Chapter 1084: Don't Stretch Yourself Too Thin

Headache or not, Zhao Jin had to carefully review everything Tian Zhu sent over. He often found interesting tidbits within—for instance, the Tian brothers were actually recruiting refugees in the Yizhou region, and they didn't exploit their sect members too harshly.

They managed this because they had reclaimed large tracts of farmland in the arable mountain areas of Yizhou. On the government land registers, these barren mountains belonged to the Tian family, but official records showed no farmland there, so all the produce went to the Tians themselves. Many specialty medicinal herbs from the mountains were also monopolized by the Tian family's own trading houses. Furthermore, over seventy percent of the bandit strongholds in the mountains and the scattered mounted brigands in the surrounding areas relied on the Tians to fence their goods, sell their loot, and obtain supplies.

Relying on these income streams, the Tian family had entrenched themselves deeply in the region. Even Xu Hongru's Smelling Incense Sect could do nothing about them. But people who stay too long in a closed-off area inevitably develop the tunnel vision of a frog at the bottom of a well. They actually chose to oppose Zhao Jin's side, and were promptly crushed with a mere lift of a hand.

Seeing this, Zhao Jin couldn't help but laugh and remark, "Their Yizhou is just a miniature Xuzhou. They're doing things much the same as us, only they'll never amount to anything great."

The Yizhou Tian family was also exploiting every loophole in the Great Ming, desperately strengthening their own power under the suppression of the law and within the peaceful times. But they lacked Xuzhou's organization and its various hyper-profitable industries. Moreover, Xuzhou was a land transportation hub, while Yizhou was just a corner of Shandong—its terrain was an inherent limitation. Hence Zhao Jin's assessment.

Hearing Zhao Jin's comment, Zhao Shiyi smiled and said, "After Tian Zhu saw the state of our Xuzhou, he kept saying that he used to think himself talented for having built up his own little domain, but after seeing what Master Jin has accomplished in Xuzhou, he realized he was just a frog at the bottom of a well."

"Keep a close eye on Tian Zhu. This man is a rare find. Very few people outside our Zhao Camp system can understand what we're doing without having been trained within it. Tian Zhu is one of them. If he truly proves reliable, we must put him to use," Zhao Jin instructed with a smile.

Zhao Shiyi acknowledged the order and added in agreement, "It's just a pity about Tian Zhu's elder brother, Tian Long. If he could have been here in Xuzhou, he would surely have been even more useful to Master Jin."

Zhao Jin shook his head with a smile and said, "I imagine quite a few people think the same as you, but you're mistaken. Tian Long can be considered capable, but compared to his younger brother Tian Zhu, he falls far, far short."

After saying this, Zhao Jin saw the slight confusion on Zhao Shiyi's face. He smiled again and continued, "Shiyi, here we don't care about scholarly honors from the civil exams. Whether a man is a Xiucai, a Juren, or a Jinshi only proves he's studied the Four Books well. To be useful, we look at their ability to get things done. Reading and writing are just like you wielding a saber or spear—having the tool doesn't mean you can kill in battle. You have to prove yourself in real combat; only victory on the battlefield demonstrates true skill."

Zhao Shiyi nodded, but his expression showed mere acknowledgment, not understanding or sudden enlightenment. Zhao Jin didn't press the point. Since ancient times, the quality of one's scholarship had been equated with one's ability—this had long become an unquestioned truth in people's hearts. The higher one climbed the rungs of the civil exams, the greater one's ability was assumed to be. No one ever stopped to consider that such a person might indeed be intelligent, but whether they could actually do things—whether they could handle the practical work suited to the Zhao Camp system—was another matter entirely. But changing such deeply ingrained notions was extremely difficult; it could only be done through gradual, subtle influence.

After finishing his review of the Smelling Incense Sect and White Lotus Sect files sent from that side, Zhao Jin made his own annotations. Zhao Shiyi did not take them away; Wang Zhaojing would still need to do the final collation and archiving. In front of Zhao Jin, Zhao Shiyi knew his place and the proper etiquette very well. He never fawned or made small talk just because he was a relative; everything was handled strictly as official business. Seeing that Zhao Jin had finished his arrangements, he prepared to take his leave.

"You should be sent out more for field experience. The Internal Guard has become a bit strange lately—the one who should be overseeing everything is out risking his neck, while those who should be out busy working are sitting in command at various posts. Shiyi, you're capable, no doubt, but you haven't weathered many storms. That's not good for your future," Zhao Jin said with a smile. Though he was only a few years older than Zhao Shiyi, he lectured with the world-weary authority of an elder.

But whether in terms of position or mentality, Zhao Jin's words were perfectly natural. Zhao Shiyi smiled and bowed slightly, saying, "This humble one will follow Master Jin's arrangements."

Zhao Jin looked at Zhao Shiyi, shook his head, and continued, "Compared to Zhao Wan and Zhao Song, you're far too solemn. At your age, you should be a bit more lively. Shiyi, you're rather like Xiaoyong and Leizi in this regard. I've said something to them before, and I'll say it to you now: we're all still young, and the days ahead are long. Knowing how to push hard isn't a bad thing, but you must also save something to push for later. The days truly are long—you need to hold back a little."

Zhao Shiyi, standing deferentially before him, did not answer immediately. He remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Master Jin, when the Old Master brought this humble one from the guard station to the Subprefectural Magistrate's office to serve, even now it feels like a dream. Back in the Xuzhou Guard, I never dreamed of anything like this, let alone what I have today. Whatever Master Jin instructs, this humble one will carry out."

The reply was somewhat beside the point. Zhao Jin did not press further, merely nodding. Zhao Shiyi took his leave and withdrew. Once he was out the door, Zhao Jin turned to look at Niu Jinbao and Sun Dalin and remarked with a sigh, "He's just like Xiaoyong and Lei Cai."

After he said this, Niu Jinbao and Sun Dalin's expressions remained as impassive as ever. Sun Dalin did, however, unconsciously straighten his posture a little. Zhao Jin shook his head again and said with a smile, "You're the same way."

Qingjiangpu was bustling beyond measure these days. The locals were all saying that the liveliness of the first lunar month had been used up early in the twelfth month. With the martial arts tournament causing such a stir, the New Year celebrations would probably seem quiet by comparison. Wealthy and noble personages from several surrounding provinces, along with the canal transport and salt monopoly magnates of South Zhili and the aristocratic and merchant elites of Jiangnan, had all converged in one place, making Qingjiangpu so extravagantly prosperous that the phrase "a golden age of peace and prosperity" could truly be witnessed there.

With the gathering of wealth and nobility came a dazzling display of jewels and finery. Famous theater troupes performed grand operas day and night in Qingjiangpu's central district. The flower parties of Qinhuai's alluring courtesans and Yangzhou's slender entertainers ran in continuous sessions throughout the great houses and courtyards. At the Cloud Mountain Trading House's betting venues, mountains of gold and silver flowed in and out, a dizzying spectacle. Yet the idle rich remained idle, and the busy remained ceaselessly busy.

The various enterprises of Zhao Camp in Qingjiangpu continued their bustling operations without pause. Aside from matters related to the martial arts tournament, everyone else was busy with their own proper business, showing no difference from any ordinary day.

A shop assistant carrying a cloth-wrapped bundle walked out of the Qingjiangpu branch of the Cloud Mountain Trading House and headed briskly toward the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall several streets away. Anyone paying even slight attention to this area knew that this assistant was delivering the past few days' account ledgers to the martial arts hall, from where fast horses would be dispatched to send them on to Xuzhou.

Why Xuzhou went to such troublesome lengths, no one quite knew. But privately, there was speculation that Zhao Camp had scattered countless silver taels throughout Qingjiangpu—who received it, and how much—all recorded in these ledgers. Besides the local Qingjiangpu officials, prominent local merchants also acted as intermediaries to forward funds to the grandees in both the capital and Nanjing.

In just a few short years, Zhao Camp had risen from nothing to flourishing power at breakneck speed. The reason for such rapid growth, it was said, was precisely the behind-the-scenes patronage of these money-taking officials and grandees, which allowed them to act without restraint and swell to such proportions. If one could only obtain these ledgers, one could follow the clues and sweep up these great traitors and colossal parasites who harmed the people and the nation in one net, restoring a bright and clear realm to South Zhili and the entire Great Ming.

So the talk went, but Zhao Camp's power was immense and their methods ruthless. The slightest provocation meant total extermination. Ordinary people dared not provoke them at all, and no one even entertained designs on these ledgers. Moreover, news of the ledgers had only circulated within a very small circle and had only recently become known. This Xuzhou Zhao Camp truly had some tricks, engaging in such schemes of deception and misdirection, weaving truth and falsehood. Who would have guessed that the bundle carried by this short shop assistant was tied to matters of such grave importance? Passed on the street, such a person wouldn't warrant a second glance—one would simply walk on by.

The moment the assistant stepped onto the street, several pairs of eyes among the pedestrians exchanged glances or whispered to one another. Those heading the same way naturally fell in behind him. Those going the opposite way didn't turn around hastily, but instead circled around to turn at the street's end, taking care not to be discovered. This was a big fish; once seized, wealth and rank were assured.

The Eastern Depot and the Brocade Guard had posted bounties in the underworld circuits of both the capital and Nanjing. Any loyal and valiant soul willing to come forward could later either serve in the Depot or Guard, or receive a favor from them. In the two capitals, there were far too many men of the rivers and lakes willing to risk life and limb for the sake of wealth and rank. They had learned their skills precisely to sell them to the imperial house. And the terms of serving in the Depot or Guard were simply too generous. Succeed, and don the skin of a Flying Fish uniform, and one instantly became a man above other men. Even just claiming that favor—in these times, a favor from the Eastern Depot or the Brocade Guard was priceless.

Some had already tailed this operation several times. It was indeed the shop assistant delivering a bundle, and shortly thereafter, a fast horse would depart. They had confirmed that the bundle indeed contained vital items. They had also reconnoitered the route, thoroughly scouting the surrounding terrain—every main road, side path, even walls and courtyards—and knew how to advance or retreat under any circumstance. Only then did they decide to make their move today.

Seeing that the shop assistant was short in stature, everyone felt even more reassured. With that build, he couldn't put up much resistance; it would make the snatch easier. The government agents and underworld figures gathered here all looked like passersby who had converged by chance, but through exchanged glances and observation of their surroundings, each had already made every preparation.

The great evil of Xuzhou had caused countless gentry unbearable suffering, and many loyal officials and righteous men at court sleepless nights. This time, seizing the ledgers would part the clouds and reveal the blue sky. The faces of the young and hot-blooded already bore expressions of righteous fervor. But the more seasoned among them had other calculations. Behind them stood other patrons; the ledgers they seized would not be sent to the Depot or Guard, but delivered to their own masters, to see if they contained evidence related to political rivals—something that could prove immensely useful in court faction struggles.

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Thanks to old friends "User Yun Liu Tian Xia," "Qi San Wen," and "Feng Zhong Long Wang" for their tips. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets; thank you for your support.