Chapter 1117: Changed After Months Apart

The hundred households on the ships did not know the sea route. But three days later, when the vessels skirted the coast past Dengzhou Prefecture and headed further south, these Liao refugees finally sensed something was wrong. Some clamored, some shouted. Unlike the earlier refugees, they still had relatives in the interior to turn to, and perhaps even official connections — they were not without places to go. Yet their weeping and chaos aboard the ships could not stir any real waves. Once the sailors bared their blades, even the three prominent families fell silent. Whether thrown into the sea or cut down by men, out on this boundless ocean, there was no choice to make.

The fleet of ten ships thus made its way all the way to the port of Haizhou in Jiangbei, South Zhili. By the time they arrived, it was already early May.

Liu Yong had set out from Xuzhou to Dengzhou and then to Pi Island in Liaodong. He had originally planned to make a circuit, land at Dengzhou Prefecture in Shandong, and return by land. But he changed plans on the fly, hiring new ships at Dengzhou Prefecture to sail directly along the coast to Haizhou. This change of plans cost nearly double the silver.

But the silver was well spent. On the several ships newly hired from Dengzhou Prefecture, there were Zhao Battalion retainers and personnel of various types. They all gained experience aboard, and also gained a preliminary familiarity with the sea route from Dengzhou Prefecture to Haizhou — at the very least, they learned what it felt like to be tossed about at sea.

After the hundred Liao households came ashore at Haizhou, they thought they had arrived in a land of law and order and began clamoring to report to the authorities. They never imagined that the officials and runners they saw on the docks would pay them no heed whatsoever. Instead, even more grim and menacing able-bodied men came to escort them under guard. By this point, there was no other option but to accept their fate.

Yu Dajiang of the Yu Family fleet had been quite excited. This trip to Pi Island in Liaodong had opened a new sea route, and he had also gained a rough understanding of the local specialties and needs there. Beyond working for the Zhao Battalion, the Yu family could also increase their own investment in that region. The more Yu Dajiang thought about it, the happier he became. According to the Yu family rules, if he seized this opportunity, he could have his own small fleet and a large share of the profits.

Moreover, this run to Liaodong had essentially been an empty-handed trip. Once they loaded up with salt at Haizhou and then headed to Fujian, it would be like sailing with a hold full of silver — a huge profit both ways. This was far better than the nerve-wracking journey to Liaodong.

Yet as soon as they had seen Liu Yong and his party off the ship, the Yu family sailors noticed something amiss. On their way in, they had already spotted several large ships docked at the crude, still-under-construction berths. There were both Fujian ships and Guangdong ships, all large vessels accustomed to the open ocean. Cart after cart of salt goods and local specialties were being loaded aboard.

At first, the Yu family men thought it was their own fleet and were about to go over and greet them. But they quickly realized something was wrong. The ship flags and identification banners flown by the Yu family fleet would never be of this design.

"Boat chief, those aren't our ships!" a Yu family sailor said, his expression panicked. Even the most ordinary sailor knew what this port meant to their family.

Yu Dajiang had not noticed at first, but now he was greatly alarmed. He wanted to chase after Liu Yong and ask, but after a moment's hesitation, he walked toward those ships on his own instead. He turned back before he was close enough to see clearly. The sailors moving about beneath those large ships, and the ship flags and identification banners — they all looked familiar to him. Though he could not identify exactly who they were, they were certainly the men of some major faction on the sea. It was best to avoid provoking them.

After much deliberation, Yu Dajiang ordered the newest and fastest ship to sail empty, heading directly to Songjiang Prefecture to deliver the news. The other ships would stay here to load salt goods and see if they could gather more information.

Liu Yong did not care what the Yu family's reaction would be. Letting the Yu family see the fleets of other families appearing at Haizhou port was, in fact, a matter decided upon by the Zhao Battalion's core leadership. The two sides were still close allies for now, but since the Yu family had too many petty schemes born of thinking themselves clever, this was a way to remind them.

After the militia escorted the hundred households out of the Haizhou area, those hundred households lost any possibility of freedom. Seeing the farming estates and stockaded villages on the flat terrain, the restlessness and panic in their hearts subsided considerably. The scene, after all, bore some resemblance to Liaodong.

"... I know you all have places to go, and I know some of those places might even be decent. But if you want to go to those places, you must obediently work for us first. When you have done enough, you will naturally be released..." Before continuing his advance toward Xuzhou, Liu Yong spoke a few simple words to them.

After Liu Yong left, the Cloud Mountain Firm and the Internal Guard in the northern district of Huai'an would come forward to question each person, thoroughly investigating the backgrounds of these Liao commoners before making their selections.

"All along my journey here, I saw that the villages and stockades along the way have become much quieter. Haven't people been arriving continuously? How can they be so deserted?" Liu Yong met with Shi Manqiang and asked, quite puzzled.

"Many people are arriving, but the territory we've taken in Shandong is even larger. Wasn't it said that another circle was expanded outward last autumn and winter? The people have all been settled there. Big Brother has also been transferring and relocating tenant households who can spin and weave. And a large batch of people went over to Haizhou to build the port. You also know that our Zhao Battalion's household retainers and militia, the farming estate workers, and the stewards and clerks of the Cloud Mountain Firm all come from Xuzhou, Pizhou, and our northern district of Huai'an here. If this continues, how could there be more people? I'm still waiting to bring more Liao refugees over to fill the ranks." Shi Manqiang spoke his mind freely.

