Chapter 742: The Horse Convoy Heading North

The storehouses inside the encampment and throughout He Village were all thrown wide open. Equipment and supplies for four hundred men and over a thousand horses were brought out in a steady stream. Under the bustling efforts of the Zhao Camp quartermasters, the Cloud Mountain Trading House, and the Sun Family Trading House personnel, everything was quickly allocated and ready for orders.

This flurry of activity was only the beginning. Provisions and equipment for the days ahead, along with the oxen and horses to transport them, were all being arranged. Riders had already been dispatched at full speed to the Yellow River ferry crossing to gather enough boats to ship the men and horses across, and to cross the river to notify the opposite bank to prepare for their reception and make ready.

After Ma Liu accompanied Ma Chonghao to Xuzhou, he naturally could no longer follow at Ma Chonghao's side as before. He stayed at He Village to look after Ma Chonghao's family, with the outward identity of the Ma household steward. Life was easy but stifling.

With nothing to do in his spare time, Ma Liu liked to take walks around He Village. A simple, honest-looking servant often followed behind him. Ma Liu knew this was a watcher arranged by the Zhao Camp. Having served in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for so long, he naturally understood this tactic, so every time he went out, he took the initiative to call the man to follow him.

Wandering around He Village, one could see a great deal. Ma Liu was loyal to Ma Chonghao, loyal to the core, but he hadn't been very willing to come here. He always felt that as long as they had silver, hiding away in Jiangnan would be better. Yet after arriving, he felt Ma Chonghao's choice had been right. As for comfort and enjoyment, that was hard to say, but safety was absolutely guaranteed.

On this outing, he saw the relentless preparations inside and outside He Village. Ma Liu didn't know what had happened, but what he saw before his eyes allowed him to discern a great deal. Busy but not chaotic. Vast quantities of supplies were being hauled out of the warehouses, all well-preserved, stacked neatly, and being distributed by category.

As Ma Chonghao's trusted confidant, Ma Liu was very familiar with the usual practice of issuing rations, pay, and arms. Goods stored in the main warehouses were invariably moth-eaten, rat-gnawed junk, already rotting when brought out. So-called cotton armor inlaid with iron plates was often just a cotton-padded jacket. Grain said to be rice and wheat was reduced to nothing but husks. To get anything of quality, you either had to procure it yourself or spend money to bribe everyone in the warehouse, top to bottom.

But the Zhao Camp's setup before him seemed to be just an ordinary warehouse, yet everything brought out from inside was impeccably orderly. Though not brand-new, top-grade goods, there was no sign of rust or decay.

Ma Liu had wandered this area enough to know it well. He knew there were many such warehouses, inside and out, and that the truly important ones were not here. In that case, the scene before his eyes was simply their ordinary, daily standard.

"My word, truly remarkable!" Ma Liu muttered a few times.

Compared to the conduct of the Great Ming's official troops, this was indeed remarkable. Yet just how remarkable, Ma Liu couldn't quite articulate. But he knew that if Ma Chonghao saw this scene, he would certainly be moved to far deeper reflections.

There were all sorts of people around He Village, and the Zhao Camp's bustle was not hidden from anyone. Nor was it really connected to any need for secrecy. After all, the scale of preparation when Zhao Jin left He Village for Qingjiangpu and other places was much the same. Besides, this matter had been decided too late; there was no time for any concealment.

Watching the Zhao Camp bustle about in such an orderly fashion, watching so many supplies brought out and distributed, watching several hundred elite troops don armor and mount their horses — it seemed the work had begun around breakfast time, and they were already setting out before lunch.

So many supplies, so many men and horses, all readied and marching out in less than two shichen — such efficiency had already shaken many people.

Zhao Jin led the main force out. The Xuzhou trained militia and the affiliated forces of the jianghu began sealing the roads. Even if you knew Zhao Jin had left, under this blockade, you had no way of knowing where he was headed.

Crossing the river took no great effort. The Yellow River's current was very gentle, partly because there had been no rain upstream, and partly because the Xuzhou area had dug channels to divert water, splitting and slowing the flow.

After coming ashore, they reformed ranks and readied equipment, then set out again. The main force Zhao Jin led moved very slowly, at a normal marching pace. But Liu Yong's Internal Guard troop rode at a gallop. In fact, all mounted personnel from every power on the north bank of the Yellow River had been mobilized. Those familiar with the situation in Shandong went there to scout for information; those unfamiliar served as escorts along the route, screening the roads.

After all, they could not simply blunder headlong into Shandong territory. The main force Zhao Jin led had set out in order not to lose a single moment. They needed to receive intelligence feedback from Shandong while on the march.

After crossing the river, they spent the night at the Xu Family estate. The Xu Family provided for them with all their might. Zhao Jin rarely came to the north bank of the Yellow River and had little contact with most members of the Xu clan. Everyone had only heard his name, never seen the man — just those resounding, even unbelievable rumors. The Xu family's awe was reserved for Xu Zhenzhen, especially after the recent purge.

This time, they finally saw him. Over four hundred fully armed young warriors. The Xu family were not particularly surprised by the weapons and armor, since much of it was produced right here by the Xu family. What truly shook them was the stern, imposing bearing of the troop Zhao Jin led.

Though there were over four hundred men, under orders they moved as one. Approaching them up close, it felt as if one were facing not four hundred scattered individuals, but a single mountain-like giant, a colossal entity that could casually crush a man with a mere gesture. Looking at these silent, composed young warriors, the Xu family began to feel that it was not impossible that Ma Chonghao's group of official soldiers had been frightened away. The men their son-in-law led could not even be described with words like wolves or tigers — these were all fierce tigers!

