dmims Chapter 2077: Responsible Prefect Zhao
Chapter 2077: Responsible Prefect Zhao
Chapter 2077: Responsible Prefect Zhao
Zhu Ping'an led a thousand Zhejiang troops, escorting 10,000 shi of grain and 500 shi of salt, and headed straight for Jiaxing City.
The journey was smooth. Although the food, fodder and salt were tempting, no petty thief dared to provoke a thousand fully armed government troops.
The Zhejiang Army had insufficient horses, but had plenty of mules and donkeys. There was one horse for every thousand Zhejiang Army soldiers. Food, fodder, and salt were also transported in ox carts. So overall the Zhejiang Army marched very quickly and reached Jiaxing on the third day.
The defenders on the Jiaxing city wall saw from afar an army of more than a thousand people heading straight for the south gate. The team was winding like a long dragon.
Having experienced the tragedy of the Japanese pirates' sneak attack and seizure of the city, the defenders of Jiaxing City are now much more vigilant. When they see an unknown army approaching from afar, they immediately disperse the people at the city gate and close the city gate.
"Zhejiang Governor Zhu Ping'an, under the order of the Governor-General, is escorting grain and salt. Please open the gate and let them pass immediately."
Liu Dadao held Zhu Ping'an's token, rode to the city gate and showed the token to the defenders on the city.
"General, please forgive me. Please put the tokens in the hanging basket so that we can identify them." The commander of the garrison on the city wall clasped his fists and shouted to the people below the city. As he spoke, the commander ordered a hanging basket to be lowered from the city wall.
"As cowardly as a mouse." Liu Dadao muttered.
"No, this is rigorous and worthy of praise. Dadao, do as they say and put the token into the hanging basket and let them verify your identity." Zhu Ping'an waved his hand, signaling Liu Dadao to do as the defenders asked.
"Okay, young master." Liu Dadao responded and stepped forward to put Zhu Ping'an's token into the hanging basket that fell from the city wall. He shouted to the people on the city wall, "Look carefully. Once you have verified that everything is correct, open the city gate quickly."
The defenders on the city lifted the hanging basket up, picked up Zhu Ping'an's governor's token and looked at it for a moment. Several defenders nodded, and when they confirmed that it was indeed the governor's token, they waved their hands and were about to order the city gate to be opened, but were stopped by a voice.
"Be patient, the Japanese pirates are cunning and full of tricks. You can't control them. Let me check it out. The Governor-General has appointed me to guard the South Gate. Opening the city gate requires my order."
A righteous and stern voice came from the gate tower, and then Jiaxing prefect Zhao Chong walked out of the gate tower.
"Greetings to the Lord."
Several generals hurriedly saluted Zhao Chong.
"No need to be so polite. I have said it many times that there is no such thing as vulgar etiquette in the army. It is enough for you to defend the city with all your heart. Regarding defending the city, I must remind you again. You must be careful, cautious, cautious, and learn the lesson from the fall of Jiaxing. Don't be fooled by the Japanese pirates. It was my subordinates who believed the Japanese pirates and were deceived by them into opening the city gate. I was misled by my subordinates! I have also learned the lesson from the past, so I will personally sit at the city gate and conduct strict inspections. From now on, the opening of the city gate must be based on my orders." Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing, sighed and spoke to the generals in a very serious manner.
"We will follow the orders of the Lord." All the generals clasped their fists.
Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing, was the chief of the city gates appointed by Governor Zhang Jing, so naturally all the generals obeyed Zhao Chong's orders.
In addition, although Jiaxing prefect Zhao Chong lost Jiaxing City, he later led his army to recapture it.
No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. But if one can admit his mistakes and correct them, and is brave after setbacks, this is what people consider a good comrade.
By recovering Jiaxing City, Zhao Chong's image in everyone's mind collapsed and was established again.
Zhao Chong still has a certain prestige among the generals and soldiers.
If he had lost Jiaxing, his prestige would have been completely lost. However, he made amends by regaining the city of Jiaxing. His prestige was reestablished after being shattered.
"Your Excellency, this is the token presented by the city. It belongs to the Governor of Zhejiang Province, Zhu Ping'an."
A group of generals handed the token to Zhao Chong, the prefect of Jiaxing.
Jiaxing prefect Zhao Chong took the token, checked it carefully, and nodded, "Yes, you checked it well. This is indeed a genuine token. It really belongs to Governor Zhu of Zhubutang."
"Since you have confirmed that everything is correct, shall we open the city gates? People in the city say that Governor Zhu is here on the orders of the Governor-General to deliver food and salt. There are indeed hundreds of carts carrying food and salt in the city."
The general clasped his fists and asked for instructions.
"No hurry. Although the token is genuine, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that the Japanese pirates stole Governor Zhu's token."
"Also, from the city walls, we can indeed see hundreds of carts carrying food and salt, but all we see are a lot of bags on the carts. Can you confirm whether the bags contain food?"
"Even if they are all food and salt, what if the Japanese pirates deliberately used them as bait to trick the city gates open?!"
"We have to be responsible for the governor and the hundreds of thousands of people in the city. We cannot open the city gates easily."
Jiaxing prefect Zhao Chong said seriously.
"What you have taught me is true, but what if it is really the governor who is escorting grain and salt to the city?"
The general asked with some concern.
"I am in charge of the city gates. I am responsible for everything. I am also responsible for the governor and the people. I believe the governor can understand. Even if the governor blames me, I will be responsible. You all acted according to my orders, so the governor cannot blame you."
Jiaxing prefect Zhao Chong said with great responsibility.
Hearing that Zhao Chong was going to take all the responsibility, all the generals couldn't help but look at him with admiration and no longer had any doubts.
Anyway, someone will take care of it if something goes wrong, so there is no need to worry.
"I have met the governor before and know his appearance. Let me verify whether the person under the city is the governor himself, and whether the things he is escorting are food and salt. After the verification is correct, I will open the city gate." Jiaxing Governor Zhao Chong said seriously.
"How can we verify it, Your Excellency the Governor? Could you please go to the city and let Your Excellency identify it?" the generals asked.
"How dare you do that? The Governor is our superior. How dare you let him condescend to the city!"
Jiaxing Governor Zhao Chong shook his head repeatedly.
"How do we verify it?" the generals asked.
"Put me down in the basket. I will go to visit the governor, return the token to him in person, and apologize to him. I will then verify whether the food and salt are real. After confirmation, I will make a gesture to open the city gate. When you see my gesture, look at the city gate."
Jiaxing Governor Zhao Chong explained.
"As you command." The generals took the order, then hesitated and asked in a low voice, "What if there is something unusual under the city?"
"If unfortunately, the person under the city is not Governor Zhu Ping'an, but Japanese pirates in disguise, then even if I am kidnapped by the bandits and I threaten you to open the city gate, you must never open the city gate! It is worth it to sacrifice my life in exchange for the safety of the whole city!" said the Jiaxing governor with a fearless look on his face.
"Fu Zun!"
All the generals were shocked by Jiaxing prefect Zhao Chong.
(End of this chapter)