Chapter 700: Li He

Zhao Jin nodded, then put away his smile and said, "You've thought it through clearly. This time I'm still taking back your troops. In a moment you'll head to the encampment — your six companies will be placed under Ji Xiang's command."

"At your command!" Zhang Hubin answered loudly, crisp and efficient, without the slightest hesitation.

"You set out tomorrow. Go to the estate over by Luoma Lake and take charge of things there for me again..." When he reached this point, a hesitant look appeared on Zhang Hubin's face.

Zhao Jin had been watching him closely. Seeing that change in expression, he asked, "You're not willing to go?"

"Master, pulling troops back from all over — is a big fight coming? No matter who we fight, bandits or government troops, this lowly one can go risk his life. This lowly one wants to stay and fight at your side, Master. Even as a company commander or squad commander would do. Even staying by your side as a personal guard would be fine — this lowly one is more reliable than anyone else after all!" Zhang Hubin spoke with deep sincerity.

The smile on Zhao Jin's face deepened. This Zhang Hubin was indeed loyal — and of course, his ambition for rank and renown was strong too. But no matter how you looked at it, Zhang Hubin's performance was very satisfying.

"You've been handling things on your own for so long — using you as a personal guard would be a waste. It's true we may be about to fight, but don't be in a rush to join in. You have a greater use. Tomorrow, go to the estate at Luoma Lake and manage things well there for me. I'm not giving you household troops right now. You organize a thousand militia on your own, but don't let it interfere with the farming season. For weapons and such, buy directly through the Sun Family Trading Company — the expenses will be covered from this side!" Zhao Jin instructed.

Zhang Hubin solemnly accepted the order once more. Zhao Jin continued, "What you need to do over there is stabilize the estate, let them farm in peace. If anyone comes harassing, beat them back, but don't go on the offensive on your own. If I need your side to do something, I'll give the order. Can you do that?"

"Master, rest assured. Even if this lowly one has to throw away his life, he'll keep that place secure." Zhang Hubin said in a muffled voice.

Zhao Jin smiled. He was already used to his subordinates swearing on life and death. Zhao Jin nodded and said, "Do it well. Make your preparations!"

Everyone also knew there wouldn't be any trouble after Zhang Hubin went over. That estate had originally been managed by Zhang Hubin, and he hadn't been away for very long — he'd get the hang of things again quickly once he was there.

As for the militia, that was simple too. The able-bodied refugee men at that estate had always been managed under military discipline — farming and training, that was all their lives consisted of. The reason they'd kept at it all this time was that the barren flats east of Luoma Lake were relatively isolated, because these refugees had witnessed the terror of great disasters and starvation, and also because the Zhao Battalion gave them hope of advancement. Quite a few of the household troops in the Third Regiment stationed there came from refugee backgrounds, and there were even company commanders and squad commanders of refugee origin...

After arranging for someone to take Zhang Hubin to hand over to Ji Xiang, Zhao Jin called the second person in. Before that person arrived, Niu Jinbao, who was beside Zhao Jin, spoke up.

The moment he opened his mouth, even Zhao Jin was surprised. Niu Jinbao was the silent, taciturn type, always keeping his head down and working.

"Master, the situation right now is a bit unstable. Please have several sets of monk's robes prepared."

"Oh?" Zhao Jin's brow furrowed.

Niu Jinbao's expression was perfectly calm as he continued, "Master, even if you don't wear them, this lowly one needs to prepare a set for himself, and find someone to shave his head bald. If anything really happens, a man of the cloth always finds it easier to come and go."

"I'll arrange it for you," Zhao Jin said offhandedly. Niu Jinbao had his reasons for doing this — it wasn't that he sensed trouble and wanted to flee. Niu Jinbao was a deep and calculating sort by nature; if he really meant to do something, he certainly wouldn't make it so obvious.

The second person called in surprised everyone a bit. Zhang Hubin, no matter how you looked at it, was the most outstanding of the household troops, yet this second one was someone usually inconspicuous, even a bit dissolute and careless in manner, and within the Zhao Battalion system, this man was absolutely not near the top — he didn't even try to be.

Not only was everyone else surprised, even the man himself was thoroughly baffled. When he was led into the courtyard, his face was still full of bewilderment.

Upon seeing Zhao Jin, the man froze for a moment, then hurried forward, about to kneel and kowtow. Zhao Jin waved his hand to indicate it wasn't necessary and said, "We don't do kowtowing here. A clasped-fist salute is fine. You still haven't gotten used to it?"

The man scratched his head and gave a dry laugh. "Master Jin, this lowly one truly isn't used to it."

Zhao Jin narrowed his eyes and looked him up and down, shaking his head. "You really haven't gotten used to it."

The man before him had his hair simply tied back, his beard was a mess, and his clothes were a bit dirty — he looked utterly down and out.

"Li He, is anyone withholding your monthly pay or regular allowances?" Zhao Jin asked coldly. The man brought in was none other than Li He, who had surrendered and come over together with Li Dajin back then. Li Dajin had been sent to Nanjing. Li He had been kept under restrictions the whole time — he'd gone to Qingjiangpu once, but had immediately returned to the Xuzhou area.

Questioned so bluntly by Zhao Jin, Li He coughed dryly several times and lowered his head. "The money and grain the Master sends down — no one dares withhold any."

"When you go to see the Wu family girl, are you this slovenly too?" Zhao Jin questioned, annoyed.

Li He's eyes instantly went wide, but then he lowered his head again and answered in a muffled voice, "The Master jests."

