Chapter 1352: Zhao Jin

Contrary to what the people on Pi Island imagined, the ship carrying the plea for help sailed with favorable winds and currents, reaching Dengzhou in the shortest possible time. It notified Cloud Mountain Trading and the Zhao Family Army stationed there, who then dispatched express riders to relay the message to Jinan and Xuzhou. After a brief resupply, several ships then set out for Haizhou. The news was too significant; multiple backups had to be made.

Whether it was the express riders setting out from the Dengzhou naval port or the ships heading for Haizhou, both journeys were equally smooth, arriving even earlier than expected. This military intelligence also reached Zhao Jin in a timely manner.

"Big Brother, there are over a hundred usable ships at Dengzhou Port. If we mobilize all the baggage mules and horses, three regiments can be concentrated at Dengzhou Port within six days. Even if we can't wipe out the Jurchen slaves on Pi Island, rescuing Zhao Song shouldn't be a major problem." As soon as the news arrived, Wang Zhaojing immediately synthesized the situation from all sides and gave his assessment.

"No rush. I need to think this through carefully." Zhao Jin, however, was very cautious.

"Big Brother, the urgency to rescue them isn't because Zhao Song's surname is Zhao, but because this battalion is very likely to be annihilated by the Jurchen troops. Since the Zhao Family Army took up arms, we haven't lost a single fully-formed company. If a battalion is devoured, the army's morale will surely be shaken, and the various forces already sitting on the fence will start getting restless." Wang Zhaojing spoke very directly.

Zhao Jin first nodded, then shook his head, and said solemnly, "What I need to think about also has nothing to do with his surname. A day earlier or later won't affect the overall situation. I need to think calmly. Go bring over the people familiar with the Liao Garrison, and have them ready for my consultation at any time."

With the conversation reaching this point, Wang Zhaojing had nothing left to rebut. He simply issued orders for Haizhou Port and Dengzhou Port to begin tallying ships and stockpiling supplies and fodder. Preparing earlier meant one more measure of certainty.

Zhao Jin did not ponder for too long. The news had arrived at noon. After dark, following the evening meal, Zhao Jin summoned Wang Zhaojing, Ji Xiang, and Ruhui to his study. These were the core figures currently in Xuzhou.

"After our northern expedition to the capital forced the Great Ming to negotiate peace, we gained Shandong and the Jiangbei region of South Zhili. We said we must hoard grain and delay claiming kingship, thoroughly digesting these two territories before undertaking great affairs. But the situation inside the Pass is one thing, and outside the Pass is another." Zhao Jin elaborated in a deep voice. After listening for a few sentences, Wang Zhaojing fetched paper and brush and began recording without pause.

Zhao Jin's pace was unhurried, his voice solemn: "Those among the soldiers and civilians of the Liao Garrison who could flee have already fled. Those who could flee were only a small portion; the majority remained in the Liao Garrison and became subjects of the Jianzhou Jurchen slaves. According to various accounts, from the very start of the Jianzhou Jurchens' uprising, there were a small number of Han people from Liaodong in their ranks. They had lived on the frontier for generations, their interests intertwined with Jianzhou, sharing honor and disgrace long ago. And now, there are already over ten thousand Han soldiers within the Jianzhou forces. It is conceivable that the longer they remain in Liaodong, the more the soldiers and civilians of the Liao Garrison will be used by them. This principle is the same as what we are doing in Shandong and South Zhili."

Everyone could understand this reasoning. Although comparing themselves to the Jurchen slaves was not particularly pleasant to hear, the logic was no different. The longer you managed a place, the more the enemy soldiers and civilians' will to resist would weaken, and the greater the forces you could mobilize would become.

