The rise of the poor

Chapter 2068 Zhao Wenhua on the Road
"The Japanese pirates may attack in the future, and the Zhejiang army has lost firearms and gunpowder, which is indeed worrying. I came to Jiangnan to supervise the army under the order of the emperor. Zihou fought bravely against the Japanese pirates under my supervision, which led to the current dangerous situation. Naturally, I cannot turn a blind eye and turn a deaf ear to it. It is also my responsibility as the commander to solve your difficulties."

Although Zhu Ping'an's words were obscure, Zhao Wenhua was an old fox. How could he not understand Zhu Ping'an's hint and spoke directly.

"Thank you, Master Zhao. I just wonder how Master Zhao will solve the difficulties we are facing in Jiangsu and Zhejiang?" Zhu Ping'an thanked him and asked slowly.

You can't just talk. It's useless to say nice things. You have to see real benefits. I'm a very realistic person.

"Zihou is facing the risk of being attacked from both sides by the Japanese pirates Tuo Lin and Xu Hai, and the Japanese pirates Wang Zhi. The best way is to mobilize troops to help defend, but Zhang Jing is more concerned about me than the bandits. I want to mobilize troops to help Zihou defend Zhejiang, but because Zhang Jing has the military power in Jiangnan, I can't even mobilize a single soldier."

Zhao Wenhua sighed.

Don’t worry.

Even if you can mobilize troops, I don't want them. Summoning soldiers from the garrisons will only make things worse and consume food and supplies.

Zhu Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief. If you really sent troops here, I would have to think of a reason to refuse you. Thanks to Zhang Jing, it would be best if you couldn't come.

"However, although I cannot transfer troops, I can help you solve the current firearms and gunpowder dilemma of the Zhejiang Army. I will write a letter to transfer a hundred firearms and gunpowder craftsmen from the Armory Bureau in the capital to you, and directly assign them to your Zhejiang Army. Don't doubt it. Although we in the capital cannot cover the sky with one hand, it is still easy to transfer a hundred and eighty craftsmen from the Armory Bureau. In addition, see how much gunpowder the Armory Bureau has, and try to give you half of it, and directly transport it to you together with the craftsmen. What do you think, Zihou?"

Zhao Wenhua said with confidence.

He was restricted by Zhang Jing everywhere in Jiangnan, but in the capital, the power of their Yan Party was extraordinary.

For the Yan Party, transferring craftsmen and gunpowder from the military equipment bureau in the capital was as easy as pie.

"Thank you, Master Zhao. The more firearms and gunpowder craftsmen we have, the better. However, we don't need gunpowder. The formula of our Zhejiang Army's gunpowder has been modified. It is different from ordinary gunpowder. The gunpowder shipped from the capital is not suitable for the Zhejiang Army. Master Zhao, please coordinate with the Beijing Armory Bureau to ship more saltpeter, sulfur and other raw materials needed to make gunpowder."

Zhu Ping'an thanked Zhao Wenhua. He was greedy for firearms and gunpowder craftsmen, but he would not accept the gunpowder from the Beijing Military Equipment Bureau. Their gunpowder formula was not very powerful, and the ratio was not precise enough. Zhu Ping'an declined the offer.

"Okay, there's no need to bother transporting saltpeter and sulfur from the capital. Sichuan and Shu produce saltpeter and sulfur, and the saltpeter and sulfur for the capital are also transported from Sichuan and Shu. I'll write a letter to the Sichuan governor, asking him to transfer tens of thousands of kilograms of saltpeter and sulfur. In the future, the Zhejiang army won't have to worry about saltpeter and sulfur. I'll also send a message to him. As long as you need saltpeter and sulfur, just ask, Zihou, and we'll transport them directly from Sichuan."

Zhao Wenhua took on too much responsibility. The Sichuan governor was a member of their Yan Party. It was just a matter of a word to get saltpeter and sulfur. As much saltpeter and sulfur as needed was available. The mines belonged to the imperial court anyway, so he could be generous as he could, owing to the imperial court's generosity.

"Thank you, Master Zhao." Zhu Ping'an thanked Zhao Wenhua.

