Chapter 899: Who Is the Most Loyal

Though the name of the Personal Guard carried the words "personal guard," in reality it was a direct force held in Zhao Jin's hands, responsible for standing protective duties, while the true task of safeguarding Zhao Jin's safety was arranged by Zhao Jin himself and Liu Yong.

Liu Yong wanted to continue, but Zhao Jin waved his hand and said, "I didn't call you here today to talk about that. What I want to discuss is related to that assassin. You don't need to blame yourself—I'm not talking about any responsibility. Besides, in this matter, you didn't really do anything wrong."

Before speaking next, Zhao Jin swept his gaze around, checking the surroundings. The mounted household troopers were already far enough away and wouldn't hear what they said, but this attitude made Liu Yong solemn and serious. He rarely saw his elder brother so cautious and careful.

"Xiao Yong, the household troopers go through life and death with us every day. They are indeed loyal to us, but to what degree can this loyalty go?" Zhao Jin first asked a question.

Liu Yong pondered for a moment, then gave his answer: "If the court or government officials used some grand cause to fool them, some would be intimidated. If they then offered official posts and heavy bribes, people could be bought."

"Our name is not justified and our claim is not smooth. Wanting things to fall into place naturally has this drawback." Zhao Jin sighed with emotion.

"Elder Brother need not worry. In the future, that loophole won't be so easy to exploit. Didn't Third Brother and Mister Cao say so? From now on, we'll strictly enforce the baojia mutual responsibility system. If any family has trouble, ten families share the blame. When the time comes, everyone will keep a close watch on each other, and wicked, treacherous men will find it very hard to slip in." Liu Yong said in a muffled voice.

"That won't guard against petty men. If someone really disguises themselves—for example, that spy who colluded with the Fan family—everyone thought he was a relative. Who would know he was a scout? Who would know what was being discussed at home?" Zhao Jin shook his head in rebuttal.

A look of conflict and distress appeared on Liu Yong's face, and his voice grew strained: "Elder Brother, we can't keep too tight a watch on the camp dependents' area either. If we really guard against them like enemies, it will harm the household troopers' loyalty."

"Although your Internal Guard are also household troopers, they aren't on the same path as those companies. If we send your Internal Guard to watch and spy, they will certainly be uncomfortable and harbor resentment. Besides, the number of household troopers in your Internal Guard isn't large to begin with; they should be used in more useful places."

Hearing Zhao Jin's words, Liu Yong was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head on horseback and said, "Elder Brother, your younger brother understands."

"Among us brothers, your burdens are about as heavy as Zhaojing's. What do you understand? The Internal Guard still has to keep watch over every regiment and company—you can't let up. You also need to figure out how to make it less noticeable and keep an even tighter watch."

These words stunned Liu Yong again. Zhao Jin's words were clearly contradictory, and he was somewhat confused. At this moment, Zhao Jin spoke with a solemn expression: "If we want to know the household troopers' movements at all times, want every sign of trouble to be detected the moment it stirs, and want to respond to chaos as quickly as possible, using outsiders won't work. We must use the household troopers from each regiment and company to do the watching themselves."

"Select household troopers to serve as eyes and ears, as secret agents? Aren't these household troopers already managed by the company commanders and squad leaders? The company commanders and squad leaders are all utterly loyal to you, Elder Brother." Liu Yong spoke up.

At this moment, Zhao Jin changed the subject and asked a question: "Xiao Yong, among the household troopers, who do you say is the most loyal to us? And who is second most loyal?"

"The most loyal are of course the company commanders, squad leaders, and those household troopers with military merit and long years of service. Relying on you, Elder Brother, they and their families have their current dignity. Moreover, the land and property they have were given by you, Elder Brother. As long as you are here, these things remain and will increase year by year. If any trouble befalls you, Elder Brother, their dignity and property will also suffer. With interests so closely bound, of course they will be utterly loyal. The second most loyal would probably be the student troopers..." Liu Yong spoke at length with assurance.

Hearing Liu Yong reach this point, Zhao Jin smiled and interjected: "To think you'd say the student troopers. I thought you would say those household troopers from the militia background."

"Compared to the student troopers, the household troopers from the militia background rank third. Nowadays, very few of the militia still want to return home. Being of refugee origin means they had no support left in their hometowns to begin with. Over these past few years, they've learned what a bitter life their families live, what hardships those who went back suffered, and they know it's stable here with us. Moreover, by becoming militia household troopers, they've gained status and dignity, and their lives are considerably better. Without you, Elder Brother, they could only go back to being refugees, living a life worse than death. Given such a comparison, they are naturally loyal. But the student troopers are different. Leaving aside the past, the current student trooper corps didn't come by their own enlistment—they were sent by their families. The reason their families sent them is that their families' interests are bound together with yours, Elder Brother—advancing and retreating together, sharing life and death. So they send their sons to demonstrate their resolve. These household troopers not only receive your favor personally, Elder Brother, but their entire clans are also under your control. As long as the shared interests exist, the clan will not betray. As long as the clan exists, the sons will naturally be utterly loyal. That is why your younger brother says these people are the second most trustworthy."

This lengthy discourse made Zhao Jin smile and shake his head. He spoke: "The student troopers were sent for the sake of their clans. They will certainly put their clan first, not themselves. The second most loyal I have in mind are not the student troopers."

Liu Yong smacked his own forehead in frustration and said, ashamed: "Your younger brother was only thinking of hostages and overlooked this crucial point. Then who does Elder Brother consider the second most loyal?"

