Chapter 879: Willing to Win Glory for Lord Jin

Gambling addict though he was, this old Mac did know something about machinery and casting. By Louis's judgment, he must have been an apprentice in a workshop back in the day, which only deepened Louis's wariness — if he let the man get involved, then his own benefits would be snatched away by someone else.

"More people will be coming next. Whoever makes what I want first will get the handsome reward." Zhao Jin only said this one line.

Louis knew that he himself understood only the merest surface of cannon-making, and he also knew just how handsome the reward would be if he could produce one. If he kept scheming against this old Mac, he feared he would end up with nothing at all.

To outsiders, these few foreigners were old acquaintances meeting in a strange land, united and friendly with one another — naturally, no one noticed the petty calculations Louis had once harbored.

Only, according to the craftsmen, this old Mac knew a bit and could work with his own hands, but his skills were quite ordinary. He just knew a few novel tricks and techniques the others hadn't seen before — things anyone could figure out after a little thought, not much better than that Louis fellow.

Chen Sheng, however, was quite interested in the man, because this old Mac knew how to use a halberd well and had experienced battle formations. The Zhao camp had now trained up many halberd-wielding household retainers, but everyone was still rather unclear on how to apply the weapon in actual combat.

Yu Zhiyuan was perfectly clear on what Louis and his servant, and this old Mac, were really like. Knowing that he hadn't helped Zhao Jin much, he felt both ashamed and anxious. When the sons of the Cai family fleet entered the Yu family's side to train and learn, Yu Zhiyuan grew somewhat worried. In the four provinces of Zhejiang, Nanzhili, Fujian, and Guangdong, there were simply too many people who made their living off the sea. Even in Songjiang alone there was more than one sand-ship fleet. With the resources the Zhao camp held, whichever family they chose to recruit would come rushing over with joy.

If it truly came to that, all the Yu family's and his own schemes would turn to nothing — it would be like the sky falling down.

"Elder Brother, set your mind at ease. If we still can't find anyone, your younger brother here will put up a heavy purse. One way or another, we'll kidnap a few foreign craftsmen and artillerymen from Macau and Luzon — I refuse to believe they won't understand." Yu Zhiyuan beat his chest and spoke fiercely before Zhao Jin. He now had some standing among the sea lords, not only because of the steady stream of salt shipments coming in boatload after boatload, but also because he could provide everyone a channel for moving goods in Jiangbei, Nanzhili.

Macau and Luzon had Portuguese and Spanish garrisons. Though their numbers were small, their equipment was fairly complete, and they should also have craftsmen for maintaining weapons. If they really kidnapped a few, they might actually prove useful.

"Don't make too big a scene and get yourself implicated. Your life and property come first." Zhao Jin gave this instruction, but judging by Yu Zhiyuan's expression and manner, he probably wouldn't heed it.

Because they hadn't raised a banner in rebellion, recruiting people in Hejiazhuang was done openly through the Cloud Mountain Trading House and the Sun Family Trading House, and secretly through the Internal Guard.

Whether you were a scholar or a warrior, as long as you had a useful skill and a strong body, you might be recruited. Drunkards, gamblers, and lechers were all rejected. Some people came to Xuzhou simply seeking a future and would usually endure and conceal their vices, never imagining that Hejiazhuang and the surrounding area were everywhere filled with the Zhao camp's eyes and ears. A man might keep up a front in public, but in private he might not stay so tightly guarded — many habits and proclivities were seen by many eyes.

Everyone who was recruited had to be sent to the stockaded villages on the east bank of Luoma Lake to stay for a period. Most of them would remain in these villages and manors as stewards or guards. Only after a year or two had passed would they be assigned elsewhere. If they couldn't endure it, then they weren't worth recruiting. Any flaws or shortcomings would also be easily discovered in that semi-secluded environment.

Only, among the civil and martial men recruited, there were none too outstanding. They were all people who had come here seeking a way to survive and earn a living — otherwise they wouldn't be willing to endure such solitude. As for those with real ability, or those who seemed to have some ability, they dismissed such recruitment with utter contempt.

Although the Zhao camp had let slip the news several times, openly and covertly, that the martial arts tournament was a false rumor, the news had indeed stirred excitement. Especially since the Zhao camp controlled the vast region of Jiangbei in Nanzhili, where the constraints of court law were gone, many martial men and brawlers were looking for a channel to rise. Such people were unwilling to go to the villages and do solid, steady work — they only wanted to find a shortcut. The gimmick of a martial arts tournament was simply too alluring to them; they all saw it as a road to rise to the top in a single bound.

"Elder Brother, this matter may have started as a joke in a teahouse. A few stewards of the Cloud Mountain Trading House were drinking tea and saw quite a few armed martial men outside, so they said, why not let them compete and keep the best of the rest for employment? From there it spread wider and wider, until everyone was talking about it. That's probably the source." On this matter, the Internal Guard had investigated until their heads spun, and could only come up with this vague piece of information.

"This situation, these times, and on top of that they've watched too many plays and listened to too many storytellers — the moment a rumor like this appears, everyone takes it as true." Zhao Jin's attitude was very impatient.

Very few martial practitioners could read or write. They loved listening to storytellers, loved watching plays, and adored those legends of the rivers and lakes and the greenwood. Yet in these very stories and legends, things like martial arts tournaments and fighting on the platform, then winning treasures and becoming the imperial son-in-law, were especially common. The figures who held such martial arts tournaments were always those local strongmen and ambitious schemers, using them to recruit the heroes of the realm — or using them to catch all the heroes of the realm in one net.

