Chapter 259: The Journey Ahead Is Not Far

None of the markets near He Village opened today. After being hit by such a large band of raiders, who would dare come to do business?

While the others rested, Zhao Jin and his companions did not sleep. Before long, Monk Ruhui finished writing his letter and brought it over together with a token. The token was a string of white jade Buddhist beads, each bead carved with a Sanskrit symbol. It looked extraordinarily precious, likely a personal item Ruhui carried with him.

Besides the letter, there was also a note with a name and address written on it. This was the person they needed to find in the city, and the letter and token were to be given to them.

The companions all gathered together. Wang Zhaojing seemed somewhat excited, looked around, and said, "We're all together again, everyone."

Compared to his sentiment, none of the others responded. It wasn't coldness, but rather that they were too drained to pay attention. They certainly hadn't slept enough, their fatigue hadn't eased, and their expressions were all somewhat wooden.

"Zhaojing, take a look at this letter. See if there are any problems." Zhao Jin handed the letter over. Wang Zhaojing took it, read it through once, roughly traced it with his fingers, then handed it back and shook his head. "I don't see any problems, but I can only spot little tricks like hidden messages. I can't see anything else."

"Someone was watching him write it. He couldn't have played too many tricks." Zhao Jin replied, then continued, "Bingfeng, you and Xiaoyong ride back to the city together. I know Xiaoyong just learned to ride — either have Bingfeng carry you, or tie yourself to the horse. Be fast. Go find the person this letter is addressed to. Then Xiaoyong, you find two people familiar with the roads around Xuzhou, bring them out of the city, and wait outside that inn beyond the west gate. Remember to send five household guards from the distillery to join you. Bingfeng, once everyone's at the inn, ride back immediately and report."

Dong Bingfeng and Liu Yong both nodded. Zhao Jin added, "Leave now. Don't delay on the road."

The two stood up, said their goodbyes to everyone, and hurried out of the room. Zhao Jin turned to Ji Xiang and said, "Daxiang, take Zhou Xuezhi into the village. Have every household produce four cloth bags the size of a head. They must be done before dark. Ten wen each. Be quick. Every household must contribute. Go now!"

Ji Xiang also hurriedly stood and strode out of the room. Zhao Jin turned to Shi Manqiang and said, "Shitou, go assemble the squad leaders from each squad. I need to see them shortly."

Once Shi Manqiang had also left, Chen Sheng was silent for a moment, then asked gravely, "Are you confident?"

"I'm confident!"

"The main temple of Cloud Mountain Temple is basically a large estate of several thousand people. We're just going to charge in with these few hundred?" Chen Sheng was uncharacteristically full of questions.

"Last night, Cloud Mountain Temple came at us with everything they had. Those monk soldiers suffered heavy casualties and scattered. Whether they can be rallied again is one thing. Even if they are, they'll only regroup at the nearest branch temple or estate. That means even if Cloud Mountain Temple has defenders left, they won't be many. This is when Cloud Mountain Temple is at its most vulnerable. We must seize this chance."

"But our household guards are exhausted from last night. Can they really do this? Wait a few more days?"

"Once they've eaten their fill and slept, they'll definitely recover. We can't delay. If we wait a few days, Cloud Mountain Temple will have time to rally their scattered troops. They might even get reinforcements, mobilize their own temple's strength. And the corpses have already been transported into the city. Once word spreads, countless eyes, both open and hidden, will be watching us. When that happens, our every move will be inconvenient."

Zhao Jin and Chen Sheng exchanged a few more questions and answers. Chen Sheng nodded. Wang Zhaojing, who could also follow Zhao Jin's line of thinking, chimed in, "Brother Zhao, are you confident?"

"In last night's battle, just our veteran squad pushed back over a thousand of their men head-on. That's my confidence!" Zhao Jin answered with full conviction. Last night, Cloud Mountain Temple at least had its full strength. Now, with their forces shattered, they were hardly worth mentioning.

"When the squad leaders arrive shortly, have them leave behind anyone in their squads who's cowardly or suspicious. I'll also leave you two recruit squads. With your own men added, holding this place won't be a problem. For the next few days, keep this compound brightly lit every night until everyone returns." Zhao Jin instructed.

Hearing this arrangement, Wang Zhaojing's face flushed bright red. He stood up and said agitatedly, "Brother Zhao, I am no weak, helpless scholar! I'll go with you!"

