Chapter 484: Please Take a Look, Everyone

Others scoffed at this: "What's the point of those 'lean horses'? They put on a coquettish act but actually understand nothing."

"You may not like them, but plenty of people do. That Inspector Tian has a real taste for them."

The salt merchants joked and chatted without restraint, never imagining that their words would quickly be delivered to Zhao Jin's ears. Whether it was the waitstaff hurrying past or the household servants leading the way, every one of them was an eye and ear.

"Gentlemen, after you've had breakfast, please follow me to the parade ground first," someone said politely.

This left the salt merchants quite puzzled. Why go to a parade ground to discuss business? And besides, what kind of parade ground could a small estate like this possibly have?

The conversation in the guesthouse was quickly reported to Zhao Jin. At that moment, Zhao Jin and his companions were all in the main house, having already finished breakfast.

What was different from usual was that, except for Ruhui who wore a long gown, everyone else was clad in armor, even Wang Zhaojing. Outside, the soldiers were also polishing and organizing their armor and weapons. After Zhao Jin and Xu Zhenzhen's marriage, several dozen skilled blacksmiths from the Xu family had arrived. With these craftsmen present, most of the equipment could be properly repaired. Moreover, the type of armor Zhao Jin had designed had also begun mass production, and there were already over a hundred sets.

"Everyone's been scared witless by the drought. A few days without rain and they start worrying about a major disaster," Liu Yong remarked first.

Wang Zhaojing pondered for a moment before saying, "Brother, it's not just what these salt merchants are saying. News is coming back from everywhere. Shandong will likely suffer a severe drought again this year. If another massive wave of refugees heads south, like last year, it will be huge trouble."

"If they come, they'll just be sending us more people. Last year, when the Zhao Character Battalion had only a few hundred men, we could still rout them. With the strength we have this year, there's even less to worry about. Besides, without the Incense-Smelling Sect's agitation and coordination, the refugees are just a loose sheet of sand—they can't accomplish anything," Zhao Jin analyzed.

Everyone agreed with Zhao Jin's assessment. Refugees were a loose sheet of sand, and tormented by hunger. Without someone to organize and instigate them, they could accomplish nothing. That time, without the Incense-Smelling Sect's help, most of them would have scattered within Shandong's borders, not even knowing to head south. Without the food provided along the way, they would have starved and collapsed mid-journey. Without the large fleet of boats on the Yellow River's northern bank, they could never have reached the southern shore.

The Incense-Smelling Sect had done so much back then, yet refugees were still refugees in the end, utterly fragile before the Zhao Character Battalion. Now, the Zhao Character Battalion's strength had multiplied several times over, but the Incense-Smelling Sect might not be able to muster a refugee force several times larger than last year's. As one side waned and the other waxed, there was naturally no need for worry.

"It's still the same old saying: we must not slack off. Follow the regulations in everything, and do not relax for a single moment. Then the refugees won't be worth worrying about!" Zhao Jin repeated the platitude.

Household servants kept coming in from outside to report on the preparations of the various Zhao Character Battalion units. Liu Yong also walked in from outside and said with a wry smile, "It's one thing for these salt merchants to bring their servants and attendants, but these stewards and managers are servants themselves, and they still brought so many people to wait on them. They're all guests, so we can't just use our household troops to watch them directly. The Internal Guard is nearly overwhelmed. Good thing they're leaving tomorrow."

Just as they were talking, Ji Xiang suddenly interjected with utter contempt, "These salt merchants are so rich and noble, yet they do no proper work at all. The whole time they've been here, all they talk about day in and day out is eating, drinking, and pleasure. They barely exchange a few sentences about business. I really don't know how they make their silver."

Wang Zhaojing shook his head with a smile and said, "The salt merchants who came to He Village are actually considered diligent and thrifty by their standards. These salt merchants live off the fortunes and connections built by their ancestors. They just sit at home and huge sums of silver flow into their accounts. Why toil when they can just enjoy themselves every day?"

Hearing this, Ji Xiang said resentfully, "Big Brother led us through life-and-death battles just to live the good life we have now, yet these people are this rich and noble simply because they were born lucky."

Wang Zhaojing smiled but did not respond. Zhao Jin shot a glance at Ji Xiang, and Ji Xiang immediately fell silent.

As the Zhao Character Battalion's enterprise grew larger, everyone's temperaments had undergone some changes. The others could still keep their composure, but Ji Xiang was increasingly yearning for wealth, luxury, and splendor. However, He Village was essentially a large military camp at present, offering virtually no pleasures. In recent days, with the salt merchants visiting and constantly discussing matters of romance, elegance, and opulent living, Ji Xiang's desires had been stirred up.

Those resentful words just now were less about contempt and more about envy and jealousy. Perhaps he should arrange a marriage for Ji Xiang to steady his temperament. The thought flashed through Zhao Jin's mind.

By the time the sun rose, everything on the Zhao Character Battalion's side was fully prepared. Someone was sent to escort the salt merchants and managers out from the guesthouse. As for their attendants, they were confined to the wagon inn.

A little over a hundred paces from the wagon inn was the open field where the Zhao Character Battalion trained. Much of the farmland there had already been converted into a training ground. Crushed stone and fine sand were mixed with ash and cinders. Open and covered drainage ditches lined the perimeter. It was leveled regularly, and heavy stone rollers dragged by large draft animals were periodically pulled across it, making the surface exceptionally even.

When this parade ground was first built, the neighboring villagers and the merchants who came to do business privately gossiped a great deal. They all said that young Zhao Jin was squandering his family fortune, leveling such good farmland and investing so heavily in it. Now, the open ground couldn't even grow a blade of grass, and it would probably never be usable as farmland again.

