Chapter 418: You Come or Shall I?

"Enough. You've given too much — it may not be a good thing for those three. If you truly feel pity for them, just take them with you on the return journey." Zhao Jin said in a low voice.

Liu Yong couldn't bear to see children suffer; everyone knew this, and they also understood it was perhaps tied to Liu Yong's own past.

Hearing Zhao Jin's words, Liu Yong hesitated a moment, then still nodded.

The children, having eaten and drunk their fill and gotten a pastry each, returned to the Ding Family Enclosure laughing cheerfully. Zhao Jin and the others' attitude toward these three children spoke volumes.

As they packed up the tents and prepared to set out, quite a few people from the Ding Family Enclosure came out to help. Women also led their children over to gaze from a distance. The Ding Family Enclosure, cold and quiet the day before, suddenly bustled with life this morning.

"No one over fifty. Most here are refugees. Those who survived are all young and able-bodied — same as back where we come from." Ji Xiang said quietly.

This Ding Zhi actually knew how to ride a horse. According to him, the Ding Family Enclosure kept several horses precisely for urgent matters or long journeys, and he had learned long ago. Ding Zhi was placed at the front; Qi San and the three guides were with him.

"When we get back to Xuzhou, we must ask those refugees — keeping their children by their side is a burden anyway — whether they'd be willing to let us look after them, provide food and shelter. These children raised and taught by us from a young age, loyalty and such won't be an issue!" Zhao Jin said from horseback. Everyone nodded.

At that moment, the sun had just risen ahead, but this morning light brought not a trace of warmth. Amidst the withered grass and snowy ground, the bitter wind still cut like a blade.

Winter days are short and nights long. The Xuzhou city gates opened much later than before. It was already the twelfth month; even the peddlers who came into the city to sell New Year's goods had gone home for the holiday. The soldiers guarding the gates were utterly at leisure. Barring anything unusual, they often slept in before rising to open the gates.

They had just drawn the gate bolt and opened a crack when a rider burst through, two more riders close behind charging in after him, nearly knocking the gate-opening soldier flat on his back.

"You wretched scum, stop! Where do you think you're—" The soldier who had nearly been bowled over started cursing furiously, but someone clapped a hand over his mouth halfway through.

"You got a death wish? That's Third Master Wang!" his companion hissed in a low voice.

In the Xuzhou of today, there was only one man called Third Master Wang — Wang Zhaojing of the Zhao Character Camp. Apart from his Zhao Character Camp status, this young master was also the only son of a capital official who had passed the metropolitan examination, and he himself held the rank of provincial graduate. Who could afford to offend such a personage?

The soldier who had shouted turned deathly pale. Only after he regained his composure did he mutter in puzzled tones, "What on earth has happened, to make him rush like that?"

Many of the Wang household servants had followed Wang Youshan to the capital, leaving only a few behind to watch the place. Seeing their young master Wang Zhaojing return gave them all a start, but Wang Zhaojing merely left his horse at home and hurried off to the Zhao residence.

He had the household guards at the gate announce him. Not long after, Zhao Zhentang, dressed in his constable's uniform, appeared at the door. Wang Zhaojing hurried forward to pay his respects.

"What brings you back?" Zhao Zhentang asked in surprise, then added with a smile, "It's nearly the New Year anyway, so it's fitting you've returned. I'm due at the yamen for duty — walk with me a while."

Hearing Zhao Zhentang's words, Wang Zhaojing felt a flicker of surprise, but he still assented respectfully. Zhao Zhentang's shoulder wound had mostly healed, though he still couldn't move too vigorously. Even the blade he usually carried had been reduced to half its weight, making it look much like a Japanese sword.

The two men walked ahead. The household guards tried to draw near to escort them, but Zhao Zhentang waved them all back.

"Uncle Zhao, what urgent matter prompted you to summon your nephew?" Wang Zhaojing asked in a low voice.

The reason he had rushed to Xuzhou with such haste was that Zhao Zhentang had sent an urgent message — yet here at the gate, Zhao Zhentang was putting on an act of feigned ignorance.

"Xiao Jin isn't in Xuzhou. At a critical juncture like this, a major matter has come up, and I had no choice but to consult you." Zhao Zhentang's voice was equally hushed.

Wang Zhaojing's expression grew solemn. He knew Zhao Zhentang was a man of method who disliked troubling Zhao Jin. For him to send an urgent summons like this, it had to be something truly serious.

"... There are two Brocade Guard agents in the city right now. They were marked the moment they entered, and their identities were exposed at the Tonghui Inn..." Zhao Zhentang stated succinctly.

At the words "Brocade Guard," Wang Zhaojing's eyes instantly widened, a look of shock spreading across his face. After a brief pause, he immediately asked, "Uncle Zhao, how many people know of this so far?"

"Only the innkeeper knows their identities. I've got men tailing these two agents closely right now. For the moment, they're just looking around the city and haven't revealed themselves." Zhao Zhentang said gravely.

Wang Zhaojing let out a soft breath. The Eastern Depot and the Brocade Guard were names that truly shook the realm — investigating secrets, arresting treacherous officials, and surrounded by all manner of outlandish rumors that made men blanch at the mere mention. Wang Zhaojing, having grown up in the capital where the Brocade Guard had its headquarters and the court's power was centered, had seen and heard even more about the Depot and Guard. No wonder the news had shaken him so.

"Uncle Zhao, are these agents here because of us?" Wang Zhaojing asked quietly. Inwardly, he smiled bitterly. The moment he heard "Brocade Guard," he had instinctively assumed they were targeting his own side — wasn't that putting himself in the position of a villain? On reflection, Zhao Zhentang hadn't explicitly said so.

