Chapter 437: Follow Lord Jin!

It's a bit laughable to say, but in the Xuzhou region, the two who benefited most from the Great Ming — Honorary Licentiate Cai and Cultivated Talent Zou — were actually the most cooperative with Zhao Jin. They handed over the largest number of their private troops and militia, and sent the most sons and younger kinsmen from their families, none of them from distant branches or remote relations. Though they still held something back, they were far better than those local magnates who concealed the bulk of their strength. Perhaps it's that scholars, especially those with official degrees, have broader experience and see things more clearly than these local strongmen.

Under such circumstances, Zhao Jin naturally wanted to set up a few more models to follow. This Jiang Mutou was so sensible, taking the initiative to invite the Zhao Camp into his own territory — he certainly couldn't be treated poorly.

By the time the sun was well into the west, the main force arrived at Fangcun Market. Fortunately, Jiang Mutou's men had already ridden ahead to deliver the news; otherwise, with several hundred riders surging in like this, it would surely have caused a major disturbance.

Arriving at Fangcun Market and seeing this bustling town, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and a wave of exhaustion washed over them. Ever since the urgent retreat after the rescue, they could finally get some proper rest.

The women rescued from the grass huts also realized they were now safe. Having narrowly escaped death, some were wailing loudly, others sobbing quietly. The children, utterly bewildered, cried along with them. With people shouting and horses neighing, it was chaos for a time.

"Get the womenfolk of your Fangcun Market out here, and take these women and children in first," Zhao Jin spoke up.

Jiang Mutou was efficient in his work and immediately sent men to make arrangements. However, several of his trusted confidants had troubled expressions, exchanging glances from time to time. Jiang Mutou understood what his men were thinking and kept signaling them with stern looks.

The reason for their difficulty was simple. Zhao Jin had brought over a hundred people, including his men, the women, and children, while Dong Bingfeng had pulled together over four hundred reinforcements from the Xuzhou Guard and along the way — and all of these men were mounted. Over six hundred people and more than seven hundred horses, needing a meal and a night's lodging, food for men and fodder for beasts — the Jiang family would have to host it all. It was an enormous expense. Though the Jiang family had some wealth, even one such meal was hard to bear, let alone the fact that such a huge amount of food and fodder couldn't be gathered on short notice.

Jiang Mutou quickly figured it out in his head. But though it pained him, as a man of standing in these parts, he had to keep up appearances on such an occasion. What's more, this was hosting Lord Jin — the silver that needed spending had to be spent; it certainly wouldn't be a loss in the long run.

Before Jiang Mutou could even think of a solution, he was summoned to Zhao Jin's side. Several bundles lay at Zhao Jin's feet. Liu Yong smiled as he untied them one by one — inside were silver ingots and gold leaf. During the hasty retreat, they had abandoned the heavy luggage, but the gold and silver had been carried along.

"This is roughly a thousand taels. Take it and use it," Zhao Jin said with a smile.

Jiang Mutou froze for a moment, then his expression changed dramatically. Waving his hands repeatedly, he said, "Lord Jin, isn't this just looking down on me? Where's the sense in a guest paying when they come to someone's home? If word got out, I'd be too ashamed to stay in Xuzhou!"

"Spare me all that nonsense. These men and horses have been on the move for most of the day and are starving. Everything needs to be fast. If you handle it on your own, you'll probably still need to borrow men and grain. By the time you've arranged it all, our ribs will be sticking to our backs. With ready silver, everything moves faster. We're family here, no need to stand on ceremony — the faster, the better!" Zhao Jin retorted with a laugh.

Seeing that Jiang Mutou still wanted to argue, Zhao Jin laughed impatiently and said, "If you borrowed money to arrange food and fodder for this many men and horses, and then I secretly left silver behind when I left, that would make everyone happy and become a fine story in the underworld. But we're family here, let's skip the empty formalities. Go on, hurry!"

