The rise of the poor

Chapter 2015 Zhao Wenhua is defeated

"Mount your horses and set off. The Lord has ordered that you must ride non-stop and not rest until you reach the Governor's Office."

Soon, the Zhejiang Army set out again. Thirty-six heads of Japanese pirates were hung on saddles. As the horses galloped, the heads swayed and dripped with blood.

Behind them, thirty-six headless Japanese corpses were piled on a pile of firewood, and a raging fire was burning.
After riding non-stop all the way, Zhu Ping'an and his party finally arrived outside the Jiaxing city gate before sunset.

"Sir, those are the famous Three Towers of Jiaxing." The messenger pointed to the three tall towers in the west and introduced them to Zhu Ping'an.

"Why were these three towers built on the bank of the canal outside the city? Is there any story behind it?" Zhu Ping'an asked curiously.

"These three pagodas were first built in the Tang Dynasty. At that time, the Grand Canal passed through here. There was a deep pool here, named Bailongtan. The water in the pool was deep and turbulent all year round. Many ships passed through here and encountered dangers, and many ships sank. A monk passed by here and said that there was a white dragon hiding in the pool, causing evil. People believed it, so they transported soil to fill the pool and built three pagodas to suppress it. This is the origin of the three pagodas in Jiaxing."

The messenger introduced.

Zhu Ping'an nodded, and even wondered whether Wu Cheng'en was also inspired by this story when he wrote the story of the little white dragon.

"Mr. Zhao, the prefect of Jiaxing, lowered himself down the city wall to hide in these three temples, and then asked for help from Li Tianchong, the former governor of Zhejiang."

The messenger said again.

After hearing this, Zhu Ping'an's eyes lit up. He called Liu Daqiang and whispered, "Send someone to keep an eye on the three towers. There may be Japanese pirates hiding inside. Don't alert them."

"I understand." Liu Daqiang nodded.

Jiaxing prefect Zhao Chong was on Zhu Ping'an's list of tainted people. Zhao Chong was captured by Japanese pirates and he did not escape from the city wall to seek help. These three temples covered up for Zhao Chong. They might have been deceived by Zhao Chong, or they might have had connections with the Japanese pirates and took the initiative to cover up for Zhao Chong.

Zhu Ping'an had a hunch that if he kept his eyes on this place, he would gain something.

"Sir, the Governor General has ordered in advance that in order to avoid affecting the people in the city and to defend against the Japanese pirates, the accompanying Zhejiang Army soldiers must be settled in the military camp outside the city. You can bring ten guards into the city."

Before entering the city, the messenger informed Zhu Ping'an in advance that the Zhejiang army needed to be settled outside the city.

Zhu Ping'an naturally had no objection. He was not leading troops to seize power, and there was no difference whether the Zhejiang troops were stationed inside or outside the city.

Moreover, it was customary that in order to avoid disturbing the people, the foreign soldiers were stationed in military camps outside the city.

Although Jiaxing prefect Zhao Chong surrendered to the Japanese pirates, Zhang Jing moved the governor's office here and took over the defense of Jiaxing city. As long as Zhang Jing stayed in Jiaxing city, Zhao Chong could not cause any major trouble.

Zhu Ping'an, Liu Daqiang and ten other people followed the messenger to the city gate of Jiaxing City. On the saddles of Liu Daqiang and his men, each of them had an average of three hideous heads of Japanese pirates hung on their saddles, and blood dripped onto the ground from time to time.

"Oh my dear uncle, I'm so scared. Where did this army come from? Why are there so many heads hanging on the saddles? This, this, this is too cruel. They picked so many heads in broad daylight?"

"Did you see it clearly? Did you notice it?"

"You still want to see clearly? Just seeing the head scared me out of my wits. How dare you see clearly?"

"You guys are making a fuss out of nothing. Those heads are all from the Japanese pirates. Didn't you see that many of them have shaved heads? They weren't shaved on the spot. It's been at least half a year. I'm an old master barber, I definitely won't make a mistake."

"What, it's the heads of Japanese pirates?! Oh my god, don't tell me, look carefully, it really is the heads of Japanese pirates! ! ! It's Japanese pirates, those are the heads of Japanese pirates, folks, those are the heads of Japanese pirates!"

"God is merciful. All eighteen members of my family were killed by the Japanese pirates. Thank you, General, for avenging us."

When Zhu Ping'an and his party just approached the city gate, they caused a panic because of the head of a Japanese pirate on the saddle. When people found out that the head on the saddle was the head of a Japanese pirate, they immediately ran around to tell each other and applauded.

Soon, a well-informed merchant recognized Zhu Ping'an, and immediately the people knew that it was the new governor Zhu Ping'an who led the Zhejiang army to chop off so many Japanese pirates' heads.

"The governor is here, Zhejiang is saved."

"Lord Zhu is mighty, and the Zhejiang Army is mighty."

A crowd of ordinary people watched, took photos and cheered along the way.

"My fellow countrymen, I have something important to discuss with the Governor. Please get out of the way."

Zhu Ping'an bowed apologetically, and quickly led Liu Daqiang and others through the city gate and headed towards the governor's office.

After entering the city, Zhu Ping'an noticed that there were still traces of the Japanese pirates' rampage in the city, and the walls of many wealthy households showed signs of being hacked and burned.

"The Governor's Office is located in the Jiaxing government office, sharing office space with the Jiaxing Prefecture." The messenger led the way and led Zhu Ping'an into the Governor's Office.

After arriving at the government office, the messenger went inside to report and asked Zhu Ping'an to wait in the guest room. He also ordered the officers to take Liu Daqiang and others to the stables to station the horses and register and collect the heads of the Japanese pirates.

Soon, the messenger came back, "Sir, the Governor wants to see you."

Zhu Ping'an followed the messenger to meet Zhang Jing. When he was about to enter, the door was pushed open with great force.

A figure walked out angrily, one foot stepped out of the door, the other foot stopped inside the door, head turned to the room, and shouted angrily, "Sir Zhang, I was ordered to supervise the army and asked you to send troops, but you pushed it the day before yesterday, pushed it yesterday, and pushed it today. Are you in cahoots with the Japanese pirates? Are you deliberately sitting back and watching the Japanese pirates ravage our Ming people? Are you deliberately giving the Japanese pirates the opportunity to grow stronger? Are you supporting the Japanese pirates for your own benefit?!"

It’s Zhao Wenhua.

Zhu Ping'an narrowed his eyes. Zhao Wenhua urged Zhang Jing to send troops to chase him to Jiaxing.

"Sir Zhao, please stop slandering me. When the time comes, I will send troops. Please go back. What follows involves military secrets, and it is not convenient for an outsider like Sir Zhao to listen in." Zhang Jing's faint voice came from the room.

"You! Humph, just wait!" Zhao Wenhua angrily said something harsh, turned around and walked out.

"Master Zhao." Zhu Ping'an bowed and greeted him. Although he looked down on Zhao Wenhua, he still had to do his job.

"Yes, it's Zihou. Come in, everyone is waiting for you inside." Zhao Wenhua nodded. He was not surprised that Zhu Ping'an came here.

"Master Zhu."

Another person walked out of the door, following closely behind Zhao Wenhua. It was Hu Zongxian, who went out and bowed to Zhu Ping'an.

"Lord Hu." Zhu Ping'an bowed in return.

"Zihou, we'll go to Shaoxing to see you some other day." Zhao Wenhua said to Zhu Ping'an, then waved to Hu Zongxian, "Meilin, let's go."

"Ping'an is always at your service, Master Zhao." Zhu Ping'an said politely.

Zhao Wenhua nodded with satisfaction, and walked out with Hu Zongxian without looking back, muttering something like "Zhang Jing, wait for me."

(End of this chapter)