Chapter 923: Great Expansion of Patrol Officers

"The grain should have reached Jining by now. Who knows if it can actually provide any relief, or if it even counts as disaster aid." Zhao Jin's remark left his companions somewhat baffled.

The results of the review left Zhao Jin very satisfied. The retainers and militia of the Second Regiment lacked the composed ease of the Personal Guard and the First Regiment, but they possessed a rough-hewn, gritty spirit. This wasn't about any problems with drill or tactical coordination, but a kind of fearlessness forged by exposure to the elements. The Second Regiment regularly conducted patrols and clearing operations within the refugee village zone on a company basis, while the Xuzhou Volunteer Cavalry would intercept salt smugglers who strayed from the designated salt routes.

This area still had small bands of outlaws and refugee groups unwilling to be taken in, as well as salt merchants and salt field powers who didn't want to trade under the Zhao Camp's supervision. No matter which group they encountered, it would lead to pursuit or a fight, and it never stopped. Under such tempering, this kind of mettle was naturally cultivated.

"Shitou has done well. Every one of our units needs to come here for field experience. Drilling hard with your head down every day, never going outside, never fighting anyone — you'll panic easily on the battlefield." Over the past few days, Zhao Jin had praised Shi Manqiang many times.

After reviewing the retainers and militia here, Zhao Jin was to set out for Qingjiangpu. This time he would not be taking the main force. A hundred Xuzhou Volunteers were drawn from the Second Regiment, plus his own hundred mounted retainers, making an escort of two hundred riders for the journey to Qingjiangpu. Ji Xiang would lead the Personal Guard back to Xuzhou.

The arrangement was simple enough, but the guards all had a feeling: the Master Jin had originally intended to stay longer at the Second Regiment, but had changed his plans at the last minute and sped things up.

Before leaving, Zhao Jin assigned many tasks to the people of Cloud Mountain Firm. The key point was that from this day forward, grain from the refugee villages was not to leave the area. That barter trade was to stop immediately. Cloud Mountain Firm was to take inventory of the stores and various supplies here.

Traveling entirely as a mounted unit, staying overnight at Cloud Mountain Inns or at the estates of local magnates, with food and lodging provided by others, the speed was naturally much faster than the first half of the journey.

Since the Zhao Camp had blocked the river last year and defeated government troops in campaigns south and north, Zhao Jin had not been to Qingjiangpu for nearly half a year. Although this was simply because he was too tied up with affairs in Xuzhou to get away, it had left all the various factions in Qingjiangpu quite uneasy. The great merchants had all increased the proportion of their operations at the Xuzhou branches, frequently visiting in person or sending people to deliver gifts and pay respects. The other powers in Qingjiangpu did the same, always feeling uncertain, since in the past, Zhao Jin had traveled regularly between the two places.

With Zhao Jin coming this time, Dong Bingfeng and Zhou Xuezhi naturally knew first. Following Zhao Jin's instructions, they spread the news, and the mood in Qingjiangpu immediately warmed considerably. Wealthy merchants and dignitaries who considered themselves qualified to host Zhao Jin sent invitations one after another. Those without the standing begged for a meeting, or sought out those who could meet him, asking them to convey their regards.

No one expected Zhao Jin to arrive so much earlier than planned. Even more unexpected was that a messenger from Xuzhou had arrived in Qingjiangpu first and was waiting for Zhao Jin.

"We split into two groups. One went along the east shore of Luoma Lake to chase after Master Jin; the other came here to wait for Master Jin."

Hearing the messenger say this, Zhao Jin and the others all became very serious. It had to be extremely urgent news, otherwise they wouldn't be in such a rush. Could it still be about the earthquake?

In Qingjiangpu, there were only two people qualified to discuss confidential and critical matters with Zhao Jin: Dong Bingfeng and Zhou Xuezhi.

