The rise of the poor

The charcoal fire licked at the teapot, the snow water tumbled inside, the tea leaves leaped and danced in the tea soup like swimming fish, and the aroma of tea wafted through the study.

Zhao Wenhua sat in a recliner, with fruit, pastries, and steaming tea on the table beside him.

Behind him, a beautiful maid was massaging his shoulders and neck with elegant and skillful movements.

Zhao Wenhua took a sip of tea, leaned back with satisfaction, and the maid behind him, sensing the need, increased the pressure slightly, which made Zhao Wenhua even more pleased.

The order had been issued, and he was waiting for good news from the front lines.

"Planning strategies within the command tent, winning battles a thousand miles away"—Zhao Wenhua felt this phrase perfectly suited his current situation.

"Report! Your Excellency, a battle report has arrived from the front lines. After receiving Your Excellency's orders, Governor Zhu Ping'an of Zhejiang did not retreat. Instead, he sent a letter back to Your Excellency."

The butler came running over with a letter in his hand to report.

"What?! After receiving my order, Zhu Ping'an actually didn't obey and withdraw his troops?!" Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenhua sat up abruptly from his recliner, his composed demeanor turning into displeasure and anger.

What is Zhu Pingan planning to do?!

What is he trying to do, that a general in the field might disobey orders?!

Zhao Wenhua angrily snatched Zhu Ping'an's reply letter from the butler's hand, unfolded it, and read Zhu Ping'an's reply.

Upon closer inspection, Zhao Wenhua's anger subsided slightly. As the gaze continued downwards, the anger on Zhao Wenhua's face diminished further, and his expression gradually became more peaceful.

Zhu Ping'an's reply essentially meant that he had received Zhao Wenhua's order and would withdraw his troops as instructed. However, the Zhejiang army was currently pursuing a large group of fleeing Japanese pirates. If he withdrew his troops without government troops coming to take over, the Japanese pirates would escape. Once government troops came to take over, the Zhejiang army would withdraw its troops from Songjiang Prefecture and return to Zhejiang.

Zhao Wenhua closed Zhu Pingan's reply.

Zhu Ping'an's reply made some sense. At this time, Hu Zongxian's troops had not yet arrived. If Zhu Ping'an's Zhejiang army withdrew, the Japanese pirates would escape.

If the Japanese pirates escape, Hu Zongxian might not be able to catch them. If he couldn't, wouldn't his orders become a joke?
However, Zhu Ping'an's reply cannot be taken at face value. In the end, we must see the outcome. If Hu Zongxian arrives and Zhu Ping'an withdraws his troops, then Zhu Ping'an has not lied to me. If Hu Zongxian arrives and Zhu Ping'an delays his withdrawal for some reason, then Zhu Ping'an is playing with fire! In that case, he will have to bear my wrath!
"Where is Hu Zongxian now?" Zhao Wenhua asked the steward.

"Reporting to your master, they arrived in Songjiang Prefecture an hour ago and should be able to join forces with the Zhejiang army soon."

The steward replied.

"Very good." Zhao Wenhua nodded after hearing this, then lay back down on the recliner and waved his hand. "Go down. Report to me immediately if there is any news."

"As ordered."

The manager, sensing the situation, retreated and left.

About an hour later, the steward came running over again to report to Zhao Wenhua.

"Report, sir, a battle report has arrived from the front. After the arrival of Hu Zongxian, the governor of Suzhou and Songjiang, the governor of Zhejiang, Zhu Ping'an, has followed your orders and led the Zhejiang soldiers to withdraw from Songjiang Prefecture. They are on their way back to Jiaxing."

The report from the "good" manager made Zhao Wenhua nod in satisfaction. "Not bad, not bad. It seems that Zhu Ping'an did not withdraw his troops at first because he was worried that the Japanese pirates would escape after the withdrawal. Now that Hu Zongxian has arrived with his troops, Zhu Ping'an has led the Zhejiang army to withdraw."

Originally, Zhao Wenhua was worried that Zhu Pingan might use the excuse of "a general in the field may not be able to rule freely" to resist, but now it seems that Zhu Pingan is quite sensible.

We can win them over.

Zhao Wenhua mentally labeled Zhu Pingan.

Zhu Pingan led the Zhejiang army to retreat, and Hu Zongxian also arrived with his troops. Now all that's left is to wait for Hu Zongxian's report of victory.

Zhao Wenhua waved his hand, and the steward tactfully left again, while the maid's soft hands continued to massage Zhao Wenhua.

As Zhao Wenhua waited and waited, he grew drowsy. Seeing this, the maid gradually slowed down her movements and the intensity of her touch. Slowly, Zhao Wenhua drifted off to sleep.

The maid stopped what she was doing, took a blanket, and gently covered Zhao Wenhua with it.

After an unknown amount of time, hurried footsteps came from outside the study. The steward, holding a piece of paper, rushed in from outside, calling out, "Master, Master, battle report from the front."

Zhao Wenhua woke up abruptly and, upon hearing the steward's shout, excitedly sat up from the recliner, saying with anticipation, "But Hu Zongxian's good news has arrived."

Hu Zongxia's good news!?
When the manager heard Zhao Wenhua's expectant question, he didn't know how to answer for a moment, and his expression showed some unspeakable difficulty.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Wenhua noticed the steward's strange expression and a sense of foreboding washed over him. "Tell me quickly."

"Reporting, sir, Hu Zongxian's army suffered a great defeat, with over a thousand dead and countless wounded," the steward stammered as he reported to the leader.

"What did you say?! Hu Zongxian suffered a crushing defeat, with over a thousand dead?! And countless others wounded?!"

Zhao Wenhua was incredulous and, in his excitement, knocked over a table. With a crash, the table fell to the ground, and the fruit plate and teapot on it all fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

"Ah!" the maid exclaimed.

"Get out!" Zhao Wenhua was already irritable, his face dark as he berated the screaming maid.

"This servant takes her leave." The maid bowed her head and left.

"What happened? How could Hu Zongxian have lost?! Didn't we give him 10,000 troops?! How could he have lost?! How did he lose?!" Zhao Wenhua asked incredulously, unable to accept the news of the defeat.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Lord Hu led his troops in pursuit of the Japanese pirates, cornering them at Yueshan Guard. The pirates held firm at Yueshan Guard and refused to surrender, so Lord Hu led his troops to surround Yueshan Guard layer by layer," the steward replied.

"Isn't this great? How did we lose?" Zhao Wenhua asked, puzzled.

I clearly had the advantage, so how did I lose?!

"Lord Hu ordered the felling of trees to build siege ladders and led his troops in a fierce attack on Yueshanwei, which was defended by Japanese pirates. When the government troops were climbing the siege ladders and making their attack, the gate of Yueshanwei suddenly opened and the Japanese pirates rushed out. Lord Hu and his men were caught off guard, and the siege ladders were pushed down by the Japanese pirates. They were killed and suffered a great defeat, with more than a thousand dead and countless wounded." The steward truthfully reported the contents of the battle report to Zhao Wenhua.

"They've already lost?!"

Zhao Wenhua was still incredulous after hearing this. The Japanese pirates opened the gates and rushed out while Hu Zongxian was attacking the city, and Hu Zongxian was defeated?!
Although the Japanese pirates suddenly opened the city gates and attacked, catching them somewhat off guard, Hu Zongxian had an army of ten thousand.

They lost so easily?!

Why did Zhu Ping'an win so easily with only 3,000 Zhejiang troops, while Hu Zongxian lost with 10,000?! (End of Chapter)