Entering the water stronghold, Zhu Mo realized that they had arrived at just the right time. The firearm battalion and the land forces were already fully assembled. Yu Dayou stood on a high platform, delivering the final pre-battle mobilization. Because it was anticipated that the Japanese pirates would land near Wugui Shang, and indeed it had happened as predicted, the entire army was filled with high spirits and absolute confidence in their commander.
Zheng Qin and the musketeers were all inspired by Zhu Mo's personal presence. Despite the biting spring cold and the dense fog, everyone was filled with fighting spirit.
Yu Dayou descended from the platform and asked, "Scholar Zhu, are you here to take command?"
Zhu Mo chuckled, "You are a renowned general of your generation. How dare I presume? Please, you command. I will obey all orders!"
"Good!"
Yu Dayou possessed a calming aura before every major battle. He distributed small flags to each general. When it was Zhu Mo's turn, he said, "General Zhu, your mission is to first enter Pinghu City, then send out scouts. When the main Japanese pirate force attacks Huating, you will attack from the rear."
"Understood!"
Zhu Mo was not with the central army this time but was leading a mission. Compared to the Xuan Da campaign, it felt different. He truly felt the weighty burden of military orders. What was initially a slight sense of playfulness was now absorbed into the solemn atmosphere of the entire army, making him feel cold and serious from the bottom of his heart.
...
In the Jiangnan region, it was different from Xuan Da. While there weren't many warhorses, there were plenty of carriages. Yu Dayou had already requisitioned many over the past few days.
Zhu Mo led the firearm battalion on a swift march and reached Pinghu within half an hour.
The city was not large, and the city walls were very low, covered in moss and weeds, indicating that the city had not seen military action for decades.
At this moment, the city walls were already filled with volunteers and government troops. These volunteers were the Qinu sent ahead by Liu Yingjie. Many of them had seen Zhu Mo before and knew about the firearm troops.
Suddenly, someone spotted a young man leading the charge and shouted, "It's Zhu Mo! Scholar Grand University Zhu has arrived! And the firearm battalion!"
"Scholar Grand University Zhu!"
"Scholar Grand University Zhu!"
"Scholar Grand University Zhu!"
"..."
The Qinu volunteers on the city walls erupted in cheers, which quickly infected the stationed government troops. Everyone became jubilant, feeling their confidence greatly bolstered.
The county magistrate in charge of Pinghu was named Liu Cunyi. He was a Jinshi from the 29th year of Jiajing’s reign. He had been the magistrate of Pinghu for eight years and had been suppressed by the Yan family. However, he was a man who took things in stride and thus served well as the magistrate, doing many good deeds.
The leader of the Qinu volunteers was named Yin Xiaohu, from Huzhou. He was originally a tenant who was registered under Dong Fen's name. However, when he wanted to reclaim his land five years ago, he was told he needed to pay ten taels of silver for redemption. He couldn't afford it. According to the agreement, if the land was not redeemed within five years, the ownership would revert to the landlord. He was left with only the surface rights of the land. Although there was a nominal difference between him and a tenant farmer, the substance was the same. Furthermore, according to the agreement, if he didn't pay within another five years, even the surface rights would be lost.
During the last Qinu rebellion in Nanxun, he didn't want to get involved, but he was coerced by Zhang Gui and was almost killed by Yin Zhengmao. Only after Yin Zhengmao was imprisoned and sentenced to immediate execution was he released. He then went to Hangzhou and attached himself to a prominent family with the same surname, signing a deed of servitude and becoming a retainer of the Yin family.
With Zhu Mo's decree abolishing slavery, Yin Xiaohu gained his freedom, but he had no means of livelihood. He went to work at the Wanhou Silk Shop workshop, but he arrived just in time for the power struggle and couldn't get paid. He then worked as a sedan chair carrier, sleeping in a dilapidated Taoist temple outside the city.
