Chapter 235: What Comes After Leaving (Two-in-One, 6000 Characters)

With so many people, Zhao Jin's entire team was thrown into a flurry of activity; no one could stay idle. Chen Hong also set out with silver in hand. Recruiting this many people required a huge amount of grain, non-staple foods, and all sorts of supplies. Zhao Jin's side hadn't prepared these things in full, so they all had to be purchased with silver. The newly recruited men were directly used as porters, carrying the goods out of the city as soon as they were bought.

Zhao Jin's side wasn't short on silver, and his reputation in the city made things easy. The grain shops and general stores were all open for unrestricted supply, so the purchasing was done very quickly.

As for the remaining men, Zhao Jin sent sixty to the distillery. These sixty weren't assigned to guard duty but to help move sorghum and wine jars. That side was also short-handed, and this labor could be put to use right away.

Just over fifty were kept close at hand. These men were tasked with moving goods from the warehouses at the freight yard. Under the watch of Zhao Jin's household guards, they loaded the contents of the warehouses onto large carts.

After wiping out the He Village, Zhao Jin had come into possession of quite a few weapons and sets of armor. Combined with the ceaseless production from the blacksmith shops in the city, his stockpile was truly substantial. But these weapons were also a problem. The city forbade gatherings of able-bodied men and likewise prohibited private stockpiling of arms—something that could be tied to a charge of rebellion. Keeping them in the city was always a hidden danger. Now that he had many men to employ and needed to put down roots in He Village, it was the perfect time to transport them all out.

That day, even the price of hiring large carts in the city went up, because Zhao Jin's side used far too many of them.

Everything was distributed in an orderly fashion. By lunchtime, the freight yard was more or less restored to its original state, becoming almost as desolate as before.

The reason it was only "almost" was that the group of rough-and-tumble wanderers who stayed behind were far from quiet. They laughed and talked loudly without any restraint, showing no regard for rules whatsoever.

Before coming to sign up, many had only heard of the exploits of Zhao Jin and his group, never having seen them in person. Fighting against overwhelming odds, battling powerful foes in bloody combat, and wiping out notorious strongmen who shook all of Xuzhou—hearing this naturally inspired awe and fear. But when they arrived and took a look, they saw that Zhao Jin, and even Chen Sheng, though tall and large in stature, were not very old. They looked like nothing more than half-grown youths, and unconsciously, a sense of contempt crept in.

The reason they still wanted to sign up and join was that their family members all understood: as long as they threw in their lot with Zhao Jin, no one would pursue their past troubles and crimes. Moreover, they themselves harbored a little scheme, thinking: if such a large operation is run by a few half-grown kids, then couldn't we just take it over?

Horses were tied to the hitching posts at the freight yard. Over twenty men gathered together, bragging and shooting the breeze, spittle flying everywhere. They arranged themselves by strength as well; those with bigger reputations and more skill squatted in the center, while those who fared worse stood on the outside. Qian Yong and Tao Gui were both in the middle. Interestingly, the three Qi brothers stayed obediently off to one side, keeping their distance from the group.

"You lot over there, come work! Those few bundles still haven't been moved!"

"What are you yelling for? Isn't there a bunch of people over there busy working? Can't you see your master here has business?"

The freight yard was a hive of bustling activity, but when one of the household guards saw these twenty-plus new recruits idling, he came over to call them to work. He never expected to be roared right back at.

The household guard was stunned, while Qian Yong and Tao Gui, having finished their shouting, went back to their bragging as if nothing had happened.

"... That day, at least thirty men surrounded me. With a single blade, I cut my way in and out seven times..."

"You were told to work. Why didn't you go?"

"Won't you give it a rest..." Qian Yong had just started to reply impatiently when he suddenly sensed something was wrong. He looked up and found Zhao Jin and Chen Sheng standing there, staring at him coldly.

He had heard so many tales of their deeds, yet facing those youthful faces, Qian Yong felt no awe. He immediately put on a cheeky grin and said, "Master Jin, this humble one..."

Before he could finish, he saw Zhao Jin stride forward aggressively and raise a hand to strike, looking as if he meant to deliver a slap. In that instant, evil surged in Qian Yong's heart and made him bold. He thought, "You actually dare to make a move? And that slapping posture is so loose and sloppy. Today, I'll make this 'Master Jin' lose face."

Qian Yong raised his arm to block while his other hand swept over to grapple. He never imagined that Zhao Jin's move was merely a feint. Qian Yong immediately grasped at empty air. Before he could react to the next motion, he felt a heavy blow to his stomach and went flying backward as if riding a cloud.

