Chapter 675: That Man Is Called Zhao Jin

Mister Tian nodded with a smile, then turned to the three clerks kneeling on the ground and said, "At present, the county's land tax affairs are handled by the three of you. This year's Liao tax levy has caused unbearable suffering among the common people, so our master intervened to stop it, defying orders from above and preventing you from collecting it. Is that not how it happened?"

This was teaching them how to handle it — just stick to this account when dealing with outsiders. Having spent so many years in the yamen, they understood this trick well enough. Besides, with Sun Chuanting's methods being so formidable and this being a matter of empty words with no paper trail, they could simply follow the script.

But the three clerks kneeling below now wore expressions of utter misery, exchanging glances with one another, all looking as though they were attending a funeral. Mister Tian's expression turned cold as he asked indifferently, "You were all promoted to the position of clerk thanks to Lord Sun's favor. What, are you unwilling to handle even such a trifling matter? Or are you reluctant to part with this reputation of loving the people?"

Sun Chuanting's expression also hardened as he glared down coldly. He was already tall and imposing to begin with, and looking down from above like this placed immense pressure on the clerks. Recalling the thunderous measures Sun Chuanting had employed in the half-month since taking office, one of them kowtowed and said, "It truly isn't that we won't do as you say, sirs — we simply dare not!"

"With Lord Sun telling you to do it, what is there you wouldn't dare? Is there some profit in this matter for you? That extra percentage skimmed from the levy — did our master not let you keep it?" Mister Tian's expression grew increasingly stern. After Sun Chuanting had arrived here, though he had indeed cracked down hard, he also understood not to cut off people's sources of income. All the former customary practices had been tacitly permitted, and even the newly added skim this year had been tacitly approved. It was precisely this that demonstrated his skill.

The three below simply kept their heads lowered and said nothing. Mister Tian, seated there, smiled, but his voice was exceedingly cold: "Don't be so ungrateful. If we seriously examine the account books, none of you will be able to keep your heads."

"Lord Sun, Mister Tian, it's not that we won't do as you say — we truly dare not..." After hearing the death threat, one clerk raised his head and spoke. Seeing the expressions on the two men above, he gritted his teeth and actually stood up, saying, "I dare to speak boldly. Lord Sun, you have come to Yongcheng to serve as an official. Even if your luck is poor and you serve out a full nine-year term, that is still only nine years — eventually you will leave. But we must spend our entire lives here. And the lord who is blocking the Liao levy here will also spend his entire life here. Of course we don't want to die, but while Lord Sun's threats may not truly be carried out, that other side really can kill people!"

"Yes, yes! If we were to follow Mister Tian's instructions, there would be no need for anyone to come from that side — someone would come for our heads that very night, and our entire families would be sent to suffer on the barren shores by the sea. We truly dare not!" The other two were already so frightened they were weeping, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy.

Both Sun Chuanting and Mister Tian were stunned, having never expected such a reply. Sun Chuanting said bitterly, "Local despots are a great scourge to the nation. Shanxi is like this, and so is Henan!"

Mister Tian coughed and shot him a glance, thinking to himself that in Daizhou, Shanxi, the greatest power was the Sun family itself — these words were practically cursing himself.

But the next moment, Sun Chuanting caught on and asked in surprise, "That doesn't make sense. Those powerful local families should be eager for you to collect the Liao levy. Once the commoners are bankrupted and their households destroyed, their people and their land all become meat on those families' plates. Could it be Squire Mao of this county?"

"My lord, Squire Mao is the most adept at business among the six great families of the county," Mister Tian offered in reminder. "Most adept at business" was a tactful way of putting it, and Sun Chuanting understood perfectly — it meant this Squire Mao was the most black-hearted of all. Why would he be the one to stop this?

"Lord Sun, Mister Tian, I dare to speak plainly. I beg you, my lords, to show mercy and keep this secret for us. So many people in the county know who did this, but none dare speak of it, because no one knows whether that person permits it to be spoken of. I too have no other choice."

Sun Chuanting and Mister Tian exchanged a glance, both astonished. They could clearly see the reaction of those below — it was genuine terror, far greater even than their fear of the two of them.

"Speak. Since so many in the county know, who would know it was you who spoke? This magistrate will keep your secret!" Sun Chuanting said sternly. Mister Tian shook his head and sighed, murmuring softly with feeling, "We are out of touch with the ground beneath our feet!"

Mister Tian's lament was something only Sun Chuanting could hear. They had been in this county for over half a month, yet had no idea there was a figure of such importance who could bring the yamen's collection of the Liao levy to a halt — and one whom everyone in the county knew about.

Seeing the clerk still hesitating, Sun Chuanting strengthened his tone and barked, "Just speak! This magistrate was not aware that Guide Prefecture had such a personage. Could it be someone from one of the princely estates?"

At this, Sun Chuanting waved his own hand — clearly the suggestion was wrong. The princely estates would be even more eager for the commoners to go bankrupt and lose their homes, so they could swallow up everything at low prices or for nothing at all. The court and the government could not very well go to a princely estate's property to collect taxes — it would be property gained for free.

"Not from Guide Prefecture, nor from Henan, but a great magnate from Xuzhou — one they call the Heavenly King Zhao," the clerk said, trembling with fear, not even daring to speak quickly.

Hearing the title "Heavenly King Zhao," Sun Chuanting could not help but let out a scoff. He said disdainfully to Mister Tian, "Another rivers-and-lakes outlaw who's popped up from who knows where. Is the name 'Heavenly King' something the likes of him can use?"

