Chapter 277: The Great Move

After saying this, Ruhui picked up the title deeds from the ground and presented them to Zhao Jin with both hands, saying, "Master, these deeds should be taken to the yamen for official transfer of ownership as soon as possible, lest delays bring trouble."

"I'll go into the city in the next few days to find the clerks at the Revenue Office and get this matter settled along the way," Zhao Jin said.

The owners listed on these title deeds were all false names, but this posed no problem for Zhao Jin, just as it had posed no problem when Cloud Mountain Temple did the same.

"Let me show you around He Family Village. You'll be living here permanently from now on. Whether you stay in the main compound or somewhere else in the village is entirely up to you. Just let me know once you've decided," Zhao Jin said with a smile.

The group all walked out of the house. The soldiers in the courtyard had not stood down from alert; they were still formed up at ease, awaiting orders. Zhao Jin spoke: "Today we'll have dinner an hour early, then form up and await orders."

Someone immediately went to make the arrangements. Ruhui smiled as he followed behind. He understood clearly that even now, Zhao Jin's side had not relaxed their vigilance, and the troops remained ready for combat at any moment.

In the past, Ruhui had watched the Zhao Character Battalion merely as a spectator, but now he watched it as his own force. With a different stake came a different mindset. Looking at the orderly ranks, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Master, when I used to watch the monk soldiers Runan trained, I thought they were tigers and wolves. But now, seeing the household troops you've trained, I realize Runan's men are nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs. Only now do I understand how narrow my view was before."

"The ones Runan trained are already quite decent. It's just that ours are stronger," Zhao Jin assessed fairly.

Just as they were speaking, Zhou Xuezhi came bustling over excitedly. Before he could offer his salute, he couldn't help but pause at the sight of Ruhui. Zhao Jin smiled and made the introduction: "This is Cao Ruhui. From now on, he will be the advisor-secretary of the Zhao Character Battalion. Mister Cao, this is Zhou Xuezhi."

Zhou Xuezhi's expression immediately soured, but he still bowed in salute. Then, straightening up, he said, "Master Jin, all the markets and shops in He Family Village have been recorded. From now on, shopfronts will pay fifty wen per day, and stall vendors three wen per day. Payment in kind is acceptable. This takes effect starting tomorrow. What does Master Jin think?"

"Go ahead and handle it according to your plan," Zhao Jin said. Zhou Xuezhi hastily bowed in acknowledgment. When he straightened up, he shot another glance at Ruhui before turning and leaving.

Once Zhou Xuezhi had walked some distance away, Ruhui smiled and said, "Master, aside from myself, he is the only one in this compound wearing a long gown. Judging by Mister Zhou's expression, he seems none too pleased by my arrival."

"Of course he's not pleased. He's always thought of himself as the sole advisor and secretary. Now that you've taken the position, how could he be happy about it?" Zhao Jin said bluntly.

Ruhui coughed twice and said, somewhat awkwardly, "Master is certainly direct with his words. I'll find a chance to explain things to him later, to avoid any future misunderstandings that might hinder our work together."

"There's no need to explain. He is my captive; you joined of your own accord. Your statuses are different, so naturally your positions are different," Zhao Jin said, very simply.

"In Master's eyes, the position of chief advisor should belong to Young Master Wang, shouldn't it?" Ruhui shifted the topic.

Zhao Jin fell silent for a moment, then said in a muffled voice, "Wang Zhaojing's sights are set too high. He looks down on this setup. He wants to carve out a path through the imperial examinations."

Normally, when a newcomer joins a group, they're expected to build rapport with everyone, and living and eating together is essential. But Ruhui was unconventional. He directly purchased a house to the south of the He Family main compound, and rather extravagantly offered three times the price to make the occupants move out immediately.

After being shown around the He Family main compound and its surroundings, Ruhui wandered off on his own through He Family Village. Zhao Jin returned to the main compound, where his companions gathered together once more.

"Big Brother, is this Ruhui one of us now?" Liu Yong asked. Seeing Zhao Jin nod, Liu Yong hesitated, then added, "Isn't this a bit incautious? After all, it's only his word. Do we just trust him like that?"

"It may be a bit direct, but if two things are proven, then we can trust him. First, we see whether the abbot of Cloud Mountain Temple has actually been replaced. Second, we see what exactly arrives tonight," Zhao Jin stated his reasoning.

The position of abbot at Cloud Mountain Temple represented power and wealth—immense power and vast wealth. To be willing to give that up naturally made one believe in his resolve. The goods arriving tonight would prove another layer of sincerity: just how much of Cloud Mountain Temple's assets he had actually brought over.

