Chapter 439: Only Then Did He Know

At this time of year, everyone should be staying home for the New Year, and the roads and streets should be growing quiet. Yet as Zhao Jin and his group traveled along the official road, riders kept coming to meet them, and others waited by the roadside. All of them paid their respects to Zhao Jin with the utmost deference, presented New Year's gifts, and then reported their own names.

The reason for their humility was simple: they wanted to leave their names with Zhao Jin, so that later, when Zhao Jin wanted to expand into the surrounding areas, he would bring them along to share in the prosperity.

"Word really does travel fast..." Ji Xiang said with a laugh.

When they entered Xuzhou city, the soldiers guarding the gate were quite surprised. From his appearance, Zhao Jin clearly looked like he had traveled a long way back, yet everyone had assumed he was staying over at He Village.

Once inside the city, everything was easy to arrange. The women and children were taken to the goods yard, where people brought them padded clothes and called for a physician to examine them and give them medicine. After such a long journey, many of them were suffering from minor injuries and ailments.

The household troops who had gone on the expedition were to rest and regroup at the goods yard. Guard duties were taken over by the Zhao Battalion forces inside the city. Zhao Jin and a few others each went to their own homes. Xu Zhenzhen was still living in the city.

Just as he reached his front door, a man loitering nearby came running over in a hurry. The household troops on both sides did not stop him, because everyone recognized him—he was a servant of the Wang family.

"Young Master Jin, my young master has already given orders. He said that as soon as you return, I must send word. This humble one is off now!" The servant delivered his message crisply and efficiently, then mounted his horse and galloped away.

Zhao Jin frowned and looked at the household troop beside him. This man had been on duty in the city throughout these past days. He quickly bowed and answered, "Master, Third Master sent men to keep watch five days ago. I don't know what urgent matter it is."

Since even the household troops did not know, it must be something important. Zhao Jin did not press further and simply entered the courtyard. The place was livelier now than before. Aside from the Meng siblings and Zhao San and his wife, there were also people Xu Zhenzhen had sent over herself. The moment they saw Zhao Jin arrive, a flurry of chaos erupted as everyone rushed to announce the good news.

Xu Zhenzhen was, as usual, handling household affairs in the small residence next door. The first to hurry over was his mother, He Cuihua. Although He Cuihua did not know that Zhao Jin had just returned from a brush with death in Huai'an Prefecture, the fact that her daughter-in-law had been sent over to stay for several days told her that something had happened there. Seeing him return safe and sound, she was happy at heart and said with a face full of smiles, "This is how it should be, the whole family together and reunited for the New Year."

Zhao Jin, however, sensed something amiss. After exchanging greetings, he asked, "Where's my father? The yamen should have closed for the New Year by now, shouldn't it?"

"It's been sealed up for ages, but your father insists on going there to stand duty. After all these years on the job, now that he's getting on in years, he suddenly turns diligent!" He Cuihua answered with considerable displeasure.

The government yamen sealed its doors on the twentieth day of the twelfth month and did not resume official business until the thirteenth day of the first month. After the sealing, everyone except the clerks and runners on duty went home. Zhao Zhentang had just recovered from his injuries and was the Deputy Chief Constable; naturally, he had subordinates to handle things for him, and people at home to relay messages. Why would he need to go there himself? This was a bit strange.

As they spoke, Xu Zhenzhen entered the room. She first bowed to He Cuihua at the door, then spoke to Zhao Jin in a gentle voice.

Her words were caring and her manners were impeccable, but Zhao Jin could sense that her emotions were unruffled. There was no joy at being reunited after a long separation, nor any particular sign of concern. She simply did whatever a wife was supposed to do.

Zhao Jin responded with a smile and exchanged a few pleasantries. He did not think there was anything wrong with this. Theirs had been a marriage of convenience from the start, and the current state of things suited his needs.

He had not been sitting at home long when Zhao Zhentang returned, his face stern. Though the saying goes "strict father, kind mother," ever since Zhao Jin had become independent, father and son had seen each other less and less. Every time he came home, Zhao Zhentang had always been beaming with joy; it was rare to see him so grim.

Judging by the timing, his father Zhao Zhentang must have rushed back from the yamen the moment he arrived home. Zhao Jin thought of the Wang family servant who had been waiting outside earlier. Everyone seemed very anxious to meet with him.

Could something major have happened in Xuzhou during the days he was away? But if it were truly something major, he could not possibly be unaware of it; a fast horse and messenger would have informed him long ago.

"Xiao Jin, come out with me. There's a place we need to go see." Zhao Zhentang did not even sit down, but spoke directly.

Zhao Jin was surprised, and Xu Zhenzhen could not help but turn her head. But then she immediately walked toward He Cuihua and said softly, "Mother, the New Year's goods for the household are nearly all prepared."

Father and son left the room. Zhao Jin thought they would talk in the courtyard, but Zhao Zhentang did not stop walking and went straight out of the courtyard. Once outside, he did not allow the household troops to follow too closely.

"... In the days you were away, two agents came..."

Inside the house, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were talking harmoniously about the New Year's goods. Before Xu Zhenzhen had married in, He Cuihua had worried that her daughter-in-law, coming from a wealthy family, would have many rules and customs that would cause trouble in a humble runner's household like theirs, and that she could forget about being cared for by a filial daughter-in-law. She had never expected that Xu Zhenzhen would be proficient in both domestic and external affairs, and gentle and compliant in temperament. The two got along very well. Of course, they had not actually spent all that much time together.

