Chapter 202

He finished speaking with trepidation. Zhao Jin nodded, glanced at the companions beside him, and then said, "Leizi always handles things reliably, and what's rare is how thoroughly he thinks things through."

Lei Cai's face was full of excitement. Zhao Jin continued, "Leizi, everything you said is right, but this time I don't want to handle it so flawlessly."

Everyone looked at Zhao Jin. Zhao Jin said solemnly, "In the past, we handled everything flawlessly, taking care of every aspect, but we could never avoid scheming villains trying to harm us. That shows our approach was wrong. Being too restrained made people look down on us. So let's change it. This time, I'm going to do it openly and brazenly. I want to see who dares to object."

Everyone was taken aback. This didn't seem like Zhao Jin's usual style. Zhao Jin swept his gaze over the group and spoke again, "And whoever objects, we'll crush them!"

Just as he finished speaking, someone outside loudly announced that Chen Ergou and Butcher Li had arrived. This wasn't a coincidence—they had been summoned and needed to travel here. Once they got the message, they rushed over without any delay, which is why they arrived right on each other's heels.

When Chen Ergou and Butcher Li entered the room, though they didn't kneel, they looked as if they had crawled in, their backs bent so low, their humility reaching the extreme.

As underworld bosses in the city, their information was naturally far more current than ordinary people's, and their connections with the constables were very close. Not many people knew the details of what Zhao Jin and his group had encountered on the official road to Gao Village, but these two had already found out everything clearly.

Zhao Jin had broken through the limits of their understanding time and again. To escape from what seemed like certain death was simply inconceivable. And Zhao Jin's group hadn't just fled back—they had nearly wiped out the enemy before returning. This was no ordinary terror. Chen Ergou and Butcher Li didn't even know how to face Zhao Jin. The look in their eyes as they regarded him was less awe and more the way one looks at a monster.

"Surviving a great calamity means great fortune awaits. Master Jin and all you masters have boundless futures ahead." Butcher Li, having experienced more than Chen Ergou after all, was nervous but still managed to spout this utterly nonsensical flattery.

"Two matters. Chen Ergou, tomorrow you will investigate and list every single property of Cloud Mountain Temple within the city, whether out in the open or hidden. Butcher Li, tomorrow you will notify every single establishment with a signboard within thirty li of Xuzhou city, inside and out. Tell them to gather at Rib-bone Zhang's place in Xuzhou city in three days, under my name." Zhao Jin spoke calmly.

Butcher Li and Chen Ergou hurriedly nodded their agreement. Zhao Jin spoke again, "From now on, every matter, great or small, as long as it's news, report it all to Xiaoyong. If there's anything you know but fail to mention, you yourselves understand what will happen."

The two men were on the verge of kowtowing on their knees. Only then did Zhao Jin wave his hand. Just as the two were about to step over the threshold, Zhao Jin added, "Tomorrow, each of you send thirty men, and each provide two large carts."

After the utterly terrified Chen and Li left, Zhao Jin leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. Wang Zhaojing, beside him, suddenly spoke up, "He Weiyuan and Li Shun wanted to seize the distillery property. Uncle Zhao and Uncle Chen are both in the city. How could they be so confident? Were they planning to commit murder and wipe out entire families?"

Everyone was already exhausted. Because this familiar place was safe, they had all involuntarily relaxed. A few were already fighting to keep their eyes open, but upon hearing Wang Zhaojing's words, they all jolted wide awake.

"They calculated so meticulously; they must have had a complete plan. What is the greatest power in this city? The greatest power is the law. I'm afraid they've already bribed the Prefect, the Deputy Prefect, and the Judge. At the very least, they've sent them benefits and promised future profits. What we did today will inevitably make them resent and hate us. Brother, we must guard against this!" Wang Zhaojing said in a grave tone.

"When a man dies, the lamp goes out. They won't hold a grudge against us for that. But the killing spree we've been on these past two days—that, they will come to make trouble over." Zhao Jin said.

Hearing Zhao Jin say this, the people in the room immediately grew tense. But Zhao Jin, his expression calm, said, "That's why we need to rattle them a bit, lest they get carried away with arrogance."

Local tyrants and bandits didn't frighten his companions. If it really came to a confrontation, it was simply a matter of determining who was stronger. But the authorities, after all, held power. Everyone instinctively feared the law and the yamen. At the thought of being targeted, they all felt somewhat uneasy. Yet seeing Zhao Jin so composed, they all settled down as well.

"It's dark now. Going out alone isn't safe. Tonight, half of you go to the distillery, half stay at the goods yard. At first light tomorrow, everyone go home. Come back here at breakfast time. There are still things to do." Zhao Jin gave his instructions.

Everyone nodded in agreement. As they were leaving, Zhao Jin called Chen Sheng and Wang Zhaojing back.

The next day, everyone set out early as arranged and then gathered at the goods yard. Zhao Jin had hired twenty large carts and over fifty laborers. Though it was the first month of the year, poor families still needed to eat. As long as the wages were sufficient, they all scrambled to come. Chen Ergou and Butcher Li had also sent over their respective men.

"Shitou and Daxiang, take some men and go together. Encoffin Dalei's body. Bring back all the other bodies. Remember, before loading them onto the carts, have our own people search them thoroughly."

Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang immediately acknowledged the order. As for coffins and such, they could just knock open the door of a coffin shop; that wouldn't be any trouble.