Besides this stern, fierce aura in their advance and retreat, another thing that made the Xu family's eyelids twitch uncontrollably was the thousand-plus sturdy horses. Sturdy horses with complete tack. Everyone knew the Zhao Camp was immensely wealthy, but to produce so many tall, large horses, all fully saddled and bridled, at once, was still profoundly shocking.

For all the Xu family's vast estate, one didn't see many horses. Wherever animal power was needed, they used oxen and mules, or even directly substituted human labor. Yet their own son-in-law had brought so many horses, and more than half were used merely to carry luggage. Truly extravagant, with no thought for frugal living.

With this troop's arrival, everyone understood why the family's eldest young miss had the confidence to purge the Xu family. With this man behind her, her back was certainly ramrod straight.

As was the rule on every Zhao Camp march, in cold weather, if the place where they camped could provide food and water, they would not tap into their own supply provisions first.

The Xu family, with its vast estate and great enterprise, had no difficulty supplying provisions for four hundred men and over a thousand horses. But what was required of them went beyond just this. Personnel from the Cloud Mountain Trading House had already followed across the river. They were drafting able-bodied men from the Xu family, purchasing the Xu family's supplies, and preparing to establish a camp near the provincial border between Xuzhou and Shandong.

They halted for one night at the Xu family estate and set out early the next morning. That night, they planned to lodge at a manor in Pei County. That area was also one of the Xuzhou trained militia's garrisons. Lu Da's First Great Brigade should be waiting near the provincial border, and the trained militia on the north bank of the Yellow River were currently assembling and heading that way.

The gentry and powerful families of Feng County and Pei County likewise would not miss this chance to curry favor with Zhao Jin. The Cloud Mountain Trading House offered prices for purchases and requisitioned able-bodied men. Every family scrambled to supply them with all their might. The money and grain spent was indeed considerable, but compared to the Liao Impost they had been spared, it was nothing at all.

After crossing the river, the companions with Zhao Jin could not help but observe him, trying to detect excitement or anxiety on his face. But Zhao Jin remained very calm. That evening, he arranged the duty rosters with his companions, taking turns standing guard and patrolling. He then taught and instructed the student guards and household guards. He went to sleep very early, as if this were just an ordinary inspection tour.

Late that very second night, word arrived. Liu Yong personally led the messenger over. Zhao Jin, who had been sleeping in his clothes, rose immediately. Niu Jinbao did not light the lamp.

"Elder Brother, the Sect Hierarch of the Smelling Incense Sect, Xu Hongru, has already sent word to the assembly masters and incense heads throughout Shandong, Northern Zhili, and Henan. He says that on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, he will perform a ritual and burn the demoness, and invites representatives from all quarters to observe the ceremony."

"Is the news reliable?"

"It comes from an incense master of the Smelling Incense Sect in Caozhou. His maternal uncle sells liquor in Xuzhou and has already taken considerable benefits from us, even sending his two sons over."

"Continue the reconnaissance. At dawn, increase speed and advance." After a brief exchange, Zhao Jin gave his conclusion.

Outside, Liu Yong and the messenger received the order and left at a quick pace. Zhao Jin stood silently before the door for a moment. Niu Jinbao stood guard silently at his side.

"Today is the third of the eleventh month," Zhao Jin muttered a single sentence before going back to sleep.

Early the next morning, Zhao Jin's personal guard and household guards began relaying orders to every man: Enter Shandong. The entire troop will accelerate. Now that it was confirmed the person was still alive and they could make it before the deadline, the faster the better.

The main force set out on the road. Every two shichen of riding, they dismounted for a brief rest, changed horses, and then continued forward. They did not gallop at a reckless, all-out pace, but they kept moving constantly, not stopping until nightfall.

The third night after crossing the river was spent on the border between Xuzhou and Shandong. The Zhao Camp's system played a tremendous role. By the time Zhao Jin's four hundred-plus men and horses reached this camp, provisions were already prepared. Rest quarters and simple stables were also ready. The trained militia had already begun setting up defenses in the area.

With all these preliminary preparations done to perfection, the moment the Zhao Camp arrived, they could immediately begin resting. They did not need to drag their weary bodies through setting up camp and managing affairs. The horses, after a day of hard riding, could immediately be given suitable feed and water, get their rest, and avoid injury or sudden death from excessive running.

On the morning of the second day after the main force crossed the river, the Internal Guard's watchers and scouts were already relaying intelligence back from within Shandong. By the time the troop Zhao Jin led reached the border between Xuzhou and Yutai County in Shandong, the news was already quite definite.

The speed and accuracy of this intelligence was not because the Internal Guard's capability was so formidable, but because the Smelling Incense Sect Hierarch Xu Hongru wanted to thoroughly proclaim his dominance and supremacy within the sect. Over these many years, the Smelling Incense Sect had split into several branches. There were three who called themselves Sect Hierarch: the old hierarch Wang Sen in the capital, the orthodox hierarch Wang Haoxian in Luanzhou, and Xu Hongru, whose strength was greatest at the main headquarters in Yuncheng. These three branches each had their own following. Apart from them, the Mu family had carved out a sphere of influence centered on Dongchang Prefecture, and this sphere also acted independently.

Thanks to the three old friends "Mu Ming," "Yuan Heng Li Zhen," and "Pang Zi Zhou" for the tips. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets.