Chapter 696: Surrounded and Pressured (With thanks to Alliance Leader

Zhao Wan froze for a moment, nodded, and turned to walk out. As he reached the doorway, he muttered, "You've only met Brother Jin a handful of times, yet you've picked up his mannerisms perfectly."

The voice was neither loud nor soft, pitched just so Zhao Shiyi could hear. Zhao Shiyi picked up his blade and walked out in silence. Right now, below Zhao Jin and the other brothers, plus the two chief stewards, the next tier down consisted of dozens of company commanders and squad leaders of equivalent rank. If you didn't show your worth, opportunities would only grow scarcer. And he himself was one tier removed—having failed to secure a company commander post from the start, he had to seize every chance even more urgently.

Sunset was still far off, yet Xuzhou city swiftly fell quiet. Hardly a soul could be seen on the streets—passersby and shopkeepers alike hurried home. Even the clerks and runners in the yamen shrank back inside their offices and stayed put. More absurdly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard agents also scurried back to their inn and bolted the doors tight. Everyone knew: the men of the Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander had smashed Zhao Jin's shop. The two sides were very likely headed for a bloody clash—best not to be the innocent fish caught in the crossfire.

There were also plenty of idle men who, even while staying home, felt a curiosity clawing at their hearts like a cat's paw. Ever since Zhao Jin had come to Xuzhou, there hadn't been a real all-out brawl for years. A spectacle like today's—they truly itched to go see it.

Many people, in fact, did not think this had anything to do with the rebellion the Guard agents were investigating. They saw it as a simple clash—Assistant Regional Commander Zhou's men got drunk and threw a fit, and the Zhao Battalion was never going to swallow that. The two sides would inevitably have to fight it out to determine who stood above whom.

Those afraid of getting caught in the fallout hurried home, but even more people flocked toward the yamen. The Zhao Battalion's company stationed inside the city arrived the fastest, followed by the militia units scattered in various locations. Of course, Zhao Shiyi's own trusted runners and enforcers numbered over a hundred as well. Beyond them, men from the city's martial circles and street toughs also rushed over in haste.

For the jianghu folk of Xuzhou, the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigating the Zhao Battalion for rebellion had nothing to do with them. Whatever schemes or calculations they harbored in their hearts, they had to wait until everything was settled. Right now, any move that defied the Zhao Battalion meant only one thing—death.

So when Zhao Shiyi issued the order—an order that plainly stated they were going to make Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander Zhou Baolu look bad—no one showed the slightest hesitation. They mustered every available hand and hurried over at once.

Who knew if this wasn't Master Jin testing them on purpose? If there was even a hint of hesitation—if ten men could have come but only nine showed up—did you want to test whether Master Jin's blade was sharp or not?

In less than half a shichen, the area in front of the Xuzhou Subprefect's yamen was packed with people. Everyone who arrived was panting for breath; no one dared walk—they had all come running.

Zhao Shiyi did not wait long. Once the Zhao Battalion company and the militia had assembled, they marched straight for the Assistant Regional Commander's garrison. Along the way, more people continuously joined them. Those jianghu bosses who arrived a little late all wore ashen faces, trembling with fear, terrified that their households might be suspected of harboring disloyal thoughts. Quite a few stumbled up to Zhao Shiyi and Zhao Wan and, without a second word, dropped to their knees and kowtowed.

By the time over a thousand able-bodied men bearing weapons reached the Assistant Regional Commander's garrison, Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander Zhou Baolu's troops still had not come out. Seeing this, a hint of a smile finally appeared on Zhao Shiyi's face. Zhao Wan, his brow furrowed, had also discerned something. He turned his head and said, "Eleventh Brother, it seems those troublemakers weren't put up to it by anyone—they were just scum acting on their own. Should we head back now?"

Zhao Shiyi bared his teeth in a grin—it wasn't a pleasant sight. Inside and outside the yamen, the consensus had long been that Zhao Shiyi had a demon's face, and it was better when he didn't smile. "Why would we go back? Did they not smash the shop and beat our people? Before the Guard agents came, what was the punishment for wrecking Zhao Battalion property? Why should we let it slide this time?"

With the matter put that way, Zhao Wan nodded and said grimly, "Damn it all. We keep quiet for a bit and people start treating us like sick cats. This time, we've got to show them some color!"

After saying this, Zhao Wan's expression turned sheepish. He lowered his voice and said, "Eleventh Brother, if Brother Jin blames us, you've got to take the heat. We're acting on our own authority here!"

"I'll take the heat!" Zhao Shiyi replied, crisp and decisive.

The Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander was a major frontier general, so his prestige and establishment were naturally not small. Moreover, he had nearly four hundred personal guards and household troops at hand. His residence was an enormous compound, practically a small military camp, and naturally there were soldiers standing guard at the gate.

A few soldiers had been chatting in front of the gate when they saw a large force advancing from several streets, and with a murderous, aggressive air at that. Their faces instantly went white with fright. They didn't even have the courage to shout a warning; they simply turned and fled inside, frantically barring the main gate. Not long after, soldiers armed with bows appeared atop the walls.

Nervous as he might have been, once he was actually on the scene, Zhao Wan displayed the caliber expected of a Zhao Battalion company commander. He immediately took over command and began issuing loud orders.

Though the number of people who had come was large, the true backbone consisted only of the household troops and the militia. Under Zhao Wan's direction, they took up positions guarding the key intersections and routes, while the jianghu men dispersed around the perimeter, standing by for orders.

The standoff had not lasted long when an armored battalion commander appeared on the wall, holding a shield in front of him. His face full of indignation, he shouted down, "What do you people want? Is there no law left? We're all neighbors here—what can't be settled by sitting down and talking? What's the point of drawing blades and spears!"