The two chatted amiably, but both knew their minds were elsewhere. Father and son were being so solemn; they wondered what it was about.

"Mother, I have to go back to He Village first. Don't worry. On New Year's Eve, you can all come to He Village, and we'll spend it together." Zhao Jin came back in and said with a smile. Seeing the worried look appear on He Cuihua's face, he quickly added an unnecessary explanation.

"Go take care of your business first. The New Year is still days away—why talk about this now!" Zhao Zhentang urged him with a stern face.

Seeing them like this, He Cuihua swallowed the words of caution she had been about to say. Xu Zhenzhen merely stood up quietly and said softly, "Husband, please be careful."

Zhao Jin nodded, turned, and left the room. Just as he stepped out, he nearly bumped into someone—he was in too much of a hurry, otherwise he would have noticed.

"Have you lost your mind? Apologize to the young master at once!" Meng Zhiqi shouted furiously from the side. His younger sister, Meng Ziqi, was holding a box, her small face pale with fright.

"It's fine, it's fine." Zhao Jin patted the girl on the head and strode quickly away.

The moment he stepped outside, the household troops gathered around him. Zhao Jin spoke: "Saddle the horses. Go find Chen Sheng, Ji Xiang, Dong Bingfeng, and Liu Yong. I'll wait for them at the city's west gate. Those who went on the mission, cancel your rest and regroup at the city gate as well. Go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the household troops sprinted off in all directions. Someone brought Zhao Jin his mount, and he mounted up and headed for the city gate.

"The young master's household troops are so impressive!" Meng Zhiqi was peeking through a crack in the door. The efficiency, bearing, and discipline of those household troops filled him with admiration.

Behind him, his sister Meng Ziqi was full of worry. Looking back over her shoulder, she whispered, "Brother, we still haven't finished our chores. The maids the young madam brought are going to look down on us again."

"What's there to be afraid of? We've served the master and madam for so long, we're a rank above them," Meng Zhiqi said dismissively.

Constant training and operations had made Zhao Jin and the people around him more and more efficient. The orders were relayed, and Zhao Jin did not have to wait long at the city gate before all his companions had arrived.

"What's going on?" every one of them asked. The faces of the household troops, who had only just begun their rest, also showed confusion and worry. Everyone had thought they were done and just waiting for the New Year, only to be summoned again in such a rush.

Zhao Jin paused for a moment, then said, "We'll talk once we're back at He Village."

No one asked further questions. They all mounted up and rode out together with Zhao Jin. This display caused the soldiers and idlers at the city gate to speculate endlessly, thinking some major event had occurred.

Less than two hours after Zhao Jin left, just past noon, four riders came from the east, galloping furiously into the city. In this twelfth-month weather, the men were drenched in sweat, and the horses were soaked as well, clearly having run for a long time. When the soldiers at the west gate of the prefectural city saw that the men were not dressed as official couriers, nor were they any known figures from Xuzhou or its surroundings, they immediately moved to stop them.

The man in the lead did not hesitate. He tossed out a small ingot of silver from horseback and shouted, "Urgent business to see His Excellency's friend Wang! Everyone, please do us this favor."

The Prefect Tong Huaizu cut a sorry figure in Xuzhou and no one took him seriously, but Advisor Wang's status had held steady and had even risen thanks to his smooth cooperation with Zhao Jin. The moment that name was invoked, along with the tangible benefit of real silver, everyone immediately made way.

"Master Jin rushed out of the city ahead, and these fellows rush in behind. Could it be about the same thing?"

"Are you daft? These men have Pizhou accents. How could it be the same thing!"

The soldiers guarding the city began chattering among themselves.

No sooner had Zhao Jin left home, before Zhao Zhentang and He Cuihua even had time to feel sentimental, than guests came flooding in. The Meng siblings, Zhao San and his wife, and even the servants Xu Zhenzhen had brought were all run off their feet.

None of these visitors were what you would call good, honest folk. Even the few who held gentry status were often connected to blade-wielding affairs. Beyond them were all manner of friends from the city, every one of them rough and boisterous characters.

Though they looked fierce and terrifying, their attitudes were all exceedingly deferential. To them, Zhao Jin was a lofty dragon head, and even Zhao Zhentang was someone they could not afford to offend. This former executioner who once lopped off heads now carried considerable weight in the city and beyond.

The Zhao couple had not expected so many visitors. They simply said that Zhao Jin had gone to He Village, and everyone tactfully dispersed. But just before dark, Advisor Wang from the prefectural yamen came rushing over in a fluster. He could not be brushed aside, so they invited him in and served tea. Advisor Wang simply said that an old friend wanted to see Zhao Jin, but feared Zhao Jin would refuse, and asked Zhao Zhentang to intercede. With this personal favor weighing on him, and after Zhao Zhentang had clarified the man's background, he thumped his chest and agreed.

Late at night, He Village was under strict guard. When Zhao Jin and his group rode up, the soldiers on duty were very surprised. Even the household troops of the Zhao Battalion had not known that Zhao Jin had been away for several days.

He Village spared no expense on nighttime lighting. Lanterns and bonfires lined the main roads, and one of the night sentries' duties was to patrol regularly and maintain these lights. After Zhao Jin and his men confirmed their identities, they galloped straight in.