Chapter 935: Reckless Advance and the Yunshan Line

"We're family — speak plainly."

"Master, seeing each other day and night puts people at ease; long separation inevitably breeds distance. The Li Battalion Commander in Suzhou is, after all, from the old household retainers, but the Li Battalion Commander in Pizhou surrendered and came over to us. He doesn't see you often, Master, and doesn't know your authority. At a critical moment like this, with a large force in his hands, it's hard to avoid him having other thoughts." Ruhui said slowly.

"Use men without suspicion." Zhao Jin answered in a deep voice.

Ruhui glanced at Zhao Jin's expression, lowered his voice, and continued: "If the chaos in Shandong grows worse and worse, and you, Master, lead out ninety percent of the Zhao Battalion's strength, then the Grand Coordinator of Fengyang, the Fengyang Defense Eunuch, and the Langshan Vice General will all grow restless. Never mind the government troops — those powerful merchants and local magnates will likely harbor other thoughts as well. With you in Xuzhou, Master, no one inside or out dares make a reckless move. Without you in Xuzhou, outside forces aside, I fear even within our own ranks hearts will be unsteady. If anything goes wrong, it would be a great calamity!"

"You're saying someone will try to win over Li He and Li Wu?"

"Right now both Li Battalion Commanders are serving loyally, but if you head north, Master, and Xuzhou lacks sufficient strength, circumstances will push things in directions that are hard to predict."

Zhao Jin glanced at Ruhui. Ruhui, his face utterly serious, went on: "Master may think your subordinate is fearmongering. I too know the loyalty of the household troops, high and low. But Xuzhou is the foundation of your enterprise, Master. Even if the risk is only one percent, it cannot be taken lightly. The slightest upheaval could mean losing everything!"

"What are you getting at?" Zhao Jin's expression remained perfectly calm.

"Your subordinate knows that Master has long had designs on Shandong, and this time it even aligns with your grand strategy. But Xuzhou is our very root. Shandong is merely icing on the cake — why spend such great effort to contend for it? Your subordinate will speak out of turn: when a poor man gambles, staking his entire net worth means little. But when a wealthy, established house places a bet, why take such a risk? With a great estate and great wealth already in hand, is it worth throwing it all in?" Ruhui spoke with deep earnestness.

Zhao Jin was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said: "Last time government troops pressed in from both north and south, we made the same arrangement — emptied the nest and sortied. Why didn't you worry then?"

"Master, at that time a great enemy was bearing down — fight or perish. Naturally, high and low united as one. But now is different..."

"Dasheng and Zhaojing wouldn't think as much as Mister Cao here does. It must have to do with age." Zhao Jin cut Ruhui off with a laugh.

Ruhui froze for a moment, then laughed ruefully: "Master is not wrong. The older your subordinate gets, the more timid he becomes. Master has built Xuzhou into such a peaceful and prosperous place. Everyone, high and low, has poured tremendous effort into it. Your subordinate truly cannot bear to part with it, truly fears something going wrong. With Master's great ability, taking it step by step, your future achievements would still be boundless. Why rush at this one moment?"

"Mister Cao, there are still some things you haven't said, aren't there?" Zhao Jin countered with a smile.

At this, Ruhui looked somewhat embarrassed. He coughed twice and said: "Some things, Master, you know in your heart. Why must your subordinate speak them and play the villain?"

"No one but family would say such words to me. I understand Mister Cao's intentions. But this matter must be done. The risks Mister Cao speaks of are all real enough — yet in this world, where is there perfect safety without worry? Without taking risks, how can anything be accomplished?" Zhao Jin's smile faded as he spoke in a clear, firm voice.

Ruhui's expression grew more solemn, though he also seemed a little relieved. Offering such cold-water, hindering counsel, he could not have been without apprehension. Zhao Jin's words dispelled his misgivings.

"There's no need to worry about instability in Xuzhou. If government troops or local militias make any move, nearly two thousand household troops and over ten thousand trained levies are more than enough to suppress and overawe them. As for the household troops and trained levies themselves, I trust their loyalty. Outsiders may buy off one or two, but they cannot buy off all. Add the layers of checks and balances, and causing real chaos is very difficult. To speak plainly, even if chaos did break out, I am confident I could return and destroy them." Zhao Jin's tone was very calm, yet carried a hint of cold, grim sharpness.

Zhao Jin's words, so full of confidence, actually set Ruhui at ease. He nodded and said: "Since Master has already considered this, that is for the best."

Ruhui's words were really just a way to step down gracefully. Zhao Jin understood his thinking. Ruhui was now in his early forties, already a top-tier figure in the Jiangbei region of Southern Zhili. Even circuit intendants and prefects had to treat him with deference and courtesy, to say nothing of the local magnates and wealthy merchants, who could not even lift their heads before him. And then there was managing the Yunshan Firm, with its mountains of gold and seas of silver passing through his hands. With such status, power, and wealth, how could he bear to take risks? Most likely, when government troops pressed in from north and south last time, Ruhui had felt much the same way — only the circumstances then left no room to say so.

Of course, Zhao Jin also knew that Ruhui's fundamental intent was for the greater good of the Zhao Battalion. After all, he was already forty, had weathered storms and setbacks, and naturally sought stability and security. Zhou Xuezhi over at Qingjiangpu could not be consulted immediately, but his thinking was probably much the same. Zhao Jin felt no resentment. Most of the Zhao Battalion's core were of a boldly advancing temperament; having a few prudent, steady-minded men was a perfect complement.

"Mister Cao, the reason for this arrangement is to fish in troubled waters — to net ample benefits for the Zhao Battalion, and also to seize more territory and capture more people. Mister Cao, you see Xuzhou as thriving and prosperous, a scene of perfect peace. But have you ever felt that this Xuzhou is too small, that this land of Jiangbei is too stable and peaceful?" Zhao Jin posed the question.

Without waiting for an answer, he continued on his own: "In Jiangbei, Southern Zhili, the territory we've seized is already considerable, and it's nearly the limit of what the local powers will tolerate. If we expand further, if we fight more, I fear we'll draw troops from the entire realm. The court will not cede such a vital heartland either — that would mean tearing off all pretense, with no room left for maneuver. Yet how can this little patch of territory possibly accommodate over ten thousand household troops, several times their number in trained levies, and all the various parties loyal to my Zhao Battalion?"

Ruhui's expression grew solemn. He was beginning to understand Zhao Jin's words.

"No matter how we cover it up now, how we equivocate, who doesn't know what our Zhao Battalion is, what we intend to do in the future? The household troops and trained levies know. The various parties who've thrown in with us know. They go through fire and water for us, submit to our strict orders and discipline — for what? At first, it was for food and survival. Now they have that. Now what they seek is to build merit and establish themselves. For that ambition, the present Xuzhou, the various territories we now control — they are far too small, far too cramped. Too many eyes are watching."

Zhao Jin picked up the now-cold tea at his hand and took a sip, then gestured for Ruhui to sit. Just then, Sun Dalin's voice came from outside announcing: "Third Master is here."

"Come in," Zhao Jin called. The door opened and Wang Zhaojing entered, saying with a smile: "I thought of a matter I need to discuss with Big Brother." He then nodded to Ruhui.

Everyone knew perfectly well what was on his mind, but there was no need to point it out. Zhao Jin gestured to a seat and said: "Sit down and listen."

"If we don't take risks to expand, can we maintain the current situation? We can — and maintain it very well. But if we go on like this for years, for a decade, our household troops and trained levies will become like Old Tiger Kong of Kong Family Village, like the military households in the guard battalions. Their fighting edge will be stifled and worn smooth, and never again will they have such formidable battle strength. And the various parties who've thrown in with us will scatter in all directions. By then, at best we'll be wealthy country gentlemen — at most, a slightly larger Yunshan Temple. By then, the officials will press back step by step, and more aggressive, more ambitious local powers will take our place. We've gone through life-and-death struggles, weathered so many dangers to reach this day. If it all decays to that, would you be content?"

There was no need to explain the full context to Wang Zhaojing; with his intelligence, he could deduce it from these words. Besides, during joint discussions, Wang Zhaojing had also expressed sentiments similar to Ruhui's — not necessarily dissuading, but also feeling the risk was too great.

"Master, your subordinate has thought it through. Please rest assured, Master — your subordinate will risk life and limb and give his all!" Ruhui stood and solemnly bowed with clasped hands.

"We must lead them to see blood. We must give them more territory. We must keep them fighting constantly. Only thus can we sustain ourselves, can we climb step by step upward." Zhao Jin said with a smile.

Wang Zhaojing, at his side, paused thoughtfully, then said with a smile: "Big Brother, Mister Cao has long wished to ask you for one thing, but has hesitated to speak. Within Yunshan Temple, there are many young and able disciples who have studied both letters and martial arts since childhood and wish to serve Big Brother, but have had little opportunity. Quite a few have gone to beg Mister Cao. Mister Cao has discussed it with your younger brother several times, and each time we felt it inconvenient to raise. Your younger brother thinks that, at a time when men are needed, these men are also our own people — why not recruit them?"

Hearing this, Ruhui first started, then shot Wang Zhaojing a grateful glance. Zhao Jin nodded but did not give an immediate answer. This situation had naturally been reported to him. In its day, Yunshan Temple had been a vast enterprise — with branch temples, estate farms, shops, and even warrior-monks. All these required people to manage affairs and do the work. Yunshan Temple had a rudimentary system for training them: the disciples and illegitimate children of respectable monks, the sons of its own tenant farmers and estate laborers, promising talents selected from the poor children of Xuzhou and surrounding areas — all were tonsured and made monks, sent to study letters and martial arts and assist with practical matters in the various nunneries and branch temples. Yunshan Temple had no shortage of positions, plenty of places to install people, and naturally needed many hands.

But the truly profitable and promising posts were all monopolized by the abbot and his trusted faction. Outsiders had no way to get a foot in. A few disciples got the good positions; the vast majority either merely toiled as assistants or simply kept studying indefinitely, with no hope of advancement. Among those who had studied the same things, the other man might be less capable than oneself, yet he got the promotion and the good post, keeping you down. Who wouldn't harbor deep resentment? Their masters and elders naturally felt the same. As the son of the former abbot, Ruhui was the leader of this majority.

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