Chapter 4: My fate is in my own hands, not in heaven's

  "It's done! What was supposed to come has indeed arrived! And it came so quickly!"

  Although Zhu Ping'an had already made mental preparations, he was still a bit dazed when he suddenly heard the news that the bandit army was approaching Fengyang.

  Having watched many cross-dressing dramas, Zhu Ping'an was enamored with the invincibility of the characters. However, once she actually found herself in this tumultuous era, Zhu Ping'an discovered that a person's power is actually so insignificant.

  The knowledge advantage possessed by the traverser can only play a very limited role in this era. The development of industry and economy has its own laws, and any idea that wants to deviate from reality is doomed to suffer. A screw nut, a small casting mold component that cannot be smaller, seems simple, but contains the accumulation and inheritance of science and technology and industry over hundreds of years.

  So, nowadays Zhu Pingan can only try his best to connect the past and present within his ability range, striving to apply some knowledge in his mind to current practical use.

  Organize the military households to participate in regular military training, and transform the soldiers of the hundred households according to the salary system and management system of later generations. This was Zhu Pingan's first attempt. Fortunately, the effect is not bad.

  "Master, anyway, we've already gotten a lot of silver. Why don't we think of a way to take advantage of the chaos and rescue the prince, then escape together?" Cao Wushang said hesitantly.

  "Run?" Zhu Ping'an rolled his eyes in annoyance. Cao Wujian was a guy with a good face, but the words that came out of his mouth were completely brainless. "Where to run? The king is the court's most wanted criminal, and I'm a hundredth-ranked official in the Ministry of War. We can't even escape from Nan Zhili before we'll be caught and brought back. Do you want us to be beheaded together?"

  "What's to be done?" Cao Wujing also had no idea and suddenly became somewhat flustered.

  "My fate is mine, not heaven's! It's just a bloody fight!" Zhu Ping'an swung his arm fiercely.

  "Big dog!" Just as Zhu Ping'an shouted loudly. Not far away, the small flag Zhang Da Gou, who had just taken over the shift, ran over with a few soldiers in a hurry.

  "Sir, what are your orders?" Last night, he witnessed a series of moves by Zhu Ping'an, and now the big dog's eyes were filled with admiring little stars whenever he saw him.

  "What about Second Dog?" Zhu Ping'an asked.

  The big dog scratched its head, "I don't know if it's because I ate something wrong, but I've had a stomachache since yesterday and didn't even participate in training today!"

  Zhu Ping'an waved his hand, "Can't manage so much anymore, pass on my orders. You, Er Gou and Yue Jin Feng will be promoted to General Flag immediately, each commanding 100 brothers. The specially made gun heads and steel knives that I previously ordered the craftsmen to prepare, replace them all for the brothers!"

  "Are you going up?" The big dog was both surprised and delighted.

  This guy is a brainless fool, and he and his brother Zhang Ergou both came from the Liaozhen border army. After Liaozhen was gradually eroded by the Qing dynasty, the two brothers brought their mother back to Guannei and relied on Duan Xinyan as a personal soldier in Fengyang. After Zhu Ping'an arrived, they were assigned to his command. This life has no hobbies, except for drinking, eating meat, and fighting on the battlefield. His brother Ergou's thoughts are actually more delicate.

  Zhu Ping'an's face turned solemn, "Tell the brothers, train soldiers for a thousand days and use them for a moment. Go back and settle your family well. I'll let our hundred households' military officer Hong Baozi go over there later, two taels of silver per person as a settlement fee. When the war is over, if someone dies in battle due to bad luck, each household will receive five more taels of silver. Of course, those who have made military achievements will be heavily rewarded!"

  In less than an hour, the news of the rebels' approach spread throughout Fengyang City. The city immediately fell into chaos, with citizens hastily packing their belongings and fleeing with their families, while the elderly, weak, women, and children who had nowhere to turn could only cry out in despair. Even the patrol inspectors from the Ministry of War lost the will to maintain order, and deserters began to appear among the troops of the Bannermen and the Xiang Army.

  At noon, the governor's mansion finally took action. Under the command of Zhēn Fēi, the commander of the Brocade Guard, the patrol began to mobilize and maintain law and order, beheading more than a dozen ** and thugs who were taking advantage of the chaos to loot on the streets. The magistrates of Fengyang Prefecture, the Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office, and the Censorate also dispersed to various places to gather strong men to cooperate with the government troops in defending the city.

