In the early morning of the fourth day of August in the second year of Jiajing, Xu Jin, the governor of Zhejiang, led a surprise attack, and defeated more than 20,000 Wang Zhibu thieves besieging Ningbo Fucheng in one fell swoop, killed more than 5,000 people, and captured more than 3,000 people.

In this battle, the Ming army dealt a heavy blow to the main force of Wang Zhibu in one fell swoop, and captured 30 brand-new Francophone cannons, 120 Western arquebuses, and a large number of food, horses, weapons, and property, which can be described as a hearty victory, which greatly boosted the morale of the Ming army, and also greatly deterred the local gentry at both ends of the first rat.

The biggest feature of autumn is the large temperature difference between day and night, when it rained last night, the autumn was cold, and today's daytime sun is fierce like fire, as if it is back to the hot summer in an instant.

At noon, in the study of the provisional governor's yamen in Ningbo, Xu Jin dried the handwriting of the freshly written notebook, put it into a special brown paper bag, sealed it with fire paint, and stamped the governor's seal, and then ordered people to send it to the capital in an expedited manner for 800 miles.

It is said that Xu Jin received the holy decree from the fifth day of the seventh month, and served as the early governor of Zhizhejiang for a full month, and during this period, the war situation has been colorless, and it continues to deteriorate, and the voices of doubt in the DPRK and China have risen, and the officials who opposed Xu Jin have written to impeach Xu Jin for incompetence, and asked that Xu Jin be summoned back to Beijing to ask for guilt, and Wang Shouren will take over as the governor of Zhejiang.

Therefore, not only does the Ming army need a big victory to boost morale, but Xu Jin also needs a big victory to prove himself, and this great victory in Ningbo Fucheng is undoubtedly extremely timely.

Although he hadn't rested since yesterday, Xu Jin still felt refreshed after writing this report. During this time, Xu Jin was almost so angry that he was about to vomit blood by the A Dou soldiers of the coastal guard, but now he finally took out a breath of turbidity, which was indescribably comfortable.

In addition, what made Xu Jin feel gratified was that although the performance of Shaoxingwei last night was not outstanding, he also actively participated in the charge, and the whole guard beheaded a total of more than 500 levels, and captured more than 300 people, although the results were far less than the Jiangxi army and the 500 battalions, but it was also a huge progress, as long as the courage of an army can be raised, the combat effectiveness will also rise sharply.

Therefore, Xu Jin is very much looking forward to the transformation of Shaoxingwei.

In addition, the performance of Chang Guowei and Guan Haiwei also surprised Xu Jin, especially Guan Haiwei, although more than 200 people were killed in the battle, he also beheaded 96 levels, while Chang Guowei only beheaded 17 levels, but his own side killed and injured more than 100 people.

In any case, Guanhaiwei and Changguowei can take the initiative to attack, and they have made some gains, which is undoubtedly a kind of progress, and now is the time to employ people, so Xu Jin does not intend to pursue them for the crime of passive slacking off at the beginning.

Xu Jin stretched his waist and walked out of the study, and happened to meet Xia Yan who entered the courtyard in a hurry. Deputy Envoy Xia's eyes were bloodshot at the moment, but he looked in good spirits, and it is estimated that this is the so-called people who are in good spirits on happy occasions.

"Your Excellency, see Your Excellency." Xia Yanxing bowed to him, and his attitude towards Xu Jin was obviously much respectful, and it was obvious that after this battle, Xu Jin's prestige in the eyes of Deputy Envoy Xia was greatly enhanced.

Xu Jin nodded and asked politely, "Lord Xia, the capture of the battlefield has been counted." ”

Xia Yan hurriedly took out an account book and opened it and said: "Back to the governor, all the counts have been completed, and a total of 65,000 stone of grain was captured in this battle, 532 war horses, 30 Franc machine guns, and ...... swords."

Xu Jin hurriedly waved his hand and interrupted: "Silver, this official only wants to know how much silver has been seized." ”

Xia Yan turned to the last page of the account book and replied: "There are really a lot of valuable goods, but the total amount of silver is only more than 37,500 taels. ”

Xu Jin couldn't help but say disappointedly: "It's just that, it's not enough to give out the reward." ”

It is said that in order to encourage the officers and soldiers to kill the thieves bravely, Xu Jin offered a very high reward, a pirate head is worth five taels of silver, a widow head is worth ten taels of silver, and the head of the thief is doubled. In this battle, the whole army killed and captured nearly 9,000 people, that is to say, Governor Xu had to prepare at least 60,000 or 70,000 taels of silver, and if the pensions for the dead and wounded soldiers were added, I am afraid that he would not be able to step down without 100,000 taels of silver.

What's more, there are now more than 100,000 troops mobilized on the coastal frontline, and the daily military expenditure is also like flowing water.

Xia Yan proposed: "Your Excellency, if you don't give one percent of the silver for the time being, and then give two percent after the officials order someone to sell the seized goods and exchange them for money and silver, and then cash out the rest when the war is over." ”

Xu Jin decisively waved his hand and rejected Xia Yan's proposal, now that he has won the first battle, it is a critical moment to hype up and further improve the enthusiasm of the soldiers, if the reward is not enough to cash, it will undoubtedly dampen the enthusiasm of the soldiers, not to mention, the first promise of the great governor of himself will be discounted, where will this face go? Do you still want prestige?

Therefore, the reward must be paid in full and cashed out immediately, and the bereavement of the dead and wounded is even more indispensable.

Xia Yan couldn't help but say in embarrassment: "Then I can only send someone to Yangzhou City to transport the silver, but the lower official has to remind Lord Xu that there is not much cash in the warehouse of Yangzhou Mansion, and the Nanjing Ordnance Bureau has already transported half of it as the expenditure for casting flintlock pistols." ”

Xu Jin couldn't help but frown, and suddenly a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he asked with a smile, "Has Lord Xia had lunch?" ”

Xia Yan was slightly stunned, shook his head and said, "Not yet!" ”

Xu Jin nodded and said: "It just so happens that the official hasn't had lunch either, so let's do it, the official has just arrived, and he hasn't had time to meet the local officials and gentry, so you see that the restaurant is suitable, wrap up the venue, and then invite all the gentry and celebrities in the city to gather in the name of the official." ”

Xia Yan couldn't help but be speechless, Lord Xu, who has always acted on the wrong side, probably planned to "rob the rich and help the poor" again.

"Then the next official will do it!" After Xia Yan finished speaking, he turned around and walked out.

Xu Jin couldn't help but smile, it seems that the setback encountered by Ningbo Mansion this time has made Lord Xia, who is not bending, become more flexible, if he would not have participated in this kind of thing in the past.

Soon, the gentry and celebrities in Ningbo received Xu Jin's invitation, and even the wealthy businessmen received the invitation. If Xia Yan invites him, it is estimated that most of the officials and gentry will ignore it, but if Governor Xu invites him, who dares not to give face?

Therefore, in less than an hour, the gentry and merchants who had received the invitation came in a hurry, for fear that if they came too late, they would make the governor unhappy.