Chapter 525: Business Is Business

525. Chapter 525: Business Is Business

The area around Tonghui Inn was originally the most bustling part of Xuzhou, but now it was desolate. Once those Embroidered Uniform Guard agents moved in and started heading this way, anyone wanting to stay at the inn or enter it would be strictly interrogated. The people of Xuzhou were no fools; who would dare come close at a time like this? If they were suspected of having ulterior motives, they might even lose their lives.

The street was so deserted, yet those "idlers" still wouldn't leave, just standing around gossiping.

"The ones staying inside are agents. Those fellows can arrest whoever they want."

"They're in there with wine, meat, and women, while we're out here drinking the wind."

"Did you hear? Boss You sent someone over today and threw a huge fit. I heard Old Guan from the west side of town didn't want to send his men, and got a real earful from him."

"These are agents, they can even arrest the Prefect..."

"Shh, keep it down, someone's coming!"

The two gossips were very cautious. Only when they saw the hurrying figure draw near did they relax. One couldn't help but laugh and curse, "What's the rush? Scared the life out of me. Why is your face so pale? What happened?"

The newcomer's face was deathly white, full of terror. He looked around and whispered, "Old Guan is dead. Two of his close brothers are dead too."

They had just been talking about Old Guan, and hearing this news suddenly made the hairs on both their bodies stand on end. One spoke, his voice already trembling, and asked in a hushed tone, "Wasn't Old Guan a government runner? How could he be dead?"

"I heard he went home at noon to rest. Then the neighbors heard someone shouting over there but didn't dare come out to look. Only when it went quiet did they dare report it to the authorities. When the constables went over, they found the whole house covered in blood. Old Guan's head had been chopped clean off, and his two brothers had bloody holes all over them. Horrible!"

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Boss You has already given the word. He says Old Guan's men now report directly to him, and no one is to mess with the proper way of doing things. He sent me to pass on the message."

After saying this, he was about to leave but was grabbed by one of them, who whispered, "Old Guan at least had the status of a yamen runner. What do the officials say about this?"

"Both Old Master Chen and Old Master Zhao have spoken. They're busy with the agent business right now; Old Guan's matter is to be set aside for later. I still have to go elsewhere. You two keep a sharp eye out." The man said a few words and hurried off.

Once the messenger was gone, the two who had been talking earlier looked at each other, speechless. One shivered and said with a dry laugh, "Why is it so cold today!"

News, both open and secret, traveled through every part of the city. The heads of the clerks from the Six Offices, as leaders among the minor functionaries, were naturally very well-informed.

Clerk Li of the Punishment Office was at home at that moment, with his nephew standing by to attend him. This position of minor functionary was passed down through generations, but Clerk Li only had daughters. This post would go to his nephew in the future, so the year before last, he had placed his nephew in the yamen's Punishment Office, keeping him at his side to train and learn. The young man was shrewd and knew how to conduct himself, and his reputation was quite good.

"Old Guan was pretending to be clever but was truly muddled. To still be sitting on the fence at a time like this—he can't blame anyone else for being dealt with."

As his trusted men passed the news to him, Clerk Li commented with disdain. He took a sip of tea and added, "Even if the agents really mean to move against the Zhao family, he had no connection to any of it. Just a street thug, who did he think he was?"

The Li family nephew beside him smiled along and said in a hushed voice, "Uncle, we can't touch the business over at He Family Village, but there are plenty of commercial firms and winery properties here in the city. Should our family make some preparations?"

"Prepare my ass! It's just a handful of agents. You think they can overturn the heavens? Never mind whether they can make an arrest—even if they do, the whole Xuzhou region will be thrown into chaos. When that happens, anyone without eyes won't live. You think Zhao Jin can't enter this city?" Clerk Li questioned sternly.

The Li nephew lowered his head with a dry laugh. Clerk Li slammed his teacup heavily onto the table and said sharply, "Don't even think such thoughts! Right now, what our family must do is help the Zhao family with single-minded devotion. Hold nothing back, don't trade for favors. If we can help, we help. Even if we can't, we still speak up. Do you understand?"

"Uncle, the agents are already here. If they really investigate the Zhao family, who would still dare get involved?"

"Muddled! Muddled! You think Old Zhao is just a head constable? There are over a thousand blade-wielding men in this city who'd die for him. If our family shows even the slightest sign of disloyalty, none of us will live. The Old Zhao family is certainly on guard right now against anyone sending word!"

Zhao Zhentang did not rest at home that night but went to the freight yard instead. He Cuihua, accompanied by Zhao San and his wife as well as the Meng siblings, went to stay at a residence near the west gate. They would leave the city as soon as it was light tomorrow.

The household troops of Zhao Battalion, the runners from the yamen, and the men of the city's underworld—the core leaders were all gathered here, constantly receiving orders and assignments, hurrying out to busy themselves.

Someone was also holding the fort at the yamen. Chief Constable Chen Wu was stationed right there in the constabulary. Now, all news going in and out of the yamen had to pass through him.

Zhao Zhentang was in the main hall of the freight yard's central building, an executioner's blade resting at his side. The company commander of Zhao Battalion in the city stood behind him with hands clasped behind his back. The young man who followed Zhao Zhentang to learn beheadings stood to one side. This man was also a male of the Zhao clan, technically Zhao Zhentang's grandnephew, two years older than Zhao Jin. Known as Zhao Eleven, he was both a relative and Zhao Zhentang's disciple, and he also stood there with his head lowered.

