Chapter 697: Inspecting the City

Seeing this scene, everyone knew that the Xuzhou Regional Commander's side had truly backed down and paid up, and their minds settled accordingly — so the sky hadn't changed after all.

Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard agents staying at the inn didn't go out on the streets to put on their act that day, obediently shrinking back inside the inn and not daring to move. Good heavens, this was no ordinary arrogance — the garrison of a general commanding a whole region, surrounded just like that, and in the end the general still backed down. What kind of damn rule was this?

"Every crew that went along to surround the place yesterday gets ten taels of silver. Tell them it's from Master Jin, to treat them to tea and wine." Zhao Shiyi gave the order in the constables' office. Chen Wu basically didn't come by here anymore, and the senior constables all tactfully took their regular cuts. The one in charge now was Zhao Shiyi.

The silver sent over from the Xuzhou Regional Commander's side was divided into many portions. Several runners were wrapping them in paper, and a clerk was there checking names against the list.

Clerk Liu from the Revenue Office walked in. Clerk Liu was now one of Zhao Camp's own people. Zhao Shiyi didn't dare be negligent and rose to greet him as "Uncle Liu" — the attitude one showed toward an elder.

Clerk Liu was very amiable and wouldn't actually put on the airs of a senior or elder in front of a member of the Zhao household like Zhao Shiyi. He simply said with earnest gravity, "Shiyi, what you did yesterday wasn't wrong, but matters like this must be handled with the utmost caution. At a juncture like this, the slightest carelessness could easily bring trouble down on Master Jin's head and easily disrupt Master Jin's plans. I think it would be better to prepare a few mounted riders to gallop off and inquire for news. A few hours' delay wouldn't hold anything up..."

Even as he was speaking, he saw Zhao Shiyi stand up. Clerk Liu was just feeling puzzled when Zhao Jin's voice rang out behind him: "If they need hitting, hit them. If they need slapping back, slap them back. Shiyi did nothing wrong. When the time comes, just discuss things more with Uncle Liu, Uncle Li, Uncle Chen, and the others."

Everyone in the room hurriedly performed the full courtesy and gave their greetings. Zhao Jin, Chen Sheng, and Wang Zhaojing — the three brothers — walked in. Zhao Jin first greeted Clerk Liu with a smile, then walked over to Zhao Shiyi, pointed at the composed Zhao Shiyi, and said, "My father truly has a good eye, picking such a fine talent for me."

Being spoken of like this by Zhao Jin stirred even the stoic Zhao Shiyi somewhat. Zhao Jin clapped Zhao Shiyi on the shoulder and said with a smile, "From now on, I can rest easy leaving matters within the city to you. Do your job well, and don't disgrace the name of our Zhao family!"

Zhao Shiyi nodded forcefully. Zhao Jin turned his head and added, "Always being busy out at He Village, it's inevitable that some people let their imaginations run wild and think I've grown afraid. It never occurs to them that ever since He Village was established, I simply haven't stayed inside the city. I never expected there'd be idle gossip now, and that some people would grow so impatient."

Everyone in the room laughed. Zhao Jin spoke to Zhao Shiyi again: "Don't stir up trouble without cause. Have reason and evidence on your side. As long as you hold to that, act boldly. Remember this: our Zhao Camp does not go looking for trouble, but if others force our hand, we won't be afraid either — we'll just hit back hard."

Zhao Shiyi nodded in acknowledgment. Clerk Liu, standing to the side, looked thoughtful. Zhao Jin waved his hand again and said, "From now on, if Zhao Shiyi has any matter, he can come directly to me or to Wang Zhaojing. Anything can be raised. To get things done, you'll have support in funds and manpower. Keep busy with your work. Since I'm here, I ought to take a turn around the streets and have a look — and let others have a look at me as well."

The men in the constables' office laughed again, but this time Zhao Shiyi did not laugh. His face was flushed deep red, and he trembled with agitation. What Zhao Jin had just said had elevated his position and authority by more than one level. When Zhao Shiyi had gotten into legal trouble and his elders had appealed to Zhao Zhentang, arranging for him to come work in Xuzhou city, Zhao Shiyi hadn't thought much of the Zhao family's setup. His ambitions were wild too; he'd wanted to go out and make his own way. But after seeing the scale of what Zhao Jin had built, Zhao Shiyi regretted having come so late — and that his path in hadn't been the right one. Although Zhao Zhentang and Zhao Jin were father and son, there was still a degree of separation.

Fortunately, Zhao Shiyi had always been able to keep his composure. By working diligently and conscientiously up to now, he had finally made Zhao Jin take notice of his performance.

The runners who were dividing up the silver were merely excited and apprehensive. Clerk Liu, however, understood what this signified. When he returned after seeing Zhao Jin off from the yamen, he made a point of offering Zhao Shiyi his congratulations.

The previous night, Zhao Jin had already received word of what happened in the city. Neither Zhao Shiyi nor Zhao Wan would conceal anything; each submitted a separate report. Beyond them, the eyes and ears of the Internal Guard within the city, as well as Clerk Li in the yamen, had each written a letter as well.

"We ought to go show our faces in the city too. What we've done ourselves is indeed the same as always, but with all the rumors and unrest these days, a lot of people are letting their minds run wild and inevitably scaring themselves. One visit will set their minds at ease," Zhao Jin said.

They set out from He Village before dawn, traveling with an escort of one hundred mounted riders. Zhao Jin's group happened to arrive just as the city gates were opening, and they entered the city and went straight to the yamen.

