Chapter 491: The Pledge of Allegiance

491. Chapter 491: The Pledge of Allegiance

"Have you both brought your families with you this time?"

"I have no family!" Li He answered aloud.

Zhao Jin nodded and asked again, "Words alone are no proof. How do you prove yourselves? Who's to say you aren't spies sent by the Feng family?"

A bitter smile appeared on Li Dajin's face. Li He was about to defend himself but was bumped by Li Dajin, who then spoke: "Master Jin and the Feng family are now irreconcilable enemies. But the Feng family has operated for so many years — they can't be killed off in one stroke. They suffered a great loss at Grass Den, but their foundation in Yangzhou remains untouched. Their colossal estate is still there. In this world, as long as you have silver, there's nothing you can't accomplish. As long as the Feng family's foundation remains, they will always be a major thorn in Master Jin's side!"

This was largely in line with Zhao Jin's own analysis. Zhao Jin said nothing, and Li Dajin continued, "I know all of the Feng family's arrangements in the Wild Grass Flats and am willing to point them out to Master Jin."

Seeing Zhao Jin nod, Li Dajin's expression calmed somewhat, and he went on: "The biggest pole of the Grass Den bandits, Grass-Turning Snake, doesn't actually have his stronghold in the grass flats. He's garrisoned right inside the Feng family's own salt fields, all disguised as salt-making households. This Grass-Turning Snake can field over six hundred riders at most. Add in the scoundrels and desperadoes in the salt fields, and he can still scrape together a thousand or so men. That's a serious threat to Master Jin!"

That day in Grass Den, when Zhao Jin led his men in a surprise attack on Li Dajin's mounted troop, Li Dajin had assumed Zhao Jin's side was government forces, so he had called out the names of various military officers from Jiangbei, and then mentioned "Grass-Turning Snake."

Afterward, Zhao Jin led his men in shaking off pursuit and returning to Xuzhou, then launched a massive campaign of retaliation and purging against the outlaw fraternity in the northern part of Huai'an Prefecture. But the Grass-Turning Snake gang had not taken part in the pursuit, so naturally they escaped retaliation.

When the Zhao Character Camp established the refugee stronghold in the Wild Grass Flats, they naturally treated this "Grass-Turning Snake" gang as a key point of vigilance. According to the intelligence Zhao Jin had received, Grass-Turning Snake was also a large pole with over three hundred riders, capable of mobilizing over seven hundred men at full strength. He was vaguely the current dragon head of the Grass Den bandits, and also a subordinate of the Feng family — naturally, he warranted special attention.

Unexpectedly, from the establishment of the stronghold all the way to the Feng family's large-scale assault, this "Grass-Turning Snake" gang was never seen.

"Over six hundred riders, you say?" This number made everyone in the room furrow their brows.

But soon, many realized something was off. Zhao Jin voiced the question: "A force this large — why wasn't it used in the attack on the refugee stronghold? Don't tell me your Feng family doesn't understand the need to commit full strength?"

When attacking the new refugee stronghold, the Feng family had even called in government troops. There was no reason they wouldn't use this pole as well.

At this, Li Dajin, still kneeling there, showed a bitter smile and said with some helplessness, "I said the same thing that day: either don't move, or strike like a tiger pouncing on a goat — bring overwhelming force for a single fatal blow. Never mind that Master Jin's side isn't a goat but a tiger, the several men in charge at the Feng family wouldn't listen. They said that since they'd mobilized government troops, there was no way they couldn't take it. They just let this Grass-Turning Snake gang go plunder and harass the private salt fields and salt convoys of others. By now, the Feng family only has this one usable force left. I reckon they don't dare move it — they want Grass-Turning Snake to guard the salt fields and estates. And besides, Grass-Turning Snake might not dare come up against Master Jin at all. Given the Feng family's current situation, they can't really order him around anymore."

Zhao Jin nodded slowly. At his side, Chen Sheng cut in, "Even with those extra six hundred riders, you still couldn't have taken that stronghold!"

