Yan Song's mood was exceptionally good tonight, and he became quite talkative. He slowly said,
"I've always said that opportunities are sometimes waited for. Don't rush yourselves… See? An opportunity has arrived… You all must handle this personally this time—
Long Wen, you're in charge of concocting that migrant worker system, the one that will stir up the Chinu. Go do it now, go personally, but don't show your face. Make it big, bring out all four of Zhu Mo's reforms and talk about them. When the Taizhou army is defeated, the situation will be different, and it will erupt!
Tingyi, you mentioned last time about pirates flying official banners to sink merchant ships, preventing them from delivering goods. That's excellent, you must personally push this! Sink more ships, Japanese, Ryukyuan, Korean, and even a Westerner's ship or two… Also, Shifan, write to Yang Bo and tell him to find some barbarians to attack Korean merchant convoys…
Wenhua, you're still in the Ministry of Rites. Figure out a way, once all the foreign merchant ships are sunk, to have all the foreign envoys make a fuss. Make it big, don't be afraid!
Maoqing, you go to Jiangnan with Long Wen and make it clear to everyone down there. Anyone who can stir up trouble, stir it up! Just say Zhu Mo's reforms have thrown the world into chaos!
The rest of you, think about it. Think now, and start your tasks tomorrow morning. No one is allowed to be idle! Do you understand?"
"Your subordinates understand."
The group had never seen Old Yan Song speak so much at once, nor had they seen him give such detailed instructions. They all felt that the situation had indeed reached its most critical juncture.
Everyone thought of Zhu Mo's reforms, knowing well that if they succeeded again, the profits of maritime trade would be completely finished, and the Great Ming would no longer be able to control and cage the world with exorbitant profits and violence.
Yan Maoqing, still wanting to say more, added,
"Esteemed Grand Secretary, Junior Grand Secretary, it might not be enough to just have them oppose the reforms. We still need to focus on Zhu Mo himself! I believe the Japanese pirates will surely land, and if we can find any handle, we should grab it. If not, we should still say that the Japanese pirates were lured by Zhu Mo, that he wants to establish himself as emperor in Jiangnan and rule the world with the Japanese pirates!"
Hiss!
Everyone was shocked. They deeply felt that Yan Maoqing's previous humiliation by Zhu Mo had indeed led to profound hatred. This move, though poisonous, was also born from a long-standing feud.
Yan Shifan walked over, patted his shoulder, and sighed,
"Old Yan, I know you hate him… Take this chance to avenge yourself! I'll give you a suggestion. Once the chaos erupts, find some mountain bandits to impersonate villagers and chop Zhu Mo down. Then you can say that the common people hated him to death, that he brought about his own demise through his actions…"
Yan Maoqing gritted his teeth and said, "Junior Grand Secretary, your subordinate has taken your advice!"
At this moment, in the study,
The initial tense and solidified atmosphere had shifted to optimism and excitement. Everyone felt that their day of prominence was fast approaching, and that the dreaded Zhu Mo would be unable to escape this time.
…
At this time,
It was the season of thawing and revival. Jiangnan occasionally experienced overcast days, with dense night fog lingering, and the sea shrouded in a cold mist.
Taizhou Barracks,
Before dawn.
Hu Zongxian, suffering from rheumatism in his legs, leaned on his couch, reading various military reports. He would occasionally struggle to get up, look at the terrain, and sigh. Qi Jiguang had also been awake all night. They had learned of the intelligence that Japanese pirates were coming to reinforce from Kyushu, and after discussing it all night, they decided to launch a full-scale attack at dawn.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
Hu Zongxian, seeing the sky gradually brighten, said weakly, "Yuan Jing, the speed at which the Japanese pirates arrived is truly unexpected. They should be here within two to three days. Fortunately, heaven has eyes, and the righteous merchants reported it in advance…"
As he spoke, a hint of relief flashed across both their faces.
Qi Jiguang said,
"The Minister is indeed in a difficult position. Fortunately, this is also an opportunity. With the Japanese pirates coming to our aid, Grand Secretary Yan can be appeased… We can't just keep surrounding them without attacking and let the Japanese pirates break the siege, can we? Alas, for the Great Ming to have reached this state, it's fortunate that heaven pities us."
Hu Zongxian was also immensely relieved.
On one hand, the Jiajing Emperor was repeatedly urging him, and on the other, Yan Song had written to instruct him to surround without attacking. Caught in the middle, he was utterly exhausted. A few days prior, the merchant Ye Zongming had learned from pirates that three to four thousand Japanese pirates aboard over a hundred warships had departed from Kyushu. Counting the days, they would reach the waters off Taizhou within these few days.
Although the military situation was urgent, it had also finally provided him with an excuse, as the Japanese pirates were the ones attacking first, and Yan Song could explain it away.
At this moment,
Both men felt that victory was still within their grasp. While filled with apprehension, they also felt a sense of inexplicable joy, believing that the situation, which had been exhausting for the past year, had finally reached its turning point.
Qi Jiguang was restless and said, "Minister, I will go to the Taocheng area now. At the third watch of the Mao hour, will we launch the full attack?"
"Yes, good!"
Qi Jiguang girded his saber and was about to stride out of the tent.
Just then, the vanguard galloped in, shouting in alarm,
"Commander, General Qi, urgent!"
With a thud!
The man dismounted, fell, and crawled over, handing them the military report.
As they unfolded it, they both cried out in surprise.
Ah?!
With a thud!
Hu Zongxian slumped onto the couch, his face pale. Qi Jiguang's face also turned instantly ashen.
"So fast? How could they be so fast? And how could there be so many…"
Hu Zongxian mumbled in a daze for a moment, then suddenly stood up and shouted, "Yuan Jing! Immediately retreat to Mount Tiantai! Issue a clear order to all camps, the entire army retreats!"
Qi Jiguang, remaining calm in the face of danger,
"Notify all camps, the entire army retreats to Mount Tiantai!"
Qi Jiguang galloped away, but Hu Zongxian was still in shock. Just then, a fierce wind picked up, and a torrential rain instantly began to fall.
Within a short hour,
Constant military reports informed him of the situation—
The Japanese pirates were divided into two forces. One broke through the water stronghold's blockade from the sea, while the other landed at Taocheng, attacking the land fortifications. Additionally, mountain bandits from the direction of Mount Tiantai cut off their retreat. In summary, it was an annihilation counter-attack…
Hu Zongxian looked up at the sky in the pouring rain and sighed deeply, "Foolish! I was truly foolish… Yan Song, Yan Song, you are a scoundrel! A true scoundrel!"
A piercing pain struck him, and he suddenly realized—
He had been sold out by Yan Song!
That last letter was clearly a deception!
His hesitation for more than ten days was meant to wait for the Japanese pirates to arrive…
At this moment,
His personal guards tried to help him into the tent. Hu Zongxian pushed them away with a palm, drew his saber with a clang, and was about to commit suicide. His personal guards seemed to lunge forward and grab the blade, a splash of fresh blood erupting…
Hu Zongxian sighed, tears streaming down his face…
"You all, hurry and leave… It will be too late if you don't. Go far away, and never come back…"
The personal guards, who had followed him for over a decade, cried out,
"Commander, no! Live to fight another day!"