After experiencing the Japanese pirates' night attack by climbing over the wall, the defenders on the city walls became extremely serious in patrolling and keeping watch. Every now and then, they would throw a torch down the city wall, fearing that the Japanese pirates would use the same old tricks and climb over the wall to attack again.
Although the intensity of patrols and night watches had increased, the defenders had no complaints. Zhu Ping'an's strategic planning, foresight and brilliant command had already impressed everyone, and tonight was an ironclad example.
If Zhu Ping'an had not prepared in advance and ordered people to hang bells on the city walls tonight to warn against the Japanese pirates who might attack by climbing the walls at night, the Japanese pirates might really have sneaked up. Once they did, the city walls would have been a river of blood.
In addition, Zhu Ping'an's personal example impressed everyone.
While the garrison took turns on duty and patrol, Zhu Ping'an stayed up all night, inspecting the city walls and comforting and encouraging the soldiers.
In contrast, Prefect Shang only appeared on the city wall in the first half of the night and could not hold on in the second half.
As for the other officials of Suzhou Prefecture, there is no need to mention them. They were just trying to deal with Prefect Shang and would only show up when Prefect Shang appeared. In the second half of the night, Prefect Shang was not there and no one appeared on the city wall.
"Sir, it's already Chou Hour, go get some sleep. We'll be watching over the city wall, so we'll make sure nothing goes wrong."
After Zi hour comes Chou hour, which is already the second half of the night. Liu Mu, Liu Dadao and others repeatedly persuade Zhu Pingan to rest.
"No, no, it's just one night less of sleep. When the pirates retreat, there will be plenty of time to catch up on the sleep."
Zhu Ping'an smiled and waved his hand to insist.
Liu Mu, Liu Dadao and others tried to persuade him for a long time, but seeing Zhu Ping'an's firm attitude, they had to give up.
It is the coldest time of the year, it is the middle of the night, and the north wind is howling. It is not a little cold.
The defenders on the city wall couldn't help but shrink back and breathe on their hands from time to time.
"This is my fault. It's the coldest time of the year, and it's the middle of the night. It's freezing cold, and everyone is freezing. Big Gun, organize the cooks to make ten pots of hot meat soup for everyone. I remember that in the evening, the people sent a lot of pigs, sheep, chickens, and ducks as a reward for the soldiers. You can take care of it and put more meat in it, and give each person two pancakes. Give the soldiers on duty a midnight snack, a bowl of hot meat soup, to get rid of the cold and warm up their bodies."
When the soldiers on duty on the city wall heard that Zhu Ping'an was going to give everyone a midnight snack, they couldn't help but thank him loudly.
"Thank you, Master Zhu. I am willing to die for you."
"Thank you, sir."
There was cheering on the city wall, and the morale of the soldiers was high. Even when the cold wind was whistling, they also felt the warm breeze blowing on their faces.
Soon, Liu Daqiang led the cooks to prepare pots of hot broth. Chicken, duck, pork and mutton were all put into the pot, rolling up and down. The aroma of the hot meat wafted for miles.
Each soldier on duty was given a big bowl of hot meat soup. The bowl was a large porcelain bowl. The cook of the Zhejiang Army who served the soup to everyone had a very steady hand, without any shaking at all. The meat soup was made with real ingredients, with the meat alone taking up half of the bowl, and accompanied by radish, tofu and cabbage. The whole bowl of meat soup was full of fragrance and oil.
The soldiers on duty at night held the soup in one hand and the pancake in the other. They slurped the soup and took a bite of the pancake. They felt so satisfied. Especially when they used a quick knife to pick up a big piece of meat and stuffed it into their mouths and chewed it with big mouthfuls, it was so delicious.
Even in the second half of the night in the cold winter when the north wind is howling, it feels like summer with the warm sun shining in the sky.
The defenders were well fed and warm, and when they stood guard at night, they were so serious and responsible, their eyes as big as bells.
Even if a small ant crawled up from the bottom of the city wall, they could catch it accurately and throw it down.
Without Lord Zhu's permission, not even an ant can crawl into the city.
Nothing happened in the second half of the night.
After the Japanese pirates' plan to climb over the wall and launch a night attack was thwarted, they became as quiet as a wolf with its spine broken. They huddled in the camp without moving an inch, and did not even approach within a hundred meters of the city wall.
The next day, dawn arrived on time, and the breaking light and rising sun woke up the sleeping people.
"Ahem, sorry Zihou, I'm old now, I wanted to lie down and rest for a while before continuing to inspect the city wall, but I didn't expect to lie down until now, and my bastards didn't even wake me up. I heard that Zihou didn't sleep all night, inspected the city wall, and comforted the soldiers, and he didn't slack off for a moment, which really makes me ashamed."
Early in the morning, Magistrate Shang came up to Zhu Ping'an with an embarrassed look on his face, and bowed to him with courtesy.
"Lord Shang, you are too polite. I am just relying on my youth. If I were as old as Lord Shang, I probably wouldn't even be able to last until midnight. Lord Shang is already in good health." Zhu Ping'an smiled and returned the greeting, giving Magistrate Shang a way out.
Prefect Shang is really old and a weak scholar. When he was patrolling the city wall with Zhu Ping'an in the first half of the night, Zhu Ping'an noticed that Prefect Shang could hardly open his eyes, but he was still trying hard to stay awake.
Compared with other officials, Prefect Shang was considered to be very dedicated.
"No, no, I'm so ashamed. I have to admit that I'm getting old." Prefect Shang shook his head apologetically.
In the morning light, the two of them inspected the city wall together. During the inspection, Shang Zhifu pointed to the pirate camp outside the city and said to Zhu Pingan: "Zihou, I remember you said last night that if the Japanese pirates' night attack failed, they would retreat today. But why do I see that the Japanese pirates have no intention of retreating yet?"
"Don't worry, Lord Shang, just wait and see." Zhu Ping'an smiled calmly and replied confidently.
Seeing Zhu Ping'an's confident look, Magistrate Shang had to swallow his doubts and worries, and followed Zhu Ping'an on his inspection with a lot on his mind. From time to time, he glanced at the numerous camps of Japanese pirates outside the city, and he was still worried.
Breakfast was prepared early. Each soldier received a bowl of hot rice porridge, a round boiled egg, two fragrant steamed buns, a bowl of big pot dishes and a pile of cold dishes.
Zhu Ping'an told Liu Daqiang to prepare breakfast half an hour earlier than usual.
The Ning army was enjoying the meal on the city wall.
"Look, the damn Japanese pirates have also started to cook."
When a group of soldiers were having dinner, they suddenly heard someone pointing at the Japanese pirate camp outside the city and shouting in surprise.
When they looked up, they saw wisps of smoke rising from the pirates' camp, obviously they were cooking.
At the same time, figures in the Japanese pirate camp began to move.
"Alas, the little Japanese pirate started cooking a little early today, half an hour earlier than usual."
“It seems to be true.”
... ...
A group of soldiers looked at the Japanese pirate camp and discussed in low voices.
"The Japanese pirates are about to retreat. After breakfast, they will break camp." Zhu Ping'an smiled slightly and said with certainty.
"Oh! Zihou, are you sure?"
When Prefect Shang heard Zhu Ping'an say that the Japanese pirates were about to withdraw, he was happy but also full of doubts.
"Just look, sir." Zhu Ping'an smiled without saying anything.