Chapter 322: Silver, the Human Heart

"Big Brother, be careful." Dong Bingfeng, positioned behind Zhao Jin's right flank, warned in a low voice. Zhao Jin heard the faint sound of him nocking an arrow onto the bowstring, while beside him, Chen Sheng and Wang Zhaojing had both already released the spring catches on their saber and sword scabbards.

That middle-aged man knew his limits well. He stopped five paces from Zhao Jin and stood still, still holding the weapon reversed, grip forward, and said respectfully, "Is this what Master Jin wanted?"

Chen Sheng dismounted, walked over, and took the weapon. Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. Yet, everyone on Zhao Jin's side was thoroughly confused, having no idea what Zhao Jin was up to. Anyone could see Zhao Jin was extremely eager, even agitated, but no one could see what was so special about that weapon.

Taking it from Chen Sheng's hands, Zhao Jin began examining it over and over, in a state of complete self-absorption, as if no one else were there.

At this moment, whether it was the Zhao Character Camp or the Xu family, everyone was baffled. The man who had delivered the weapon cleared his throat and said, "If Master Jin finds this bird gun pleasing to the eye, I'll take it upon myself to gift it to Master Jin. I only hope Master Jin won't mock or scorn it. If there's nothing else, I shall take my leave first."

An utterly ordinary bird gun—what was there to make a fuss over? The people on the Zhao Character Camp side were also wondering to themselves.

Seeing that Zhao Jin was unresponsive, Wang Zhaojing and Chen Sheng almost simultaneously expressed their thanks to the middle-aged man. The man returned the courtesy politely, glanced at Zhao Jin again, scratched his head, and turned to leave.

"This is called... a bird gun. Where did you get this bird gun?" Zhao Jin suddenly spoke up to ask.

The atmosphere had already become rather strange, but Zhao Jin's status carried enough weight that no one dared slight him. The middle-aged man turned around and replied respectfully, "Master Jin, this was forged by the Xu family themselves."

"Why is this grip so short?" The grip of the bird gun in Zhao Jin's hand was even shorter than the hilt of Chen Sheng's two-handed long saber—less than half a foot, and it was a curved grip.

The man's mouth twisted. He cleared his throat and answered, "This is standard specification. Whether official issue or private make, they are all like this."

"Why is the barrel of this bird gun so long? It must be over four feet, right? And the caliber is so small, just a bit over three fen. Why is that?" Still on horseback, Zhao Jin even poked a finger into the muzzle.

The earlier tension, with swords drawn and bows bent, had vanished. The able-bodied men of the Xu family, who had been hurriedly boarding and disembarking from the boats, were no longer in a rush. Quite a few had gathered around, for no other reason than curiosity.

Zhao Jin's question seemed to put the middle-aged man in a bit of a spot. He couldn't help but glance back. As expected of the Xu family, whose main trades were coal mining and iron smelting, someone immediately stepped forward and whispered a few words. The middle-aged man nodded and said, "Master Jin, the barrel of a bird gun must be long so the gunpowder's force is sufficient, making the lead pellet or iron ball fly fast and strike hard. The small caliber is to prevent gas leakage. Also, the lead pellet or iron ball cannot be too large, or else it won't shoot far."

"... The caliber must be large, the projectile must be heavy..." Zhao Jin murmured to himself.

"Big Brother!" Wang Zhaojing could stand it no longer and shouted, raising his voice.

Zhao Jin gave a start, finally snapping out of this crazed state.

The Great Ming military placed the greatest emphasis on firearms, yet the quality of those firearms was terribly poor. Truly brave and fierce warriors all used blade, spear, and bow to kill the enemy. On the walls of Xuzhou city sat a few old cannons, unused for a very long time. The garrison within the city consisted of only two types: Commandant Zhou's personal guards were all highly skilled in archery and horsemanship and did not use firearms, while the soldiers guarding the city gates all carried waist sabers and long spears, also unequipped with firearms. As for the military encampment outside the city, Zhao Jin had never been there. And the various militia and village braves, the private troops of local strongmen throughout Xuzhou—most were armed with sabers, spears, swords, and halberds; firearms were nowhere to be seen.

Back when they seized two fire lances at He Village, Zhao Jin had lost interest after a single glance. They were just two iron tubes. Firing them was no different from setting off a firecracker inside a tube—they had no power or lethality whatsoever. Unless fired within ten paces directly at bare skin, there was a chance of getting singed or splattered with burns, and that was all.

But this bird gun, though different from the one in Zhao Jin's memory, had been crafted with great care. The barrel, the brass rings, the bird-beak lock mechanism, the trigger, the priming pan—every detail was meticulously done.

