Chapter 1304: A Prefect Who Looks Like a Military Commander

This was tantamount to handing over the Kong estate's property on a silver platter. Kong Zhang's stance was not betrayal from within, but a genuine consideration for the Qufu Kong clan. Unfortunately, the rest of the Kong household did not see it that way. Upon learning the news, hurling curses counted as mild; many wanted to beat him or kill him. Yet the able-bodied men Kong Zhang controlled were the most elite and fierce batch in the Qufu area. Not only did he not suffer losses, he even vented some pent-up fury and seized four strategically located farmstead properties for himself.

Compared to the earth-shaking momentum of the Zhao army in Shandong and Northern Zhili, the Third Brigade operating north of the Yangtze in Southern Zhili had little worth mentioning. Once the Zhao army seized most of the farmland in Fengyang Prefecture and began recruiting refugees from Henan and Huguang to start land reclamation and settlement, the local strongmen of Southern Zhili all lost either their will or their ability to resist.

Anyone in commerce knew that Xu Zhao of Xuzhou placed great importance on trade. Present-day Southern Zhili was a treasured land under heaven. With the ports of Haizhou and Qingjiangpu combined, they were more than enough to gather and circulate the wealth and goods of the entire realm and overseas. If you wanted to do business and didn't seize this chance to get a piece of the action, were you supposed to stay foolishly loyal to the Great Ming court? Had that court ever done you any good? And the great magnates operating estates near Luzhou Prefecture could only obediently fall in line at this point.

Not to mention that their private soldiers and braves were no match for the Xuzhou army. The elder master of the Geng family had already sent word: even without fighting, Xuzhou could drive the price of rice to rock bottom, ruining everyone first, and then spend money to clean up the mess. No one dared disbelieve this threat, because Xuzhou truly did control grain prices. Setting aside the function of the Qingjiangpu grand market, just considering all of Xuzhou's land-reclamation estates—if it really came to tearing off all pretense in a trade war, they could instantly flood the market with a colossal volume of goods and crush it. What's more, Xuzhou also controlled the prices of bulk commodities like cotton cloth, salt, and ironware. If those were cut off, everyone would collapse as well.

Without the support of local strongmen and gentry, the remaining government troops had even less will to resist. To save their own skins, or in hopes that Xuzhou might offer favorable terms, military officers directly sold out the soldiers under their command. These government troops, who were incapable of fighting anyway, were relocated to the eastern parts of Huai'an Prefecture and Yangzhou Prefecture in Southern Zhili, where people were needed to farm the land and dredge the rivers.

What depressed the "loyal subjects" was that the very people who ought to have been most loyal—the licentiates, the provincial graduates, and the metropolitan graduates residing in their hometowns—all remained remarkably docile. Hardly anyone went to sacrifice themselves for the nation; hardly anyone organized righteous militias. The ones who could truly stir up trouble were all impoverished scholars, and their method of stirring trouble was nothing more than weeping before the yamen gates. Those who went a step further went to curse outside the Cloud Mountain Trading Company and the Zhao army encampments. The former were ignored; the latter got a flogging and were sentenced to penal labor, and things quickly quieted down. Anyone with a bit of family property dared not make a fuss. Those with ambition had ample opportunities to further enrich themselves and rise in the world. Those without ambition could keep their property and live in peace; the Zhao army would not seize it by trickery or force. Even for poor families, as long as they were willing to toil and work, literate people could always easily find employment. Now that industry and commerce were booming north of the Yangtze in Southern Zhili, bookkeepers and clerks were scarce, and the wages were not low.

Even when news of the "Land Inspection and Census" reached the area north of the Yangtze in Southern Zhili, it did not stir up much of a storm. The great magnates who truly had reason to worry about this matter all knew the Zhao army's fearsome power, and none dared to act rashly. Moreover, this region differed from Shandong; it had always been relatively peaceful, and many families had members who passed the civil examinations. Through divisions and reunions, generation after generation, it was very difficult for them to amass excessively large landholdings. Besides, those few families who had openly or covertly fought against the Zhao army had long since been destroyed and ruined.

The Third Brigade's progress reports kept coming in, so the Zhao army merely advanced on its return journey at a normal pace, continuously adjusting the garrison assignments of the various brigades along the way. The Second Brigade's future garrison would be at several strategic points in Yanzhou Prefecture, though this likewise required time for adjustment and relocation.

During the Zhao army's northern campaign this time, the northward advance was not much different from previous expeditions. The great army marched forward, and there were people who came to watch the excitement or send gifts of appreciation. But everyone kept their distance, cautious and careful, because this Zhao army was a rebel force. Marching like this was rebellion; to be implicated meant execution and the extermination of one's clan. Now, however, things were different. There was already an air of dynastic change. People had shed their inhibitions, and that habit of watching novelties and joining the bustle flared up again. During the Zhao army's march, whenever there was a market town nearby, the roadsides were invariably packed with crowds of onlookers. At first they were still cautious—these soldiers were not to be trifled with. Later, discovering that the Zhao army's discipline was ironclad, everyone dared to come closer for a look.

Fortunately, the Zhao army also intended this as a show of strength on this occasion. As long as the onlooking commoners did not approach with too little regard for the rules, they were allowed to watch as they pleased.