The bitter smile on Li Dajin's face deepened. He nodded and said, "This lord speaks true. That stronghold was brilliantly laid out. To attack it, you'd have to dismount and assault on foot. Once Master Jin brought his main force over, even adding Grass-Turning Snake's rabble, the outcome wouldn't have changed."

Only then did Chen Sheng fall silent. Everyone could figure out his intent — to keep this Li Dajin from overplaying the "Grass-Turning Snake" bargaining chip.

Li Dajin, his upper body still bound, shifted slightly and spoke again: "The Feng family regularly purges these Wild Grass Flats. Not many refugee strongholds remain — even the pole strongholds can't hold out. The ones left are all the Feng family's running dogs. They're a scattered mess, a disorderly rabble. But if someone with intent were to rally them together, that would also be trouble for Master Jin's side. If I'm not mistaken, Master Jin surely intends to take control of these wild grasslands in Huai'an Prefecture."

"And what you can do is help sweep the Wild Grass Flats clean?" Zhao Jin asked coolly.

"I can do that. Beyond that, several salt routes were also blazed by me back in the day — I can strangle those as well!" Li Dajin said with grave earnestness.

"That's far from enough. You've surely seen what the Zhao Character Camp is like. Even without you, we can still scour the northern part of Huai'an Prefecture clean. Do you think this Grass-Turning Snake can turn the tables against my Zhao Character Camp?" Zhao Jin said with a smile.

A trace of anxiety showed on Li He's face. Li Dajin's expression shifted through several changes, and finally he sighed and said, "The Feng family's foundation rests on salt. Knocking out a few of their private salt fields is like carving a chunk of flesh from their body. Beyond that, what the Feng family has in various parts of Huai'an Prefecture is nothing more than some shops and storefronts. Destroying them would be useless and would alert the authorities, inviting unnecessary trouble. That is all I can do."

Several people in the room were watching Zhao Jin's reaction. Zhao Jin smiled and said, "After all this talk, you still haven't mentioned the Feng family in Yangzhou city!"

His voice carried a note of amusement and teasing, but to Li Dajin's ears, it made him shiver. Hastily and earnestly, he said, "Master Jin, although the Feng family father and son live outside Yangzhou city, that place is no different from inside the city. They have nearly a hundred household guards, including over a dozen skilled experts hired at great expense. Once an attack begins, the moment the alarm clappers sound, the guards and protectors from the surrounding estates will come to their aid. The government troops and local militia from outside the city won't be slow to arrive either. Once you're trapped inside, even getting out would be difficult."

"So what you're saying is, attacking the Feng family in Yangzhou would be even more troublesome than attacking the government offices?" Zhao Jin asked.

These words were utterly treasonous, but everyone simply pretended not to hear. Li Dajin could only manage a bitter smile. He nodded and said, "At the government yamen, the runners and constables might not fight to the death. But those household guards and protectors in the Feng family's inner compound are all fed full with silver. Add in the desperate, skilled men they've taken in, and once a fight starts, it's very easy to get bogged down."

"I know a fortified compound is hard to assault. I also know that once we make a move, people might try to pin rebellion and insurrection on us. But I ask you: the Feng family compound may be hard to attack, but are the Feng family members hard to kill? Will they hide inside their home their whole lives and never step out?"

Li Dajin froze. After a moment of silence, he said, "That... would not be so hard."

"I will assign men to you. You go back and bring me a few heads as your pledge of allegiance," Zhao Jin said with a smile.

"Master Jin, right now both inside and outside Yangzhou they're hunting Big Li. If he goes back, he'll be walking right into a trap. Master Jin, send me instead!" Li He, at his side, suddenly raised his head and spoke.

Zhao Jin smiled. Liu Yong cut in, "They're hunting people inside and out — does that mean you can't sneak in? Do I need to teach you these tricks?"

