The rise of the poor

"Teacher Zhao, why do you think I'm deliberately going against you?!"

Faced with Zhao Wenhua's displeasure and anger, Zhu Ping'an showed a look of surprise on his face at the right time and asked in confusion.

"Isn't that right? You knew I was going to get him, yet you still gave him the navy. You're aiding the enemy! Aren't you clearly going against me?" Zhao Wenhua's expression changed drastically upon hearing Zhu Ping'an's question, and he angrily questioned him.

"Hehe, Master Zhao, I'm just lending you a hand and taking advantage of his remaining influence," Zhu Ping'an replied with a smile.

"Give me a hand?! Take advantage of his remaining strength?! Zihou, I'm not a three-year-old child, don't try to fool me!!"

Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhu Pingan with suspicion, completely doubting that Zhu Pingan was making excuses or trying to coax him.

Hu Zongxian squinted at the side, seemingly deducing what Zhu Pingan had said.

"Master Zhao, a person's energy is limited. By diverting Governor Zhou's energy to the navy, he will have less energy for other matters. In fact, the more he values ​​the navy, the less time he will have to attend to other things. Master Zhao, wouldn't it be twice as effective with half the effort? I know my Zhejiang navy better than anyone. It will take at least another month before it is combat-ready. Governor Zhou also wants to expand it into a main force navy, add warships, and recruit more sailors. In this way, it will take even longer, at least two months, and at most half a year, before the navy is combat-ready."

"Master Zhao, all three of the ten difficulties and three strategies proposed by Governor Zhou are focused on the navy, which shows how much he values ​​it. If I give the navy to him, he will devote at least two or three months of his main energy to the navy, leaving him no time or energy to organize the suppression of the Japanese pirates. Wouldn't this make it much easier for you to scheme against him? I am doing this to help you."

Zhu Pingan looked at Zhao Wenhua with a sincere expression and slowly said.

“What you say makes sense.” Zhao Wenhua thought for a moment, then nodded. But then he looked intently at Zhu Ping’an. “Wait a minute, Zihou, why did you volunteer to be the navy’s deputy? How do you explain that?!”

Zhu Pingan couldn't help but laugh, picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and then slowly spoke under Zhao Wenhua's impatient gaze:

“Zhao Shi, I’m just making use of his remaining influence. I believe that as long as Zhao Shi takes action against him, he will definitely succeed. In fact, it won’t even take a month or two before Governor Zhou is brought down by Zhao Shi. But before he is brought down, let me make use of his remaining influence to contribute to the Zhejiang Navy. Isn’t that wonderful?”

"As you know, Zhao Shi also knows, this navy is a money-devouring beast. The Zhejiang Navy, which I built with three thousand men, has almost exhausted the treasury. Even some of the spoils I obtained from the recent suppression of Japanese pirate strongholds have been used up, and now it is difficult to continue. When Governor Zhou said that he was going to take charge of the Zhejiang Navy, I almost laughed out loud. He is the governor and attaches great importance to the navy. After he takes charge of the navy, he will definitely use the financial, material and human resources of Jiangnan to expand the navy. Why not? As for my volunteering to be the deputy of the navy, it is to ensure that the navy is in my hands and not to benefit others."

"Governor Zhou is the commander-in-chief, and I am the deputy commander of the navy. The navy was expanded with my Zhejiang navy as the backbone. So as long as Governor Zhou falls from power, the navy will rightfully belong to me."

"Now that Governor Zhou's downfall is a foregone conclusion, the focus should be on making the most of his remaining influence! We can't let it go to waste!"

Zhu Ping'an spoke fluently, his words a mix of truth and falsehood, and Zhao Wenhua nodded repeatedly in agreement. Hu Zongxian, standing to the side, couldn't help but nod as well.

It is true that Zhu Ping'an used Zhou Chong to expand the navy. It was rare for Zhou Chong to value the navy so much and to take the initiative to come to him. Why not take advantage of it?

The navy was expanded from the Zhejiang navy as its core, and he was the deputy commander. Once Zhou Chong fell from power, the navy would rightfully belong to him. Even if someone else succeeded him as governor in the future, they wouldn't be able to take the navy away.

"I see. It seems I misunderstood Zihou." Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenhua's doubts and anger completely vanished. He chuckled and patted Zhu Ping'an's shoulder, then took the teapot and filled Zhu Ping'an's teacup.

"The main problem was that the incident happened suddenly, and I was unable to communicate with Teacher Zhao in time, otherwise this misunderstanding would not have occurred."

Zhu Pingan, naturally, wouldn't be presumptuous and gave Zhao Wenhua a way out.

"Yes, that's right."

Zhao Wenhua naturally seized the opportunity to back down, nodding repeatedly to indicate that the misunderstanding was caused by a failure to communicate in a timely manner.

"Zihou, I really must get rid of Zhou Chong. You saw it today. He's only capable of being a governor, let alone a viceroy. Look at his 'ten difficulties, three solutions'—even a child just starting school wouldn't make such a mistake. Navy, navy, navy! He thinks having a navy will solve the Japanese pirate problem? It's utterly ridiculous! Every day he stays in the viceroyal position brings more disaster! For the sake of the overall anti-Japanese pirate campaign in Jiangnan, Zhou Chong must be removed! Otherwise, Jiangnan will never have peace!" Zhao Wenhua said to Zhu Ping'an, adopting a responsible attitude towards the anti-Japanese pirate campaign in Jiangnan.

Come on, you only targeted Zhou Chong because he stole your governorship, don't bring up the matter of suppressing the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan.

Zhu Pingan thought this in his heart, but he wouldn't say it out loud.

"Zhou Chong's strategy for suppressing the Japanese pirates today is like a lame duck. Naval warfare is certainly important, but how can land warfare be neglected in order to eliminate the Japanese pirates? Zhou Chong emphasizes naval warfare but doesn't mention land warfare at all. What else is he but a lame duck?! If we follow his strategy to advance the overall situation of suppressing the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan, it will be a joke."

Hu Zongxian echoed this sentiment, launching a scathing critique of Zhou Chong's ten difficulties and three strategies.

“That’s right, Merlin is right. I think Zhou Chong is not much better than a good-for-nothing, even if he’s not one.”

Zhao Wenhua was very satisfied with Hu Zongxian's agreement, and then launched into a scathing critique, describing Zhou Chong as an incompetent fool.

After his rant, Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhu Pingan and asked, "Zihou, what do you think of Zhou Chong's strategy for destroying the Japanese pirates today?"

"Governor Zhou's ten difficulties and three strategies are somewhat one-sided," Zhu Pingan commented casually, taking a sip of tea.

"Hahaha, great minds think alike! He's not a competent governor, just a mediocre official. Getting rid of him is for the good of the country and the people." Zhao Wenhua laughed heartily after hearing this.

"How can we impeach him?" Hu Zongxian asked.

"Hehe, I have a hundred ways to bring him down. Now that Zihou is helping him, his energy is focused on the navy, so taking him down is even easier. Just wait, in less than a month, I'll get rid of him!"

Zhao Wenhua said with a confident expression.

Zhu Pingan couldn't help but grumble inwardly, "More trouble than he's worth; Zhao Wenhua is truly unparalleled in his despicable nature!" (End of Chapter)