The Zhao Character Camp's square formations and archers had coordinated beneath the city walls and nearly met with disaster. Ever since then, Zhao Jin had begun pondering firearms, but for a time, he could find no direction for a breakthrough. He never expected to find it right here on the banks of the Yellow River.

By now, Zhao Jin had not fully calmed down. He took a deep breath and said with a smile, "I'll keep this fire lance. Take a message back to the one in charge of your family: Zhao has a large business deal to discuss with your family. If there is interest, come find me here!"

The middle-aged man from the Xu family was still utterly bewildered, but by now the atmosphere had normalized considerably. Hearing Zhao Jin's words, he couldn't help but tremble all over. He immediately bowed with clasped hands and said, "Please rest assured, Master Jin. I will certainly deliver Master Jin's message."

Zhao Jin nodded with a smile from horseback. He swept his gaze over the Xu family's fleet moored at the shore and saw a dozen or so men holding bird guns. However, these men all shared a common trait: they were not in their prime. They were either older or thin and weak. The truly robust, fierce, and able-bodied men were all wielding blades and spears, and those carrying bows on their backs were even more outstanding.

When the Zhao Character Camp arrived here with the relief party from Cloud Mountain Temple, the Xu family of Jingshan had withdrawn of their own accord. Although there had been no conflict, the mutual hostility ran deep, and at one point, swords had been drawn and bows bent. Yet, Zhao Jin's agitated and unguarded behavior had actually eased the atmosphere considerably.

Though the atmosphere had eased, the Xu family's party still retreated to their boats in an orderly fashion and took their leave of Zhao Jin with full propriety. That middle-aged man was very thorough, taking all the related equipment from the man holding the bird gun and handing it over to Zhao Jin.

Yet Zhao Jin, who was usually so meticulous, actually failed to express his thanks. It was Wang Zhaojing who handled the pleasantries with the Xu family leaders. Everyone appeared normal on the surface, but inwardly they all found it exceedingly strange.

Zhao Jin had already dismounted and was examining the equipment piece by piece. The gunpowder was carried in a bamboo tube lined with oilpaper. The bullets were mostly made of iron, which was normal enough; although lead pellets yielded the best results, lead was also very expensive and consumed in great quantities. There was a slow match made from twisted cotton thread, and they had even brought over the flint and steel, which were quite common items.

"Big Brother, the monks from Cloud Mountain Temple are recruiting refugees over here. Let's head back first..." Wang Zhaojing leaned in to speak, but seeing Zhao Jin engrossed in his study, he couldn't help but raise his voice: "Big Brother!"

Zhao Jin jolted, only then reacting. He looked at the bird gun equipment in his hands, then at the group behind him. Whether companions or subordinates, everyone was looking at him with strange expressions. Zhao Jin put down the bird gun, patted his own forehead, and laughed ruefully, saying, "I lost myself. I lost myself."

"Big Brother, don't keep the various parties outside the city waiting too long. It's already getting late," Wang Zhaojing reminded him.

Zhao Jin took a deep breath to shift his mood. After a moment of silence, he spoke: "Wrap these things up carefully and send them to He Village. The rest of you, return to the city with me. Leave matters here in the care of Mister Cao."

"Mister Cao, for the indenture contracts of the able-bodied refugees, do not use the name of Cloud Mountain Temple. Use Zhao's own name," he gave a final instruction before leaving. Ruhui agreed with a smile.

Two hundred men of the Zhao Character Camp turned back toward Xuzhou city, while Zhao Jin and his companions rode ahead on horseback. The refugees had just passed through, and few dared to travel the road from the ferry crossing to the city. Riding at a gallop, their speed was very fast.

They did not go directly to the militia encampment at Xuzhou's west gate, but instead entered the city. After entering, they proceeded slowly toward the west gate, while Liu Yong headed to the goods yard.

When the mounted party was halfway there, someone came running up to report.

"Master Jin, the camp outside the city is in an uproar. They sent men to enter the city, but the soldiers guarding the gate blocked them... Some in the camp are even cursing Master Jin..."

"No need to repeat the curses. They surely think I've broken my word," Zhao Jin said with a smile from horseback.

By the time Zhao Jin and his group reached the west gate, Liu Yong had also ridden up at speed. He spoke: "Big Brother, everything is ready."

The west gate of Xuzhou city was already half-closed. Inside the barbican, a full four hundred soldiers were arrayed in formation, on standby, looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy. The officers leading them also looked upon Zhao Jin and his men with unfriendly eyes.

"A refugee assault on the city and a mutiny by the militia and volunteers—in practice, there's not much difference. The destruction and slaughter from the latter might not be any less," Zhao Jin remarked with a smile, then spurred his horse out of the city.

