Zhao Wenhua laughed with satisfaction.
