Chapter 621: How About Going Out to Take a Look

Zhao Zhentang, however, frowned and scolded a couple of lines: "Heavy blood and killing aura? Can it be heavier than what Xiao Jin carries? When has this child ever cried upon seeing her father?" After the scolding, He Cuihua fell silent, merely wiping away tears. Everyone knew she was not weeping because of the reprimand.

Much as Zhao Zhentang had said, when Zhao Feng was carried over, not only was she unafraid, she was all giggles. The most handsome and amiable Wang Zhaojing did not catch the girl's attention. Instead, when she was near Chen Sheng, for some unknown reason, Zhao Feng stretched out her two chubby little hands, grabbed Chen Sheng's plump face, and laughed without stopping, her tiny hands kneading away.

Everyone was stunned at first, then burst into roaring laughter. Chen Sheng was around the same age as the others, yet far more steady and dignified than his companions. Leading troops and killing men had cultivated an oppressive, awe-inspiring presence. Many family servants felt reverence and fear toward Zhao Jin, but before Chen Sheng they dared not utter a single word. Even his companions feared him somewhat. If anyone were likely to make a child cry, everyone thought Chen Sheng the most probable. No one expected this reaction.

Chen Sheng was stunned as well. After having his face kneaded by those little hands for a moment, a smile also spread across his face. Everyone laughed again; in all these years, they had rarely seen Chen Sheng smile so joyfully.

"This child and I are fated!" After Zhao Feng was carried away, Chen Sheng made a self-deprecating remark.

Everyone was happy to see Zhao Feng's closeness with Chen Sheng come to fruition. Among Zhao Jin and his several companions, Chen Sheng was the undisputed second-in-command. The closer the relationship between the two sides grew, the better it would be for everyone's future.

After a lively and bustling day, the people of Zhao Character Camp were naturally delighted. As for the other parties, aside from a few civil officials who had come for the additional Liaodong levy and were somewhat disappointed, everyone else was also very happy. They could all sense the thriving progress of Zhao Character Camp and everything connected to it. Following along, things would surely get better and better.

Once the festivities were over, his parents, wife, and daughter were all exhausted and retired early to rest. The tasks of tidying up and seeing off guests were naturally handled by the stewards of Cloud Mountain Trading and the Sun Family Trading Company. Zhao Jin returned to his own study, opened the recent accumulation of official gazettes and letters, and began browsing. After reading a few, he set them down irritably. Everything lately revolved around the additional Liaodong levy; there was actually less focus on the Jianzhou Jurchens. It was as if once the silver was extorted, Yang Hao's grand army could immediately win victory at the unfurling of its banners.

"Is elder brother in?" Someone called from outside — it was Wang Zhaojing's voice.

The companions also knew Zhao Jin was weary that day, so no one came to disturb him. Wang Zhaojing had been outside seeing off guests; he must have just finished now.

"Come in." Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing were very casual with each other. After Wang Zhaojing entered, Zhao Jin moved a chair over for him.

After Wang Zhaojing sat down, he casually poured himself a cup of tea. After drinking it, he said, "Elder brother, in the second month of next year is the grand examination in the capital. Your younger brother intends to go and give it a try."

The grand examination in the capital in the second month referred to the Spring Metropolitan Examination. Provincial graduates would travel to the capital to take the exam. If they passed, they would undergo the formality of the palace examination and then become Presented Scholars, joining the very apex of this Great Ming — the most pure, noble, and essential positions, the most illustrious and lucrative posts, all reserved exclusively for Presented Scholars. The very best could become the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet; the very worst would still secure a post as a county magistrate, and a rather good county magistrate position at that.

For scholars of this era, years of bitter study by a cold window were all for climbing step by step: passing the exam to become a Licentiate, then a Provincial Graduate, and then a Presented Scholar. Millions contended for a few hundred spots. One could say becoming a Presented Scholar was the ultimate dream of every scholar. For someone like Wang Zhaojing, hailed as a child prodigy and always successful in the civil examinations, it was perfectly normal that he wanted to try.