Most of the militia and volunteers on the west side of Xuzhou city had been dead drunk the day before. Hanjing Famous Liquor was delicious and potent, extremely intoxicating. But by now, after sleeping, they had all sobered up. The silver promised beforehand had not been delivered. When they tried to enter the city to inquire, the soldiers rudely barred them outside the gate.

In this situation, Zhao Jin's name and reputation were of no use. Everyone thought Master Jin had deceived them. A few with the most impatient tempers had already begun cursing loudly.

The crowd below was seething with indignation, but the leaders were frantic with worry. Most of them came from wealthy or well-to-do families; how would they dare oppose the authorities? Yet they could see they were losing control. These strong, armed braves could not be offended either. Normally, they could be scolded or beaten, but if they laid a hand on one now, they feared they themselves would be torn apart.

"If they won't give it to us, we'll go in and take it ourselves!"

"How many troops can there be in the city? We outnumber them! Charge in! We're in the right!"

Someone roared, and quite a few echoed the cry. Immediately, another shouted: "What damn use is our greater numbers? The Zhao Character Camp is in the city! Do you want to go in and get yourselves killed?"

At the mention of the Zhao Character Camp, the surging crowd instantly quieted. Before, they had only known their reputation, but during the great battle beneath the city walls, everyone had witnessed their prowess with their own eyes. Who would dare stand against such a force?

"Afraid of nothing! The Zhao Character Camp has left the city! My relative saw them!" After all, they were right beside Xuzhou city. Although they had exited through a different gate for concealment, quite a few people had still seen them.

At these words, the scene grew even quieter, and then the crowd erupted. Someone shouted: "Enter the city!"

The crowd roared in unison: "Enter the city!"

"Commandant Zhou has already returned to the city!" "What does he count for? We brothers have fought and killed our way through tens of thousands of roving bandits—what is he, anyway!" No one took Commandant Zhou and the garrison seriously at all.

In the past, everyone in Xuzhou, high and low, had held Commandant Zhou and the troops under his command in utmost awe. Who would have dared speak such disrespectful words? But now it was different. The militia and volunteers had followed the Zhao Character Camp, charging and killing through tens of thousands of refugees. Although it was mainly the Zhao Character Camp doing the fighting, those following behind had their eyes opened and their confidence boosted. Each one now felt himself invincible.

The refugee camp at this moment was like a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark. Those with family estates had already begun moving toward the periphery. If a real riot broke out, they would first rush home and flee with their families, or else charge into the city to report to the authorities. They could not afford to be implicated by these reckless fools.

"Look! Master Jin is coming!" someone shouted.

The scene was chaotic and noisy; many couldn't hear the shouts from the outer fringe. But when the shout rang out a second time, from west to east, the crowd gradually fell silent. Everyone turned their heads to look west. Many directly sought higher ground, and some even had their companions hoist them up to get a view.

"It's Master Jin!"

"Master Jin has come!"

Zhao Jin was still wearing the same armor from the day before, making him easy to recognize. Everyone was shouting, while others murmured privately: "How could a hero and stalwart like Master Jin go back on his word? And some say Master Jin deceived us—look at their own virtue, are they even worthy of being deceived by Master Jin!"

"Whoever said that, may lightning strike them from the heavens and their children be born..." Again an uproar — jeering, mocking, arguing — all tangled into one noisy mess.

When Zhao Jin rode up before them, he waved his arm from horseback, and the entire militia camp instantly fell silent. Zhao Jin laughed and shouted, "Were you all thinking that Zhao would not come?"

Everyone below was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter along with him. Zhao Jin again shouted, "No secret to hide from you all — raising this much silver, even with some family means, still takes time. I've kept everyone waiting!"

"Master Jin is so righteous! We small men are endlessly grateful. If anyone has a complaint, I'll be the first to cut him down!" someone in the crowd yelled. When everyone looked over, the speaker was the very same man who, moments ago, had been red-faced and thick-necked, shouting that Zhao Jin was a swindler.

"You have all been camped outside the city for days now. Though you've sent word home that you're safe, your families still worry. With corpses being burned here every day, it's easy for pestilence to spread. Once you have your silver, go home quickly and set your families at ease," Zhao Jin added with concern.

By the time he finished speaking, everyone could already see several oxcarts heading this way from the city gate. The silver had arrived.

Zhao Jin had stood up for them, advanced the silver from his own pocket, and still spoke with such courtesy and concern, without the slightest air of a great magnate or benefactor. Thinking back to how they had just assumed Zhao Jin was cheating them, many felt both ashamed and grateful, and in the end, deeply impressed.

