Chapter 441: A Visitor from Pizhou

"If they come again, we'll kill them again. As long as we do it discreetly, no one will suspect us. As long as it remains an unsolved case, they'll have no grounds to act," Wang Zhaojing said.

Dong Bingfeng, rarely so stubborn, stared at Wang Zhaojing and said, "Third Brother, since when does the imperial court care about rules? Who would bother with evidence against us? If they really want to arrest someone, they'll just send men down and do it. We're not afraid of a few constables, but what if they mobilize the regular army?"

Chen Sheng's eyes turned cold and grim as he turned to look at Dong Bingfeng. Wang Zhaojing, however, smiled at that moment, waved his hand, and said, "If they wanted to arrest us, they would have done it long ago. Why go to all this trouble? Bingfeng, you're right. The reason they're going to such lengths to send people undercover is precisely because they can't act openly."

Zhao Jin immediately grasped the answer, though the others still looked puzzled. Wang Zhaojing smiled and explained it himself: "Because of my family, because of my father. Do you all think those constables really arrest people without any regard for the consequences? If they grab someone they can't afford to offend, the moment they make the arrest, they themselves will be thrown into prison right after. Losing their position would be the least of it. Most of the people they arrest are from official circles, so they naturally have to understand the ins and outs of this world. Before handling a case, they thoroughly investigate which families have members serving as officials. The more prominent the family, the more thorough the investigation."

Wang Zhaojing cupped his hands in salute and said, "Brothers, I'm not saying this to show off. My father has already returned to the capital to serve as an official. His reinstatement into the Censorate is all but certain; it's just a matter of which position he holds now and which one he'll hold later. Everyone has to be extremely cautious around an incorruptible capital official like him. As long as my father remains in his post in the capital, those constables won't dare act openly. As long as nothing is brought into the open, we'll have ways to deal with it."

This time everyone understood and nodded. The worst-case scenario for Wang Youshan's return to the capital was being reappointed as a censor in the Censorate. But he was not like an ordinary young censor. First, he had extensive connections and accumulated favors; officials of his faction naturally supported each other. Moreover, Wang Youshan had voluntarily resigned from office and retired several years ago, vacating his position—that was a huge favor. Returning to officialdom as a model example, he was certain to receive strong backing; otherwise, it would chill the hearts of those who might follow his example. Furthermore, Wang Youshan had ties with the palace eunuchs. Although the eunuch he was closest to had passed away, the eunuch agencies were just like the official world, dense with networks of patrons and protégés, so he would still receive some care.

With support from his faction outside and goodwill from the eunuchs within, even the Embroidered Uniform Guard dared not act rashly. If they truly provoked someone and pressure came down from all sides, they'd be in deep trouble with no way out. Heaven only knew which underling would be thrown out as a scapegoat. So they had to be extremely cautious in their actions.

If they couldn't act openly and had to operate in the shadows, then the Zhao Camp had nothing to fear. The bloodbath at the He Estate, the assault on Cloud Mountain Temple, the surprise raid on the Kong Estate, and this recent long-distance run between Huai'an Prefecture and Xuzhou—all of it was done in secret. Outside the city, corpses could pile up into mountains and blood could flow like rivers, but as long as no one reported it to the authorities, it was as if nothing had ever happened.

"Please rest assured, brothers. I have already written a letter and sent it by fast horse to the capital. My father will also help. With our combined efforts from inside and out, there's no need to worry about the Embroidered Uniform Guard constables. As long as we don't slip up ourselves, nothing will go wrong," Wang Zhaojing said solemnly.

The room fell silent. The worried look on Dong Bingfeng's face faded as he sat there pondering in silence. Everyone was lost in thought. Suddenly, laughter broke the quiet—it was Chen Sheng laughing, pointing at Zhao Jin as he laughed and said, "He's gone and said everything you were going to say."

Normally, such words would have come from Zhao Jin. Everyone caught on and joined in the laughter, and the atmosphere in the room grew much more relaxed.

Zhao Jin breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Some things could be done but not spoken of. For now, they could only maintain this ambiguous, neither-fish-nor-fowl state. This silencing of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would make everyone think one layer deeper. Though each had their own thoughts, in the end, their resolve was settled.

"I rushed back precisely to let everyone know about this matter. Now that it's been laid out clearly and we've thought it through, I want to ask you brothers: what do you plan to do?" Zhao Jin said in a clear voice.

Though they were all young, each had their own thoughts and positions. Zhao Jin didn't want to pressure or lead them; doing so would make it impossible for them to share life and death together.

When Zhao Jin asked this question, the room did not remain silent for long. Chen Sheng stood up and said nonchalantly, "Is there really any difference? We'll carry on just as before!"

Wang Zhaojing, Liu Yong, and Lei Cai all nodded in agreement. Ji Xiang said with a grin, "I'm still following Big Brother. Whatever Big Brother says, that's what we'll do!"

Shi Manqiang nodded sullenly and muttered, "Next time, don't keep me in the dark. It doesn't sit right with me."

"My worry was also for all you brothers and the Zhao Camp. From now on, naturally, I'll still follow Big Brother!" Dong Bingfeng stood up and said solemnly.

A smile spread across Zhao Jin's face. He clapped his hands together and said, "Then let's get some early sleep. We'll discuss everything tomorrow."

Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Some couldn't help but yawn. They had truly been traveling nonstop for days; now that they were back on their own turf, it was time to rest.

The group filed out one by one. Wang Zhaojing and Lei Cai stayed behind. Zhao Jin said with a smile, "Leizi, you've improved tremendously. From now on, I'll be giving you even more responsibilities. Don't complain about the workload!"

"Rest assured, Big Brother." Lei Cai understood the meaning behind Zhao Jin's words. His face flushed bright red with excitement as he spoke fervently.

