Chapter 380: No Courtesy

A little over two shichen after the messenger arrived, near dusk, another fast horse reached He Village. But this time the rider was not let through. The sentries halted the horse with their spears, searched the man, and first took him to Liu Yong before bringing him to Zhao Jin.

"Brother, someone from Cloud Mountain Temple is here, says he has urgent business. It really is a man from Cloud Mountain Temple," Liu Yong announced.

The rider kneeling on the ground had his hat and headscarf torn off, revealing a shaved head with ordination scars, his face covered in dust and grime.

"What urgent business?"

"Master Jin, Master Zhenzhi sent this humble one to report that Eunuch Yu, the Fengyang Defense Commissioner, has sent men to collect debts. The leader is a Company Commander. He threw a huge tantrum in the temple. The master and the others barely managed to calm him down after much pleading. They've laid out a banquet today and even called for drinking girls from the city..." the young monk kneeling on the ground said in a rush.

"Cut the nonsense. Did those people say when they're leaving?" Ruhui asked, somewhat agitated and impatient.

"They didn't say they were leaving. They only said they'd rest for a day and come back tomorrow to settle accounts," the young monk answered tremblingly.

The monk was taken outside the manor to rest. Ruhui's expression was grim. Without waiting for Zhao Jin to ask, he said sullenly, "Every year, Cloud Mountain Temple's estate gives thirty percent of its harvest to the eunuch in Fengyang. In exchange, Cloud Mountain Temple could run rampant across Xuzhou. We thought that since the temple changed abbots, if we played deaf and mute and made no sound, the other side would be too embarrassed to tear up appearances and come demanding payment. Who knew this eunuch really values money over face."

Thirty percent of Cloud Mountain Temple's estate income was a huge sum. Though it converted to just over ten thousand taels of silver, that was only because grain was cheap and silver dear. Giving away such a large sum naturally had to bring returns. What it bought was Cloud Mountain Temple's status as the top power in Xuzhou — the ability to bully the common folk, to harbor stolen goods and traffic salt, even to sell weapons to heretical cults, reaping all kinds of outrageous profits while the officials dared not interfere.

But once Zhao Jin took Cloud Mountain Temple, the temple no longer had to pay this customary fee. Not to mention that under Zhao Jin they didn't need to do those old things anymore — even if they did, with Zhao Jin's protection, the officials still wouldn't dare interfere.

Of course, with Cloud Mountain Temple investing such heavy capital, what they were after was certainly not just Xuzhou alone. Judging by how they maintained monk-soldiers and the like, they likely harbored even greater ambitions.

Now, Cloud Mountain Temple no longer engaged in those strongman bandit schemes, and with Zhao Jin's protection, they naturally had no need to offer up large sums of money to buy official shelter.

Matters of sending and receiving silver always operated on an unspoken understanding. When it was given, it was accepted with a smile and the business got done. When it wasn't given, you couldn't go demanding it — at worst, the business simply stopped. A willing buyer, willing seller transaction, neither side suffered any loss.

They had assumed that stopping it meant stopping it. They never imagined the other side would come knocking directly to demand it. Originally, Cloud Mountain Temple sent silver seeking help to get things done — it was a transaction. But now, this posture made it seem like an obligation: since you've given it, you have to keep giving forever, otherwise you're in the wrong.

If word of this sort of thing got out, the party would naturally be cursed as someone who didn't understand the rules and had no shame. But if it was a eunuch doing it, then everyone had nothing to say.

Eunuchs cannot marry or have children, so they are often especially obsessed with gold, silver, and wealth. Moreover, a eunuch who could claim the title of Eunuch Proper was usually one of high rank and great power. If he wanted to be greedy, if he wanted to ********, others could do nothing about it.

There were several eunuchs in the Southern Zhili region. The most powerful and highest-ranking was the Nanjing Garrison Eunuch. Next was the Fengyang Defense Commissioner, also called the Central Capital Garrison Commander. This Fengyang Defense Commissioner had overall command of the Fengyang Central Capital and the armies under its jurisdiction. If compared to civil officials, his authority was that of a Grand Coordinator or Governor-General. Compared to the imperial court, he was at the level of a Minister or Chief Censor.

When a figure like this came demanding money, even without any prior established rules or agreements, if he openly demanded money like this, no one had much recourse. Most would just swallow their anger and scrape together the payment.

"I didn't expect this gelded wretch to be so utterly shameless. Though he has no real justification, the Fengyang Defense Commissioner's power is overwhelming. Dealing with this will be extremely troublesome. This is trouble Cloud Mountain Temple has brought upon you, Master," Ruhui said, in a rare moment of awkward embarrassment, his words somewhat halting.

Although he had returned to lay life and had practically emptied Cloud Mountain Temple's coffers, seemingly drawing a clear line on the surface, in reality everyone still saw him as Cloud Mountain Temple's spokesman. Now that the debt collectors had come knocking, it was trouble brought by Cloud Mountain Temple, which was equivalent to trouble brought by him — hence his deep embarrassment.

Knowing the messenger was from Cloud Mountain Temple, Zhao Jin had called all his companions over. Hearing that the other party was sent by the Fengyang Defense Commissioner, everyone's expressions grew very solemn. Anyone else would have been easier to deal with, but the word "eunuch" represented immense power, equivalent to an imperial commissioner. And Zhao Jin's side was merely little Xuzhou — how could they contend?

Everyone looked at Zhao Jin. Ruhui hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "Master, Cloud Mountain Temple can still come up with that thirty percent. Let's send these people packing first, and make other plans for next year."

