"You are stupid, my dear nephew. As long as you admit your mistakes to the Governor-General and change the way of training troops, you can command more soldiers. You should know that those are all soldiers transferred from other provinces by the Governor-General, especially the wolf soldiers from Guangxi, who are rare. I think the Governor-General appreciates you very much. As long as you admit your mistakes, the Governor-General will definitely forgive you and give you another chance. My dear nephew, he will at least allocate a few thousand soldiers to you."
Duke Wei found an opportunity, and while Zhang Jing was questioning the Zhejiang army officers and soldiers, he pulled Zhu Ping'an into a corner and lectured him eagerly.
"The Japanese invasion is getting worse and worse. It's a bad time for the common people, but it's a good time for us, do you understand? With Japanese pirates and wars, there are opportunities to make merit. One general's success is the result of the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers, and vice versa is also possible. As long as you have enough soldiers and horses, as a commander, will you still lack merit? Linhuai Hou and I are childhood friends and grew up wearing the same pants. You are his nephew, so you are my nephew. I can't watch you ignore the bright road and take the narrow path. Otherwise, when Linhuai Hou knows, he will definitely blame me for not being able to persuade my nephew."
"My dear nephew, you are a smart man, and you are also a capable man. Even among us old nobles, there are few who are better at military affairs than you. More importantly, you are a man that has caught the emperor's eye. If you receive more than 10,000 soldiers and horses, under the care of Governor Zhang, you will definitely be able to make enough contributions to be promoted to a higher rank."
"Listen to me and go and admit your mistakes to the Governor. Governor Zhang is an elder and a superior, so there is no need to lose face."
Duke Wei patted Zhu Ping'an's shoulder vigorously as he spoke, and pushed Zhu Ping'an towards Zhang Jing again and again.
"Uncle, do you believe me?" Zhu Ping'an shook his head slightly and asked Duke Wei.
"Well... ... "
This question seemed familiar. Duke Wei was stunned for a moment, and then scenes such as the Zhenwu Camp mutiny and the Japanese pirates' harassment of Yingtian flashed through his mind. Did he believe Zhu Ping'an at that time? To be honest, under the circumstances at that time, he did not quite believe Zhu Ping'an. He had doubts and felt that what Zhu Ping'an said and did was problematic.
But the result, the scenes above, the final results all prove that what Zhu Pingan said and did was right.
Now it's time to address this question again.
Duke Wei was stunned.
When Duke Wei was stunned, Zhu Ping'an further said: "Uncle, please believe me again. I have full confidence in the potential of firearms, and I will definitely develop firearms. With the potential of firearms, as long as we follow my ideas, we don't need other guest troops. Even the Zhejiang Army alone is enough to travel across the south of the Yangtze River. Naturally, there will be no lack of achievements. This is also the most basic, and the impact of the firearms reform is even more difficult to estimate... ... Let's take a step back, uncle, I am still young, and there are still opportunities and costs for trial and error. Everyone can understand and tolerate it. If it is proved that my ideas and tactics are wrong in the war, then I will bow my head and admit my mistakes to Governor Zhang. With Governor Zhang's character and tolerance, I believe he can forgive my youthful vigor. No one is without sages, and it is a great virtue to be able to correct mistakes."
"Oh, what a great opportunity this is."
Duke Wei sighed endlessly, but seeing that Zhu Ping'an insisted, he had to give up for the time being. He thought about telling the Marquis of Linhuai about the situation after returning and asking him to persuade Zhu Ping'an again, as the opportunity cannot be missed.
Although Zhang Jing had some complaints about Zhu Ping'an's reliance on firearms, he still had a high opinion of the overall situation of the Zhejiang Army.
At Zhu Ping'an's invitation, Zhang Jing finally accepted the invitation and tried the Zhejiang Army's big pot meal.