Zhao Jin nodded with a smile and added, "You stayed behind to hold the fort, but I'm not letting you rest yet. Go find Xiaoyong and redeploy the hidden sentries everywhere. Pay special attention to the intersections."

Lei Cai hastily agreed, leaving only Wang Zhaojing behind. Once the door closed, Zhao Jin asked curiously, "Were you willing? How did you come to terms with all these implications?"

Killing an official was different from killing an ordinary person. This could potentially implicate Wang Zhaojing's entire career and future prospects. For him personally, weighing what he gained from the Zhao Camp against what a Provincial Graduate—especially one with a strong chance of becoming a Presented Scholar—could achieve on the Great Ming's official career path, the scales were easy to read. Everyone could have guessed Wang Zhaojing's choice in the past, but what he did this time surprised Zhao Jin.

Though the words weren't spelled out explicitly, Wang Zhaojing naturally understood what "willing" and "coming to terms with the implications" meant. He simply answered with a wry smile, "It's not that I didn't weigh things at all. It's just—after we'd already silenced them, what was the point of dwelling on it?"

Zhao Jin froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter. Wang Zhaojing started with a bitter smile, but soon joined in the laughter. When the laughter subsided, Zhao Jin pointed at Wang Zhaojing and shook his head, and they both laughed again, their expressions utterly carefree.

"From now on, there will be no shortage of occasions to rely on Uncle Wang. Write to your father and explain. We have funds and manpower here. Whatever you need us to do, don't hesitate to ask. Now, we share glory and share ruin alike!" As the laughter died down, Zhao Jin said with solemn gravity.

Wang Zhaojing agreed with the utmost seriousness. In the past, saying such a thing might have carried a hint of polite formality, might have relied on mutual calculation and weighing of interests, on connections and favors. But now, they truly were a single community. Two lives of Embroidered Uniform Guard constables had bound them all tightly together.

"Big Brother, you've been weary for so long. Rest early. We'll discuss more tomorrow." Wang Zhaojing smiled, cupped his hands, and took his leave.

Just as Wang Zhaojing was about to step out the door, Zhao Jin suddenly said from behind him, "I suddenly feel that killing those constables this time wasn't such a bad thing after all."

"Big Brother, it would have been the same even without this incident. I came to terms with it long ago." Wang Zhaojing turned around and said with a slight smile.

By all rights, killing two Embroidered Uniform Guard constables was a grave matter. When they first heard of it, they were quite shaken. Yet that night, they slept very soundly, a dreamless sleep.

Zhao Jin did not wake on his own in the morning; he was roused by the drums and horns sounding reveille. It was already a full half-shichen later than his usual early rising time—the exhaustion from the journey was unavoidable.

"Master, there's a visitor outside asking to see you. He says he's from the Cheng family of Pizhou." Just as he finished dressing, he heard someone announcing from outside.

The Cheng family of Pizhou? Zhao Jin reacted immediately. Wasn't this one of the parties that had besieged him at **** Town? Except this family, upon hearing his name, had immediately withdrawn their men and left. What were they doing here now?

Before Zhao Jin could decide, the voice outside added, "Magistrate Wang from the Department Magistrate's office has accompanied him here."

Magistrate Wang's face had to be given some consideration. After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Jin asked the guests to be received at the caravanserai; it was more convenient for hosting visitors there.

He dressed neatly and went out, also calling his already-awake companions to come along. Looking at the sky, Zhao Jin was somewhat puzzled. The city gates wouldn't be open yet at this hour—had Magistrate Wang traveled through the entire night?

They met in a private room at the caravanserai. Magistrate Wang indeed looked as if he hadn't slept all night, his face utterly haggard and his eyes completely bloodshot. The moment they met, he said with a bitter smile, "Young Master Zhao, the Cheng family and I are maternal cousins. This Cheng Qiangqi, strictly speaking, is my younger cousin. He's a single-minded sort—whatever others tell him, he believes. That day, he was deceived by others and foolishly brought his men over. However, this Cheng Qiangqi had heard of Young Master Zhao's reputation before, and fortunately, he pulled back in time. I beg Young Master Zhao to be magnanimous and forgive him this once. From now on, he will heed only Young Master Zhao's commands."

As soon as he entered, Magistrate Wang had been chattering nonstop. A burly, powerfully built man knelt to one side, utterly crestfallen and covered in dust, not daring to utter a word. When Magistrate Wang finished, the big man began kowtowing repeatedly with loud thuds, saying only, "Please spare my life, Master Jin."

"Since it's for Mr. Wang's sake, and this Brother Cheng withdrew his men in time, we'll let this matter rest," Zhao Jin replied crisply and decisively.

Hearing this, Magistrate Wang breathed a sigh of relief, though the bitter smile remained on his face. He cupped his hands in salute and said, "Many thanks for Young Master Zhao's mercy. Allow me to go get some sleep. Yesterday afternoon, Cheng Qiangqi arrived in the city and insisted, come hell or high water, that I rush over to beg Young Master Zhao. I traveled the whole night and truly can't hold out any longer."

"Young Master Zhao has been magnanimous and forgiven you. Don't think this is the end of it. Stay here and await Young Master Zhao's orders. See if you can make up for your earlier mistake." Before leaving, Magistrate Wang spoke these blunt words without sparing any feelings.

Truly a shrewd character from the yamen—he grasped all the nuances with perfect clarity and knew exactly what to say. A smile appeared on Zhao Jin's face. Working with clever people really did save effort.

Cheng Qiangqi was a rough and rugged fellow, clearly no slouch in martial arts, his face full of fear and anxiety. He was a local strongman from Pizhou, and because of his kinship with Magistrate Wang, he understood all too well just how terrifying Zhao Jin was.