On the other side, Tao Gui suddenly stood up. Chen Sheng directly grabbed him by the lapels and, using the momentum, lifted him straight up. Tao Gui's feet immediately left the ground. Chen Sheng drove a heavy punch into Tao Gui's lower abdomen. Tao Gui curled up in mid-air like a shrimp, and Chen Sheng simply threw him to the ground.

The sudden violence left the young wanderers around them staring slack-jawed. Zhao Jin's movements were swift and fierce; Chen Sheng's strength was boundless. Qian Yong and Tao Gui had no way to resist and were taken down instantly.

Qian Yong collapsed to the ground over there, struggled for a moment, then fell again. He simply couldn't get up. These wanderers all had some connections with each other. Behind Zhao Jin, a man took a step forward, his hand reaching for his waist. But the moment he took that step, Zhao Jin had already turned around, his backhand drawing the short blade from his waist. This time, however, he kept the sheath on. The sheathed short blade lashed heavily across the man's face. With a miserable cry, the man spat out two teeth and clutched his face, unable to move.

The group first went still, then immediately scattered. No one dared to stay too close to Zhao Jin and his men. This time, they finally realized Zhao Jin's fierce courage. Those few moves just now, though preemptive, displayed strength and skill that proved his prowess. They finally understood that they themselves had been far too blind to their place.

Qian Yong and Tao Gui had managed to pick themselves up off the ground. They had boasted too wildly and been too arrogant, and then been taught a solid lesson. It left them with the feeling of a drawn blade too shameful to easily sheathe.

"We... we..." The words to quit had barely begun when they couldn't continue, because the matter wasn't over yet.

Liu Yong, who was left in charge here, saw the fight break out. Without a second word, he directly assembled the household guards. They formed ranks, leveled their spears, and advanced menacingly. The ranks were orderly, the spears a dense forest. Being targeted like this, these young men who thought themselves bold and heroic were suddenly stammering when they spoke.

At this moment, they finally understood Zhao Jin's power. Looking at Zhao Jin standing there, then looking at the spear formation behind him, each of them found it hard to meet Zhao Jin's eyes.

Zhao Jin swept his gaze over these cowed wanderers and said coldly, "Just because you have a horse, a few weapons, and have knocked around the martial world for a few days, don't forget who you are. Coming to my side means abiding by my rules. Disobey orders, and you'll be punished. If you still don't know what's good for you, I'll take your heads."

His tone was flat, without much inflection, yet the wanderers' heads drooped even lower. If Zhao Jin had said this earlier, they would have thought he was bluffing. But now that he said it, they recalled the stories of his deeds. Thinking of those lives lost, they felt increasingly terrified.

"Qian Yong, Tao Gui, ten strokes each. Everyone else, five strokes each. Do it right here in the freight yard. Do it now!" Zhao Jin ordered.

The household guards immediately stepped forward, two men pinning down one. They pressed them to the ground and started the beating. Now, none of them dared resist; they could only lie down and take the beating.

The new recruits who were moving goods, and those who had returned from purchasing with Chen Hong, all witnessed this scene in the yard. When they signed up yesterday, they had also seen these wanderers on horseback with blades, laughing and talking loudly. Everyone was a resident from inside or outside Xuzhou city, and many recognized them from before. They all knew these peers who roamed the martial world were once aggressive brawlers, all vicious characters not to be offended.

Since they couldn't be offended, it was only natural that they lined up first when signing up yesterday, and it was only natural that they chatted here today while others worked at moving goods.

But these characters who "should" have been special were now pinned to the ground and beaten, and each one obediently took the beating without any resistance. Seeing this scene left everyone utterly shocked. When they asked and learned the reason, they were even more shaken. Every new recruit who saw and heard this scene learned one thing: here, if you didn't follow the rules, you would be punished and beaten.

As for the three Qi brothers, they had asked to help from the very beginning. But since they weren't new recruits who had been formally enrolled, they actually couldn't participate in the internal work of the freight yard. The three Qi brothers said cheerfully that if any help was needed, just call, and then they moved off to the side.

They also witnessed this scene unfolding in the freight yard. They saw Qian Yong and Tao Gui being harshly dealt with. After Zhao Jin and the others had left, Qi the Eldest shook his head and said with a smile, "Those brats didn't have eyes themselves, and instead got used as an example—killing the chicken to scare the monkeys!"