"Xiaoyong, take ten household guards, go outside the city and buy good fodder. Find a few hands who know how to care for horses. Properly feed and tend to those horses we brought back yesterday. Then, search through everything in the horses' saddlebags and bring it all back here." Liu Yong hurriedly agreed.

"Bingfeng, you go to Dalei's home. Have his family send someone to ask Uncle Sun to return to Xuzhou. Whether they know or not, don't say anything for now!" Zhao Jin's voice grew lower and lower as he spoke of this matter.

At that moment, Chen Hong came jogging over. Normally, he was always grinning when he came here, but now his face was taut. Zhao Jin pointed to the warehouse and said, "Go inventory yesterday's items and put them into storage. I'll have Lei Cai take a few men to help you."

After saying all this, Zhao Jin nodded to Chen Sheng and Wang Zhaojing, and the three of them left the goods yard together. Everyone else began bustling about their tasks.

The place Zhao Jin was heading to was Cloud Mountain Firm. Cloud Mountain Firm was located slightly east of the city center and was the largest commercial firm in Xuzhou city. Grain, salt, cloth, and other bulk goods; gold, silver, and jade ware; silk and brocade; all sorts of miscellaneous goods—this firm dealt in them all.

Cloud Mountain Firm wasn't a single shop but half a street, with each storefront specializing in its own goods. The city's commerce was in decline. For one, the canal had changed course, reducing the flow of travelers. On the other hand, there was the competition from Cloud Mountain Firm. Cloud Mountain Firm not only possessed vast wealth and power, but also employed all sorts of underhanded tactics. As a result, by now, if one didn't have some backing in Xuzhou, it was impossible to get any trade off the ground.

"This street is livelier than other places." Zhao Jin remarked upon arriving at Cloud Mountain Firm's location.

In reality, the moment they arrived, the street immediately became not so lively. Among the pedestrians on the road and the shopkeepers and clerks in the stores, quite a few recognized Zhao Jin. Even if they were unclear about the slaughter outside the city, they had all heard about Li Shun's "suicide by hanging" yesterday.

Watching Zhao Jin swagger over, everyone's voice dropped considerably. They all watched with awe and fear as Zhao Jin and his companions walked past.

Their destination was the Cloud Mountain Firm headquarters, a particularly spacious storefront. Among all the shop fronts lining half the street, only this one had the two large characters "Cloud Mountain" hanging above its door.

"I am Zhao Jin. I want to see Xue Xiaozong." Zhao Jin said coldly to the clerk who came to greet them.

Hearing the name Zhao Jin, the smile on the clerk's face instantly vanished. He turned and ran inside. At his reaction, the other customers in the shop also began leaving, not daring to stay a moment longer. The clerks huddled against the sides in panic. The shopkeeper, the accountant, and the rest wished they could hide under the counter.

Only three of them had come: Zhao Jin, who carried no long spear; Chen Sheng, wearing a saber; and Wang Zhaojing, wearing a sword. Fatigue was visible on all three faces, yet even so, they still awed the surroundings into stillness, no one daring to make a rash move.

Before long, Xue Xiaozong emerged under the escort of several sturdy men. Zhao Jin had seen this Xue Xiaozong before—a fair-skinned, plump young man who looked like he had lived a pampered life from childhood and never weathered any storms.

Before Zhao Jin and his companions could speak, Xue Xiaozong, his voice trembling, asked first, "What have you come for?"

Five sturdy men stood beside him, holding waist sabers and iron rulers, looking quite fierce. But this did nothing to bolster Xue Xiaozong's courage.

"Starting from the first month of last year, I will take fifty percent of the profits Cloud Mountain Firm earns each month. Before sunset tomorrow, make up and hand over all the arrears accumulated from last year. From now on, by the fifth day of every month, convert the profits into ready silver or grain and deliver it to my place." Zhao Jin declared loudly.

Timid as he was, upon hearing this demand, Xue Xiaozong's eyes immediately bulged wide. He wasn't the only one stunned; every single person in the shop who heard these words was utterly dumbfounded. Demanding fifty percent of the profits just like that, and wanting last year's entire share paid retroactively—this was outright robbery.

This Zhao Jin, though a major power in the city and a figure of some standing, still—Cloud Mountain Temple was the greatest force in the entire Xuzhou region. What gave him the right to demand this? And Zhao Jin had just killed Second Shopkeeper Li Shun yesterday. How dare he make such a demand today? Had he gone mad?

Just as Xue Xiaozong mustered his courage and was about to speak, Zhao Jin spoke again, "Tell your father my words. Every single property of Cloud Mountain Temple in Xuzhou city, whether open or hidden, will follow this rule. Deliver the silver before sunset the day after tomorrow. Otherwise, those properties become mine."

"You—" This wasn't shouted by Xue Xiaozong. Zhao Jin's words had enraged every person in the shop. Someone started to curse out loud, but the words reached his lips and he remembered Zhao Jin's fearsome reputation. After uttering just one syllable, he dared not continue.

"On... on what grounds? You harmed... harmed Li Shun to death, and now you want to seize my Cloud Mountain Firm's property. Do you have any regard for the law? I'll report you to the yamen, I'll—" Xue Xiaozong had just managed a few sentences, bolstering his courage, when Zhao Jin looked back at him. His body trembled, and he immediately fell silent.