The earthquake in Shandong lasted three days. In the eastern part of Dongchang Prefecture and most of Jinan Prefecture, hardly any intact houses could be found. Not to mention outside the cities, even within the city walls where the law held sway, there were already rioters looting in the chaos.

"What is Leizi doing? I told him to come back, and he won't!" Zhao Jin was very agitated. The great Shandong earthquake in the second month had not affected Linqing, but the Shandong territory was no longer safe. At the time, Zhao Jin had urged Lei Cai to leave Shandong, either heading toward the capital or taking a detour back to Xuzhou.

But Lei Cai never left. After this earthquake, Lei Cai did send word back immediately via the canal waterway: he was unharmed, and not many houses in Linqing had collapsed. However, the local area was already in some chaos, with the authorities beginning to lose control of order. Lei Cai also said that according to Inspector Li's information, the Smelling Incense Sect had been buying grain continuously from the granaries in Linqing, but this grain was not being used as usual to relieve disaster victims and win over the people. It was reportedly being stockpiled in secret caches along the canal.

The news that truly made Lei Cai unwilling to leave was not about the tribute grain, but that the government armories in Dongchang Prefecture had suffered severe deficits. This information came from official channels. Together with Yanzhou Prefecture, several armories had used this earthquake as a pretext to report massive shortfalls. The missing quantities were no longer within the scope of ordinary embezzlement, but pointed to large-scale trafficking.

"Write a letter. Tell him to come back. He's not the only one under me who gathers information." Zhao Jin was somewhat irritated by this. The Zhao Camp's strength was very weak throughout Dongchang Prefecture. Being able to set up a post in Linqing was largely thanks to the goodwill of Inspector Li and his son. Even so, Lei Cai could not be said to be truly safe.

He was both irritated and helpless. Lei Cai also mentioned in his message that he had borrowed several thousand taels of silver from Inspector Li. News had been plentiful lately, the territory was too chaotic, and expenses had been enormous.

Zhao Jin knew that even if he wrote urging him, or even issued a strict order, Lei Cai would not return. Both Liu Yong and Lei Cai had that desperate, life-risking drive in the way they did things.

But the urgent news was not from Lei Cai's side. It came from Jining and Ziyang City. After the earthquake in the third month, the region fell into great chaos. Yet the Prince of Lu's estate once again sent a memorial to the capital, stating that the area was in turmoil and needed government troops to keep the peace, requesting the court to dispatch soldiers to Yanzhou Prefecture as soon as possible.

Faced with such a great disaster, the Prince of Lu's estate did not request relief funds from the court. Instead, it used this opportunity to demand the court send additional troops to be stationed in Yanzhou Prefecture. They even considerately suggested that the Liao troops being received in Dengzhou could be placed right there in Yanzhou Prefecture, where they could suppress the region and be fed locally, convenient for both officials and civilians.

Several thousand Liao troops would cause a sudden surge in government forces in Yanzhou Prefecture. This was the most critical matter for Xuzhou.

"He thinks that living in his princely city, even if the sky falls it won't crush him. He suffered a loss, but sees it only as a setback on the periphery. He thinks that as long as he persuades the court, he can recover everything. No matter how much the local region is thrown into turmoil, how could it compare to the Ming imperial clan? This realm belongs to the Zhu family; who can stand against them? No matter how things start, in the end, they will surely win. What wishful thinking. They don't know when they're courting death!" Perhaps because of the earlier matter with Lei Cai, upon learning this news, Zhao Jin lost his temper completely.

"From the founding of the Ming Dynasty until now, the feudal princes have always been like this. They've grown accustomed to taking advantage," Zhou Xuezhi added.

Zhao Jin merely sneered but made no sound. Dong Bingfeng, never one for many words, stood quietly to the side, waiting. Zhao Jin said nothing more about the Shandong matters. He simply looked up and said, "Bingfeng, tomorrow I want to inspect your battalion. Later, we'll go together and review them company by company. Mister Zhou, you contact the various parties in Qingjiangpu. Arrange meetings for all who want to see me. Banquets and such aren't necessary. Each person gets the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. Have them prepare in advance what they want to say or do. No empty formalities or pleasantries. I have to arrive quickly and leave quickly."