The commoners naturally could not discern any deeper subtleties. They thought the Xuzhou troops marched in neat order and were clad in fine iron, and some even muttered how nice it would be if that iron armor were beaten into plowshares. The children watched with delight; after seeing it here, they would imitate it when they went back to play. The young men watched with envy. In these times, there was a consensus that sons of good families did not become soldiers. That was what families usually said, and when they went out and saw the wretched and vicious appearance of the Great Ming's government troops, they felt that soldiering and martial training were indeed no honorable pursuits. But seeing the Zhao army's majestic and imposing manner, seeing those stern, mountain-like formations, people could not help but feel that being a soldier was also a very respectable thing.

In the area around Jining, the crowd of onlookers was even larger. The people of Jining were already loyal followers of Zhao Jin. With the Zhao army returning in triumph, they naturally shared in the jubilation. If nothing else, the fact that their own prosperity and livelihood could now be secured, and might even advance further, was reason enough for joy.

With so many people watching, the Internal Guards and patrol officers were run off their feet, fearful that some danger lurked among them. But the Zhao army had gone north and returned just as swiftly; given the reaction speed of the capital, it would be difficult for them to do anything in time. Still, while one might not fear the likely, one must fear the unexpected. In the end, Lei Cai personally intervened to persuade Zhao Jin to issue an order: on the return march, light cavalry would screen both flanks of the main column, keeping the onlookers at a certain distance from the ranks.

With this distance, plus the clustering of bodyguards, even a master archer could do nothing against Zhao Jin and his officers, which finally allowed everyone to breathe easier. Although there was now screening and distance, the gentry and commoners' interest in watching did not diminish. They simply began scrambling for high vantage points. The view was clearer from above, and looking down from a height made the spectacle seem even more imposing.

Among the onlookers were men and women, young and old. It was common for the womenfolk of wealthy households to set up canopies at suitable viewing spots and peer out. This, too, was because they knew the Zhao army's military discipline was strict; otherwise, who would have the nerve? There were plenty of wealthy gentry in long gowns and square caps, but there were even more commoners and idlers in short work clothes. Passing merchants also willingly stopped to look on; it would make for good conversation material later.

Besides these people, martial artists and capable, shrewd characters were also frequently spotted. Some carried weapons on their backs; some wore disguises riddled with flaws; there were also those whom ordinary people could not see through, but who were full of holes in the eyes of Internal Guard and patrol experts. The origins of these people were nothing more than a few sources: the government, the outlaws of the martial world, and local strongmen. The Zhao army had been seen by plenty of people during its marches south and north, and it did not fear such observation. As long as these people did not take risks and cause trouble, the Zhao army could not be bothered to deal with them.

Given the current general situation, all parties knew how to act appropriately, so there was no trouble. After passing Jining City, the First Brigade stayed behind to reorganize. The Second Brigade left behind its Second Regiment and one company from each of its other regiments to make preparations here. The remaining units, all garrisoned in Xuzhou and its vicinity, continued their return march south. The further south they went, the fewer the onlookers. After all, this was already the territory of the Xuzhou Zhao army; coming and going was nothing new to the locals. Only a few idlers stood around gawking.

Although the weather had been growing colder year by year, June in southern Shandong was still unbearably muggy. A plainclothes Internal Guard standing on a roadside rise kept wiping away sweat, a little impatient and agitated. He had vaguely heard that Ma Chonghao was about to establish a new office and was selecting personnel from the Internal Guards and patrol officers. Someone he knew had already been chosen. In times like these, the fear was not of having too much to do, but too little. Lord Jin's momentum was already unstoppable; if he did not earn merit now, his future prosperity would be of a lesser grade. Yet at this very moment, where were so many opportunities to act and achieve merit?

Although the matter Ma Chonghao was to undertake was confidential both internally and externally, the Internal Guards and patrol officers were the ones who handled confidential matters, and since capable men were being selected from among them to build the initial framework, rumors had already spread. Those chosen feigned calm; those not chosen were anxious and agitated, but outwardly they too had to force themselves to appear calm, for any emotional fluctuation would be deemed a sign of disqualification.

This Internal Guard swept his gaze left and right. The wealthy folk and idlers nearby were fairly common; most of the spectators along the way were of this sort. The only eyesore was a big fellow in the crowd, half a head taller than the average man, with a very burly and robust build. Fortunately, his face bore no ferocity; he looked rather composed and quiet. What was truly bizarre was that this man was actually wearing a scholar's blue robe, awkwardly striking a refined pose.

Anyone who saw this wanted to laugh, and this plainclothes Internal Guard was no exception. Come on, you who kill with blades insist on dressing up as a scholar—do you take everyone for blind? You might as well just come straightforwardly as your true self; no one would do anything to you anyway. The plainclothes Internal Guard glanced a couple of times and paid no more attention. This burly "scholar" was fully decked out, with a sword at his waist. But that sword had limited killing power, and he was accompanied by two servants who looked like ordinary people, with no sign of any bows, crossbows, or other weapons. Such a person truly did not warrant concern.

While he paid no mind, the crowd was very much paying attention. People had come out precisely to see a spectacle, and the sight of this "scholar" could be remembered and retold for a laugh later. Behind the crowd of onlookers were two men, dressed and outfitted like merchants, with accents from Daming Prefecture in Northern Zhili. They were staring at that "scholar" and discussing him.

"Second Brother, isn't that our newly arrived Prefect, what's his name, Lu Xiangsheng... I can't forget that look of his. When I saw him outside the prefectural yamen that time, it really gave me a start. If old man Lao Gen, who works there, hadn't confirmed it, I'd have thought he was some military commander..."

Thanks to the four old friends "Duan Yichen," "User Kaiguanren," "Qi Sanwen," and "Dahan Caomin" for their tips. Brothers, subscriptions, monthly tickets, and tips—the more the better. Old Bai thanks you all.