Hearing Zhao Jin's words, Jiang Mutou was first stunned, then let out a rueful laugh. Shaking his head without another word, he clasped his fists and bowed to Zhao Jin, then called his men to take the silver and get to work.

"This young lord doesn't quite understand the rules of the underworld. If this gets out, people will laugh at us…" someone beside Jiang Mutou muttered quietly as they walked away carrying the silver.

"What are rules? Whatever Lord Jin wants to do is the rule. He didn't take advantage of us, and just like that he produced a thousand taels. With such generosity, such a grand manner, what more can we say? Don't take the favor and then complain. Do a good job, and don't even think about skimming off this silver — spend every bit of it…" Jiang Mutou said with great gravity.

"Big Brother, rest assured. But come to think of it, how could we possibly spend a thousand taels of silver around here?" Jiang Mutou's men all burst into laughter. With the difficulty gone, everyone's spirits were much higher.

Zhao Jin didn't rush inside. He rested on the spot just outside Fangcun Market. Watching the retreating figures of Jiang Mutou and his men, Zhao Jin said with a smile, "If they want to follow us, they follow our rules."

With enough silver, arranging food and fodder for such a large number of men and horses became very simple. Jiang Mutou himself had connections in Fangcun Market, and with gleaming ready silver, everything was easy and quick. Soon, the entire Fangcun Market was mobilized.

The New Year was only a few days away, and every household had stocked up on plenty of holiday goods. Jiang Mutou bought them up at a premium, so no one was shortchanged.

For the mounted teams that had come from various places to help, those who lived nearby and were anxious to return were given ready silver directly by Zhao Jin's side. Those not in a hurry to leave could join the merriment that evening. Opportunities to drink with Lord Jin and get on familiar terms were rare, so no one wanted to leave. Lodging was simple too — every household in Fangcun Market had benefited, so they were perfectly willing to put people up for the night.

By the time darkness fell, the aroma of fish and meat already filled Fangcun Market. There was plenty of meat among the New Year's provisions, and it was brought out directly now as a reward for everyone.

Although the situation was basically safe, no one dared to be negligent. Rotating sentry duties — nothing could be omitted.

Jiang Mutou still had a few jars of Hanjing Famous Wine stored away, along with locally-brewed spirits kept by other families. He had wanted to bring them all out together, but Zhao Jin refused.

"Drinking leads to mistakes. Once everything is settled, I'll drink to our hearts' content with all of you!" Zhao Jin said, very down-to-earth.

Even without wine, the atmosphere at the evening gathering was still extremely lively. Zhao Jin had specifically instructed to relax the conditions as much as possible and let as many of the reinforcements as possible come to the feast.

These men who had come to rescue Zhao Jin dared to wield blades and spears and each had a horse to ride, so their lives were certainly better than ordinary commoners. But even for them, being able to eat meat freely wasn't easy. Seeing the lavish spread of fish and meat that Jiang Mutou had prepared, every one of them was beside themselves with excitement.

"Before everyone eats, I, Zhao, have a few words to say!" Zhao Jin shouted out.

After he called out, silence fell from near to far in waves. Zhao Jin didn't stand on ceremony; he jumped directly onto a tabletop and shouted loudly, "Everyone came to my aid out of a sense of honor today. I, Zhao, am deeply grateful, and there will surely be generous rewards in the future!"

After speaking, Zhao Jin clasped his fists atop the table and bowed to all those at the banquet. Everyone scrambled hastily to their feet to return the gesture, their faces alight with excitement. Lord Jin's word was always good — if he said there would be generous rewards in the future, it would certainly not be vague. To have a figure like Lord Jin owe everyone a favor was a blessing accumulated by their ancestors.

They had thought the meal would begin after that one line. Many had been eyeing the fish and meat, practically drooling. No one expected Zhao Jin to straighten up on the tabletop and shout out again, "Fellow villagers, elders and youths — from ancient times to the present, how many heroes and bold spirits has our Xuzhou produced? Even now, we men of Xuzhou are far stronger than those from other places, I don't know by how much. In martial skill, in heroic spirit, who can compare to us men of Xuzhou!"