Before long, the oxcarts arrived. The sturdy men accompanying them unloaded the wooden chests from the carts and opened them in public view. Dazzling under the sunlight, inside were gleaming white silver ingots.

The market was short on copper cash and silver — otherwise so many farming households wouldn't have gone bankrupt during the autumn tax collection. Now, inside and outside Xuzhou city, there were still plenty of barter transactions. Many great households and local strongmen had nothing more than plenty of grain, plenty of land, and plenty of servants. If you actually asked them to produce silver coin, they truly couldn't come up with much.

Only a wealthy merchant like Zhao Jin, who sold liquor far and wide, could produce it. Of course, Zhao Jin's spoils of war from several battles also contained large amounts of gold and silver.

At the sight of this gleaming white silver, chest after chest sitting on the ground, the militia volunteers in the camp fell utterly silent. Those in front stared dumbstruck; those in back shoved forward desperately. They knew they themselves would only receive a very small share, but a spectacle this magnificent was worth just one more glance.

What Zhao Jin brought was not only silver, but also several account clerks. They brought along the shop's seasoned assistants, and in addition, a large quantity of copper cash.

The leading heads of the militia volunteers who had come from various places stepped forward to report their numbers and casualties. Silver was then distributed according to the set rules. Where odd amounts were due, they snipped off silver corners with shears, or paid directly in copper cash. The accounts were perfectly clear. Those who had come alone stepped forward on their own.

With the heavy silver grasped in their hands, all their worries, all their grievances, vanished like smoke. What remained was only gratitude toward Zhao Jin.

Some of the lone volunteers, who had come purely out of hot-blooded zeal, after receiving their silver, went before Zhao Jin to kowtow in thanks.

As for the heads of the militia groups, they had further calculations. With Zhao Jin's overwhelming battle strength, such deep family coffers — a hero and stalwart like this — should they go and pledge allegiance right now? If they waited until later when he came to annex them, wouldn't it be too late?

"Everyone! We've all rolled together on the edge of a blade — that counts as a bond. If any of you have matters in the future, by all means come find Zhao. If you pass by He Village, stop in and say hello — Zhao will host you well!" Zhao Jin shouted as he distributed the silver.

If Zhao Jin had only spoken these words, it would have been seen as feigned generosity, buying hearts. But after everyone had gone through the battle beneath the city walls together, had watched Zhao Jin charge at the front, shielding them all from wind and rain — then this manner of his was true gallantry and righteousness.

"... In the future, should Master Jin give an order — through water or fire, in life or in death — just give the command..." someone shouted, and many voices echoed in agreement.

Zhao Jin, his face full of smiles, clasped his fists and nodded, responding to as many as he could. His smile was utterly sincere, because the effect he wanted had been achieved.

Chen Sheng, Wang Zhaojing, Shi Manqiang, Dong Bingfeng, Liu Yong, and the rest were all there helping. Every one of them was drenched in sweat, their faces nearly sore from smiling.

"North of the Yellow River, there's the Xu family — too early to say anything yet. But south of the Yellow River, our big brother is the number-one figure!" Liu Yong said softly. Though his voice was low, his tone was blazing hot.

Chen Sheng and the others all heard it. Chen Sheng merely smiled and shook his head slightly. Wang Zhaojing, however, gazed ahead and said leisurely, "Xiao Yong, you don't think big brother's ambitions stop at just that, do you?"

Liu Yong froze, then his face flushed crimson, and he clenched his fists tight.

The refugees gathered by the Yellow River were taken in under the auspices of Cloud Mountain Temple. When this news spread, the many pious men and women inside and outside the city could not help but chant the Buddha's name a few extra times. The militia volunteers gathered outside the city were comforted by Zhao Jin in person. After receiving the expenses and compensations they were due, they too dispersed one after another and returned home. When word of this got out, the last thread of tension within Xuzhou city dissolved. Everyone praised Zhao Jin's lofty righteousness.

South of the city, there were many spirit mediums, and already some mystical rumors were spreading — for instance, that Zhao Jin was a Heavenly King reborn, which was why he possessed such fierce and valiant ability.

No one knew which immortal this so-called Heavenly King was supposed to be. The legend was concocted merely to make their own incense offerings flourish a bit more. Yet the title "Heavenly King" was simply too awe-inspiring. As soon as it was invented, it spread far and wide, and everyone began calling him "Heavenly King Zhao."

After dismissing the militia volunteers outside the city, Zhao Jin returned directly to Xuzhou city. Over at He Village, Shi Manqiang led a portion of the household guards back. The veteran household guards all remained in the city. As for his companions, aside from one person left to hold the fort at He Village, the rest were all in the city, because many matters here were still unfinished.