Chapter 519: The Situation in Guide Prefecture

He smiled and nodded but made no sound, which meant the guess wasn't entirely right. But Ji Xiang's words had reminded someone else. Liu Yong pondered for a moment, then said, "Guide Prefecture borders Kaifeng Prefecture. If this route opens up, our goods can be sold over to Kaifeng. The two sides could trade directly, couldn't they?"

"Xiaoyong is right. Once we take Guide Prefecture, the road to Kaifeng Prefecture opens. Our liquor, our salt, even all kinds of specialty goods from South Zhili can be sold overland. The Yellow River water route is certainly important, but traveling from South Zhili into Henan means going against the current. Overland transport isn't really at a disadvantage. Cut out the obstructions and extortion in the middle, sell directly to Kaifeng, deal directly with every side in Kaifeng Prefecture — the situation opens wide." Zhao Jin said with a smile.

Wang Zhaojing nodded in reminder and said, "Brother, don't forget that not far beyond Guide Prefecture lies the territory of North Zhili. Once we seize Guide Prefecture, Xuzhou will no longer be a remote corner — it becomes a hub and thoroughfare. Take Guide Prefecture, and the situation truly opens wide."

Kaifeng Prefecture was one of the five great prefectures of the realm, in no way inferior to capital seats like Shuntian Prefecture or Yingtian Prefecture. Kaifeng city itself was the fourth great metropolis, surpassed only by the Capital, Nanjing, and Suzhou, with a population inside and outside the walls already exceeding a million.

Whether for illicit salt or distilled liquor, there was enormous demand there. Once this route opened, the Zhao Battalion's business would naturally flourish even more. Because his family was involved in running the Zhao Battalion's enterprises, Ji Xiang knew a great deal about these matters. Having figured this out, he actually felt a moment of worry — worried that the Zhao Battalion's distillery wouldn't be able to keep up supply.

But both Ji Xiang and Liu Yong were somewhat confused. Ji Xiang asked outright, "Brother, Third Brother, you both say the situation has opened up. Does that mean business will be booming? From what I'm hearing, it doesn't sound like it!"

Zhao Jin smiled and exchanged a glance with Wang Zhaojing. He dipped a finger in his tea and drew a circle on the tabletop.

"This is our Xuzhou. Everyone says Xuzhou is a place that reaches in all directions, but here in Xuzhou, we're actually hemmed in on every side. To the north is the impoverished land of Shandong, where the sects are strong and mounted bandits are everywhere. To the south is Fengyang Prefecture, seat of the Central Capital, where officials and commoners form a closed world of their own. To the east is Huai'an Prefecture — we fought several major battles just to gain a foothold in the northern part of Huai'an. To the west is this Guide Prefecture. Think about it: aren't we trapped inside these boundaries? Whether we want to go south or north, east or west, we have to cross someone else's territory. Without a fight, without paying out money, we can't pass through smoothly." Zhao Jin drew several circles on the table.

Ji Xiang commanded the personal guard unit, Liu Yong commanded the internal guard unit. Both men knew the surrounding terrain and topography inside out. As Zhao Jin spoke, they could already picture it clearly.

"Here in Xuzhou, we're hemmed in on all four sides. If we want to move, to expand, we have to fight. And these four sides are all watching our Zhao Battalion closely. If the Zhao Battalion makes a move, trouble will come from every direction. The way things have escalated now, the authorities would certainly get drawn in. That said, if we wanted to move, we could also head east, secure a firm foothold in Huai'an Prefecture, then expand southward. But the Qingjiangpu area of Huai'an Prefecture, the whole of Yangzhou Prefecture — who knows how vast the interests involved are, how many high officials and powerful nobles have a stake in them. If we act too ruthlessly, we might well get branded as rebels and traitors. A grand military campaign to encircle and annihilate us — that would be a true calamity!"