"Brother, my father has some connections with the palace eunuchs. He could mediate. I'll set out at dawn tomorrow," Wang Zhaojing also spoke up.

What scholar-officials feared most was being associated with eunuchs. Once branded with the label of "Eunuch Faction," one could never hold one's head high before others again.

However, Wang Youshan's rise had been connected to a certain eunuch. The faction he belonged to also had several major palace figures looming in the background, so they weren't particularly taboo about such matters. With this layer of connection to mediate, perhaps they wouldn't have to pay the thirty percent after all.

"Which company is currently in the city?" Zhao Jin's question made everyone pause — clearly a non-sequitur.

"First Regiment, Seventh Company!" Chen Sheng answered immediately. The Zhao Battalion still maintained rotations. Although it had expanded greatly, the number of men on city duty had only increased by thirty. The city was too sensitive a place, and besides the Zhao Battalion's household troops, there were other forces within the city as well.

Zhao Jin nodded, then asked again: "For this thirty percent Cloud Mountain Temple pays, is there any written document or proof?"

"Master, such matters are passed on by word of mouth and memory. How would anyone dare put it on paper?" Ruhui said with a dry laugh.

Zhao Jin nodded again, then spoke: "Send orders into the city first thing tomorrow morning. Have the company commander take his men to Cloud Mountain Temple and throw out those extortionists from Fengyang Prefecture. If they resist, beat them severely, tie them up, and haul them away!"

The room fell dead silent. No one had expected Zhao Jin to handle it this way. They all knew each other well and understood that Zhao Jin was not the type to act rashly and forcefully.

"Master, those are the Fengyang Defense Commissioner's men. To do this...?" Ruhui asked cautiously.

"If we give it this time, they'll come demanding it again next time. When that happens, do we give it or not? If we don't, we'll still have to use force. Since we'll have to fight anyway, let's do it this time," Zhao Jin said in a deep voice.

The people in the room exchanged glances again. Wang Zhaojing spoke: "Brother, these eunuchs rely on their power and act without any restraint. If we offend them this time, what if they mobilize the authorities..."

At this point, Wang Zhaojing paused on his own. A smile appeared on Zhao Jin's face: "So what if they mobilize the authorities? At most they'll have the prefect press for strict action. As long as we're in Xuzhou, what is there to fear?"

Everyone knew perfectly well what the result would be if the prefectural yamen was told to handle cases concerning the Zhao Battalion and deal with the Zhao Battalion.

"What if they mobilize government troops?" Ji Xiang asked.

"Government troops? Under what pretext?" Zhao Jin said with a cold laugh. Everyone in the room nodded. Without evidence or justification, the Defense Commissioner was merely bullying through power — he didn't have many real tricks.

The next morning, Zhao Jin handed a wooden tally to the messenger cavalryman. This was essentially a variant of the tiger tally — two wooden pieces that fit together to form a whole. Units not stationed at the He Village camp relied on this to verify the authenticity of orders.

"Master, Third Master Wang rode back to the city early this morning, saying that regarding the Cloud Mountain Temple matter, he wants to ask the family elders to step in and mediate," Ruhui came to report in the morning.

"Uncle Wang will also think we're right. If he has some other method on his side, every extra bit of effort helps," Zhao Jin said with a smile.

As a personal guard Company Commander under Defense Commissioner Eunuch Yu of Fengyang, Li Jun was long accustomed to throwing his weight around. It was this way in Fengyang Prefecture, and he showed not the slightest restraint in Xuzhou either.

In his mind, if Cloud Mountain Temple dared to withhold Eunuch Yu's customary silver, they must think they'd lived too long. The fact that he hadn't drawn his blade while pressing for payment already showed the utmost restraint.

Fortunately, though Cloud Mountain Temple was supposed to be a pure land of Buddhism, they certainly knew how to entertain and serve. Never mind the wine, meat, and banquets — they'd even managed to bring in top-quality singing girls from down the mountain. That had given everyone a fine time of pleasure.

With several bald heads carefully toasting and serving them, and good-looking singing girls keeping them company, plus each man pocketing ten or several dozen taels in perks — this life truly surpassed that of immortals.

However, as Eunuch Yu's personal guard, Commander Li was no stranger to such treatment and could still take it in stride.

"These bald donkeys know how to behave so well, we'll give them a day and a night's face. If there's still no answer by the second day, we brothers will give them something to look at!" At the banquet, Commander Li ignored the ashen faces of the monks beside him and declared loudly, thumping his chest, to a chorus of cheers from below.

With beauties for company, one couldn't rise too early the next day. The room was already bright with daylight, yet Commander Li was still hugging a singing girl and snoring away.

"Sir Soldier, Sir Soldier..." someone called softly from outside.

"What is it?" Commander Li mumbled groggily.

"Our abbot invites the sir to the front courtyard. There's an answer regarding that matter," the monk outside said carefully.

Commander Li tightened his grip on the woman in his arms and cursed impatiently, "I'm going to sleep some more. Tell him to wait."

"Sir Soldier, our abbot says to come now, or it will delay matters." The voice outside rose slightly.

Commander Li froze, instantly wide awake. From their arrival yesterday until bedtime, the monks of Cloud Mountain Temple had all been trembling with fear, not daring the slightest defiance toward his party. Why did their tone suddenly seem different, as if it had hardened considerably?

"Eunuch Yu gives you a bit of face, and you damned well think you can open a dye shop. If you truly make the old man angry, never mind your Cloud Mountain Temple — your whole Xuzhou will be flattened!" Li Jun cursed as he got out of bed, dressed, then grabbed his saber and walked out the door.