Zhao Jin smiled and shook his head, saying in a deep voice, "You have the provincial exam this year. You can't afford any mishap. And staying behind to guard this place is no idle task either. You'll need to keep your wits about you. No more reading for the next few days."

Wang Zhaojing hesitated for a long while, and finally said dejectedly, "Rest assured, Brother Zhao. I will defend this estate well."

Not long after, Shi Manqiang led the squad leaders of the recruit squads into the room. These men had all followed Zhao Jin from the very beginning, having shared life-and-death trials of blood and iron. They were the most reliable core.

"Each of you has over twenty men under you. From the time the squads were formed until now, and especially after last night's life-or-death battle, you must have formed an assessment of your subordinates. The cowardly, the ones acting strangely, the ones who don't follow orders well — report all their names. Such men can't be used with confidence. They need to be handled specially for now." Zhao Jin got straight to the point.

This was, in fact, also a test for these squad leaders. Though the time hadn't been long, if one observed carefully, one could already see a great deal.

Every squad had its cowards. Those acting strangely numbered only six. What made Zhao Jin not know whether to laugh or cry was that two of them were Zhao Song and Li Can. They had probably been too enthusiastically observing their surroundings and were deemed strange by others. As for those who didn't follow orders well, the squad leaders' answers were quite interesting. Before last night's battle, many of the household guards in the recruit squads had been somewhat defiant, and more than a few didn't obey commands. But as the battle raged last night, by the end, everyone followed orders. By daytime, there was no one left who wouldn't listen.

This change was understandable. Following orders was the only way to survive, the only way to win battles. Knowing why to follow orders, knowing the benefits of following orders — of course everyone complied.

The squads reported a total of seventy men. After the list was compiled, the two squad leaders to stay behind were also decided. Although these two had no issues with loyalty, they were too slow to react and couldn't explain many things clearly.

Once all these arrangements were made, villagers outside were already coming to deliver the cloth bags. Bags the size of a human head were easy — every household could find a few scraps of cloth. Besides, there were ten wen to be earned. This was truly a deal worth doing.

Zhou Xuezhi handled all these miscellaneous tasks. Zhao Jin, meanwhile, went to the place where Monk Ruhui was confined. The two talked there for a long while, and then Zhao Jin had paper and brush sent in.

The sun was already slanting west. At this moment, Zhou Xuezhi's methodical approach to tasks became evident. In Zhao Jin and his companions' eyes, the open ground to the east had already been tidied up. But Zhou Xuezhi still had every household in He Village send people to spread lime over the bloodstained areas and fill in the uneven ground. The beams, pillars, and door planks taken from the houses — those still usable were reclaimed by their owners. Households whose homes were damaged or who had suffered casualties were given some silver as compensation and relief. Zhao Jin agreed to all of Zhou Xuezhi's requests. If they were to be stationed here long-term, maintaining goodwill among the people was necessary.

As the sun set, He Village fell into silence earlier than usual. Even the mule and horse market was the same. Hardly anyone had been able to sleep last night, and today they had been busy contributing labor and effort. Now that things had finally quieted down, every household went to bed early to rest. Otherwise, they'd delay the busy spring planting and the next day's hard work of making a living.

"A rider approaching from the distance!" With the loud shout from the watchtower, Dong Bingfeng had returned from the city.

"Big Brother, everything you arranged has been taken care of. Xiaoyong is waiting at the inn." Dong Bingfeng had been traveling back and forth and was slightly out of breath as he spoke.

Fires were lit and meals cooked. For dinner today, two sheep were specially slaughtered — rich and full of sustenance. When the meal was served, the cloth bags made by the villagers were also distributed to every man. The requirement was simple: cut three holes in the cloth bag to expose the eyes, mouth, and nose. The household guards found it strange and amusing, but all complied.

By the time dinner was finished and these tasks were done, the sky had already darkened. Zhao Jin gave the order for everyone to begin drawing weapons and transporting equipment. The so-called equipment was armor and shields. The cotton armor was cumbersome, so this time they only brought the chainmail. There had been a dozen or so shields in He Weiyuan's storehouse, but no one had ever used them. This time they were all dug out. In addition, all the dry rations that could be gathered were packed and loaded onto the carts. They also specifically ordered water boiled and filled several large jars, which were sealed and placed on the carts. Ten wooden bowls were also taken, wrapped in clean white cloth and placed on top.

Zhao Jin and his companions were all in the courtyard. As he called the roll, the veteran squad stepped forward, and the recruit squads stepped forward. According to the prior arrangement, over a hundred and twenty men remained in the compound to stand guard. The rest formed ranks and awaited orders. Including the casualties from last night's fierce battle, the total number of men able to move out was three hundred and ninety.

