Chapter 723: Settling Accounts

Never mind anything else — even the war with the Jianzhou Jurchens in Liaodong drew no one's attention. As for the rebellion in Xuzhou? Where are the official dispatches? Where are the reports? Where are the urgent letters from the local officials? There is nothing at all. So stop spreading reckless talk and unsettling the army and the people.

This was indeed a matter of great importance. Wang Youshan, who was in the capital, got word of it at the very first moment and sent fast riders out of the capital with letters. In those few days, no one knew how many fast riders had galloped out of the capital to deliver messages.

Everyone knew the background of Ma Chonghao, the Assistant Commander of the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard. He had risen to power relying on the younger brother of Imperial Noble Consort Zheng. With the Wanli Emperor's passing, the Zheng clan was doomed to fall, and Ma Chonghao would suffer misfortune as well. In that case, Ma Chonghao's operation against Xuzhou would simply vanish like smoke.

Though the saying goes "commit murder and arson, then get amnesty," it was still better not to raise a banner and start a fight. As an elder, he was unwilling to see the younger generation take risks. But his news arrived several days too late. By the time Zhao Jin and the others learned of it, that aggressive, menacing large force had already dispersed for nearly ten days.

In this anticlimactic storm, very few people profited, and not many suffered any truly major losses. What everyone lost was merely the business they couldn't do while the markets were shut. The ones who suffered truly devastating losses were the Yangzhou salt merchants.

The head of Feng Jinde, the current head of the Yangzhou Feng family, was not buried in Yangzhou. Instead, it was preserved and brought to Xuzhou. The Feng family put it very nicely: everything was Feng Jinde's madness, and the Feng family knew nothing about it.

The Zhao Camp's reply was also very simple. From now on, every dan of salt goods passing through Xuzhou would be subject to a twenty percent transit tax. For goods not passing through Xuzhou, there was no way to calculate it. Therefore, the various Yangzhou salt merchant families would jointly cede six salt fields to the Sun Family Trading House to operate, and the salt produced would be sold by the salt merchants.

"From our ancestors' generation selling salt until now, we've never even paid the full salt tax to the Great Ming court. On what grounds does a local bully like you dare to collect like this?"

They could say what they wanted, but the Yangzhou side could only hold their noses and comply. The Zhao Camp indeed did not want to rebel — or rather, did not want to rebel right now — and so would not go to Yangzhou to start a major fight. Yet the Zhao Camp had already completely taken control of the northern part of Huai'an Prefecture. Westward from the Wild Grass Flats lay the Haizhou line, the production area of Huai salt.

The Zhao Camp did not even mobilize its full household troop strength. They merely sent a letter to Zhang Hubin over there. Zhang Hubin dispatched a force of two thousand militia. The several overland routes out of the Haizhou salt fields immediately faced the danger of being locked down. Zhao Jin did not want to push things to the extreme, and the time for that had not yet come. But the salt merchants also understood the principle of not forcing someone to extremes, and each obediently paid up.

Just because of that gamble they had placed, the Yangzhou salt merchants would have to pay Zhao Jin over two hundred thousand taels of silver more each year — and that was only the base figure.

This time, the Yangzhou Feng family was no longer the foremost among the salt merchants. Due to insufficient capital, they had invited Yunshan Trading House to take a sixty percent stake. Half of the family's assets and all future income now belonged to the Zhao Camp.

Cutting off a man's source of wealth is like killing his parents. To slice away half of the Feng family's fortune for nothing — this was naturally a deep, mortal hatred worth fighting to the death over. But the Feng family still vividly remembered that night of bloody carnage, and how their proud private soldiers had simply vanished like smoke. In the face of life and death, everything else was hollow.

In this storm, the ones who handled things most beautifully were actually the wealthy merchants of Qingjiangpu. You could say they trimmed their sails to the wind, but no evidence could be found. The silver and gifts they had given Ma Chonghao, even those discussions about carving up the Zhao Camp's properties — they admitted to all of it. Yet they also said it was something they had no choice but to do, forced by the vicious threats of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Moreover, the Zhao Camp's properties in Qingjiangpu had suffered no losses whatsoever, and all personnel were safe and sound. In this, the wealthy merchants of Qingjiangpu had even played a somewhat positive role.

Zhao Jin did not want to push things to the extreme, nor did he want to tear off all pretense. The other side had also given him sufficient face to step down. So, regarding Qingjiangpu, he let the matter drop lightly.

But everyone knew in their hearts what had really happened. So the remedial measures of the Qingjiangpu wealthy merchants were generous enough. The silver that had been given to Ma Chonghao's contingent — most of it had been left in Qingjiangpu to be picked up on the return journey — was all given to the militia under Lu Da and Li He. Then, they voluntarily raised the cartage fees for the Grand Wagon House by thirty percent. This was, in effect, a tacit acknowledgment that Zhao Jin could collect taxes there. After all, all transport in and out of Qingjiangpu depended on the Yunshan Wagon House.

Beyond these enormous sums, the wealthy merchants of Qingjiangpu all traveled north to Xuzhou together, bearing lavish gifts, prepared to properly congratulate Zhao Jin on the joyous occasion of his newborn son.

Earlier, when the Zhao Camp had pulled back, the territory between Pizhou and Qingjiangpu had been in chaos everywhere. Local strongmen and bandit gangs all wanted to raise their banners and make a name. Once the various forces led by Ma Chonghao collapsed and scattered, the region immediately fell silent. Those who should cease their activities ceased; those who should flee for their lives fled. The refugees and displaced people who had been swept along instantly became a disorganized rabble.

