After inspecting the three military camps, Zhang Jing led everyone all the way south. Everyone thought they were going to inspect the Zhenwei Camp because it was close to the south wall. However, what puzzled everyone was that Zhang Jing did not lead everyone to the Zhenwei Camp, but led everyone straight to the city gate, directly out of the city, and continued south along the road.
Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but become confused, thinking, Governor, we must have taken the wrong road. Zhenwei Camp is located inside the city, close to the southwest of the city wall. How did we get out of the city? It would be fine if we got out of the city, but why did we continue to go south
"Merlin, do you know where we are going? Is there a military camp outside the city?"
Zhao Wenhua couldn't help but become confused. He rode his horse closer to Hu Zongxian and asked him in confusion.
"Minister, the sun has already set. According to the distance and time, there are two places we can go now. One is the Navy Camp in the east of the city, and the other is the Zhejiang Army Camp in the southeast. The Governor-General took us out of the south gate, so we should go to the Zhejiang Army Camp. If we are going to the Navy Camp, it is closer to go out of the east gate, and it is a long way to go out of the south gate."
Hu Zongxian knew the location of each camp. After listening to Zhao Wenhua's question, he analyzed quietly and inferred that Zhang Jing should be leading everyone to the Zhejiang Army camp.
"Oh, so we're going to the Zhejiang Army Camp. The Zhejiang Army Camp sounds familiar..." Zhao Wenhua suddenly realized after listening to Hu Zongxian's analysis, and then felt that the Zhejiang Army Camp sounded familiar. After reading it again, he suddenly remembered, "Oh, I remember, that's the militia led by Zihou and Zhu Ping'an."
"What the minister said is even true. The Zhejiang Army Camp is the militia led by Lord Zhu Ping'an."
Hu Zongxian complimented him.
"Meilin, do you know about the Zhejiang Army? Have you ever inspected the Zhejiang Army?" Zhao Wenhua asked again.
"My Lord, my understanding of the Zhejiang Army is only superficial, but I don't know the real situation. More than a month ago, I intended to go to the Zhejiang Army for inspection. Just when I was about to set off, the Japanese pirates in Shangyu broke out, interrupting my trip. Some time ago, when I was inspecting the camps, Lord Zhu went to Yiwu to recruit soldiers. The commander-in-chief was away, so it was inconvenient to inspect. Therefore, I have never inspected the Zhejiang Army until now. This is my first time to inspect the Zhejiang Army, and it can be regarded as fulfilling one of my wishes." Hu Zongxian replied truthfully.
"How much do you know about the Zhejiang Army?" Zhao Wenhua asked again.
"I only know that the Zhejiang Army originally had more than 800 people. Some time ago, Lord Zhu got permission from Governor Zhang and went to Yiwu to recruit another 1,200 new soldiers. Currently, the Zhejiang Army has a total of about 2,000 people. As for how the Zhejiang Army is trained, its combat effectiveness, and its weapons and equipment, I don't know." Hu Zongxian replied.
"It seems that the Zhejiang army has the smallest number of troops in the military camp." Zhao Wenhua said with disappointment after hearing this.
It is true that Zhao Wenhua valued Zhu Ping'an, but he did not take the Zhejiang Army led by Zhu Ping'an seriously.
The Zhejiang Army had only two thousand people and was not a regular army, but just a militia. How could Zhao Wenhua, who had his sights on the south of the Yangtze River, take them seriously
"Minister, although the Zhejiang army is small, it should not be underestimated. On that day, the Japanese pirates from Shangyu attacked Yingtian, and they traveled all the way across more than ten counties in several provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, and they were invincible... ... I am not afraid of being laughed at by the minister. I led the elite soldiers to snipe the Japanese pirates in the cherry orchard. I was not careful for a moment and was ambushed by the Japanese pirates disguised as beggars, and suffered a great defeat. The Japanese pirates were at the gate of Yingtian, and they were so arrogant that the whole city was shocked. At that time, the Zhejiang army had only 800 people. Lord Zhu led the Zhejiang army to drive the Japanese pirates out of the city, lifted the siege of Yingtian, and then killed all the Japanese pirates at night. The combat effectiveness of the Zhejiang army can be seen. Now, Lord Zhu has recruited 1,200 soldiers from Yiwu, and the Zhejiang army has reached 2,000 soldiers, which will definitely increase its combat effectiveness. This visit to the Zhejiang army may be the biggest surprise of our trip."
