The rise of the poor

Chapter 2320 The Magnanimous Zhao Wenhua

“These resources are meant for the overall effort to resist the Japanese pirates. Zihou’s navy is an indispensable force in the fight against the pirates, so they are being put to good use. Zihou, please feel free to ask. There’s no need to be polite with me,” Zhao Wenhua said with a generous and magnanimous air.

"That's exactly what I was waiting for," Zhu Ping'an said, bowing to Zhao Wenhua in gratitude. "Thank you, Master Zhao. I will respectfully accept your offer."

"Hehe, that's right. Tell me, what else does the navy need?" Zhao Wenhua said with a smile.

"Commander Zhao, the newly added warships and newly recruited soldiers of our navy have not yet been equipped with firearms and weapons. We need Commander Zhao's assistance in equipping our navy with firearms and weapons," Zhu Ping'an said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Equipping them with firearms and armaments is easy, how many do we need?" Zhao Wenhua asked confidently, not thinking it was too difficult.

Zhu Pingan made an outrageous demand, "Large warships need to be equipped with ten breech-loading cannons and five hundred muskets; medium warships need to be equipped with six breech-loading cannons and three hundred muskets; small warships need to be equipped with three breech-loading cannons and one hundred muskets; and also one month's worth of gunpowder and bullets. Currently, the students have secured some of the cannons and firearms, but we are still short ninety cannons, three thousand five hundred muskets, eight thousand catties of gunpowder, five thousand cannonballs, and ninety thousand musketballs."

Zhao Wenhua was drinking tea when he heard Zhu Pingan's count. He couldn't help but spit out his tea. "What?! So many firearms? Ninety breech-loading cannons and three thousand five hundred muskets? You're really asking for the moon. How many cannons and muskets can the Ministry of War's Ordnance Bureau cast in a year? It's not even enough for you. I've never heard of a warship needing so many firearms. It's more than a city has."

Zhu Pingan, having anticipated this, dodged the tea that Zhao Wenhua had sprayed, and cupped his hands, saying, "Master Zhao, naval warfare relies more on firearms than land warfare. Firearms can bring small victories when used sparingly, and big victories when used extensively. Strong ships and powerful cannons are the key to victory in naval battles."

Zhao Wenhua put his hand to his forehead and said, "This is not using it properly, it's using it recklessly. When did warships ever need so many cannons? Even the cannons on the treasure ships of the Three Treasures Eunuch are not half as many as the firearms on your naval warships."

"Master Zhao, times have changed. Naval warfare is very different from what it was like back then. If you really follow my advice, the number of cannons should at least double. I have already reduced it as much as possible."

Zhu Pingan explained.

Zhao Wenhua couldn't help but shake his head. "Zihou, your Zhejiang army is the best at using firearms. Others may not know, but do you? Forging firearms is much more troublesome and difficult than forging swords, spears, and halberds. Firearms also have high requirements for copper and iron. If the forging is not done well, the firearms will explode and injure our own people. The number of cannons and muskets you requested is too many, exceeding the capabilities of the Ministry of War's Ordnance Bureau."

Zhu Pingan smiled wryly, cupped his hands and said to Zhao Wenhua, "It is precisely because of the difficulties that I have come to you, Master Zhao, to ask for your help."

"Here's what we'll do. A few days ago, someone from the Ministry of War reported to me that the Ministry of War in Yingtian still has twenty or thirty cannons, some old and some newly cast. I'll decide to give them all to you. As for whether the cannons can be used on warships, you can have someone modify the chassis later. I don't know how many muskets the Ministry of War has left, but I'll give you a note. You take it and go to their warehouse with your men. No matter how many muskets they have, give them all to the navy."

As Zhao Wenhua spoke, he picked up a pen, wrote a note, stamped it with his seal, and handed it to Zhu Pingan.

"Thank you, Master Zhao." Zhu Ping'an took the note from Zhao Wenhua and put it in his pocket. However, this was clearly not enough for Zhu Ping'an. He pursed his lips and continued to try and extract more money, saying, "Master Zhao, twenty or thirty cannons are still a significant shortfall for the navy."

"Tell me, what else do you want?" Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhu Pingan with amusement.

Zhu Ping'an truly lives up to his name, Zhu Zihou; his skin is incredibly thick. He doesn't hold back at all when asked to speak.

"Hehe, Commander Zhao, since we don't have enough finished cannons and muskets, could you also allocate us enough iron ingots, copper ingots, and saltpeter? If we don't have enough materials, could you allocate some funds or supplies? Our navy can purchase them ourselves. Also, if the Ministry of Works has any surplus firearms craftsmen, could you share some with me?"

Zhu Ping'an made an outrageous demand. He established a formidable presence, waiting for anyone to arrive, ensuring that no one from the upper, middle, or lower ranks could escape his control.

"You, Zihou, you really are asking for the moon!" Zhao Wenhua pointed at Zhu Ping'an, both amused and annoyed.

Just when Zhu Ping'an thought there was no hope, Zhao Wenhua changed the subject again, "However, since I have already agreed, I will not go back on my word. How much material does the Ministry of Works in Yingtian have left to cast firearms? When you go to collect the cannons, take it with you. I will also issue you a note. As for the money, I will coordinate 10,000 taels of silver and 3,000 shi of grain for you."

After speaking, Zhao Wenhua patted Zhu Ping'an on the shoulder, "So, how's my teaching?"

"Thank you very much, Master Zhao. You are so generous." Zhu Ping'an bowed with his hands clasped.

"How does it compare to your mentor in the capital?" Zhao Wenhua asked with a chuckle.

"Teacher Zhao is far more generous than Teacher Xu. Teacher Xu didn't give his students a single penny of support." Zhu Ping'an immediately flattered Zhao Wenhua. Having taken so much advantage of him, Zhao Wenhua deserved this compliment.

"Hahahaha." Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenhua burst into laughter, full of high spirits.

After laughing, Zhao Wenhua filled Zhu Pingan and Hu Zongxian's teapots with tea, squinted at Zhu Pingan, and slowly asked, "Zihou, how is the matter of your pacification of Wang Zhi and the Japanese pirates progressing?"

Zhu Ping'an cupped his hands and replied, "Reporting to Master Zhao, after reaching a preliminary agreement with Wang Zhi and the Japanese pirates in southern Zhejiang regarding the amnesty, Wang Zhi dispatched Mao Haifeng's Japanese pirate troops to my command. They then launched an attack and eliminated all the Japanese pirate strongholds in southern Zhejiang. Mao Haifeng returned to Wang Zhi's stronghold. I reported the relevant matters to His Majesty. I await further instructions from His Majesty, and I will send someone to contact Wang Zhi and the Japanese pirates to further discuss the amnesty. Currently, there are no instructions from His Majesty. I have been busy expanding the navy recently, and there has been no further progress on the amnesty matter."

Zhao Wenhua nodded. "Wang Zhi is the biggest Japanese chieftain, and his pirates make up the majority of the Japanese pirates. Granting Wang Zhi amnesty is no small matter, so it is perfectly normal that the higher-ups cannot make a decision for the time being."

Indeed, Zhu Ping'an also received a message from his mentor Xu Jie that the central government was deeply divided on whether to grant amnesty to Wang Zhi.

"Zihou, as you said before, if we could grant amnesty to Wang Zhi, half of the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan could be pacified directly."

Zhao Wenhua narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhu Ping'an, "Is Wang Zhi truly willing to accept the amnesty? Is it just a pretense? This is very important. If it's a false amnesty, and he rebels again after being granted the amnesty, then not only will he have gained nothing, but he will have also committed a crime. If he is truly willing to accept the amnesty, I am willing to persuade my adoptive father Yan Song to support the amnesty of Wang Zhi." (End of this chapter)