Chapter 618: Qingjiangpu Now Bears the Surname Zhao Too

Zhao Jin nodded and answered in a deep voice, "I've had this plan for a while. After we send the supplies back this time, we'll arrange for them to go to Feng County and Pei County. Once they're there, you need to arrange rotations. Let's not shy away from the trouble—don't let these men stay in one place too long. Keep them constantly shifting, and only bring them in when it's time to use them."

Chen Sheng nodded slowly, paused, then added, "Li Wu said some things today. Even though he glossed over it, he's probably guessed what's on your mind. Li Wu isn't the sharpest among us. The old brothers under us have likely all figured out what you're thinking."

Hearing this, Zhao Jin was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and countered, "What's on my mind? I'm confused myself."

"Even if they've guessed, who would say it out loud? Do you think everyone's a fool?" Chen Sheng remained as calm as ever. The two of them rarely engaged in such verbal sparring.

Zhao Jin watched the official runners checking the "stolen goods." Of this cartload of stolen goods, he estimated over two-thirds would be divided up at the prefectural and county yamens. The "runners" were laughing and joking. Meng Chao's expression was very stern. He just gazed out like that for a while. Chen Sheng beside him didn't urge him on, just watched along with him.

"Everyone's still young, and the world is at peace. What's the rush?" Zhao Jin said softly.

Chen Sheng fell silent. Zhao Jin gazed into the distance and said leisurely, "Xuzhou, Pizhou, Guide Prefecture, Suzhou, Qingjiangpu—the territory our brothers have seized is already this vast. These pieces of land haven't been linked together yet, haven't been fully grasped in our hands. Why think about anything else?"

"As you wish, as you wish. You lead, I follow. Today's matter was just something to tell you, that's all. You need to be prepared yourself." Chen Sheng spoke with utter indifference.

Zhao Jin smiled and added, "They can only follow us with all their hearts now. It's good if they've guessed some of it—they'll be prepared too."

The goods at the Niu family compound were quickly sorted. Chen Sheng took the replenished household troops and refugees back along the original route, while Zhao Jin and Meng Chao escorted the human and material evidence on the return journey.

The "stolen goods" filled one large cart, and the spoils of war seized filled over a dozen large carts. Naturally, they couldn't travel fast on this road. It was dark by the time they reached Yangzhai Township. Zhao Jin and his group didn't conceal their movements. The newly appointed Chief Constable Meng Chao was especially ostentatious, speaking at great length directly with the villagers and the township head and the like.

The Niu family pirates of this stretch of coast were famously notorious. No one expected them to be finished just like that. Some didn't believe it. The prestige of the Zhao Character Camp was limited to the Qingjiangpu area—outside, it wasn't acknowledged at all. The idea that mere official runners could take down the Niu family's sea desperadoes was even more fantastical, treated only as a boastful joke.

However, Yangzhai Township and Clam Port were only half a day's journey apart, with considerable traffic between them. Many in the township recognized the faces of Niu Er and Niu San. After seeing those severed heads, they had no choice but to believe. Then there were nearly three hundred heads and several dozen captives, among which there were quite a few familiar faces.

The Niu family had been wiped out just like that? Since when did official runners have such capability? Could it be some major underworld boss or dragon head who acted? The people of Yangzhai Township still refused to believe it was the official runners who did it. Nevertheless, the news that needed spreading had to be spread. That very night, people from Yangzhai Township set out on horseback and on foot, rushing to all the relevant places to deliver the message.

The next morning, Yangzhai Township prepared a sumptuous breakfast for Zhao Jin and Meng Chao's troop, and even the fodder for the livestock was handled very well. They saw them off from Yangzhai Township with the utmost deference.

When they were still twenty li from Andong County, the clerk of the penal section from the Andong County yamen and a group of constables were already waiting there. When Meng Chao had come, he had also notified the Andong County yamen about apprehending pirates within the county's borders. If the county's own constables provided support, it would be more legitimate. But these people had completely ignored him. No one was going to give face to this newly appointed Chief Constable, whom everyone assumed wouldn't last long. Quite a few were even waiting to laugh at his misfortune.

Only when a great number of heads were brought back did the Andong County yamen realize something was amiss. If they didn't show up and get busy now, they'd offend this ruthlessly efficient Chief Constable, and they might even get implicated in this case.

Meeting them halfway, before they could even fawn and explain, they saw the several dozen "mounted constables" following Meng Chao, along with the over two hundred supporting riders of the "righteous brave militia." The men and horses were in peak, vigorous condition, with complete saddles and bridles, and fine weapons and armor. This was not a force a mere constable could mobilize. With such assets, one could already run rampant in the southern part of Huai'an Prefecture.

At that moment, the knees of the Andong County constable went weak, and he dropped straight to his knees. The clerk of the penal section bent at the waist and lowered his head, displaying an obsequiousness as if receiving a superior official.

With the matter done, Meng Chao no longer needed to pay any attention to these people. He simply strode off in grand fashion.

When this contingent reached the territory of Qingjiangpu, they didn't rush into the city. Instead, they made a circuit of Qingjiangpu's main streets before returning to the yamen to report.

Meng, a constable of Shanyang County, Huai'an Prefecture, served loyally and diligently. Leading several dozen county constables and over two hundred righteous brave militiamen, he advanced swiftly in secret, thoroughly crushing the band of the notorious sea bandits Niu Er and Niu San. Over two hundred were beheaded, over a hundred serious offenders captured, and two local dens for fencing stolen goods were discovered, with over a hundred bandits slain. Great merit was achieved!