The Internal Guard had been reporting to Zhao Jin all along about this Li He. In a village near Qulipu, there was a well-to-do family whose only daughter had already been betrothed, but before she could marry, the groom-to-be died suddenly of illness. So she became a widow who'd only ever stood at the gate, and there were even rumors she brought death to husbands. She'd stayed at home for six years like that, no longer thinking of marriage, and had started helping the family manage their farmland and business.

Li He had also been assigned by the Internal Guard to Qulipu to keep an eye on several establishments of the jianghu. One day, some village hooligans were harassing this Miss Wu. Her parents were old, and the family's hired hands were harboring thoughts of getting both the girl and the property. For a time, no one was looking out for Miss Wu. Li He happened upon the scene and, in a few swift moves, dealt with all of them and sent them packing.

In the end, this act of righteous bravery became the red thread that brought them together. Matters of fate are hard to explain — the two took a liking to each other and grew closer and closer.

Others talked of her bringing death to husbands, but Li He, a man who'd seen his share of killing, cared nothing for that. Compared to the local natives, Li He, who'd served as a battalion commander, was no slouch in experience or conversation. It was clear they were on the verge of discussing marriage.

"You're to go to Qingjiangpu with Lu Da. Shi Manqiang's Second Regiment is being pulled back from there. You and Lu Da will be in charge. I have sixteen hundred militia there — form them into a large brigade. Lu Da will be the brigade commander, you'll be the deputy brigade commander. Keep that place secure for me!" Zhao Jin said.

Li He was first stunned, then looked up in shock, staring blankly at Zhao Jin. He'd been in the Zhao Battalion long enough to know that this militia was no ordinary village braves or estate guards. Their training and quality far surpassed that of common government troops. Those from household-troop backgrounds within the Zhao Battalion system might not feel it, and those who didn't understand might not care, but Li He was a former regular military officer who'd led troops — he understood perfectly well what it meant to command sixteen hundred Xuzhou militia.

He'd followed Li Dajin in defecting here. Li Dajin had gone to Nanjing to work with his head on the line, while he himself had been kept under constant watch, spending his days handling the sort of errands only bailiffs and thugs dealt with. He'd grown utterly disheartened, and after meeting that Miss Wu, his one thought had been to settle down and start a family.

Li He had been through more than others and saw things more clearly. Amid all the chaotic rumors, Li He knew a real fight might be coming. All this time he'd been thinking about how to take the Wu family and flee the ravages of war. From Li He's experience, losing was unlikely, but it could very well drag on for a long time. He'd never expected Zhao Jin to summon him today.

Most people would have been overjoyed at this, but Li He hesitated. He just stood there scratching his head — a gesture that even drew the gaze of Niu Jinbao and Sun Dalin behind Zhao Jin.

"You don't want the post?" Zhao Jin asked coolly.

Only then did Li He snap out of it. He dropped straight to his knees and said, "Master Jin's gracious favor — how could this lowly one not want it? It's just that this lowly one wants to know how far Master Jin intends to go. That is... I was thinking..."

"If nothing happens, that's best. At worst, we just angle for an amnesty and official pardon," Zhao Jin answered very directly.

Li He was stunned for another moment, then let out a long breath and said in a muffled voice, "That's good then..."

Halfway through, he realized it sounded wrong and hurriedly waved his hands to explain, "This lowly one didn't mean it that way. Master Jin, that thing you're aiming for — it's still early, still early. Take it slow, that day will come sooner or later. This lowly one will definitely put his heart into the work, please rest assured, Master Jin."

Zhao Jin looked at Li He kneeling there. Had this man grown disheartened from being left idle? He was a capable hand who could get things done — a pity. Zhao Jin gestured for Li He to stand. "I don't intend to keep anyone as a hostage. If you feel she's a tie holding you back, I'll take charge of it for you. In the next couple of days, get the marriage done with that Miss Wu, then take your wife with you to Qingjiangpu."

A widow who'd only stood at the gate, and on Xuzhou turf at that — Zhao Jin's word carried the weight of a parent's command. Even if it wasn't strictly by the book, no one would say anything. The marriage could certainly be completed within two days.

Li He, still on the ground, jolted again, his face full of shock. Within the Zhao Battalion system, he and Li Dajin were two outliers. Because their pasts were complicated, they thought far more than others about everything. Despite his constant down-and-out state, when Zhao Jin had just assigned him to oversee the Qingjiangpu militia, Li He's first reaction hadn't been gratitude. He'd immediately thought of Miss Wu, figuring that Zhao Jin hadn't used him when he had no ties, and now that he had ties, he could be used — in the end, it was all about having a hostage to control him.

But when he heard Zhao Jin say to bring Miss Wu along too, Li He knew he'd been wrong. Right there, disregarding all decorum, he mulled it over for a moment, then heavily kowtowed and said in a muffled voice, "Since Master Jin trusts this lowly one, this lowly one will put his heart into the work. Even if it costs me my life, I'll keep Qingjiangpu secure. But Qingjiangpu won't be a peaceful place in the future either — it wouldn't be convenient for Sister Wu to go. When this lowly one has finished his duties, I'll come back and marry her in grand, glorious style!"

Zhao Jin smiled and nodded, then continued, "The reason I'm sending you to assist Lu Da is precisely because you've served in the government army and understand where the lines are. What you need to do in Qingjiangpu is hold your ground. If something really happens — if the enemy doesn't move, you don't move. If the enemy moves against you, you only need to hold out there for six days, and the main brigade will come to your rescue."

Thanks to the two old friends "Yuan Henry Zhen" and "Book Friend 1287208672" for their tips. Thank you everyone for your subscriptions and monthly tickets. Thank you all.