The rise of the poor

Luo Longwen ran for ten miles before daring to stop and catch his breath. He was panting like a bellows. When he looked back and saw that the Zhejiang army was not chasing him, he breathed a sigh of relief. He leaned against a crooked tree and cursed fiercely, "Damn Zhu Ping'an, he's gone too far! He actually threatened me. He has no respect for the law and is going too far!"

The officials following behind Luo Longwen were panting heavily, their eyes filled with resentment as they looked at him.
We almost got beaten up because of you. In their eyes, Zhu Pingan had already been very restrained. Zhu Pingan was a high-ranking official and a regional governor, while Luo Longwen was just a minor official in the Secretariat. Luo Longwen's attitude towards Zhu Pingan was far from respectful; on the contrary, it was rude, bossy, and aggressive.

If you get beaten up, it's entirely your own fault.

However, Zhu Ping'an is really something. Even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner. Luo Longwen may not be of high rank, but he is a key figure in Yan Shifan's faction and a favorite of Yan Shifan, a third-rank official serving as the prime minister's gatekeeper. Not to mention a big shot like Luo Longwen in Yan Shifan's faction, he doesn't even give him this much face! Where does he place Grand Secretary Yan and his son, Young Grand Secretary Yan?!
For a governor of Zhejiang, is ten thousand taels of silver a lot? This is not for Luo Longwen, but for Grand Secretary Yan and his son, Young Grand Secretary Yan.

Ten thousand taels of silver can improve your relationship with Grand Secretary Yan and his son, is that a lot?!
Zhu Pingan is still too young; youth breeds impetuosity.

"Damn it, you won't listen to reason, so I'll make you suffer the consequences!" Luo Longwen spat heavily and cursed through gritted teeth.

"How can we make him suffer the consequences?" the accompanying official asked.

"Let's go find Lord Zhao Wenhua and jointly submit a memorial to impeach him again! This time, I'll make sure Zhu Ping'an follows in Zhang Jing's footsteps!" Luo Longwen said viciously, his resentment reaching the heavens. "You think you're so tough? Then shove your head into the furnace and see just how tough your head really is!"

Following officials naturally won't raise any objections. They followed Luo Longwen precisely to board the Yan Party's big ship. No matter what Luo Longwen said or did, they would fawn over him. This is a case of one's position determining one's perspective.

So the group headed towards Jiaxing City in a grand procession and soon arrived at Zhao Wenhua's residence.

"Lord Zhao, you must stand up for me!" Luo Longwen said with a wronged expression as soon as he saw Zhao Wenhua, like a wronged young wife returning to her parents' home for help.

"Hanzhang, what's wrong with you? You represent the Ministry of Works and Donglou. Since you came to Jiangnan, haven't you been greeted with great courtesy and hospitality wherever you go? Who would dare to make you uncomfortable?!"

Zhao Wenhua looked at Luo Longwen with a puzzled expression, feeling confused.

Zhao Wenhua was well aware of this. Whenever he went to Jiangnan, he received extremely high-level hospitality. Not to mention the fine clothes, delicacies, and rare foods, the gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings presented to him were all given away as if they were free. Zhao Wenhua received so much money that his hands were sore and his eyes were dazzled.

Luo Longwen's rank was lower than his, and his position in Yan's faction was also lower, but Luo Longwen had a good relationship with Yan Shifan, and Luo Longwen represented Yan's faction. The local treatment of Luo Longwen might be slightly lower than that of himself, but it would still be a high-level reception, and he would definitely be showered with money. Why did Luo Longwen look so aggrieved? Who would dare not give Luo Longwen face?!
"It's all that damned Zhu Ping'an's fault!" Luo Longwen cursed with a sinister expression. "Today I went to the Zhejiang Army camp outside the city to find Zhu Ping'an, but not only was I turned away at the gate, Zhu Ping'an also ordered my guards to be beaten with a hundred lashes! In the end, Zhu Ping'an even threatened me, saying he suggested I find a good doctor to treat my lash injuries! Zhu Ping'an is utterly despicable, extremely arrogant, and too outrageous! Lord Zhao, you must do me justice!"