  The problem is that the current Fengyang does not have a city wall. The Fengyang City, which was completed during the Hongwu period, had 104 bazaars and was the second-largest city after Beijing and Nanjing. It was also one of the top two cities in the country. However, due to limited national strength at that time, the outer city walls were only made of rammed earth. Later, successive emperors only reinforced the earthen walls by wrapping them with some city bricks on the outside. Therefore, Fengyang's city wall looks majestic but is actually weak inside. Of course, this is also because Fengyang is located in the heart of the empire and has never experienced war, so there was no need to build strong city walls.

  It was also for this reason that in the eighth year of Chongzhen, the bandits took down Fengyang in one battle. Apart from the heavy burden of corvée and taxes on the local people of Fengyang, who secretly colluded with the bandits, there was another major reason: the military preparations in Fengyang were lax and the city defenses were weak.

  By now, the big fire that had been raging for years had destroyed the imperial mausoleum, public and private houses, the Longxing Temple built by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, and 300,000 cypress trees in the mausoleum area. In addition, the earthen city walls that remained around Fengyang were also razed to the ground. Without any natural barriers or defenses, what could be used to resist the bandits' army of 20,000?

  Duan Xinyan returned with a distracted look on his face, his expression heavy. Without guessing, Zhu Ping'an knew that this Commander must be at a loss and had lost his mind. If it weren't for the group of civil and military officials from Fengyang Prefecture following behind him, he would have probably packed up his things and slipped away by now.

  Jū Zhōng was a middle-aged civil official, with a clear and dignified appearance, a short mustache under his chin, and wearing the crimson robe of a fourth-rank civil official with cloud-and-wild-geese embroidery. He was none other than Lù Zhènfēi, who was then serving as the Circuit Intendant of Fēngyáng. His eyes were filled with worry, but shone brightly nonetheless. Upon seeing the empty drill grounds, Lù Zhènfēi's face suddenly darkened, and just as he was about to turn around and speak, his gaze fell upon the troops under Zhu Píngān, who were in the midst of formation drills for spear thrusts.

  Lu Zhenfei closed his mouth and turned back, with both hands clasped behind him, watching the exercise with great interest.

  A group of civil and military officials looked at each other, none daring to speak out of turn. Fengyang Town Guardian Eunuch Lu Jiude and Imperial Mausoleum Guardian Eunuch Shi Yingjiao were also among them.

  The news that the imperial court wants to adjust the garrison officials is spreading like wildfire. As the two leaders of Fengyang, they both have their own ideas in mind, but on the surface, they are harmonious. Neither of them spoke, but instead stood quietly half a step behind Lu Zhenfei, also sizing up the training exercises on the school grounds.

  Before long, Lu Jiude suddenly shouted out in surprise, "Whose troops are these?"

  Duan Xian hurriedly ran forward and said, "Reporting to Lord Lu, it is a soldier from the hundred households under the jurisdiction of Gao Qiang Wei!"

  Lu Jiude nodded and smiled slightly, "Not bad, not bad, although the method is a bit strange, but it does have some effect!"

  Only Shi Yingjiao shook her head slightly, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

  Lu Zhenfei nodded in agreement beside him, "Director Lu comes from the Imperial Stables, he's well-versed in military affairs. If Director Lu says these soldiers are fine, then they absolutely won't be wrong!"

  Lu Jiude smiled and slightly bowed his head, "Lord Lu is too polite, with a great enemy in front of us, we can still take out one branch of troops in Fengyang, this is our good fortune!"

  The commanders and qianhus of the Imperial Guard and the new army guarding the mausoleum all fell silent, looking at each other, then lowered their heads.

  The main officials of the Fengyang government, including Lu Jiude and Lu Zhenfei, as well as Shi Yingjiao, were all aware that they had a responsibility to defend their territory and could not afford to fail. In the eighth year of Chongzhen's reign, bandits attacked and broke through Fengyang, killing officials such as Yan Rongxuan, and over 10,000 civilians. The imperial mausoleum and Longxing Temple were burned down, enraging Emperor Chongzhen, who ordered Yang Yipeng, the governor of Fengyang, and Yang Ze, the eunuch in charge of defending the city, to take their own lives. If Fengyang were to fall again this time, none of these high-ranking officials would be able to escape unscathed.

