"Now I finally understand why the county magistrate said, 'It's not more than 30 brothers, but more than 30,000 brothers'..."
The yamen runners on the city wall opened their mouths in shock as they watched the people below the city pouring up the wall in an endless stream. More and more of them were rushing up the wall, shoulder to shoulder. Looking around, the people scrambling to line up to pour up the wall looked like a long dragon, winding its way up. You couldn't see the head of the dragon in front, nor the tail of the dragon in the back.
"Our county magistrate's words are as powerful as thousands of troops... As long as the county magistrate is here, everything is possible." The soldier next to the yamen runner looked at Zhu Ping'an's back and said with reverence. Seeing so many people rushing to the city wall to defend the city together, the despair in his heart was swept away, and his face was filled with hope.
Like the soldiers, when the yamen runners and soldiers on the city wall saw this scene, hope for defending the city grew again in their hearts.
The atmosphere of despair that had shrouded Jingnan County like a thick fog dissipated as if blown away by a gust of wind.
Break the deadlock!
The crisis of certain death has ushered in a turning point. Zhu Ping'an's mobilization will definitely go down in history.
"My fellow countrymen, you stepped forward when Jingnan was facing a life-or-death situation. You are all heroes, the pride of Jingnan, and the patron saints of Jingnan. I, Zhu Ping'an, would like to express my gratitude to all of you."
On the city wall, Zhu Ping'an looked at the crowd rushing up the wall, his eyes couldn't help but become moist, and he cupped his hands and bowed deeply to everyone.
"Your Excellency is too kind. We should be the ones to express our gratitude to you. When you first came to Jingnan, you risked your life to protect Jingnan. As Jingnan natives, why shouldn't we protect Jingnan?"
"Sir, please stop saying that. We are ashamed and do not deserve your praise. If it were not for your words, we would have become cowards who were killed by the Japanese pirates and despised."
"Master Magistrate, you are the patron saint of Jingnan."
"Master Magistrate, we are not cowards. We will fight the Japanese pirates to the end to protect our parents, wives and children."
"Jingnan is also our Jingnan. We were born and raised in Jingnan. If Jingnan is in trouble, we must stand up."
People spoke one after another, but no one dared to accept Zhu Ping'an's greeting.
"It is all because of Ping An's incompetence that you, the elders and fellow villagers, have to risk your lives to defend the city. Ping An would like to apologize to you, the elders and fellow villagers."
Zhu Ping'an bowed again. As the official of Jingnan, he was unable to protect Jingnan and was forced to mobilize the people to defend the city, letting the people face the brutal and inhumane Japanese pirates. Zhu Ping'an was filled with guilt.
"What crime has the magistrate committed? If it weren't for your insistence, we would have been killed by the pirates outside the west gate. Also, you risked your life to protect Jingnan, and we all saw it."
"What does the Japanese pirates' attack on the city have to do with the county magistrate? If the county magistrate hadn't been guarding the city wall, Jingnan would have been conquered by the Japanese pirates long ago."
"The county magistrate is our great benefactor, not a sinner."
"A good cook cannot cook without rice. We don't have a garrison in Jingnan, so how can we have any defense force? It's normal that we can't defend the city when more than 3,000 Japanese pirates attack it. It's abnormal that we can defend it. The county magistrate is new here, so what crime can he be guilty of incompetence? Moreover, the county magistrate organized the yamen runners and gatekeepers to defend the city. It's a miracle to defend the city against more than 3,000 Japanese pirates. The county magistrate is not only innocent, but also has made great contributions."
"Your Excellency is too kind. If we don't defend the city, the Japanese pirates will break through the county and we will be dead. If we defend the city, we can still fight for our parents, wives and children to survive. If it weren't for your advice, we would have nothing to do but wait for death."
People said excitedly that they knew what Jingnan was like. There was no defense force in the city. If the Japanese pirates had only a hundred or so people and could not defend the city, they could say that the county magistrate was incompetent. However, the Japanese pirates had more than 3,000 people at once. How could they defend it? Zhu Ping'an had done a good enough job. No one could have done better than Zhu Ping'an. Last year, the Japanese pirates only had a hundred or so people and broke through the county.
"Thank you all, my fellow countrymen. I, Zhu Ping'an, will definitely live up to your trust."
Zhu Ping'an bowed again.
Everyone returned the greeting.
"My fellow countrymen, your determination and courage in protecting Jingnan are witnessed by all. However, on the battlefield, swords are merciless. To avoid unnecessary casualties, those who are over 50 years old should leave the city wall; those who have elderly parents and children should leave the city wall; those who are the only sons should leave the city wall; those who have wives but no children should leave the city wall; if father and son are on the city wall together, the father should leave the city wall; if brothers are on the city wall together, the younger brother should leave the city wall."
Zhu Ping'an stood in front of everyone, bowed and spoke loudly.
"Master Magistrate, I am already seventy years old. I have lived long enough. Let the young ones go. Don't look at me because I am old. I am skilled in martial arts. Two or three ordinary young men are no match for me."
"Master Magistrate, as the saying goes, brothers fight tigers together, and fathers and sons fight together in battle. The three of us, father and brothers, are the most powerful on the city wall."
"Master Magistrate, we will not go down. We will defend Jingnan to the death. We will fight the Japanese pirates to the end."
"The county magistrate, such a valuable man, is fighting to the death on the city wall. If we don't come down from the city wall..."
The people on the city wall spoke excitedly, and everyone insisted on not leaving the city wall and vowed to defend Jingnan to the death.
In order to express his persistence, the 70-year-old man puffed his beard and glared, holding on to the battlement of the city wall and refusing to let go.
"Grandpa, uncle, fellow villagers, we have all seen your determination and courage to protect Jingnan, but the swords on the battlefield are blind, and the Japanese pirates are cruel and inhumane, which will only increase casualties; and the city wall is narrow, so it is difficult for so many of us to display our strength, which simply gives the Japanese pirates an opportunity to take advantage. In addition, fellow villagers can also help defend the city, maintain order in the county, help collect and transport wood and stones, collect feces and urine..."
Zhu Ping'an had to persuade people again and again before they got those who were over 50, those with elderly parents and young children, and others down from the city wall.
After such a selection, more than 2,000 strong civilians were left on the city wall. Although their number was less than that of the Japanese pirates, it was enough to defend the city.
"Brothers, you risked your lives to defend the city. I, Zhu Ping'an, have nothing to repay you, but to treat you with sincerity. All of you will be registered and treated the same as the yamen runners and soldiers. All those who are brave enough to defend the city will be rewarded with ten taels of silver each; those who are injured while defending the city will be rewarded with an additional ten taels of silver; those who die while defending the city will be compensated with an additional fifty taels of silver each. After this battle, those who are interested in serving in the county government will be given priority."
Zhu Ping'an recruited literate yamen runners and common people to register all the people, treating them equally with yamen runners and soldiers. They were all also eligible for the generous reward order issued earlier. In addition, he promised everyone that after the war, anyone who was interested in working in the county government would be given priority.
The reward order solved the worries of the people; the appointment order gave everyone a chance to eat the emperor's food.
Originally, the people defended the city out of passion, but now with the reward and appointment orders, the people have no worries and have more hope. They are more motivated to defend the city, full of energy and high morale.