Chapter 336: Use Any Means Necessary

336. Chapter 336: Use Any Means Necessary

When Zhao Jin's parents heard this, they were first stunned, then exchanged smiling glances. By then, Zhao Jin had also caught on. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he waved his hand and said, "Our family and the Xu family are worlds apart — Father, Mother, don't go worrying yourselves over nothing. I'm going to wash up. I need to prepare today; tomorrow I'm leading the team back to He Village. Father, you must change the dressing and bandages on that wound exactly as I told you. Don't be careless — this is serious."

Zhao Zhentang and He Cuihua both couldn't help laughing out loud. Zhao Jin had been precocious and steady since childhood; it was rare to see him so flustered, desperately trying to change the subject.

Their laughter only made Zhao Jin more embarrassed. He turned and headed straight for the side room to wash up.

Having spent so long managing things in He Village and only returning to the city for bloody battles, Zhao Jin knew his parents worried. He had wanted to use this chance to handle the various aftermath tasks and spend more time with them, but this time he couldn't afford that. All he wanted was to get back quickly. Discussing this here really was awkward.

The bathwater in the side room was just the right temperature. After dumping a few buckets over himself, he felt incredibly refreshed. Only then did Zhao Jin finally calm down.

It was about time he found a wife. Otherwise, the Zhao Character Camp did have a hidden danger. Settle down and start a family, have descendants early — then everything would stabilize.

In this era, the only ones who married and had children late were those scholars and literati. But the reason they married late was simply that without official rank or wealth, no one was willing to pay them any attention. Once they passed the imperial exams and had rank and status, each one was more impatient than the next — marrying wives, taking concubines, nothing would be delayed.

Zhao Jin soaked in the bathtub, feeling his whole body relax. His mind drifted again to Mu Shulan. To this day, there was still no word from Little Lan. Did he really have to keep waiting?

"You Zhenrong, from now on I'm leaving everything inside and outside the city to you. You've seen the methods and the fates of those who came before. I don't want to say much. Do well, and there will be rewards for you. Do poorly — you know in your heart what will happen." Zhao Jin spoke loudly in the main hall of the goods yard.

The heavyset You Zhenrong had already been kneeling on the ground, but Zhao Jin told him to stand. However, this admonition carried not the slightest hint of politeness.

"Please rest assured, Master Jin. This humble one understands. This humble one knows his place." You Zhenrong hurriedly bowed and answered.

Zhao Jin sat in the center, his companions seated on either side, while Ruhui stood beside Zhao Jin. You Zhenrong was more than twice Zhao Jin's age, yet he stood there obsequiously, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.

Zhao Jin paused for a moment, then continued, "You started out as a Chuan Tou in the Incense-Smelling Sect and have spent years mixing in the marketplace. You are to manage all the incense-burning sect members in the city and all these people from every walk of life. If any troubling signs appear, strike when you should. But if it's those who deserve death, don't do it yourself — send them straight to the yamen to be finished off. Do you understand this?"

You Zhenrong nodded his agreement. Zhao Jin continued, "Liu Yong is in charge of you. What Liu Yong says is what I say. Do you understand?"

You Zhenrong turned to face Liu Yong and respectfully clasped his fist in salute. Liu Yong stood and returned the gesture. Zhao Jin nodded. Ruhui, standing beside him, stirred slightly, leaned close to Zhao Jin's ear, and whispered, "Master, we should still assign someone as his deputy..."

Just as those words were spoken, You Zhenrong bowed deeply with clasped hands and said, "Master Jin once told this humble one that you would be willing to let my son train at your side. Back then, this humble one was blinded by greed and didn't know what was good for him. This time, this humble one shamelessly begs Master Jin for mercy — please allow my two sons to serve at He Village. I beg Master Jin to agree."

The first time the two sides had dealings, Zhao Jin had proposed that You Zhenrong send his sons over. At the time, You Zhenrong had flatly refused. Now he was bringing up the old matter again.

"... Then there's no need to assign a deputy..." Ruhui, who had been speaking, paused briefly, then quietly gave his conclusion.

Zhao Jin smiled and nodded, then added, "My father works at the yamen. If there's anything you're unsure about, you can also go ask him. What my father says is what I say."

You Zhenrong was stunned for a moment, then his face broke into a broad smile. Being told to accept Liu Yong's authority earlier was official procedure. Now bringing up Zhao Zhentang — this carried a hint of personal regard, showing he wasn't being treated as an outsider.

Realizing this, You Zhenrong dropped directly to his knees and said respectfully, "Please rest assured, Master Jin. Toward the Old Master, this humble one will certainly be respectful and filial, and will never disobey in the slightest."

"Xiao Yong, take Old You to the Black Tiger Temple. Have everyone of importance in the city come and recognize him," Zhao Jin turned and said to Liu Yong. Liu Yong agreed with a smile and politely called out to You Zhenrong. The two of them walked out.

You Zhenrong looked rough and bold, but his mind was very meticulous. He first kowtowed and took his leave of Zhao Jin and the companions, then followed behind Liu Yong, absolutely refusing to walk side by side.

Watching them leave the courtyard, Ji Xiang shook his head and said, "Back then he didn't dare send them over; now he can't wait."

"Right now, everyone in Xuzhou, high and low, is desperate to latch onto our master's connections. By sending his sons over, You Zhenrong is both offering hostages to prove his loyalty and showing outsiders that his relationship with the master is different," Ruhui analyzed with a smile.

Zhao Jin, however, turned to Chen Sheng and Ji Xiang and said, "Da Sheng and Da Xiang, go muster the troops today. We head back to He Village tomorrow morning at the latest. Our business in the city is done."

