Chapter 536: The Training of the Student Corps

With such precedents in place, those who came knocking without eyes were naturally dealt with severely. The children were sent to the refugee stockade for custody and discipline, while the ringleaders were tied up and thrown into the Yellow River. The river was already nearing freeze-over, so they had to hack open a hole to stuff them in.

From late November to early Twelfth Month, Zhao's Camp carried out a large-scale rotation of company garrisons. The areas on the border of Su Prefecture and Xu Prefecture, Kong Family Village, and the new refugee stockade at Grass Nest in Huai'an Prefecture—all places that originally had companies stationed—underwent rotation. Cloud Mountain Temple proper, Fang Village Collection and ****, and Guide Prefecture in Henan—these three locations also had additional companies assigned for garrison and patrol. Even Cai De's Yellow River fleet, which had now come ashore for the winter, had companies stationed at their encampment.

The garrison rotation cycle was also greatly shortened. Originally, a company had to stay at a post for at least a month and a half; now it was fifteen days.

This sudden change in rules caught many off guard, and there was no shortage of complaints. Many had been hoping to rest well during the New Year. But since Zhao Jin gave this order, everyone had to carry it out without objection, though a few of his companions grumbled a couple of times.

"... There are fewer battles now, and no one around dares to stir. Staying in camp drilling all day makes many feel impatient, so let them go out and walk around for some fresh air. Don't tell me you all want to laze about and sleep all day..."

Zhao Jin's reply was crisp and decisive, leaving no room for explanation.

"... Staying in camp breeds pent-up aggression. They think they're so capable in a fight, yet they're cooped up in this yard training hard. Go out, tire yourselves out, and you'll be calm and at peace..." This was what Zhao Jin said to his brothers in private.

The burden wasn't just this. Zhao Jin himself had to hold the fort in Xu Prefecture. Wang Zhaojing, a civil affairs chief, was swamped with internal duties. Everyone else was sent out. Any place with more than two companies of troops had to have someone of Battalion Colonel rank assigned there, and the companions also took turns going out.

Chen Sheng, Shi Manqiang, and Dong Bingfeng were all dispatched to distant posts. Ji Xiang was left to roam within Xu Prefecture. Zhao Jin's explanation for this arrangement was blunt: "You've got too many schemes, kid. I need to keep you close where I can watch you!"

In the Twelfth Month of the forty-fifth year of the Wanli reign, several heavy snowfalls blanketed Xu Prefecture in silver. Everyone in Zhao's Camp, from top to bottom, welcomed this snow. According to the headmen and farming experts from the various estates, a timely snow promises a bountiful harvest, and these snowfalls already guaranteed a good yield for Xu Prefecture.

It was also at the start of the Twelfth Month that some bizarre rumors began circulating in Xu Prefecture. They said that Xu Prefecture bordered Shandong and Henan, so why was Shandong plagued by constant drought, famine, and refugee rebellions, looking like a living hell, while Henan suffered both drought and locust plagues, equally rotten beyond recognition, yet Xu Prefecture enjoyed favorable weather? It was because those two places were infested with evil spirits and demons, wreaking havoc on the common folk without restraint, whereas Xu Prefecture had a great deity like Zhao Jin holding dominion, so no monsters or demons dared to cause trouble.

People had heard such talk plenty of times—that so-and-so was a reincarnation of some immortal, or some dragon or tiger. Even the superstitious had grown numb and skeptical from hearing it too often. But with Zhao Jin, people couldn't help being half-convinced. The claims were all factual, and there were real examples right before their eyes.

The rumors began circulating within the city. The minor clerks and runners at the yamen were the first to know. When Zhao Zhentang and Chen Wu heard this, they grew very wary and immediately sent word by fast horse to Zhao Jin. Liu Yong dared not be the slightest bit careless and promptly dispatched the Internal Guard to investigate thoroughly.

This pattern of a reincarnated deity had traces to follow. Ordinary folk might be confused hearing it, but the clerks and runners in the yamen, as well as the jianghu men in the Internal Guard, immediately judged it to be connected to the Incense-Smelling Sect.

They had assumed it was some scheme from the Incense-Smelling Sect outside, but it turned out to be something concocted by Zheng Quan and his subordinates to elevate Zhao Jin's status. This time, however, their flattery had kicked the horse's leg. Once Zhao Jin learned the reason, he immediately ordered it stopped and told Liu Yong to keep a closer eye on Zheng Quan from now on, and to give the Xu Prefecture Incense-Smelling Sect less free rein.

Without people spreading them, these rumors quickly died down. Yet many still kept them in their hearts. What was interesting was that many family members of Zhao's Camp retainers firmly believed them. The logic was easy to deduce: if Zhao Jin was the reincarnation of a deity, dragon, or tiger, then having their own children follow such a man through life and death was far more reassuring than following a mere mortal.

As a result, the families of Zhao's Camp set up spirit tablets in their homes, inscribed with the deity titles mentioned in the rumors and Zhao Jin's name, and offered incense and worship daily. Moreover, because of their sons, the families of Zhao's Camp had risen from poverty to wealth over the past two years, enjoying good days and good face. Their behavior also spurred neighbors and fellow villagers to imitate them, and for a time, quite a few people in Xu Prefecture were enshrining Zhao Jin...

After that day's discussion, the two groups of Brocade Guard agents who had come openly and covertly were beaten until they couldn't walk, thrown onto carts, and hauled back to Nanjing. Also following that day's discussion, Zhao Jin found himself much more at leisure than before. The salt market and the various trading bazaars had already begun to quiet down. After preparing the New Year's goods, whether shopkeepers or assistants, everyone would be busy heading home for the holiday.

"... Don't keep your eyes on the spear or lance; watch the man. Look at his shoulders, his arms, and his eyes. Again!" Zhao Jin barked angrily.

Within the residence where he lived, there was a training ground specifically for his martial practice. No snow could be seen on the ground; it had long been swept completely clean. The retainers of the Personal Guard stationed here and the older students of the Student Corps stood to one side. Zhao Jin and one retainer stood in the center, both wearing protective gear made of bamboo, wood, and leather, padded with cotton underneath.

There was a deep dent in the bamboo chest plate of that retainer. He was just picking himself up off the ground, having taken a thrust from Zhao Jin moments before. Although the protective gear shielded his body, the shock to his chest and gut made it hard to react again. But since Master Jin had summoned him forward, how could a Personal Guard retainer show any cowardice? Gritting his teeth, he stepped up once more.

This time, his reaction was even worse than before. Zhao Jin parried and deflected with the long staff in his hands, directly knocking the weapon flying, then stepped forward and kicked the man to the ground.

"Can't even hold onto your weapon—on the battlefield, that's death. Next one up!" Zhao Jin roared.

The Personal Guard retainers exchanged glances, their eyes showing reluctance. As for the students of the Student Corps, they retreated even further back.

With various affairs winding down, the busiest people in Zhao's Camp were instead Wang Zhaojing, Cao Ruhui, and Zhou Xuezhi. The three of them supervised a group of accountants, managers, and estate heads, inspecting accounts everywhere, taking inventory, and stockpiling supplies for the coming spring.

Zhao Jin remained at He Family Village, spending his days pushing the remaining personnel through training. He often personally stepped into the sparring ring. Those who sparred with him were usually beaten black and blue, dizzy and dazed. Yet despite their complaints, everyone knew they could learn from such sparring, and each time they were very eager.

"Do you see? Just because you stand in horse stance all day doesn't mean your lower body is stable. Besides, on the battlefield you can't just stand still. You have to run, and run according to Zhao's Camp's rules. Run enough, and your whole body will naturally become stable." Before him, a student from the Student Corps had just been swept to the ground by Zhao Jin's long staff. Sitting on the ground, the boy's eyes reddened, but a glare from Zhao Jin made him hurriedly lower his head and stand up.

The Student Corps was different from the retainers. Many of the students had martial foundations—either passed down in their families or taught by hired masters. After arriving at Zhao's Camp, they weren't entirely convinced by Zhao's Camp's methods, finding them too simplistic and childish. How could combat techniques for the battlefield be so simple? Just a few thrusts and parries, and every day nothing but running and formation drills—monotonous and boring. There were even snide remarks that Zhao's Camp was holding back, unwilling to teach outsiders real skills.

Dealing with this was simple. Zhao's Camp arranged several sparring matches between the retainers and the students, beating these inexperienced youths until they were utterly convinced. As for Zhao Jin's current one-on-one training, it could only be said to deepen the impression!

Training like this every day, Zhao Jin would teach a great deal of knowledge daily—some were battlefield responses, some were dueling experience. Everyone benefited greatly, yet they all felt some dread at the prospect of sparring with Zhao Jin.

First, they simply couldn't win. Zhao Jin's strength and skill far surpassed the retainers, not to mention his wealth of experience honed on the battlefield. Second, and most importantly, he struck far too hard. Though they wore protective gear and used wooden staffs and clubs, every session left bruises and welts. Even if they sought a physician to treat them with medicated liquor, it was still sheer suffering.

Everyone felt Zhao Jin was restless, as if he needed to vent through sparring. Yet every bout he fought was very composed, and his instruction was clear and logical, leaving everyone a bit confused.

After a few rounds of sparring, the others went out to run laps for training, and the retainers of the Personal Guard also went to their respective posts. It was nearly dark when Xu Zhenzhen sent a young servant from the household to call Zhao Jin back for dinner.

The young servants in Zhao Jin's mansion were also from the Student Corps, except these children were not yet ten years old, so they were kept in the mansion to run errands and receive simple civil and martial lessons each day.

Finishing training didn't mean he could go back. Because his companions had all been sent out to lead troops, only about a thousand men remained, but it was still a very large operation. Liu Yong alone couldn't manage it all, so Zhao Jin had to share a heavy load of duties every day—arranging patrols, handling internal and external liaison, and even sleeping apart from his wife at home, setting up a small bed in the outer room just so he could respond promptly if anything came up.

Tonight, however, he could relax a little, because Lei Cai had returned from outside. Some time ago, when the Brocade Guard had come with great fanfare, Lei Cai had been in charge within Xu Prefecture city. After the two groups of Brocade Guard, one overt and one covert, retreated in disgrace, Lei Cai had taken two trusted Internal Guard confidants and followed them. This return was specifically to report back.

"Big Brother, we really aren't familiar with Nanjing, and since this involved the Brocade Guard, we didn't dare act rashly. But we can confirm they all went back..." As he said this, Lei Cai looked somewhat ashamed.

"You did the right thing. Caution comes first. If you'd been reckless and couldn't make it back, that would've been real trouble!" Zhao Jin consoled him.

The Southern Metropolitan Region was divided into Jiangnan and Jiangbei. Zhao's Camp's range of activity in Jiangbei wasn't very large, let alone in Jiangnan. Going to Nanjing, they'd be completely in the dark. Moreover, they didn't really understand how the Brocade Guard operated. If they went there and recklessly probed, leaving traces, they might not make it out of Nanjing City.

Thanks to the two old friends "123*" and "Yuan Heng Li Zhen" for their tips. Thank you, everyone. The second update is at ten o'clock.