Chapter 647: The Fish and the Net

Wang Zhaojing nodded. He was only raising a possibility he considered plausible, and Lei Cai didn't feel he was being dismissed or rebuked. He simply went on, speaking his own mind: "Eldest Brother, Third Brother, what's left in Jiangbei now that's worth his coming? Nothing but our Zhao Character Camp. We have to guard against it."

Everything across Jiangbei in South Zhili was perfectly ordinary — only Zhao Character Camp was out of the ordinary. Every key location in Jiangbei bore its mark: Xuzhou was Zhao Character Camp's foundation; the Yangzhou salt merchants had clashed with it in a major way; Qingjiangpu had been newly seized by it. Zhao Character Camp's shadow fell everywhere. Apart from it, there truly was nothing else worth paying attention to.

Lei Cai continued, "When other people sit in the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard post, they can't be bothered to do a thing, but this Ma Chonghao is far too active. He used to go to Jiangbei constantly, and now he's been keeping close company with the titled nobility inside the city. Strange, come to think of it — this Ma Chonghao really has the gall. Word is the first time he called at the Duke of Wei's residence, he was flatly turned away at the door. Yet he actually went back again. No idea what he said, but they warmed up to each other fast. Still, your little brother is truly useless — I couldn't find out what was said."

"What useless? We're strangers here, unfamiliar with the place — finding that out would be the strange thing," Zhao Jin muttered.

Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing exchanged a glance. Both sensed something was off. A household of humble station has few rules — shamelessly pushing and pestering doesn't matter much. But the Duke of Wei's residence was the foremost among the Ming dynasty's titled nobility, and this Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard Assistant Commander was no nameless nobody. Once denied entry the first time, he ought to have taken the hint and backed off. Why would he cling on so shamelessly? And the fact that they'd warmed up to each other was even more suspicious…

"It's not just the Duke of Wei's side. This Ma Chonghao has been running around eagerly to the households of several marquises and earls too. And there's some news I don't dare confirm yet — over in Yangzhou, quite a few of the major salt merchant houses have sent people bearing gifts to this Ma Chonghao…" Here, Lei Cai paused.

A look of deep, pained thought crossed Wang Zhaojing's face. Puzzled, he said, "What's Ma Chonghao currying favor with those titled nobles for? It won't do him a shred of good for promotion or getting rich."

When Ming Taizu, the Hongwu Emperor, founded the dynasty, he set the capital at Nanjing. After the Jianwen reign, the Yongle Emperor took the throne through the Jingnan Campaign and moved the capital from Nanjing to the northern capital. As a result, the titled nobility split into two groups — one in Nanjing, one in the northern capital.

The founding nobles who survived the Hongwu Emperor's purges mostly remained in Nanjing, while the nobles who followed the Yongle Emperor in the Jingnan Campaign all went north to the capital. Then those Jingnan-campaign nobles were nearly wiped out in the Tumu Crisis. After that, the only nobles left in the capital were those of imperial consort origin — originally commoners from humble families, whose daughters or sisters became imperial consorts, after which their fathers and brothers were enfeoffed as dukes, marquises, or earls. As for later military-merit nobles, their titles were generally not hereditary.

Over the centuries, nearly all of the Ming dynasty's old-line military-merit nobles ended up in Nanjing. And Nanjing was the largest city under heaven, the pivotal hub of Jiangnan, the very foundation of the Ming — which was precisely why a full duplicate set of the Six Ministries and the Censorate was established there.

A place of such importance naturally could not be entrusted to outsiders. And after the Jingnan Campaign and the series of princely rebellions — the Prince of Han, Prince of Zhao, Prince of Ning — it could not be handed to imperial clansmen of the collateral lines either. The only true "own people" were this batch of founding military-merit nobles. Otherwise, there would never have been a hereditary inheritance like the Mu family's, holding the Duke title and garrisoning Yunnan in perpetuity.

From the Duke of Wei's Xu family down to the few surviving marquises and earls, they rotated through the post of Nanjing Garrison Commander. In the Ming today, when military officers led troops into battle, they relied on their own household retainers and personal guards. These titled nobles did the same — they depended on their household troops and household generals, all raised and maintained in the same fashion as personal guard retainers.

Within the city of Nanjing, such nobles enjoyed wealth, glory, and power that reached the heavens. Yet in the broader scope of the realm, they counted for little. They had dwelt in Nanjing for generations, while the Ming's center of power had long since moved to the northern capital. No matter how tolerant the Son of Heaven and the court were toward the Nanjing nobles, that was the limit of it. They held no sway whatsoever over officialdom.

That Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard Assistant Commander, Ma Chonghao — if you compared official ranks, he was worlds apart from those nobles. But if you compared actual, solid standing, strictly speaking he was not one bit inferior, and might even surpass them. After all, he held the practical authority of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and in a certain sense, he also bore the responsibility of spying and investigating in Nanjing, South Zhili, and even the whole of Jiangnan.

The two sides should have had no dealings with each other. The Embroidered Uniform Guard could not gain the slightest advantage from these nobles. Likewise, the nobles could get plenty done relying on their household servants and had no interest in bothering with the Guard. Or, to put it more deeply — if Ma Chonghao was unwilling to accept being demoted to Nanjing and wanted to return to the capital, the big shots here in Nanjing could not help him in the slightest. Only the Nanjing Garrison Eunuch might put in a word or two. But that Nanjing Garrison Eunuch was a grand eunuch out of the Directorate of Ceremonial, someone Ma Chonghao could not even dream of currying favor with.

"…While your little brother was over there, I never heard of Ma Chonghao having any dealings with that Eunuch Tian…" Lei Cai interjected, listening to Wang Zhaojing's analysis.

"Strange. The ones he should be seeking out, he doesn't. The ones he shouldn't, he fawns over," Wang Zhaojing said, baffled.

Zhao Jin was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Leizi, what do you make of this man Ma Chonghao?"

"Your little brother has no occasion to deal with him over there, but I've heard plenty from the fanzi who come to drink. He's diligent and meticulous in his work, can't stand idlers, has cunning and a firm hand. Everyone above and below hates him, yet they have to follow his orders. He's greedy for money but doesn't act recklessly — every time he makes a move, he gets results and leaves no future trouble. If he's really as the fanzi say, this man has schemes and calculations. He's definitely not someone who acts rashly." Lei Cai spoke very slowly.

Hearing Lei Cai's words, the expressions of Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing grew considerably more serious. An Embroidered Uniform Guard Assistant Commander was not to be feared, but an Assistant Commander who could get things done, and get them done successfully, was worth taking seriously. Not to mention that the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard had clashed with Xuzhou, both openly and in the shadows — and more than one life had been lost.

Looking further at the situation in South Zhili, with such frequent trips to Jiangbei, Zhao Character Camp was the most likely target. And this Ma Chonghao was greedy for money — who didn't know that Zhao Character Camp was sitting on mountains of gold and seas of silver?

Originally, Zhao Jin and his comrades had cautioned and reminded one another to be careful and prudent, to guard against everything as if the worst would happen. But they also couldn't afford to be paranoid and make enemies out of thin air. So while they did take this Embroidered Uniform Guard seriously, they hadn't yet reached the point of treating them as irreconcilable foes.

After another silence, Zhao Jin gave a cold laugh and said, "Never thought it would really come to a fight to the death with those fanzi."

"Those lawless bastards — our Zhao Character Camp just wants to live in peace and stability, but they come sniffing around after our wealth. And now they're scheming with all their might to harm us. Do they really think that just because they wear the name 'Embroidered Uniform Guard,' no one dares to touch them?" Wang Zhaojing was furious too, his voice rising a little.

Both Zhao Jin and Lei Cai shot Wang Zhaojing a glance. In the past, when such matters came up, Wang Zhaojing would first sigh with a few wistful remarks. This time, he had directly taken a clear stand.