  But Fengyang City is currently without any defenses, and the local military strength is only a little over 6,000 people, which is really not enough to withstand a major attack. Apart from sending an urgent message to Nanjing, even Lu Jiude and Lu Zhenfei, who are known for their resourcefulness, were at a loss as to what to do.

  Lu Zhenfei looked for a while and beckoned to Duan Xinyan, "Go and call this Bai Hu over!"

  A large number of civil and military officials behind him suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, each taking a few steps back in unison. Lu Jiufei and Lu Zhenfei exchanged a look, simultaneously letting out a sigh.

  "Your humble servant Zhu Ping'an has seen the Honorable Circuit Intendant, Lord Lu, Lord Shi, and all the esteemed gentlemen!" Zhu Ping'an knelt down on one knee.

  Lu Zhenfei nodded and motioned for Zhu Ping'an to get up and respond, "Your troops are well-trained, but it's hard to say how they'll perform on the battlefield."

  "To defend the border and ensure the people's safety, I am willing to die!" Zhu Ping'an answered with a deep understanding of the leadership's questioning techniques.

  Even Lu Jiude and Lu Zhenfei were moved. Lu Jiude asked: "Has Zhu Baihu read books?"

  "I have merely followed Master Fu's enlightenment!"

  This answer made Lu Zhenfei even more satisfied, he really didn't expect that there would be military officers who had read books in the army household, which made him have a slightly better impression of Zhu Ping'an. "The rebel troops are approaching, do you think Fengyang City can hold on?"

  This question had an additional layer of scrutiny, causing Duan Xiyue to secretly wipe sweat for Zhu Pingan.

  "In response to Governor's words, based on the current situation, it is absolutely impossible to hold on!" Zhu Ping'an thought for a moment and replied decisively.

  "How dare you!" Shi Yingkui shouted, unable to hold back.

  Lu Zhenfei revealed a hint of a smile, "No need to get angry, Stone. It's rare for this young hundred official to speak the truth. The current crisis is like Mount Tai crushing an egg, defending is death, not defending is also death. Let's hear what he has to say!"

  "Tell me, if you were the commander of Fengyang, how would you break through?" asked Lu Zhenfei with great interest.

  "There are two ways. First, to clear the walls and fields. The bandits have come for nothing but money and grain. They are like a swarm of locusts; if they don't get any benefits, their morale will be shaken and they will naturally disperse in confusion. Second, to retreat and defend the Imperial City, and wait for reinforcements. If I remember correctly, Lord Lu was ordered to rebuild Fengyang and brought a large amount of money and grain with him. These grains can now be put to good use. The Imperial City has been repaired and is high and thick, and can absolutely withstand the bandits' attack..."

  "Yellow-mouthed children, a bunch of nonsense! The imperial city is where the Phoenix Pavilion is located, how can it accommodate common people like you?" Shi Yingjiao interrupted Zhu Ping'an's words without hesitation.

  Lu Zhenfei furrowed his brow, and even Lu Jiude showed a hint of dissatisfaction with Shi Yingjue.

  "In the eighth year of Chongzhen, the rebels broke through the outer city. At that time, Yang Ze, the eunuch in charge of Fengyang Town, ordered the soldiers and civilians to retreat into the imperial city to defend it, and then joined forces with the relief troops to force the rebels to retreat. Master Shi shouldn't have forgotten this, right?" Zhu Ping'an said coldly.

  "You...!" Shi Yingjiao was speechless with his mouth agape.

  "Enough!" Lu Zhenfei furrowed his brow in contemplation for a moment, then suddenly flung out his sleeve. "Pass the order: the rebel army will arrive at dawn or dusk, and Fengyang is now without any safe place to defend. All city soldiers and civilians must immediately enter the Imperial City to defend it solidly. All money and grain within Fengyang City, regardless of official or private ownership, are to be transported into the Imperial City. Those who disobey will be beheaded!"

  "Lord Lu......!" Shi Yingzhao wanted to say a couple more sentences.

  Lu Zhenfei shouted: "The Patrol Officer and the Ban Cao Army are in charge of gathering soldiers and civilians to enter the Imperial City, and at noon, close the four gates of the Imperial City, no mistakes are allowed!"