Rise From the Humble

Zhu Ping'an led a thousand Zhejiang troops, escorting 10,000 shi of grain and grass and 500 shi of salt, and headed straight for Jiaxing City.

The journey was smooth. Although the food, grass and salt were tempting, no petty thieves dared to provoke a thousand fully armed officers and soldiers.

The Zhejiang army did not have enough flattery, but they had many mules and donkeys. Every thousand Zhejiang soldiers had one rider, and grain, grass and salt were also transported in oxcarts. Therefore, in general, the Zhejiang army marched very fast and arrived in Jiaxing on the third day.

The defenders on Jiaxing City saw from a distance an army of more than a thousand people heading straight for the south gate. The queue was winding like a long dragon.

After experiencing the tragedy of the Japanese pirates' sneak attack and seizing the city, the Jiaxing City defenders were now more vigilant. They saw an unknown army coming from a distance, and immediately dispersed the people at the city gate and closed the city gate.

"Zhejiang Governor Zhu Ping'an, Lord Zhu, on the order of the Governor, escorted the grain, grass and salt, and opened the door quickly to let them go."

Liu Dadao held Zhu Ping'an's token, rode his horse to the city gate, and showed the token to the defenders on the city.

"General, please forgive me, please put the token into the hanging basket and allow us to identify one or two." The defender general on the city clasped his fists and shouted to the people below the city. After saying that, the defender general ordered someone to hang a hanging basket from the city wall. .

"As timid as a mouse." Liu Dadao muttered.

"No, this is rigorous and worthy of praise. Dadao, as they said, put the token into the hanging basket and let them verify the identity." Zhu Pingan waved his hand, indicating to Liu Dadao to do as the defenders wanted.

"Okay, sir." Liu Dadao obeyed the order, stepped forward and put Zhu Ping'an's token into the hanging basket that fell from the city, and shouted to the city, "Look carefully, open the city gate quickly after verifying that it is correct." ”

The defenders on the city lifted the hanging basket, picked up Zhu Ping'an's governor's token and looked at it for a moment. Several defenders nodded and confirmed that the governor's token was undoubtedly there. They waved their hands and were about to give the order to open the city gate, but were heard by a voice. Stopped drinking.

"Be calm and don't be impatient. The Japanese pirates are cunning and have many tricks. You can't control it. How can I ask my officer to check it? The governor has appointed me to sit at the south gate. To open the city gate, I must give my order."

A stern voice came from the gatehouse, and then Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing, walked out of the gatehouse.

"Meet the Master."

Several generals quickly saluted Zhao Chong.

"No need to be polite. I have said it many times. There is no vulgar etiquette in the army. As long as you defend the city with your heart, it is enough. Regarding defending the city, I must give you two words. You must be careful and careful and cautious. Be careful, you must learn the lesson from the loss of Jiaxing, don’t be deceived by the Japanese pirates. In the beginning, your subordinates believed in the Japanese pirates and were deceived by the Japanese pirates to open the city gate. I was also misled by my subordinates! I have learned a lesson, so I personally guard the city gate and conduct strict inspections. From now on, any opening of the city gate will be subject to my order." Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing, said to the generals with a sigh on his face.

"I will obey the order of the governor." All the generals clasped their fists.

Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing, was the gatekeeper appointed by Governor Zhang Jing. Naturally, all the generals followed Zhao Chong's orders.

In addition, although Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing, lost Jiaxing City, he later led his army to regain Jiaxing City.

People are not saints and sages, and they can never make mistakes. They can correct their mistakes when they know they are wrong. They are frustrated first and then brave. These are the good comrades in people's hearts.

By regaining Jiaxing City, Zhao Chong's image in everyone's minds was restored after it collapsed.

Zhao Chong still has a certain degree of prestige in front of all the soldiers.

If Jiaxing was lost, his prestige would definitely be lost, but he redeemed himself and regained the city of Jiaxing, and his prestige was re-established after it was shattered.

"Master Fu, here is the token presented by the city. It belongs to Mr. Zhu Ping'an, the governor of Zhejiang."

A group of generals handed the token to Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing.

Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing, took the token, checked it carefully, and nodded, "Yes, you did a good job in reviewing it. This is indeed a genuine token, and it does belong to Governor Zhu Butang."

"Your Excellency, it is confirmed. Do you want to open the city gate if you are a low-ranking official? The people in the city say that Governor Zhu came here under the order of the Governor to escort grain, grass and salt. There are indeed hundreds of carts transporting grain, grass and salt under the city."

The general cupped his fists and asked for instructions.

"Don't worry. Although the token is a genuine token, we cannot 100% rule out the suspicion that Japanese pirates stole Governor Zhu's token."

"Also, you can indeed see hundreds of carts transporting grain, grass and salt below the city, but all you see is that the carts are filled with many bags. Can you confirm whether the bags are filled with grain?"

"Even if it's all grain and salt, what if the Japanese pirates deliberately used it as bait to open the city gate in a false way?!"

"We have to be responsible for the governor and the hundreds of thousands of people in the city. We cannot open the city gate easily."

Jiaxing Magistrate Zhao Chong said with a serious face.

"What the Lord taught me is true, but what if the governor really escorts the grain, grass and salt under the city?"

The general asked worriedly.

"I supervise the city gate. I am responsible for everything. I am also responsible for the governor and the people. I believe the governor can understand. If I take a step back, if the governor blames me, I will be responsible. You all obey If you act according to my orders, the governor will not be able to blame you."

Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing, said very responsibly.

Hearing that Zhao Chong was going to shoulder all the responsibilities, all the generals couldn't help but cast admiring glances and no longer had any doubts.

Anyway, if something goes wrong, there will be someone to take care of it, so there is no need to worry.

"I have paid a visit to the governor before and recognized his appearance, so I will verify whether the person who is descending from the city is the governor himself, and whether what the governor is escorting is grain, grass and salt. If the verification is correct, then open the city. Door." Jiaxing Governor Zhao Chong said seriously.

"How can the governor verify it? Can the governor please come to the city and let the governor identify it?" the generals asked.

"How dare you do this? Your Majesty, the Governor, is the one who is on top of us. How dare you let your Majesty the Governor condescend to the city!"

Jiaxing Governor Zhao Chong shook his head repeatedly.

"How to verify it?" the generals asked.

"You put me down in a basket. I will go to visit the governor, return the token to the governor personally, and apologize to the governor. Then I will verify whether the grain, grass and salt are true. After confirming that they are correct, I will open it to you. The hand gestures at the city gate, you saw my hand gestures, look at the city gate again.”

Jiaxing Governor Zhao Chong explained.

"Yes." The generals accepted the order, then hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "What if there is something wrong below the city?"

"If unfortunately, the person under the city is not Governor Zhu Ping'an, but a Japanese pirate, then even if I am kidnapped by thieves, and I threaten you to open the city gate, you will never open the city gate! At the risk of my own life. , in exchange for the whole city being safe, it’s worth it!” the governor of Jiaxing said with a look of death.

"Fu Zun!"

All the generals were shocked by Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing. (End of chapter)