Zhao Zhentang glanced back and said, "The first place these two agents went was the distillery. They were also muttering something about 'Eunuch Yu' and the like."

Wang Zhaojing's expression darkened. Solemnly, he said, "It should be connected to the Fengyang refugees. They are indeed targeting us."

"If they don't reveal their identities and just keep looking around the city like this, then we needn't worry too much. The city holds nothing more than a distillery and a trading house — ordinary businesses doing ordinary trade. They won't find anything amiss." Zhao Zhentang said gravely.

If the Brocade Guard didn't reveal themselves, they were just two ordinary men. All the Zhao Character Camp's businesses in the city were legitimate operations; there was nothing improper about them.

Zhao Zhentang then continued, "What worries me now are two things. First, if they reveal their identities and demand the local authorities' assistance — though everyone in the yamen knows what's at stake, there's no avoiding some petty men seizing the chance to stir up trouble. Second, if they go to He Family Village — if they see the Zhao Character Camp's setup there, that could be twisted into a host of grave crimes. I hear these agents are accustomed to dealing with high personages. If a report reaches the wrong ears and alarms someone, and troops are mobilized..."

Those who could command the Brocade Guard were none other than nobles, high officials, and eunuchs. Once anything was uncovered, such men would directly order punitive measures, leaving not even a chance to intercede or negotiate. Moreover, these men held great power; if they truly moved, the Zhao Character Camp would have no means to resist.

Wang Zhaojing's face was grim. His hand, gripping his sword hilt, tightened and loosened repeatedly. He walked on in silence for a stretch before finally speaking: "What does Uncle Zhao intend to do?"

Zhao Zhentang glanced back, then came straight to the point: "If they reveal their identities and go directly to the prefectural yamen, then you must send over a hundred capable men to seal off the yamen's surroundings completely, letting only trusted individuals in to lodge complaints or deliver reports. At the same time, spread silver around liberally. In the current magistrate's yamen, aside from Tong Huaizu, who still harbors some reluctance, everyone else understands the stakes and interests involved — they won't make trouble. Even if the agents then demand to be taken to He Family Village, we can simply arrange some random location to fob them off."

Matters within the yamen relied on mutual cover-ups. Schemes that seemed absurdly farcical were, in practice, easily carried out. These two Brocade Guard agents were not locals. If they sought help or asked questions at the yamen, what they heard and saw would be entirely under the control of the clerks and runners. There was no need for concern at all.

When he came to the second point, Zhao Zhentang lowered his voice further: "If they go to He Family Village on their own, those things of the Zhao Character Camp will be very troublesome. Although everyone in Xuzhou knows you are protecting the region and keeping the peace, slapping on a charge of 'gathering a mob to plot rebellion' could still be made to stick."

"What is Uncle Zhao's plan?" Wang Zhaojing's voice had, at this point, turned calm instead.

Zhao Zhentang's voice dropped very, very low, barely above a whisper. Wang Zhaojing had to lean in constantly just to make it out.

Just as they were about to reach the magistrate's yamen, a man dressed like an idler came running up at a quick pace. Wang Zhaojing's hand went to his sword hilt, fully alert, but Zhao Zhentang beckoned him over.

"Master Zhao, those two men are about to leave the city. They've already settled their bill at the inn and asked for directions to He Family Village." The idler delivered his report in a hushed voice, then turned and left.

The faces of both Zhao Zhentang and Wang Zhaojing turned grim. Zhao Zhentang turned to Wang Zhaojing and said, "Your future is boundless. If you don't wish to do this, neither Xiao Jin nor I will hold it against you."

"Uncle Zhao, that is also your nephew's enterprise. Besides, Uncle Zhao, you are not in good health — how could I let you shoulder the burden?" Wang Zhaojing said steadily.

Zhao Zhentang nodded and clapped him on the shoulder. "My arm's ruined. Even if I tried to act, I'd likely be clumsy."

Han Song and Yan Shao'an settled their bill openly and without fuss. They had been very comfortable at the Tonghui Inn — the food and wine were good, the sing-song girls were good, and the attentive service from top to bottom had made them happily hand over silver in tips.

Having asked clearly for the way to He Family Village, the two men packed up simply, mounted their horses, and set off, thinking to themselves that since they wouldn't make it back for the Spring Festival anyway, they might as well have enjoyed a few more days of pleasure at the Tonghui Inn.

Manager Zhou of the Tonghui Inn bowed and scraped as he saw the guests off. Once back inside, he first wiped away his cold sweat, then lit incense and kowtowed before the enshrined bodhisattva. That evening, he gave everyone, from top to bottom, an early extended holiday, telling them to return after the fifteenth of the first month, with wages to be paid as usual.

Because the Tonghui Inn catered to wealthy and noble clientele, it normally only closed from the first to the third day of the New Year, and sometimes not even then if there were guests. This time, however, it shut its doors half a month early.

At the time of closing, there were still three merchants from elsewhere staying at the inn. Manager Zhou compensated them with silver and sent them off to other establishments. Once everything was settled, he hired a horse-drawn cart and took his family back to the countryside for the New Year. This time, Zhao Zhentang's gift of thanks amounted to a full two hundred taels — more than enough for a prosperous holiday.

Han Song and Yan Shao'an were in considerably better spirits than when they had arrived. They had specially procured two gourds and filled them to the brim with Han Well Famous Liquor, taking an occasional swig on horseback — quite contented and at ease.

In winter, few people were about. The road held only scattered travelers in twos and threes, some on foot, some on horseback, all ambling along unhurriedly.