Zhao Jin was just about to offer a few words of encouragement when Wang Zhaojing spoke first: "Your younger brother knows elder brother hasn't thought much of it, and also knows that though the brothers may say things, in their hearts they won't treat me as an outsider. Yet your younger brother must still say this: this trip is merely to broaden my experience. Whether I pass or not, once I've seen it, that will be enough. Your younger brother will certainly return."

As he spoke these words, Wang Zhaojing was rather nervous and uneasy. Zhao Jin waved his hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Is it Da Sheng and the others who overthink, or is it you who overthinks? If you want to go to the capital, then go. Even if you pass and don't come back, you still have a share in this enterprise of Zhao Character Camp. Between our own brothers, what's the point of all this useless talk?"

Zhao Jin's impatience actually let Wang Zhaojing breathe a sigh of relief. A smile appeared on his face, though it was a wry one. Speaking to himself, he said, "Your younger brother leisurely roams about while elder brother and the brothers fight and risk life and death. No matter how one puts it, that's unjustifiable."

"What more life-and-death fighting will there be? The situation is now completely stabilized. At the very least, there won't be any major fighting within this year," Zhao Jin said with a smile.

Wang Zhaojing straightened his posture and continued, "Since the situation is stable, your younger brother has a whimsical, fanciful idea. Would elder brother consider it?"

This time it was Zhao Jin's turn to smile wryly. Zhao Jin pointed at Wang Zhaojing and said, "So this is the real topic you came for today. You scholars and your roundabout ways — why not just say what you mean directly?"

Wang Zhaojing chuckled twice but did not respond to that remark. Instead, he went on: "The grand examination is in the second month. Your younger brother must set out at the end of the eleventh month. Would elder brother like to travel to the capital with your younger brother to take a look?"

Zhao Jin was taken aback. Wang Zhaojing continued, "Traveling ten thousand li is better than reading ten thousand books. Elder brother harbors great ambitions, but you cannot always confine yourself to this tiny area of South Zhili and Jiangbei. You should also go see the central hub of the realm."

Seeing that Zhao Jin showed no sign of interrupting, a smile appeared on Wang Zhaojing's face. He went on: "Second Uncle traveled far and wide and is experienced and knowledgeable. His venerable self surely imparted all that knowledge to elder brother. But those days were those days, and now is now. When your younger brother hears elder brother speak of the outside world, there are quite a few things that seem plausible but are off the mark. You must still go and see for yourself to be certain. This would be greatly beneficial to elder brother, and to the future of our Zhao Character Camp."

The reason things seemed plausible but were off the mark was that what Zhao Jin described were impressions from a former time, which naturally differed greatly from this era. However, Wang Zhaojing made a very valid point. He had always been confined to Xuzhou and its surrounding areas; his impressions of the outside world relied on past memories and hearsay. Going to see for himself would be good.

"Elder brother, your status is already somewhat sensitive now. Coming and going requires strict protection. But when scholars travel for the examinations, there are conveniences in every regard. This time, elder brother going to the capital area with your younger brother will also provide some cover. Moreover, the scope of our Zhao Character Camp is growing larger and larger. Your younger brother is going to the capital this time to fulfill a wish. Once we get busy later, where will we find the time? The same goes for elder brother. Every area is already settled, the situation is stabilizing, and elder brother doesn't need to worry too much. Going out to take a look is just right," Wang Zhaojing continued to urge.

Zhao Jin nodded slowly and merely said, "I will give you an answer within three days. Prepare yourself."

Wang Zhaojing stood up with a smile and spoke again: "Elder brother, with this additional levy, there will inevitably be unrest. And with the Jianzhou Jurchens on top of that — what is elder brother's view?"

"The grand army under Yang Hao's command has yet to fight the Jianzhou Jurchens. What view can I have?" Zhao Jin countered.