In this recruitment drive, he was the first to register in Hangzhou. Liu Yingjie discovered him in the training ground, noting his tall stature and taciturn nature, and assigned him to lead a hundred-man unit. After only two days of training, Yin Xiaohu displayed a calm and strategic demeanor. In the urgency of the situation, Liu Yingjie appointed him as deputy commander to a government army commander, leading five thousand men to reinforce Pinghu City.
At this moment, he rode out of the city alone, stopping at the moat. He dismounted and, kneeling respectfully towards Zhu Mo, who was several feet away, he shouted loudly, "Yin Xiaohu pays his respects to Scholar Grand University Zhu!"
Seeing his steady demeanor, Zhu Mo felt a bit reassured but was still worried that these Qinu volunteers might mutiny and loot. He urged his horse forward, approaching them, and asked, "How many men do you have here? What were Lord Liu Yingjie's orders?"
Yin Xiaohu replied, "We have five thousand men in total. Lord Liu ordered us to assist the county magistrate in defending the city and strictly forbade us from leaving the city."
"So you won't cross the moat?"
"Reporting to Scholar Zhu, I dare not trifle with matters of military strategy."
Zhu Mo nodded, thinking: Liu Yingjie is indeed a man forged in a place like Jingjing Pass. To discover such a capable general so quickly... The fact that he adheres to orders in such a situation shows that Pinghu City should be safe...
He looked up and saw that the Qinu volunteers on the city walls had excited expressions and an indescribable fighting spirit, as if even a mountain before them could be instantly pushed aside.
This scene reminded him of past events; overconfidence leads to defeat. This spirit was valuable but needed to be tempered. Otherwise, it could be detrimental. He then shouted loudly to the crowd on the walls, "I know this is your first time serving the country. You want to achieve merit and honor your ancestors! However, I must tell you something! Calm yourselves! Stay steady! Do not be impatient! The more steady you are, the greater your victory will be!"
With a rustle, the sky above the county town immediately echoed with shouts—
"We listen to Scholar Zhu!"
"Calm down!"
"We will definitely defend the city!"
"Scholar Zhu, rest assured!"
"..."
Seeing that everyone was indeed obedient and had quieted down, Zhu Mo shouted again, "I have already decided! After this battle, I will grant you land! You will become settlement guards, and from now on, you will belong to the country!"
Before the words were even finished, with a hiss, the city walls fell into an uncanny silence. The countless heads above had not made a sound...
After a long while, someone suddenly shouted,
"Do we belong to the country now?"
Zhu Mo looked towards the voice and saw a honest-looking young man asking the question, his face filled with a mixture of excitement, confusion, and bewilderment, seemingly unable to believe such a thing.
Zhu Mo smiled, "Of course! After joining the settlement guards, not only will you have your own land, but you will also farm for the Great Ming, and farm for all the people in the realm. Of course, you will belong to the country!"
Boom!
Hooray!
"Long live the Great Ming!"
"Long live the Great Ming!"
"Long live the Great Ming!"
"..."
The shouts from the depths of their hearts, filled with ecstasy and the release of ancient grievances, immediately resounded through the misty dawn.
County Magistrate Liu Cunyi, who had just arrived and was about to pay his respects to Zhu Mo, was momentarily stunned by the scene, murmuring, "The people's spirit is so joyful... Unheard of..."
Zhu Mo smiled, "Magistrate Liu, with such people, do you have confidence in defeating the Japanese pirates?"
Liu Cunyi replied, "Scholar Grand University Zhu, this humble official has never seen such fervent hearts among the populace. Truly, this is the era of the Great Ming..."
Hahaha,
The era of the Great Ming?
The Great Ming?
Zhu Mo suddenly felt that these words were perfectly spoken. The original meaning of "Great Ming" from the founder, Emperor Hongwu, was precisely this. It was so profound that even after the Ming Dynasty fell, Lü Liuliang still wrote a poem praising it—
"I once said that living during the early years of Hongwu,
Was like a blind man suddenly regaining sight, a cripple able to walk.
The mountains and rivers cleared, the old walls remained intact,
Where could one ascend and not feel ecstatic?"