Chapter 1185: No Halt

No one expected the Great Ming government troops to enter Guide Prefecture first, crossing the river right there to link up with the Henan New Army, then preparing to push east through Dangshan County and head straight for He Village — a clear "strike at the heart" intent. This approach couldn't be called wrong; it was meant to threaten He Village, the core stronghold of the Zhao Character Battalion in Xuzhou, forcing them to pull back from all sides to the rescue and preventing the Zhao Character Battalion's main force from going on the offensive.

Moreover, the strength of this force was different from before. Besides over five thousand Daming government troops and three thousand newly trained Henan government troops, there were also fifteen hundred Shanxi border troops and one thousand Weihui Prefecture militia. It was said that four hundred cavalry from Xuan Prefecture had joined as well. This force was no smaller than the troops in Shandong and South Zhili — it was another powerful army.

The Weihui Prefecture militia was the strangest contingent of them all. This was actually a militia unit funded and trained by the Prince of Lu's estate. Well-fed and well-paid, and drilled by veteran generals, they were in no way inferior to ordinary government troops. For a feudal prince to run a local militia — this was a deed that gravely violated taboo. Once local officials and court ministers learned of it, there could only be one reaction: intent to rebel. Yet the Prince of Lu's estate managed to keep it going, because the Prince absolutely forbade anyone from his estate from participating in the militia's training and drilling; he only provided money and grain.

At first, the Henan Circuit Inspector reported this directly to the Censorate and the Grand Secretariat, causing a stir throughout the upper ranks. Some wanted to punish it according to the ancestral laws, but later it was quietly suppressed. The only result was that the Henan Grand Coordinator specially memorialized to establish a Defense Commander post in Weihui Prefecture, solely to oversee the training of these thousand-odd local braves — and now they had been put to use.

Over a thousand cavalry, more than ten thousand infantry — this was a truly substantial army. Because the agricultural land estates in Guide Prefecture had little room to maneuver, the scorched-earth measures there had been carried out very incompletely. However, Xuzhou did not intend to have the Guide Prefecture militia, like those in Suzhou, mass together and throw themselves into a head-on clash. They were merely to screen the estate workers and avoid the main government army's line of march as much as possible.

Everyone had thought Guide Prefecture would suffer devastating losses and had even made preparations for relief. No one expected that these ten-thousand-plus government troops coming from the west would not scatter to plunder the estates, but instead advance step by step toward Xuzhou, as if intent on a decisive battle with the Zhao Character Battalion's main force within Xuzhou territory. They were now about to pass Dangshan County.

When Zhao Jin returned to He Village, he found the area in a state of panic and chaos. The families who lived there were all riding horses or driving carts toward Xuzhou city, and all of them were moving house, laden with bags large and small.

"He Village has no city walls. The moment they heard the government troops were attacking, everyone from top to bottom panicked. I didn't stop them. Only the elders of each family are willing to stay here. Should we move them all as well?" Wang Zhaojing was holding the fort at He Village and explained to Zhao Jin.

"Let them come and go as they please. People don't know whether we can hold He Village or keep the enemy at bay, so of course they'll panic. After we hold it a few more times, they'll understand." Zhao Jin was unconcerned about this.

Hearing that Zhao Jin had returned, Wang Zhaojing, who had been about to depart, stayed behind. Ru Hui also hurried over. At this moment, no one urged Zhao Jin to go home and see his family first — official business took priority.

"... Big Brother, the First Regiment of the Personal Guard Brigade is understrength and staying to defend He Village. The Second Regiment, the Firearms Battalion, and three thousand militia have already advanced west to intercept the enemy. The Feng-Pei Regiment is pulling back, the Pi Prefecture Regiment is pulling back, and depending on the situation they'll either defend Xuzhou or reinforce the front. The Second Brigade's First Regiment is defending the Huaian North District. The Second Brigade's Second Regiment is relieving the Pi Prefecture Regiment. The Third Regiment is moving south to relieve the Third Brigade's units. The Fourth Regiment is keeping an eye on Haizhou. The Salt Patrol Battalion has already withdrawn and is on standby between Xuzhou and Xiao County..."