"Don't look at how young Zhao Jin is. Working under him probably won't be easy."

"That's just as well. If it were really too casual, we wouldn't dare to throw in our lot with him."

The three Qi brothers murmured their thoughts and sighs among themselves. Though they were only in their twenties, they understood things far better than Qian Yong, Tao Gui, and the others who weren't yet twenty.

After a simple lunch, Liu Yong set out with those two hundred-plus men for He Village. Ten large carts went with them. They didn't need to purchase too large a quantity of supplies; they just needed to get through the first few days. After that, He Village could supply itself, since being next to the market made everything very convenient.

Before departure, Zhao Jin had instructed Liu Yong to have Dong Bingfeng over there bring the household guards back early the next morning, and then take the remaining new recruits with them to He Village.

"You three from the Qi family, tonight you'll stand guard on the perimeter of the distillery. Ji Xiang over there will tell you what to do." Five taels of silver a month, with food and lodging for men and horses covered, and weapons and clothing provided—these were the terms Zhao Jin offered the three Qi brothers. The terms weren't bad at all, because this pay was received in full, not inferior to that of the personal guards of a Regional Commander.

By the time the sun was about to dip below the city walls, Zhao Jin's side finally had a moment of relative leisure. Qian Yong and Tao Gui's arrogance had only been on the surface. After being disciplined, they were completely obedient. Though their buttocks and thighs ached fiercely from the beating, they still docilely went to help with the work.

His companions had all gone off to their various tasks, leaving only Zhao Jin and Chen Sheng here to take charge. The two used this free moment to go inside and have some tea. When there were fewer people around, Chen Sheng spoke a bit more.

"If Wang Zhaojing hadn't backed down, we wouldn't be so short-handed now. The mind of a scholar is full of twists and turns—truly troublesome," Chen Sheng sat there and grumbled.

Zhao Jin smiled and shook his head, not taking up that remark. Instead, he said, "I practice martial arts and train my body in the early morning and evening now. You're the same, right?"

Chen Sheng nodded over there. Zhao Jin continued, "We absolutely must not slack off. In deadly fights and brawls, and in keeping these boys beneath us in line, what we rely on is our own skill. The moment we slack off, we'll have nothing left."

"I understand that. None of the others have slacked off either."

Chen Sheng replied, then after a sip of tea, asked in a deep voice, "Are we really leaving the city? It's calm and peaceful in here. Once we're outside, things will be different."

Zhao Jin nodded solemnly. After thinking for a moment, he said with a smile, "A chick is sheltered by the eggshell, protected from wind and rain. But if it doesn't peck that shell open, it will suffocate and die inside."

The matter of leaving the city wasn't just a topic of discussion among themselves; the entire city of Xuzhou was talking about it.

After Clerk Li got the news from Zhao Jin's side, he immediately returned to the yamen to report. Hearing that these able-bodied men were about to leave the city, everyone in the yamen, from top to bottom, breathed a sigh of relief. They couldn't afford to offend Zhao Jin and his group, but if this matter was reported to the higher authorities, it would also be a colossal problem.

But compared to the news of Zhao Jin leaving the city, the matter of these several hundred able-bodied men gathering seemed like nothing. Zhao Jin's rise had not only suppressed the various powerful factions within the city, but even the officials were so oppressed by him they could barely breathe, walking on eggshells and daring not make a single misstep.

Although everyone also understood that even if Zhao Jin went to He Village, he wouldn't lose his hold on the city, not having such a tiger at one's side would still make life a bit easier, and the benefits might be a little greater.

This was especially true for Prefect Tong Huaizu. As the Prefect of Xuzhou, he was a high official tasked with shepherding the people of the Xuzhou region. But Xuzhou was full of powerful local magnates everywhere, and there were even colossal entities like Cloud Mountain Temple. In many places, he, the Prefect, didn't need to manage affairs at all. Still, everyone maintained a surface level of respect, and the customary payments that were due were all provided.

But after Zhao Jin appeared, everything changed completely. Zhao Jin never gave any consideration to saving face when he did things. He would always act first, then come to the yamen to go through the formalities. This made Prefect Tong feel like nothing more than a private secretary. Although the customary silver payments were still there and hadn't decreased from before, when he received this money, it didn't feel like accepting a gift; rather, it felt like receiving a reward. This was something Prefect Tong truly couldn't stand.

