Zhejiang, Zhejiang Governor's Mansion.
At this moment, Hu Zongxian was sitting at the top, listening to everyone's reports.
Zheng Michang stood up first, turned his gaze to Hu Zongxian who was sitting at the top, and said.
"My Lord Governor, all the matters you ordered earlier have been completed by my subordinates!"
When Zheng Michang said this, he paused for a moment and continued.
"Currently, Ningbo Port already has many merchant ships going to sea, and the number is still increasing!"
"Soon, Ningbo Port will be able to return to its previous level."
When Zheng Michang said this, his face was full of excitement.
After listening to Zheng Michang's report, Hu Zongxian nodded and said with emotion.
"Well, you did a good job on this!"
"In this way, the people along the coast will have a way to survive!"
After Zheng Michang finished his report, Ma Ningyuan stood up and reported to Hu Zongxian.
"Teacher, the progress of converting rice into mulberry is also slowly increasing. The government has also given rewards to those who planted mulberry seedlings in accordance with the previous agreement, and also exempted them from corvee."
"In addition, there is no food scarcity for the time being."
After listening to Ma Ningyuan's report, Hu Zongxian nodded and gave the order.
"Well, we need to pay more attention to this aspect. If there are signs of food shortage, the government can distribute the food prepared in advance to the people who plant mulberry seedlings!"
After hearing this, Ma Ningyuan immediately responded in a deep voice.
"is teacher!"
At this moment, there was a rush of footsteps from outside the meeting hall.
Immediately, a guard entered the meeting hall, turned his gaze to Hu Zongxian, who was sitting at the top, and reported in a deep voice.
"My Lord Governor, General Qi sent someone to deliver news that they have captured a group of Japanese pirates!"
"What!"
Everyone present was surprised when they learned the news. Then they all turned their attention to Hu Zongxian, who was sitting at the top, waiting for his instructions.
I saw Hu Zongxian picking up the teacup on the side, taking a sip, and giving instructions in a leisurely manner.
"Let's do this. Pass on my order and ask Qi Jiguang to pry open the mouths of these Japanese pirates no matter what means they use!"
"I want to know the origin of this group of Japanese pirates. If there are any stubborn ones among them, according to past practice, they will be executed directly!"
"Yes, Lord Governor!"
The guard saw that Hu Zongxian had given specific instructions. After respectfully responding, he left the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion without daring to stop at all.
After the guard left, everyone in the hall couldn't help but start discussing.
Gao Hanwen stood up from his seat, mustered up his courage, and asked Hu Zongxian.
"My Lord Governor, please forgive me for speaking frankly, why don't you follow your past practice and execute all these Japanese pirates?"
After hearing what Gao Hanwen said, Hu Zongxian shook his head and immediately explained.
"Keep them because they are still useful!"
After hearing this, everyone present couldn't help but fell into deep thought.
"According to past practice, any Japanese pirate caught will be executed on the spot regardless of the reason!"
"Could it be that the imperial court gave Hu Zongxian, the governor of Zhejiang Province, any instructions?"
…
"kill!"
"Kill!"
In the school grounds, Qi Jiguang was personally training his subordinates. He would personally correct any irregularities in their actions.
After several rounds of baptism of blood and fire, the army commanded by Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou became the most elite and most powerful force in the Ming Dynasty besides the nine frontier armies.
At this moment, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance. After getting off the horse, the visitor went straight to where Qi Jiguang was.
When he came to Qi Jiguang, he bowed his hands to him with a respectful expression.
"I've met General Qi!"
Qi Jiguang turned his eyes away from the stranger and asked instead.
"What did the Governor say?"
When the visitor saw this, he immediately informed Hu Zongxian of all his orders.
"The Governor has asked you to pry open the mouths of these Japanese pirates no matter what method you use!"
"The Governor wants to know the origin of this group of Japanese pirates. He also said that if there are any stubborn ones among them, they will be executed directly according to past practice!"
After hearing this, Qi Jiguang's face showed no emotion and he immediately gave instructions.
"Well, the general knows, you can go back and resume your life!"
"As you command!"
After the visitor bowed respectfully to Qi Jiguang, he got on his horse and left the military camp by the way he came.
Then, Qi Jiguang turned his eyes to the soldiers on the side and gave these instructions.
"Pass this general's order to torture those Japanese pirates first!"
"Yes, General!"
After the soldiers responded, they quickly conveyed Qi Jiguang's order.
…
In a dark room, about thirty Japanese pirates were huddled in the corner, shivering. They all had scars of varying degrees on their bodies, most of which were caused by whips.
"Kakuda-kun, this is all my fault. If I hadn't suggested taking this path, we wouldn't have been caught by Akito!"
In the room, a young man with a pale face, a bun on his head, and tattered clothes, dressed as a warrior, listened to his companions beside him.
This person's name is Tsunoda Makoto, and he was born into a samurai family in Miyazaki, Kyushu. However, due to the decline of his family, he had no choice but to engage in robbing families and homes.
The companion on the side saw that Tsunoda Makoto was unmoved and continued to add.
"Listen to them, anyone who falls into the hands of Ming people will be tortured to death!"
Seeing this, Tsunoda Makoto comforted him.
"I can't blame you completely. No one knew that there would be an ambush by the Ming army on that road!"
"I hope Amaterasu can protect us and survive smoothly!"
After Tsunoda Makoto finished speaking, he closed his eyes tightly and stopped talking.
At this moment, there was just a "squeak" sound, and the door of the room where the Japanese pirates were detained was pushed open, and a dozen fierce-looking soldiers walked in.
When the Japanese pirates huddled in the corner saw the Ming soldiers coming in, their faces became even more frightened.
He shouted in Japanese while backing into the corner.
"Please spare our lives, we will never dare again!"
When these soldiers saw this, they became even more angry. They waved the whips in their hands extra hard and cursed angrily.
"What are you talking about? Please be quiet, sir!"
"It's really unlucky, why not kill them all!"
Every time the whip in the hands of the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty was wielded, it would leave a deep blood mark on the bodies of the Japanese pirates, and the sounds of wailing and screaming could be heard endlessly.
Finally, one of the soldiers got impatient, pulled out a long knife from his waist, dragged out the ones who were wailing the loudest among the group of Japanese pirates in front of them, and killed them with a single blow.
After throwing the corpse aside casually like trash, the leading soldier made a gesture to silence the group of Japanese pirates.
Blood gurgled along the corpses and gradually gathered into a small pool of blood around them. The expressions of life still remained on the faces of the corpses.
There was a lingering smell of blood in the air. Seeing this, the remaining Japanese pirates did not dare to make any more noise. In their eyes, these Ming soldiers were the incarnation of the devil.
"Humph, I'm finally clean, let's use torture!"
"Entertain them well, life or death!"
(End of chapter)