"From this moment on, He Village is under lockdown — entry permitted, exit forbidden. Violators will be executed!" Zhao Jin issued the order with grim authority.

"No noise along the way. Follow the two lanterns carried at the front. Anyone who falls behind will wait where they are and return on their own after daybreak." After leading the troop out of the He family compound, Zhao Jin issued another order.

After last night's battle, every soldier in the Zhao Camp had matured and steadied considerably. Though this order was very sudden, no one was surprised or murmured about it. They simply formed ranks as arranged and followed Zhao Jin onto the night road.

Even though it had been six or seven years, Zhao Jin still felt somewhat unaccustomed whenever he traveled at night. This was because the darkness of this era was truly dark. Without the moon, the saying "you can't see your hand in front of your face" was no exaggeration. That was why Zhao Jin had two men carrying lanterns at the very front to lead the way.

He didn't want to do as Cloud Mountain Temple had done, with every man holding a torch. That was indeed bright, but far too conspicuous. This route would pass through many villages and towns. Several hundred torches marching past would be seen by too many people and might even bring unnecessary trouble.

Those who came out this time were purely household guards of the Zhao Camp. The veteran cavalrymen were either recovering from wounds in the estate or assisting Wang Zhaojing on guard duty. Moreover, all who came this time were infantry. Even those in the Zhao Camp who could ride horses all went on foot. The sole exception was Dong Bingfeng, who had two horses to himself.

Two large lanterns at the front, followed in silence by several hundred men — no matter how you looked at it, it was eerie. Although there was no one on the road at this hour, it wasn't as if there was absolutely no activity at night. Some time later, a legend began circulating west of Xuzhou about ghost soldiers of the City God patrolling at night. This was actually Zhao Jin's troop, a misperception by hunters out at night who had glimpsed them from afar.

Traveling at night was not fast, and it was hard to judge the time. But when they reached the inn west of the city, the sky was still very dark. Zhao Jin did not lead the main force over. Instead, Dong Bingfeng rode ahead and brought the people back.

Liu Yong had brought five household guards. Those five were quite excited when they saw Zhao Jin, likely because they had learned of last night's battle. The two men Liu Yong had found who were familiar with the roads around Xuzhou were in their thirties. They were traveling peddlers who worked solo — essentially small-time fences who trafficked stolen goods in and out of the city. When the two met Zhao Jin, they were extremely respectful and dared not show the slightest negligence.

As for the recipient of Monk Ruhui's letter, he was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed decently, wearing a small cap and an overrobe. Zhao Jin had some impression of this man; he seemed to run a shop specializing in the four treasures of the study east of the city. This man dealt frequently with scholars. No one would have guessed he was Monk Ruhui's trusted confidant.

"This humble one is Zhenzhi. I have read my young master's letter and verified the token. Please, Young Master Zhao, give your orders." The middle-aged man said directly.

When Dong Bingfeng went to fetch the people, Zhao Jin had the troop rest briefly. The moment everyone arrived, they would set out immediately. He first spoke to the two solo peddlers: "Lead the way to Cloud Mountain Temple on Cloud Dragon Mountain. Choose routes with few people, routes that can accommodate a large force. There will be a heavy reward when it's done."

Hearing this order, the two road-familiar peddlers hastily agreed, then immediately froze, even beginning to tremble. Just thinking about what Zhao Jin intended to do was terrifying.

Still, these two were men of the jianghu. They knew there was no possibility of refusal now; they could only comply. On the other hand, Zhao Jin had always kept his word. They didn't need to worry about being silenced afterward, and they could look forward to just how generous that heavy reward might be.

After Liu Yong finished making these arrangements, he was about to take a nap on one of the large carts. He had been busy all day with little rest. If there was battle the next day, he still needed to rest to ensure his combat effectiveness.

But before Liu Yong could move, Zhao Jin pulled him aside and began speaking in a low voice. They talked for quite a while. Liu Yong nodded in agreement. Next, instead of moving with the main force, Liu Yong headed back toward the inn.

"Xiaoyong still has things to do. I told him to go back to the inn, sleep well, and recover his energy." Zhao Jin explained briefly, and no one pressed further.

"Your surname is Zhen?" Zhao Jin asked Ruhui's letter recipient.

"In reply to Young Master Zhao, it is the Zhen that means 'true,' and the Zhi that means 'wisdom.'" The man answered very politely.

