Zhao Wenhua saw the reactions of the crowd and knew that they had doubted his words, so he smiled softly and continued: "Although I kept you in the dark in order to successfully lure the Japanese pirates, I also repeatedly emphasized to you at the beginning of the sea sacrifice when I transferred you to assist in the sea sacrifice and when I patrolled the camp that you must be vigilant and guard against the Japanese pirates' disturbances. However, judging from the losses of each camp, it is obvious that some people did not listen to my reminders..."
He knew very well that these people would not cooperate unless they were put under some pressure, so his words were meant to put pressure on them.
The effect is also obvious.
After hearing what Zhao Wenhua said, He Qing and Shen Xiyi felt a sharp increase in pressure, and cold sweat appeared on their foreheads.
Veterans cherish their reputation more as they age. They cherish the glory of their fathers, and cherish carrying forward and passing on their fathers' glory. They all want to become the more dazzling glory of the family and be revered by the younger generations of the family.
Their performance last night was very poor. Just a few dozen Japanese pirates caused heavy casualties among their soldiers. It is not excessive to punish them.
If they were convicted, they would lose their dignity in later life and their family would be disgraced.
In this way, not only will they fail to become the glory of the family, but they will also become negative examples used by the family to educate future generations.
This is a burden they cannot bear.
Therefore, when they heard Zhao Wenhua's words that implied accusation, they immediately became uneasy.
Tang Kekuan's expression also changed slightly. He was close to Governor Zhang and was worried that Zhao Wenhua would take the opportunity to suppress and retaliate against him.
If he focuses on the casualties in their camp and reports him, he will be in big trouble.
Yu Dayou was not worried at all, and Linhuai Hou was even less worried. Zhu Pingan, who knew the inside story, was even more calm.
Zhao Wenhua looked around at everyone again, then changed the subject and continued, "However, since you have tied up the Japanese pirates' division, leaving me with ample time to command Hu Zongxian's, Zhu Ping'an's and Li Tingzhu's troops to wipe out the main force of the Japanese pirates, and assisted me in achieving the first great victory in the anti-Japanese war, I will not hold you responsible in my memorial to His Majesty, and will use the phrase 'not afraid of sacrifice' to brush aside your losses. On the contrary, I will commend you for your assistance in the anti-Japanese war. You have worked hard and made contributions to this great victory, and you are all meritorious people."
Huh?! What?!
Did I hear that right?!
Zhao Wenhua not only did not hold us responsible for the heavy casualties, but also used the phrase "not afraid of sacrifice" to refute our rights and wrongs, and even wanted to submit a report for us to show our merits and hard work in helping to destroy the Japanese?!
He Qing, Shen Xiyi and others opened their eyes wide in disbelief. They didn't expect Zhao Wenhua to be so generous? ! He cared so much about them? !
Is this still Zhao Wenhua? !
For a moment they wondered if they had heard it wrong, or if Zhao Wenhua was being sarcastic.
However, after Zhao Wenhua circulated the draft "Memorial to Celebrate the Sea" to everyone, He Qing and others were sure that they had not heard wrongly. Zhao Wenhua was not being sarcastic, but really wrote it that way.
Zhao Wenhua and Hu Zongxian have already signed this "Memorial on Celebrating and Sacrificing the Sea", and it cannot be faked.
This memorial to the sea did indeed state that they "did not fear sacrifice" and "involved the Japanese pirates in dividing their forces", thus buying precious time for Zhao Wenhua to command Zhu Ping'an, Hu Zongxian, and Li Tingzhu's troops to wipe out the main force of the Japanese pirates.
Not only that, Zhao Wenhua also truthfully recorded that "Tang Kekuan's troops captured 27 heads of Japanese pirates, Yu Dayou's troops captured 65 heads of Japanese pirates, and Li Tingzhu's troops captured 98 heads of Japanese pirates."
However, after reading it, Tang Kekuan and others could not help but frown. In addition to recording the actual capture of 566 Japanese pirates, this memorial also recorded with full confidence and assurance:
"Under the leadership of this minister, the remaining 500-odd Japanese pirates had nowhere to escape and were forced to jump into the sea to save their lives after being pursued and besieged by various units. As a result, the originally calm sea suddenly rose into huge waves, and more than 500 Japanese pirates were swept into the seabed by the huge waves while screaming in fear, and were buried in the depths of the sea, with no remains left. The sea sacrifice was completed during the day, and the sea god helped our Ming Dynasty to wipe out the Japanese pirates at night. The success of the sea sacrifice is evident from this battle. More than 1,000 Japanese pirates were wiped out in one battle, which is truly the first achievement in the suppression of Japanese pirates in the southeast. The morale of the army and the people was greatly boosted and encouraged, and the situation of anti-Japanese pirates is thriving. Your Majesty is wise and strongly advocates the sea sacrifice. Now that the sea sacrifice has been successfully completed, the annihilation of the Japanese pirates is just around the corner..."
When did more than 500 Japanese pirates jump into the sea?! There were no huge waves in the sea last night?!
This is completely false.
Therefore, after reading Zhao Wenhua's memorial, He Qing and others felt mixed emotions, happy but also frowning.
"Everyone, if you have no objection, please sign the memorial together with me."
Zhao Wenhua looked at everyone with a smile and spoke slowly.
What?!
Want us to sign our names on the memorial?! Isn't this asking us to endorse this memorial?! Together, we have to prove that what Zhao Wenhua reported was true, that in addition to the 566 heads of Japanese pirates, there were more than 500 Japanese pirates who were forced to jump into the sea, and that the sea had set off a huge wave last night, burying more than 500 Japanese pirates who jumped into the sea!
this... ...
He Qing and others remained silent.
"If you have any objections and do not sign your names, then I will have to revise this memorial. Don't blame me for being too harsh..." Zhao Wenhua said faintly. After a pause of one second, he laughed again, waved his hands, and said with a smile, "Haha, it's just a joke. Don't take it seriously, don't feel burdened. If you are willing to sign, then sign. If you are not willing to sign, then don't sign. I will never force you..."
Zhao Wenhua said he was joking, but no one present thought he was joking. He was serious. If he didn't sign his name, he would really do it.
Although it is not pointed out, the meaning is self-evident. If you do not sign this memorial, I will revise it and write down your responsibilities one by one. You must think it through...
"Excuse me, Lord Zhao, has Governor Zhang read this memorial? Does he have any comments?" Tang Kekuan asked with a bow.
"I have consulted Governor Zhang about this memorial. Governor Zhang said that the sea sacrifice will be decided by me and he will not interfere." Zhao Wenhua shrugged and said leisurely.
Did Zhao Wenhua lie? ! Really not. Zhang Jing didn't even look at the memorial Zhao Wenhua had written. He just said the above words to dismiss Zhao Wenhua. However, Zhang Jing followed this sentence with another sentence, which was "After the sea sacrifice, the matter of resisting the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan will be decided by me alone. Please don't interfere in it, Lord Zhao."