Zhao Jin spoke with grave seriousness, and no one else thought he was exaggerating. Qingjiangpu was the hub of the tribute grain transport system, where tribute grain and commercial goods converged. Yangzhou was the nexus of the salt trade. Two-thirds of the realm's wealth and tax revenue came from these places. Countless people across the realm were making their fortunes there. If the Zhao Battalion expanded into those areas, conflict would be inevitable.

By now everyone understood that local militia, private troops, or underworld fighters were simply no match for the Zhao Battalion. If truly pushed to desperation, there would certainly be those who would mobilize regular army troops for a large-scale encirclement and suppression. Given the status of those high officials and powerful nobles, such a move was by no means impossible. Righteous cause could be fudged and glossed over, but when private profit was at stake, it truly was a fight to the death, no end but the grave.

"Once we take Guide Prefecture, we'll have at least three directions in which we can move. West to Kaifeng Prefecture, south to Runing Prefecture. To the north, we'd have two choices as well — either Shandong or North Zhili. These places have no real guard up against us. We can advance or withdraw at our leisure. That is what it means for the situation to open wide."

Ji Xiang and Liu Yong thought it over carefully for a while, and looks of delight appeared on their faces. But Liu Yong asked with some concern, "Brother, that place isn't like our Xuzhou. The local gentry and powerful families may not be aware of how formidable we are. There could well be some trouble."

"What trouble could there be? Since we're not Guide natives, there aren't any ties or affections to worry about. Anyone who won't fall in line can test our blades and spears!" Zhao Jin said with absolute finality.

No one had anything more to say. When it came to using force, the Zhao Battalion had full confidence.

In fact, once the agreement to take over the grain tax was in place, the situation shifted immediately. No matter how insular those great landowners were, they knew enough to go find out exactly what the Zhao Battalion was like. Guide Prefecture and Xuzhou were so close — at a time like this, no one cared about provincial boundaries.

Beyond that, they could use the same methods in Guide Prefecture as they had in Xuzhou. Once the Zhao Battalion's banner was raised and benefits were promised, countless people immediately came to offer their allegiance. Men who rode horses and carried blades, men with a desperate, ruthless edge — there was no shortage of them anywhere. Once gathered, they amounted to a force of several hundred, nearly a thousand.

In ordinary times, even if such men banded together, they'd be a loose heap of sand — because no one backed them, no one punished them, and no one covered for them. Now, with the Zhao Battalion doing all that for them, that loose sand instantly turned into a pack of wolves and tigers.

With several hundred, nearly a thousand men, they could gnaw through anything. If they truly couldn't break through, the Zhao Battalion was right behind them, ready to step in. And if they stirred up trouble, they'd just slip into Xuzhou territory. Whether authorities or private parties — who could go in there and seize them?

That said, even the greatest power in Guide Prefecture wouldn't have more than a thousand men under their command. If it truly came to tearing off all pretense and spilling dozens or even a hundred lives, no one would be fool enough to do it.

Sui Prefecture, however, was somewhat of an exception. Suiyang Garrison had no shortage of able-bodied young men, and even had a hundred or so with polished martial skills. Scraped together, they could field a quite respectable force. But Suiyang Garrison couldn't be bothered with these matters. They were the second to come calling, asking whether they could handle the distribution of a portion of the illicit salt. Their location was closest to Kaifeng Prefecture, giving them the greatest geographical advantage.

Zhao Jin did not stay long in Guide Prefecture. He left Ji Xiang there with two companies and fifty riders, then led the main force back to Xuzhou. Before departing, he gave clear instructions: obey Ji Xiang's orders in all matters. If anything was unclear, they could send word to Xuzhou to ask. After all, the distance was so short — less than two days' journey by fast horse.

Ji Xiang, commanding a force of nearly three hundred men, garrisoned at Mamuji. Meanwhile, the fighting men gathered in Guide Prefecture numbered about three hundred riders — though a good thirty percent of them rode donkeys or mules. Guide Prefecture might be considerably larger than Xuzhou, but when it came to a flourishing martial culture, to men riding with blades at their sides, few places under heaven compared to Xuzhou.

These three hundred-odd riders, plus nearly six hundred toughs who dared to fight and charge, formed the grain-collection teams within Guide Prefecture. Although the deadline for paying the autumn tax had already passed, what they were collecting now were the accumulated arrears. The clerks of the Guide Prefecture yamen had long since produced a list of names.

Before collecting those arrears, the task for this force of nearly a thousand was to "protect the territory and pacify the people." Several bandit gangs within Guide Prefecture had yet to come pay their respects and kowtow — those would be the first to be used as a blade-sharpening sacrifice. It would also serve to integrate the force, and to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.

There were six gangs in total. The largest had a full four hundred men and had run rampant over the region. They were swept away in a single day. Having morale and lacking it made all the difference. On one hand, they wanted to show their worth before the Zhao Battalion; on the other, they felt they had someone backing them. When it came to the fight, they charged forward with true ferocity. That gang had hoped to put up a stiff fight, but they were directly smashed apart by the cavalry and then completely annihilated.

Once the strongest gang was wiped out, the rest either scattered on the spot, surrendered in terror, or tried to flee and lie low. One group of illicit salt dealers from Luyi County tried to slip into Fengyang Prefecture, but they never expected to be overtaken by a Zhao Battalion cavalry unit in a swift pursuit. It was only fifty-odd riders, yet on open ground they slaughtered those hundred-plus salt dealers to the last man.

Once matters reached this stage, everyone in Guide Prefecture understood what choice to make. Insular as those great households were, when it came to a matter of life and death, they knew how to weigh their options. Losing some wealth was far better than being uprooted entirely. So grain and money were prepared for payment, and family sons or trusted stewards were dispatched to Xuzhou.

Paying respects to the Zhao Battalion was one thing. But the grain had to be converted into silver for tax payment, and it was said the Zhao Battalion would be the buyer. No matter what, they had to negotiate a passable price. If the Zhao Battalion forced the purchase price down, they'd have nowhere left to cry.

After they went, however, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This Zhao Jin truly was as the rumors said — a man of his word, fair in his dealings. He did not use the opportunity to force down the grain price. What he offered was only slightly below the market rate, which was only to be expected for bulk transactions.

People are strange that way. When paying the imperial grain tax and state levies, they begrudge every single coin. Even when the clerks and runners collect strictly by the rules, they see it as a mortal grudge. Yet when disaster looms and they encounter treatment that is even slightly fair, they feel boundless gratitude — never mind that what they're paying now is far more than what they owed back then.

Yet everyone was overflowing with gratitude. Word spread throughout Guide Prefecture extolling Lord Jin's fairness, saying that if he came to govern Guide Prefecture in the future, everyone would be blessed.

From the Zhao Battalion's appearance to the withdrawal of the main force, the Zhao Battalion spent less than twenty days in Guide Prefecture. In that short span of time, the overall situation in Guide Prefecture was essentially settled. What remained was the mopping up.

Only, the time required for this mopping up far exceeded that of the pacification. The Zhao Battalion had rapidly cowed Guide Prefecture through strength and slaughter, but that did not mean stable control would follow. To achieve the same level of control as in Xuzhou, they would need to send their own people over. At the same time, the force rapidly organized in Guide Prefecture could not be abandoned — it too had to be grasped firmly in hand.

This was when things became truly complicated. Zhao Jin withdrew the Xuzhou fighting men stationed at the refugee stockade, and at the same time drew four hundred core able-bodied men from the stockade, sending them to Guide Prefecture. He also split the salt patrol unit into three detachments, one of which was assigned exclusively to Guide Prefecture. Then he had the various counties and sub-prefectures of Guide Prefecture form mutual security pacts, with every household of means contributing anywhere from ten to twenty men, who were then posted elsewhere under the rule that no one served in their own home district.