A blustering, cowardly interrogation. The battalion commander didn't even dare utter the word "rebellion." If he laid it out plainly and the men below decided they had nothing left to lose, this compound truly could not be held. Though there were nearly four hundred elite household troops inside, in this environment the cavalry had no way to charge. In a fight on foot, they had no confidence at all.

The crowd surrounding the Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander's garrison had been somewhat tense, but upon hearing this battalion commander's words, they immediately relaxed—and then their fury surged.

"Your scum smashed Master Jin's shop and beat Master Jin's men—what's there to sit down and talk about!" someone roared in abuse.

The battalion commander's face on the wall grew even more unsightly. He turned his head as if speaking to someone behind him, then turned back and shouted, "That was our fault! How much silver should be paid in compensation, how the offenders should be dealt with—let the yamen authorities decide!"

The Xuzhou Subprefect's yamen had never had any jurisdiction over the Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander, yet today such words were spoken. Though one side stood on the wall and the other in the street, the man on the wall was already kowtowing and begging for mercy.

"If you retreat one inch, he advances three. If you advance one inch, he retreats three." Zhao Shiyi muttered these two lines to himself, then raised his voice and called out, "The men at that wine shop were beaten, the shop was smashed. Compensation for injuries and damages comes to four hundred taels in total. Five men are to be held in the jail—to ransom them, fifty taels per head. Deliver the silver to the constables' office before morning tomorrow. Past noon, everything doubles, and we'll all just stay camped here and not leave!"

In just a few words, a price tag of nearly a thousand taels of silver had been named. The battalion commander's features on the wall twitched convulsively. He turned back, perhaps to consult someone. Not long after, the battalion commander said from the wall, "Rest assured, brothers, what is owed will certainly be paid. It will be delivered first thing tomorrow morning. Everyone, please disperse now. We're all neighbors here—this really is an ugly sight!"

A burst of jeering laughter rose from below. Zhao Shiyi whispered a few words to Zhao Wan, and Zhao Wan once again began issuing orders. The household troops and militia started preparing to re-form ranks and withdraw. The yamen runners and jianghu men also received their instructions and dispersed, heading back.

From arrival to encirclement to dispersal, less than a shichen and a half had passed. Yet the sight of the Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander's side capitulating and bowing their heads made many people realize many things. So what if the Guard agents were here investigating a case? So what if they called it rebellion? Inside this city, Master Jin's word was still law. The Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander's side had no sense and tried to reach out—and got their hand slapped back hard. Inside and outside Xuzhou, who could even compare to the Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander? A major court general with over ten thousand troops under his command—and even he got slapped back hard. Everyone had better keep their eyes open, hold their nerve, and watch slowly!

"Commander, this matter cannot just be dropped!"

"The city gates aren't closed yet. Give the order and I'll go muster troops outside the city right now and wipe out these lawless scoundrels!"

"Commander, a bunch of militia and village braves actually surrounded us, the imperial court's official troops! Is there no law left? This is rebellion..."

Inside the residence of the Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander, everyone was seething with the same indignation. Several battalion commanders and company commanders crowded around Assistant Regional Commander Zhou Baolu, practically weeping as they spoke.

Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander Zhou Baolu sat in the center with a dark face. The moment he heard the word "rebellion," he slashed his hand through the air and roared, "Muster troops, muster troops—muster your mother's troops! What damn use are those fifteen hundred men outside the city? If we really make a move, before they even enter the city, Zhao Jin's people will wipe them out beyond the walls. What do we do then? Which of you can handle Zhao Jin's cavalry and infantry battalions? If you want to die, this isn't the way to do it! All of you, get the hell out of my sight and keep your men in line! Have I ever shorted them on food, clothing, or pay? Going out to take advantage of a wine shop—how utterly disgraceful. Get out!"

After being roundly cursed out, the men who had been so indignant moments before all slunk away in disgrace.

Once everyone had left, Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander Zhou Baolu remained seated in the center, his face still dark. A moment later, his son emerged from the back, walked quickly to his side, and said, his face full of worry, "Father, looking at this situation, our family is in far too much danger. That Zhao Jin disregards everything and fears nothing. If we really follow that man Ma's scheme, our family might end up with no benefits at all and instead be ruined by Zhao Jin in the end. Why suffer for nothing?"

This time, Assistant Regional Commander Zhou Baolu did not lose his temper. He merely said sullenly, "This time we were in the wrong. Our scum underlings acted recklessly, and the Zhao family seized the chance to strike. Once we have the righteous moral high ground, that man Ma can assemble the elite cavalry. This affair still has a very high chance of success."

"Father..."

"I'm not even afraid—what are you afraid of? How much wealth and property does Zhao Jin hold in his hands? If others don't know, do you not? When the spoils are divided afterward, we're right here locally in Xuzhou. Who could take a bigger share than us? This is enough for our family to live on for generations, for ten generations and more. It's worth the risk!"

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, people were already poking their heads out near the Xuzhou Subprefect's yamen. These were not the Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander's subordinates—everyone had come to gauge the situation, to see whether the Assistant Regional Commander's side would actually pay the silver and ransom the men. This one matter could reveal a great many things.

Just as the sun rose, a battalion commander from the Xuzhou Assistant Regional Commander's side, accompanied by two attendants and looking utterly wretched, arrived at the Xuzhou Subprefect's yamen. Everyone knew where the real authority lay, so no words were wasted. Everyone saw them carry a cloth bundle into the constables' office, and then a runner led them off toward the jail.

Thank you to the three old friends "Mu Ming, User Sang Xiaokai, Wu Liulang" for your tips. Special thanks to old friend Mu Ming for becoming an Alliance Master of this book. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets.