Chapter 40: Business (Part 2)

In these times, the Jin people's cunning and simplicity coexisted, their savagery and straightforwardness also coexisted... This was not strange, but a natural external characteristic of a primitive tribal alliance rapidly building a vast empire.

Decades ago, when these people hunted in the deep mountains and old forests, most of the lower ranks had no idea what was public or private, what was civilized or barbaric. They simply had no such concepts! It was only by relying on their beastly instincts to lunge desperately in dire straits that they had opened up these fifteen or sixteen years where they were absolutely the protagonists.

Zhao Jiu always called them beasts, which was roughly the meaning... This was not an insult, but an excellent, condescending summary from a time traveler. The Song people, and even the Liao people, simply failed to realize what they were facing. They stubbornly used their previous mindset to deal with these beasts that operated on the logic of the weak being prey to the strong, and that was why they had ended up in their current predicament.

Of course, from the third year of the Tianqing era when Wanyan Aguda raised troops against the Liao, to the second year of the Jianyan era, a full fifteen years had passed. The Jin people were also rapidly being steeped in Liao and Song civilization, which was why they had become this strange mess. And over those fifteen years, some sensitive people had gradually come to perceive the inner logic of the Jin people's actions... Although they might not be able to articulate it so thoroughly—since not everyone had Lu Haowen's ability to write books and establish theories—they could still grasp it in their hearts.

Under the dazzling sunlight, in the backyard of what was probably the most lavish mansion in the entire city, where Zhang Jun resided, the fully armored Grand Defender personally picked an exquisite gold filigree hairband from a chest. Seeing bloodstains faintly visible in the gaps of the floral ornament, he was momentarily stunned and remained silent for a long time.

"Old Zhang, why bother with this?" Zhao Qiu laughed upon seeing this. "Wasn't it you who insisted on gold and silver? To make up the amount of gold, they sent you this fine thing as gold bullion... You got a great deal!"

"It's not just that," the County Magistrate, who had just been promoted to Army Advisor and was said to be named Shi Wenbin, quickly interjected. "Grand Defender Zhang, please look at these two chests... These are treasures specially sent to you by the Fourth Prince. Inside are all top-grade antiquities, bronzes, and stones. There's even a document recording their provenance. I checked it specially; they should be the treasures accumulated by Zhao Mingcheng, the Prefect of Zizhou, and his wife. They had to abandon the entire cart on the road, which turned out to be a windfall for Grand Defender Zhang!"

Zhang Jun turned to look at the two chests behind him and indeed saw a detailed booklet, clearly recording the provenance of various bronzes, stones, artifacts, and paintings, along with the signatures of Zhao Mingcheng and his world-famous wife, Yi'an Jushi. The reputation of this couple naturally needed no elaboration, and the Grand Defender finally let out a sigh:

"I've troubled you two, and I've made the Fourth Prince worry! I will now summon the officers in the city and announce, in your presence, the opening of the city gates tomorrow!"

The two were naturally overjoyed. As these words were spoken, a man sitting on the steps nearby looked up and sighed... This man was none other than the former Palace Censor-in-Chief, now the Prefect of Shouzhou, Zhao Ding, styled Yuanzhen, who was still wearing a green robe because he couldn't find his new official attire.

Hearing this sigh, before Zhang Jun could speak, Shi Wenbin, feeling sympathetic, couldn't help but step forward to advise him, separated by two armored soldiers. But Zhao Ding had long since become disheartened and was unwilling to pay him any heed.

Seeing this, Zhao Qiu's mind stirred. He pulled Zhang Jun aside and asked in a low voice, "Old Zhang, how do you plan to deal with this man?"

"Part amicably. Tomorrow, I'll send a boat to ferry him across the river," Zhang Jun replied frankly, then frowned, resting his hand on his sword, and asked in return, "Old Zhao, what do you mean?"

"It would be better to kill him today when you summon the officers," Zhao Qiu advised. "That way, when I take him out today, it will serve as a statement!"

Zhang Jun was stunned for a moment. He looked back at Shi Wenbin and Zhao Ding, then at Zhao Qiu in front of him. After a moment of realization, he nodded: "Since it's Old Zhao's intention, then let's see some blood today!"

Zhao Qiu was overjoyed, while Shi Wenbin and Zhao Ding remained completely unaware.

And so, leaving aside the thoughts of the two Han civil and military officials, since Zhang Jun had agreed, he hesitated no longer. First, he had his trusted general, Tian Shizhong, summon all officers of the rank of Centurion and above, except those guarding the city walls, to gather in the front courtyard of his residence. Then, he had another trusted general, Liu Bao, personally ascend the city walls to take command of the garrison and prevent a sudden Jin attack. Only then did he urge the cooks and maids to prepare the banquet!

After bustling about for a full half day, when everything was ready and the clamor from the front courtyard was clearly audible, Zhang Jun personally ordered several hundred personal guards to don armor and take up arms, positioning themselves on all sides of the front courtyard. Finally, he led the few people from the back courtyard towards the front.