Moreover, as Zhao Jin rose and time passed, Prefect Tong sensed a subtle shift in the attitude of everyone in the yamen toward him. They seemed less obedient, handling everything in a perfunctory manner. In particular, when Prefect Tong saw how eagerly everyone in the yamen responded to whatever task Zhao Jin assigned, the contrast made His Excellency the Prefect feel no joy whatsoever in being an official.

After all those years of bitter study to sit in this seat, besides squeezing money, he also wanted to savor the feeling of being above others — but he couldn't feel that lofty superiority, and he had to handle every administrative matter with extreme caution, terrified of offending the young powerhouses in the city. How could anyone stand it?

The moment he heard Zhao Jin was leaving Xuzhou — even if it was merely no longer being stationed inside Xuzhou City — Prefect Tong felt his whole body relax. Upon hearing the news, he immediately ordered the kitchen to stir-fry a few good dishes, then opened a jar of Hanjing Famous Liquor. The liquor was too strong; though Prefect Tong liked it, he couldn't drink much, getting drunk every time, so he only did this when he was in a good mood.

While he drank with his wives and concubines, Adviser Wang was also free. Adviser Wang was a figure of some standing in this yamen, never lacking people to flatter him, and Clerk Liu from the Revenue Office took the initiative to come invite him out for a meal.

In the past, people of status in the government went to Cloud Mountain Tower for banquets, but ever since Zhao Jin fell out with Cloud Mountain Tower, everyone had gotten used to going to Jade Willow Residence or even Pork Rib Zhang — better to be cautious and avoid offending Zhao Jin. Everyone understood this perfectly well. This time, Adviser Wang and Clerk Liu went to Jade Willow Residence, where they were given a private room right away.

Clerk Liu of the Revenue Office held even more power and influence in the yamen than Clerk Li of the Justice Office, because grain collection and tax collection all passed through the Revenue Office's hands — the fattest source of graft. Those above had to rely on him, and those below had to curry favor. However, to sit in this position for long with minimal trouble, one had to maintain good relations with the adviser, so the two had always been on good terms.

Zhao Jin leaving Xuzhou to be permanently stationed elsewhere — this was a monumental matter. When these two gathered for drinks, this was exactly what they discussed.

"He's done so well in the city, yet he insists on going to He Village. Cloud Mountain Temple keeps its hands tied inside the city, but outside the city they're no benevolent souls. How many people have vanished without a trace? Old Zhao didn't even think to warn him." Clerk Liu had drunk a bit and his words grew somewhat more numerous.

Adviser Wang took a sip of liquor, smiled, and nodded, saying, "Inside Xuzhou City, it's so poor even the rats won't come. Outside the city, there are all sorts of ways to make money — tribute grain, illicit salt, coal mining and iron smelting, plus river shipping. And now this Zhao kid has come up with this fine liquor. Inside the city he can hold onto it; outside the city, that's far from certain."

A mouthful of strong liquor went down. Clerk Liu exhaled in satisfaction, shook his head, and said, "Kong Jiuying has been quiet all along, but a man like that surely won't swallow his pride and take this loss lying down. That Zhao kid may act domineering, but this liquor is truly well made. I just hope nothing happens to him — I'd hate to never drink this liquor again."

Adviser Wang picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, smiling without making a sound. Clerk Liu went on talking to himself: "Outside the city, it's hardly just Kong Jiuying and Cloud Mountain Temple. Is the Xu family, who mine coal and smelt iron, any kind of virtuous folk? Everyone knows coal and iron bring huge profits, yet no one has ever managed to take them from the Xu family's hands..."

"Old Liu, you're just afraid that once Zhao Jin leaves, collecting grain won't be so easy anymore, aren't you? Just have a word with Zhao Dadao about it." Adviser Wang cut him off with a laugh.

Clerk Liu froze for a moment, then chuckled, filled Adviser Wang's cup, then his own, clinked them, and drained it. Smiling, he said, "Mr. Wang, you have sharp eyes. But I don't have that deep a connection with Old Zhao. You, Mr. Wang, deal with Old Zhao often, and in your position, it would naturally be easier to speak up. These past few months, collecting grain and taxes has truly been easy — thirty percent more benefit than before. If we put our minds to it, we could even get forty percent more."

Imperial grain and state taxes — they say it's heaven's law and earth's principle, but no one is willing to hand over their family's hard-earned harvest. Common folk are like this, and so are powerful landlords. Though scholarly degrees and official rank can exempt one from taxes, Xuzhou is a place of weak literary culture, and those with degrees are indeed few. The powerful landlords avoid or underpay taxes mainly by relying on bribery and force.

