Chapter 715: Just Watching a Monkey Show

"So what if they've been kept for that long? At most it's only a few years. From childhood they've known nothing but the court and the officials, grown up seeing the might of government runners and troops, heard people talk—tell me, who do you think weighs heavier in their hearts? Yes, they've fought government troops before, but back then we never made it clear, and even now they only vaguely suspect. The way I see it, that barrier in their hearts won't be so easy to break. Of course, if we really set out to do something, some below will certainly follow. But what if some below are unwilling? What if they feel they dare not stand against the court's troops? One man dares not, ten dare not, and once the murmuring starts, even those who would have dared lose their nerve. Before long the whole thing collapses, and in the end it's just us brothers and a hundred or two loyal subordinates left... Can we take on a thousand-strong cavalry troop with that?" Zhao Jin's tone was utterly at odds with the content of his words—remarkably indifferent.

Hearing Zhao Jin speak like this, Shi Manqiang, who normally didn't talk back, couldn't help interrupting: "Big Brother, how is what you're saying even possible?"

"How is it not possible? What we're about to do—anyone would see it as a beheading-and-clan-extermination risk. No amount of caution is too much. Shitou, let me ask you: what I've said may sound absurd, but is it possible? Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance?" Zhao Jin pressed him with a stern look. "These household troops—can you guarantee that every last one of them, knowing full well it's a beheading-and-clan-extermination job, will still follow us without a backward glance?"

Shi Manqiang was instantly stifled into silence, his face flushing red. He stewed for a long while before finally stammering, "Big Brother, put that way, it really is possible. Still, I think with all the kindness and obligation we've shown these household troops, the vast majority will still follow us. As long as you give the order..."

Zhao Jin's expression was grave. "I believe what you say too. But since we're undertaking something like this, and since there's a surer approach, we must choose the most reliable method first. That's right—we're not afraid to take risks, but at this moment there's no need to take risks."

After he finished, he swept his gaze around. Everyone was slowly nodding. Each of them had seen Zhao Jin's expression; they'd been together long enough to read it clearly. What Zhao Jin was saying now brooked no argument—it could only be carried out.

"Then tell us, what reliable method should we use now?" Everyone looked at Zhao Jin with expectant eyes, waiting for him to decide.

"I have no brilliant stratagem either. War is nothing more than the hearts of men. This Xuzhou is our territory—we already hold the advantages of time and place. If men's hearts turn toward us, what is there left to fear?" Zhao Jin explained with a solemn face. "What are men's hearts? Men's hearts are wanting a full belly, wanting a good life! These household troops and their parents and kin have filled their bellies because of us, gained property because of us, straightened their backs—they can see the good life right before them. And now, step by step, people are pressing in to bully them, wanting to strip away everything they've fought so hard to gain, even wanting to make their lives worse than before. Can they endure this? Not even the company commanders and squad leaders who've reaped the greatest benefits—even the ordinary household troops below can't endure it. So men's hearts, sooner or later, will stand on our side."

"Then should we start rousing their fighting spirit now?" Liu Yong asked again.

"No need. Start too early and the drive will fizzle out by the time it's needed. Drill the troops properly first." Zhao Jin shook his head lightly, then said in a stern voice, "When the moment is upon us, then we mobilize—let them go into battle brimming with fighting will and courage! I refuse to believe troops like these could be stopped by government soldiers!"

Then Zhao Jin looked around the room once more and spoke again: "I don't need to say it—everyone knows this is the most critical juncture. No one is permitted to slack off. All of you, go!"

His companions rose with a roar, each heading for the door. Zhao Jin raised his voice behind them: "You should understand—I'm arranging things this way not out of arrogance, but confidence! The court right now is nothing but a clay bodhisattva—looks imposing, but it's long since crumbling!"

By the time the elite cavalry gathered from all directions reached Pi County, the Zhao Camp, having already received instructions from above, remained busy but not chaotic. Each unit repeatedly checked and rechecked its preparations, quietly awaiting the coming battle.

And when Ma Chonghao's large cavalry force reached that estate outside Xuzhou city, Zhao Jin gave the direct order: on the twenty-second day of the seventh month, the Zhao Camp would be reviewed!

This review was not without precautions. Men were posted to watch every major route, ready to report at the first sign of movement. This review was the pre-battle mobilization—if the main cavalry force came today, then battle could begin today.

In ordinary years, by this time the eastern open ground at He Village would be packed with carts and horses, with plenty of space even fenced off with railings for stockpiling goods. But this year, because of these events, it was desolate and quiet. Yet the empty space was perfect for the review.

When Zhao Jin stepped onto the platform, the drums began to beat. Amid that monotonous drumming, company after company of household troops marched into the field—the Guard Detachment, the First Regiment, the Second Regiment, the Third Regiment, entering in order and forming up at their pre-marked positions before the wooden platform.

Though the weather was stiflingly hot, every man entitled to wear armor was in full battle gear. The commanding officers of each regiment and company did not stand on the platform this time; instead, each stood at the right head of the first rank of his unit, leading them into the field.