"Food is the first necessity of the people. Soldiers are also human beings. If the food is not good, the soldiers will not eat well, their health will be bad, and their training will be affected. If the training is not good, there will definitely be more bloodshed and sacrifices during the war. Therefore, the food of the army is also a crucial link. Let's try the big pot meal in your camp and see how the food in your camp is."
"But I'll be frank with you. We have to eat the same food as the soldiers. We should eat what the soldiers eat. Don't cook for them or give them special treatment. Otherwise, don't blame me for walking away in anger."
Zhang Jing emphasized to Zhu Pingan.
"Don't worry, Governor. This is natural." Zhu Ping'an nodded naturally. This was what he had been thinking.
Zhang Jing nodded. Although the others were used to a life of luxury, and although they preferred fine wine and delicious food and were not interested in the Zhejiang Army's communal meals, since Zhang Jing nodded, they could only nod as well.
Soon, it was time for dinner. The soldiers from various camps of the Zhejiang Army finished their training and lined up in neat rows to eat.
Zhang Jing also led everyone to follow the soldiers and go together to see how the Zhejiang army soldiers ate.
The canteen of the Zhejiang Army was very simple, a thatched shed built on the training ground, with rows of rectangular tables under the shed and a long bench on each side of the table. However, although it was simple, it was very clean and tidy, and the tables and benches were wiped clean.
After Zhang Jing and his party followed the soldiers to the cafeteria, they were surprised to find that the soldiers did not go in to eat immediately, but lined up in front of the cafeteria and took roll call.
"Stand still and look to the right."
"Report your number."
"One, two, three, four... Forty. Report, all sentries are forty, forty in total, all sentries are present."
After the roll call, Zhang Jing and his party thought, "Now we can go in and eat." However, to their surprise, after the roll call, the soldiers did not go to the canteen to eat, but sang songs on the spot.
"I am a soldier, I come from the common people, I am blessed by the emperor, I defeated the Japanese invaders, and I wiped out the Huns.
I am a soldier, I love my king and my people. The fierce war has tested me and made me more resolute. Hehe, I hold my weapon tightly.
Eyes can see clearly
Who dares to invade my country
Beat him without mercy... "
The soldiers began to sing the Ming Dynasty version of "I am a Soldier" revised by Zhu Ping'an. The singing was loud and clear, resounding through the sky.
Soon, another group of soldiers arrived. They also lined up, called the roll, and sang, but the song was different.
“All the soldiers of the Zhejiang Army must remember the four iron laws and eighteen executions;
First, all actions must be carried out under command, and only by moving in unison can victory be achieved;
Second, I never take anything from the masses, and the masses support and like me;
Third, all the spoils should be returned to the public, and efforts should be made to reduce the burden on the court;
Fourth, they would not demolish houses even if they were frozen to death or starved to death, and they would not plunder. Soldiers are loyal to the emperor and love the people... "
The soldiers of the two sentries sang and competed with each other. They sang songs. Your voice was louder, mine was louder. You sang in unison, mine was even more in unison. My spirit was even stronger...
What's going on? I understand lining up and calling the roll before dinner, you have strict discipline, but what's going on with singing? Singing is fine, but why are you singing along? What does this mean? !
Everyone was stunned.
They have been with Zhu Ping'an all the time, and Zhu Ping'an has never given such instructions or orders to the soldiers.
It can be seen that this is the daily life of the Zhejiang Army.
Amid the astonishment of the crowd, Zhang Jing's eyes lit up and he whispered softly, "Bath in the emperor's grace, be loyal to the emperor and love the people, obey orders, don't take a needle or thread from the masses, defend the country, and defeat the Japanese pirates... ... Instill education in the song and influence it subtly."
Then, he turned to Zhu Ping'an and asked, "Zihou, this is the ideological education you told me about, right?"
"The Governor has a keen eye."
Zhu Ping'an bowed and replied, "Line up, call the roll, and sing, these are the three old things to do before meals. These are what Zhu Ping'an learned and applied from modern times, and the effect is very good."