Zhou Xuezhi quickly nodded in agreement. He and Dong Bingfeng exchanged a glance. Both had followed Zhao Jin long enough to know that something major was about to happen.

After finishing the urgent letters and setting the itinerary with Dong Bingfeng and Zhou Xuezhi, Zhang Hubin, Li Dajin, Cheng Dahu, and Wei Mugen were called in.

"Zhang Hubin will be stationed north of the Yellow River in Xuzhou from now on. Within four days, select five companies of elite troops from the militia under your command. They will be reclassified as retainers. After you arrive in Xuzhou, I will give you three more companies to supplement them. You will guard the area around Jingshan." This set of orders was equally brief.

Zhang Hubin, named first, froze for a moment, then excitedly stood at attention and accepted the order. This made him a full Company Commander leading troops in the field. The other battalions each had six companies; he would have eight, putting his status slightly higher. After a period of lying low, he had now started late but arrived first, once again moving ahead of everyone else.

Cheng Dahu looked at Zhang Hubin with considerable envy. He regretted not becoming a household retainer back then; now he could only do the work of a constable in the yamen. Li Dajin beside him, however, remained expressionless. He was older, had experienced much, and viewed many things as ordinary. Moreover, his own position here in Qingjiangpu was quite remarkable. Dong Bingfeng managed the Third Regiment and oversaw major affairs. Zhou Xuezhi managed commerce. All other matters were managed by Li Dajin. Outsiders were already calling him the Grand Steward of Qingjiangpu. This position and its authority were not bad at all.

"From now on, the militia maintaining public order will be renamed Patrol Officers. The duties of these Patrol Officers should have been made very clear in several letters. Qingjiangpu has a population of several hundred thousand, with people coming and going every day. The current thousand or so Patrol Officers aren't of much use. Li Dajin, Cheng Dahu, follow the method used in Xuzhou and expand the Qingjiangpu Patrol Officers to three thousand. Besides selecting a batch from the retainers and militia, also recruit a batch of local able-bodied young men. It will be called the Qingjiangpu Patrol Officer Battalion. Wei Mugen will serve as a Deputy Battalion Commander within it, while still handling his own duties." Li Dajin and Cheng Dahu exchanged a glance, then accepted the order together with Wei Mugen.

Cheng Dahu and Wei Mugen took it in stride, but Li Dajin understood the significance of these Patrol Officers. This was, in essence, taking over matters that the government should handle and doing them oneself. In many places across the realm, doing such a thing was an open act of rebellion. But Qingjiangpu was different. It had a branch of the Revenue Ministry and the Canal Transport Office, but no local governing yamen. If the Zhao Camp took it over, everyone would simply turn a blind eye.

"The matter of the Patrol Officers is very important. Don't make them like government runners. Everything must be modeled on the retainers and militia, governed by military law. In normal times, they manage the locality. In critical times, they must be able to be deployed to fight, and at the very least, be able to hold the line!" Zhao Jin instructed. The three men bowed and agreed.

Compared to Li Dajin, Cheng Dahu's excitement lay in being able to command three thousand men all at once. Wei Mugen, for his part, didn't think too much about it.

"Master, my eldest son, Li Wen, has studied martial arts, archery, and horsemanship since childhood. Your subordinate boldly begs Master Jin's favor, to allow my unworthy son to serve Master Jin."

Thanks to the veteran friends "Wu Liulang" from Chuangshi and "Ming Dynasty*Martial Artist" (this really isn't me) from Qidian for their tips. Busy all day today, my saved drafts are almost gone. Once I use up my drafts, I'll hold an event to add chapters for new Alliance Masters or Sect Leaders...