The sun rises, the sunshine is everywhere, everything is bright, the south gate of Suzhou City is opened, and the head of the Suzhou Prefecture's military department and the head of the etiquette department, escorted by more than a thousand elite soldiers, drive more than a hundred fully loaded carriages out of the city.
The carriages were filled with slaughtered pigs, sheep and other meats, various vegetables and fruits, as well as delicious dishes cooked in restaurants. These were rewards and condolences from Suzhou officials, wealthy businessmen and ordinary people to express their gratitude to the Zhejiang Army. The carriages at the back were loaded with gunpowder, sulfur, saltpeter, charcoal and other supplies.
Of course, the city had much more to offer as rewards to the Zhejiang Army than just these.
Upon hearing the news that the government was going out of the city to express condolences and rewards to the Zhejiang Army, the common people, bringing their elderly and children with them, carrying baskets of food and drink, chickens, ducks and various agricultural and sideline products, wanted to follow the government out of the city to express condolences and rewards to the Zhejiang Army. The common people who had fled to the city from outside the city were especially enthusiastic and active. They were all grateful to Zhu Ping'an for bringing them into the city.
However, considering that the Japanese pirate army was still outside the city and had only retreated ten miles but not withdrawn, the Suzhou prefect, Lord Shang, earnestly dissuaded the enthusiastic people. He only selected some gifts of comfort, loaded them into more than a hundred horse-drawn carriages, and had the officers and soldiers escort them out of the city to express their condolences. No one else was allowed to leave the city.
Originally, the prefect Shang, Lord Shang, wanted to lead a team out of the city to express condolences, but he was persuaded by his subordinates with various necessary and sufficient reasons, so he had to appoint the head of the military department and the head of the etiquette department to represent him to go out of the city to express condolences to the Zhejiang army.
In order to guard against Japanese pirates attacking the city, the city gates were immediately closed as the military reward convoy left the city.
"Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, the Japanese pirates are still ahead, the sooner we go, the sooner we come back." The head of the barracks kept urging.
"That makes sense. Let's hurry up. It's not that we are afraid of the Japanese pirates, but we don't want to cause trouble for Lord Zhu and the Zhejiang Army."
The person in charge of the etiquette room nodded repeatedly, urging the team to speed up while explaining to everyone.
"That's right, that's right. It's not that we are afraid of the pirates, but we don't want to cause trouble for Master Zhu and his men."
The head of the barracks agreed with this.
The group rode at full speed, and soon arrived at the Fengqiao camp of the Zhejiang Army.
Zhu Ping'an had already noticed the army coming from the city to reward the soldiers, and sent people to greet them and bring them into the Fengqiao camp.
"Master Zhu, generals, on behalf of Prefect Shang and everyone in the city, we would like to thank Master Zhu and the Zhejiang Army for holding their ground, defeating the Japanese pirates, and protecting Suzhou. We also congratulate Master Zhu and the Zhejiang Army on their glorious stage-by-stage victory. This is a small token of gratitude from the entire city of Suzhou. Twenty of the carts were sent by your wife, so please don't refuse, Master Zhu."
The head of the etiquette room and the head of the military room stepped forward to greet Zhu Ping'an, and presented him with a list of rewards and gifts.
Zhu Ping'an glanced at the gift list and saw that it contained gifts of comfort such as meat, vegetables, and fruits. In addition to meat, the twenty carts of things that Li Shu had sent also contained urgently needed gunpowder and its raw materials. Zhu Ping'an accepted all of them without hesitation.
"Thank you, Governor Shang, thank you, the people of this city, thank you, both adults and brothers, for not fearing danger and sending us condolences. We will not be polite." Zhu Ping'an bowed his hands to express his gratitude and asked someone to accept the condolences.
Seeing that Zhu Ping'an accepted the gifts of comfort, the head of the military department and the head of the etiquette department could not stay any longer. From time to time, they looked in the direction of the Japanese pirate army in the distance, worried that the Japanese pirates who had retreated ten miles would make a comeback.