The militia that could be mustered in Xuzhou was of far higher quality than elsewhere. This company was already no worse than the Third and Fourth Regiments of the various brigades. As for the Salt Patrol Battalion, that was the volunteer force led by Yan Heilain and Qi Erkui, and their combat strength was also quite formidable — they could serve as skirmishers and blockers.

"... In Xuzhou, Pi Prefecture, Guide Prefecture, and Shandong's Yanzhou Prefecture, eight hundred mounted volunteers and eleven hundred foot volunteers have already assembled at Jingshan, awaiting orders at any time..."

"... Nine hundred student-trainees from the Xuzhou Martial Academy have formed up and are on standby. Right now, the defense of Xuzhou city and the various county towns is being maintained by patrolmen. The Internal Guard is now short-handed..."

Wang Zhaojing laid out his various arrangements while Zhao Jin listened in silence. When Wang Zhaojing finished, Ru Hui spoke up: "The estates in Guide Prefecture near Kaifeng Prefecture are all in chaos now. The local gentry, colluding with patrol officers and officials, are forcibly seizing the land and forcing the agricultural estate workers into slavery. If the workers refuse, they're accused of being bandit followers and collaborators, threatened with the death penalty. Six estates have already been carved up this way. Master, your subordinate requests that you give the militia the order to go out and kill. We can't just sit and wait like this — it's far too passive."

"Let them do as they please with the estates. It's just that people's hearts are unstable in the border regions. This is a good chance to let them show themselves. You can go clean them up afterward. Zhaojing, go arrange for the horses to rest now. We'll set out together. Mister Cao, you'll have it hard staying here at He Village. The military dispatches from Shandong and Qingjiangpu must be forwarded quickly — no delays." Zhao Jin gave his orders.

Ru Hui and Wang Zhaojing hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment. Seeing their deeply solemn expressions, Zhao Jin smiled and offered a word of comfort: "Haven't you both been looking forward to this? Why the long faces now?"

At this joke, Wang Zhaojing and Ru Hui still could not laugh. Zhao Jin left the council hall and headed home. The road was already guarded by fully armed household troops. Seeing Zhao Jin's relaxed expression, they all saluted and fixed their eyes on him. Zhao Jin nodded in response. He also noticed that besides the families moving away, quite a few people had stayed behind in He Village. They were generally young, their faces showing no tension or fear, but rather a hint of excitement and curiosity.

Word of Zhao Jin's return had long since been passed ahead. When Zhao Jin walked through his own courtyard gate, his wife and children were all waiting inside. The maids and serving women had tactfully kept their distance. Seeing Zhao Jin enter, Xu Zhenzhen remained relatively composed, but Mu Shulan's eyes immediately reddened. The Zhao Qi she was holding seemed to sense his mother's emotions and began wailing loudly.

Meanwhile, Zhao Feng and Zhao Long ran over gleefully, wanting to be held. Only when they heard their little brother crying did the young children look over in puzzlement. Mu Shulan was trying to soothe and comfort the baby while tears streamed down her face. Xu Zhenzhen shot her a reproachful glance, then turned and opened her mouth to speak, but her voice came out hoarse. She hurriedly cleared her throat, and with that, Xu Zhenzhen's own eyes reddened as well. She could not help but lower her head.

This genuine, heartfelt concern from those closest to him moved Zhao Jin deeply. Carrying Zhao Feng and Zhao Long, he walked over and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry. This time, nothing will go wrong."

"... Husband, you must be careful..." "... Brother Jin, be careful..." Neither Xu Zhenzhen nor Mu Shulan could get out a complete sentence.

