Chapter 480: The Transaction (Fourth Update)

Zhao Jin's expression remained unmoved. He simply picked up his tea bowl again. Shi Ping'ao gritted his teeth and, heedless of the water stains still on the floor, dropped straight to his knees. Cupping his hands in supplication, he said, "This lowly one had eyes but failed to see before. Seeing Young Master Zhao's youth, I tried to bluff and deceive, only to bring humiliation upon myself. Truly, I have made a laughingstock before Young Master Zhao."

Hearing these words, a look of surprise flashed across Zhao Jin's face. The keynote for handling this matter had always been negotiation. Letting the Zhao Battalion form a personal feud with a high-ranking court general would bring far too many complications on all fronts. But negotiation was one thing — the initiative had to remain firmly in his own hands. This Shi Ping'ao had tried to flaunt his cleverness and exploit a loophole at the start, so there had been no need to negotiate at all.

Civil and military paths are separate, yet Zhao Jin had dealt with quite a few literati and scholars before. He had thought that once his scheme was exposed and he was rebuked to his face, Shi Ping'ao would be unable to bear the shame and would leave, allowing Zhao Jin's side to demand an even higher price next time. He had never expected Shi Ping'ao's skin to be so thick — showing no intention of leaving at all, he simply confessed his faults in full detail.

"This lowly one kowtows to Young Master Zhao in apology!" Seeing that Zhao Jin still had not reacted, Shi Ping'ao directly knocked his head against the floor.

Zhao Jin set down his tea bowl, shook his head with a smile, and said, "Mister Shi truly can bend and stretch. No wonder you can serve in a general's staff."

"Since I am already serving in a staff, things like face and moral integrity naturally must be discarded." Shi Ping'ao gave a bitter laugh and mocked himself.

This man was like a chameleon. Earlier, he had been threatening with an attitude of contempt; now, he was humble to the extreme, seeking instructions on every matter.

Seeing his demeanor, Zhao Jin only found it amusing. His earlier anger had also dissipated without a trace. He raised his hand and said, "Mister Shi, please rise and speak."

Shi Ping'ao let out a breath of relief. He bowed and stood up, but made no move to sit down again. He only asked cautiously, "Young Master Zhao, my general sent this lowly one precisely to discuss this matter with you. Whatever is to be done, please instruct me, Young Master Zhao."

"For each of these men, General Lu can get five taels of silver in benefits per year, correct?" Zhao Jin asked.

The question caught Shi Ping'ao off guard for a moment. He immediately shook his head and said, "Young Master Zhao jests. At most, it's just a little over two taels."

"It's only with these men that you can eat empty pay slots. Without them, you couldn't even eat those empty slots. Zhao is a military family son, after all — I understand these tricks perfectly well." Zhao Jin spoke leisurely.

Recruitment meant serving as a soldier for food and pay. By regulation, a single soldier was entitled to roughly ten taels of silver and ten dan of grain per year. But from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue down to the local level, after all the deductions and cuts, a soldier was lucky to actually receive two or three taels in a year. The rest was all divided up as graft and profit among everyone.

Although the deductions and distributions went down level by level, by the time it reached the rank of Vice General, the share was not large. Yet in times of peace, the troops in every battalion were never at full strength. With fewer men and horses, the military pay and grain were still issued based on full strength. As for these empty slots, the related officers divided the profits among themselves.

The deductions from military pay alone were one part; the benefits from empty slots were another. Add the two together, and naturally the sum grew larger.

Zhao Jin was a son of the Xuzhou Guard. His second uncle, Zhao Zhenxing, had served in the military for many years, so he was naturally very clear on these tricks.

Shi Ping'ao stood there with nothing but a bitter smile. After Zhao Jin finished speaking, he explained, "Young Master Zhao sees clearly. These empty slots do exist. But, Young Master Zhao, think about it — who doesn't know about this empty slot business? If you want to keep profiting from it, you have to grease palms on every side. The Military Defense Circuit can't be neglected, His Excellency the Grand Coordinator can't be neglected, and the several grandees in Nanjing must also be satisfied. After all this fuss, it's already quite good that my general can keep a little over two taels per man."

The Grand Coordinator and the Military Defense Circuit both had supervisory and command responsibilities. The several grand eunuchs in Nanjing City, along with the ennobled grandees, also had eyes and ears everywhere. These figures, presumably, all wanted their share of the graft.

Zhao Jin nodded. Although this was the first time someone had stated these things plainly, he had heard plenty of vague hints before.

"A soldier doesn't just draw pay for one year, and your general has more than just this one battalion under him. Zhao is not greedy. Bring six thousand taels of white silver, and take your men back." Zhao Jin spoke crisply and decisively.

Shi Ping'ao's eyes shifted. He nodded heavily and said, "As Young Master Zhao commands. Within five days, the ready silver will certainly arrive!"

"Besides the silver, there is one more matter. Your general lives close to the Feng family and, I hear, is a junior to them. Having suffered a loss this time, he might still find it hard to refuse them next time and send more men. Tell your general to stand aside and watch from now on. Taking the soldiers back does not mean Zhao lacks the means to expose this matter. As for the consequences — can Mister Shi imagine them clearly?" Zhao Jin's words carried a hint of threat.

Vice General Zhou was in Xuzhou City and had countless ties to the local Xuzhou community — there was naturally no need to worry about him. But the Langshan Vice General was in Yangzhou Prefecture and had close relations with the Feng family. If he was not made to withdraw completely this time, he would send men over endlessly, or stir up storms in official circles, which would be a huge headache for Zhao Jin.

Shi Ping'ao bent at the waist and bowed. His face was already full of bitter smiles. He nodded and said, "Even if Young Master Zhao had not reminded me, this lowly one would still go back and strongly urge my general to keep his hands out of Xuzhou's affairs from now on. Young Master Zhao truly cannot be provoked. As for the Feng family, this lowly one believes Young Master Zhao can rest easy. Merchants chase profit and cannot bear the sight of blades and bloodshed. This time you've already hurt them badly — how would they dare come again?"

Zhao Jin nodded and extended a hand toward the seat beside him, gesturing, "Mister Shi, don't keep standing while we talk. Please, sit and speak."

Only then did Shi Ping'ao truly relax, knowing that both sides had largely finished their discussion. Approaching the seat, Shi Ping'ao saw that Zhao Jin's tea bowl was empty and hurriedly picked up the teapot to refill it. He had already forgotten what he had been disdainful about earlier.

"When those six thousand taels arrive, Mister Shi may take five hundred. After all, it has been a hard journey from Langshan." Zhao Jin said with a smile.

Shi Ping'ao's backside had barely touched the chair before he immediately stood up again. The expression on his face turned eager, then shifted into an ingratiating smile. He bowed with clasped hands in thanks and said, "Young Master Zhao is truly a man of boundless honor. This student offers his thanks here."

As a chief general's advisor, he naturally took his share of various benefits and customary fees in the military. Yet someone as generous as Zhao Jin was rare. They had only just met, and five hundred taels of silver were already offered. Although these five hundred taels were essentially a gift using someone else's money, when he thought of the benefits the Feng family had given him, and what he could earn in the military, the difference was immediately clear.

"Zhao is not as extravagantly wealthy as the Feng family, but I always treat friends fairly. Mister Shi deals with the Feng family quite a bit. If you have any news to share, Zhao is not a stingy man." Zhao Jin spoke directly and openly.

It was their first meeting, and they had been on opposing sides. Whether they would meet again was hard to say. Zhao Jin did not want to waste effort — he simply smashed down ready silver, letting the other party see tangible benefits. Whoever was willing, the deal was done.