Chapter 1055: Public and Private, Neither Neglected

The smile on Zhao Jin's face deepened as he asked further, "Eunuch Cui, are the things you've spoken of even possible?"

At this question, Wang Zhaojing at his side immediately caught on. His expression turning rather grim, he spoke up: "Were the words Eunuch Cui just spoke the intention of Eunuch Wei? Or the intention of some other party in the capital's court?"

Cui Wensheng and Zhao Jin locked eyes for a moment, but he paid no heed to Wang Zhaojing at the side. After a while, he leaned back in his chair, let out a long sigh, and said, "Impossible. How could it be possible? How could the court possibly offer up such weighty titles and ranks? Even if Eunuch Wei were the one deciding, he would be attacked and toppled by the hundred officials. Who knows that you in Xuzhou harbor treacherous designs? They know there are rebels obstructing the canal. They know of the Incense-Smelling Sect's rebellion in Shandong. But who knows of any Zhao Character Battalion? Who knows there's a great tiger like you lurking here in Xuzhou!"

"I was nearly deceived by you, Eunuch Cui. But thinking it over carefully, what you said simply cannot be. Even if I agreed, would you have me abandon this entire situation and take up a post all alone? If I abandon this situation, wouldn't I just be meat on the chopping block? And if I don't abandon it, aside from the sea route being impassable, no matter which direction I go—north, south, or west—I would have to cross several provinces. Tens of thousands of people crossing several provinces—who could bear the responsibility for such a thing?" Zhao Jin said with a smile.

The Eunuch Director of Grain Transport, Cui Wensheng, however, glanced sidelong at Wang Zhaojing and said in a muffled voice, "The Wang father and son have truly taught you a great deal. This, too, is a kind of fortune."

Wang Zhaojing, hearing this, could only smile bitterly, understanding the other meant that Zhao Jin's thorough grasp of court politics was thanks to his own father and himself. Yet these were things he and his father had hardly ever discussed with Zhao Jin; in fact, both his father and he had benefited greatly from Zhao Jin. Zhao Jin did not take up that remark, but simply said, "Eunuch Cui, in these three regions—Shandong, Henan, and South Zhili—have any officials or gentry of the prefectures, subprefectures, and counties sent urgent appeals to the court, saying that I, Zhao Jin, am plotting rebellion? In Xuzhou and the surrounding areas, have there been urgent reports of government offices being besieged and broken into, or officials and soldiers being killed? Are the gentry and common people not living and working in peace and contentment?"

With each question, Cui Wensheng let out a sigh. Zhao Jin continued, "The number of men under Zhao's command is indeed a bit large, but that is only to protect our own property. Have we ever attacked cities? Have we ever slaughtered innocent civilians? Have we ever done any deed violating the king's law? None. In the three provinces of Shandong, Henan, and South Zhili, apart from the Incense-Smelling Sect's rebellion and chaos, at all other times there has been peace and stability. Eunuch Cui, would you not agree?"

By this point, Cui Wensheng had simply stopped sighing altogether and just leaned back in his chair in a daze. Zhao Jin leaned forward and continued on his own: "Right now, the An and She families in the southwest have yet to be fully pacified; there are still cities not yet retaken. In the northeast, Liaodong is in shambles, and the Jianzhou Jurchens already threaten the area west of the Liao River, poised to press toward Shanhai Pass at any moment. The Mongol tribes to the north are never at peace. Last year, the Hetao Mongols invaded, and over a hundred thousand were plundered and killed in Shaanxi. This year, it is said the cold will be severe again, and the Mongol tribes will once more ride south. Troops are needed for campaigns in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Troops are needed in Liaodong. Troops are needed in Shaanxi and Shanxi. The court has so many places requiring military force, everywhere facing foreign enemies of Tatar slaves and southern barbarians. Under such circumstances, how could they possibly move against a mere village headman in the very heartland of the Great Ming? What's more, this local ruffian hasn't raised a banner in revolt; he merely trains local braves to protect his property, focused solely on growing his wealth and amassing riches. Many of the court grandees are even benefiting from this, directly or indirectly. Why would they want to come and strike here?"