"I can't do anything about the salary, but I can find a way to transfer tens of thousands of stones of food and fodder for you from other places to ensure that your Zhejiang army will not have to worry about food for a year." Zhao Wenhua went on to say.

"Thank you, Master Zhao. Thank you, Master Zhao." Zhu Ping'an was satisfied when he heard this. Food and fodder are hard currency, so the more the better.

"So, what do you think, Zihou?" Zhao Wenhua asked.

"How can I relieve my worries? Only Master Zhao. Thank you Master Zhao for resolving my worries." Zhu Ping'an bowed to Zhao Wenhua to express his gratitude.

Zhao Wenhua laughed out loud, feeling extremely pleased. He wrote two letters on the spot in front of Zhu Ping'an and had them sent to the capital and Sichuan as quickly as possible.

Seeing Zhao Wenhua's decision, Zhu Ping'an did not delay any longer. He moved his pen quickly and signed his name at the end of the memorial.

"Okay, send it to the capital as soon as possible, at an express speed of 800 miles, and present it to the emperor for his review as quickly as possible." After getting Zhu Ping'an's signature, Zhao Wenhua smiled happily, patted Zhu Ping'an's shoulder encouragingly, and then asked someone to send it to the capital as soon as possible.

After getting the title of commander-in-chief, Zhao Wenhua felt relaxed. He sat on the chair, picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"Zihou, let's not talk about this anymore, just chat. Do you think the Japanese invasion in the south of the Yangtze River can be quelled?" Zhao Wenhua asked Zhu Ping'an.

"Of course it can be pacified." Zhu Pingan replied without hesitation, "Use justice to suppress injustice, and use a big country to suppress a small country, and the Japanese threat will be quelled."

Zhao Wenhua nodded and asked again, "How long do you think it will take to pacify the Japanese pirates? Is half a year enough?"

Half a year? You can't even wipe out the Takulin and Xuhai pirates in half a year, let alone the even larger Wang Zhi and his gang. Besides, the Japanese island is in the midst of the Warring States period. The ronin warriors who have lost their masters and their lands, as well as the Japanese daimyo who want to obtain gold and silver from the Ming Dynasty to spread their military power throughout the world, the Japanese pirates are endless.
Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but twitch his lips and shook his head, "Half a year is not enough time to quell the Japanese invasion."

Zhao Wenhua was not surprised to hear this answer. He also had his own judgment on the Japanese pirates and believed that half a year was indeed a bit short.

"Half a year is not enough, what about a year? Can we quell the Japanese invasion in the south of the Yangtze River in a year?" Zhao Wenhua asked again.

"One year is not enough." Zhu Ping'an shook his head again.

"One year is not enough?" Zhao Wenhua was very surprised this time, and said puzzledly, "Although I was excluded from the military by Zhang Jing, I also know Zhang Jing's plan. He transferred Shandong spearmen and Guangxi wolf soldiers to Yu Dayou, Tang Kekuan and others to command, and trained the troops extensively. He wanted to fight a big battle to give the Tuolin pirates a thundering blow, wipe out the Tuolin pirates in one fell swoop, and then use the victory to suppress the Wang Zhi group of pirates. Although I am not on good terms with Zhang Jing, Zhang Jing is not bad in civil and military strategies, and his military exploits are also outstanding. In addition, with Zihou's assistance in Zhejiang, can't he wipe out the Xu Hai and Wang Zhi group of pirates in one year?"

Zhu Pingan rolled his eyes in his heart when he heard this. Zhang Jing was not bad, but thanks to you, the Yan Party, and thanks to you, Zhang Jing only fought a big battle and won a great victory at Wangjiangjing, but you got him taken down and framed him to death.
The favorable situation of suppressing the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan had just begun, but you overturned it. You still want to wipe out the Japanese pirates within a year? You are dreaming.

Historically, you removed Zhang Jing, then two other governors-general, and finally pushed Hu Zongxian into the position of governor-general.

A year was not enough for Hu Zongxian to take power, yet he still wanted to wipe out and pacify the Japanese pirates. What a bold idea.