Chapter 408: Host Departs, Guests Arrive

"Xiaojin, you really gave us a fright. We just met in Xuzhou a few days ago, and now you're already here in Yutou Town!" As soon as they met, Sun Jia said with a rueful smile.

With business dealings so close, they had long ago set up relevant protocols, such as code phrases and secret marks on letters and visiting cards. Seeing these signs, everyone knew what to do.

"Uncle Sun, to settle the refugees in the Reed Marsh, we have to go see it for ourselves. But the more secretive this matter, the safer, so we didn't notify you in advance." Zhao Jin smiled as he explained.

Without excessive pleasantries, after explaining, Zhao Jin took out a list and handed it to Sun Jia, then said, "Uncle Sun, I'll trouble you to procure all these supplies within two days. Price is no issue."

Sun Jia unfolded the list and scanned it over, nodded, and said, "They can all be gathered within a single day."

Seeing the surprise on Zhao Jin and his companions' faces, Sun Jia smiled and said, "This is Yutou Town. Nothing is in short supply here."

Zhao Jin and his companions all laughed as well. Zhao Jin then added, "I'll also have to trouble Uncle Sun to find two guides familiar with the Reed Marsh. Paying several times the normal rate is no problem, but they must be absolutely reliable. Ideally, their families could stay at Uncle Sun's house first. With hostages in hand, they won't dare make any reckless moves."

Sun Jia paused for a moment, pondered briefly, then nodded again and said, "Such people aren't hard to find."

Hearing the other party guarantee everything so readily, Zhao Jin stood up with a smile, cupped his fists in salute, and said, "The matter is urgent, so I won't stand on ceremony with Uncle Sun any longer. Please gather these items and find the people. When your nephew returns from the Reed Marsh, we'll have a proper reunion."

Sun Jia hurriedly stood up, nodded in assurance, and said, "I'll go handle it right away!"

As for the nature of their relationship, Sun Jia understood it perfectly well. In name they were uncle and nephew, but in reality it was one of subordination. The Sun family's glory, wealth, and even their very lives now rested in Zhao Jin's hands. The other party's respect and courtesy were solely because of the deceased Sun Dalei.

Since Zhao Jin was being so secretive and solemn this time, Sun Jia naturally dared not be negligent. Dispensing with formalities, he returned home and immediately began making arrangements.

Yutou Town was a hub where goods converged, with a complete range and ample quantities. Moreover, Zhao Jin's party of over seventy people didn't require a huge amount. In the morning, the managers and clerks of the Sun family trading house went out with silver; by afternoon, the goods had all been delivered.

Dry rations, dried meat, salted vegetables, bedding, tents, and so on—even horse feed for the mounts—along with various other supplies that seemed unrelated to a long journey, were all piled high on carts. The carts themselves were also one of the supplies that needed to be prepared.

Even the guides arrived at Zhao Jin's lodgings before nightfall. There were three in total. Two of them looked similar and addressed each other as uncle and nephew. These two were surnamed Peng and were the leaders of a certain labor gang by the lake and river. The uncle was called Peng the Seventh, and the nephew was called Little Peng. Being from a poor family, they didn't even have proper given names, which was common.

Whether by water or land, loading and unloading goods all relied on manual labor. Naturally, large numbers of such laborers gathered in Yutou Town. The laborers handling loading and unloading in Yutou Town were divided into several factions: the local Pi County faction was the largest, there was a group from Suqian, another from Suining, and yet another group made up of people from the Reed Marsh. Refugees fleeing famine had entered the Reed Marsh; some farmed for a living, while others came out to sell their labor. This Peng uncle and nephew were the heads of one such group.

The reason they were assigned here was that the Peng uncle and nephew owed Sun Jia a great favor. They had even settled their families in Yutou Town this year, and their gang worked exclusively for Sun Jia's business. As Sun Jia prospered more and more thanks to Hanjing Famous Liquor, they too had benefited and were living quite well. The Peng uncle and nephew were familiar with the Reed Marsh, had close ties to the Sun family, and had family members in town—naturally, they fit the requirements.

The other one was surnamed Shi, given name Jincai. This man was a native of Pi County. The reason he was sent was that he did business inside the Reed Marsh.

The mounted bandits in the Reed Marsh, also known as Reed Marsh bandits, as well as the various settlements formed by refugees and disaster victims—if they needed anything, some would come out to buy it themselves, while others would give silver to locals familiar with the market to buy and ship it on their behalf. This way, they were less likely to be cheated, and the supply would be stable.

This Shi Jincai was in exactly that line of business. He had originally been a clerk for Sun Jia and only later struck out on his own. He owed Sun Jia many favors, and much of his goods still passed through the Sun family trading house, so their relationship was close. Moreover, because he frequently delivered goods there, he was familiar with the routes inside the Reed Marsh, which was why he was also assigned this time.

With less than twenty days until the New Year, being suddenly summoned and told to go deep into the Reed Marsh left all three guides feeling very uneasy.

Furthermore, upon meeting Zhao Jin and his group, even the least observant person could tell these were no law-abiding commoners. That kind of fierce competence, that aura of having killed before—it wasn't something you could imitate just by putting on a stern face.

