Chapter 666: My Xuzhou

The evening banquet was a family affair. Zhao Jin set a single table in his own residence, and all his companions were present. There were only three invited guests: Secretary Li from the Penal Office of the prefectural yamen, Secretary Liu from the Revenue Office, and Secretary Ye from the Revenue Office of Xiao County. The clerk Ye Wen, who had originally handled recruitment for Zhao Jin within the city, had been recommended for the Revenue Office secretary post in Xiao County as early as a year ago. By rule, this secretary position should have been filled by a native of that county, but with the Zhao Character Camp speaking up, plus Zhao Zhentang's influence, others had to agree even if unwilling. At first, there were many bumps and obstacles, but after Zhao Zhentang assumed the post of Xiao County Garrison Commander, no one dared offend Secretary Ye anymore.

"Although we have the personal connections of my father and Uncle Chen, the people gathered today are still separated by one or even several layers. The task of consolidating civilian manpower and household registration and implementing the baojia system allows not the slightest ambiguity. I must trouble you all to keep a close watch for me. If anyone is vague or plays tricks, report it as soon as you see it. Don't worry about offending people. If this matter is done well, there will be countless benefits for all of us. If it fails, there will inevitably be all sorts of trouble in the future." At this private banquet, Zhao Jin did not stand on ceremony and spoke with utter directness.

These three who had been kept behind had long shared a relationship of shared honor and disgrace with the Zhao Character Camp, so it was only natural for Zhao Jin to give them such instructions.

"Rest assured, Master Jin!" everyone answered in unison.

"Master Jin need not worry either. Over the years, we've all suffered plenty of grievances and have been waiting to get payback. This time, Master Jin has given them a fine opportunity," Secretary Ye said with a smile.

These words made Zhao Jin and his companions unable to suppress their laughter. This was exactly their prior judgment: the civilian clerks and the runners were irreconcilably opposed to the common folk, their conflicts extremely deep, making collusion between them truly difficult.

It was inconvenient to travel at night, but they also could not let too many outsiders see these three staying here. So three separate courtyards were opened at the Cloud Mountain Inn. They would set out early the next morning, avoiding the merchants and travelers here as much as possible.

The banquet dispersed, and after the matters to be assigned were properly delegated, Zhao Jin and his companions, who had been busy for days, still did not scatter. The feast was cleared away, and the Xu household servants brought up tea. Then the guards and household retainers withdrew from the courtyard. At this moment, no one was permitted to enter and disturb them, nor was anyone allowed to approach and eavesdrop.

"These people in the yamen form a system of their own. For so many years, they have been skimming benefits between the court and the local government, and between the government and the common people. Now that we are taking charge, they will certainly think of playing tricks between us and the common people. We do one part, and they twist it into five or ten parts. They take the benefits, and we bear the bad reputation ourselves. The Great Ming has been wrong for nearly two hundred years; we cannot continue making the same mistakes." Zhao Jin's opening words set the tone.

Wang Zhaojing and Ruhui each held an account book. Chen Sheng, Ji Xiang, and Dong Bingfeng sat at the lower end. After Zhao Jin finished speaking, Wang Zhaojing opened his account book and said: "From the Scholar-Trainee Company and the refugees learning management and accounting, there are a total of three hundred and eighty-one people. The village heads, accountants, and clerks we have promoted in Cloud Mountain Temple and the estates number two hundred and seventeen."

"Trusted family juniors assigned to the Cloud Mountain Firm and the Sun Family Trading Company total two hundred and sixty people. Here at the He Family Estate, there are one hundred and ninety-two people." Ruhui touched the account book with his hand and also reported the numbers.

Zhao Jin nodded but made no sound. Ruhui hesitated for a moment, then spoke again: "My lord, if you were to relax the criteria a bit, from among the monks and lay disciples inside and outside Cloud Mountain Temple, we could find at least around two hundred usable people. These are all close to your subordinate and can be trusted."

"Over twelve hundred in total, plus those under Xiaoyong..." Zhao Jin paused, not stating the specific number, then continued: "Although the number is not small, most of them are merely apprentices. Only those close to Mr. Cao are somewhat proficient."

The Zhao Character Camp primarily recruited martial retainers, but too many people wanted to join, and not everyone was suited for martial training. Moreover, the Zhao Character Camp's businesses were growing larger and larger, and the management of those estates and villages also required their own people to oversee. Thus, the estates and villages had been continuously selecting suitable candidates from among the able-bodied refugees. Those who had studied or worked in merchant businesses before becoming refugees were often more suitable than others. The various trading firms and shops were also recruiting their own accountants and clerks. Additionally, the personnel handling various miscellaneous duties at the salt market and general market in Xuzhou, as well as the grand market at Qingjiangpu, were all selected from the estates and refugee villages.

To outsiders, these were merely the Zhao family's servants, or managers and clerks hired by the Zhao Character Camp's shops. But in reality, the recruitment standards for these young people were not low. Many were retainer candidates whose physical condition fell short, others were retainers injured during training or combat, and some were able-bodied refugees who had signed death contracts. They were equally loyal to Zhao Jin and the Zhao Character Camp, and this group was likewise a part of the Zhao Character Camp.

The loyalty and trustworthiness of this non-retainer personnel were not lacking, but their practical abilities could not be rated too highly. After all, the detailed skills of management and commerce could not be solved by hard training alone; they also required talent and comprehension. Therefore, aside from the refugee villages under militarized management, all other estates and business operations still had to rely on the original core members for management.

