"It feels so good to have the whole city cheering and praising me..."
The officers and soldiers of the Zhejiang Army listened to the cheers and praises from the city and felt as sweet as drinking honey in their hearts.
"We have made such a great contribution, and the people in the city are so enthusiastic. Once we enter the city, there will definitely be officials to receive us and reward us. There will be endless wine, endless chicken, duck, fish and meat, and a warm and comfortable bed..."
"That's for sure. I just don't know if there are any enthusiastic young ladies or wives. If they start fighting, how should I choose so as not to hurt others? Otherwise, hehe, we can just sleep together..."
"Bah, with your horse face, you're still being fought over by young girls and wives. What era is this? Young girls and wives never leave the house. You're dreaming. Of course, if you take the bounty and go to a brothel with the money, there's a chance that a prostitute will fight over you for the money..."
"You can eat more meat, but you can't drink alcohol. Didn't you hear what the adults said? I have something else to do tonight."
The Zhejiang soldiers followed Zhu Ping'an towards the city gate, and all kinds of fantasies began to emerge in their minds.
When they were about to reach the city gate, a general came out from the city wall. Under the illumination of the surrounding torches, he clasped his fists and saluted Zhu Ping'an, saying in a clear voice: "I, Zhang Gu, greet Lord Zhu. First of all, on behalf of Minister Zhang, Eunuch He, Duke Wei, and all the lords and elders of the city, I would like to express my gratitude to Lord Zhu and all the Zhejiang army officers and soldiers for coming a long way to rescue Yingtian..."
"General Zhang, you're welcome." Zhu Ping'an bowed slightly in return.
"What are you thanking me for? Don't be polite. Hurry up and open the city gate so that we can go in and rest. It's not easy for us to get out so early in the morning. We have nothing but dry food and cold water. Our mouths are dry."
The Zhejiang troops laughed and said that they had just made a great contribution, and faced with the defenders who were afraid to fight behind closed doors in the city, they felt very superior. They were not afraid of Zhang Gu, who was obviously a general, and dared to make jokes.
"Ahem, the city gates cannot be opened for the time being. I am just following orders. Lord Zhu and the other soldiers of the Zhejiang Army please forgive me. For the safety of Yingtian, to prevent the Japanese pirates from pretending to withdraw and entering the city when you enter the city, no one can open the city gates before confirming that the Japanese pirates are really far away from Yingtian or have been eliminated. Therefore, Lord Zhu and the other soldiers can only rest outside the city."
On the city wall, Zhang Gu clasped his fists toward Zhu Ping'an and the Zhejiang army soldiers with an apologetic look on his face, coughed and said.
"What?! You won't open the gates, won't let us into the city, and let us rest in the wilderness outside the city?!"
"We just drove away the Japanese pirates and saved Yingtian City. We are your saviors. Is this how you treat your saviors? You are killing the donkey after it has done its work! It is really disheartening!"
"What Japanese pirates are pretending to withdraw and entering the city? We have already driven away the Japanese pirates. How can there be any more Japanese pirates behind us? Don't you have eyes?"
"When the Japanese pirates besieged the city, you were too cowardly to leave the city. We risked our lives to drive the pirates away! It would be fine if you don't feel ashamed, but you actually won't let us go into the city to rest?! Do you still have any shame?!"
Hearing Zhang Gu's refusal, the Zhejiang army was immediately enraged and started shouting and cursing. I came all the way here to rescue you, and set out early in the morning before dawn, ambushed in the dense forest for most of the day, eating dry food and drinking cold water, the cold wind was so biting, and I even risked my life to charge at the Japanese pirates, and drove away the Japanese pirates without fear of life and death, and saved Yingtian and you. In the end, you didn't even let me go into the city to rest... ... Is this how you treat your savior?! The Zhejiang army soldiers became more and more dissatisfied, and they were filled with anger and kept cursing.
The common people who were helping to defend the city had long been fed up with watching this, and shared the same hatred with the Zhejiang Army. They stood up for them, expressed their support, and demanded that the defenders on the city open the gates and allow the Zhejiang Army to enter the city to rest, but it was of no avail.
