As the sun rises in the east, the sun shines, and everything shines, the south gate of Suzhou City opens. The chief of the Suzhou Mansion's military room and the chief of the ceremonial room, escorted by more than a thousand elite soldiers, drive more than a hundred fully loaded carriages out of the city.
The carriage was filled with slaughtered pigs, sheep and other meats, as well as various vegetables and fruits, as well as delicacies cooked in restaurants. These were Suzhou officials, wealthy businessmen and ordinary people who were offering gifts and condolences to the Zhejiang Army. What follows
Several wagons carried gunpowder as well as supplies such as sulfur, saltpeter and charcoal.
Of course, the things in the city to express condolences and reward the Zhejiang troops were far more than these.
When they heard the news that the government was going out of the city to express condolences and reward the Zhejiang Army, the common people helped the elderly and young children, carried chickens, ducks, and various agricultural and sideline products.
The people here were even more enthusiastic and enthusiastic. They were all grateful to Zhu Pingan for escorting them into the city.
However, considering that the Japanese pirate army was still outside the city and had only retreated ten miles without retreating, Suzhou Magistrate Master Shang earnestly dissuaded the enthusiastic people. He only selected some condolences, loaded them into more than a hundred carriages, and escorted them out of the city by officers and soldiers.
To express condolences, the rest of the people are not allowed to leave the city.
Originally, Master Shang, the prefect, wanted to lead a team out of the city to express condolences, but the subordinate officials tried hard to persuade him for various necessary and sufficient reasons, so he had to appoint the director of the military room and the director of the ceremonial room to go out of the city to express condolences to the Zhejiang army on his behalf.
In order to guard against Japanese pirates attacking the city, the city gate was closed immediately as soon as the military convoy left the city.
"Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, the Japanese pirates are still ahead, let's go early and come back early." The hostess of the military room kept urging.
"It makes sense, hurry up. It's not that we are afraid of Japanese pirates, but we don't want to cause trouble to Mr. Zhu and the Zhejiang Army."
The hostess of the reception room immediately nodded repeatedly, urging the team to speed up, and explained to everyone.
"That's right, that's right. It's not that we are afraid of Japanese pirates. The main reason is that we don't want to cause trouble to Mr. Zhu and others."
The officer in charge of the barracks was convinced.
The group of people drove faster and faster, and soon arrived in front of the Zhejiang Army's Fengqiao Camp.
Zhu Ping'an had already noticed the troops coming from the city, and sent people to greet them and usher them into the Fengqiao Camp.
"Master Zhu, generals, on behalf of the prefect Shang and everyone in the city, we would like to thank Master Zhu and the officers and men of the Zhejiang Army for sticking to their positions, defeating the Japanese pirates, and protecting Suzhou. We congratulate Master Zhu and the Zhejiang Army on their brilliant victory. This is
This is a small gesture of gratitude from the whole city of Suzhou. Twenty of the cars were sent to us by your ladyship. Please don’t refuse, Mr. Zhu."
The hostess of the ceremonial room and the hostel of the military room came forward to greet Zhu Ping'an and presented him with a gift list of condolences and gifts.
Zhu Ping'an glanced at the gift list and saw that it was full of meat, vegetables, fruits and other consolation gifts. Li Shu had sent twenty carts of things. In addition to meat, there was also urgently needed gunpowder and gunpowder raw materials, so he was not polite.
Received everything according to the order.
"Thank you so much, Magistrate Shang, thank you all the folks in the city, thank you two adults and all the brothers for taking the risk to send us condolences. We won't be polite." Zhu Ping'an bowed his hand and thanked the people, who accepted the condolences.
Seeing Zhu Ping'an accepting the condolence gifts, the hostess of the military room and the hostel of the reception room couldn't wait any longer. From time to time they looked at the direction of the Japanese pirate army in the distance, worried that the Japanese pirates who had retreated ten miles away would come back.
"Master Zhu is busy with military affairs, so we won't disturb him."