"It is those household troopers of poor and bitter origin. If they hadn't come to be household troopers, they could only go and toil like oxen and horses for others, unable to feed or clothe themselves or their families. Or they would become bandits, licking blood from the edge of a blade every day, their lives and deaths not in their own hands. Even worse would be sinking into beggary and vagrancy—that would truly be a life worse than death. Back then, they saw and heard such fates befall those around them, and knew that if they themselves hadn't become household troopers, they would have ended up the same. Only with such a comparison can there be gratitude, can there be cherishing, can there be loyalty. Furthermore, they are fellow countrymen from Xuzhou, born with the instinct to defend their native soil. They won't turn their hearts to outsiders. These are the second most loyal. What people remember firmly is charcoal sent in the snow. The student troopers are more like adding flowers to brocade—merely thickening the bonds of mutual connection."

Hearing Zhao Jin's words, Liu Yong's face showed admiration, and he said sincerely: "Elder Brother truly sees things thoroughly."

"As for the household troopers from the militia background, they are one layer removed from those of Xuzhou origin. And speaking further, the militia are of refugee origin—these people were all captives we defeated and seized back then. That is yet another layer removed. Although we also led them out of a sea of bitterness, they don't regard this Xuzhou as their fundamental homeland. Some may even still harbor a measure of resentment. That goes without saying."

Liu Yong also instinctively glanced around in all directions. No wonder they had to speak alone—it would indeed be very improper if these words were overheard by the household troopers.

"Then are the company commanders, squad leaders, and household troopers of poor origin absolutely reliable and loyal? What we give them is actually not that much. Never mind the court or government officials—even local strongmen anywhere, as long as they are willing to spend heavily, could likewise buy them off." Zhao Jin added another cold remark.

Though the words cut to the heart, Liu Yong instinctively wanted to refute them, but after mulling it over, he didn't know what to say in rebuttal. Fortunately, Zhao Jin continued speaking.

"They can buy off one or two, but they cannot buy off ten or a hundred. If everyone inside and out knows we have preventive regulations in place, they will be extra cautious when planting agents or attempting bribery. That reduces the risk to a minimum."

"Elder Brother means to use these loyal household troopers as eyes and ears, as informants?" Liu Yong nodded slowly and said.

"The name for this will be the Ten-Man Group. One man among ten is enough to keep watch. We have seven thousand household troopers—can we find enough of these loyal men?"

"Please rest assured, Elder Brother. Although the brothers' loyalty varies, those as wolf-hearted and dog-lunged as Fan Jinbang are extremely rare—it's likely just that one. Never mind seven hundred, we could find several thousand." Liu Yong said with absolute certainty.

Zhao Jin smiled and nodded, then his expression turned incomparably solemn. He said grimly: "Do not use the company commanders and squad leaders for this. They already have the authority to manage and lead their men. If we also give them the power to spy and surveil, they will become difficult to control. You must remember one thing above all: those selected as eyes and ears are not the factory guards and secret agents of the imperial court. Except at truly critical moments, they can only monitor and report upward. They must not overstep their authority and interfere. Otherwise, they will be severely punished according to military law and house rules."

"Elder Brother is right. As for when exactly it counts as critical, I will need Elder Brother to decide." Liu Yong answered very solemnly.

Zhao Jin nodded, then instructed: "The first batch of selected men must be decided by the two of us together. We must choose the most assured and reliable. If we do this step well, Zhao Camp will be cast from iron. If we do this step poorly, from then on there will be leaks everywhere."

"Please rest assured, Elder Brother. Your younger brother is willing to stake his life as guarantee."

"What do I want your life for? Just do it well." Zhao Jin smiled and patted the other's shoulder. This Ten-Man Group method was also an old stratagem from his memories. Such an organization was far more efficient than things like the Brocade Guard or the Eastern Depot. If used properly, not only would it not alienate the subordinates, it would actually make the entire force more cohesive. Because this wasn't just one or two men—one-tenth, the most loyal and reliable, was enough to serve as the core.

Before he could continue, Zhao Jin saw that Liu Yong seemed somewhat hesitant, as if he had something to say. This struck Zhao Jin as very strange. Though Liu Yong was young, he had by now developed a very deep reserve—but that was towards outsiders. In front of him, Liu Yong had always been completely frank. What was going on?

Could it be that the recent night raid and assassination attempt had made him blame himself and feel too much pressure? Or did the Ten-Man Group organization make Liu Yong feel it was a sign of distrust towards him?

"Let's dismount and talk." Zhao Jin called out. Dismounting would bring them closer together and make things more casual.

The two men swung down from their horses. The surrounding personal guards immediately shifted formation. Liu Yong's hesitation did not last too long, and he finally spoke: "Elder Brother, your younger brother has a few matters he isn't sure he should bring up."

"We're brothers—what can't be said?"

"Elder Brother, this Ten-Man Group is far too critical. It cannot be directly led by your younger brother. You, Elder Brother, should take overall charge, and your younger brother will serve as deputy. Moreover, for something so important, your younger brother fears he alone cannot manage it and would like to find a few helpers." Liu Yong said after some deliberation.

Thanks to Chuangshi friends "Wu Liulang" and "Wo Yao Tousu" for the tips, and thanks to all friends on Chuangshi and Qidian for your subscriptions and monthly tickets. Less than forty-eight hours remain until the end of this month—if you have monthly tickets, cast them for Great Ming Wufu! There will be another update in the afternoon!