For the management of this group, Zhao Jin did not have a clear organizational structure and division like he did for the retainers. For now, it was all within a roughly tacitly understood scope. For example, Wang Zhaojing oversaw the Scholar-Trainee Company and the refugee system; Ruhui handled the estates and storefronts; Zhou Xuezhi, wherever he was, could manage certain areas; Liu Yong and Lei Cai also had some people under them. Although they were eyes and ears and hidden stakes, these people were likewise doing work.

After Zhao Jin finished speaking, Dong Bingfeng, who was at the side, hesitated for a moment and said: "Big Brother, many people in the Xuzhou Guard should be usable."

The guard battalions had long lost any military function and had become nothing more than large estates. Hereditary officers of various ranks, acting as landlords and shop owners, drove the military households under them to labor and earn money. Over time, this had trained a batch of people. Men like company commanders, battalion commanders, and even vice chiliarchs might be utterly ignorant of marching, warfare, or martial skills, but they were quite suitable as estate managers, shop managers, and accountants—some were even very proficient.

Now, the three guards of Xuzhou—the Xuzhou Guard, the Xuzhou Left Guard, and the Pizhou Guard—all had close relations with the Zhao Character Camp, even closer than other allies. Moreover, from the perspective of the two elders, Zhao Zhentang and Dong Jike, the guard military households were also more trustworthy. That was why Dong Bingfeng made this suggestion.

Hearing this, Zhao Jin shook his head and said in a deep voice: "People from the guard battalions absolutely cannot be used this time. Consolidating civilian manpower and implementing the baojia system is likely what the guards are most unwilling to accept. We will probably have to forcefully suppress them. If we use their people to participate, who knows how much trickery they'll stir up."

After the elimination of Cloud Mountain Temple and the He Family Estate, in a certain sense, the three Xuzhou Guards were the largest powerful landlords in the Xuzhou region. They formed a world of their own. Those guard commanders, vice commanders, assistant commanders, and chiliarchs desperately grabbed benefits for themselves. The Zhao Character Camp could not push them too hard. Aside from the paternal connections, many of the Zhao Character Camp's core retainers were sons of military households from the guard system, and they always had to consider the retainers' feelings. This census of households and population naturally had no reason to exempt the three Xuzhou Guards. One could well imagine that the officers of the three guards would think of every way to resist and delay. Using their people to do the work at this time would be a clever move that backfired.

Dong Bingfeng grinned awkwardly. The people in the room fell silent. Zhao Jin sat there pondering for a moment, then slapped his thigh and said: "We can't delay the real business. This time, we'll treat it as an opportunity for them to gain experience and learn. Rotate them in groups of three, arrange for them to go down and follow along in the work, and see how those clerks and runners do things. Right now, we don't have many good methods; we can only follow and learn."

This was indeed a difficulty. In his memories from before, there were almost no detailed specifics regarding this kind of census work. Zhao Jin could not produce many methods either, so he had to be unconventional and learn from the people most knowledgeable in practical affairs in this era.

"When these people go down, they must not only learn, but also help, follow along in the work, and keep an eye on those from the yamen. When you make the arrangements, remember: don't assign our people to every single location. That would spread them far too thin. If these greenhorns are left alone, in the hands of those old foxes, won't they be deceived and manipulated at will? Have them form teams. Station at least thirty people in one place. With more people, they'll watch each other and remind each other, and no one will be able to exploit any loopholes. Even if there is deception, it will be remedied in time," Zhao Jin said slowly.

Wang Zhaojing and Ruhui both nodded. Zhao Jin fell silent again, then raised his head and looked toward Chen Sheng, saying: "Dasheng, go back home tomorrow. First, visit your grandfather. Second, bring Erhong back with you. This time, let him assist Mr. Cao in taking charge. Third, ask Uncle Chen if there is anyone truly trustworthy in the yamen. We'll need to use these people during the census. Tomorrow, I'll also send people to Xiao County and Xuzhou to ask around."

Chen Sheng nodded as well. Zhao Jin rose from his seat, solemnly surveyed everyone in the room, and raised his voice slightly: "This general survey of Xuzhou—yes, that's what it is, a detailed census of population and households—don't think it's some fanciful idea. The importance of this matter is no less than breaking Cloud Mountain Temple, destroying the He Family Estate, or gathering the refugees. If we can accomplish it, it will be equivalent to taking another Qingjiangpu. Once it's done, the Zhao Character Camp will no longer be the Zhao Character Camp of today. Most of the clerks and runners of the entire prefecture and its four counties will work for us. These several hundred thousand people of Xuzhou will also work for us. By then, Xuzhou will truly be our Xuzhou."

The word "general survey," a term from his memories, just came out like that. But from its literal meaning, there was nothing incomprehensible about it, and no one found it strange.

"'Your Xuzhou'—it's fine to say that here, but if you say it outside as well, the hearts of the men below will be thrown into chaos." Zhao Jin had spoken with passion, but Chen Sheng coolly interjected.

"Right, it is Big Brother's Xuzhou." Wang Zhaojing immediately echoed, and the others chimed in one after another. Ruhui also nodded solemnly.

This sudden interruption made Zhao Jin give a helpless, bitter smile. He looked at the expressions of everyone in the room, and the bitter smile on his face faded. He answered with great seriousness: "It is my Xuzhou, and it is also our Xuzhou."

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