The rise of the poor

With Zhang Jing gone and a new governor yet to be appointed, the military situation in Jiangnan has once again fallen into a state of leaderlessness.

The victory at Wangjiangjing was originally a good opportunity to wipe out the Tuolin Japanese pirates, but now, due to the lack of leadership, the opportunity has been wasted, giving the pirates a chance to breathe. Now, the pirates have received reinforcements of 6,000 genuine Japanese soldiers. The window of opportunity to wipe out the Tuolin Japanese pirates is slowly closing, and the opportunity is fleeting.

Although Zhu Ping'an was unwilling, he had no choice but to accept that the Tuolin Japanese pirates' stronghold was located in Songjiang Prefecture, which belonged to Southern Zhili.

Zhu Ping'an, as the governor of Zhejiang, could not overstep his bounds without authorization, as his authority was too limited.

Left with no other option, Zhu Pingan had to focus his energy on training the Zhejiang army while closely monitoring the Japanese pirates in Tuolin and waiting for an opportunity.

The Zhejiang army's temporary camp was bustling with activity.

Suddenly, as Zhu Ping'an was inspecting the Zhejiang army's drills, a commotion, noise, and shouting came from outside the gate.

"Report! There are people outside claiming to be Imperial Secretarys and inspectors from the Ministry of Works. They want to see you, sir. They tried to force their way through the gate before we could even announce their arrival. We stopped them outside, but they are making a ruckus outside the gate."

A soldier from the Zhejiang Army came running over to report.

"Well done! All soldiers guarding the gate will receive an extra meal at noon." Zhu Ping'an nodded in satisfaction and gave them a commendation.

Zhu Pingan guessed who the man outside the gate, who claimed to be a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat and an inspector from the Ministry of Works, was.

Teacher Xu even wrote to remind me.

Sure enough, when they arrived at the gate, they saw the arrogant yet desperate horse-faced man outside.

Luo Longwen!
His face was practically screaming "He's looking for trouble!"
They have an air of "good people don't come, and those who come are not good people."

Luo Longwen brought more than thirty people, some in official robes and some in civilian clothes, all surrounding him. There were also twenty well-equipped soldiers guarding him, and the leader was a middle-aged centurion.

At this moment, the middle-aged centurion leading the troops was shoving and struggling with the Zhejiang soldiers guarding the gate!
The middle-aged centurion was still cursing and swearing, and the soldiers he brought with him were all arrogant.

Although they were arrogant and had a strong presence, their skills were clearly inferior to those of the Zhejiang soldiers, and they were firmly blocked outside the gate.

"Zhu Ping'an, you've come at the right time! Your soldiers are utterly audacious and courting death! I am an inspector from the Ministry of Works, ordered by His Majesty, and they actually stopped me at the gate! Give the order now to give them a good beating!"

Upon seeing Zhu Ping'an, Luo Longwen arrogantly lectured him, ordering Zhu Ping'an to discipline the Zhejiang soldiers guarding the gate.

Although Luo Longwen did not hold a high official position, he was a favorite of Yan Shifan and one of the most well-known members of Yan's faction.

When he was away from home, he represented Yan Shifan and the Yan Party. Since leaving Beijing, he had been flattered and fawned over wherever he went. He had become so arrogant and self-important that he thought he was superior to others.

Even when facing Zhu Ping'an, whose official rank was many levels higher than his, he still felt superior.

You, Zhu Ping'an, offended our Yan Party and were demoted to Jiangnan. You've suffered enough, haven't you? Do you dare to offend the Yan Party again?!
Furthermore, Zhao Wenhua is in Jiaxing. Zhao Wenhua has sided with him. Zhao Wenhua just brought down Zhang Jing, the Governor-General of Jiangnan. Now Zhao Wenhua is the big boss of Jiangnan. Who doesn't give him face!

Zhao Wenhua stood up for me, so now I represent Zhao Wenhua. If you don't give me face, you're not giving Zhao Wenhua face!
Even Governor-General Zhang Jing couldn't withstand Zhao Wenhua's wrath, how could you, Zhu Ping'an, possibly bear it?!

Therefore, Luo Longwen looked at Zhu Ping'an with an arrogant and domineering air.

"Somebody come!"

Zhu Pingan raised his right hand.

Seeing that Zhu Ping'an obediently gathered his men to punish the gate guards after he gave the order, Luo Longwen couldn't help but smile smugly at the gate guards who were blocking his way, mocking them for deserving it.

I already told you who I am, yet you still dared to stop me, saying that no one was allowed to enter the camp without Zhu Ping'an's order. Heh, now you see, the person you've been so desperately protecting has been given a good beating at my command. Hahaha, what are you thinking now?

And you, Zhu Pingan!

Even if you listen to me and give those soldiers a beating, I still won't let you off! See how I deal with you!
You have humiliated me repeatedly, offended the Grand Secretary and Donglou, you deserve to die! Just you wait! Your good days are over!

This time I'm acting on Donglou's orders to teach you a lesson. You'd better wash your neck and wait!
Luo Longwen looked smugly at Zhu Ping'an, like a wolf that had jumped into a sheepfold, eyeing him with the same look he had for his prey.

Zhu Pingan called out "Guards!" and dozens of Zhejiang soldiers responded, lining up behind him to await orders.

"Take it!"

Zhu Pingan pointed at the centurion and soldier who had stormed the gate and gave the order expressionlessly.

Ha ha.

Let's take it.

Luo Longwen curled his lips into a smug smile, his pride growing even stronger. He loved seeing their faces contorted with resentment yet forced to comply.

At Zhu Ping'an's command, dozens of Zhejiang soldiers rushed towards the gate like wolves and tigers, quickly capturing the cursing middle-aged centurion and his twenty soldiers.

"Hey, hey, hey, you've got the wrong people, you bastards! Take them down! Are you blind?!" Luo Longwen's smug smile vanished instantly, and he jumped up in desperation. "Zhu Ping'an, look at your men! What are they good for? How did they manage to take down my men?!"

He thought Zhu Pingan had ordered the capture of the gate guards who were blocking his way, but he didn't expect that the ones captured were the people he had brought with him.

Luo Longwen, driven to desperation, shouted loudly.

"Those who trespass into military camp territory shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane, and the rest with eighty strokes!" Zhu Ping'an gave the order expressionlessly.

"Zhu Ping'an, how dare you!" Luo Longwen exclaimed in shock. "Release them immediately, or don't blame me!"

"Take him away! Execute him on the spot!" Zhu Pingan waved his hand.

The Zhejiang soldiers, like wolves and tigers, dragged the centurion and twenty soldiers aside, pinned them down on the spot, and began to beat them with their batons. The beatings were so severe that the soldiers cried out in pain and screamed for their parents.

"Zhu Ping'an, I'm talking to you, did you hear me?" Luo Longwen was so angry at Zhu Ping'an's lack of respect that he jumped up and down. "I am an inspector from the Ministry of Works ordered by the Emperor. Your men stopped us outside the camp and even beat my men with military sticks. This is a slap in the face to the imperial court."

"You, Luo Longwen, are not qualified to represent the imperial court." Zhu Ping'an glanced at him disdainfully. "Military camps are restricted areas; no one may trespass! Have you heard the story of Zhou Yafu's army at Xiliu? Even someone as esteemed as Emperor Wen of Han could not enter Zhou Yafu's Xiliu camp without Zhou Yafu's military token! Let alone you!" (End of Chapter)