Chapter 839: Xu Hongru

Everyone looked solemn. What Zhao Jin spoke of was something they all understood in their hearts. Ever since they began gathering refugees and establishing the manors, refugees slipping away to return to their hometowns had been a constant problem. Even though the Zhao Character Battalion sent people daily to proclaim that Shandong was utterly desolate and that the Liao conscription levies had made life unbearable for the locals, it still could not stop people from going home. Now they had severe laws and harsh punishments — escape meant only a path to death. Moreover, when bringing in refugees from various places, they offered all kinds of preferential treatment and care to women, precisely to make the refugees settle down and feel at ease.

But the attachment to one's native soil is strong, and it is hard to leave one's homeland. Some who had already started families even took their wives and children and fled back. Of course, they felt they were suffering and toiling in the Zhao Character Battalion's manors and thought life would be easier once they returned. Only after going home did they realize that Xuzhou was paradise, but by then it was too late to come back.

There was one refugee who had originally been a certified junior student. He was diligent and capable, and from the very start he was selected for a steward's position. After marrying, he was blessed with dragon-phoenix twins, the envy of all. They had originally planned to send him to work in Qingjiangpu after a while longer. No one expected that this man would take advantage of a trip to Xuzhou on official business to abscond with silver, a cart, and horses, fleeing back to Shandong with his family.

This incident infuriated the Zhao Character Battalion from top to bottom, but they were helpless to do anything about it. Within Xuzhou's borders it would have been one thing, but this man had clearly fled to Shandong — they didn't even know where to go to catch him.

Two months later, however, this man came back. He had left with his family, but he returned alone, going straight to the manor near Pei County. When they first saw him, everyone thought he was a wandering refugee beggar with nowhere to go and prepared to take him in and resettle him, but then he reported his identity.

During his flight from famine, this man's family had already been destroyed and his property and fields swallowed up by others. On the road with his family, they encountered mounted bandits. He had to hand over the cart, horses, and all his money just to barely keep his family unharmed. Then, when he went back to reclaim his family's fields, his dwelling caught fire in the middle of the night. Outside the city, they met more bandits. He alone escaped with his life thanks to the training he'd received at the manor, but his wife and children could not get out. And so he begged his way all the way back to Shandong.

Pitiable people invariably have detestable traits. The Zhao Character Battalion did not execute or punish him, but instead arranged for people to go from manor to manor to preach and explain, letting everyone know what Shandong was really like.

Yet according to the eyes and ears within the manors, a certain saying circulated inside: if you don't want us to go back, we won't go back — why go to the trouble of fabricating these stories and finding someone to put on a show to deceive us?

Even so, there were always people who still wanted to return home. If you placed them in Shandong, already on their native soil, and added the Incense-Smelling Sect, so skilled at inciting and beguiling hearts, what would happen was all too easy to imagine.

Unfortunately, given the Zhao Character Battalion's current capabilities in covert operations, they had few means to deal with the Incense-Smelling Sect's inner workings — even though the Zhao Character Battalion could arrange for men to operate in the capital...

Zhao Jin sat in his seat, pondering in silence for a long time, before finally speaking in a muffled voice: "If the Incense-Smelling Sect dares to rise in chaos, then after defeating the government troops, we'll sweep them flat! When they're not in chaos, everything is hidden. Once they rise in chaos, everything will have to be brought out into the open!"

After Baoding Regional Commander Lu Qin led his troops into Shandong, his every move was not only closely watched by the Zhao Character Battalion's covert agents, but also surrounded by the Incense-Smelling Sect's spies. Every stir of wind and rustle of grass inside and outside the camp was swiftly relayed to the sect's main headquarters in Yuncheng.

After the Baoding troops entered Yanzhou Prefecture, Incense-Smelling Sect Hierarch Xu Hongru and his core confidants all left the city, ready at any moment to flee far away. Only after Lu Qin led his troops to Jining Subprefecture for a temporary rest and regroup did the Incense-Smelling Sect hierarchy gradually return to the city. Yet one gate of Yuncheng County's walls remained perpetually ajar. If any alarm sounded, the sect's core followers would mount horses and escort Xu Hongru in a nighttime escape.

