Chapter 452: Official Versus Official

Regarding the cases everywhere, the entire Pizhou Magistrate's yamen, from top to bottom, had turtled up. A clash and slaughter on this scale was simply beyond their ability to control. The case-handling Chief Clerk, the clerks of the Penal Section, the constables and runners — every one of them stayed silent. They were far too experienced for this; they knew it was best to stand aside and watch when such a major incident occurred. If they rashly reached out a hand, the fire might very well burn their own bodies.

Word of the matter filtered up layer by layer until it reached the magistrate himself. By unspoken consensus, everyone suppressed the reports filed from the various locations. In truth, no one cared at all that the mounted bandits had been wiped out, and many of the murders on the streets were quietly closed without a sound.

These matters would certainly not end peacefully. The Yangzhou Feng Clan was bound to make a move, but since the Feng Clan had not yet acted, everyone was in no hurry to get involved.

On the twenty-third day of the first month, over a dozen columns entered Pizhou from Xuzhou. These columns numbered at least a hundred men each, at most two hundred. Each column appeared to be operating independently, but in reality, they kept a short distance from one another. Every column had large carts loaded full of goods. Flagpoles were planted on the carts, and from each pole hung a square banner, black and red, with a bold "Zhao" character in the center.

Many people with well-informed sources already knew the meaning of this banner, because quite a few shops inside Pizhou city had already hung up this same small flag — the recognition banner of the Zhao Character Camp!

However, everyone found the members of these columns rather strange. Although their clothes were fairly uniform and their complexions were decent, something still felt off about them. They all looked like refugees of some sort. Why was the Zhao Character Camp sending so many refugees into Pizhou? And wasn't Zhao Jin irreconcilably opposed to refugees? Hadn't he already slaughtered them all clean?

There were also some sturdy, able-bodied men in the columns, carrying all sorts of weapons. One look told you they were no law-abiding commoners. Apart from these, over a hundred riders galloped between the columns, seemingly acting as escorts and guides.

Columns like these looked exceedingly bizarre, yet whenever anyone inquired, every single column replied that they were going to Yutou Town in Pizhou to do business. Their travel permits and documents were all in order, and each one claimed they were traveling on their own, that those ahead and behind had nothing to do with them.

In fact, not many people asked many questions. Even the government troops garrisoned in Pizhou let them pass the whole way. What business was it of anyone else to say more?

These columns thus arrived at Yutou Town. There in Yutou Town, even more large carts had long been prepared, the carts loaded with grain and other supplies.

After rendezvousing with the supplies, the dozen-plus columns merged into a large contingent once they left the boundaries of Yutou Town. They then skirted around Luoma Lake and entered the reed marsh region. The guides Zhao Jin had used the previous time had work again now. They led the large contingent over twenty li into the reed marsh, advancing along the Shu River, and halted at a point between Shuyang and Luoma Lake, where they began setting up camp and making preparations.

Strictly speaking, this location could not be considered a barren shoal. There were households living near both Luoma Lake and Shuyang, as well as the manors of local gentry and strongmen. But in terms of legal principle, this place was meant to be left fallow, the reeds kept for the salt works to boil salt. Thus, it was unclaimed land.

Two thousand selected able-bodied refugees, among them five hundred young and sturdy refugee couples. Beyond these two thousand, there were also three hundred and fifty men from the various forces of Xuzhou. If they wanted to follow Zhao Jin into Huai'an Prefecture to do business and make a fortune, they would have to garrison here for two months every year.

Moreover, these men had another task: to gather up those who risked smuggling salt through the wild reed marshes, and have them use this stockade as a base and transfer point.

The Sun Family Trading House of Yutou Town made its stance completely clear. They erected a flagpole in front of their shop entrance. What hung from it was not the character "Sun," but the recognition banner of the Zhao Character Camp.

The most elite batch of personnel from every force the Zhao Character Camp could mobilize was transferred here to protect the Sun Family Trading House. Large market towns like Yutou Town and Qingjiangpu were self-contained systems. Both the Feng Clan and Zhao Jin's side had their reservations and dared not act with reckless, unbridled violence. But they still had to guard against underhanded schemes.

Comparatively speaking, there were far fewer complications within Pizhou City and Suining County seat. Several shops connected to the Feng Clan were directly bought out by others. The prices were fairly reasonable — twenty percent below market rate. If they were unwilling to sell, someone would set a fire in the middle of the night.

Over the course of the first month — actually, from the sixteenth to the end of the month — the Feng Clan lost a quarter of Huai'an Prefecture, and the overland salt-smuggling route passing through Xuzhou was completely severed.

The news of the heavy casualties suffered by the various forces in Pizhou had not been concealed from the very start. The Feng Clan received word very quickly as well. However, the deaths and injuries of these jianghu figures did not even register in the Feng Clan's eyes; they could not even be bothered to report it. As for the salt-transport convoy that had gone to Xuzhou, no word at all had come back from them, and everyone still assumed they were proceeding west smoothly.

It was only when those shops were forcibly bought that the Feng Clan finally sensed something was wrong. Messages began racing toward Yangzhou at top speed. But they had no idea what Zhao Jin had done. The news that several thousand men had begun putting down roots in the reed marsh was still unknown to anyone.

"Wretched scoundrels! Lawless, insolent madmen, daring to strike against the Feng Clan." Inside the inner residence of the Feng Clan manor, Feng Shaoxian's face was ashen. He paced back and forth in the room, cursing as he went.

Everyone in the Feng household understood clearly: when discussing confidential, critical matters, only the Old Master, the Master, and Steward Elder Feng were permitted in this room. No one else could enter without being summoned.

"Master, this Zhao Jin is a calamity. It seems we must move against him ahead of schedule!" Feng Da, standing to the side, said with a taut face.