Closing the city gates was a collective decision made by a group of official bigwigs, and the common people like them had no way to do anything about it.
"Quiet!" Zhu Ping'an turned around and looked at the Zhejiang army soldiers and shouted loudly.
Suddenly, the Zhejiang army quieted down.
Zhu Ping'an's prestige in the Zhejiang Army is growing day by day, especially in today's battle. Zhu Ping'an anticipated the enemy's advance and every word he said was right. The Japanese pirates seemed to obey Zhu Ping'an's orders, and their advances and retreats were all within Zhu Ping'an's expectations. Under Zhu Ping'an's leadership, the Zhejiang Army won a great victory without bloodshed, and all the Zhejiang Army soldiers believed in Zhu Ping'an. Therefore, when Zhu Ping'an gave an order, all the Zhejiang Army soldiers obeyed it.
After seeing the Zhejiang army quiet down, Zhu Ping'an nodded with satisfaction, then looked up at the top of the city wall.
Seeing Zhu Ping'an pacifying the Zhejiang Army, Zhang Gu couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. He thought the Zhejiang Army was going to mutiny, and his heart was in his throat. Fortunately, Lord Zhu Ping'an controlled the situation. However, the adults' actions were really embarrassing. It was really embarrassing to face the Zhejiang Army, but there was no way. The adults could hide, but he, a deputy general, couldn't hide. He could only come forward to convey and pacify the Zhejiang Army soldiers under the orders of the layers. Facing the Zhejiang Army's scolding, he couldn't help but blush with guilt.
Zhu Ping'an pulled the corner of his mouth, smiled and bowed to Zhang Gu, and said slowly: "Your worries are not unreasonable, and it is the duty of soldiers to defend their country and obey orders. Since it is your decision, our Zhejiang Army must obey and set up camp outside the city to rest. However, our Zhejiang Army went out early in the morning and just fought against the Japanese pirates. Now we are exhausted and it is late. It is not easy to cook. Please provide some hot food to reward the soldiers."
It is the duty of a soldier to defend his country and obey orders. Hearing Zhu Ping'an's words, Zhang Gu was full of admiration and his face became even redder. He quickly said, "Of course, of course. The adults have already asked people to prepare fine wine and delicious food. I will ask someone to present it to the adults through the hanging basket."
"We are in the midst of a war now, so there is no need for fine wine. The more delicious food the better." Zhu Ping'an replied with a smile.
"Sure, sure." Zhang Gu responded repeatedly.
Soon, baskets of hot chicken, duck, fish, steamed buns, meat patties and meat soup were lowered down from the city wall. Zhu Ping'an thanked Zhang Gu and others on the city wall, sent people to receive them, and divided them equally among the soldiers in each squad.
A very exquisite and rich meal, which could be called a full Manchu-Han banquet, was specially prepared for Zhu Ping'an in the city. It was lowered down in two large baskets. Zhu Ping'an counted and found that there were as many as thirty dishes.
"When we charge against the Japanese pirates today, the soldiers at the front of the formation step out." Zhu Ping'an looked around at the soldiers and said loudly.
Soon, the soldiers at the front of the charge stood up. There were more than eighty of them, most of whom were brave men pushing wooden carts.
"Good!" Zhu Ping'an glanced at them one by one, and praised them with satisfaction, "You are all armed and leading the troops, and you are not afraid of the Japanese pirates. This feast given to me by the city is a reward for you."
Then, Zhu Ping'an did not allow them to be refused and had someone pull them to the banquet to sit down and eat. Considering that thirty dishes were not enough for more than eighty people, he also placed a full plate of chicken, duck, fish and meat in front of them.
Zhu Pingan did not have a big meal with them, but walked to a group of ordinary soldiers, sat on the ground like them, picked up a big bowl, and saw that everyone was stunned, and couldn't help but scolded with a smile: "Don't be stunned, eat meat with big mouthfuls, eat and drink enough, set up camp and rest, there is something important tonight."
"Hehe, eat meat, eat meat." The soldiers then laughed and started eating.
The soldiers and civilians on the city wall were deeply moved when they saw Zhu Ping'an reward the feast to Fenxian's soldiers and eat from the big pot himself.