In ancient times, the city was isolated and the means of information transmission were backward, not as fast as modern times. The news that 57 Japanese pirates were wiped out by the Zhejiang Army had not yet reached the city. Only the people living near the city gate heard the earth-shaking cheers from the top of the city wall and knew the news. Most areas in the city were unaware of this good news and were still shrouded in panic about the threat of the Japanese pirates.
Near the Confucius Temple in the city, there is a street called Zhuangyuan Lane. There are many inns and B&Bs in this lane. Many scholars preparing for the imperial examinations would rent a room in this lane, hoping that the street name would bring good luck.
Of course, there are also some candidates from Jiangnan who rent houses here to prepare for the imperial examinations, hoping to be among the top three next year.
When the Japanese pirates attacked, Zhang Jing and other bigwigs ordered the conscription of the people in the city to help defend the city. The scholars and juren preparing for the imperial examinations had certain privileges and status, unlike ordinary people, and were naturally exempted from conscription.
However, although they were spared from going up to the city walls to assist in defense, they were still in a panic when faced with such a great disaster as the Japanese pirates besieging the city, and had no intention of preparing for the exam.
Gui Youguang was also one of the candidates preparing for the exam in Zhuangyuan Lane, and he was a relatively famous one. He was not young anymore, he was 46 this year. He was a juren in the 19th year of Jiajing, when he was 35 years old. The chief examiner Zhang Zhi admired him very much, called him a "national scholar", praised him as "Jia Yi and Dong Zhongshu in the world", and promoted him to the second place, hoping that he could get closer, become a Jinshi as soon as possible, serve the court as soon as possible, and give full play to his talents.
However, it is a pity that although he had read the literature of the Three Dynasties and the Han Dynasty and read the works of various philosophers, and his talent and reputation were well-known, he was not lucky in exams and failed each time when he went to Beijing for the imperial examinations several times.
After failing the imperial examination again the year before, he settled down in the Zhuangyuan Lane of Yingtian, where he studied for the examination and gave lectures. Scholars from a hundred miles around came to him, sometimes more than ten people, sometimes hundreds.
It can be said that there is no scholar in Zhuangyuan Lane who does not know Gui Youguang, and everyone respectfully calls him Mr. Zhenchuan.
When the Japanese pirates besieged the city, Gui Youguang was studying the sutras in seclusion. He suddenly got an inspiration while using the toilet in the morning, and had a unique understanding of a passage of the sutras. After cleaning up, he went into seclusion in his study and ordered his servants not to disturb him. It was already late at night when he was pulled out of the room by his three friends.
Upon hearing that the Japanese pirates were besieging the city, Gui Youguang lost interest in studying the scriptures and took refuge in a secret room with a few friends.
The secret room was secluded and hidden, with food, drink, wine and vegetables. The four scholars had no interest in studying, and under the influence of alcohol, they became angry about national and current affairs. Of course, the focus of their anger was still the Japanese pirates who besieged the city of Shangyu.
"This group of Japanese pirates in Shangyu are simply beasts, not human beings!" A fat scholar put down his wine glass and sighed.
"That's right. This group of pirates committed so many crimes in Shangyu, Weizhou, Shexian and other places before. However, they are far away from Yingtian and the impact is not that deep. However, Jiangning is right under our noses. The bloody crimes committed by this group of pirates in Jiangning are really hard to describe and make people cry blood! Bastards, beasts!" The long-bearded scholar next to the fat scholar cursed the Japanese pirates with red eyes, "It's too tragic. Most of the Jiangning camp was killed or injured. Jiangning Town was in a sea of fire. Almost every family is in mourning."
"Nowadays, the threat posed by the Japanese pirates is even more serious than that posed by the northern barbarians. Jiangnan is the granary of our Ming Dynasty and also the money bag of our Ming Dynasty. The Japanese pirates are wreaking havoc in Jiangnan, which is digging up the roots of our Ming Dynasty. A thousand-mile embankment is destroyed by an ant hole, let alone the harm caused by the Japanese pirates is far worse than that of ants!"
Gui Youguang had a long-term vision and a sense of crisis. He saw the damage that the overseas Chinese threat caused to the foundation of the Ming Dynasty and could not help but sigh.
"Mr. Zhenchuan's opinion is thought-provoking. The Japanese pirates are rampant in the south of the Yangtze River, and food and taxes are greatly affected. Without food and silver, how can we pacify the northern barbarians, stabilize the southern border, and stabilize all places. These Japanese pirates must be eliminated quickly, otherwise, as you said, the foundation of our Ming Dynasty will be damaged!"
The fat writer was immediately inspired and nodded vigorously, agreeing very much with Gui Youguang's comments.
"However, it is not easy to eliminate the Japanese pirates as quickly as possible!!! The Japanese pirates have been causing trouble for many years, and they have only become more and more serious. From the southeast to Shandong, there is no hope of the Japanese pirates being pacified. And this time, this group of Japanese pirates landed in Shangyu, penetrated deep into the interior of our Ming Dynasty, traveled more than a thousand miles, and broke through more than a dozen counties and cities. Until today, they even broke through Jiangning and surrounded our capital Yingtian! This is the capital!"
The last thin scholar shook his head and sighed deeply, revealing dissatisfaction and helplessness.
"Brother Zhengtai, this time we had to deal with a sudden attack by the Japanese pirates from Shangyu. We knew nothing about the enemy and the whole city of Yingtian was in a panic. The military and civilians were all shocked, leading to this..." the fat scholar explained.
The thin scholar heard Ji and sneered, "It happened in a hurry?! How could it be in a hurry? Didn't Zhu Ping'an, the deputy director of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provincial Criminal Investigation Department, give a warning three days ago?! Isn't it because meat eaters are vulgar!"
"Zhu Ping'an? But Zhu Zihou, the last year's champion of the imperial examination? I have read his essays for the provincial and metropolitan examinations, and I am truly ashamed of myself." When Gui Youguang heard Zhu Ping'an's name, he sat up straight and asked anxiously, "Brother Zhengtai, you just said that he warned me three days ago, what's the matter with that?"
"The situation is like this..." The thin scholar told Gui Youguang the whole story in detail, focusing on how Zhu Ping'an's warning was laughed at as a joke.
After hearing the whole story, Gui Youguang sighed for a long time, with grief, anger, and all kinds of emotions filling his chest.
The news of Zhu Ping'an's warning spread throughout half of Yingtian. The only person present who didn't know about it was Gui Youguang who was studying.
"In fact, even if Zhu Ping'an hadn't warned us, what would have happened? The defense of the capital city is very tight. Normally, the nobles and their followers are busy on the roads, and the soldiers ask for 80,000 grains a month, just for today. Now that 57 bandits are knocking on the door, we are so panicked. Isn't it a great shame for the court?" The long-bearded scholar put down his teacup with force and cursed bitterly. +
"What? You said fifty-seven?! Are there only fifty-seven Japanese pirates?" When Gui Youguang heard the number of fifty-seven Japanese pirates, the wine glass in his hand dropped to the ground and he asked the three people in disbelief.
The long-bearded scholar and others nodded vigorously.
"Fifty-seven, fifty-seven, hahahaha..." Gui Youguang's jaw almost dropped when he heard this. His three views were completely shattered and he couldn't help but laugh in anger. As he laughed, he suddenly slapped his chest hard with both hands, looked up to the sky and sighed, tears streaming down his face.
well... ...
The three people in the room couldn't help but feel the same way and sighed deeply.
"Mr. Zhenchuan, great news, great news..." At this moment, an excited voice suddenly came from outside.
Then, a scholar pushed the door open and came in, reporting the good news to Gui Youguang and others, "Fifty-seven Japanese pirates have been wiped out by Zhu Ping'an, the deputy commissioner of the Ministry of Justice. Not a single one was spared, all were killed, and all the bodies were brought in. Now, Lord Zhu has led the Zhejiang army into the city."
"What?! Are you serious?!" Gui Youguang and others stood up immediately, their faces filled with surprise and excitement.
"It's true. It couldn't be more true. The Japanese pirates were showing off their might in the daytime. The soldiers and civilians on the city have seen it all. Even if these Japanese pirates were turned into ashes, they would be recognizable. It has been confirmed that they are the bodies of Japanese pirates without a doubt."
The scholar looked certain.
"Oh my god, this is so great! Zhu Ping'an is indeed the top scholar. He is truly a role model for our generation! This should be made clear!"
"When the sky is clear!"
Gui Youguang and others were overjoyed, and the secret room became a sea of joy.
There were countless scenes like this in Yingtian City. The whole Yingtian was caught in a huge surprise, and Zhu Ping'an's name suddenly became known to everyone.