"The observation port should be narrow inside and wide outside, tilted to the left, right or downward, and not facing straight ahead. This will facilitate archery defense and observation, and prevent Japanese pirates and other enemy arrows from injuring people."
"There are many bamboo tubes as thick as bowls on the second-floor wall of the sentry fort and the gate. If Japanese pirates attack the fort, they can use the bamboo tubes to pour gold juice and boiling water to prevent the Japanese pirates from approaching the gate or climbing the fort wall. If the Japanese pirates attack with fire, they can also use the bamboo tubes to pour water to put out the fire..."
"Do not install windows on the corridor level of the sentry fort. Only the second floor can have windows, and they should be as small as possible..."
"The fortress gate should be set up in two layers. Even if one layer is breached, there is still one layer for defense."
"The walls of the sentry fort must be thick enough, and the layout must be carefully planned to avoid leaving blind spots that could be exploited by the enemy."
In the morning, Zhu Ping'an, along with Liu Mu and more than a dozen officers, inspected the construction of various anti-Japanese outposts and made suggestions from time to time.
Zhu Ping'an planned a total of 150 anti-Japanese outposts in Jingnan, including 28 anti-Japanese outposts set up along the coast. They were close to the sea and backed by mountains, easy to defend and difficult to attack, with convenient retreat, focusing on vigilance, and setting up beacon towers; 122 anti-Japanese outposts were planned in the inland, set up in places where the Japanese pirates must pass and places easily invaded by the Japanese pirates. These anti-Japanese outposts focused on defense and had a large area. Each outpost could accommodate more than 200 people and had wells dug inside. When the Japanese pirates invaded, nearby villages could take refuge in the anti-Japanese outposts.
The worst of the Japanese invasion was about to come. For more than ten years thereafter, there would be no peace along the southeastern coast, and all the people would suffer...
With these anti-Japanese outposts, even if the Japanese pirates are rampant, the people of Jingnan can still maintain their vitality.
Zhu Ping'an felt a little relieved when he saw the anti-Japanese outposts rising from the ground.
"Your Excellency, the imperial envoy from the capital has arrived."
When Zhu Ping'an was inspecting Zhangduo's anti-Japanese fort, a constable arrived on a fast horse, dismounted and reported.
The imperial envoy from the capital has arrived? !
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but feel excited. The last time the imperial envoy came to investigate his corruption case, he had already returned to Beijing to report more than ten days ago. Calculating the time, it was time for the results to come out.
I think today is another harvest season. I just don't know if it can meet my expectations.
Xu Hai, Zhang Guyi, please don't let me down.
"Okay, I got it." Zhu Ping'an nodded to the messenger, then turned to Li Dianli and others who were accompanying him and said, "Liu Dianli, follow me back to the county government office and prepare to receive the imperial edict. Li Dianli, you go and inspect the construction of the anti-Japanese sentry fort. The points I just mentioned must be integrated into the construction of the sentry fort. Defense and vigilance are the core of the construction of the anti-Japanese sentry fort, so you must pay attention to them."
Liu Dianli is Old Man Liu from Baqiao Village. Although he is a rather old-fashioned person, he is proficient in all kinds of etiquette. So Zhu Ping'an took Liu Dianli back to the county government office to welcome the imperial envoy. With Liu Dianli around, there would be no problems with etiquette.
"Don't worry, Your Excellency. We will definitely live up to your trust." Li Dianli and others bowed their heads to express their opinions.
After making all the arrangements, Zhu Ping'an took Liu Dianli, Liu Mu and others and rode back to Jingnan County Government at full speed.
The imperial envoys from the capital were three young eunuchs and a team of Dongchang men, and none of them were people Zhu Ping'an knew.
"Your Excellency has come to visit me. I have something to wish to do and hope you will forgive me." Zhu Ping'an stepped forward and bowed to apologize.
"Master Zhu, you are too polite. Master Zhu is fighting against floods and providing disaster relief. There is nothing wrong with that. Before I came here, Huang Dugong had already told me not to cause trouble for Master Zhu and affect the overall situation of Master Zhu's fighting against floods and providing disaster relief."
The leading eunuch returned the greeting with a smile and was very polite to Zhu Ping'an without any arrogance at all.
"I have brought the emperor's oral instructions and rewards this time. Sir Zhu, please take a bath, change your clothes, and prepare to receive the emperor's order."
After a few pleasantries, the leading eunuch said, "Zhu Ping'an was just inspecting the construction site of the anti-Japanese sentry fort. He was covered in dust and was not suitable to receive the imperial edict. He had to take a bath and change clothes to show his respect to Emperor Jiajing."
"Thank you for waiting for a moment." Zhu Ping'an bowed and asked the young eunuch and the East Factory guard to rest in the side hall.
"Please come in, Lord Zhu." The leading eunuch nodded and was led by Liu Dianli to the side hall to rest for a while.
Zhu Ping'an hurried to the backyard of the county government office to take a bath and change clothes. Hua'er and the demon girl Ruonan had already received the news and had prepared the bath water and official clothes for him to change into. Zhu Ping'an quickly took a warm bath, and with the help of Hua'er, he changed into clean official clothes, put on a black gauze hat, and quickly returned to the front yard of the county government office.
“He looks like a human but does not look like a dog...” The evil woman Ruonan leaned against the door, looking at Zhu Ping’an’s back and curled the corners of her mouth.
"My son-in-law is so handsome." Huaer emphasized.
“I can’t even find him among a crowd of people. I can’t tell what’s so handsome about him…” The seductive woman Ruonan rolled her eyes.
Zhu Ping'an returned to the front yamen and ordered the ceremonial gate to be opened to receive the imperial edict. According to the etiquette of receiving the imperial edict, Zhu Ping'an led the people in the county yamen to kneel outside the ceremonial gate to welcome the eunuchs, and the eunuchs entered through the ceremonial gate and went to the hall of the county yamen to announce the imperial edict.
Liu Dianli had already arranged the incense table, candles and other items in the lobby of the county government according to etiquette.
"Master Zhu, please accept the order." said the leading eunuch.
"I, Zhu Ping'an, the deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Criminal Investigation Department and the acting magistrate of Jingnan County, have received your order. Long live the emperor."
Zhu Ping'an knelt down to receive the imperial edict.
"The Emperor's oral instruction: Zhu, you have made great contributions to flood relief and disaster relief. You are capable and honest. You have not disappointed me. I am very pleased. The things you mentioned in the secret memorial are very pleasing to me. I reward you with two things. Treasure them well. I hope you will continue to work hard, do not be proud and slack off, be a good official, and continue to do more practical things for my Ming Dynasty..."
The leading eunuch recited Emperor Jiajing's oral instructions silently.
Two things as a reward?! Which two things?! Please don’t let me down, Zhu Pingan said with peace of mind.
"The emperor has bestowed upon me a Qilin robe." The leading eunuch silently recited the emperor's order and continued.
The Qilin robe is a gifted robe, and it is also an official court dress, but it is not the standard dress for civil and military officials. You can't wear a gifted robe just because you want to. You can only wear it if the emperor bestows it. This is the highest honor for officials in ancient times. The emperor bestows robes on his subjects, generally the first-grade fighting bull, the second-grade flying fish, the third-grade python, the fourth and fifth-grade Qilin, and the sixth and seventh-grade tiger and leopard. The emperor does not grant robes easily. Only officials who have made great contributions can be granted robes by the emperor.
A young eunuch took out a Qilin robe from the back and handed it to the leading young eunuch with both hands. The leading young eunuch handed it to Zhu Ping'an with both hands. Zhu Ping'an took it with both hands and respectfully placed the Qilin robe on the incense table.
This is the imperial robe. Zhu Ping'an took a look at it excitedly, and then his face turned black.
Since the Qilin costume is folded, only the top pattern can be seen - a pair of large pig's trotters.
The Qilin suit has no claws, and all four feet are big pig hooves...
If I put on this gifted robe and someone scolds me as "all men are pigs", I won't be able to refute it.