Zhao Jin spoke volubly. Wang Zhaojing and Ji Xiang could not help but stare at him. Even the eunuch Cui Wensheng, sitting opposite him, could not help but sit up straight. It was rare to see Zhao Jin so eloquent. "... The court lost roughly one hundred fifty thousand soldiers in Liaodong, and roughly forty thousand in the southwest. They still must maintain the border garrisons and guard the capital region. What surplus strength do they have left to worry about Xuzhou here? And why would they waste their limited strength on a peaceful place?"

Silence fell in the room. Cui Wensheng merely looked at Zhao Jin without answering immediately. After Zhao Jin finished speaking, he only smiled. When that smile was almost frozen stiff, Cui Wensheng slowly shook his head and said in a hoarse voice, "You truly do keep the whole realm in your thoughts. How is it that a man like you cannot be used by the court, but instead becomes a great threat to it?"

"Eunuch Cui, do not slander law-abiding citizens without cause. Zhao says once more, accusations of rebellion and revolt are slander. Zhao does not fear facing the officials!" Zhao Jin declared with righteous solemnity. Wang Zhaojing nodded repeatedly with a grave expression. Behind him, Ji Xiang coughed incessantly, only straightening his back and standing firm after Zhao Jin shot him a glance.

"Indeed, you do not fear facing the officials. It is the officials who fear facing you. And you are not wrong. The grandees of the Grand Secretariat, the Six Ministries, and the Censorate all think the same way. Whether they can even spare a thought for this place is another matter. Whether Eunuch Wei or I, no matter who proposes sending a great army to attack Xuzhou, even merely suggesting that you in Xuzhou intend to rebel, would immediately be set upon by a united attack. I fear even His Majesty could not protect them," Eunuch Cui Wensheng said dejectedly.

By the end, Cui Wensheng's face was filled with bewilderment. Staring at Zhao Jin, he asked, "Zhao Jin, what exactly do you want? You have already reached such a stage—what more do you desire? Do you truly wish to walk that dead-end road?"

"Eunuch Cui, I have not rebelled now. Xuzhou and its surroundings are peaceful and prosperous. That is enough. As for what comes later—can any of us see that far?" Zhao Jin did not answer directly.

The Eunuch Director of Grain Transport and Garrison Commandant of Fengyang, Cui Wensheng, smiled weakly and said in a muffled voice, "You wish to leave your name in the annals of history. At first hearing, one might think you wished to serve the court. Now, thinking on it, those words send a chill down one's spine!"

Zhao Jin smiled but said nothing. Since childhood, he had told people he wanted to leave his name in the annals of history. Such words sounded like nothing more than the aspirational talk of an ambitious youth, and naturally, they spread. It was not difficult for the court to gather such information, but there was no need to elaborate on this matter.

For a moment, no one in the room spoke. The expansion and reorganization of the Zhao Character Battalion had drawn the attention of the court and the local authorities. Then the court sent someone, or perhaps this Cui Wensheng came on his own. After this conversation, an explanation of sorts had been given. As for whether this explanation could satisfy all parties, that was another matter entirely. Cui Wensheng's face was full of disheartened dejection. At this point, however, Zhao Jin's interest was piqued.

"Eunuch Cui, by all reason, the actions of Zhao and my brothers should not be watched so closely by Eunuch Wei and yourself. The government offices in the prefectures and counties of Shandong, Henan, and South Zhili—even up to the level of the Shandong Governor and the Fengyang Governor—all gloss over things whenever possible. Zhao conducts himself with propriety, and they know to conduct themselves with propriety as well. Why, then, do Eunuch Wei and Eunuch Cui keep such a relentless watch on Zhao here?" Zhao Jin asked with considerable seriousness.

Cui Wensheng lifted his tea bowl and took a sip. The inferior tea still made him frown involuntarily. Setting it down, he smiled bitterly, shook his head, and then said with emotion, "Eunuch Wei and I are both slaves of His Majesty. When His Majesty fares well, we slaves fare well too. His Majesty is the Great Ming. Eunuch Wei and I naturally cannot bear to see anyone harm the Great Ming. As for those sour pedants, promotion and wealth are their true business. What concern is the well-being of the Great Ming to them..."

At this point, Cui Wensheng paused, then added, "There are some good ones too, but they are few. Nowadays, these scholars no longer care about the Great Ming. Their essays are written with flowery brilliance, full of loyalty to the sovereign and service to the country. But once they become officials, all they think of is climbing higher, all they think of is fighting—bringing down the opposing faction and lifting up their own. Everything else, they gloss over if they can."

Both Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing listened very attentively. However, the eunuch Cui Wensheng grew more and more listless as he spoke. In the end, he simply waved his hand and said, "Why am I even talking about this? Inner officials like myself, no matter how much we do, are still seen as wicked and corrupt. Have the silver related to the Cloud Mountain Firm and the salt warehouses in Fengyang Prefecture brought out before tomorrow. I will take it directly with me when I leave."

The Cloud Mountain Firm had considerable business in Fengyang Prefecture. First, the private salt trade was completely monopolized. Then there was the liquor and various commercial goods. The local specialties of Fengyang Prefecture were also shipped out and sold through the Cloud Mountain Firm's various networks. Apart from Suzhou, the rest of Fengyang Prefecture was not yet within the Zhao Character Battalion's sphere of influence. To conduct business conveniently, they naturally needed Eunuch Cui to facilitate things.

How to facilitate things had long been established by rule—nothing more than sending customary fees or giving a few shares of the profits. Every few months, the total would be gathered and sent over. This was a routine matter. Yet for this Eunuch Cui, in the midst of lamenting about loyalty to the sovereign and love of country, to suddenly ask for silver—it was exceedingly strange. Everyone in the room was utterly taken aback. Cui Wensheng, on the other hand, was perfectly natural about it.

Zhao Jin regained his composure quickly as well and nodded with a smile, "We won't keep Eunuch Cui waiting. It will be delivered on time."

With that said, there was nothing more to discuss. Cui Wensheng took his leave, and Wang Zhaojing saw him out. Eunuch Cui's party was staying at an inn, where they would be kept under strict surveillance to see if anyone came to contact them or if any messages were passed. When Wang Zhaojing returned, he carried a hint of puzzlement. Before he could ask, Zhao Jin spoke up to answer: "Being able to worry about the country, being able to get things done, and being greedy for money and taking bribes—these are not contradictory. Compared to those who only know how to greedily amass wealth and do nothing, he is far superior."

Wang Zhaojing mulled this over, lost in thought. This meeting with Cui Wensheng had also given Zhao Jin much to ponder. After a moment of silence, Zhao Jin added, "But even if this Eunuch Cui is somewhat stronger, it is a strength of the lowest order, not worthy of praise."

When Cui Wensheng had come from Fengyang Prefecture to Xuzhou, it had been with just a few dozen riders and a single carriage. On his return, however, there were several more carriages. The reason was simple: over ten thousand taels of silver had to be transported back by cart.

For the departure of such a guest, Zhao Jin brought Wang Zhaojing along to see him off. Before leaving, Eunuch Cui said with earnest gravity, "Young Master Zhao, you must take good care of yourself. This road you walk leads only to death. A situation of wealth and status like the one you have now is not easily come by. One step forward, one step back—both carry grave consequences. You must think carefully of your parents, your wife, and your children."

"Please rest assured, Eunuch Cui. Zhao has always been true to his friends," Zhao Jin replied with a smile, answering a different question entirely. Hearing this, Eunuch Cui merely nodded, boarded his carriage, and departed on his own. Naturally, over a hundred mounted household retainers escorted him until he left Xuzhou and departed from Suzhou.

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