After confirming that Ma Chonghao and his men had passed Qingjiangpu, Zhao Jin issued an order. Li He led one thousand militia back to Xuzhou to await orders. Tao Gui led one hundred cavalry, and Zhuang Liu led one thousand elite Xuzhou militia, setting out from Xuzhou toward Qingjiangpu. This southward and northward movement was not merely a redeployment; it was also to sweep away the chaos along the route, along with those minor powers who had previously acted recklessly. The Zhao Camp had mobilized over two thousand men at once. In this region, they had no rivals.

At the time, Xuzhou Mobile Corps Commander Zhou Baolu had also been involved in this scheme. Unlike the others, he had known from the very beginning that Zhao Jin was not to be trifled with. So he had directly moved his entire family out of Xuzhou city and relocated to Pizhou city. When the scheme failed, Zhou Baolu no longer wished to return to Xuzhou. Pizhou, situated along the canal, was already flourishing and prosperous. Settling there long-term was not a bad choice.

Even the Emperor's passing had little impact on a military chief like him in the Southern Metropolitan Region. Before the high officials in the court sorted everything out, his position would not be touched for two or three years.

As a regional garrison commander, not being in Xuzhou naturally brought all sorts of inconveniences, even embarrassment and loss of face. Zhou Baolu knew all this and was prepared to endure it. Once enough time had passed, he would ask someone to mediate and smooth things over; there was bound to be a way to turn things around. To be frank, the Zhou family was different from outsiders. Having been stationed in Xuzhou for so long, they were practically local natives, with deep, intertwined connections. Among his own personal guard and household troops, many were from the Xuzhou Three Garrisons. Of course, these men had basically not participated in the affair. At that critical juncture, they were either injured or had fallen ill...

But how rarely do things in this world go as one wishes? What Xuzhou Mobile Corps Commander Zhou Baolu had not expected was that after Ma Chonghao and his crew retreated past Qingjiangpu, his family in Pizhou city was surrounded. In broad daylight, the Xuzhou Mobile Corps Commander's entire family, along with his subordinate troops, were encircled within the city.

Cheng Daqi had mustered over two thousand men, more than six hundred of them mounted, and entered the city to carry out this deed. They made their move in the morning, and by afternoon, nearly three thousand men had them surrounded. Several streets were completely blocked.

People who heard the news all rushed over. Those who had failed to curry favor with Master Jin before could not let this opportunity slip by now.

At the time, Commander Zhou was so furious his lips turned blue and his hands trembled. His trusted confidants around him were so enraged they cursed bitterly and wanted to draw their blades and fight to the death.

But the ones who went out to negotiate were Commander Zhou's two sons. With smiles plastered all over their faces, they spoke with the utmost politeness: "We are all fellow countrymen. Why bring out swords and spears? Whatever needs to be said can be said nicely; can't we sit down and talk?"

"We heroes of Xuzhou and Pizhou have no fellow countrymen like you who eat from the bowl and bite the hand that feeds! Master Jin took such good care of everyone, yet you colluded with outsiders to harm him. Today, we must settle this for good!"

Someone outside roared, and a chorus of agreement rose. Many raised their blades and spears, shouting. It was as if a quieter voice would fail to show their loyalty to Zhao Jin.

The residence Commander Zhou was temporarily staying in could be considered a high-walled compound. Someone lay on the wall looking down, going back and forth several times before hastily returning to report.

"General, Zhao Jin hasn't sent anyone. Your subordinate watched for a long time and didn't see any household troops or militia from the Zhao Camp. It's very likely just the rabble in and around Pizhou city stirring up trouble. Why not scatter them? This is too outrageous."

"The four hundred men we have on hand probably aren't enough. The roads outside are all blocked solid. If we really fight, whether we can get out is uncertain. We might even get trapped there, unable to advance or retreat. General, your subordinate thinks we could ask Defender Huang of Pizhou to come to the rescue. With a coordinated strike from within and without, this rabble will scatter immediately."

With everyone offering their opinions, Commander Zhou also thought it feasible. He immediately ordered his household troops and personal guards to prepare, while sending someone to sneak out and summon help. He also worriedly exhorted them: when they made their move, they absolutely must not cause any deaths, or there would be no way to clean up the mess. Hearing this, everyone just felt dejected.

If it had been the Zhao Camp surrounding this place, even with four hundred household troops, not a single person would have been allowed to slip out. But with over three thousand men from various Pizhou factions gathered, the result was that Commander Zhou's subordinate still managed to sneak out. What was even more absurd was that not only did this man get out, but he also managed to see the person and bring back a message.

When he returned, the entire compound was shrouded in gloom. It turned out that just now, when Company Commander Chu had gone to muster the household troops to prepare for a fight, more than half of the men had suddenly become "injured" or "fallen ill." Company Commander Chu was so furious he cursed them out. Because his curses were so harsh, those who were "injured" and "sick" all became enraged. Everyone drew their blades and faced off. You cursed me for being an ungrateful, heartless wretch; I cursed you for having ill intentions and leading everyone to their deaths.

If Commander Zhou had not come out and cursed furiously, ordering both sides to stop, who knows what kind of chaos would have erupted.

The personal guard who had gone for help went to see the grim-faced Commander Zhou. He hemmed and hawed as he delivered his report. He had indeed managed to see Defender Huang of Pizhou on this mission for aid. However, Defender Huang had also "fallen ill" and was truly unable to lead troops to the rescue. When Commander Zhou heard this, he nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The ones surrounding them outside were indeed a rabble. As nightfall approached, more than half of them actually wanted to go home, saying they would come back the next day. Cheng Daqi and a few die-hard loyalists led their household troops and militia and continued the siege. People in the city were even supplying them with food and lodging. This made Commander Zhou's side grind their teeth in fury, yet they still dared not make a move.

Thanks to the three old friends "User Fenghua, Qi Sanwen, Wu Liulang" for their tips, and thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets.