The rise of the poor

Chapter 2316 It's all about timing and fate.

"Third Master, you've arrived?" Luo Longwen woke up with a start, grasping Wang San's hands with both, his eyes filled with hope, and his voice trembling as he asked, "Has Lord Ye and Lord Matsuura returned victorious?!"

"What great victory?! Brother Luo, you must be drunk. Captain Ye and Captain Matsuura were just drinking and making plans with us at noon. It's only evening now, and they haven't even had time to purchase food and weapons yet."

"what?!"

Although Luo Longwen had a feeling he had some idea, he was still extremely disappointed. He never expected it to be just a dream.

However, the thought of the scene in his dream filled him with confidence; this must be a revelation from heaven.

"Then, Lord Ye and Lord Matsuura are purchasing provisions and weapons today, so they can set out tomorrow, right?" Luo Longwen asked eagerly.

Wang San looked at Luo Longwen as if he were an idiot, speechless. "Brother Luo, the amount of grain and weaponry needed for a large army's expedition is enormous. How could it be done so quickly? Lord Ye and Lord Songpu only received the money from you today. It will take them at least three to five days to purchase the grain and supplies and prepare the armor and weaponry. Besides purchasing the grain and weaponry, they also need to assemble the troops. Assembling so many troops also takes time. Many brothers have taken some money and can't control themselves, who knows which prostitute they've slept with. In short, everything takes time. Being able to set out within ten days would be considered fast."

"Huh?! Why is it so slow?!" Luo Longwen was stunned, not expecting that sending out troops would take so long.

“This is considered fast.” Wang San glanced at Luo Longwen. “If it were just ordinary burning, killing, and looting, of course we wouldn’t need to spend so much time. We could just bring some dry rations and get on the ship. But attacking Zhu Ping’an is different. Captain Ye said that Zhu Ping’an is no ordinary man. He is a rare and ruthless character in the government who is skilled in both literature and martial arts. Those who underestimate Zhu Ping’an have suffered great losses at his hands. We must be fully prepared before we attack Zhu Ping’an.”

"Third Master, I understand the principle that an army marches on its stomach, but I also understand the principle that speed is of the essence. We've been preparing for so many days, what if word gets out?" Luo Longwen said worriedly.

Wang San chuckled, "Hahaha, Brother Luo, you're overthinking it. You forgot? Captain Ye specifically instructed us not to spread the news of the attack on Zhu Ping'an. Currently, only the four of us know this news. The people below only know that we're about to send troops, but they don't know that we're going to attack Zhu Ping'an. Once we're on board, Captain Ye will announce the purpose of our voyage to the people below. When people outside see us purchasing food and weapons, they'll only think we're going to carry out a campaign of burning, killing, and looting. They'll never know that we're going to attack Zhu Ping'an."

"Oh, yes, yes, I almost forgot." Luo Longwen suddenly realized that Ye Zongman was very wary of Zhu Ping'an and had repeatedly asked him to keep it a secret before the troops were dispatched.

"You were so drunk you blacked out, no wonder you forgot," Wang San said, pursing his lips.

"When will Lord Ye and his men set out? Third Master, please let me know in advance so I can go and see them off," Luo Longwen said in a low voice, recalling the scene from his dream.

Wang San rolled his eyes. "Brother Luo, what are you thinking? Have you forgotten the King's order? You are not allowed to leave the courtyard without the King's new command."

"what?!"

Luo Longwen then realized that he had been effectively placed under house arrest.

"But don't worry, I will inform you as soon as Captain Ye and his men set out."

Wang San comforted him.

"Thank you very much, Third Master." Luo Longwen quickly expressed his gratitude, and then said with some regret, "I wonder how we can get Lord Ye and the others to send out their troops sooner."

Luo Longwen desperately wanted to kill Zhu Ping'an.

"Actually, Lord Ye and his men are still waiting for some news before they send out their troops." Wang San gave Luo Longwen a deep look.

"What news?!" Luo Longwen was stunned.

"Your men have taken the King's mother, wife, and children away from Zhu Ping'an." Wang San looked intently at Luo Longwen. "If the safety of the King's mother, wife, and children cannot be guaranteed, even if Captain Ye and his men had a hundred lives, they wouldn't dare to take action. After all, Captain Ye is under the King's command. Although the King didn't give the order, and although the King can say that his men acted on their own, what if Zhu Ping'an becomes desperate and does something rash?"

"Don't worry, with the forged token of the young master that I made, Zhao Wenhua will definitely take the King's mother, wife, and children into his hands as soon as possible. In order to get the news as soon as possible, he even bought two pairs of carrier pigeons and had his men take them. I know that you, Third Master, also have spies who are constantly monitoring the situation of the King's mother, wife, and children. Once Zhao Wenhua sends people to take the King's mother, wife, and children away, the news will definitely be able to get through to us immediately, right?"

“That’s natural.” Wang San nodded.

While Luo Longwen and Wang San were talking, Zhu Pingan arrived in Yingtian City, weary from his journey.

Zhu Ping'an came from the Jiangnan naval camp. For nearly a month, he had devoted himself to the naval camp, doing his best to assist Governor Zhou Chong in expanding the navy.

Since Zhou Chong had just taken office as governor-general, he was busy familiarizing himself with various affairs in his jurisdiction and only took the time to visit the navy twice. The main tasks of setting the direction, allocating funds and supplies, and expanding the navy were all handled by Zhu Ping'an.

Zhu Pingan lived and ate at the naval camp, devoting himself wholeheartedly to the expansion of the navy. He offered suggestions and implemented them. In less than a month, the navy expanded from three thousand to ten thousand, and the number of warships also doubled.

Zhou Chong was very satisfied with Zhu Ping'an. Who wouldn't like such a hardworking and capable subordinate?

Since Zhu Ping'an lived and ate at the naval camp, Zhou Chong, the nominal naval commander, only visited the naval base twice. Furthermore, the naval base was expanded from the Zhejiang naval forces under Zhu Ping'an's command. Therefore, the entire naval force followed Zhu Ping'an's lead. To exaggerate, the current Jiangnan naval forces only knew Zhu Ping'an and not Zhou Chong.

Zhu Pingan was busy until Zhou Chong was dismissed from his position as governor by imperial decree.

To this day, Zhu Pingan still remembers Zhou Chong's astonishment and disbelief when he received the imperial edict to dismiss him.

"Alas, it is fate, Your Majesty. Why are you in such a hurry?" Zhou Chong received the imperial edict, sighed deeply, and stepped down from the stage in dejection.

After Zhou Chong stepped down, Zhu Ping'an saw him off for a while. Zhou Chong looked more than ten years older overnight; his hair turned completely white, and his figure became hunched.

Before parting, Zhou Chong said to Zhu Ping'an, "Zihou, I was dismissed before I could achieve anything as governor. The only political legacy I left is the Jiangnan Navy, which I entrust to you. I hope you can make good use of the navy and wipe out the Japanese pirates as soon as possible. That way, I can have given my due due to the Emperor."

"I will certainly not let you down, sir," Zhu Ping'an said, bowing respectfully.

"Hehe, alright Zihou, there's no need to see me off. I'm no longer worthy of the title 'sir.' I'm just a commoner now. Let's part ways here. I'm going to retire to the old mansion in Yingtian to enjoy my old age."

Zhou Chong waved his hand, his back hunched, and returned home dejectedly.

The day after seeing Zhou Chong off, Zhu Ping'an received a summons from Zhao Wenhua, ordering him to go to Yingtian to welcome the angel. (End of Chapter)