The rise of the poor

Zhu Pingan spent the entire day with Li Shu taking care of the two little ones, Xingwen and Yiyi. The mansion was equipped with an underfloor heating system, and the charcoal fire burned brightly, making the house warm and cozy, with a temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius, a stark contrast to the freezing cold outside.

The two little ones, dressed in light clothing, were full of energy, stretching and kicking their arms and legs on the bed, practicing rolling over, and chewing on their stuffed animals.

Zhu Pingan couldn't stop touching this one and kissing that one, holding their little hands and teaching them to call him "Daddy".

In the evening, the two little ones were cared for by their wet nurse, allowing Zhu Pingan and Li Shu to enjoy some rare time alone together.

The next morning, Li Shu looked radiant as she dressed and groomed herself at her vanity. Zhu Ping'an, supporting his back, got out of bed, his steps unsteady.
While looking after the child in the morning, Zhu Pingan received the battle report from Songjiang Prefecture. After reading it through, he sighed with regret.

Zhu Pingan never expected it to end like this, never imagined they would be defeated so quickly and so miserably, turning a pursuit battle into a battle to defend the prefectural city.

Historically, perhaps only the border provocation by India that led to the Battle of New Delhi can be compared to this.

Hu Zongxian made many mistakes in this battle due to his haste, carelessness, underestimation of the enemy, and poor command. Of course, the poor performance of the government troops also contributed to the situation. Zhu Pingan shook his head and casually put the battle report aside.

Another day was spent in the warmth of his wife and children. In the evening, Li Shu claimed that she was not feeling well and asked Hua'er to serve her in bed.

Zhu Pingan pulled Li Shu into his arms, holding her soft hand. "It's okay, tonight I'll just hold you while we sleep, I won't do anything else."

"You said the same thing yesterday, but you weren't behaving yourself all night, again and again, as if you weren't satisfied." Li Shu looked up, her watery eyes giving Zhu Ping'an a sharp glare.

"Ahem. Not today. I'll only hold you while I sleep, trust me," Zhu Pingan said confidently.

"I believe you, but let Hua'er keep you company today. You've been with me for a long time, and that girl misses you a lot."

Li Shu squirmed in Zhu Ping'an's arms, trying to get up.

“It won’t make a difference if I stay out here fighting. I dream of sleeping with you in my arms. Last night, cough cough, I didn’t sleep well because I was too busy. Tonight, I’ll hold you and get a good night’s sleep. I’ll let Hua’er keep me company tomorrow.”

Zhu Pingan hugged Li Shu and gently kissed her forehead.

Li Shu was persuaded by Zhu Pingan. She blinked her bright eyes and looked at Zhu Pingan. She parted her red lips and whispered, "Then, okay, you said it. Tonight, you'll just hold me and sleep well, and do nothing else."

"Of course." Zhu Pingan nodded vigorously.

Outside, the wind howled, but inside, it was warm and cozy. In the darkness, Li Shu scolded, "Zhu Ping'an, you're not keeping your word! Didn't you say you'd just hold me and sleep peacefully, and not do anything else? What are you doing now?"

"A little exercise before bed, don't worry, it won't go on like it did yesterday," Zhu Pingan said, panting.

The next day, Li Shu rolled her eyes at Zhu Ping'an countless times.

That evening, Li Shu refused to let Zhu Pingan hold her while she slept, no matter how persuasive Zhu Pingan was.

"Young master, no, sir, do you not like me?" Hua'er asked pitifully when she served him that night.

"No," Zhu Pingan replied.

"Why didn't Master agree to let me serve him last night, Miss?" Hua'er asked, looking aggrieved.

"Didn't I agree?" Zhu Pingan smiled slightly and hugged Hua'er.

"Hehe, yeah, hehe." Hua'er chuckled foolishly twice and snuggled into Zhu Ping'an's arms.

"Okay, stop thinking about it. Turn off the lights and go to sleep."

Zhu Pingan was indeed quite tired. He had been severely overexerted the previous two nights, indulging in intimacy and sleeping little for the past two nights. Tonight, he just wanted to get a good night's sleep and recharge.

"Miss said that the master has been too tired these past few days, and asked me to take good care of him so that he can relax."

Hua'er said shyly.

Zhu Pingan felt exhausted, having already overdrawn his energy on Li Shu, so he coughed and politely declined, saying, "Cough cough, Hua'er, no need, just get a good night's sleep tonight."

"Master, you don't need to move, just lie down. Hua'er will help you relax," Hua'er said in a low voice, her face flushed, as she lowered her head.
Well.
This wicked feudal society, at this moment, is something that one can both love and love.
The moon tonight is big and white, and it even bites.
The next morning, Hua'er helped Zhu Ping'an wash up and change his clothes, and shaved his beard again, showing off her skills.

Speaking of shaving, Zhu Ping'an only understood what Hua'er meant last night when she said that Hua'er had practiced shaving, first on a winter melon, then on a pig's head, and finally on herself, shaving very cleanly. She really did shave very cleanly.
With his wife and children by his side, beautiful wives and concubines, and delicious food, Zhu Ping'an was completely content at home, except for his back aching a little. However, his good days were interrupted by an official document.

The Governor-General of Jiangnan has been appointed.

As expected, the position of Governor-General of Jiangnan, which Zhao Wenhua had longed for, did not fall to him. Following the historical trajectory, Zhou Chong succeeded him as Governor-General of Jiangnan this time.

Before succeeding as governor-general, Zhou Chong served as Right Vice Censor-in-Chief in Yingtian. Upon receiving the imperial edict to succeed him, he immediately took up his post in Yingtian.

The official document Zhu Pingan received was drafted by Zhou Chong, the newly appointed Governor-General of Jiangnan, on his first day in office, and was sent by fast horse.

In his official document, Zhou Chong instructed Zhu Ping'an to immediately travel by express courier to Yingtian upon receiving the document and to receive orders at the Governor's Office without fail.

As a new official, Zhu Ping'an was eager to make his mark, and he didn't want to be the first to be targeted. After receiving Zhou Chong's official document, he immediately bid farewell to Li Shu and Hua'er, packed his bags, and, with Liu Dadao and three hundred Zhejiang soldiers, rode two horses at full speed towards Yingtian to pay his respects to the new governor, Zhou Chong.

Zhou Chong is not well-known in history, appearing only briefly in a few sentences, serving merely as a stepping stone in the background of Hu Zongxian's appearance.

Zhou Chong took office as governor, but his term lasted only a few months before he was impeached and removed from office by Zhao Wenhua. His downfall was unexpectedly swift.

However, Zhu Ping'an still believed that seeing is believing, and it was best to see for himself what Zhou Chong was really like.

Although Zhu Pingan had long coveted the position of governor, he wanted to see how Zhou Chong was before making a decision.

Zhao Wenhua definitely wants to oust Zhou Chong so he can take over. If Zhou Chong is capable of leading the anti-Japanese pirate campaign in Jiangnan, Zhu Pingan wouldn't mind helping him. Conversely, if Zhou Chong is incapable of leading the anti-Japanese pirate campaign in Jiangnan, Zhu Pingan wouldn't mind helping Zhao Wenhua.

The Japanese pirate raids in Jiangnan cannot be delayed any longer! The people have suffered enough! (End of Chapter)