By the time Zhao Jin and his party walked out of the yamen and mounted up to head for the goods yard, they simply couldn't move quickly. There were far too many people coming up to greet them along the way. Some were genuine chance encounters, but others had rushed over from their homes to pretend it was a chance encounter. Many bowed deeply, and quite a few even knelt directly by the roadside.

Formalities aside, what most people really wanted was to see Zhao Jin's reaction at this moment. Once they saw that Zhao Jin was calm and composed, no different from before, their last trace of unease vanished like smoke.

Zhao Jin and his group even made a point of riding past the inn where the Embroidered Uniform Guard agents were staying. The agents staying behind closed doors was one thing, but the innkeeper was scared out of his wits. Stumbling and scrambling, he rushed out of the establishment and kowtowed. Zhao Jin naturally wouldn't hold it against him and said with a smile, "Paying for a room at an inn is nothing wrong. Just go about your business in peace."

The innkeeper sent them off with profuse thanks. What he could never have imagined was that among the staff in his inn, some were informants for Zhao Camp, while others sold news of the agents' activities every day for a bit of pocket money. Every move the agents made was crystal clear to Zhao Jin.

Leaving there, Zhao Jin next went to the wine shop where the incident had occurred the day before. Upon entering, the manager and staff greeted him with the full ceremony. Many were so stirred that tears streamed down their faces.

"Yesterday they wanted to drink and take things without paying, and you stopped them. You did the right thing. We're running an honest business here. We need to earn money to support our families — it's upright and honorable. What is there to feel guilty about? You did well. This month's wages are doubled, and your year-end bonus is increased by ten percent. The next time something like this happens, you all know what to do now, right!" Zhao Jin spoke very bluntly before these people.

Once he had finished, Wang Zhaojing turned and gave instructions to one of the men accompanying them: what was said and rewarded in this shop was to be made known to all of Zhao Jin's businesses throughout the city, so they would know how to respond in the current situation.

In truth, there wasn't much that needed doing in the city. Zhao Jin and his companions showing their faces around town with ease was already enough. Many people would naturally see in this what they wanted to know.

Coming out of the wine shop, they went to the goods yard. The mounted escort was settled there, and a dozen or so guards accompanied Zhao Jin and the others to the Chen household. The atmosphere at the Chen home was somewhat somber. Chen Hong was now constantly on the move, settling accounts and checking figures, and after the census his workload had grown even heavier, so he was no longer at home. As for Chen Sheng, that went without saying — and with the recent passing of Chen Sheng's paternal grandfather, the mood at home was naturally not good.

In front of the younger generation, Chen Wu didn't stand on ceremony. He said bluntly, "I won't keep you for lunch. The earlier you come, the earlier you go! And in times like these, don't go wandering all over the place either, lest something happen and you can't deal with it in time!"

"Uncle Chen, given the situation in the city right now, there's no need for your nephew to spell it out. Would you consider moving to He Village, or going to Xiao County or Dangshan — any of those would do," Zhao Jin also asked directly, getting straight to the point.

"Go where? I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here. If I leave, the moment those loose-tongued, suspicious types outside see it, who knows what outrageous nonsense they'll spread. I'm staying put. You lot don't need to worry so much." Though Chen Wu was no longer at the yamen, he still saw through many things with great clarity.

Chen Sheng remained silent as well. He was even more taciturn when at home. Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing exchanged a glance, and Zhao Jin said with a smile, "In that case, we'll arrange for some men to come attend to things here. Even if something really does change in the city, no one can overturn heaven. As long as Uncle Chen is a bit careful, there's nothing else to worry about."

Chen Wu took a sip of tea and raised his voice: "You boys settle your minds and just do what needs doing. Having come this far, don't think about turning back. Keep pressing forward single-mindedly!"

Hearing this, Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing were briefly taken aback, then both laughed — leaving Chen Wu somewhat baffled. He couldn't help but look at Chen Sheng, who coughed twice and said, "Father, your son has already spoken these same words to Zhao Jin."

Upon leaving the Chen household, the first thing Zhao Jin did was say to Sun Dalin, who was accompanying them, "Go to the yamen and tell Shiyi that for Uncle Chen's side here, assign thirty men as guards, on rotating day and night shifts. Arrange it now."

Sun Dalin acknowledged the order and rode off hurriedly toward the Subprefectural Magistrate's yamen. Watching Sun Dalin's retreating figure, Zhao Jin turned to Niu Jinbao and asked with a smile, "How is his training coming along?"

"He's got strength, he's got a foundation, and he's willing to put in the hard work. But he hasn't been through real killing, and he's seen too little blood. If he runs into any sudden emergency, I'm afraid he won't be up to it. A few more years of tempering and he'll be fine," Niu Jinbao replied in his muffled voice.

Zhao Jin nodded with a smile. This was Liu Yong's arrangement. According to Liu Yong, it was still more reassuring to have true insiders serving as close guards. Sun Dalin's build and other attributes were well suited to learning from Niu Jinbao, so he could pick up his skills.

Beyond this, Zhao Jin also knew that Liu Yong had cautioned Sun Dalin to keep an eye on Niu Jinbao, and that if anything seemed off, he had to step in and block. The Internal Guard's job was to suspect and be vigilant. Zhao Jin hadn't pressed for details.

They didn't leave the Chen household's vicinity in a hurry. Instead, they rode their horses in a wide loop, surveying the surrounding streets and terrain. Zhao Jin said to Chen Sheng, "If someone really loses their head, those thirty guards plus your own household's people just need to hold out for half an incense stick's time. In truth, it wouldn't even take that long — as long as an alarm can be raised, that's enough. What I fear is someone losing their head and, on top of that, doing it in secret. That would be hard to guard against."

Thank you, everyone.