Before Zhao Zhentang, You Zhenrong's face was ashen as he cursed unceasingly, "These ungrateful, cowardly wretches! They've taken benefits for so many years, but when it's time to show their true colors, they shrink back. I was blind!"

"There's no need for you to be so angry. Old Guan's head should help them see reason. We don't need to worry too much. Those four in the inn drank so much and were busy fooling around with the sing-song girls—they won't be able to get anything done. But we must be careful about a few things: see if there are any scouts in the city, and guard against any blind fools going over to make contact!" Zhao Zhentang said in a deep voice.

You Zhenrong nodded and said sullenly, "Don't worry, Old Master. Our people are watching closely inside and out. Even if a mosquito tried to fly in, we'd know about it."

Zhao Zhentang nodded slowly and said, "Everyone will have to work hard tonight. Tomorrow, Erkui and his men will enter the city to help, and then everyone won't have to be so on edge."

You Zhenrong quickly smiled and said, "That would be wonderful. Right now, there's no such thing as too many men in the city. Old Master, you rest first. I'll go to the inn to hold the line. Got to keep an eye on those youngsters."

He called out a farewell and went out. Once outside the freight yard's courtyard, You Zhenrong's two trusted men hurried to catch up and questioned him in hushed voices. You Zhenrong glanced back; several men were following at a distance, neither too close nor too far. You Zhenrong gritted his teeth and said, "What else can we do? Whatever Old Zhao says, goes. Tomorrow, Qi Erkui and that bunch of bloodthirsty fighters will enter the city. Anyone harboring any little schemes is certainly heading for a dead end."

At the mention of the name "Qi Erkui," everyone fell silent, and even their footsteps quickened considerably.

The various lowlifes in the city could still be considered law-abiding folk, but the salt smugglers outside the city broke the king's law and lived as desperate outlaws, killing without spilling blood. This Qi Erkui had a fierce reputation years ago, and after following Zhao Jin, he became even more formidable. He had won total victory in several gang wars, leaving severed heads rolling. The local thugs and riffraff in the city could handle a brawl, but anyone who could draw blood and take a life was considered a savage. How could they compare to Qi Erkui's band of illicit salt dealers?

Moreover, while others could consider being law-abiding citizens, the salt smugglers were mortal enemies of the authorities. These men were certainly of one heart with the Zhao family. Thinking of Old Guan's fate, and then thinking of Qi Erkui entering the city the next day, everyone felt a chill run through their entire body.

Zhang Jianting and the other three agents all rose very late. After sending the sing-song girls away and washing up, the innkeeper hurriedly sent in flatbread and mutton soup.

"This wine really is quite good. Drank so much and still no headache," someone muttered.

"Damn it all, something's definitely off in this Xuzhou region. All yesterday afternoon, and now the sun's high in the sky, and still no one's come to us. Do they not take us brothers seriously, or are they afraid of that Zhao Jin?" one of them cursed.

Zhang Jianting tore his flatbread into pieces and soaked them in the soup, saying with a smile, "Who cares? In front of us Embroidered Uniform Guard, no one else gets to throw their weight around. Today we'll go straight to the Prefect's yamen. Since they refuse the honor, we'll go knock directly. Smash the bones and you think the blood won't flow?"

The group roared with laughter. By the time everything was settled, it was nearly lunchtime. They had left their luggage and horses at the inn. The four asked for directions and headed straight for the yamen.

What these four Embroidered Uniform Guards didn't know was that the moment they left the inn, someone immediately entered their room, and others went to the stables, meticulously searching through their luggage and mounts before restoring everything to its original state, to see if they could discern their intentions or find any clues from these items.

Choosing to arrive at lunchtime was also a rule of officialdom. The receiving party always had to provide a meal, and when fearsome imperial agents like the Embroidered Uniform Guard came calling, they had to be entertained with the finest delicacies. It was also necessary to invite the women from the pleasure houses for a private performance, or to host them directly in the courtesan quarters. This advantage always had to be taken.

Xuzhou was impoverished, and the streets of the prefectural city were also very desolate. Pedestrians came and went, all dodging to the side at the sight of the Embroidered Uniform Guards in their official robes.

Zhang Jianting and the other three had long been accustomed to such awe and deference and paid it no mind at all. Nor did they notice the way these "pedestrians" exchanged glances with one another.

"Zhang Jianting, Squad Leader of the Left Battalion, Fourth Company, of the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard, together with three Guardsmen, have come specially to Xuzhou to investigate a case. I must trouble you to inform His Excellency the Prefect." Before the main gate of the Prefect's yamen, Zhang Jianting loudly announced his identity to the gatekeeper.

A Squad Leader's official rank was low, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard was accustomed to throwing its weight around and would deal directly with the chief official. Hearing the name of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the gatekeeper shrank back in fright, looked left and right, and then said stiffly, "Honored agents, His Excellency the Prefect is recuperating from illness and is not seeing outside visitors."

Recuperating? Zhang Jianting frowned and asked in a deep voice, "Since His Excellency the Prefect is unavailable, is the Vice Prefect present?"

"What a misfortune, the Vice Prefect is also ill."

"And the Judge?"

"Ahem, His Honor the Judge is also ill. They say he couldn't bear the noise of the city and has already gone to the mountains outside the city..."

The faces of the four agents all darkened. One person being ill was one thing, but all three falling ill at once, and one even deliberately going outside the city to recuperate—they naturally understood the reason for this.

Thank you, everyone.