"My father's letter says it will be no later than the fourth month of next year at the latest. Otherwise, when spring arrives in Liaodong, the roads will be exceptionally muddy, and it will have to be delayed further. Once the outcome is decided, what does elder brother plan?" Wang Zhaojing pressed further.

"Take it slowly. No matter what they do, we take it slowly," Zhao Jin said with a smile.

Wang Zhaojing smiled, cupped his fists in salute, and took his leave.

"When Second Uncle's side has a child, if it's a boy, let's arrange a marriage between the two families. If not, how about we first arrange a betrothal while they're still children?" Xu Zhenzhen, usually so shrewd and capable, was at this moment purely a mother. As soon as Zhao Jin returned to the room, she began to chatter on.

"Da Sheng hasn't even married yet — aren't you worrying about this far too early? Is our family's daughter really going to have trouble finding a husband?" Zhao Jin asked, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Xu Zhenzhen cradled the child and soothed her, saying with some dissatisfaction, "That's easy to say, but who can our little Feng marry? Would you be at ease marrying her off to an outsider?"

At this moment, Xu Zhenzhen reverted to being shrewd and capable. Zhao Jin shook his head and simply changed the subject, telling her about Wang Zhaojing's proposal from that evening. Xu Zhenzhen, without much consideration, thought it was a good idea.

"Husband should indeed go out and take a look. This little place of ours, Xuzhou, is far too small. At husband's age, you already possess Xuzhou. Are you going to guard just this patch of land your whole life? Going out to see and broaden your horizons is good. Besides, only now do you have leisure time. Husband's various enterprises have just stabilized. Once they are fully stable, you'll be busy again." What was said between husband and wife went somewhat deeper than what was said among companions. Zhao Jin nodded.

As it happened, the cattle and horse merchant Wang Ziyang had missed Zhao Feng's Hundred Days celebration this time. Moreover, he rushed back to Xuzhou the very day after the Hundred Days banquet had ended. Upon hearing the news from his shop assistants, he beat his chest and stamped his feet in regret, hastily preparing lavish gifts and heading straight for the Zhao residence. By "lavish gifts," it actually referred to the harvest from this trip to the grasslands.

Zhao Jin smiled and consoled him with a few words, and the matter was dropped. Apart from exotic jewelry and the like, as before, Wang Ziyang brought cattle, horses, and people. Among them were forty individuals from the grasslands: ten young girls and thirty young boys, all around twelve or thirteen years old. What was more interesting was that these children did not seem to have suffered much. The girls had clearly been taught how to serve people, while the boys were skilled in archery and horsemanship.

In the human market, aside from women, children fetched the highest prices. These Mongol children had all been trained, so their price was certainly even more exorbitant. Upon asking, he learned they came from a powerful merchant attached to the Tumed tribe. The Tumed tribe was one of the largest Mongol powers on the grasslands, campaigning east and west, annexing the weak. The children of chieftains and nobles from those annexed tribes would be gathered into the hands of this powerful merchant, specifically to be sold to the Great Ming. Setting aside their cleverness and skills, their foreign identity was also one of the reasons for the high price.

Nowadays, Wang Ziyang, relying on Han Well Famous Liquor, had become a prominent figure in the border garrisons and on the grasslands. Frontier generals of the border garrisons, nobles like the Jinong and Noyan on the grasslands — all addressed Wang Ziyang as brother and treated him with smiling faces.

As production expanded, the amount of liquor Wang Ziyang brought over each year grew larger and larger. For the bitterly cold grasslands, this strong, mellow liquor was a blessed thing — the more the better. It could be exchanged for real gold, silver, fine horses, and beautiful women. But a single trading company like Wang Ziyang's could only supply so much. Moreover, Wang Ziyang had now become shrewd in his business dealings, never letting the volume grow too large, maintaining a sense of a rare commodity worth hoarding.

Thank you, everyone. Please give all your end-of-month monthly tickets to Great Ming Wufu, otherwise they'll go to waste once this month is over.