Chapter 350: If We Can Catch Them Off Guard

Xu Zhenzhen paused briefly, then spoke: "Young Master Zhao has proposed marriage to my family, yet Kong Family Village has obstructed it at every turn — that is the first reason. If Kong Jiuying were to take me as his concubine, he would surely scheme to seize the Xu family estate; when the Kong and Xu families merge, it would be a grave threat to you, Young Master Zhao — that is the second reason. If I can marry Young Master Zhao, the Xu family's vast estate will certainly bring you great benefit — that is the third reason. With these three reasons, I believe it is sufficient."

Zhao Jin looked at Xu Zhenzhen and shook his head. It was hard to imagine a young woman could speak such words. After a moment of silence, Zhao Jin slowly nodded and said, "I will destroy Kong Family Village. Given how Kong Jiuying has been behaving these days, he truly seems tired of living."

"Young Master Zhao, if you intend to destroy the Kong family, you must act quickly. Once all pretense is torn away, the Xu family will surely suffer heavy losses, and in the end we will have no choice but to agree." Xu Zhenzhen spoke urgently.

"Quick is not possible. Right now I only know the approximate location of Kong Family Village. How to get there, how many men they have — I know none of this. If I rush in recklessly, what if I walk into an ambush?" Zhao Jin answered bluntly.

"The Xu family has business dealings with Kong Family Village. Many goods are forced to be bought and sold there. I am thoroughly familiar with the Kong family's inner workings." Xu Zhenzhen had regained her composure.

Zhao Jin shook his head again and stared at Xu Zhenzhen a few more times. At first she blushed, inwardly thinking this man had no sense of propriety — how could he keep staring so endlessly? But then she realized Zhao Jin was not looking at her to admire her beauty.

This silence lasted a little longer. Finally, a smile surfaced on Zhao Jin's face again, and he said leisurely, "Young Miss, what you say is very reasonable. But once my Zhao Character Battalion crosses the river, we will be an isolated force. A long march to Kong Family Village — if we encounter an ambush and are wiped out, who would I have to complain to?"

Before Xu Zhenzhen could speak again, Zhao Jin continued, "I must consider these risks. Young Miss, you are meticulous in your planning — think about whether this reasoning holds. What if there are risks?"

Xu Zhenzhen lowered her head. Zhao Jin also fell silent. He did not trust the Xu family. He admired the woman before him, admiration aside, but he could not place his trust in her.

"This time I have come bringing only my most trusted confidants. There are also reliable people watching things at home. The news will not leak out. I dare not guarantee absolute certainty, but I am willing to take the gamble. My brother and I will remain here as hostages and guarantors. If Young Master Zhao encounters any mishap or danger, please deal with us as you see fit." Xu Zhenzhen's voice rose slightly.

"This..." The man standing behind Xu Zhenzhen let out an involuntary exclamation. Xu Zhenzhen did not turn her head, merely raised a hand and waved it. The man immediately shut his mouth.

Chen Sheng and Ruhui, who had kept their heads lowered to avoid impropriety, also looked up in surprise, staring at Xu Zhenzhen. Zhao Jin was momentarily stunned, then nodded and said, "That puts my mind at ease. How do we cross the river? Who will guide the way?"

Xu Zhenzhen's expression relaxed somewhat. She spoke: "The boats have already been arranged. As for guides, the men I have brought this time are all highly skilled in martial arts and familiar with the roads."

"And how can I be assured that the Young Miss's subordinates are trustworthy?" Zhao Jin asked bluntly.

"Liang San, pay your respects to Young Master Zhao." Xu Zhenzhen spoke. The man standing behind her stepped forward, clasped his fists in salute, then retreated back.

That such a fierce character would be so utterly deferential before a delicate woman like Xu Zhenzhen, not daring the slightest disrespect — this made Zhao Jin regard Xu Zhenzhen with considerably greater esteem.

"Liang San was a lone bandit in Yanzhou, quite notorious throughout southern Lu. He had many cases against him, and the authorities were hunting him. Liang San was also a filial son. When he offended his enemies, he still remembered to flee with his elderly mother. But when they reached the Jingshan area, his mother fell gravely ill. They had fled in haste and run out of money, and as misfortune never comes singly, he himself was also wounded. It looked as though both mother and son would die there. Liang San, this was six years ago, was it not?" Xu Zhenzhen spoke slowly.

"It was six years ago." Liang San answered respectfully.

"At that time I was thirteen, disguised as a boy. I went out wandering with my wet nurse and saw Liang San and his mother by the roadside, at death's door. I used my own monthly allowance to save Liang San and his mother. Only then did Liang San willingly serve me. Liang San, how is your life now? Is it more comfortable than before?" Xu Zhenzhen asked again.

"My mother burns incense and prays to Buddha every day, saying she must have accumulated great virtue in her past life to have such good fortune today. I have also married and had children — two of them, a boy of two and a girl of four, who cling to the family every day." Liang San answered in a deep voice.

"Mm. While you are away, you need not worry too much. Your wife, children, and mother are all guarded by trusted people. Nothing will go wrong." Xu Zhenzhen nodded as she spoke.

"All of this is the Young Miss's grace and kindness." Liang San clasped his fists and bowed, thanking her with great solemnity.

"Are all those who came with you like this?" Zhao Jin asked. Xu Zhenzhen slowly nodded.

The words between the two seemed unrelated, and Xu Zhenzhen's earlier speech seemed even more like a digression, yet everyone in the room understood clearly.