"My lord, this man is no outlaw. He is a military householder of the Xuzhou Guard. His family's old master is now the Assistant Commander of Xiao County," another clerk hurriedly raised his head and said.

Sun Chuanting's brow furrowed, and his face now bore an expression of indignation. He said coldly, "Military brutes bring ruin to the nation. Such crude and reckless men are worthless against foreign foes, yet they run amok in the localities. A mere county Assistant Commander — and the son of an Assistant Commander at that — stretching his hand into the yamen of a neighboring province's county? Tell me his name. This official will report him. I will make him understand proper order and rules, make him understand that there is still the king's law in this Great Ming!"

Mister Tian, for his part, was thoroughly astonished. Such a thing was indeed beyond belief. The son of an Assistant Commander could at most run wild within his own county, not even daring to offend the county magistrate — how could he reach his hand so far? One had to realize that between them lay the county seat of Dangshan...

The three clerks exchanged glances, and another spoke up: "Old Master Zhao is called Zhao Zhentang, but the one in charge of everything is the Heavenly King Zhao. The Heavenly King Zhao's given name is a single character: Jin. Everyone calls him Lord Jin."

Seeing that even with his attitude, those below still used that grating title "Heavenly King," Sun Chuanting snorted angrily. He was just about to speak when he caught himself and asked, somewhat surprised, "Zhao Jin? The Zhao Jin from Xuzhou?"

Mister Tian looked over. Sun Chuanting's tone also startled those below — they could all tell that he seemed to recognize the name. The clerk asked cautiously, "Great Lord..."

The moment he thought that this iron-fisted magistrate might actually know Lord Jin, the clerk felt both relieved and even more nervous. Relieved because if they truly knew each other, there would be no fear of word getting out; nervous because if this iron-fisted magistrate had Lord Jin backing him, then life for everyone would surely become even harder.

"Do you know of Wang Zhaojing?" Sun Chuanting's next question confirmed their suspicion. If he even knew the name Wang Zhaojing, then there could be no mistake.

"We know Third Lord Wang..."

"Third Lord Wang?"

"Among Lord Jin's sworn brothers, Third Lord Wang ranks third — the Resourceful Star of the Little Eight Righteous Ones, a figure like Zhuge Kongming at Lord Jin's side..."

"No nonsense!" Sun Chuanting said coldly, and those below immediately fell silent, as silent as cicadas in winter.

After saying this, Sun Chuanting sat there in silence. Mister Tian glanced at him, then turned to the clerks and said, "You may go down and attend to your duties. Work diligently, and my master will not treat you poorly. As for what has been discussed today, do not speak of it outside."

The three clerks felt as though they had been granted a great pardon. Not speaking of it outside suited their wishes perfectly, and they hastily agreed and rose. But before they could walk out, Sun Chuanting called them back. His expression had turned amiable, and he simply said, "Regarding this Zhao Jin and the matters surrounding him, tell this magistrate in detail."

"... They say that when Zhao Jin's mother was pregnant with him, after the delivery, the midwife had a momentary daze and thought she was holding a little dragon in her hands. She was so frightened she dropped him straight onto the ground. And just like that, Lord Jin did not awaken from his stupor until he was ten..."

"... Nonsense! I heard that when Lord Jin was ten, he went to watch an execution and was so terrified he fainted. Someone walking past his house saw a golden dragon coiled on the rooftop..."

These opening words made Sun Chuanting extremely impatient. He could not help but rebuke them: "Spare me these irrelevant, fanciful tales! Tell me of the real circumstances that everyone has seen. And drop this title 'Lord Jin' — a mere commoner with no rank, how does he deserve the word 'Lord'?"

Tales of dragons coiled upon one's person, of five-colored auspicious clouds, of strange fragrances wafting through the air — such nonsense might fool the ignorant common folk, but anyone with learning naturally knew what it really was. Sun Chuanting naturally had no patience to listen.

"... Lord Jin — no, Zhao Jin — was frail in his childhood, and timid as well. His father, Zhao Zhentang, wanted him to inherit the executioner's trade, so he took him to the execution ground to watch beheadings. The result was that his soul was frightened right out of him. At the time, they thought he could not be saved..."

Upon hearing that he came from an executioner's background, Sun Chuanting and Mister Tian exchanged a glance, both with expressions of contempt. Such a lowly trade truly was not worth taking seriously — at most, this was some local bully from a remote backwater. But on second thought, Sun Chuanting recalled the composed and steady bearing Zhao Jin had displayed when they met in the capital. That had nothing whatsoever to do with lowliness.

"... After he woke up, it was as if he had become a different person. He learned martial arts from his second uncle — ah, Zhao Jin's second uncle was a remarkable figure who had traveled far and wide... This Zhao Jin, though just a child at the time, actually knew to gather a band of youths and play at holding martial contests to determine a champion. His inner circle today — Broadsword Chen the Second, Iron Tower Shi the Fourth, Quick Blade Ji the Fifth, Little Li Guang Dong the Sixth..."

Sun Chuanting smiled bitterly and once again interrupted the clerk's account, saying with some irritation, "Have you been listening to too many storytellers' romances? Spare me that stuff from the Three Kingdoms and the Water Margin."

"... The Great Lord has keen eyes. I do love going to the teahouse to hear the storytellers. Everyone says that Zhao Jin's first killing was of a kidnapper. His childhood sweetheart had been tricked and taken by a kidnapper. There was no time to call for help, so he and his brothers simply charged straight in..."

It's the end of the month, and everyone has monthly tickets in hand again. Cast them for Great Ming Warrior — urgently needed, urgently needed!