It's actually the same everywhere, not just in Xuzhou. To collect the imperial grain and state taxes, one must employ force. Usually, the constables and runners from the yamen accompany the tax clerks from the Revenue Office into the countryside, using armed coercion. This method works elsewhere, but in Xuzhou it's honestly not very effective. Martial culture prevails everywhere here — your yamen has a few dozen or a hundred men armed with waist sabers and iron rulers; what are they worth? If it comes to a real fight, who cares about your official status?

So in the Xuzhou region, such force could only be used against common folk, but you couldn't squeeze much grease out of common folk. The real profits lay with the large landholding households. Compared to other places, the Revenue Offices of Xuzhou's one prefecture and four counties were never that richly greased.

But after Zhao Jin's rise, things changed in the Xuzhou prefectural seat. Constables assisting in grain and tax collection was standard practice, and Zhao Zhentang was one of those constables — that made all the difference. Whether he personally showed up or not, everyone had to take him into account. Offending Old Master Zhao was offending Zhao Jin, Lord Zhao — and that was unthinkable.

With this layer of connection, the Revenue Office's tax and grain collection in recent months had gone exceptionally smoothly. Even Cloud Mountain Temple's subordinate estates and manors had to make a gesture. Though a share of all this inevitably went to Zhao Zhentang, what ended up in one's own pocket was even more. Now that Zhao Jin was leaving the city, this deterrent power would weaken considerably, and the benefits would shrink. Clerk Liu of the Revenue Office was naturally anxious.

The reason Clerk Liu brought this up with Adviser Wang was that when more was collected, Adviser Wang also got a larger cut. Their interests were linked, so having Adviser Wang go persuade them was more appropriate.

Even with the conversation reaching this point, Adviser Wang's smile never wavered. He ate and drank at a leisurely pace. Clerk Liu of the Revenue Office, usually a man who kept his composure, was now growing somewhat impatient.

"Other things in our Xuzhou may not be much, but this mutton is truly well cooked — a perfect match for this Hanjing Famous Liquor." Adviser Wang said unhurriedly. Seeing that Clerk Liu across from him was already getting anxious, he finally set down his wine cup.

Clerk Liu leaned forward, but before he could speak, Adviser Wang raised a hand to stop him, then asked leisurely, "Do you think that once Zhao Jin leaves Xuzhou City, he'll be finished?"

"Inside this city, there's still the city walls and the king's law to shield him. Old Chen and Old Zhao are also men of standing, not to mention a pure and respected figure like Old Man Wangshan. Once he leaves the city, can it possibly end well? All sorts of powerful forces are eyeing him like tigers. To put it plainly, whether Zhao Jin lives or dies is none of our concern, but if he stays in the city, it's good for everyone, high and low!" Clerk Liu spoke very frankly.

Adviser Wang slowly shook his head and said with a smile, "You think that once he leaves Xuzhou City, he's finished? Wrong. I think this is a dragon returning... no, that phrase is treasonous. This is a tiger entering the hills!"

As an adviser, weighing words was part of the job. 'Dragon' symbolized imperial power and the Son of Heaven — using it as a metaphor would be seditious. But the meaning was perfectly clear.

Clerk Liu was stunned. Adviser Wang lightly patted the table and continued with a smile, "You think this city and the king's law protect Zhao Jin, but I see them as a restraint. Brother Liu, think again — inside this city, bound by the king's law, how many lives has he already taken? I'd say he's been holding back. This Zhao Jin is young, but his actions follow a pattern. He's always kept up appearances precisely because he's afraid of violating the king's law."

"Him, afraid of the king's law... and yet, it's true..." Clerk Liu first retorted, then muttered to himself. Zhao Jin's actions seemed arrogant, but you couldn't find fault with him on principle. Though he had killed many, it was always in the course of capturing bandits or in self-defense — even if it went to court, he had nothing to fear.

"Look at why he's leaving the city this time. He says it's to make more liquor, but I think it's to support more men. Inside this city, those two hundred-plus men of his are already a problem — the more men, the bigger the problem. But once he's outside the city, who's going to pay any attention?" Adviser Wang fired off a string of words. Clerk Liu nodded repeatedly and said, "Outside the city, never mind three or four hundred — there are even those who keep over a thousand local braves."

Adviser Wang instinctively lowered his voice, leaned forward, and said, "Once he leaves the city, we mustn't distance ourselves — on the contrary, we must press even closer to curry favor."

"Oh?"