The men guiding Zhao Character Battalion could all be trusted. Their families were held in Xu Zhenzhen's hands; she had the means to control every one of them.

The room fell silent again for a moment. Zhao Jin spoke: "We have guides, but do we have inside contacts? What of Kong Family Village's true strength and weaknesses — do we know these?"

"Kong Jiuying has four sons. The eldest lives with him at the manor in Zhuwangkou, while the other sons are stationed separately in various places. The Kong family's mounted troop numbers just over three hundred, garrisoned at that manor in Zhuwangkou. That manor also has many residents — several hundred able-bodied men can be mustered. Only when Kong Family Village has some major affair do they assemble and gather men from the villages and farmsteads along the Pao River." Liang San spoke up.

Zhao Jin smiled and shook his head, saying teasingly, "It seems the Young Miss has long intended to move against this Kong Jiuying, to have gathered intelligence this thoroughly."

Xu Zhenzhen had resumed her calm demeanor and merely answered, "The Kong family has treated my Xu family as meat on the chopping block — bullying, extorting, acting with reckless impunity. I began preparing and planning long ago. I simply never expected such a turn of events."

Zhao Jin believed her words. Someone with Xu Zhenzhen's temperament would indeed do such a thing. And given the Xu family's vast scale, once they organized and built up their strength, they could quickly suppress or even destroy Kong Family Village. Kong Family Village had likely considered this as well.

Direct and efficient, without the slightest pleasantry. The two sides had not been seated in conversation for long, yet everything that needed to be said had been said.

Zhao Jin turned his head to glance at Chen Sheng and Ruhui, and found both of them keeping their heads down. Zhao Jin turned back, smiled, and stood up, saying politely, "Young Miss and Young Master, you have traveled a long way and must be exhausted. Please rest well first. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask."

"Then we shall trouble Young Master Zhao!" Xu Zhenzhen did not press further, merely thanking him gently.

"Young Miss Xu, please wait here a moment. I will go arrange lodging and dinner for you all." Ruhui said with a smile, then followed Zhao Jin out of the room.

The three walked out of the courtyard in silence. Ruhui went first to arrange food and lodging for these people. Xu Zhenzhen would need to switch to a different courtyard — the future mistress could not possibly stay here. At the same time, he arranged for Zhao Character Battalion's forces to provide security.

"Have everyone come to my place." After saying this, Zhao Jin strode quickly back to his own residence.

No one had eaten dinner yet, so he had someone bring the food directly over. Once the few of them had gathered, Zhao Jin recounted the entire meeting from beginning to end.

"Anything you want to say?" Zhao Jin asked.

"You two really are a match made in heaven!" Chen Sheng remarked. Everyone couldn't help laughing — it was rare to hear Chen Sheng say something like that.

But Chen Sheng's expression was very serious. With great gravity, he said, "She is indeed an excellent match."

Zhao Jin showed no embarrassment, simply nodding and saying, "If the two of us can be together, it will benefit her and benefit me."

They had all experienced much and were far more mature than their peers, yet matters of marriage and relations between men and women were things they had rarely encountered. Hearing Zhao Jin reach a conclusion so decisively, each of them wanted to laugh, but all managed to hold it in. Thinking it over carefully, Zhao Jin's words were the plain truth.

Ruhui had arranged things quickly. The moment he entered the room, Zhao Jin signaled for the door to be closed.

"Mister Cao, do you know anyone who has seen Xu Housheng?" Zhao Jin asked solemnly.

"The Xu family holds this sole heir of the main branch in extremely high regard. They invited Cloud Mountain Temple to perform blessing rituals several times, and quite a few at the temple have seen him." Ruhui thought for a moment, then immediately gave an answer.

"Send someone out tonight. Go to Cloud Mountain Temple and bring someone back. They must arrive at He Family Village tomorrow to identify him." Zhao Jin gave the order at once. Ruhui hastily acknowledged the command and hurried out to make arrangements.

Seeing his companions' puzzled looks, Zhao Jin explained calmly, "This sole heir of the Xu family's main branch is precious beyond measure. With him in our hands, the weight of this guarantee is sufficient, and we can rest easy about everything. If they've found a fake, a single human life isn't worth much. So we must verify before proceeding."

Everyone grasped this key point, and then all guessed Zhao Jin's intent. Each of them felt their spirits lift.

"Xiaoyong, does He Family Village have any of the Kong family's spies or informants?" Zhao Jin turned toward Liu Yong and asked.

"None inside the village. The Kong family sends people over every few days now to trade and do business. A few of them act furtively, but our defenses are tight — they don't dare come in to look. As for whether anyone inside the village has been bought off by them, that's hard to say." Liu Yong answered.

Zhao Jin tapped the table lightly with his hand. Ji Xiang couldn't help speaking up: "Big Brother, Kong Family Village has several hundred mounted troops and several hundred militia. Our Zhao Character Battalion has few men of our own, and we can't bring the local militia from the various places with us to attack Kong Family Village. Going in just like this — isn't it too dangerous?"

"If the Kong family learns of this in advance, then it would indeed be far too dangerous. We must ensure they remain ignorant. Our chance of victory lies in catching them off guard!" Zhao Jin said in a low voice.

By now Ruhui had returned. Zhao Jin rubbed his forehead and fixed his gaze on Ruhui, asking, "Can Cloud Mountain Temple on Cloud Dragon Mountain seal its mountain and temple?"