"Half a year ago, the soldiers and civilians of the Liao Garrison were still constantly rebelling and scattering, but now such incidents are fewer and fewer. We only know of a few remnants still holding on. Why is this? On one hand, the Jianzhou Jurchen slaves' control over the region is growing tighter. On the other hand, the soldiers and civilians of the Liao Garrison have already given up hope on the Great Ming and the lands inside the Pass, and are beginning, consciously or unconsciously, to submit to the Jurchen slaves. People must live. As long as the Jianzhou Jurchen slaves are not true beasts, the difference from before is not great. If one discards their conscience and joins them in their work, there might even be wealth and status. If this continues, the millions of Han people in the Liao Garrison will become the strength of the Jianzhou Jurchen slaves. These millions of Han people will become millions of Jurchens, millions of Jurchen slaves."

Everyone's expressions changed. If these were just empty words, they would be dismissed as sensationalism. But this was exactly what Xuzhou was doing, so naturally the Jianzhou Jurchens could do it too.

"I want the Liao Garrison. I also want the White Mountains and Black Waters. If we develop steadily now, growing step by step, after we annex the realm, we will face a Jianzhou with a population of tens of millions. Gnawing on that will be arduous, and it will involve unnecessary slaughter. Assessing the situation, I believe it is better to act now than to wait until then. The Great Ming cannot save the people of Liaodong from their dire peril, so our Zhao Family Army will go and save them. By rescuing them, we gain the righteous cause. Seizing territory from the Great Ming always means struggling against stubborn forces nostalgic for the old dynasty. But seizing territory from the Jurchen slaves means righteousness is on our side, openly and honorably. The millions of Liao people will become subjects of my Xuzhou!"

As Zhao Jin spoke to this point, his voice inevitably rose. Wang Zhaojing and Ruhui both looked stirred, and Ji Xiang also showed irrepressible excitement. Wang Zhaojing declared in a clear voice, "Why was the Great Ming able to hold the realm for two hundred years? It was because the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang expelled the Jurchen slaves. With that great righteousness upon him, naturally, the mandate of heaven and fortune were bestowed. Big Brother's course of action is also open and honorable, the mandate of heaven and great righteousness."

"With millions of soldiers and civilians from Liaodong, fertile farmland even vaster than Shandong, and several fine ports on the inner sea, once we take Liaodong, Northern Zhili will be firmly within our grasp. At that point, it may truly fall without a fight. Then, with the soldiers and civilians of the three provinces of Shandong, the Liao Garrison, and South Zhili, we will sweep across the realm—unstoppable!" Zhao Jin stated his assessment.

"If we take Liaodong and pacify Liaoxi, Northern Zhili will be clamped from both sides by Shandong and the Liao Garrison, and will no longer have the strength to resist!" Ji Xiang immediately grasped the intent.

Zhao Jin nodded, picked up his now-cold tea and drained it in one gulp, then declared loudly, "Zhaojing, draft the military orders. The First Brigade, the Second Mounted Regiment, and the Dongchang Prefecture garrison will form the Provisional First Division. Chen Sheng is appointed Division Commander of the First Division. They are to break camp immediately and head to Dengzhou Port, cross the sea to land at Lüshun, sweep away the Jurchen slaves, and seize the Liao Garrison. The Second Brigade is to head immediately to Jinan Prefecture to garrison the former station of the First Brigade. The four departments of Agricultural Reclamation, Commerce and Trade, Artisan Manufacturing, and Foreign Affairs are to fully cooperate, sparing no reserves, exhausting all resources, and striving for success. The Instruction Brigade, the Personal Guard Brigade, the Third Brigade, and all reinforced regiments are to enter combat readiness, ready at any time to repel invading enemies!"

Wang Zhaojing's brush flew like the wind, quickly recording everything. After he finished writing, a brief check made him pause. He hesitated for a moment, then could not help but speak up, "Big Brother, landing at Lüshun? What about the rescue at Pi Island? Do we save them or not?"

"Save them. Order Qi Erkui, the deputy commander of the Haizhou Garrison Regiment, to locally conscript a regiment, bring the cannons cast in Haizhou and their artillerymen, and set out from Haizhou Port for Pi Island. If Zhao Song is there, and if the Pi Island Battalion is there, they are to join forces and block the Jurchen troops, striving for annihilation. If Zhao Song is not there and the Pi Island Battalion has been destroyed, Qi Erkui's regiment will then proceed to Liaodong to coordinate with the First Division in combat against the enemy." Zhao Jin already had a plan in mind.

