"It turns out to be Lord Zhu. My apologies." Chen Dacheng carefully looked at Zhu Ping'an's badge and confirmed that it was correct. He returned the badge to Zhu Ping'an with both hands, then said with a self-deprecating smile, "Lord Zhu is a fourth-rank official of the imperial court. Is there any problem that Lord Zhu cannot solve? Why do you need help from a country bumpkin like me?"
Zhu Pingan cupped his hands, smiled bitterly and said, "This matter really requires the help of Patriarch Chen. I came to your county to recruit soldiers, and the recruitment notices are posted all over Yiwu..."
"It's not just everywhere. In Beilei Village, it's everywhere, in the alleys, and even on the toilet door at the west end of the village..."
"The pigsty of Lao Li's family was not spared..."
After hearing what Zhu Ping'an said, the villagers in the yard couldn't help laughing and talking at the same time.
"Although there are notices everywhere, no one has signed up to join the army. Chief Chen has a great reputation in your place. I came to visit you today, hoping that Chief Chen will mobilize and encourage the villagers to join the army, wipe out the Japanese pirates, and serve the court."
Zhu Ping'an smiled bitterly and admitted that the recruitment results were not good. He sincerely asked Chen Dacheng for help, hoping that he could lend him a helping hand.
"Haha, Lord Zhu, what you said is a bit unreasonable. I have already read Lord Zhu's recruitment notice. The rise and fall of a country is the responsibility of every citizen... It is really brilliant and inspiring. Even Lord Zhu's brilliant encouragement and mobilization has no effect. I am a country bumpkin with a stupid tongue. What effect can I have? So Lord Zhu has gone to the wrong temple and worshipped the wrong Buddha. You should seek help from someone else."
Chen Dacheng smiled and shook his head, rejecting Zhu Ping'an. He did not support the villagers to apply for the recruitment, so how could he help Zhu Ping'an
Yesterday, people from the county government came to the village and posted recruitment notices and mine management notices everywhere. After reading the recruitment notices, he called the clansmen together and announced, "No one from the Chen family or the people of Beilei are allowed to go to the county town to enlist in the army!"
It's not that I, Chen Dacheng, am ignorant of the current situation, but that the government and the army, who are acting recklessly and oppressing the people, are weak and cannot be trusted. I have long lost hope in them.
Chen Dacheng knew very well what the Ming army in the garrison was like. There was no way out for him to join the army. How many garrison officers and soldiers faced the Japanese pirates, threw away their armor and ran away faster than rabbits, and harmed the people more than the Japanese pirates!
It is more reliable to organize the villagers to protect their hometown than to rely on the soldiers to fight against the Japanese pirates and defend the country.
Therefore, after seeing the recruitment notice, he announced to his clansmen and villagers that no one was allowed to go to the county town to enlist in the army.
"Chief Chen, the Japanese pirates are now wreaking havoc in the south of the Yangtze River. They are rampant and domineering, killing people and setting fires, and doing all kinds of evil. If we don't suppress them, the Japanese pirates will sooner or later come to Yiwu. The rise and fall of the country is the responsibility of every man. As men of the Ming Dynasty, how can we sit idly by and watch the Japanese pirates wreak havoc on the land of China? It is our duty to defend our homes and our country. Without a country, there is no home. Only by eliminating the Japanese pirates as soon as possible can we defend our homes and our country. A good man should serve the country, hold a three-foot sword, and make contributions to the ages." Zhu Ping'an looked at Chen Dacheng with burning eyes and spoke with emotion.
"Master Zhu is right..." Chen Dacheng echoed him lacking interest, but nothing else followed.
Seeing that Chen Dacheng was unmoved, Zhu Pingan continued to persuade him from the bottom of his heart: "Chief Chen, there were frequent armed conflicts in Yiwu before. The result of the armed conflicts was only bloodshed and death. The casualties were meaningless and worthless. How can we enlist in the army to fight against the Japanese pirates, defend our country, and do a sacred, glorious, and vigorous cause to bring honor to our ancestors and leave our names in history?"
In addition to starting from the greater good, Zhu Ping'an also persuaded Chen Dacheng and others from the perspective of personal interests:
"Moreover, the government has now strictly controlled the mineral resources, recognized the existing status of the mineral resources, and strictly prohibited armed conflicts. We don't have to worry about villagers joining the army and affecting the interests of the clan. In addition, Yiwu is a place with many mountains and little land, and the people's income is limited. Coupled with such a long period of armed conflicts, the people's lives are even more difficult. Many people can't get enough food. The monthly salary of our Zhejiang Army is one and a half taels of silver. If the performance is good, the salary will be higher. In addition, every time a Japanese pirate is killed, there will be a reward of thirty taels of silver. Joining the army and receiving a salary is also a very good way out..."
Facing Zhu Ping'an's heartfelt, passionate and powerful persuasion, Chen Dacheng spoke up, "Do you want to hear the truth, or a lie?"
"I came here sincerely today to visit and seek help from Patriarch Chen, so of course I want to hear the truth." Zhu Ping'an replied without hesitation.
"Okay, since you want to hear the truth, I'm sorry." Chen Dacheng clasped his hands and bowed to Zhu Ping'an, then said with a face full of righteous indignation, "A real man, born in this world, naturally wants to do something in his lifetime and bring honor to his ancestors! In the face of the Japanese pirates, I also have the heart to kill the Japanese, but the corrupt and unfair officials and the weak officers and soldiers who oppress the people are really disappointing... Some time ago, a small group of Japanese pirates roamed Yiwu, and the officers and soldiers of Yiwu Garrison fled without a fight, watching the Japanese pirates burn, kill and loot a village and then go away. Afterwards, the officers and soldiers of the Garrison used the excuse of suppressing the Japanese to forcibly collect money and grain from several villages, and the harm they caused was no less than that of the Japanese pirates. Such examples can be found everywhere. Your Excellency asked us to join the army, haha, if we, the children of Yiwu, join such an army, not only will we die in battle, but if we don't die in battle, we will become a scourge to the people..."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ping'an immediately understood.
It was just as County Magistrate Zhao said. Chen Dacheng did not trust the government and the army, so he prevented villagers and clansmen from enlisting in the army.
"Chief Chen, do you know why I am recruiting soldiers?" Zhu Ping'an asked.
"How would I know why you came here to recruit soldiers, sir?" Chen Dacheng shook his head and replied in confusion.
"The army I command is called the 'Zhejiang Army', the full name is 'Jiangsu-Zhejiang Tuanlian Army', it is not the official army of the garrison, and it is different from the official army of the garrison. The day before yesterday, the governor-general of the seven provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, Mr. Zhang Jing, gave me a letter of recruitment approval. With this letter, I can select 1,200 soldiers from any official army to join my Zhejiang Army. However, I did not select soldiers from the official army, but came all the way to your place to recruit soldiers, because I know very well that the official army is weak and cannot fight, the military discipline is corrupt and it is difficult to fight, cowardly and afraid to fight, and it is difficult to bear the responsibility of destroying the Japanese. "I didn't choose the official army, but came all the way to your place to recruit soldiers. The reason why I came all the way to your place to recruit soldiers is because I heard about your competition for the mine. You Yiwu people are brave, united, and tough. You are born soldiers. With a little training, you will become a world-famous strong army! You will become a strict army with strict military discipline and capable of fighting! I want to fight side by side with you, wipe out the Japanese pirates, bring peace to the world, and establish an unprecedented achievement! So I, Zhu Ping'an, came all the way to your place to recruit soldiers!"
Zhu Pingan put his hand on his chest and spoke to Chen Dacheng and others with sincerity and affection. (To be continued)