Upon hearing that it was Zhu Pingan, Zhao Wenhua frowned, but his confusion vanished. If it was Zhu Pingan, then it was not surprising at all.

In the Jiangnan region, there are very few people who would dare to treat Luo Longwen this way, even knowing that he represents the Ministry of Works and Yan's faction.

Zhang Jing was definitely one of them. Back then, Zhang Jing was completely indifferent to me and extremely arrogant, but Zhang Jing has already fallen.

Of the remaining people, Zhu Ping'an was the only one who truly held any weight.

Therefore, it's not surprising to hear Luo Longwen mention Zhu Pingan.

“Zhu Ping’an was strict in managing his troops. When I went to his camp, I had to report to the gate guards and get his permission before I could enter. When Zhang Jing went to the Zhejiang army camp, he also had to report to the gate guards and get his permission before he could enter.”

Zhao Wenhua said slowly.

"No, brother, you're over there. Why does it feel like you're speaking up for Zhu Ping'an?" Luo Longwen looked at Zhao Wenhua with some surprise.

"But he can't hit my guards! He's not just slapping me in the face, he's slapping Donglou in the face, he's slapping the Grand Secretary in the face, he's slapping all of us in the face!" Luo Longwen said with great resentment.

"Why did he hit your guard?" Zhao Wenhua asked.

"Lord Zhao, it feels like you're protecting him! Oh, I remember now, Zhu Ping'an was one of your students. Back in the capital, you spoke up for him. Are you protecting him?!"

Luo Longwen reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

“I will not protect him.” Zhao Wenhua approached Luo Longwen, exuding the oppressive aura of a superior, and said, word by word, “But that does not prevent me from understanding the true course of events.”

"Yes, yes, I misunderstood Lord Zhao." Under Zhao Wenhua's intimidation, Luo Longwen honestly recounted what had happened. "The soldiers at the Zhejiang Army's gate wouldn't let me in. My guards were indignant and stormed the gate. Zhu Ping'an ordered them to be arrested and beaten with military rods."

“Although you were in the wrong first, Zhu Ping’an’s disrespect for Elder Donglou is indeed excessive,” Zhao Wenhua said slowly.

"That's right, Zhu Ping'an has gone too far. He's slapping the face of all of us in the face. This is intolerable! Lord Zhao, let's jointly submit a memorial to impeach him! I believe that once the memorial is submitted, the Grand Secretary and Donglou will definitely respond, just like they did with Zhang Jing. This time, we can teach him a lesson! If all goes well, he might even be able to catch up with Zhang Jing at the execution ground and go to the afterlife together."

“No!” Zhao Wenhua shook his head.

"What?!" Luo Longwen's tail was stepped on again, and he jumped up with a roar.

“Not now, at least not!” Zhao Wenhua said.

"Why?!" Luo Longwen couldn't suppress his dissatisfaction. You said you weren't protecting Zhu Pingan, but what are you doing now? I said we should impeach Zhu Pingan together, and you said no. Isn't this protecting him?

Luo Longwen looked at Zhao Wenhua with confusion and dissatisfaction, waiting for Zhao Wenhua's explanation.

"We must prioritize. Now is the crucial time to take over the position of Governor-General of Jiangnan. This is the best opportunity for us to intervene in military power. This is our most important matter right now. Zhu Pingan has expressed his support for my appointment as Governor-General. It is not advisable to cause trouble with Zhu Pingan again at this time."

Zhao Wenhua said softly.

"Can you really believe what Zhu Pingan says?" Luo Longwen smirked.

"Observe his words and actions," Zhao Wenhua said, patting Luo Longwen on the shoulder. "Once I'm in the position of governor, dealing with Zhu Ping'an will be a piece of cake. A few more days won't make a difference." (End of Chapter)