Chapter 575: An Explanation

"Don't set your standards so low. A rabble against a rabble — what meaning is there in a battle like that?" Zhao Jin said with a bitter smile.

"Big Brother, when the mixed regimentals from everywhere were transferred over, a lot of people were guessing whether they'd be used to go to Qingjiangpu this time. Everyone was in high spirits. Since we don't plan on using those men to go there, it's better we make that clear in advance. If their disappointment is too great, resentment will be unavoidable." Wang Zhaojing said slowly.

In the past, the Zhao Camp's rule of doing things was: after taking outside territory, send one company or two companies to garrison it, then coordinate with several times that number of Xuzhou martial men to hold it. Although the Zhao Camp took the lion's share of the benefits, the people who followed along also got a secure business and a share of the good life.

Because of this precedent, after the territory of Qingjiangpu was taken, the martial men and jianghu figures from all over Xuzhou were so wild with joy, rushing about telling each other. A common saying had already sprung up: "If you can speak the Xuzhou tongue, silver will come to you!"

But the Zhao Camp did not plan it that way. Although the Qingjiangpu territory had been taken swiftly and efficiently, that did not mean controlling it would be simple. Moreover, Qingjiangpu was one of the wealthiest places under heaven — too large, too important. The Zhao Camp had to hold it firmly in its own hands and commit sufficient strength to control it.

Since that was the requirement, the mixed regimentals could not be stationed there. But the Zhao Camp had other intentions in assembling the mixed regimentals here at He Village this time.

"Dasheng, Shitou, and Bingfeng — you three need to make the rounds among the mixed regimental units these next few days. Observe their training, and you can also organize a few more sparring matches. Some men train half-heartedly, but there are also those who wholeheartedly seek to improve. When the mixed regimentals are disbanded, we must recruit all of those people in. We can't let them go back." Zhao Jin said sternly.

"We indeed can't let them go back. They've learned our training methods. If they go back and train up their own households and villages, it will definitely be trouble in the future." Ji Xiang added.

When training the mixed regimentals, the Zhao Camp used its own methods without holding anything back. The enormous disparity in strength currently on display was related to the follow-up training and combat experience. But among the mixed regimentals, there were also many sons of powerful families and guard-households who trained diligently and pursued advancement. If these people learned the Zhao Camp's methods and then put their minds to managing things, that would indeed be trouble for the Zhao Camp.

"Big Brother, those local gentry and local magnates — although they submit to us, their wariness runs deep. The mixed regimentals already left them considerable leeway, but they've been holding back all along, unwilling to hand over their own sons and able-bodied men. This time, if we disband the mixed regimentals and replace them with our own people, will it make them fearful and suspicious, make them think we intend to swallow them up?" Wang Zhaojing analyzed with considerable calm.

From the Zhao Camp's founding to the present, the several great powerful houses — Cloud Mountain Temple, He Village, Kong Village — had all been thoroughly exterminated. Toward the other medium and small powers, the approach had been mainly conciliation, always treating them well. There was certainly an intent to win them over, but the practical consideration was not wanting to make enemies of so many powers great and small. Although none were a match, exterminating them one family at a time would truly be a waste of time, and even more so, it would set a bad precedent for recruiting powers from all sides in the future.

"Zhaojing is right. Xuzhou is so large, and now we also have Guide Prefecture, Suzhou, and Pizhou — a vast stretch of territory. There are too many places that need guarding. Our Zhao Camp can't look after them all. If they become disaffected, our territory will likely be leaking wind from every side." Chen Sheng nodded in agreement.

Hearing these two companions' reminders, Zhao Jin smiled and said, "Sometimes you're even more cautious than I am. What you say is correct, but you're describing the situation a year or even two years ago. Under those circumstances, we did indeed have to rely on them, had to win them over. But now is different from then. We don't lack money. We don't lack men. And they don't have the guts to disobey."

Having delivered this blunt conclusion, Shi Manqiang frowned and asked, "Big Brother, we only have these two regiments and a few companies. Even if we expand by one regiment or even two, we still won't have enough men…"

"Don't always keep your eyes fixed on Xuzhou. Are these people of Xuzhou the only ones we can use? Only the sons and able-bodied men of these Xuzhou gentry and powerful houses?" Zhao Jin countered with a smile.

Shi Manqiang was suddenly enlightened. The others all nodded as well. Zhao Jin had only told them about disbanding the mixed regimentals and absorbing their elite to expand the Zhao Camp, but he hadn't mentioned the plans that followed. Everyone had thought Zhao Jin was being a bit rash and had been thinking of trying to dissuade him today. Once he spoke, they realized Zhao Jin had considered things very thoroughly.

"We have nearly a hundred thousand estate households and refugees in our hands. We can't always make these able-bodied men work like oxen and horses. We must give them hope and a future. The first rank join the Zhao Camp. The second rank become managers and workers. The third rank go to the various posts for garrison rotation. These are their paths forward. Besides, Xuzhou doesn't only belong to these gentry and local magnates. There are also all those commoners and ordinary people. We've given those gentry and local magnates so many benefits, yet every one of them always schemes only for themselves. Now we can give those benefits to others. The people who receive those benefits will certainly be grateful to us!" As Zhao Jin spoke on, the smile faded from his face.

Chen Sheng nodded and said in a deep voice, "They truly are detestable. The situation the Zhao Camp won through blood and death — they actually think they have a share in it, and think it's only natural!"

After Qingjiangpu was taken, the Xuzhou gentry and powerful houses were wild with joy, flocking to request audiences, wanting to carve out a share for themselves. No one thought it was wrong. Everyone considered it only natural, believing that as Xuzhou people, they were inherently one with the Zhao Camp and thus deserved to reap the benefits.

Yet it never occurred to them that although Qingjiangpu had been taken quickly, vast preparations had been made beforehand. Nearly a thousand men had been committed in a single operation, and over ten thousand taels of silver spent, to achieve that result. And these gentry and powerful houses had done nothing, yet wanted to come and share the spoils. This made the Zhao Camp's people furious inside. The soldiers of the Personal Guard and the two regiments were relatively insulated, but the Internal Guard and the people in the various enterprises were cursing without end.

Moreover, these local figures counted for nothing in front of Zhao Jin. The Zhao Camp's strength held absolute superiority over them. Faced with such overwhelming power, if they still didn't know awe, then they truly needed to be dealt with.

"Every family's village braves, regimentals, and household guards must be disbanded, all replaced with our own brave stalwarts. With the Zhao Camp here, Xuzhou is so peaceful — what do they need to keep so many martial men for?" Zhao Jin spoke.

Someone wanted to object, but hesitated and did not open his mouth. In present-day Xuzhou, the Zhao Camp's strength had indeed reached the point where its orders were obeyed without fail. No one could shake it.

Zhao Jin spoke as he walked; his line of thought had clearly long since taken shape: "Those whose sons and younger kin serve as household retainers with me will receive every privilege they are due. Those who send men to fight and charge into death for us will not be treated shabbily. But these people also may not keep private soldiers. Everything must follow our arrangements. We will not exploit or squeeze them, but neither will we be indulgent."

Wang Zhaojing nodded and smiled, saying, "That's for the best. These things had to be done sooner or later anyway. Once they're done, Xuzhou will be thoroughly stabilized."

Returning to the council hall, everyone took their seats, and someone served tea. There had always been a legend in Xuzhou that the place where the Zhao Camp was headquartered, though plain-looking on the outside, was resplendent with gold and jade within — that the food, clothing, and daily necessities were all of the highest grade, and that peerless beauties attended to every need. In reality, the inside was just as plain, and the tea they drank was coarse tea.

According to Zhao Jin, a place of military severity must absolutely forbid ostentation. Whoever wanted to enjoy themselves could go home, shut the door, and enjoy themselves. Inside this encampment, everything had to follow regulations.

Ever since learning that the Zhao Camp was going to expand, Ji Xiang had been quite excited. He had wanted to ask but hadn't found a chance to speak. Once everyone was seated, Ji Xiang said with a grin, "Big Brother, how much are we expanding? There are so many able-bodied refugees, and plenty of sons here in Xuzhou who want to join. Never mind a few thousand — we could get tens of thousands."

"Bring in tens of thousands — how would we support them?" Zhao Jin countered with a smile. Everyone burst into laughter. Ji Xiang grinned and scratched his head, but everyone was just as curious as Ji Xiang.

Zhao Jin continued, "The Zhao Camp will expand by one regiment at most, adding a thousand men."

Hearing one regiment of a thousand men, everyone shook their heads, and the anticipation on their faces faded considerably. They all knew how many able-bodied men in Xuzhou were willing to join the Zhao Camp, and Zhao Jin had just spoken of the tens of thousands of refugees. By that reckoning, fielding several thousand or even ten thousand would be simple. They hadn't expected only a thousand.

And everyone felt it didn't concern them — each person had his own duties. Only Ji Xiang's gaze grew eager.

Seeing everyone's attitude, the smile on Zhao Jin's face turned into a bitter one. He looked at his companions and said, "The Zhao Camp belongs to all of us. When there's a matter, you all need to offer your opinions too. Don't wait for me to say everything, wait for me to make every decision."

At some unknown point, the relationship between Zhao Jin and his companions had shifted from one of equality — an elder brother and his brothers — to one where Zhao Jin stood above and the others below, two clearly distinct tiers.

Zhao Jin gave orders; the others carried them out. This made Zhao Jin feel somewhat uncomfortable. He hoped his companions would participate more proactively.

"From childhood to now, Big Brother has been wise in all things, never once wrong. This is how it should be. Your younger brother and the brothers will offer Big Brother advice, to make up for any omissions, but the major decisions are still for Big Brother to make. That is best." Wang Zhaojing spoke. This was not flattery delivered with a smile; his expression was quite solemn, and he spoke with great seriousness.

"You speak, we act. What we don't understand, we'll ask you. What we can't think through, we'll ask you. We brothers follow you and do it. This is your Zhao Camp." Chen Sheng rarely said much in such discussions. His expression was no different than usual.

"The Zhao Camp is Big Brother's Zhao Camp. That we brothers have what we have today is entirely because Big Brother led us. It was so in the past, it is so now, and it will be so in the future." Shi Manqiang raised his voice and said.

Ji Xiang nodded even as he grumbled at Shi Manqiang, "Usually you're the one with the clumsy tongue, but today you stole my lines!"

The companions burst into laughter. Dong Bingfeng said in a clear voice, "My father often tells me that although Big Brother and the brothers have no formal titles, Big Brother is our Commander. Big Brother only needs to give the order. Through life and death, the brothers will have no complaints."

Everyone has their guaranteed monthly tickets at the start of the month — cast them for Great Ming Military Man! I always fall very far behind at the start of the month. Thank you.