Everyone dreamed of the glory and riches after fighting to win first place, yet no one considered the sheer absurdity and ridiculousness of the matter itself.

What truly made Zhao Jin impatient was not the absurdity of outsiders, but that many within the Zhao camp were stirred. Cheng Dahu, who was leading the militia over in Qingjiangpu, had specially sent word saying that if this matter were real, he would certainly not disgrace the Zhao camp and would definitely secure a good ranking. If Lord Jin and the other leaders also participated, then he would sweep away the obstacles below for Lord Jin and protect him on his path to winning the championship.

When he read Cheng Dahu's letter, Zhao Jin was so angry he laughed. And Cheng Dahu was not the only one itching to try. The household retainers in the various regiments and companies of the Zhao camp were one thing, but the Internal Guard had many men of the rivers and lakes — though they were all the sort who could keep their patience. The militia, however, and the various forces affiliated with the Zhao camp, were all stirred up, likewise feeling that their chance to shine had come.

"Some are even saying that Lord Jin has invited a strong expert from a foreign land, a man skilled with the slender sword..." When he brought this up, Liu Yong was also at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

The news that there were foreigners in Xuzhou could hardly be concealed. Louis and the others had plenty of dealings with the common folk, and this was a novelty — it had long since been spread everywhere. Yet in the imaginations of the martial men gathered in Xuzhou, these few foreigners of mercenary background had become the invited foreign experts.

Liu Yong glanced at Zhao Jin's expression, cleared his throat, and said, "Elder Brother, in your younger brother's view, since this martial arts tournament rumor is spreading so wildly, we might as well go along with it and hold one."

Seeing Zhao Jin's brows furrow, Liu Yong hurriedly explained further, "Right now, these men of the rivers and lakes and the greenwood are growing more and more numerous. Although we can suppress any trouble, with so many people here, if things blow up it'll still be a headache. If it really comes to rivers of blood, inevitably some will say we set a trap to kill people. Better to just hold a martial arts tournament, casually put up a few prizes, and let them make their own ruckus. Perhaps we can even pick out a few usable men from among them."

Zhao Jin was silent for a moment. It was precisely because he had once held something similar to a platform tournament at the goods yard that he detested this martial arts tournament so deeply. It was originally the stuff of children's games, yet these grown men treated it as a matter of great importance, carrying it out with the utmost solemnity. Moreover, Zhao Jin had won those brothers and friends of his by taking command in the tournament at the goods yard. Deep down, he instinctively did not want others to run a similar enterprise because of a rumor — it would be a stain.

"This martial arts tournament can only be held in Qingjiangpu. And an order must be issued: any man of our Zhao camp who dares to participate, I'll break his legs."

Hearing Zhao Jin's words, Liu Yong nodded with a smile and said, "This time, a few of the restless ones in the camp will probably cry."

Zhao Jin shook his head with a bitter smile. That bitter smile was not only for a few "childish" subordinates, but also for his own helplessness. This helplessness had nothing to do with maturity of mindset, but with the fact that in this position, he could no longer decide things based on personal likes and dislikes — he had to consider the bigger picture.

"Second Brother's wedding has been set for the first day of the twelfth month. Uncle Chen originally wanted to hold it with great fanfare, but Second Brother opposed it, saying it would just be a family gathering — only twenty tables of wine. And he wanted to hold the banquet near the Hejiazhuang encampment. Uncle Chen lost his temper before he agreed to hold it inside Xuzhou city. Once Elder Brother decides when to go, your younger brother here will make the arrangements."

Matters beyond his control were not limited to decisions. Attending Chen Sheng's wedding, even on his own territory, naturally required no great display. But the moment he left the encampment, security had to be arranged — the Personal Guard and the Internal Guard both had to be deployed, and many people inside and outside the city would have to busy themselves for his sake.

Zhao Jin was a man who disliked fuss, but now, in this position, his personal safety implicated the life and death, honor and disgrace of over ten thousand people. Naturally, he had to be prudent and thorough, leaving nothing to chance.

"Going over one day in advance will be fine."

"Then your younger brother will make the arrangements early. As for Third Brother..." Liu Yong trailed off, hesitating.

Zhao Jin merely glanced back over his shoulder and made a gesture. Niu Jinbao and Sun Dalin, who were guarding inside the room, bowed and withdrew. Some words could not be spoken even in front of close bodyguards.

"There's nothing off about that Xin Qitao. After he went back, he didn't say much with his page and attendants — just trivial everyday matters. The man who followed his attendant back to Kaifeng also reported in: it was just to report his safe arrival and pick up some travel funds. Nothing out of place. And that attendant who went back even has a semi-kept woman on the side there. Our people paid to ask that woman — she said it was just to report his safe arrival and get travel funds."

Though only the two of them were in the room now, Liu Yong still deliberately lowered his voice when he spoke.

Zhao Jin frowned and nodded, then spoke slowly: "Every day, what he says to this Mr. Xin, what places he visits — Zhaojing himself also submits a daily itinerary. Did he once say that our Great Ming has so few officials on the surface, thinking it makes things easier for the common people, but in reality it gives people the chance to manipulate things at will; that Xuzhou has so many people handling official duties, yet the common people have gained much convenience — and that this is the true principle?"

Thanks to Qidian friends "Flying Little Pig" and "Dongxie Xidu 2" for their tips. Thank you all for your subscriptions, tips, and monthly tickets. Thank you all.