However, Zhao Jin's side was extremely generous. Right upon meeting, each person was given twenty taels of silver. Holding the gleaming silver in their hands, all three were stunned. Yutou Town was a gathering place for merchants where prices soared, yet ten taels of silver was enough for a family of three to live comfortably for a year, even with meat and fish regularly. Just what kind of magnate was this, to hand out twenty taels per person right off the bat?

"First, take this silver home to your families. There will be more rewards when we return!" Zhao Jin said with a smile.

After sending the silver home, none of the three were slow to return. For one, they couldn't afford to offend Master Sun; for another, they were all looking forward to the rewards to come.

Having to travel far right when the New Year was approaching, their families were naturally not happy. But upon seeing those twenty taels of silver, all objections vanished.

After the three returned, Zhao Jin gave each another five taels, then said, "Once we come back out from the Reed Marsh wastelands this time, each of you will be paid another seventy-five taels."

That would be a full hundred taels—a huge sum. All three were dumbfounded, and once they recovered their wits, they hastily agreed.

"From this moment on, gentlemen, please don't go home. If you have any messages, I'll arrange for someone to deliver them for you," Liu Yong said with a smile.

Having taken so much silver, they naturally had to comply with such minor matters. All three agreed, said what needed to be said, and then told the other party where their homes were located.

"No need. I know where each of you lives. I'll just send someone to deliver the messages," Liu Yong said, still very amiably.

Shi Jincai was a businessman with a quick mind, and the Peng uncle and nephew had dealt with all sorts of people at the docks. A moment's thought was enough to understand the other party's intent. The silver wasn't given for nothing. If anything went wrong, they'd probably go after their families.

Seeing the fierce competence of these people again, any petty schemes they might have entertained vanished like smoke. Nervously, they prepared to lead the way and do their job.

No time was wasted in Yutou Town. After a two-day stop, the convoy set out southward. No one was surprised; to the south was Suqian, and if they followed the Grand Canal all the way south, they would reach Qingjiangpu.

As for whether they were actually going to Suqian, or turning off by the frozen shores of Luoma Lake, that wasn't something the people of Yutou Town cared about. With so many carts and horses coming and going every day, who could be bothered to keep track?

Compared to the still bustling and prosperous Yutou Town, Xuzhou City had already grown quiet by this time. Even the daily flow of people entering and leaving the city was much less than usual. Only the peddlers selling New Year's goods were still willing to come.

The soldiers guarding the city gates were all listless. Those on duty extorted the usual customary fees at the gate, while those off duty leaned against the base of the city wall, sunning themselves and dozing.

It wasn't just them who were idle; even the few jianghu men at the gate were the same. One kept watch while the rest gathered in a group to gamble. When the gambling got lively, even the gate-guarding soldiers would come over and join in, everyone in perfect harmony.

Everyone knew who had sent these jianghu men. They were posted here by Boss You from inside the city. And who was Boss You? Originally, he was said to be an incense-burner, but now he was a subordinate of Lord Jin.

This Boss You, You Zhenrong, was steady and thorough in his work. Worried that unsavory characters might sneak into the city, he had specially assigned his brothers to keep watch here. The moment anything seemed off, they were to report immediately or seize the person on the spot.

Two wanted outlaws had already been caught in Xuzhou. They thought they were hiding cleverly, but never expected they couldn't escape the sharp eyes of their own kind.

Once captured and sent to the yamen, the city gate guards received commendations, and the yamen officials earned merit. Everyone was happy, and people became much more courteous toward these jianghu men keeping watch.

But now, in the twelfth month, even criminals and villains would be heading home for the New Year. What kind of blind fool would still be running around causing trouble? So everyone had grown slack.

Near noon, even the one assigned to watch duty was ignoring the city gate, gathered around throwing dice and gambling. He had just fished out a few copper coins to place a bet when one of his companions pointed toward the official road at the gate and said in a low voice, "Those two don't look right."

"Cut the crap, you're just trying to trick me into turning my head so you can cheat!" the one on watch duty cursed with a laugh.

"Damn it, just look! Why would I bluff you?" The one who spoke up grew anxious and raised his voice slightly. The three gathered there turned their heads together to look.

There really were people who didn't look right. Two men on horseback, both wearing cotton robes with leather jackets over them, and felt hats with ear flaps on their heads. They were wrapped up very tightly. Their mounts were fine, sturdy horses, and their saddles and bridles were all in good order.

"Those leather boots… only people around Vice General Zhou wear those…" someone muttered.

"They're not from our Xuzhou, and they don't come to Xuzhou often. Characters like these, we'd definitely recognize them!" another judged.

"See that saber hanging by the saddle? If that saber were forged in Xuzhou, it'd probably cost ten taels of silver."

"These probably aren't from the jianghu circles…" another said hesitantly.

As they were talking, the two riders had already been stopped by the soldiers guarding the gate. Those gate guards, watching officials and commoners come and go every day, had developed a sharp eye. Seeing how these two were dressed and the confident way they approached, the soldiers' tone became considerably more polite.

The two men, their faces grim, presented their travel permits. The gate soldiers couldn't read, but seeing the documents produced and asking a few casual questions, they immediately let them pass.