Seeing the disappointment on Zhao Wenhua's face, Hu Zongxian couldn't help but smile slightly. He told Zhao Wenhua about Zhu Ping'an's outstanding performance during the Japanese invasion in Yingtian. He praised Zhu Ping'an highly and even jokingly revealed his own embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Japanese pirates to highlight Zhu Ping'an.
"Oh, didn't many people say that Zihou drugged the Miao and Man pirates and took the opportunity to cut off the heads of the unconscious pirates? It was an unfair victory and anyone could have done it. It was just that Zihou got lucky and got the upper hand. Doesn't that prove that the Zhejiang army can fight?" Zhao Wenhua said again, squinting his eyes.
Hu Zongxian shook his head and further explained: "That is the jealousy of mediocre people. If anyone can do it, why did the Japanese pirates in Shangyu roam across several provinces and dozens of counties and be invincible? When the Japanese pirates were at the gates of the city, no one dared to fight except General Yu Dayou. Zihou chased the Japanese pirates to the gates of the city first, but the 800 Zhejiang army vehicles were in full formation, and the Japanese pirates had no chance to take advantage, so they had to retreat first; and then attacking the Japanese pirates at night, it was even more impossible without courage and strategy."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenhua nodded without comment.
"Minister, although Lord Zhu is young, among the civil officials in Jiangnan, apart from Taizhou prefect Tan Lun and the dismissed Tang Shunzhi, Lord Zhu Ping'an is the best at military affairs. In the future, I believe Lord Zhu will shine again and add another chapter to his record of victories. Minister, if we can win over Zihou, and Zihou helps me and Minister Zuo, we will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort in suppressing the Japanese."
Hu Zongxian strongly recommended Zhu Ping'an to Zhao Wenhua and suggested that Zhao Wenhua win Zhu Ping'an over.
"Oh, I didn't expect Merlin to think so highly of Zihou." Zhao Wenhua said with some surprise.
"Zihou has the talent of a top scholar in literature, and his military strategy is also outstanding. He is like a needle stuck in a bag. It is only a matter of time before he breaks out of the bag." Hu Zongxian replied, and then he made another suggestion, "Zihou has not yet shown his edge. The Ministry should make plans early. If we wait until Zihou shines, it will be difficult."
"Don't worry, Meilin. I know what's going on. I've noticed Zihou since he was not yet admitted to the imperial examination. I've been observing him and I know he's a rare talent." Zhao Wenhua nodded with a smile and told Hu Zongxian the secret of recruiting Zhu Ping'an that day. "I tried to recruit Zihou when I first came here, but Zihou was reserved and arrogant, so he didn't agree. But he didn't refuse either. He said he would do his best to assist me in the two important tasks of the imperial envoy. Haha, although he is talented, he has little experience and is not as worldly as Meilin. He needs to be trained. However, he is in Jiangnan and I am also in Jiangnan. There is plenty of time to train him, and I don't think he can escape from my palm."
"The minister's ability to judge people is not as good as mine." Upon hearing this, Hu Zongxian complimented him.
"Haha, then let's see what kind of surprises Zihou can bring us at the Zhejiang Army camp."
Zhao Wenhua smiled with interest and rode his horse to catch up with Zhang Jing and his party.
"drive!"
Hu Zongxian also rode his horse to catch up.
Zhang Jing led the group all the way south. It wasn't long before Duke Wei realized that he had been along this road several times. Governor Zhang was going to inspect the Zhejiang Army.