To say the Embroidered Uniform Guard was scheming after wealth and targeting Zhao Character Camp — that wasn't far off the mark. However, Zhao Character Camp's own actions could not withstand close scrutiny. The reason no one had paid them any mind was simply that those above and below were all turning a blind eye — whether sharing in the profits, or fearing their strength, unwilling or not daring to speak up. If you really applied the Great Ming's laws to them, murder and plunder would be the least of it; rebellion and treason were just as commonplace.

In the past, whenever Wang Zhaojing spoke of such things, his stance had always been somewhat ambiguous. Though everyone knew he was absolutely loyal to Zhao Character Camp, they could all detect his wavering. The camp's interests certainly must not be violated, yet breaking the king's law was, after all, not right…

Of course, this wavering and ambiguity was only perceptible to the dozen or so people in Zhao Character Camp's innermost core. To those below, Third Master Wang — son of a presented scholar, a recommended man himself — was utterly loyal to Master Jin, risking life and limb for our Zhao Character Camp. That very fact proved the camp's future was boundless.

"A tall tree catches the wind. It's no surprise the Embroidered Uniform Guard has its eye on us. Though we can't be certain yet, it's at least eighty percent likely," Zhao Jin said in a low voice.

After saying this, Zhao Jin spoke again: "Since you've already seen me and Zhaojing, Leizi, there's no need for you to go on to Xuzhou. Rest a day, then head back to Nanjing. Since the signs are this obvious, we need to take countermeasures. Don't worry about spending money — take as much as you need."

Having plenty of silver always made things easier. With those words from Zhao Jin, Lei Cai had essentially received authorization. Even if the expenses ran high, Ruhui and Zhou Xuezhi would cooperate fully.

"Many thanks, Eldest Brother. Your little brother won't spend recklessly…"

"That place is practically enemy territory. Preserving yourselves is what matters most. If you can preserve yourselves by spending silver, then spend it freely," Zhao Jin added offhandedly.

Before Lei Cai could reply, Zhao Jin continued, "When I tell you that self-preservation comes first, you need to listen. Leizi, you're too driven to succeed. Whatever you do, don't throw your life away trying to accomplish this mission. If that happened, our loss would truly be immense."

Hearing this, Lei Cai lowered his head and did not raise it for a long while — a rather discourteous lapse. When he looked up again, the rims of his eyes were faintly red, and his voice had grown hoarse. "Your little brother will remember Eldest Brother's words. Please set your mind at ease, Eldest Brother."

Zhao Jin nodded. The smile on his face turned somewhat cold, and he said grimly, "If it really comes to it, just come back. The Embroidered Uniform Guard are men too — they're just as afraid of dying."

Inside the city of Nanjing, Zhao Character Camp could do little. But the moment one crossed the Yangtze River, Zhao Character Camp truly did not give a damn about this Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Eldest Brother, we still don't know the full story. Whether Ma Chonghao's actions are really aimed at us is still hard to say. But if they are, then what exactly is Ma Chonghao plotting? Is he weaving a net?"

"Minnows and shrimp can be caught in a net. But if the fish is big enough, not only will it tear the net apart — it'll swallow the fisherman whole!" Zhao Jin could see Lei Cai's emotions were running high, and for once he played along with Wang Zhaojing's Chan-style repartee.

Feng Qi was a squad commander in the Rear Battalion of the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard. A squad commander was supposed to command ten men, but over time, no one treated a squad commander as an officer anymore — they couldn't even be bothered with basic courtesy. Within a hundred-man company, everyone only acknowledged the company commander and the platoon commander. Everyone else was treated the same. This practice was against regulations, yet from the Guard Commander down to the company commanders, all were happy to let it stand. If squad commanders actually held authority, who would pay any attention to the ranks above them?

Thanks to the three old friends "Mu Ming," "Yuan Heng Li Zhen," and "Sweet Sugarcane" for their tips. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets. Thank you, everyone.