"Since Master Jin has given the order, I will make this trip back. I only wonder whose head Master Jin wants?" Li Dajin bumped the Li He beside him and said with firm resolve.

"You know the Feng family's inner workings better than I do. Choose your own targets. The more important the heads you bring back, the more secure and better off your position — and his — will be," Zhao Jin said.

Li Dajin used his eyes to stop Li He from speaking and nodded his agreement there. At this moment, Zhao Jin put away his teasing, relaxed expression and said with solemnity, "The two of you escaped from Yangzhou. In this vast world, where couldn't you go? The reason you came to the Zhao Character Camp, a place you've fought and killed against, is because you're unwilling to accept your lot. You feel you should sell your skills to someone who recognizes their worth. Let me tell you plainly: this is the place that recognizes worth."

Zhao Jin spoke in a clear, ringing voice. Li Dajin and the companion at his side both jolted. From the beginning until now, Zhao Jin's attitude had left them rather disheartened. Though they hadn't exchanged words, both were already somewhat regretting this — he clearly seemed like a brash, frivolous young hothead. But these words moved them, because Zhao Jin had spoken to what was in their hearts, something even they themselves had only vaguely sensed and never been sure of.

"The Feng family treated you as dogs — well-fed, but still despised. The Zhao Character Camp is different. As long as you are loyal, as long as you are capable, you will be men above men, you will be given important roles, and there will be a place for you to fully spread your wings," Zhao Jin said solemnly.

Below, Li Dajin and Li He both raised their heads, a glint as of light flickering in their eyes. A smile surfaced on Zhao Jin's face. He pointed at himself, then gestured at everyone in the room, and said with a laugh, "Why is this so? Because we are all men of martial arms."

After saying this, Zhao Jin looked with a smile toward Wang Zhaojing. Wang Zhaojing also had a smile on his face and nodded, saying, "Here, your little brother is also a man of martial arms!"

"Good! Since Master Jin has spoken so plainly, I won't hem and haw. But inside and outside Yangzhou city, your people surely don't know the terrain as well as I do. If Master Jin sends men to assist, how it's done must follow my direction!" Li Dajin raised his head and said firmly.

Li Dajin, his family, and Li He were all led away to be settled. Li Dajin's family and Li He were kept separate.

Li He was assigned to the Inner Guard Corps, but being newly arrived, no covert assignments would be given to him, and he was not allowed to move in or out alone — he was monitored coming and going.

Of course, the reason he wasn't sent to Yangzhou to deliver the pledge of allegiance was clear to everyone. Li Dajin had, after all, brought his wife and children; Li He was alone, and with no ties, there would truly be nothing to restrain him from simply leaving.

Li Dajin set out three days later. Accompanying him were fifteen men from the Inner Guard Corps, as well as over a dozen shrewd men of the jianghu from the Xuzhou and Pizhou areas who did not know the objective — they were to handle the outer perimeter.

In the three days before departure, Li Dajin made preparations while also detailing all of the Feng family's arrangements in the Grass Den of Huai'an Prefecture, with emphasis on the "Grass-Turning Snake" gang.

After this party set out, Nie Hei led six men, following behind them, also heading for Yangzhou — after all, Li Dajin could not yet be fully trusted.

"Even if the Feng family's place is a dragon's pool or a tiger's den, we could just commit one company, raid it at night, and wiping out their entire household wouldn't be a problem. Why go through the trouble of sending this unreliable Li Dajin?" After Ji Xiang learned of the matter, he asked, very puzzled.

"If we really did wipe out the Feng family's entire household, the salt merchants of Yangzhou would become wary of us, and it would more easily draw the attention of the authorities. Besides, right now, wiping out the Feng family brings us not a shred of benefit. The Zhao family and the Qian family would immediately take their place — why do someone else's sewing for their wedding dress? Sending people over is to bleed the Feng family, to keep them from making reckless moves, and to force them to come negotiate with us!" Zhao Jin explained the reasoning.