The rise of the poor

The next day, while the sun was still below the horizon and the world was still dark, Zhu Ping'an got up early and washed up.

Zhu Pingan decided to try again, hoping that Zhang Jing, who had slept all night, would accept his suggestion.

Do your best and leave the rest to fate. That's all.

Zhu Pingan pushed open the door to the guest room and walked towards the steward's room, wanting to ask the steward to convey his message again, so that he could see Zhang Jing one more time before the army marched straight to Qingpu, or perhaps chat over breakfast and make one last effort.

Zhu Pingan was halfway there when he heard a series of hurried and cheerful footsteps coming from around the corner. Then he saw Steward Wang running towards him, his face beaming with excitement, as if he had found a hundred pounds of gold.

People are in high spirits when they have good news, that's what it means.

Steward Wang

Zhu Pingan reached out and stopped Steward Wang, wanting him to pass on a message to the backyard again, saying that he wanted to see Zhang Jing, or have breakfast together and talk while eating.

"Lord Zhu, please forgive me. If there is anything else, I will come back later to receive your orders. I have an important message to deliver. An imperial envoy from the capital has arrived and requests that you go to the front courtyard to receive the decree. Please wait a moment, Lord Zhu."

Steward Wang scurried along, not having time to give Zhu Ping'an a full bow, he hurriedly gave a curtsy and ran towards the backyard while talking.

"what?!"

When Zhu Ping'an heard that someone from the capital had come and wanted Zhang Jing to go to the front yard to receive the imperial decree, he immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong. Looking at Steward Wang's cheerful and excited appearance, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh. It was too late, too late, too late for everything.

This is not a good or joyous occasion!
The angel from the capital brought not a reward, but a pair of shackles!
Yan Song and his men are moving way too fast!

Ugh!
The wheels of history keep turning, and it's too difficult to change them!
Zhu Pingan stood still, watching Steward Wang jog towards the backyard, arranging for the servants he encountered along the way to decorate with lanterns and colorful decorations, preparing to receive the imperial decree and receive rewards. He could only sigh repeatedly.

Soon, Zhang Jing strode in from the backyard, dressed in a brand-new official robe, his composed face beaming with joy.

Zhang Jing saw Zhu Ping'an standing still in the distance, and waved to him as he hurried along.

Zhu Pingan stepped forward to greet him.

"Zihou, after I receive the imperial decree, we'll head to Qingpu. I didn't expect the imperial envoy to arrive so soon after I reported my victory. Now you don't need to worry anymore. Wang Quan, have someone prepare breakfast for Lord Zhu. Zihou, you eat first, I'll be right back."

Zhang Jing hurriedly gave a few instructions and then continued walking quickly to the front courtyard to greet the angel and receive the imperial decree.

Zhu Pingan watched Zhang Jing's hurried departure, closed his eyes, and sighed.

Ugh

Lord Zhang, once you leave, you may never return.
Ugh.

What a pity, Lord Zhang, what a pity for you, what a pity for this great cause of suppressing the Japanese pirates, and even more so for the people of Jiangnan.

As Zhang Jing went to the front courtyard to receive the imperial decree, the servants and maids in the courtyard busied themselves with excitement, sweeping and cleaning the courtyard, and decorating with lanterns and streamers. As they worked, they discussed excitedly, wondering how the Emperor would reward their master. Would he be promoted? Would their wives also be promoted to the rank of Lady of the Imperial Decree? Would their wives give them more money then? Oh dear, they had just received one round of rewards, and now they were giving them another. They were too embarrassed to accept them. But even if they were embarrassed, they had to accept them. It was celebratory money, and they wanted to share in the joy of their master and mistress.

Manager Wang quickly carried out Zhang Jing's instructions. Before Zhang Jing even reached the front yard, breakfast was delivered.

Rice porridge, steamed buns, radish side dishes, boiled eggs, and a plate of salted fish.

That's quite a feast.

However, Zhu Pingan had no appetite at all and was in a terrible mood. He knew the general trend of history and tried, tried and tried again, in an attempt to change history, but reality responded to him with resounding slaps time and time again.

On one occasion, Yang Jisheng went to see him and pointed out the fatal flaw in the memorial, but despite his efforts, he was unable to change it.

This is yet another instance where Zhang Jing has tried to change things, despite being told to do so more than once beforehand and making repeated efforts last night.

Zhu Pingan felt as if a fire was burning in his chest, a feeling of suffocation, depression, and deep resentment.

"Sir, the food is not to your liking. What kind of breakfast do you prefer? I will make it later."

Seeing that Zhu Ping'an looked unwell and didn't touch his chopsticks, the servant assumed that the food didn't suit the taste of this young regional official, and hurriedly said something.

"Thank you, this food is very good, but I don't have an appetite today. You may leave."

Zhu Pingan waved his hand, dismissing the person who brought the food.

"Please enjoy your meal, sir. I'll take my leave now." The servant tactfully withdrew.

After a short while, there was still no movement from the front yard. A glimmer of hope rose in Zhu Ping'an's heart. Could it be that he was mistaken?

The imperial edict from the capital wasn't for Zhang Jing's arrest?!
Perhaps, due to his involvement, history has unknowingly shifted. In the original history, after Zhang Jing became the Governor-General of Jiangnan, he insisted on his plan and remained unmoved in the face of Zhao Wenhua's urging to send troops. He waited for the arrival of the Wolf Soldiers and other guest troops, and only after they were reorganized did he launch an attack and achieve a great victory at Wangjiangjing.

Historically, prior to the great victory at Wangjiangjing, the military in Jiangnan under Zhang Jing's leadership had not achieved any notable victories or achievements against Japanese pirates.

However, his arrival and participation changed this situation. He led the Zhejiang army to southern Zhejiang to eliminate the strongholds of the Japanese pirates and beheaded thousands of them.

Because Zhang Jing was the Governor-General of Jiangnan, and Zhejiang belonged to Jiangnan, and I was Zhang Jing's subordinate, the war and achievements in southern Zhejiang could be said to be Zhang Jing's achievements as well. In this way, Zhang Jing did achieve something after becoming the Governor-General.

Furthermore, due to its own influence, today's victory at Wangjiangjing is more than a third greater than the historical victory at Wangjiangjing.

Perhaps for this reason, Emperor Jiajing was not as angry and dissatisfied with Zhang Jing as he was in history. This imperial edict may be a reward for Zhang Jing, or perhaps the emperor still had some anger and dissatisfaction. This imperial edict is not an arrest warrant for Zhang Jing, but rather a punishment, but not one that warrants his arrest and bringing him to the capital.

As time slowly passed, and there was still no movement from the front yard, Zhu Ping'an's hope was rekindled.

As long as they aren't here to arrest Zhang Jing and bring him to the capital for questioning, there's hope. The situation in the anti-Japanese pirate campaign is currently very favorable. If we follow Zhang Jing's plan, with five armies surrounding the stronghold of the Xu Haihuo pirates in Tuolin, even if real Japanese pirates cross the sea to reinforce them, they won't be able to save the Xu Haihuo pirates. Riding the momentum of victory, the five armies can then surround Tuolin, and despite paying a price, they will surely annihilate the Xu Haihuo pirates in one fell swoop. (End of Chapter)