"The four recruit squads will go to Little Stone Village tonight. Their task is simple: every load on every cart must be probed once with a spear to check if anyone is hiding inside," Zhao Jin said.

Chen Sheng nodded and said, "I'll go with them."

"No need. All of us will wait here. If something happens, we need to bring our full strength to bear. Bingfeng, mount up everyone who rides well and have them keep watch on the outskirts of Little Stone Village. The moment anything happens, report back at full gallop. Stone and Daxiang, you're responsible for ensuring He Family Village is cleared and under curfew after dark. Also, arrange for Leizi to take two men and stay close to Ruhui. If anything seems off, subdue him immediately," Zhao Jin assigned tasks to each person.

The group listened solemnly, then dispersed to attend to their respective duties. Chen Sheng, who had lingered at the back, was stopped by Zhao Jin. Zhao Jin smiled and said, "Sometimes you're hard as iron, and other times you can't bear to let go. It's rather strange."

Chen Sheng paused, then smiled and shook his head. After taking a couple of steps, he finally said, "They were trained through so much hard work. Wasting them would be a terrible shame."

As the sky gradually darkened, Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang led their troops on a circuit through He Family Village. The entire village quickly fell silent. No one dared disobey the Zhao Character Battalion's orders. Moreover, the battalion's movements today had already made the more perceptive people sense that something was amiss. The merchants at the mule and horse market were once again on tense alert.

From the watchtower, they could see clusters of bonfires blazing outside Little Stone Village. In the firelight, the four recruit squads could be seen having already arrived. Inside the compound, every squad of the Zhao Character Battalion was likewise prepared to move out at a moment's notice.

Ruhui had made a round through the village and only appeared now. Behind him followed three figures who looked like attendants, but they were actually Lei Cai and two household troops.

"I never expected the roast lamb here to be so rich in flavor, not a bit inferior to what you'd find in the city. A pity we're busy tonight. Otherwise, paired with Hanjing's famous liquor—strong spirits and roast lamb, that's a match made in heaven." Ruhui's expression and tone were entirely relaxed.

Zhao Jin sat on a long bench in the courtyard, wearing his armor. Standing for too long would drain too much energy. Hearing Ruhui, he replied irritably, "Mister Cao, feel free to have a drink. It's not like you're the one who'll be busy."

Ruhui shook his head with a smile and unhurriedly came to stand beside the bench. "Master is indeed thorough and cautious. Even so, you still keep your guard up against me."

"The Zhao Character Battalion only has so many men, yet too many eyes are watching us. If we had to react to every rustle of the wind and stir of the grass, we'd be overwhelmed. The only thing we can do is be careful and prudent," Zhao Jin replied with a smile.

Ruhui nodded thoughtfully. He gazed at the night sky, then lowered his voice and said, "Actually, many of the carts tonight are headed for He Family Village. It's just as well to keep more people here. They'll come in handy when the time comes."

Zhao Jin turned his head and glanced at Ruhui. "Why go through so many twists and turns?"

"There are many goods, and many of them are critical. By not letting them know the destination, it also prevents them from planning and making arrangements in advance," Ruhui answered in a low voice.

Zhao Jin laughed and shook his head. "You've only been abbot for a few days. Getting those things out must have been rather sudden. Who would have had time to plan and arrange in advance? Your caution is quite similar to my own."

"Master, you're not yet twenty, yet your mind is as thorough as a man in his forties. It's no surprise that a subordinate like me has this caution. But for Master to think so comprehensively—that is truly a heaven-sent genius," the former monk Ruhui said with a smile.

They had only exchanged a few idle words when the rapid sound of hoofbeats rang out. From a distance, they heard the rider shout, "Master Jin! Some carts have stopped at Little Stone Village, but others are heading toward He Family Village!"

Zhao Jin rose from the long bench and called out, "Let those carts through."

The rider shouted an acknowledgment, wheeled his horse around, and hurried off. Zhao Jin turned and shouted, "Light bonfires in the open ground to the east! The recruit squads are to set up checkpoints on the road. Every cart must be pierced through with a spear. If anything is amiss, kill without mercy!"

The squads on standby roared their assent. Before long, bonfires blazed to life on the open ground to the east—a row on each side, one bonfire every thirty paces. Several dozen male villagers from He Family Village were also called out. Their task was to tend the fires, constantly adding firewood. Every one of these villagers was tense, thinking some great battle was about to erupt.

