Chapter 1892: The Wind Rises in Jiaxing
"Master Huifu, everything in the four gates is safe and sound as usual. The soldiers are all on guard at their posts. They are all in high spirits. Their eyes are as wide as copper bells. Let alone Japanese pirates, they are just a pirate." Don’t even think about flying into the city.”
After a while, the officer who went out to inspect the situation came back out of breath and reported to Magistrate Zhao.
"Okay, okay, work together, the soldiers will serve, and Jiaxing will be worry-free. I have asked people to prepare hot soup and hot dishes for you. Go down and have a good rest. I will not forget to work hard. "
After hearing the officer's report, Magistrate Zhao happily said the word "good" three times. He breathed a big sigh of relief, patted the officer's shoulder cordially, and said gently. He went down to have a good rest.
The governor patted me on the shoulder. The officer was flattered and his face turned red with excitement. He repeatedly expressed his willingness to die for the governor.
After the officer left, Magistrate Zhao looked around at the people in the meeting hall, like an old lion with a gray mane. As the head of the house, he still had some prestige, and everyone who was whispering among them was silent. .
"I know that some of you are too cautious, making a fuss out of a molehill, or even as timid as a mouse..."
Zhifu Zhao cleared his throat, looked at everyone, and said slowly.
After hearing what Magistrate Zhao said, all the civil and military officials in the meeting hall lowered their heads, not daring to look at Magistrate Zhao. They had something in their minds. Almost most of them said so openly or secretly, even if they didn’t I said it, and I thought so in my heart.
"It's normal for you to think this way. After all, what I do is cautious to the point of being timid. The Japanese pirates who fled in Suzhou only appeared in a small village in the north. The number of them is unknown. Every once in a while, someone would go to the four gates to check. There were obviously more than 2,000 soldiers and horses in the city, but there were still I sent people to Yangcheng Guards for help as soon as possible, and so on, so I won’t blame you.”
Zhifu Zhao said slowly, and finally looked at everyone and asked, “Do you know that I will. Why do officials do this?”
All the civil and military officials in the chamber did not know how to answer.
“I’m telling you. Because I am the prefect of Jiaxing Prefecture, and as the head of a prefecture, I am responsible for the safety of hundreds of thousands of people in Jiaxing Prefecture, especially Jiaxing City, and I have to be careful. Be careful, be cautious, even to the point of being as timid as a mouse. As long as Jiaxing Mansion is safe, it doesn't matter if I am said to be as timid as a mouse." Magistrate Zhao said slowly and emotionally.
"Your Majesty, your heart is open to the hundreds of thousands of people in Jiaxing Prefecture. We are so narrow-minded, so please atone for your sins."
A number of civil and military officials complained one after another.
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. I've already said it, and I won't blame you for this. But..." Magistrate Zhao paused at this, his eyes were like fire, and he slowly scanned the crowd, bringing Everyone is under great pressure.
"Your Majesty, please speak. We will strictly abide by your orders." A group of civil and military officials stood up to express their stance.
Zhifu Zhao waved his hand and told everyone to sit down, and then warned the civil and military officials present with a serious look, "However, you need to remember that we are not only responsible for our lives, but also for The lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Jiaxing Prefecture were killed. You must be as careful and cautious as I am! Japanese pirates are no ordinary bandits. They are ferocious and good at fighting. They commit all kinds of crimes by burning, killing, and looting. A month ago, there was news that more than a hundred Japanese pirates roamed thousands of miles south of the Yangtze River, burning, killing, and looting as far as Yingtian City. , you are all familiar with it, occupying Torin as The Japanese pirates in the nest did not give in. This group of Japanese pirates gathered 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers, and Songjiang Prefecture suffered greatly. The officers and soldiers were defeated in succession, and the counties were destroyed. The common people were reduced to fish in the Japanese pirates' bowl, even Governor Zhang. They are all terrified and have been unable to attack them for a long time. Don't underestimate the Japanese pirates who escaped in Tuolin. Don't think that you don't care if the troops are defeated, don't let down your guard because there are few of them, everything must be brought to the highest level."
"We must keep in mind the instructions of the governor, and we must be careful and cautious. Be cautious again." A number of civil and military officials expressed their opinions one after another.
"Very good, now let's study Jiaxing's defense matters. I am in charge of the general command. The specific supplies such as grain, grass, ordnance, etc. are in charge of Chief Wang, and the departments of households, barracks, workshops, etc. will cooperate with each other. The mobilization and command of troops and horses are in charge of Chief Zhang. , all generals present here must work together to Cooperate, and when the Yangcheng Guard reinforcements arrive, I will explain to them, and Chief Zhang will be responsible for mobilizing and commanding.”
Zhao Zhifu sat down with satisfaction and arranged the deployment of Jiaxing. All civil and military personnel Officials stood up from time to time to take orders.
"You all should also discuss how to do better in the affairs that you are responsible for and cooperate with." Magistrate Zhao ordered a group of civil and military officials.
Finally, Magistrate Zhao turned to look at the corner of the meeting hall and asked, "Secretary Sima, did you record today's events truthfully?"
It turned out that there was a table arranged in the corner of the meeting hall. In front of the desk, a clerk in his fifties was writing furiously.
"Go back to me, what I did and said today, especially my emotional explanations and stern warnings to everyone, I have recorded them all truthfully, word for word."
Zhang Shuli stood up and replied.
"Good. Secretary Zhang deserves to be born in the Sima family and has the style of a historian." Magistrate Zhao nodded with satisfaction after hearing this.
There are words and truths. When the Japanese pirates attacked, I had the whole people in mind and endured the humiliation. I did not hesitate to be stigmatized as a coward, but I also deployed my defenses carefully and thoughtfully, so that Jiaxing Mansion avoided a catastrophe.
These records can not only be used as a basis for reporting merits, but can also be compiled into the local chronicles of Jiaxing Prefecture, and they themselves will be remembered for generations along with the local chronicles of Jiaxing Prefecture.
While Magistrate Zhao was feeling complacent and all the civil and military officials in the council room were brainstorming, a massacre was imminent dozens of miles outside the city.
"The Ming army is about to arrive. Be careful to hide and pull up the horse rope! Brother Ma, you lead two hundred people to ambush behind, and I will lead the rest to ambush in front. When the Ming army is tripped by the horse rope, the people will fall on their backs. At that moment, we attacked from both sides at the same time, attacking him from the front and back, and he was bleeding like a river. Remember not to kill them all, but to keep dozens of them alive. I will be of great use." Xu Hai hid in the dark and whispered to the Japanese pirates.
"Okay." Maye nodded and led the Japanese pirates to move back.
More than a dozen Japanese pirates pulled up three hemp ropes as tripping ropes. In order to prevent the Ming army from discovering them, the hemp ropes were dyed black.
The black trip rope blends into the dark night, like a giant beast with its mouth open.
"Drive! Drive! Drive!"
More than a hundred Ming troops came at high speed from the bottom of the high slope, not knowing what was waiting for them in front.
They only knew that the governor ordered them to quickly ask for reinforcements. How could they have imagined that a group of Japanese pirates were ambushing them secretly. (End of this chapter)