This time, Old Master Feng Jinfa showed not the slightest trace of senility. His face also bore anger as he said in a deep voice, "We underestimated this barbarian's arrogance. He truly is a great menace. Then we need not hold back any longer. Use every means, both official and private."

The Feng clansmen were filled with righteous indignation. When the Feng Clan struck first against others, that was only right and proper. But when others struck against the Feng Clan, that was breaking the rules.

"Your son will first go make arrangements with Li Dajin and the others, then send a letter of invitation to the Grand Coordinator's office. It's nothing more than throwing silver around. I'm not afraid we can't make him look bad." Feng Shaoxian halted his steps and agreed viciously.

Feng Jinfa nodded and said in a sinister tone, "Don't stop those other arrangements either. Attack from multiple angles at once. Our Feng Clan hasn't acted in a long time. This time, we must put on a show for everyone else to see."

Before Feng Shaoxian could agree, a voice came announcing from outside: "Old Master, Master, Mister Li has an urgent matter and requests an audience."

This Mister Li was the Feng Clan's private adviser. Originally a personal secretary to the Yangzhou Prefect, he had been invited to the Feng Clan long ago because of his shrewdness and competence.

"Let Mister Li in. Since it's an urgent matter, we should all hear it," Feng Jinfa said.

Not long after, a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar entered the room. After entering, he bowed in greeting. Everyone in the Feng household noticed that this Mister Li's brow was tightly furrowed.

"Old Master, Master, someone from the Grand Coordinator's office has sent an urgent message."

A power like the Feng Clan naturally had to cultivate extensive connections within every level of government and plant its own eyes and ears. Hearing that an urgent message had come from the Grand Coordinator's office, and thinking it was related to their own family — an urgent message from the Fengyang Grand Coordinator concerning their family was not something one dared treat lightly.

"... A letter has come from the capital. Wang Youshan, who hails from Xuzhou, has been restored to his original post and re-entered the Censorate as a Censor..."

"What kind of urgent matter is this..." Feng Shaoxian muttered, then suddenly caught on. Zhao Jin of Xuzhou's official backing was precisely this Wang Youshan. Wang Youshan's restoration to office naturally meant Zhao Jin's power had surged dramatically.

Once he grasped this, Feng Shaoxian said viciously, "What can a capital Censor do? How many big shots does our family know? There's no need to pay him any mind."

Mister Li coughed once, then continued, "It is said that in three years, Wang Youshan has prospects for the position of Court of Judicial Review Vice Minister."

The Feng Clan had plenty of dealings with officialdom, but they were not very clear on such nuances. Mister Li hurriedly explained.

Censors of the Censorate belonged to the "pure stream" of officials. There were fixed paths for where they would be promoted next. Surveillance Vice Commissioner or Surveillance Assistant Commissioner — usually, that meant going to the provinces as a Circuit Intendant. A Lesser Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments was a sinecure for retirement; a Lesser Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud came with plenty of silver. But to reach the position of Court of Judicial Review Vice Minister — that meant a future without limits.

The Court of Judicial Review oversaw all criminal matters under Heaven. However, the Ministry of Justice and local government offices held considerable divided authority, so the Court of Judicial Review did not have an overwhelming amount of business. Many of its positions were ones of pure prestige.

This Court of Judicial Review Vice Minister was a transitional post. Yet those familiar with officialdom understood the inner workings. If someone of Hanlin Academy origin sat in it, the matter of entering the Grand Secretariat was five-tenths settled. If a Censor who was not of Hanlin or presented scholar origin sat in it, then a future as a Vice Minister, Minister, or Deputy Censor-in-Chief was guaranteed. At worst, they would be sent out as a Grand Coordinator.

Although not every person in this position could reach the high ranks of Grand Secretary, Minister, Vice Minister, the various grades of Censor-in-Chief, or Grand Coordinator, their likelihood of doing so was far greater than others.

In officialdom, this kind of likelihood was more than enough to make people declare their stance. Moreover, for a recalled capital Censor to have prospects for such a prestigious and prominent post in just three years, there had to be a major power backing him, and his faction's influence was certainly not small.

Faced with such a man of limitless prospects — a presented scholar and capital official in his forties — anyone would have to show goodwill. What was more, this man was a native of Xuzhou, intimately familiar with all parts of Jiangbei and Huaibei. If one offended him and he submitted an impeachment memorial in the capital, the consequences would truly be more than one could bear.

"Old Master, Master, given this, the Grand Coordinator's side likely cannot lend us any strength. What's more, the Grand Coordinator will probably send word to all quarters, telling them to treat Xuzhou with caution," Mister Li voiced his analysis.

"Father, what about those big shots close to our family!" Hearing all this, Feng Shaoxian grew somewhat frantic.

"Master, that would not be appropriate. For Wang Youshan to return to the capital at the time of the capital evaluation and be swiftly recalled and appointed shows that his faction has already gained power. The favor Wang Youshan earned by resigning from office a few years ago is now time to reap the benefits. If we truly stir up trouble, whether we succeed is uncertain, and we might even implicate those esteemed gentlemen. Master, you must be careful!" Mister Li hastily warned.

Feng Shaoxian's expression grew increasingly dark. He had just sat down but stood up again. Before he could speak, Feng Jinfa's deep voice rang out: "Mister Li, we cannot do anything to Xuzhou using official means, but by the same token, Xuzhou has no way to bully us either, correct?"

"Correct. Everyone has a tacit understanding. If they truly tried to press down on us, they would be breaking the rules," Mister Li nodded.

Feng Jinfa let out an "Oh," and seemed to relax just like that. He leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes, looking as if he had fallen asleep. Steward Feng Da, who had followed him for a long time, understood his master's intent and hurriedly waved for Mister Li to withdraw.