Before his words had even faded, the people below were all cheering loudly. Hearing their homeland praised, and by a great figure like Zhao Jin no less — who wouldn't feel their face glowing with pride?

"Everyone here possesses martial skill, can ride fierce horses, and came gallantly the moment you heard a fellow villager was in trouble. Where else in other prefectures can you find such good men? Where else are there so many?" Zhao Jin shouted again.

His words stirred everyone's blood to a boil. Hearing Zhao Jin's last two questions, someone — no one knew who started it — began shouting, and soon everyone was yelling, "Nowhere else! Fengyang Prefecture is all soft eggs! Huai'an Prefecture is all peddlers! Only our Xuzhou has true men!"

The atmosphere was seething. Zhao Jin raised his arm and shouted again, "Fellow villagers, since our Xuzhou has so many good men, why should we be stuck guarding this poor and remote land, worrying day in and day out about the Yellow River flooding, toiling and laboring endlessly? Fengyang Prefecture, Huai'an Prefecture — so many fine places — why should those soft eggs and peddlers hog them? Good things ought to be held by capable people like us! Tell me, isn't that the truth of it!"

"Right!"

"Lord Jin speaks the truth!"

The crowd below practically roared their response. After the Grand Canal shifted course, Xuzhou had withered rapidly, while neighboring Pizhou in Huai'an Prefecture flourished and prospered. This shift — one declining as the other rose — naturally left people feeling bitter and unbalanced. Now, with Zhao Jin shouting these words, he had stirred the fire in every man's heart.

"Fellow villagers, good men all — if you trust me, Zhao, then follow me to Huai'an Prefecture, to Fengyang Prefecture! Let's take over the good businesses and good territories there! Those fine things ought to be managed by us! Follow me, Zhao, and I will never let any of you down!" Zhao Jin shouted, waving both arms.

The crowd roared chaotically, until at last it coalesced into a single chant shouted in unison: "Follow Lord Jin! Follow Lord Jin!"

"Those with courage, those unwilling to accept their lot — come find me at the He Estate! I will make arrangements for you! I will give you an answer!" Zhao Jin bellowed, bringing his speech to a close.

The atmosphere at the banquet was incredibly fervent. Even people from Fangcun Market who had nothing to do with it came poking their heads in, trying to find out what was happening.

Now, those at the banquet only regretted there was no wine. Everyone was excitedly whispering to one another. Zhao Jin had just pointed out a golden road to them.

Only after he finished shouting did Zhao Jin climb down from the table and take his seat. Someone hurried over to wipe it down, while others brought dishes to the table. Compared to the large platters of fish and meat below, the dishes here were somewhat more refined.

"Lord Jin, can my humble self and my men go along too?" They had barely sat down when Jiang Mutou, seated at the lower end, asked urgently, his face full of fervent anticipation.

"You can. If you want to go, you can go. You won't be treated poorly!" Zhao Jin answered with absolute certainty. Jiang Mutou thanked him with a smile, and only then began to eat.

"I heard you used to do carpentry work. How did you end up in this line of business?" Zhao Jin asked with a smile.

After all, this was his first contact with Jiang Mutou; understanding his background was also a way to build closer ties.

Jiang Mutou's story was not complicated. His family had a hereditary carpenter's trade and lived a modestly comfortable life. But they were constantly bullied and extorted by a local thug leader in Fangcun Market. Common folk usually swallowed their anger when faced with such things — until the day that thug leader decided he wanted to take Jiang Mutou's sister for himself and barged straight into Jiang Mutou's home.

Jiang Mutou wasn't home that day. When he returned, he found his sister had hanged herself. Jiang Mutou grabbed an axe and a chisel and went to settle the score.