The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 701

Wang Zhi was very excited. Over the years, he had applied to the emperor several times to return to the Ming Dynasty for a period of rest, but Jiajing had refused each time, saying that Japan could not do without him.

Now, Jiajing has finally approved his request for leave, mainly because the situation in Japan has stabilized. It won't matter if Wang Zhi leaves for a while, and whether Qi Liang or Lin Zhi is stationed there, nothing will go wrong.

After all, the two of them had been supervising in Japan for many years. Although they didn't pay much attention to things there, they were still very clear about how to handle things.

Lin Zhi is currently on duty in Japan. Lin Zhi and Wang Zhi have the deepest bond. After all, the two came to Japan together and laid the foundation for the Ming Dynasty's current business in Japan. They have been through thick and thin together and have long since become sworn brothers.

"Brother, you can go back without worry. I'll keep an eye on things here for you. You've truly returned home in glory this time."

Lin Zhi straightened Wang Zhi's clothes and said.

Having worked with Wang Zhi for so many years, Wang Zhi had told Lin Zhi about his past more than once. Lin Zhi knew Wang Zhi's obsession better than anyone else. He knew very well that his elder brother had always wanted to return to the Ming Dynasty, return to his hometown in glory, and give his father a proper burial.

Although his father's body had long since vanished, Wang Zhi had preserved some of his clothes, enough to make a cenotaph.

Returning to one's roots is the wish of every Chinese descendant, and Wang Zhi is no exception. He hopes more than anyone else that his father can return to his roots.

He had never made a name for himself before, and he didn't even have a proper identity anymore, so naturally he didn't dare to go back to his hometown.

They were even more afraid of starving to death on the road.

Things are different now. As a general of the Ming Dynasty, Wang Zhi is now in a high position and wields great power. Returning to his hometown now would be a triumphant homecoming. Wang Zhi has dreamed of this scene countless times, and now that it is about to come true, he is incredibly excited.

"Then it's all your fault."

Wang Zhi patted Lin Zhi on the shoulder and said.

After explaining some things Lin Zhi should pay attention to, Wang Zhi boarded the ship back to the Ming Dynasty. Looking at the increasingly distant coastline, Wang Zhi sighed deeply.

He came to Japan on the orders of Lord Zhou, but he never expected to stay for so many years. During these years, he laid a solid foundation for the Ming Dynasty on Honshu Island and also mined a lot of silver for the Ming Dynasty.

However, Wang Zhi knew very well that all of this was not his achievement, but Zhou's. Everything was planned by Zhou, and he was just carrying out Zhou's instructions.

Anyone, unless they're incredibly stupid, could have done this well.

The difference lies in whether one can suppress their ambition.

Wang Zhi has always been clear about this.

Wang Zhi was initially puzzled as to why Lord Zhou had chosen him to lead troops to Japan. After spending so many years in Japan, Wang Zhi understood: it was because Lord Zhou had seen that he could control his ambition.

In Japan, far from the emperor's reach, it would be difficult for anyone leading tens of thousands of troops to control their ambitions. Forget about being supervised; if they really had ideas, they could just chop off the supervisor.

Sometimes, the more Wang Zhi thought about it, the more he felt that Lord Zhou was really good at judging people. He saw through his inner desires at a glance. Over the years in Japan, Wang Zhi, Lin Zhi, and Qi Liang had the most fun discussing the people and things of the Ming Dynasty, and the one they discussed the most was Zhou Chu.

Although Wang Zhi was far away overseas, he was very clear about what Zhou Chu had done over the years. Therefore, Wang Zhi had even greater respect for Zhou Chu. He felt that Lord Zhou and General Lu had given him a second chance at life. Without Zhou Chu, he would not be where he was today.

Perhaps without General Lu, and without Lord Zhou instructing General Lu to recruit soldiers along the coast back then, they would have starved to death by now.