Hearing this reply, Zhao Jin said with a smile, "That sounds more like a Dharma name than a given name."

"In reply to Young Master Zhao, Zhenzhi was indeed this humble one's Dharma name originally. This humble one was an abandoned child by the roadside. By the Buddha's blessing, I was taken in and raised by the old master. After the old master passed into parinirvana, this humble one remained at the young master's side. Only six years ago did I return to lay life and descend the mountain." Zhenzhi answered in a deep voice.

Zhao Jin nodded. This answer explained a great deal — clarifying the man's identity and demonstrating that he was trustworthy. This Zhenzhi was essentially a family-born servant of Ruhui's household. With Ruhui's father forced into parinirvana, this Zhenzhi surely also wanted revenge.

"Once you go inside, can you open the temple gates?" Zhao Jin asked directly.

Zhenzhi raised his head to glance at the sky, then answered, "Young Master Zhao, if you keep walking without stopping, you should see Cloud Mountain Temple just as the sky begins to brighten. Our temple opens its gates after daybreak to welcome worshippers—the refuse and waste must go out, food and daily necessities must come in, and many gates will be open at that time."

Zhao Jin paused, coughed once, and said, "I mean a gate large enough for all my men to rush in at once."

"There is one. On the west side of Cloud Mountain Temple there is a gate for large carts. This humble one can find two fellow disciples and open it directly." Zhenzhi's answer was very straightforward.

"We'll need someone to guide us when the time comes. Cloud Mountain Temple is huge—we can't just run around blindly. We need a clear objective." Zhao Jin's questions grew more and more detailed, but he also found it a little strange. Everyone knew what would happen if he went up to Cloud Mountain Temple. For such a major matter, this Zhenzhi remained so utterly calm and composed—it was far too odd. To put it plainly, this reaction was not normal.

"Please set your mind at ease, Young Master Zhao. This humble one and several fellow disciples all grew up in Cloud Mountain Temple since childhood. We know every corner of it intimately." Zhenzhi answered again, perfectly calm.

Zhao Jin narrowed his eyes. He said nothing more. Zhenzhi instinctively pressed his palms together in salute and simply followed behind him.

The two guides were already walking ahead. This stretch they were traveling was also an official road. North of Xuzhou lay adjacent to Cloud Dragon Mountain. The large group, coming around from the west gate, needed to skirt along the city wall. They deliberately kept their distance from the wall and the moat; otherwise, if the soldiers on watch saw this formation below, they might very well sound the alarm gongs.

"Put out one lantern, and dim the other one as well," Zhao Jin ordered. The two sturdy household guards up ahead hurriedly complied.

They walked on in silence for a while. The sound of the night watchman's clapper drifted out from within the city—it was the fourth watch.

"Young Master Zhao…" Zhenzhi, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke.

Zhao Jin gave an "Mm." Zhenzhi hesitated, then continued, "Young Master Zhao, Cloud Mountain Temple has done many things over the years. Never mind the monastic rules and precepts—it has violated the king's law and regulations many times over. The Buddha is compassionate, yet he is also attended by vajra guardians at his side. That Young Master Zhao has been sent to deliver punishment is a retribution Cloud Mountain Temple deserves. However, the temple's resident monks number over a thousand. Some are degenerates of the Buddhist order, but some truly do practice the Dharma in purity and live lives of diligent austerity…"

Zhenzhi spoke with great hesitation and slowness. Zhao Jin turned his head. The night was dark, but the lantern ahead still cast its glow, and Zhenzhi could see that Zhao Jin's face was utterly expressionless. Having spent so many years in Xuzhou city, Zhenzhi had heard countless rumors about Zhao Jin. He knew that despite his youth, his hands were stained with much blood and his karma of killing was heavy. Zhenzhi had thought that after years of diligently cultivating the Dharma, he had nurtured his temperament and composure, but under that gaze, he felt only a chill rising from the depths of his heart.

The spring weather in Xuzhou was already pleasant, and the nights were tolerable, yet Zhenzhi instinctively tugged his clothes tighter, as if a cold wind had blown past. But after a pause, he still pressed on, "Young Master Zhao, those who must be killed should be killed. But if you kill them all—Cloud Mountain Temple has several thousand people, and there are also bonded followers and servant households up and down the mountain. If the disturbance is too great, you will not be able to advance and retreat with ease, and that will mean trouble."

"Oh, so what you're saying is, if I intend to slaughter them all, you will go and warn them?" Zhao Jin's voice turned cold.