Zhu Mo paced the tea room for a long time, regretting not having personally urged Zhao Shizhen to develop more firearms when he was in the capital, given this sudden turn of events.
Based on the timeline, it would likely take Zheng Qin and his group at least a month to reach Jiangnan. A thousand flintlock guns would naturally provide a significant advantage, but what about cannons? Could Zhao Shizhen and his team actually produce them? And even if they could, it would probably take several months.
He wasn't worried about the time it would take to suppress the Wokou pirates; rather, he was reminded of a similar situation in Xuanda last time.
The Wokou pirates were so formidable, they were practically a super-factions.
Even Anda understood this problem, so why wouldn't the Wokou?
They were also paying attention to the reforms in Jiangnan!
If Yu Dayou's words were true, then their recruitment of samurai from mainland Japan was a move towards a decisive battle with him.
He, Zhu Mo, could be considered the Asian who posed the greatest threat to the Wokou's trade model!
Their goal with Yan Shifan and Wang Zhi was to destroy dams and flood fields, rapidly producing large quantities of cheap silk, tea, and porcelain. But Zhu Mo had shattered their dreams with a single blow. The silk workshops were dispersed among thousands of households, centrally procured by state-owned banks, and then uniformly traded by the Directorate of Weaving. This was a direct blow to their source of income.
It was easy to imagine how much the Wokou hated him!
So, finally,
How much time was left?
He sighed, his expression grave, and asked, "Commander Yu, in your opinion, how quickly can the Wokou arrive from their homeland?"
"It's hard to say. My informant is from Korea and does business in Hirado. He sent someone back to say that in the provinces of Hizen, Higo, Satsuma, Hirado, and Bungo on Kyushu Island, the Wokou leaders Otomo Yoshinaga and Otomo Sorin have already issued recruitment orders. Even samurai and ronin from the north are heading south, indicating this is a very dangerous situation. Scholar Zhu, based on my over a decade of fighting the Wokou, the number of ronin from their homeland is not large. This time is very unusual..."
"I understand, I understand..."
Zhu Mo was well aware that this was a total mobilization of a supra-national force, naturally extremely perilous.
The situation along the coast was similar to Xuanda. The reason the Wokou could so easily occupy a guard post was that these garrison troops had been replaced by private soldiers. If the private soldiers in Datong were controlled by the Yan family's Li Chong father and son, then what about the private soldiers along the coast?
Everyone knew about the "Qi Family Army" and the "Yu Family Army," which was enough to explain the situation. The coastal situation was clearly even more complex than in Xuanda. At least in Xuanda, he could rely on the old garrison troops and successfully organize a sniper operation. However, Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou along the coast had to recruit anew, indicating that the coastal guard posts were rotten to the core.
If this view held true, then it could be assumed that the Wokou's control over the coastal regions had reached a truly appalling extent. And among these, there would be some treacherous civilians who were actively participating. He recalled many online discussions where people said that many commoners in prefectures and counties would voluntarily send their children to Wang Zhi, believing it was a path to wealth.
After thinking for a while,
He still had no confidence—
How would the Wokou attack?
How would the Yan faction cooperate?
If, when he was in Xuanda, he could immediately discern Anda's strategy, then at this moment, he had no understanding of the enemy at all.
Thinking of this,
He decided to go and see for himself first, at least to clarify how the Wokou controlled the coastal prefectures and guard posts.
Of course, Yu Dayou and Li Wenjin, who understood the Wokou best, their opinions were naturally valuable.
"Commander Yu, Brother Li, what do you think? If the Wokou from their homeland come, what will they do?"
Yu Dayou said worriedly,
"I'm not sure either. After the abandonment of Ningbo's Shuangyu Island, the Wokou moved to Taizhou Wei. For these past few months, Hu Zongxian and Qi Jiguang, with their elite troops and ample provisions, have besieged them in over a dozen water villages and seven or eight land strongholds. In my opinion, the Wokou are unlikely to confront us head-on here. They will most likely attack weak points, using the strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao.'
I have served in Fujian and Guangdong for many years, and the Wokou in those areas are mostly pirates, with more Portuguese. It's different from the coastal areas of Jiangnan..."
Yu Dayou's visit this time was mainly to see his nephew and to relay this intelligence. But now it seemed the situation was truly complicated. The Yan family and the Wokou were likely targeting the reforms.
Seeing the somewhat premature world-weariness in him, his heart ached. At this age, he should be enjoying romantic moments, yet he was embroiled in the most complex and dangerous situation of the current era, and even as a leader. If the situation was handled poorly, wouldn't it be perilous?
Thinking of this,
He couldn't help but say,
"Scholar Zhu, the Wokou are involved so extensively that one or two people cannot handle it. I am here today to ask Scholar Zhu to convey the true situation to the court. For countermeasures, it is best for the Grand Secretariat to make a decision, and we will follow their instructions. Otherwise, ask your Brother Li, if we act alone, whether we succeed or fail, the outcome will be the same. It's always bad for us!"
"Indeed! Young Master Zhu, it's very different here from Datong. You must have a backup plan. I am currently in mourning and the court is preparing to grant me an exception to serve. I will likely return to Datong soon. Brother Yu still has to go to Chaoshan. In Jiangnan, it's just you left. Alas, Ma Fang and Ma Lu both repeatedly instructed me to advise you. If it doesn't work out, forget it. The Wokou issue is really Hu Zongxian's business, there's no need to get too involved!"
Li Wenjin, having shared hardships with him, spoke with sincere affection, making Zhu Mo feel a warmth rising, a sense of coziness in the cold Jiangnan night.
When Zhu Mo arrived in the Great Ming, his friends were Old Dao and Li San, his confidants were Lu Kun and He Xinyin. As for family, besides his master, it was Li Wenjin and Ma Fang. Beyond them, it was the military households of the Datong Right Guard.
And Yu Dayou, worthy of being the brother of Li and Ma, was also completely sincere towards him. He couldn't help but be moved and smiled,
"Don't worry, I'll take care of myself. You two also need to be careful. Brother Yu, that Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, Zhang Jing, is very insidious. You must guard against him, and also those mountain bandits. When the reforms make progress, we'll advance steadily and then quell the Wokou later."
The two exchanged a knowing smile, though it was filled with bitterness.
Li Wenjin patted his shoulder and said, "All three tributary states are already operational. The border regions are now exceptionally stable. Think about us, think about those old brothers, don't be stubborn and push too hard."
Zhu Mo was deeply moved and sent them off that night.
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