It must be known that, at this very moment, the overall situation of the anti-Japanese campaign in Jiangnan had descended into chaos.
Originally, Hu Zongxian, as the Governor-General of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, had taken the lead. However, after a devastating defeat orchestrated by Yan Song's manipulation, his reputation had plummeted to an all-time low. Everyone knew he would eventually be dismissed, perhaps even face execution. In such circumstances, how could he still command any prestige? To put it severely, who would dare associate closely with him?
Tan Lun, who was supposed to assist Hu Zongxian, had been promoted to the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Jiangnan by Emperor Jiajing a while ago. However, he was a subordinate of Prince Yu, who had remained silent about the defeat at Taizhou. How could Tan Lun dare to step forward independently? For the past two months, he had remained holed up at home, unwilling to get involved even in the reform efforts.
Qi Jiguang, after the defeat at Taizhou, had fled to the outskirts of Suzhou. He had been taken in by Zhao Zhenji, the Governor of Jiangsu and a disciple of Xu Jie, where his remaining troops were preserved. He was now stationed north of Huating, burning with anxiety.
He knew that Hu Zongxian was no longer in a position to support the overall situation. He had privately sought out Tan Lun, but Tan Lun, prioritizing self-preservation, had refused to even meet him!
Yu Da You, possessing sufficient seniority to take over, had been implicated as the mastermind behind the sinking of Portuguese and Hui merchant ships. He was now accused of being behind the scenes, and everyone in Jiangnan knew he was likely to meet an unfortunate end. How could he possibly lead the entire campaign?
Even Zhu Mo and Zhang Juzheng were unable to fill this role. As the ringleaders of the reform, and with the Yan family launching such a massive offensive, both internally and externally, all aimed at derailing the reforms, who would dare to heed their words under such a wave of pressure? Not only Qi Jiguang and Tan Lun, but even Zhang Juzheng's own subordinates were starting to have second thoughts.
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As a result, the overall anti-Japanese campaign was left without a central leader.
Precisely because of this,
Zhu Mo had personally gone to Xiamen to find Yu Da You. Although the grand strategy had been agreed upon, land operations still required the cooperation of Hu Zongxian and Qi Jiguang.
This was because,
Qi Jiguang's army had been significantly depleted. The last defeat at Taizhou had cost them nearly ten thousand men, and he now had at most four thousand. However, these were battle-hardened veterans, and without them, the fight was essentially over.
As for other forces, he was considering the Qinu. Although the first batch of 160,000 Qinu included some fanatically loyal servants who couldn't live without serving their masters, most were ordinary displaced individuals. Once their status was redeemed, their morale would soar, and they would undoubtedly be useful. A recruitment order would surely garner a strong response.
After finishing the letter,
Zhu Mo instructed Zheng Qin to find someone to deliver it, and then he himself bid farewell that night, returning to Hangzhou to recruit the Qinu.
...
Unbeknownst to Zhu Mo,
Seeing the tide surge, Qi Jiguang was restless. Without further ado, he also rushed to Hangzhou and met with Tan Lun and Hu Zongxian in a secret discussion in the back courtyard of the Governor-General's mansion. Discussing the overall anti-Japanese situation and the defeat at Taizhou, as well as the current predicament of internal and external pressures, the three had not seen each other for a long time, and it felt like ages, leading to a flood of emotions.
Before Zhu Mo even arrived in Jiangnan, the three had been leading the anti-Japanese campaign for three to four years. Hu Zongxian was known as the Pillar of the Southeast, not only practically directing the war effort but also holding unquestioned authority over the coastal provinces, truly the soul of every Governor-General tasked with suppressing the pirates. He was adept at recognizing and utilizing talent, assigning Qi Jiguang full responsibility for military affairs and Tan Lun for logistical coordination, forming an invincible triumvirate.
However, due to financial issues, this highly capable combination had achieved nothing for years. Several times, they were on the verge of success, only to fall short due to a lack of provisions and factional strife.