However, after saying this, Zhao Jin paused for a moment, then added, "If Zhao Song is there and the Pi Island Battalion is there, locally conscript Liao civilians to supplement them and form the Ding Liao Independent Regiment, advancing westward from Pi Island to coordinate with the First Division in a two-pronged maneuver."

"Big Brother, Zhao Song is our battalion commander. A day earlier we go, the greater his hope of survival. The First Division can spare one regiment to go to Pi Island first; it's entirely manageable." Ji Xiang could not help but speak up. Zhao Song and Zhao Wan had always been with the Personal Guard Brigade, and Ji Xiang shared a deep bond with them. Hearing this, he could no longer hold back.

Zhao Jin was silent for a moment, then said in a muffled voice, "Since his surname is Zhao, he must have the awareness that comes with the surname Zhao!"

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy for a moment. Wang Zhaojing sighed, then transcribed the military order once more before having Zhao Jin affix his seal. An order that implicated the overall strategy of the Zhao Family Army had to be treated with solemnity. He then went to the Instruction Brigade to arrange for Sun Dalin to set out and deliver the order.

After elaborating on his afternoon's thoughts, Zhao Jin's mood had also eased considerably. He began to supplement the corresponding details: "Send the First Knight Regiment to Shandong. Detach some mounted companies from the Instruction Brigade and the Personal Guard Brigade to maneuver along the northern bank of the Yellow River. With a major move on our part, the Great Ming will certainly react. We just need to make sure they don't think they see an opportunity to exploit."

After Sun Dalin set out with the military orders, the entire Xuzhou system began to mobilize. The various artisan manufacturing sites began recruiting labor, Commerce and Trade began purchasing supplies, and the General's Office dispatched accountants to inventory the reserves everywhere. At the same time, the Zhao Family Army's own fleet, the Zheng family fleet, and the Yu family fleet all received orders and contracts, demanding they not depart after unloading their cargo and cooperate with the Zhao Family Army's shipping.

To this demand, the Zheng and Yu family fleets had no objections. The benefits Xuzhou could now offer them were simply too great. Anyone wanting to earn a living along the coast north of the Yangtze River could only seek their livelihood under Xuzhou's umbrella. Such cooperation was naturally agreed to.

The cannon foundry established in Haizhou began working overtime through the night. The newly produced cannons were all to be shipped to Liaodong. The Haizhou Port battery was even being dismantled, with half of its cannons to be supplied to the First Division. Some ships had already begun to depart, fully loaded with grain and supplies from Qingjiangpu, sailing directly to the Dengzhou naval port to await orders there and follow the main force to Liaodong.

Liu Yong and Ma Chonghao had both rushed back to Xuzhou. The Internal Security and Intelligence departments were to activate all the spies and informants they had placed in the Liao Garrison, doing their utmost to provide intelligence and support for the landing troops. They were also to keep a close watch on the Great Ming's activities, preventing them from exploiting any loopholes. Meanwhile, Ruhui led people to visit the farming estates one by one, recruiting able-bodied young men willing to fight their way back to Liaodong. These men were full of hatred and familiar with the terrain and local customs of the Liao Garrison; they were now very much needed.

Such movements could not be hidden, nor did the Zhao Family Army intend to conceal anything. The mobilization of over five thousand men from the First Brigade was fundamentally impossible to hide. It was just that when the Zhao Family Army stirred on such a scale, Northern Zhili had already descended into chaos. Everyone's reaction was that the Xuzhou bandits were truly going to rebel this time. The court ministers had explicitly proposed relocating the capital. There were currently two options: one was Xi'an, the other Wuchang. Originally, Nanjing was the first choice, but unfortunately, with the Zhao Family Army cutting off the north from the south, it was no longer accessible. But it was soon proven to be a false alarm...

Thank you, everyone.