Both Chen Sheng and Ji Xiang agreed and went out to make arrangements. Only Dong Bingfeng remained in the room. Ever since arriving that morning, Dong Bingfeng's expression had been rather grim. He looked like he had something to say but wouldn't open his mouth, so Zhao Jin had sent the others out one by one first.

"Is it convenient to talk here, or would you rather not speak in front of Brother Cao?" Zhao Jin asked directly.

Dong Bingfeng was taken aback, then smiled bitterly and said, "Actually, it's not that it's inconvenient to say in front of the brothers. It's just that I find it embarrassing."

"We're brothers — why say that? Just speak freely." Zhao Jin could already guess what Dong Bingfeng was going to say.

"Big Brother, these past few days my father has been wanting to come and apologize to your uncle, but he always feels he can't face it. He just sighs endlessly at home. It's not that I'm covering for him — this really had nothing to do with my father. At the time, the garrison wouldn't send a single soldier as reinforcements. My father couldn't make the decision. It was all Commander Jia's idea. He's the managing commander..."

A garrison often had several commanders. The one who truly managed specific affairs was the managing commander, and everyone had to follow his orders.

At this point, Dong Bingfeng sighed himself and shook his head. "To be honest, my father was probably afraid too at the time. It's really..."

"This has nothing to do with you, and nothing to do with your family. However, the fact that the garrison sent no one to join the reinforcements — this matter cannot be let go just like that. Send word back: tell the Xuzhou Garrison to handle it as they see fit." Zhao Jin gave his conclusion crisply and decisively.

Hearing this, Dong Bingfeng nodded repeatedly and said, "Big Brother, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Right now, the entire Xuzhou Garrison is frantic with anxiety, terrified that you'll hold them accountable. Those commanders came to my father, and my father came to me. It's truly shameful and humiliating. Today I'll send word back and tell them to handle it as they see fit."

"You don't need to go back yourself. We're too busy here," Zhao Jin added.

Dong Bingfeng nodded gratefully. He naturally understood that Zhao Jin didn't want him to go back and face humiliation. He immediately stood up and said, "Big Brother, you're busy. I'll go arrange for someone to deliver the message back."

Watching Dong Bingfeng leave the room, Ruhui, who stood behind Zhao Jin, shook his head and sighed, "The garrison is where the state maintains its troops. Not to mention the official roster of over five thousand men, they could easily muster over ten thousand able-bodied young men right now. Who would have thought they'd be afraid of a few hundred village braves and militia? It's truly laughable."

Zhao Jin frowned and turned his head. "Brother Cao, I am a village headman. These militia under me are also for guarding the distillery. Don't speak so grandly."

Ruhui smiled and said, "Master, only you and I are here. What can't be said?"

"Brother Cao, what makes you think Zhao has such great ambitions?" Zhao Jin asked.

"Do you truly not?" Ruhui replied with a faint, ambiguous smile. Zhao Jin, however, directly changed the subject. He first gestured for Ruhui to sit, then smiled wryly and said, "Brother Cao, you truly exhaust every effort for Zhao, even worrying about my marriage. In the future, please do not act on your own in such matters. At least give Zhao a heads-up first."

Cao Ruhui sat down with a grin, not answering directly. He simply said, "You should know, Master, that this morning the Old Master and Madam already agreed. Your subordinate then went to request the help of Clerk Lu from the yamen's Rites Office. Though he is a clerk, he is highly respected in Xuzhou. Clerk Lu has already agreed to help. By my reckoning, he should have crossed the river by now and can ask for Miss Xu's birth details today."

Asking for birth details was, in effect, a marriage proposal — or at least giving both sides room to maneuver. If they refused, they simply wouldn't provide them. If they agreed, it would proceed directly to the next step.

Zhao Jin was even more at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and for a moment he didn't even know what to say. At this point, Ruhui's expression turned solemn. He asked gravely, "Master, your subordinate will boldly ask a few things, and I hope you will not take offense."

"Does Master disdain Miss Xu for being older?"

Zhao Jin shook his head. He didn't care about that at all.

"Does Master disdain Miss Xu for having unbound feet?"

Naturally, he shook his head again. Zhao Jin was even more averse to foot-binding. Mu Shulan had never bound her feet either. He had no particular concept about this.

"Does Master disdain Miss Xu for showing her face in public and not adhering to womanly virtues?"

"How is that not adhering to womanly virtues? She was toiling and rushing about for the Xu family!" Zhao Jin retorted instinctively.

Only after speaking did Zhao Jin realize that his own concept of "not adhering to womanly virtues" was not the same as what Ruhui meant. What he thought of was equivalent to infidelity, whereas what Ruhui was talking about was likely the concept within the Three Obediences and Four Virtues.

Hearing Zhao Jin's answer, the smile returned to Ruhui's face. He clapped his hands together and said, "The Xu family has over ten thousand members, and Jing Mountain is hailed as the paragon of coal and iron in the north. That discussion with Miss Xu last night — her brilliance was not inferior to yours, Master. Such a person, such a family estate — she is precisely the right match for you, Master. What do you think?"

Had this Ruhui studied the classics or the school of political strategy back in the day? He spoke so directly and nakedly. Zhao Jin smiled bitterly and fell silent. Ruhui did not press him, just sat there smiling and waiting.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Jin spoke. "Regardless of whether the birth details match, regardless of what Xu Zhenzhen herself thinks, I will marry her as my wife. Use any means necessary — but in the end, it must succeed."