As the intelligence grew more complete, the Incense-Smelling Sect followers relaxed considerably. It seemed these government troops were indeed going to deal with that gang of barbarians in Xuzhou. In the wake of this, Yuncheng County suddenly bustled with activity. Assembly Masters and Incense Masters from the Incense-Smelling Sect's various branches throughout Yanzhou Prefecture all sent men to seek instructions from the Hierarch, asking whether they should seize the opportunity to launch an uprising — to use the chaos to rise up and then deliver a crushing blow to those lawless madmen in Xuzhou.

"Fools! Idiots! You see only Zhao Jin as the great enemy, see only the wealth and property of Xuzhou, and think only of the grudges of those years. Are the government troops our own family?"

The requests for instructions grew more and more numerous, but these requests made Xu Hongru fly into a great rage.

Although the Mu family of Dongchang Prefecture had been crushed, Hierarch Xu Hongru's prestige was far less than before. Anyone who knew that the core territory of their own sect had been entered and exited at will by Xuzhou's elite troops would inevitably have their reverence discounted somewhat. Still, when Xu Hongru erupted in fury, to those below it remained a thunderous wrath, and the crowd bowed their heads and bent their bodies, unwilling and resentful.

"The Hierarch's meaning is very clear: Xuzhou and the government troops wounding each other is the best outcome for us. The government troops have dispatched six thousand strong soldiers, and Xuzhou has mobilized nearly four thousand men. Forces like these certainly won't decide victory or defeat in a single battle; they'll be locked in a stalemate for some time. Everyone must wait for the right moment to act. We cannot let the government troops win quickly, nor can we let the Zhao Character Battalion gain the upper hand." By now, Xie Mingxian's status within the Incense-Smelling Sect was already very high. Everyone said that Xu Hongru's trust in him even exceeded that in his own younger brother, Xu Hongju.

"The government troops are numerous and powerful. Victory for them this time is beyond doubt. But we cannot let the government troops win so easily. The Baoding troops are a guest army. No matter how selfless and public-minded they are, they still have the instinct to preserve their own strength. They will certainly drive the Shandong troops to fight in the vanguard. The more the Shandong troops suffer casualties, the greater the benefit to our sect. The line from Jining to Jinxiang to Yutai must be prepared. When the Zhao Character Battalion's main force moves, they will inevitably conscript civilian laborers. Have more loyal followers join them and await orders," Xu Hongru continued.

With Xie Mingxian's explanation, Hierarch Xu Hongru's orders became clear. With a little thought, everyone could see the advantages. Wearing down Shandong's local troops would make their own future activities much freer and remove an obstacle. And the Hierarch's intent was not for Xuzhou to win — he merely wanted them to lose a bit later.

When the time came, the government troops would have crushed Xuzhou, but their own strength would also be severely depleted. They would surely lack the energy to deal with Xuzhou's wealth and goods, and that would be when everyone's opportunity arrived. The Hierarch truly devised strategies from his command tent and had thought through the entire situation clearly. Realizing this, everyone was sincerely convinced.

Yet no one noticed this one point: in the past, they would never have questioned Hierarch Xu Hongru's decisions at all. Now, things were different.

"Gentlemen, do not panic. That the Xuzhou bandit chieftain is at war with the government troops is a blessing sent by the gods and Buddhas — to make them wound each other so that our sect may flourish."

After this formulaic speech, everyone dispersed. In the past, they would all have stayed in Yuncheng to curry favor. Even if they could not see Hierarch Xu Hongru, currying favor with Xu Hongru's close confidants was never wrong. But now, no one had much heart for such things. Those who knew how to play the game left a gift before departing; those who didn't simply strode off. With war about to break out over that territory of Xuzhou, who had the mind for empty formalities?