After a brief exchange of greetings, the two said goodbye to Zhu Pingan, leaving a beautiful message at the end, "Master Shang said that if Master Zhu has any difficulties, please feel free to tell them, and we will try our best to satisfy you."
"Speaking of which, I really have a problem."
As soon as they finished speaking, Zhu Pingan spoke.
The hostess of the military room and the hostel room couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. They didn't expect that Zhu Pingan was really not polite at all.
"I wonder if Mr. Zhu needs our cooperation for anything? But he needs reinforcements? Speaking of reinforcements, there are actually not enough soldiers and horses in the city..." The director of the military room was afraid that Zhu Pingan would ask for reinforcements, so he blocked the words first.
"We don't want reinforcements, we want oil." Zhu Pingan shook his head slightly before he finished speaking and said.
"You want oil?" The officer in the barracks was stunned, with a confused look on his face. He didn't know why Zhu Ping'an wanted oil? Is there no oil in the Zhejiang military camp for cooking? We have sent so much pork, and the fat meat is enough for refining oil?
"That's right, please ask the two adults to raise money for us as soon as possible after returning to the city. Whether it is sesame oil, rapeseed oil or lard, it will be at least one thousand kilograms. Of course, the more the better." Zhu Pingan nodded.
"What does Mr. Zhu need so much oil for?" the hostess of the barracks asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"I'm of great use. It's confidential. Please forgive me. Your Excellency will understand it in the future." Zhu Ping'an kept this secret.
Military affairs are secrets, and the fewer people know about secrets, the better.
"No problem, no problem. If you just need oil, there will be no problem. Let alone one thousand kilograms, even three thousand kilograms will be no problem."
The officer in charge of the barracks was just curious. As long as they were not allowed to send reinforcements, a mere three thousand kilograms of oil would be nothing.
"Thank you very much." Zhu Ping'an cupped his hands and thanked her.
"You're welcome, Mr. Zhu. If there is nothing else, we will not disturb Mr. Zhu and prepare for the war. We will return to the city right now, collect grease for you, and send someone to your camp as soon as possible."
The boss couldn't wait to say goodbye to Zhu Pingan, fearing that the Japanese pirates would come back and they would not be able to go back.
"My two gentlemen, please wait a moment. My wife is in the city. I am afraid that she will miss her. I would like to say a few words. Please bring it to my wife."
Zhu Ping'an asked the two of them to wait a moment and fetched the pen and ink. Without stopping, he picked up the pen and wrote down line after line of ink.
"Nian Qing"
I remember when I was young,
I love chatting and you love laughing.
Once upon a time we were side by side under the peach tree,
The wind is blowing in the trees and the birds are chirping.
I fell asleep somehow,
How many flowers have fallen in dreams?
——Don't think about it, I'm at peace. When the war is over, I will hold hands and enjoy the snow with you, and we will be together.
After Zhu Ping'an finished writing, he dried the ink, folded it carefully, put it in a letter raft, and gave it to two people, asking them to take it into the city and deliver it to Li Shu.
Li Shu is almost full term, and pregnant women tend to be nervous and anxious. I wrote this letter to comfort Li Shu so that she doesn't have to worry about herself.
"In addition, I would also like to ask the two adults to remind Shang Zhifu that the Japanese pirates were frustrated at Fengqiao this time, or they may attack other city gates. I also ask Shang Zhifu to take precautions and not give the Japanese pirates an opportunity. If the Japanese pirates attack other cities
Gate, our Zhejiang army will send troops to attack the rear of the Japanese pirates and coordinate the defense in the city, so that the Japanese pirates will return without success."
Zhu Pingan sent the two men out of the camp, and before leaving, he asked them to send a message to Magistrate Shang to prevent Japanese pirates from attacking him.
"Don't worry, sir, we will definitely bring the message to you." The hostess of the military room and the hostel room nodded repeatedly, fearing that Zhu Ping'an would have other things to do, they couldn't wait to leave.