On this day, Xu Hai, Maye, Chen Dong, Hojo Dosan and Zhuan Entai Wojian, who were entrenched in Takulin, Chuanshabao and Huating in Songjiang Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, raised the banners of "Tencha Pinghai General", "Tencha Pinghai Grand Sima", "Tencha Pinghai Great Pillar of the Country" and "Tencha Pinghai Daming Family Supervisor", and roughly integrated the various pirates who came to gather one after another, forming four major groups of pirates.
After the integration, Xu Hai and his group of Japanese became more arrogant and on the same day they attacked Zhapu and Haining counties at the same time.
When the towns of Zhapu and Haining were on the verge of collapse, the Japanese pirates suddenly turned around and attacked Chongde County. Chongde County was unprepared and was caught off guard by the Japanese pirates, and Chongde County fell.
After a burst of burning, killing and looting in Chongde County, the Japanese pirates swaggered back to their old nest in Taolin, singing and dancing as if they were strolling in their own backyard. They returned in a mighty procession with hundreds of carriages pulled by horses and oxen and fully loaded with goods.
The people of Songjiang Prefecture were suffering terribly. Many common people on the streets angrily cursed the court for being incompetent and unable to protect the people. Some even cursed the Jiangnan Governor Zhang Jing for being an ignorant man, who had so many soldiers under his command but did nothing and watched the Japanese pirates wreak havoc and plunder in Songjiang Prefecture.
In Yingtian City, there were many similar voices. There were many voices criticizing Governor Zhang Jing in teahouses and restaurants. They all felt that Zhang Jing, as the Governor of Jiangnan, had the responsibility and obligation to send troops to wipe out the Japanese pirates in Songjiang Prefecture.
After Zhao Wenhua learned that the Japanese pirates had broken through the Chongde County, he went straight to Zhang Jing's restaurant and broke into Zhang Jing's office without waiting for notification.
"Governor Zhang, the Japanese pirates are so lawless that they attacked the county town of our Ming Dynasty in broad daylight and even broke into a county town, burning, killing, looting and committing all kinds of evil. The people are wailing everywhere. Governor Zhang, as the governor of the provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, is responsible for destroying the Japanese emperor. I ask Governor Zhang to send troops quickly to wipe out the Japanese pirates such as Xu Hai, Ma Ye, Chen Dong, and Hojo Dosan who are entrenched in Zhejiang Tuolin, Chuanshabao, Huating and other places, and eliminate the harm to the people."
As soon as he entered the room, Zhao Wenhua directly urged Zhang Jing to send troops to wipe out Xu Hai and other Japanese pirates.
In the room, Zhang Jing was arranging deployments for the officials from the Ministry of War. He was already uneasy when he saw Zhao Wenhua barging in without notifying him. Now he saw Zhao Wenhua bossing him around, ordering him to send troops like he was training a subordinate. He became even more uneasy. "You are not as high-ranking as me, you don't have as much power as me, you don't have as good a reputation as me, and you still recognize someone as your father. What qualifications do you have to boss me, Zhang Jing around?"
Send troops to suppress the Japanese? !
I want to, too. I want to send troops to wipe out those damned Japanese pirates more than anyone else! But I can’t send troops now!
The soldiers under my command now have no ability to suppress the Japanese invaders. The officers and soldiers from all over the country have no ability to suppress the Japanese invaders. They should be thankful that they can defend their homes.
Although Yingtian has several Beijing troops with decent manpower and combat effectiveness, the main responsibility of the Beijing troops is to protect the city of Yingtian and the imperial mausoleum. Although I, as the governor-general of Jiangnan, also have the power to command them, unless there are special circumstances, I should not mobilize the Beijing troops guarding Yingtian and the imperial mausoleum.
Normally, only one-third of the Beijing troops would be deployed, and sufficient troops must be left to protect Yingtian City and the Imperial Mausoleum. Otherwise, if Yingtian and the Imperial Mausoleum were to suffer the slightest mishap, he would be guilty of an unforgivable crime and would be held responsible even if he died.
Although in addition to the Beijing Camp, some officers and soldiers from other places were transferred to Yingtian, and all of them could be deployed, but the number of these officers and soldiers was less than 20,000, and their equipment and combat effectiveness were not as good as those of the Beijing Camp. On the way here, some generals took the initiative to lead their troops to fight against the Japanese pirates, but they suffered several defeats in succession, and their morale dropped sharply. In addition, there were also veterans who were proud of their seniority, high status, and rich experience, and did not obey orders.
A good cook cannot cook without rice. In this situation, how can we go out to suppress the Japanese pirates? With the current military strength and combat power, we are no match for the Japanese pirates. If we lose the war, it will only make the Japanese pirates more arrogant, make the people more disappointed, and make the situation worse.
Therefore, we cannot act rashly. We must wait for the arrival of capable troops such as the Wolf Soldiers from Guangdong and Guangxi and the Shandong Spear Soldiers before we can send troops to suppress the Japanese.
The wolf soldiers of Guangdong and Guangxi were strong and good at fighting. He had made great contributions as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi in the past and was deeply loved by the wolf soldiers. He commanded the wolf soldiers like his own arms. After the wolf soldiers arrived, after careful deployment, he was confident that he could accomplish his goal in one battle.
If you don’t move, there’s nothing to do. Once you move, you’ll succeed!
So Zhang Jing glanced at Zhao Wenhua impatiently and said coldly, "Now is not the time to send troops to destroy the Japanese. Lord Zhao, just focus on the sea sacrifice. I will make arrangements for the suppression of the Japanese. Lord Zhao, don't worry about it."
Zhao Wenhua looked unhappy. "Now is not the time to send troops. Then when is the time to send troops?"
"I have my own arrangements for this. The sea sacrifice will be held soon. Lord Zhao should focus on the sea sacrifice."
Zhang Jing was too lazy to pay attention to Zhao Wenhua anymore. He said something perfunctorily and in a very official manner and sent Zhao Wenhua away.
"What arrangements does Governor Zhang have that he cannot tell me? Governor Zhang must remember that in addition to the imperial envoys for the sea sacrifice, I also have imperial envoys to supervise military affairs. I have the right and responsibility to know Governor Zhang's arrangements for suppressing the Japanese."
Zhao Wenhua's face turned black and he said to Zhang Jing angrily that in order to suppress Zhang Jing, Zhao Wenhua brought up Emperor Jiajing.
"Lord Zhao also said that your imperial envoy is to supervise military affairs, not command them." Zhang Jing said indifferently.
"You..." Zhao Wenhua was choked and speechless for a while, but he was also a veteran in the officialdom, and soon found a way out. He said word by word, "Yes, my imperial envoy is to supervise military affairs, not command them. However, supervising military affairs naturally includes supervising how Governor Zhang and the generals command military affairs."
"I still have to inspect the military camps. I don't have time to play word games with Lord Zhao. Lord Zhao, please go back."
Zhang Jing stood up and said.
"I am not playing word games with Governor Zhang. Fighting against the Japanese pirates is not a game. Today, Xu Hai, Ma Ye, Chen Dong and other Japanese pirates broke through Chongde. Countless Chongde people were killed and their blood flowed like a river. The dead people are waiting for us to avenge them. The living people are waiting for us to wipe out the Japanese pirates and bring them safety. The emperor is also waiting for us to win victory in Xiyuan! Governor Zhang, I only ask one question today, when will we send troops to fight against the Japanese pirates?" Zhao Wenhua stood in front of Zhang Jing and asked without giving in.
"We will send troops when the time comes!" Zhang Jing was stopped by Zhao Wenhua. He was even more unhappy and said impatiently.
"When? Haha, Governor Zhang is afraid of the Japanese pirates, and wants to wait for the opportunity when the Japanese pirates have plundered enough and escaped to wipe out the remaining pirates and report his achievements, right?"
Zhao Wenhua sneered.
"Bullshit! I'm waiting for the wolf soldiers from Guangdong and Guangxi to arrive!" Zhang Jing was so angry at Zhao Wenhua's words that he cursed out loud.