The core figures of the Shandong Incense-Smelling Sect already understood the Xu family's nature very well. Though outwardly they seemed not to care, the Xu family was very mindful of whose etiquette was disrespectful and whose efforts to please were insufficient. At any moment, these could become grounds for accusations and punishment. In the past, no one dared be negligent in this regard. Now, they no longer paid it any mind. Moreover, after Xu Hongru had been attacked in Yuncheng by Xuzhou's iron cavalry, who had then swaggered away, he had suffered a great blow and no longer cared much about minor matters.

The minds of the Incense-Smelling Sect's various power-holding leaders stirred once more. Some pondered forming their own factions; some colluded with local Shandong sects like the Southern Infinite Gate and the Black Tiger Sect; still others sought to ingratiate themselves with the Wang family, who had retreated back to Luanzhou. But all of this could only be done in secret. A few who openly stuck their necks out were cleanly and swiftly cut down. This was what was meant by a dead tiger still keeping its imposing frame.

"Regarding this battle between the government troops and the Zhao Character Battalion, does the Venerable Hierarch believe the government troops have the greater chance of victory?" In the inner chamber of the Incense-Smelling Sect, Xie Mingxian asked.

There were no outsiders in the room. Xu Hongru sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed. He remained silent like this for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Lu Qin has a staunch and fiery temperament, and he is fairly conscientious in leading his troops. But the Baoding troops have not seen battle for decades. Fighting those ferocious Xuzhou villains — how could they have any chance of victory?"

The Incense-Smelling Sect, plotting great affairs, had thoroughly investigated the military officers commanding troops in the capital region. Baoding Garrison's Regional Commander Lu Qin was naturally among them.

The corner of Xie Mingxian's mouth twitched, but his face remained impassive. He said, "Even if they have no chance of victory, they are still the court's regular troops after all. No matter how fierce the Zhao bandits are, they will inevitably suffer casualties and losses. To some extent, it will still be a mutual wounding. It's just that those followers who serve the government troops will inevitably be caught in the fallout as well..."

"Given how meticulous that Zhao Jin is, those trying to blend in beside the Xuzhou troops won't meet a good end either," Xu Hongru said coldly, opening his eyes.

A trace of a smile flickered in Xie Mingxian's eyes, but his face showed an expression of admiration. He said, "The Venerable Hierarch's arrangement is truly brilliant. However, this subordinate has some concern — won't doing this harm our sect's vitality in Shandong?"

"Our sect's vitality lies in those devout believers who burn incense, not these maggots who fatten themselves on the incense offerings, who never think of our sect's great cause and only care about their own fortunes and futures! If they weaken, if they die, it is of great benefit to our sect!" Even with Xu Hongru's usual self-restraint and composure, he could not help but speak with indignation at this moment.

Ever since Zhao Jin had led his men charging into Yuncheng County and snatched away Mu Shulan, the local power-holders of the Shandong Incense-Smelling Sect had gradually ceased to be so sincerely submissive. And what made it worse was that these people were all trusted followers and subordinates of the Xu family. How could this not fill Xu Hongru's heart with resentment?

At this point, Xie Mingxian fell silent. Xu Hongru's tone also calmed: "This seat knows what is on all their minds. It is nothing more than scheming to climb higher, and coveting the immense wealth and goods of Xuzhou. This seat has pointed out a path for them, and they will surely swarm toward it like flies. Mingxian, for those with deeper schemes, you must make them set aside their misgivings."

Xie Mingxian bowed to accept the order. After straightening up, he asked again, "Venerable Hierarch, in this great battle between the government troops and Xuzhou, there will always be opportunities. Will our sect simply remain still and not move?"

"We must be arrayed in full readiness. If there is an opportunity this time, naturally we cannot let it slip. Even if there is no opportunity this time, after this great battle, whether it is the government troops or Xuzhou, they will surely need to rest and recuperate. When that time comes, that will be when our opportunity arrives!" As Xu Hongru spoke, his expression grew resolute.

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