However, its benefits for training were unknown to outsiders, and the Zhao Character Battalion naturally had no intention of explaining them to anyone.

Zhao Jin and his companions were already standing on the wooden platform. Ruhui, dressed in a long gown, stood below with a smile, greeting the guests and inviting each salt merchant and manager up onto the platform.

"What's all this about? Are we going to talk business in this drafty place?" someone made an ill-timed joke, but no one bothered to acknowledge it.

Under the morning sun's rays, the armor of Zhao Jin and the others gleamed with light, as if each person was glowing. Bathed in a golden radiance, tall and mighty, they exuded an intimidating, awe-inspiring presence just by standing there.

Having tempered their bodies daily, experienced life-and-death combat, and trained and led troops every day, their every gesture and movement carried a fierce, commanding aura. This bearing was often mistaken for killing intent.

Those salt merchants and managers had all spent many years in wealth and comfort. Earning money and making fortunes came easier to them than to ordinary people; they hadn't even endured much hardship. They had never witnessed anything like this. One by one, as they stepped onto the wooden platform, they dared not make eye contact at all. Their gazes darted about shiftily, aiming everywhere else.

As their eyes wandered elsewhere, they saw the far end of the empty field below. Small square formations stood in neat array, spears and banners like a forest. Even the cavalry unit off to the side was similarly orderly. At first glance, it seemed fresh and pleasing to the eye, but after a few more looks, it felt as if something was pricking their eyes. A chill rose from the depths of their hearts. Though they were dressed warmly and the sun was bright, though they had felt quite hot just moments before, they suddenly felt a cold shiver run through their bodies.

"Did everyone rest well yesterday?" Wang Zhaojing asked gently.

This ordinary question made all the ill-at-ease Yangzhou salt merchants jolt. They quickly bowed and forced smiles as they replied, "The hospitality was excellent..." "We actually slept more comfortably than at home..." Any complaints vanished without a trace, and their attitudes became much more humble than usual.

Wang Zhaojing said with a smile, "Today happens to be the Zhao Character Battalion's inspection. We thought it a perfect opportunity to invite you all to observe. It's just rural militia training; please don't laugh at us."

He offered this pretense of politeness, and they responded with obsequious assent. Wang Zhaojing turned around and took his place standing behind Zhao Jin, to his right.

"It's probably nothing more than some 'Single-file Snake Formation' or the like, and then some martial arts demonstrations. Haven't we seen enough of that?" someone muttered, but was immediately jabbed hard by the person next to him and shut his mouth at once.

Government troops also held regular military inspections, and many people who enjoyed novelty and excitement would go to watch. Once or twice was fine, but after seeing too many, they grew tired of it. These salt merchants were wealthy men of leisure who had long ago had their fill of such spectacles; there was no novelty left for them. In their hearts, they believed this Zhao Character Battalion was nothing more than local militia from the rural backwater of Xuzhou. Compared to others, it merely relied on brute courage. The inspection was sure to be a chaotic mess—what could possibly be good to see?

They thought this, but naturally would not voice it aloud. Everyone was still pondering how to offer praise afterward; saying nice things was, after all, never wrong.

Zhao Jin raised his arm and swung it down. Someone blew a suona, its sound short and shrill.

The sound initially made the Yangzhou salt merchants jump. When they saw it was a suona, they were first taken aback, then each struggled to suppress laughter. They thought to themselves that this truly was a rustic show—even using the suona, an instrument reserved for weddings and funerals. They wondered how hilarious it would get next; it was bound to be a monkey show.

By now, everyone was actually looking forward to it. What followed would surely be a laughably provincial performance, perfect fodder for after-dinner conversation once they returned to Yangzhou.

Drums sounded. The noise wasn't loud, unlike government troop inspections where a dozen or even dozens of large drums would beat simultaneously as soldiers charged forward shouting, arranging themselves in all sorts of pleasing formations and patterns. But the drumming here sounded from a distance, its rhythm very monotonous, barely audible unless one listened carefully.

Some wanted to laugh, their faces full of anticipation for a good show. Others were curious, wondering where exactly the drumming was coming from.

The formations standing solemnly at the other end of the parade ground began to move. They advanced around the square perimeter of the field toward the wooden platform. At the very front, one man held a large banner, guarded by an armored giant behind him. Further back were squads of a hundred men each, spaced twenty paces apart, following in sequence.

There were none of the anticipated fancy formations. The drumming remained monotonous, producing no thunderous, blood-boiling effect. Some curled their lips, thinking it was indeed boring. Others had already stopped smiling.

On the wooden platform, the armored Zhao Jin and his companions all faced forward with solemn expressions. The Yangzhou salt merchants thought they were making a fuss over nothing—so young, yet putting on such a grown-up, self-important air.

The Zhao character banner, black with a red border, was now approaching the wooden platform. The flag-bearer was tall and burly, but the guard behind him was even taller and stouter. Both men wore the type of armor Zhao Jin had designed, which made them look even more extraordinarily imposing.

The flag-bearer was, of course, Lu Da. Seeing the man behind Lu Da, smiles appeared on the faces of Zhao Jin and the others. That man was none other than Sun Dalei's younger brother, Sun Dalin. Over the past few months, the flesh on Sun Dalin's body had become much firmer, and the results of his training were evident in his every move. He was tall, mighty, and fierce-looking—perfectly suited to serve as a guard.

As they passed in front of the wooden platform, Lu Da shook the great banner in his hands, unfurling it fully.

"... I thought he was going to spin that flagpole. I was wondering how he'd manage with one so long..." By now, everyone was less nervous. Someone cracked a joke, and they all exchanged smirks and winks. This backwater really was only capable of this much, after all.