By now, all future troubles and hidden worries had vanished like smoke. There was no longer any need to fear the Niu family's revenge. The heads of Niu Er and Niu San were solidly displayed right there. Several wanted desperadoes from Qingjiangpu who had fled to join the Niu family were now either among the captives or among the heads.

Counting everything before and after, so many serious criminals had been executed. If this merit was handled properly, it was more than enough to bring promotion and wealth to the prefect, the county magistrate, and all the officials great and small, and they no longer had to worry about future troubles.

The people in the yamen were also very decisive in their actions. Constable Liu, who had originally been wined and dined, was immediately put in shackles the moment the news from Andong County arrived and thrown into the cell where the serious offenders were held. Once the heads and captives reached Qingjiangpu, Constable Liu simply and swiftly "died suddenly" in prison. Everyone decided to go all the way and directly confiscated Constable Liu's household property.

Sixty percent of the confiscated assets were allocated to the Zhao Character Camp as a reward, thirty percent was shared with Meng Chao, and ten percent was for everyone's hard work. Furthermore, from the moment Meng Chao became Chief Constable up to the present, all customary fees and profit shares were delivered to Meng Chao's home.

All the unpleasant tasks of taking in the serious criminals' lives and escorting the heads were completely taken over by the constables of the prefectural and county yamens, and they swore oaths that they would absolutely not tamper with anything.

If they didn't silence Constable Liu, heaven knows what Young Meng would uncover. If they didn't send money to show their loyalty, those Xuzhou men would use this opportunity to purge them all. Better behave. The winds in Qingjiangpu had completely shifted. From now on, Zhao Jin alone called the shots here. It was a foregone conclusion—there would be no more reversals.

In truth, by this point, whether this Chief Constable was a figurehead no longer mattered. Meng Chao had men at his disposal and no shortage of silver. He could do whatever he pleased.

Chief Constable Meng did not disappoint Zhao Jin or the common people of Qingjiangpu. As expected, he was brimming with righteous integrity. Public order in Qingjiangpu improved dramatically. Petty thieves of all sorts were swept clean, and local ruffians and thugs all reformed and turned to good. It truly became a place where no one picked up lost items on the road and doors were left unlocked at night.

For this, the wealthy merchants of Qingjiangpu specially commissioned a golden plaque. This plaque was two chi square, with an inscription by a renowned calligrapher. The content was conventional—still "Protector of the Region"—but when delivering the plaque, they beat gongs and drums, making an enormous spectacle. They paraded through the city and all the main streets of Qingjiangpu. Among those delivering the plaque, merchants of sufficient standing all came in person. Local gentry who could attend also came. Several clerks and head runners from the government offices also participated. These people all walked at the front. Merchants great and small from Qingjiangpu, leaders of various factions, abbots and head priests of Buddhist and Daoist temples—all came. With such great fanfare, they delivered this golden plaque to Cloud Mountain Martial Hall.

The deeds of protecting the region and pacifying the locality were indeed done by Chief Constable Meng Chao, but everyone knew that without Zhao Jin, Meng Chao could accomplish nothing. Scourges like Niu Shengjie, sea bandits like Niu Er and Niu San—if not for the Zhao Character Camp taking action, relying on the government would have been a joke.

Moreover, the completion of this matter proved one point: the Zhao Character Camp's control over Qingjiangpu, and Zhao Jin's control over Qingjiangpu, could no longer be shaken by anyone. Everyone was sincerely convinced.

It was not only because of the Xuzhou men's formidable martial force, but also because everyone in Qingjiangpu, from top to bottom, believed from the bottom of their hearts that the existence of Zhao Jin and the Zhao Character Camp could indeed safeguard Qingjiangpu's peace and prosperity. They could uphold justice, ward off the scourge of bandits, and even lead everyone to wealth together.

This golden plaque was less a commendation and more a great seal—a seal attesting to the Zhao Character Camp's authority in Qingjiangpu.

In the past, someone had said, "Xuzhou becomes Zhao-zhou." After this plaque presentation, at a gathering of the clerks from the prefectural and county yamens, someone also sighed and said, "Now Qingjiangpu bears the surname Zhao."

The Qingjiang Great Market was still under construction, but some parts were already in use. At Zhao Jin's initiative, the Qingjiangpu Chamber of Commerce provided money and men to beat gongs and shout daily at the canal docks, telling the merchants coming and going that the Qingjiang Great Market had abundant goods, fair prices, and allowed for leisurely comparison and selection, making buying and selling there more convenient.

This was indeed the case. With more buyers and sellers gathered in one place, instead of undercutting and harming each other, it gave the other party more room and leeway to choose. Business was booming. It was true that one couldn't sell at high prices, but by completing more transactions, the net profit earned greatly increased. They could even transfer goods to support each other, avoiding the awkward situation of a deal falling through due to a temporary shortage.

The locals were pleasantly surprised, and the merchants coming from outside were equally thrilled. Whether coming from the south or the north, seeing this Qingjiang Great Market was like seeing a mountain of gold. All kinds of goods were available for selection, and one could also come to sell all sorts of goods. Here, there was almost no worry about being unable to buy or sell.

Moreover, there were fair dealers like Cloud Mountain Firm, who could sell on consignment for a small fee, so there was no need to worry about difficulties like unsettled payments for goods.

What was different from other places was that elsewhere, one had to worry about swindlers setting traps, about extortion by ruffians and thugs, about one's money being targeted by thieves. Here, there was nothing to fear. The great market was clean and orderly, with only people doing business and strolling about.

Thanks to "Mu Ming, User Smiles Palely, Yuan Heng Li Zhen, Ye Ying," four new and old friends, for the tips. Thanks to everyone for the enthusiastic monthly votes. During this double period, please continue to vote. Updates have resumed; the second update is being written.