As the field of vision gradually brightened, Ruhui watched quietly for a while, then spoke: "Master, your subordinate does not understand military affairs or the art of war, and I don't know if I'm right in saying this. But I've observed that when Master gives orders, you don't assign specific people to specific tasks. Those below all act on their own tacit understanding. This shows that the Zhao Character Battalion is well-trained in peacetime. But has Master considered that at a truly critical moment, this could easily lead to chaos?"

Zhao Jin nodded. Nowadays, he rarely gave orders assigning specific tasks to each squad. Often, the squads had to discuss among themselves, or be coordinated by Chen Sheng and the others. In normal times, this was fine, but at a truly critical moment, a single misstep could lead to disaster. Such a method of conveying orders was certainly unsuitable then.

"Your subordinate once observed Runan drilling his monk soldiers. He had a personal guard unit, which also served as his orderlies. This is standard practice in the military. Why doesn't Master give it a try?" Ruhui spoke very politely.

"The Zhao Character Battalion has just been established. There are many areas that need improvement. What you've said is correct." Zhao Jin pondered for a moment, then gave an affirmative reply.

Ruhui was very surprised by Zhao Jin's response. Military organization and doctrine were major matters, touching on every aspect. For someone who had just joined to offer an opinion—even if that opinion was correct—it wouldn't normally be readily adopted. He hadn't expected Zhao Jin to accept it so crisply and decisively.

Ruhui stared at Zhao Jin for a moment. In the glow of the firelight, Zhao Jin's expression was calm and natural. A thought suddenly struck Ruhui: This is what they call being open-minded and receptive. He said nothing further.

Within the range illuminated by the firelight, carts could now be seen approaching. The household troop squads were all prepared. Zhao Jin also rose from the long bench and walked forward. Ruhui hurried to keep up. As he walked, Zhao Jin said, "Since we're now one family, you must speak freely about everything you know. We brothers are, after all, still young. There are many oversights, many things we fail to consider. Whatever you see, say it. Don't be afraid of offending anyone."

"Master, are you truly not yet twenty?" Ruhui asked with a smile.

Zhao Jin also smiled but did not answer the question. The two walked forward together. An oxcart had already been stopped. The tarpaulin was pulled back, revealing hemp sacks and straw bags loaded on the cart. A household trooper of the Zhao Character Battalion thrust his spear into the gaps between the stacked cargo. Halfway in, he seemed to stop. The trooper shouted loudly, "There's something hard inside!"

At this shout, a squad immediately surrounded the cart. Ruhui, standing beside Zhao Jin, spoke: "Master, that cart is carrying chests. Have your men unload the hemp sacks and straw bags. Don't open the chests—just haul them directly into the compound. A wealthy hoarder like He Weiyuan must have cellars and underground vaults, right?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Ruhui added, "Put the chests directly into the underground vault. We'll inventory them tomorrow. The fewer people who see them, the better."

Zhao Jin nodded, called over a household trooper, and gave the order. Two squads of household troops on standby moved forward, untied the ropes on the cart, and began moving the hemp sacks and straw bags, placing them directly on the open ground to the east. Soon, the stacked cargo on the cart was half-emptied, revealing a wooden chest underneath.

By this time, Zhao Jin and Ruhui had already walked up close. Zhao Jin noticed that the carter driving the oxcart seemed unaware that a wooden chest had even been placed on his cart; his mouth hung open in sheer surprise.

"When the carts enter Cloud Mountain Temple, the carters cannot go in. Inside, ten of the most trusted disciples pack and seal the chests. Outside, fifty reliable, able-bodied disciples load the carts and then drive them out. The carters know nothing. After completing these tasks, those sixty disciples were assigned to the meditation hall in the back mountain for a three-day closed retreat," Ruhui explained his arrangements with a smile.

"Presumably, those disciples aren't all from the same faction, and they don't exactly see eye to eye with each other," Liu Yong interjected from the side. Ruhui smiled and nodded.

Ruhui took a lantern from one of his attendants, stepped forward to inspect the seal on the wooden chest, and only then allowed the cart to pass. As Ruhui busied himself there, Zhao Jin's companions behind him exchanged glances. Liu Yong and Ji Xiang both curled their lips. Chen Sheng slowly shook his head. Shi Manqiang, however, had no time to pay attention to this. He had already led men back to the main compound to open another underground vault. Underground vaults and cellars—the He Family main compound certainly had no shortage of those.

