The rise of the poor

Zhu Pingan commanded the Zhejiang army to clear the city gate as quickly as possible, and the army entered the city. Zhu Pingan left 500 men to guard the city gate and led the rest of the Zhejiang soldiers to pursue the Japanese pirates, marching forward at full speed.

Smoke and fire filled the city, and cries and screams echoed everywhere. Along the way, we encountered many scenes of arson, murder, and looting. Some were committed by small groups of Japanese pirates, while others were committed by local thugs and villains who took advantage of the chaos.

Zhu Ping'an left behind three hundred-man squads to suppress the Japanese pirates and local ruffians causing trouble along the way, while the three armies relentlessly pursued the enemy towards the north gate.

Halfway there, they encountered a vanguard of Zhejiang troops rushing from the direction of the North Gate.

Zhu Pingan saw the Zhejiang army vanguard rushing towards him from afar and thought they were coming to ask for reinforcements, so he urged the army to speed up.

"Report, sir, the Japanese pirates have escaped through the north gate!" The squad leader rushed over and knelt on one knee to report.

"What?! The Japanese pirates have already escaped through the north gate?! The garrison at the north gate of Songjiang Prefecture couldn't even hold out for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn?!"

Upon hearing the squad leader's report, Zhu Ping'an was filled with disbelief. What were the Songjiang Prefecture garrison doing? Couldn't they even hold out for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn?!

With the advantage of city walls and playing on home ground, is it really that difficult to hold out for the duration of an incense stick burning?

Even if you pile up miscellaneous items in the city gate like the Japanese pirates, it would take the Japanese pirates an incense stick's time to clean it up!
"Reporting to you, sir, they didn't guard the city gates at all. They said the prefect of Songjiang Prefecture ordered the gates opened, allowing the Japanese pirates to escape."

The sergeant replied helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Pingan's face darkened instantly, and he was furious. He was not afraid of god-like opponents, but he was afraid of pig-like teammates!

If this prefect of Songjiang Prefecture were in my jurisdiction, I would order his official hat removed and his head chopped off right now!
It's just infuriating that this guy is in Hu Zongxian's jurisdiction! Of course, he can't be let off the hook. That night, I wrote an official document informing Hu Zongxian of the Songjiang Prefecture Prefect's crimes of failing to defend the city and releasing Japanese pirates, demanding severe punishment!
"My vanguard has already left the city to pursue the Japanese pirates. General Liu specifically ordered me to come and report back to you, sir," the squad leader continued.

"Out of the city, give chase!"

Zhu Pingan waved his hand and ordered his army to head out of the city through the north gate to pursue the Japanese pirates. He also dispatched a battalion of Zhejiang troops, lightly armed and simple, to leave the city first and follow the vanguard's route to pursue the Japanese pirates and support the Zhejiang vanguard.

Although Zhu Pingan knew he might not be able to catch up with the Japanese pirates, he still wanted to take a piece of their flesh.

After pursuing them all the way to the North Gate, Zhu Ping'an was dumbfounded—the North Gate was closed! The battalion of Zhejiang soldiers he had just sent out was negotiating with the guards at the city gate! Holy crap, they let the Japanese pirates go, and now they won't let our army out of the city to pursue them!
"Open the city gates quickly! Our Zhejiang army is going out of the city to pursue the Japanese pirates!" the Zhejiang soldiers shouted angrily.

"I'm sorry, but our prefect has ordered the city gates to be closed to prevent the Japanese pirates from turning back and attacking Songjiang Prefecture again!"

The guards at the north gate refused to open the gate.

"You dare not fight the Japanese pirates and let them out of the city. We, the Zhejiang army, are ready to fight! Quickly open the city gates and don't delay our pursuit of the Japanese pirates!"

"I'm sorry, but the Prefect has ordered the city gates to be closed to guard against Japanese pirates. Without the Prefect's order, we cannot open the city gates!"

"Damn it! You let the Japanese pirates escape out of the city, but you won't let us out to pursue them! Are you in cahoots with the Japanese pirates?!"

"Watch your mouth! Who's in cahoots with the Japanese pirates?! Our Prefect ordered the city gates closed. If you have any objections, go find our Prefect!"

When Zhu Pingan led his army to the city gate, the guards still refused to open it. They kept insisting that the prefect had ordered the gate closed, and they could not open it without the prefect's order!

Holy crap! At this moment, Zhu Ping'an felt like he wanted to slice the Songjiang Prefecture Prefect to pieces! This wasn't just a bunch of useless teammates, this was an accomplice of the Japanese pirates! And they were even trying to prevent the Japanese pirates from turning back to attack the city?! If the Japanese pirates really did turn back to attack, could they even hold the city?!

"I am Zhu Ping'an, the Governor of Zhejiang. Open the city gates immediately!" Zhu Ping'an stepped forward and ordered the guards to open the city gates.

"You claim to be Governor Zhu of Zhejiang, what proof do you have?!" The garrison commander stepped forward to ask, his voice lacking confidence.

"This is my token." Zhu Ping'an reached for his waist, only to find it empty. He then remembered that he had handed the token to the guards at the city gate, instructing them to take it to the prefect of Songjiang Prefecture to deliver a message.

"Where is your token?" The garrison commander now felt more confident.

Even if the person on the other side really is the Governor of Zhejiang, let alone the fact that it was our Prefect who ordered the city gates closed, how can we verify if you are indeed the Governor of Zhejiang if you don't have a token? If we can't verify your identity, why should we obey your orders? In this way, we don't have to choose between obeying your orders to open the city gates or obeying the Prefect's orders to close them.

"My token has already been taken to your prefect by your men. Your prefect knows my identity. Now open the city gates!"

Zhu Pingan remained expressionless.

"I'm sorry, without the token, we cannot verify your identity, sir. Furthermore, our governor has not notified us that we must consult him and follow his instructions," the garrison commander stalled.

Zhu Ping'an knew his intentions and was too lazy to waste any more words with him. He ordered expressionlessly, "I now command you to open the city gates. I will bear all the consequences! If you delay opening the gates, you will bear all the consequences!"

"I'm sorry, sir, I'll send someone to consult the governor," the garrison commander continued to stall.

"Bring the Tiger Crouching Cannon over here. I'll count to ten. If it still doesn't open the city gate, I'll blast it open!"

Zhu Pingan waved his hand, ordering all the tiger-squatting cannons to be brought over, loaded with gunpowder, aimed at the city gate, and begin the countdown.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six"

The garrison commander panicked. "Sir, please don't make things difficult for us. I'll send someone to consult the Prefect right away."

The garrison commander then whispered something to the man beside him, instructing him to go to the prefectural government office, inform Prefect Han of the situation, and seek his instructions.

"Five, four, three"

Zhu Pingan completely ignored him and continued counting down with a blank expression.

"My lord, please give us a moment. We have already gone to consult the governor," the garrison commander said hastily.

"two!"

Zhu Pingan continued counting down expressionlessly.

"My lord." Cold sweat beaded on the forehead of the garrison commander, his face a mixture of inner turmoil, fear, and hesitation.

"one!"

Zhu Pingan counted the raised hands, and it looked like he was about to give the order to fire. The Tiger Crouching Cannon gunners all picked up torches and brought them close to the Tiger Crouching Cannon fuse, just waiting for Zhu Pingan's order.

"Open the gates! Open the gates! Open the city gates quickly!" Seeing that Zhu Ping'an was serious, the garrison commander dared not delay any longer and loudly ordered the city gates to be opened. (End of Chapter)