Now, the soldiers in the front courtyard were in a hubbub, discussing endlessly. When they saw Zhang Jun's personal guards securing the main gate and controlling the courtyard, some were pleased, some worried, but the vast majority only felt relief and sighed... Clearly, with envoys coming and going these past few days and today's display, everyone had already guessed the situation.

However, firstly, Zhang Jun's own troops had always obeyed the Grand Defender; secondly, the local laborers and the routed soldiers from Jingdong were a scattered mess; thirdly, Zhao Ding had been controlled early on; fourthly, the situation was indeed dire, with Xiacaï isolated as a lone city, and many harbored resentment... So, most were inclined to just go along with it.

Returning to the present, Zhang Jun, fully armored, stepped out. Having been forged through hardship to become a Grand Defender, he simply sat in the main seat without saying a word, and the courtyard gradually fell silent. Then, everyone took their seats in the courtyard according to rank, seniority, and closeness.

After a short wait, maids and servants flitted about like butterflies, bringing wine and food. Still, the Grand Defender said nothing. He simply took a steaming plate of steamed duck personally offered by Tian Shizhong and began gnawing on the duck with his hands, causing everyone else to grow increasingly restless.

"If you're going to kill me today, then kill me! I will never surrender!" Zhao Ding, who had been seated at a low table parallel to Zhang Jun, was the first to lose patience, then shouted loudly. "Don't think everyone is as shameless as you, Zhang Jun! His Majesty was truly blind to have personally crossed the river to see you on New Year's Eve!"

After cursing, Zhao Yuanzhen wanted to continue his impassioned speech, but unexpectedly, grief overwhelmed him. He began to weep uncontrollably, unable to speak, perhaps thinking of his wife and children he had left to settle in Huainan.

Zhang Jun turned his head to look at him, then swept his gaze across the silent courtyard filled with hundreds of officers, before slowly speaking: "Everyone here understands the situation. Let me ask you, if I, Zhang Jun, surrender today, how many of you will be as unwilling as Prefect Zhao?"

Zhao Qiu and Shi Wenbin, seated on his left, both breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's not that I'm unwilling," someone from somewhere in the gathering actually dared to interject. "But hearing what the Prefect said, I want to ask the Grand Defender, what's this about His Majesty personally crossing the river to see you on New Year's Eve? I was guarding the southern water gate watchtower all New Year's Eve, and I only saw Yang Dalang come once..."

"Nothing much. It was the time you, Li Laosan, encountered. His Majesty had Yang Dalang lead him across from the opposite bank. He spoke a few words with me, sent Liu Guangshi's head, encouraged me to hold the city, and then left..." Zhang Jun stated bluntly.

Upon hearing this, not only did the courtyard erupt in excitement, but even Shi Wenbin and Zhao Qiu looked at each other in shock.

After a long while, when Zhang Jun had finished gnawing on a duck leg, the noise gradually subsided. Then, the same person from the corner spoke up loudly: "If that's the case, I have a question!"

"Speak!" Zhang Jun threw away the duck bone, his hands covered in grease, pausing.

"If His Majesty Zhao really came that night, then all those proclamations shot in by the Jin must be fake, right?"

"Naturally."

"Where is that scoundrel Liu Guangshi's head?"

Zhang Jun didn't answer. Instead, he turned and nodded to Tian Shizhong behind him. Tian Shizhong, without a word, picked up a food box from his feet, walked to the center of the courtyard, and dumped its contents on the ground. A lifelike head, along with chunks of ice, tumbled out. Tian Shizhong then casually picked it up and tossed it directly to the nearest officer. The officer looked at it in his arms, then passed it to the person beside him.

The clamor rose again, then gradually subsided. Once more, that Li Laosan chattered on:

"So, if you, Grand Defender, surrender to the Jin and hand over the city today, wouldn't that be selling out His Majesty across the river to the Jin?"

"Not necessarily. His Majesty will see the commotion in the city and will naturally leave," Zhang Jun said dismissively. "If it's really a problem, once we've settled things today, we can just send someone to inform the south side of the river..."

"If that's the case, I have a suggestion."

"Speak."

"That night, I was guiding the way on the bank. Because of that scoundrel Liu Guangshi's matter, I cursed all the way, but His Majesty Zhao didn't say he'd cut off my head. If I surrender like this, I won't feel right about it. When you send the message, can you let me deliver it? I won't come back after I go. You, Grand Defender Zhang, can go make your damn fortune, and I'll go be a lone ranger... How about it?"

Zhao Qiu couldn't help but shoot Zhang Jun a look, and Zhang Jun sighed helplessly: "Laosan, if you put it that way, I'm reluctant to let you go!"

PS: Xiao Jiu has a cold today, been struggling all day... Was planning to save up some drafts today... Damn it.