"Master, over at Little Stone Village they've already unloaded more than twenty carts — all sorghum." The cavalryman sent there came back to report. Many ox-carts and horse-drawn wagons were parked on the open ground that Little Stone Village had hurriedly cleared and leveled. Villagers who had long been ready were unloading and stacking. The Zhao Company retainers inspected everything meticulously — every single sack was sorghum.

"We need sorghum for brewing liquor. Our temple's own estates produce a great deal of it. This time we brought everything we could get our hands on." Ruhui was checking the seals as he spoke, smiling by way of explanation.

Brewing liquor required sorghum. Cloud Mountain Temple's sorghum-for-liquor arrangement had given Zhao Jin's side a large stockpile, more than they could use up in a short time. But after that night battle at He Village, the sorghum supply had been cut off. Even after the raid on Cloud Mountain Temple it hadn't resumed, dragging on until today. With raw materials plentiful, Zhao Jin hadn't been in a hurry, but he had already formed a plan to seize Cloud Mountain Temple's output by force. He hadn't expected Ruhui to be so attentive to his needs — to actually bring everything over.

Every ox-cart and horse-cart that arrived at He Village carried chests. Some were even iron chests, of varying sizes, all bearing seals and secret marks. Ruhui inspected each one with great care.

"Please set your mind at ease, Master. Exchanging sorghum for liquor is a mutually beneficial arrangement. No matter who oversees Cloud Mountain Temple, it will continue. Besides, now that Zhenzhi has returned to the monastic life and manages the temple's finances, he knows what to do." During a break between inspecting the carts, Ruhui spoke these words.

Horse-carts and ox-carts are not fast, and they had set out from Cloud Mountain Temple only after loading up. Those wagons at the rear traveled very slowly after nightfall. He Village was consequently thrown into bustle until the latter half of the night. Over a hundred able-bodied men from the village were called out to help. After He Village quieted down, Little Stone Village was still brightly lit, carts still arriving in an endless stream with goods. The Zhao Company sent more retainers over to rotate shifts.

The next morning, after rising, washing, and dressing, Zhao Jin made a point of studying the sky. Not a cloud for ten thousand li. Clear weather was normally a good thing, but Zhao Jin could now feel the drought persisting and intensifying.

He Village also woke earlier than usual today, because the Zhao Company had notified every household the night before: every family was to contribute manpower to move the goods that had arrived overnight. The open ground to the east was nearly filled with hemp sacks and straw bags of sorghum. These had to be moved to the open area by the distillery, with a portion temporarily placed in the empty lot by the mule and horse market. Some laborers also had to go help at Little Stone Village — the transport had likely gone on all night there, and no one knew if it had stopped yet.

None of the village men complained about the corvée assignment, because the Zhao Company paid wages, without the slightest deduction. With the farmland half-dead anyway, they were better off doing labor for money.

Ruhui also rose very early. Having settled the master-servant relationship the day before, his attire today was not as striking. He wore a plain blue robe and a small cap on his head. An ordinary private secretary would dress like a scholar — Zhou Xuezhi, for instance, always wore a licentiate's garb — but Ruhui was utterly unconcerned with appearances. He looked little different from a personal attendant.

Though casual in dress, Ruhui did not neglect propriety. He greeted Zhao Jin with a bow, and only then got to the main subject: "Master, call the other gentlemen. Let us go together to inspect the vault."

Zhao Jin nodded. He was also very curious about what was inside those chests. According to what Shi Manqiang had said the night before, every chest was very heavy — chests under two chi in length weighed over a hundred jin. Had Ruhui not sent someone with a warning, many of the porters would certainly have strained themselves.

At Ruhui's request, the only people who entered the underground vault were Zhao Jin, his sworn brothers, and Zhou Xuezhi. Liu Yong brought the key and opened the main door.

Though somewhat stuffy, the vault had been built with great care. The walls were actually constructed of dressed stone blocks. They were fortunate that stone was plentiful in Xuzhou — any further south, and such materials would only be used in the mansions of the wealthy.

After the door had stood open for a while, Zhao Jin and the others entered carrying lanterns. The compound had more than one cellar and underground vault — a sign of how ambitious He Weiyuan's plans had once been. These vaults now mainly stored gold and silver. The distillery's income and the wealth of the Xue family in the city were all concentrated here. Gold and silver are small in volume but heavy in weight; this one vault was not yet full, yet the sums involved were staggering to speak of. As for the originally hidden stashes of weapons and armor, the Zhao Company used those so frequently that a separate equipment storehouse had been set up above ground.