The rise of the poor

Just as the steward said, Zhao Wenhua never mentioned the victory banquet again. Forget about the victory banquet; he was now worried about whether Songjiang Prefecture could be defended. If Songjiang Prefecture fell, it would be the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Zhao Wenhua urgently summoned several generals at his residence, ordering them to quickly lead troops to support Songjiang Prefecture. Songjiang Prefecture could not fall into the hands of the Japanese pirates. He was the one who initiated this war, and if Songjiang Prefecture fell, it would be a complete defeat, and he could forget about the position of governor.

"Ahem, Lord Zhao, it's not that I don't want to go, but my old mother is sick. I'm the only man in the family, and I have to stay in bed to take care of her and give her medicine. My mother is old and like a child; she won't drink medicine unless I feed it to her myself."

"Lord Zhao, you know me. In this situation, it's my duty to step up, no doubt about it. If I don't go, who will? I practice martial arts at home every day, practicing with my spear in the morning and with my sword before bed at night. But, cough cough, I accidentally strained my back while practicing with my sword last night. Alas, my old back is so useless, I can't go into battle."

"I have no problem with that, I'll do it without hesitation. But my lord, you need to give me three days to assemble my troops and prepare my supplies."

Upon hearing that they were to lead troops to rescue Songjiang Prefecture, which was heavily besieged by Japanese pirates, Hu Zongxian and Li Tao, who had both suffered repeated defeats at the hands of the pirates, either made various excuses to decline or resorted to delaying tactics.

Let's stall for three days first. After that, we'll assess the situation. If Songjiang Prefecture hasn't fallen, we'll continue stalling. But if it has already fallen, what's the point of any rescue efforts?
Promotion and wealth may be desirable, but life is more precious.

Although they wanted to curry favor with Zhao Wenhua and Yan's faction, their lives were more important. They knew their own limitations and the quality of their troops perfectly well.

They could defend the city, but going out to fight the Japanese pirates in the open would be suicide.

Hu Zongxian and Li Tao received special treatment from Zhao Wenhua, with their subordinates being elite troops specially transferred from various armies. All of our elite troops were allocated to them, and armor, weapons, and supplies were supplied without restraint. Even with such support, they were defeated by the Japanese pirates, so we were even less likely to succeed.

Now that Songjiang Prefecture is heavily besieged by Japanese pirates, they will inevitably have to fight the pirates outside the city when they go to rescue Songjiang Prefecture.

In open field battles, they were no match for the Japanese pirates.

Such a rescue attempt is risky; their fate is uncertain. No, their fate is easy to predict—the likelihood of them dying is extremely high.

If Zhao Wenhua were the governor, they would have no choice but to go if he gave the order. But Zhao Wenhua is not the governor yet, which gives them the opportunity to politely decline and delay. Their lives are more important.

Therefore, these generals each used their own methods, employing delaying tactics and polite refusals. In any case, Zhao Wenhua summoned quite a few people, but none of them readily accepted the heavy responsibility of the rescue.

"Useless! A bunch of useless people! They talk a big game all the time, but when it comes to actually needing their help, they all try to avoid it!"

"You're all useless! Not a single one of you is any good! You bunch of good-for-nothings, I'll remember you. Just wait and see how I deal with you. If I don't squeeze every last penny out of you, I'm not Zhao Wenhua!"

No sooner had the group of generals left than Zhao Wenhua angrily smashed the teapot, overturned the table, and began cursing viciously.

The maids outside the study trembled with fear; without Zhao Wenhua's instructions, they dared not go in to tidy up.

"Whoever's outside, get in here and clean this up!" After venting his anger, Zhao Wenhua called people in to clean up.

The maids nervously entered to clean up the mess, taking away the broken teaware and the fruit and pastries scattered on the floor. They put the overturned table back in its original state and replaced it with new fruit, pastries, and teaware.

After tidying up, they bowed and withdrew from the study. The maids all showed relief at surviving such a disaster.

Zhao Wenhua paced back and forth in the room. After circling several times, he gritted his teeth and shouted outside, "Bring Steward Zhang in for me."

Soon, Steward Zhang trotted into the study, bowing and scraping, "Master, what are your orders?"

"Which generals who sent me visiting cards and gifts have not yet been summoned?" Zhao Wenhua asked.

"Master, everyone except those who are out of town has been summoned," Steward Zhang replied softly.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings! Not a single one of them is any good!" Zhao Wenhua cursed in disappointment after hearing this.

Manager Zhang kept his head down as much as possible.

Zhao Wenhua frowned and paced back and forth, his expression showing some hesitation and struggle. After pacing around twice, he gritted his teeth and said, "It seems that I have no choice but to transfer Zhu Ping'an to support Songjiang Prefecture." He turned to Steward Zhang and instructed, "Bring me pen, ink, paper, and inkstone!"

"Yes, ma'am." Steward Zhang scurried off to prepare the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Zhao Wenhua picked up his pen and drafted an order.

"Report! Urgent report from the front!"

Just as Zhao Wenhua was putting down his pen to write, a servant came running up to report, holding a battle report in both hands.

Upon hearing the urgent report from the front lines, Zhao Wenhua's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't even hold his brush, and it fell to the table with a thud, staining the half-written order.

Could it be that Songjiang Prefecture has fallen?!

This is something he cannot bear.

Zhao Wenhua was extremely worried and dared not answer the urgent report from the front line, fearing that it would be bad news.

"Take a look at the urgent report from the front lines," Zhao Wenhua instructed Steward Zhang.

Steward Zhang took the urgent report from the front lines from the servant as ordered, and unfolded it with trembling hands.

He was also worried that this urgent report would bring bad news, and he would become a crow that spreads bad tidings, which would displease the master.

Terrified and extremely nervous, Manager Zhang glanced at the contents of the urgent report, and after just one glance, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.

When Zhao Wenhua saw Steward Zhang's wide eyes, his heart skipped a beat again. Had Songjiang Prefecture really fallen? Otherwise, why would this guy's eyes be so wide? Damn it, how could Songjiang Prefecture have fallen so quickly!
"Master, Songjiang Prefecture has been defended, and the Japanese pirates have retreated." Steward Zhang's excited voice interrupted Zhao Wenhua's rich inner monologue.

"What?! The Japanese pirates have retreated! Songjiang Prefecture is safe?!" Zhao Wenhua exclaimed with delight upon hearing this.

"Let me see it quickly." Zhao Wenhua reached out his hand.

Manager Zhang hurriedly handed the urgent report to Zhao Wenhua with both hands. As soon as Zhao Wenhua received the report from the front line, he couldn't wait to open it and quickly skim through it.

"Good, as expected of Hu Zongxian, he has quick wit in critical moments." Zhao Wenhua nodded in approval after reading it.

When Songjiang Prefecture was teetering on the brink of collapse, Hu Zongxian remembered the five hundred sets of cotton armor that Zhu Pingan had given him before he left. He ordered his men to wear the cotton armor of the Zhejiang Army and walk back and forth on the city wall, making it appear as if the Zhejiang Army was continuously scaling the city. When the Japanese pirates saw the cotton armor of the Zhejiang Army on the city wall, they thought that the Zhejiang Army had come to their aid. Overwhelmed by the fear of being dominated by the firearms of the Zhejiang Army, they dared not continue to besiege the city. They quickly retreated.

The siege of Songjiang Prefecture was lifted immediately. (End of Chapter)