After Zhu Mo's arrival, a reform movement swept through, providing ample military funds, and the three quickly encircled the Japanese pirates. Yet, unexpectedly, the court's decay led Yan Song to collude with the pirates, ruining the entire situation. Not only that, but a series of intertwined events, both internal and external, occurred, rendering the Grand Secretariat virtually useless and leaving the anti-Japanese campaign without a leader.
And all indications pointed to,
A decisive battle being imminent.
Qi Jiguang's secret visit to Hangzhou this time was to seek a definitive answer from Tan Lun. However, after a long discussion, both men remained evasive. Thinking that they needed to return to their camps to prepare for battle and had no time to waste, Qi Jiguang spoke frankly:
"Minister, Zili, the tide has already arrived, and the Japanese pirates may very well attack the weakest point, Jinshan Wei... Putting the sea aside for now, the Japanese pirates this time number over ten thousand. Once they land, the consequences are unimaginable! Minister, you are currently burdened by your reputation. Zili, you must shoulder this responsibility..."
He bore unavoidable responsibility for the defeat at Taizhou as the military commander. However, because this defeat was exploited and amplified by the Yan faction, he had faded from public view. His current concern for the entire situation to collapse was purely from the bottom of his heart, hoping that a civil official would step forward to preside over the situation. In the Ming Dynasty's bureaucratic system, civil officials commanded military officers. No matter how much ambition and capability Qi Jiguang possessed, he needed a high-ranking civil official to take the lead, otherwise, it would immediately lead to disaster.
Tan Lun, being a follower of Prince Yu, dared not say much due to the Prince's silence. After much discussion, he had been beating around the bush. Now, with Qi Jiguang pressing him, he said:
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"Minister Hu is already being targeted and held responsible for the defeat at Taizhou. The censors are clamoring for his head. How can he possibly lead the overall situation? I? I am merely a Provincial Administration Commissioner. With what authority can I command four provinces? Yuanjing, you shouldn't push me into a corner... In Hangzhou City now, there is Zhang Juzheng, a Grand Secretary, and Zhu Mo, a Cabinet Minister. Why don't you go to them?"
Upon hearing this,
The three sighed in unison.
Qi Jiguang thought: Zhu Mo and Zhang Juzheng are already being condemned. I've seen posters all over the city calling for Zhu Mo's death to save the Ming Dynasty. Don't you, Tan Lun, understand this? How can those two lead the overall situation? How can they face the furious populace of four provinces?
Hu Zongxian, who had remained silent all day, suddenly spoke with a grave tone:
"Zili, Yuanjing, regardless of whether you can command the officials and the people, you two must do something... How about this, I will risk everything. The Governor-General's mansion will issue a proclamation against the Japanese pirates, urging the people not to cause trouble. Whether it's the militia or the Baojia system, everyone must mobilize, otherwise, if the Japanese pirates land, it is the common people who will die... Then, regarding how to deploy the troops, Yuanjing, Zili, you should also devise a strategy. I will send someone to deliver it to Zhu Mo and Yu Da You... As for what Yan Song thinks, let him be!"
Mm-hmm,
Qi Jiguang looked at Hu Zongxian's weathered and lonely face, and tears welled up. He thought that if Hu Zongxian insisted on stepping forward again this time, he would be standing in direct opposition to Yan Song. With all the officials and gentry in the country now calling for his head, how could they possibly let him go? His fate, by putting himself out there like this, was predictable. Thinking of this, he choked out:
"Minister, you, alas..."
Tan Lun, seeing that Hu Zongxian had gone this far, could not help but express his stance. He said, "Ruzhen, I will go and draft the proclamation immediately, and I will also send a copy to Governor Zhang Han. Let's all co-sign it... We can't have you bearing everything alone, can we?"
Mm,
Only then did the three achieve a shared understanding, thinking of their lifelong ambitions, to reach a point where they dared not even resist the Japanese pirates, it was truly a source of profound sorrow.