Seeing that Zhao Feng and Zhao Long also looked about to cry, Zhao Jin quickly teased them a little, then asked, "Zhenzhen, Xiaolan, are you afraid?"

"... Afraid? Not exactly afraid. Just worried — my heart's pounding with anxiety..." Xu Zhenzhen said. Mu Shulan just nodded.

Zhao Jin smiled and said, "I'm very afraid."

Hearing Zhao Jin say this, Xu Zhenzhen and Mu Shulan looked up in shock, all color draining from their faces. But seeing Zhao Jin's expression, it did not seem to match the meaning of his words. Zhao Jin set Zhao Feng and Zhao Long down on the ground, stood up, and patted his chest, saying, "I'm afraid of how excited I am. I know this great battle is perilous, but all I feel is excitement. It's like when I was a child, a few days before the New Year — thinking of the good food and fun, I'd be so excited I couldn't sleep."

These words left both women somewhat stunned and bewildered. Seeing his wives' expressions, Zhao Jin smiled slightly and continued, "Have you forgotten it's the first month of the year? I still haven't eaten any dumplings. Wait for me to come back, and we'll celebrate the New Year properly. While I'm away, take good care of yourselves, and take good care of Father, Mother, and the children. I have to set out right away. Don't worry too much about anything."

Both Xu Zhenzhen and Mu Shulan wanted to say something, but with parting imminent, they did not know what to say, and tears once again could not help but fall. Zhao Feng and Zhao Long, in their childish voices, were asking Zhao Jin to play with them that evening. This made Zhao Jin's heart feel uncomfortable. He nodded and strode off to the neighboring courtyard. Taking leave of his parents there would surely be even harder than here.

The moment he saw his parents, Zhao Jin was immediately overcome with a profound sense of guilt. From the time he went to Qingjiangpu and then returned, he had been away from home for nearly a month. His parents' hair had already turned completely white, and they were visibly haggard and aged. His mother, He Cuihua, wanted to cry the moment she saw Zhao Jin but fought desperately to hold it back. His father, Zhao Zhentang, at first had lips that trembled slightly, but then he immediately roared at his wife, "What are you putting on that face for? Don't bring bad luck on Xiaojin! I told you to go back to Xuzhou and you wouldn't — isn't this just causing trouble?"

"Xiaojin, you must take care of yourself. We still haven't eaten the reunion dinner together this year..."

"Stop nagging about useless things! Xiaojin, great matters are at hand. Go attend to your proper business first. Pay less mind to family matters — they'll only distract your thoughts." Zhao Zhentang impatiently cut off his wife's words again. He Cuihua let out a wail, but unwilling to wail in front of her son, especially right before he went to war, she simply turned and went into the inner room.

Zhao Jin took a deep breath and rubbed the corners of his eyes. Zhao Zhentang said in a muffled voice, "Xiaojin, you don't need to worry. I've seen the troops under your command, and I've seen the court's government soldiers too. They're no match for you. Go fight with confidence — you'll surely win."

After saying this, Zhao Zhentang asked, with a hint of bewilderment, "Xiaojin, our Zhao family are just ordinary military households from Xuzhou. How did we ever reach this point? Xiaojin, tell me, does our Zhao family really have such great fortune?"

"Father, didn't you have someone check the feng shui of our ancestral graves? Something about a formation of nine coiling dragons and one dragon ascending to heaven." Zhao Jin teased.

Zhao Zhentang, unbothered, cursed, "That was nonsense to fool people! I originally wanted to find a truly skilled master to look, but ended up with a swindler. But since he said it, I had no choice but to go along with it. Wasn't there also some bastard outsider a while back who tried to dig up the graves to break the feng shui? He was beaten to death by the people from our guard unit!"

Seeing the mood lighten a little, Zhao Jin said his farewells and left. Just as he was about to step out of the courtyard gate, he heard his father's hoarse voice behind him: "Xiaojin, you must be careful. You must take care of yourself!"

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