"Lord Zhu is busy with military affairs, so we won't bother you."
After a few simple greetings, the two said goodbye to Zhu Ping'an, leaving a nice message at the end, "Master Shang said that if Master Zhu has any difficulties, please tell us and we will do our best to meet them."
"Speaking of which, there is indeed a problem."
As soon as they finished speaking, Zhu Ping'an spoke.
The heads of the military department and the etiquette department were stunned for a moment. They didn't expect that Zhu Ping'an was so rude.
"I wonder what Lord Zhu needs our cooperation for? Do you want reinforcements? Speaking of reinforcements, there are actually not enough soldiers in the city..." The head of the barracks was afraid that Zhu Ping'an would ask for reinforcements, so he stopped him from speaking first.
"We don't want reinforcements, we want oil." Zhu Ping'an shook his head slightly and spoke without waiting for him to finish.
"You want oil?" The head of the barracks was stunned, bewildered, wondering what Zhu Ping'an wanted the oil for? Did the Zhejiang Army run out of oil for cooking? We sent so much pork, is the fat enough to make oil
"That's right. Please raise funds for us as soon as possible after you return to the city, whether it's sesame oil, rapeseed oil or lard. At least one thousand kilograms, and of course the more the better." Zhu Ping'an nodded.
"What does Lord Zhu need so much oil for?" asked the barracks chief with a puzzled look on his face.
"I am of great use. This matter involves confidentiality. Please forgive me. You will understand it in the future." Zhu Ping'an kept it secret.
Military affairs are secret; the fewer people who know about confidential matters, the better.
"No problem, no problem. If you need oil, there is absolutely no problem. Not to mention one thousand kilograms, even three thousand kilograms is no problem."
The head of the barracks was just curious. As long as they were not allowed to send reinforcements, what would a mere three thousand kilograms of oil mean
"Thank you very much." Zhu Ping'an bowed to express his gratitude.
"Master Zhu, you are too polite. If there is nothing else, we will not disturb you to prepare for war. We will go back to the city now to collect oil and fat for you, and send someone to deliver it to your camp as soon as possible." The head of the military room and the head of the etiquette room could not wait to say goodbye to Zhu Ping'an, fearing that the Japanese pirates would make a comeback and they would not be able to go back.
"Please wait a moment, my lords. I am in the city. I am afraid that she will miss me. Please pass on a few words to her."
Zhu Ping'an asked the two to wait for a moment, took out the pen and ink, and without stopping for a moment, he picked up the pen and wrote line after line.
"Thinking of You"
I remember when I was young,
I love to chat and you love to laugh.
Once we stood side by side under a peach tree,
The wind is blowing in the treetops and the birds are singing.
I don't know how I fell asleep.
How many flowers have fallen in my dreams
—Don’t worry, I’m safe. When the war is over, I will hold your hand and watch the snow, and grow old together.
After Zhu Ping'an finished writing, he blew the ink dry, folded it carefully, put it in a letter, gave it to the two people, and asked them to take it into the city and pass it to Li Shu.
Li Shu is almost full-term. Pregnant women are prone to tension and anxiety. I wrote this letter to comfort Li Shu and tell her not to worry about herself.
"In addition, please remind the governor Shang that if the Japanese pirates are defeated at Fengqiao and turn to attack other city gates, please be prepared and do not give them a chance to take advantage. If the Japanese pirates turn to attack other city gates, our Zhejiang army will send troops to attack the Japanese pirates' rear and support the city's defense, and the Japanese pirates will return empty-handed."
Zhu Ping'an sent the two men out of the camp, and before leaving, he asked them to give a message to Prefect Shang to prevent the Japanese pirates from attacking other places.
"Don't worry, sir. We will definitely convey your message." The head of the military room and the head of the etiquette room nodded repeatedly, fearing that Zhu Ping'an had other things to do, and left impatiently.