A few men stood on the wooden platform. Zhao Jin stood at the center, with Wang Zhaojing and Liu Yong attending behind him to his left and right. Zhao Jin's armor, however, was black—a secret method of the Xu family's iron smelting and forging. After treatment, the iron armor turned black and became highly resistant to rust. This technique had always been kept secret, but it was rarely used on arms and armor because black was considered inauspicious. Yet Zhao Jin liked this color, and this time he put it to use. Sun Dalin stood behind Liu Yong, holding Zhao Jin's weapon, his long spear, which had been lacquered entirely in vermilion red—clearly visible to every man.

The newly built wooden platform, constructed of bamboo and timber, stood at the north side of the entire open ground. Household troops of the Guard Detachment and Inner Guard Detachment surrounded it, while the other units formed ranks before the platform. Aside from the men guarding Zhao Jin, at intervals radiating outward from the platform through the gaps between the units below, a household trooper stood posted at every set distance.

While the household troops were being reviewed here, quite a few commoners and villagers had gathered around to watch the excitement, along with a handful of shopkeepers and clerks from the market who had not left.

Though the situation was tense, since people had already decided not to leave, coming to watch a bit of excitement was nothing. And many of those who stayed, along with the nearby villagers, simply did not believe the Zhao Camp could lose—looking at such stern and disciplined troops, where else could you find their like? Surely they would endure for a thousand, ten thousand years. What court, what Embroidered Uniform Guard—what were those? In the words of one villager with a smattering of letters: weren't they just clay chickens and pottery dogs?

Ma Chonghao and his group had also mingled into the crowd and come over. Though Zhao Jin's core armed force was right before their eyes, they showed no tension at all, laughing and joking as they blended in with the onlookers. To get a clearer view, they had even deliberately found a spot with relatively higher ground and hauled a cart over to gain another couple of feet in height. A few of the leaders stood on top while the others flanked them on both sides. This spot happened to be right where the units were marching into the field, and because of the close distance, they could see everything in fine detail.

The men who had come with Ma Chonghao—even those who weren't military officers were personal guards of officers—had seen countless military reviews and parades. What was before them didn't strike them as anything novel; they even had the leisure to offer a few quips.

"War drums for a large unit, fine—but what's with the suona and pan drums for barely a thousand men? Don't tell me they're going to put on an opera next?"

"Those banners are pretty inauspicious too—red background with black characters, not a single other style. Looks like a coffin shop."

"That fellow in the black armor—is that Zhao Jin? Damn rustic, wearing black armor—not afraid of the bad luck..."

They might not have actually spotted anything truly noteworthy; they were just cracking wise to get a laugh out of each other. Outsiders watching this group break into guffaws from time to time simply thought they were enjoying the show.

"Gotta say, though, that iron gear is no joke. Looks like this kid Zhao Jin really has built himself quite a fortune, to be able to squander it like this. When the time comes, I'll have to snag a few sets for the lads under me."

"You might not know this, but that kid's wife's family runs the most famous iron business in the whole country—no telling how huge their operations are. Several provinces around here all use that Xu family iron. Otherwise, how could Zhao Jin outfit his rabble with so much armor?"

"I'd wager that family thought they'd lucked out when someone was willing to marry that big-footed elder sister of theirs. But after these past few years, that family must be regretting it to no end. Zhao Jin squandering his wife's family fortune like this, so recklessly—who could bear it? And now on top of that he's a rebel. Even if her family isn't named as the rebel chief, they'll at least be labeled rebel accomplices. Won't even be able to save their own clan!"

"Hey, don't put it that way. Their lives should still be spared—they'll just have to bleed a fortune to pay tribute to the big shots in the capital, that's all. Besides, if you don't mind the woman, you could marry her yourself once this is over. Sure, she'd be secondhand, but you can't beat a dowry that size!"

"Bah! Once we've taken Zhao Jin, I'll have my pick of the women on the Qinhuai River and the wives of Datong—who'd still fancy a big-footed hag like that?"

After a few of them had their say, another round of raucous laughter broke out, as if they were treating Zhao Jin's review as nothing more than a monkey show.

The ones speaking so flippantly were all lower-ranking personal guards. Ma Chonghao, Xu Tiebiao, and the others merely smiled without a word. By now, their confidence had only grown—looking at the scene before them, it was nothing more than an extra layer of meticulousness.

From their cursory glance earlier, there was nothing worth noting about the fortifications—there weren't even any fortifications to speak of, just the walls, fences, and deep ditches enclosing the camp. These posed no obstacle or defensive capability whatsoever, not worth mentioning. Even if Zhao Jin tried to make a desperate last stand here, taking him down wouldn't be much trouble.

What truly caught the attention of Ma Chonghao's party wasn't these crude defenses and preparations, but the sheer scale of He Village—that salt market and trading fair, and the houses and street layouts that faintly resembled the look of Qingjiangpu. Though everything was desolate and quiet now, one could easily imagine how prosperous it would be once in full operation, and what kind of wealth that represented. From this, it was clear that Zhao Jin's accumulated gains over the years were no small sum.