Hearing this, Liu Yong shook his head and laughed. "Even if they come from Pi Island, Shandong's Dengzhou Prefecture is the most cost-effective route. Since our territory in Shandong has grown larger, it's certainly best to disperse and settle them nearby. Why would they travel across prefectures to come here? I think, Fourth Brother, the people on your side will only slowly decrease."

In truth, both of them already knew the answers to these questions in their hearts; this was merely idle chat. And it did not matter if Li Yuliang was willing to listen in.

"It's just a pity about those fields. We went through so much trouble to clear and open them, and now they'll just return to waste. It's a bit hard to let go."

"Big Brother and the others probably can't bear it either. But the land in Shandong is already cultivated, and it's convenient for relocating and farming. The fields belonging to our Zhao Battalion here have decreased, but the total count is still much higher."

"I reckon you don't know yet — Big Brother has another son!"

Liu Yong had set out in March and returned in the second half of May. Naturally, he had no way of knowing this news. Hearing it from Shi Manqiang, he felt heartfelt joy. Li Yuliang also considered it a great happy event.

However, when they set out again from the northern district of Huai'an, Li Yuliang thought that while having a son was indeed a joyous occasion for Mu Shulan, based on the intrigues of powerful families he had witnessed over the years, things on Zhao Jin's side were probably not so relaxed. And Li Yuliang could also vaguely sense that Liu Yong's thoughts were likely the same as his. But this was not a matter anyone would discuss openly.

News continuously came back along the way. Around the time of Mu Shulan giving birth, Xuzhou had been extraordinarily bustling with activity. Even Mu Shulan herself was frightened by such grand displays and took the initiative to speak with Xu Zhenzhen, saying that all this had nothing to do with her, and that she had not asked Zhao Jin to do this.

Xu Zhenzhen appeared calm and composed, saying that the most important matters at this time were Mu Shulan's health and the child about to be born; everything else was unimportant.

These were the matters Li Yuliang was able to hear. The other news that the Internal Guard reported to Liu Yong was unknown to him — for instance, how before and after this event, the voices urging Zhao Jin to take Meng Ziqi as a concubine had grown more and more numerous, with even the elders of several families stepping forward.

After Mu Shulan gave birth to a son, many speculated whether the child would be named "Zhao Hu." Though it sounded quite vulgar, a lineage of "Phoenix, Dragon, Tiger" would be consistent and fitting. What no one expected, however, was that Zhao Jin's second son was named "Zhao Qi." Compared to Zhao Feng and Zhao Long, names that sounded like those given by a village rustic or local tyrant, the name Zhao Qi carried a heavy air of wealth and nobility. For a time, countless people speculated, thinking Zhao Jin must have some deeper intention.

Even Li Yuliang, hearing this name midway on his journey, thought Zhao Jin had made some arrangement and considered it highly improper. Seniority and order were the foundation of moral principles. If things were done recklessly, it might not be a blessing for Mu Shulan and her child. Liu Yong, however, recalled that when they were young, Mu Shulan had once said that her father had long ago decided on names for her children. This "Qi" must be it.

Although naming was supposed to be decided by the husband's family, the Incense-Smelling Sect could not be judged by common logic. Moreover, Liu Yong also knew that Zhao Jin cared very little for such formalities. That was probably all there was to it.

Speculation ran rampant outside, yet no one imagined the truth was so simple.

"Young Master Li was led over. Sister-in-law has just given birth and it's not convenient for her to move around. They exchanged a few words through a curtain, and she urged him to work diligently in our Zhao Battalion. She was very happy to see him come. This Young Master Li can be considered a relative from Sister-in-law's maiden family."

"What do you think of this Li Yuliang? Back then, he dared to ride alone to our Xuzhou to deliver a warning and seek help. His courage and mind are not bad."

"He's a sensible man, but he still hasn't fully figured out some major matters. Even so, he can already work for our Zhao Battalion. His martial skills are decent, and he has a good sense of propriety. As expected of a child from a wealthy family, he understands the ways of the world better than many of our subordinates. What's even more rare is that he doesn't complain about hardship. This journey from Dengzhou Prefecture to Pi Island and then back to Haizhou was arduous all the way, but he never complained. He even helped with the work and never caused trouble." Liu Yong's assessment in response to Zhao Jin's inquiry was very fair.

Because Liu Yong controlled the Internal Guard, he had done a great deal of character observation, and his evaluations and analyses were always very accurate. Hearing him say this, Zhao Jin, Wang Zhaojing, and Ji Xiang in the room all nodded.

"He is indeed a talent worth using," Wang Zhaojing added in praise.

Everyone knew that Li Yuliang would sooner or later be given an important role in the Zhao Battalion. The merit of delivering the warning and saving Mu Shulan was no joking matter.

"Mister Cao has already rushed to Dongchang Prefecture. Since we have the help of the Li family of Linqing, we might as well buy land and set up farming estates there. We'll swap the tenant households from Yanzhou Prefecture and Dongchang Prefecture and take another step northward. When the time comes, this young Liang can go over and take charge." Zhao Jin said with a smile.

Though he said this, everyone knew it would not be arranged that way. If the Zhao Battalion began operations in Dongchang Prefecture, there was no reason to let someone from the Li family take charge there. Otherwise, given the Li family's strength in Dongchang Prefecture, combining forces would become very troublesome.

Thanks to "Summer Without Wind, Yuan Heng Li Zhen, User Hua Xiao Yun Bai, User ◆ Shu Kuang Yi Zui Feng Dan Qing ℡, Qi San Wen, zhouaijing, Dragon King in the Wind" and other new and old friends for the tips. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets. Thank you, everyone.