Chapter 374: After the Wedding

Ruhui agreed, but before stepping out, she couldn't help saying, "Master, whatever is on your mind, don't keep it bottled up. Speak it out so we can all put our heads together."

Zhao Jin was taken aback, then smiled and said, "No need to worry. I'm just sorting through my own thoughts. Some things became clear to me today!"

As Ruhui was leaving, Liu Yong had already hurried over. Just as he was about to enter, Ruhui stopped him. The two exchanged a few quiet words, and Liu Yong immediately turned to arrange for someone. Whether anything was wrong or not, they had to have a physician or the like standing by.

Not long after, Chen Sheng, Shi Manqiang, Ji Xiang, and Dong Bingfeng all rushed over. They asked around outside and even called out a greeting. Only after hearing Zhao Jin's reply did they leave.

The concern of his brothers moved Zhao Jin, but it also left him not knowing whether to laugh or cry. It took nearly half a shichen before things quieted down enough for him to settle his mind and think.

The Wanli reign, the Jurchens, Nurhaci, Liaodong — once these points were confirmed, one thing became roughly certain: the Great Ming was going to fall.

Zhao Jin still couldn't remember who came after Wanli, but he had a deep impression that from the moment Nurhaci began attacking the Great Ming, the Great Ming never won a single victory. Defeat after defeat, all the way until the dynasty's final destruction. All of this should happen within these few decades — in fact, within thirty or forty years, perhaps even shorter. Looking at it now, those thirty or forty years would begin now, or very soon.

"What rotten luck!" Zhao Jin slapped the table, though he didn't use much force, and his face showed neither much regret nor fear.

When he trained in martial arts under his second uncle Zhao Zhenxing, his uncle had asked him what his wish was. His answer had been "to leave a name in the histories" — to leave his own name in the historical record. There were many ways to achieve that, and many kinds of goals to reach. Some goals were small, some were large. Zhao Jin's goal was very, very large. He wanted to try. From the very beginning until now, he had been cautiously, carefully attempting it.

From age ten to seventeen, Zhao Jin never felt he was much stronger than those around him. He was indeed brave and fierce in battle, but that advantage came from years of diligent, bitter training, tempering his body every day, and having an outstanding teacher — his second uncle Zhao Zhenxing — to pass on martial skills and experience. He was indeed more rational and mature than others, with all sorts of novel ideas and methods, but that was only because his life experience truly was richer, and he had more advanced techniques.

But all of the above, people of this era could also achieve through various paths — some might even do it better than him. He had kicked and punched his way into creating a situation, but that situation was confined only to Xuzhou.

Thinking himself outstanding, he had been ambushed near Gao Family Village and lost Sun Dalei. Fighting the refugees beneath the walls of Xuzhou City, he had faced such peril and nearly been overturned by the enemy at the last moment.

Even those very first times, in the narrow alley, clashing with those dozen or so desperate bandits — if not for luck, perhaps there would be no today.

Having been through so much, from the brimming confidence of the very beginning to the caution and prudence of now, Zhao Jin had constantly revised his goals, burying that perhaps delusional thought deep in his heart. But today, he finally realized what was going to happen in the future.

The change of dynasties, heaven and earth overturned — the transition was often brutally fierce. Everything old would be shattered, and the new would be built up. The realm would descend into chaos, all rules would cease to exist, until a new dynasty was established.

In such a great era, in such a great transformation, there would be many, many opportunities. Could he seize them? Could he use these opportunities to advance even further?

So this great transformation was only a few years away from him. That thought buried deep in Zhao Jin's heart began to stir again. Perhaps, in that brutal great era, he must protect himself, protect those around him, protect this situation he had built — ensure his efforts were not in vain, ensure everything was not smashed to pieces by the great tide!

Zhao Jin took a deep breath. For now, everything was on track. But should the pace he set be slower or faster? When exactly would the dynastic change begin — which specific year? Zhao Jin realized he still didn't know. At this thought, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. Thinking it over carefully, it seemed knowing or not knowing didn't make much difference...

But at the very least, he knew he must walk forward with resolve, knew in which direction he must resolutely develop. Zhao Jin rose from his seat, opened the door, and strode out. Outside, the sunlight was just right, and from the training ground, commands and shouts drifted faintly over.

The moment he stepped out of the courtyard, he found his companions and Ruhui all waiting there. Seeing Zhao Jin emerge, everyone looked relieved. Zhao Jin smiled and asked, "What are you all doing here?"

"You've been so strange all day — everyone was worried. If you hadn't come out soon, we would have charged in!" Chen Sheng said.

Zhao Jin laughed heartily and said, "Am I not allowed to daydream a little?"

"You have too much to do now, and too heavy a responsibility. You can't afford to daydream!" Chen Sheng answered bluntly. Zhao Jin paused, then nodded heavily and waved his hand, saying, "No more daydreaming from now on. Brothers, we all need to push harder. We have to drill these lads properly!"

Everyone roared their agreement. Ruhui smiled, clasped his fist in farewell, and took his leave — he had other matters to attend to. Behind him, Shi Manqiang asked Liu Yong with some puzzlement, "Is Big Brother really that fired up?"

"Is being fired up a bad thing? Besides, Big Brother's drive is like this every day!" Liu Yong shot back with a grin.

The eighth and ninth months were the harvest season, and also the season for collecting taxes. Xuzhou had been plundered by refugees, its vitality grievously wounded. Yet the matter of exempting three years of grain taxes was still being worked through the upper and lower levels — the imperial court had not yet issued its approval, so in Xuzhou this year, everything proceeded as before.

This year, the grain errands of the Xuzhou yamen's Revenue Office were especially easy, and the squeeze was especially plentiful. First, because of the backing of the Zhao Character Camp, not a single party in Xuzhou dared delay or hesitate. Everyone negotiated according to the rules, and once terms were settled, they handed over payment cleanly and crisply, with no dragging of feet. Secondly, because Prefect Tong had completely lost his influence, his former stewards and personal attendants had no way to dip their hands into this autumn grain. Apart from the customary shares allotted to Prefect Tong and Adviser Wang, the Revenue Office only made token gestures to others. Less was given out, so more remained.

There was another point: because Zhao Jin's Piaoxiang Distillery had absorbed large quantities of ready silver, the phenomenon of dear coin and cheap grain did not occur. Grain could be sold at a relatively fair price, the Revenue Office did not have to go through the hands of the great merchants, and the share left in their own hands was larger. Zhao Jin's side could also take in large quantities of grain. It was a situation where everyone was happy, and everyone was pleased.

Because of this batch of grain, Zhao Jin discovered that things could ease up somewhat going forward. The grain stockpile was much larger than anticipated.

Within Xuzhou city, the area around the Zhao family home had already begun renovations. Every day, people came to sweep and whitewash. It wasn't just the Zhao family's own place — even the surrounding garbage and crumbling walls had to be tidied up. Without Zhao Jin having to say a word, the gentry and wealthy merchants of the city and countryside purchased fine furniture and ornaments from Pi County, along with top-quality silk and cotton bedding and the like. The bridal chamber and everything else were arranged beautifully.

The cooks from Cloud Mountain Tower and Rib-bone Zhang's had also begun preparations in advance. Every day, the head chefs wrote out menus and went to the Zhao household to seek instructions, asking the two elders of the Zhao family whether these were suitable.

The Xu family of Jingshan was no less thorough. Cart after cart of chests and trunks crossed the river and came ashore, delivered into the city and to He Family Village — all of them containing the clothing, food, and daily necessities of the Xu family's eldest daughter, as well as various implements prepared for the new son-in-law.

Beyond this, the Xu family had begun constructing residences within Xuzhou city and beside He Family Village. These residences each had dedicated stables for keeping strong horses. It was said that the Xu family's eldest daughter would continue managing the household, and that any major news or matters would still have to be relayed to her before a decision could be made.

Zhao Jin's parents and Xu Zhenzhen's father also met once. Because Zhao Zhentang's arm was inconvenient, Xu Zhenzhen's father, Xu Benrong, came to the Xu family's secondary residence within Xuzhou city, where the two Zhao elders paid a formal visit.

The meeting was far from pleasant. Xu Benrong, who fancied himself a famed scholar, thought Zhao Zhentang was a coarse brute. Zhao Zhentang, for his part, felt Xu Benrong was far too pretentious and affected. He Cuihua, however, was quite fond of Xu Housheng and kept asking him all sorts of questions, which barely kept things going.

Despite all these minor episodes, the festive atmosphere in Xuzhou city gradually thickened. Just as Prefect Tong had said, Xuzhou was now Zhao Province, and Zhao Jin's happy occasion was Xuzhou's festival.

The autumn grain harvest let every part of the northern territories breathe a sigh of relief. Although this year had seen famine and disaster, with many places like hell on earth, the arrival of the autumn grain brought hope. Coupled with the relief efforts from the court and local authorities, people could finally survive again, could finally see hope again.

Since the middle of the year, the government troops in Dengzhou Prefecture, Laizhou Prefecture, Qingzhou Prefecture, and Yanzhou Prefecture in Shandong had not had a moment's rest. Uprisings everywhere, beacons of war everywhere — they could only rush about suppressing them without pause. Now, at last, they could catch their breath, for the disturbances everywhere had subsided. Perhaps when the year's end came, or when the next year's lean season arrived before the new harvest, there would be great turmoil again, but for now, at least, it was quiet.

The disaster-stricken areas were quiet, while Dongchang Prefecture, where the situation was still fairly good, appeared prosperous and peaceful — looking for all the world like a paradise on earth.

The second day of the ninth month was no festival, yet the streets of Liaocheng, the seat of Dongchang Prefecture, were bustling with extraordinary activity. Throngs of commoners crowded both sides of the road, every one of them craning their necks in anticipation, gazing toward the far end.

"The Holy Maiden is coming! The Holy Maiden is coming!" someone shouted.

In the distance, an eight-man palanquin came into view. Upon the palanquin stood a wooden pavilion, with curtains hung on all four sides. Within the curtains was a layer of light gauze, through which one could see a young girl seated upright inside.

Before this palanquin, some people carried colorful banners, some held thick incense sticks, and still others continuously scattered red paper shreds — this had a special name: it was called Heavenly Maidens Scattering Blossoms.

On either side, two sturdy men bore bamboo baskets on their backs, each followed by two women. Whenever they saw a beggar by the roadside, they would take a cake from the bamboo basket and hand it over. Whenever they saw a child, they would bring out a pastry.

"Buddha bless us, Holy Maiden bestow your grace, Buddha bless us..." Someone, no one knew who, began the chant, and more and more people joined in. The especially devout even knelt directly on the ground and kowtowed.

A commotion stirred on the road ahead, and the palanquin came to a stop. A sturdy man sprinted forward, and in a short while returned to report: "Holy Maiden, a beggar child up ahead has fainted!"