Chapter 943: Unrest in South Zhili

The various combat-capable forces within the Smelling Incense Sect were nothing more than local militia and village braves. Individually, there might be some with high martial skill, but when it came to coordinated battle, they were at best the private troops of local strongmen. The only forces truly worth fielding were two groups. One was the so-called Veteran Guard led by Xu Hongju—men recruited from deserters and desperadoes everywhere, numbering just over a thousand. Well-fed and well-paid, they were utterly devoted. Under daily military discipline, they did not flinch even against government troops and were somewhat superior to ordinary battalions. The second was Xie Mingxian's subordinates: loyal sect members he had brought back from the Liao garrison years ago, along with Liao garrison soldiers recruited over the past year in Dengzhou Prefecture and North Zhili. These men had seen battle formations, had training, and were fellow townsmen from the same units—their combat strength was elite. They numbered around eight hundred. When formed up for field battle, they were not inferior to Xu Hongju's Veteran Guard.

Apart from these two groups, Xia Zhongjin, Hou Wu, and Shen Zhi each had two to three hundred martial desperadoes under them, and several branch heads and incense masters were originally greenwood strongmen who commanded mounted-bandit forces. These were all combat-capable, but even combined they could not compare to the elite troops in the hands of Xu Hongju and Xie Mingxian.

The men led by these core sect figures had all seen blood and could kill, and at the very least knew how to use weapons. As for the rest, those utterly loyal to the Smelling Incense Sect, strong and fit, and previously sent on missions were the first rank. The loyal, robust, but never sent on missions were the second rank. The loyal and physically passable were the third rank. The merely physically robust were the fourth rank...

The first, second, third, and fourth ranks numbered in the tens of thousands, even over a hundred thousand, but while they were passable against local militia and village braves, they were useless against government troops. Relying on frenzy, they could charge once, but they simply could not sustain a fight. To become usable, to be able to deploy and fight, they had to take part in battle after battle, constantly tempering and winnowing until only the elite remained. Today's selection of men and wave-by-wave assault on the city was based on this very principle. However, by the time the main government army arrived, among these tens or hundreds of thousands, there likely would not yet be enough strength winnowed out.

"Exalted One, this time our sect has opened up such a situation. I fear the government troops will pour out in full force, perhaps even mobilizing troops from several provinces for a joint encirclement. When that time comes, our old foundation may not hold!" Xie Mingxian spoke again with earnestness. His expression was earnest, but his heart felt somewhat uneasy, because he could sense that Xu Hongru was holding back some words and concealing certain matters.

Xu Hongru did not answer this question. He merely smiled and said, "In the past, we were in the shadows, and it was fine to live plainly. Now that our situation has expanded, don't be too hard on yourself. There's nothing wrong with getting a few people to serve you. Mingxian, you must understand the need to alternate tension with relaxation!"

From the uprising in Yuncheng County and the march south to here, they had broken through departments and counties along the way. Every leader had reaped considerable spoils. Chests and crates were stuffed full of gold, silver, and precious curios. Delicate, pretty girls they normally could never see or touch—each had gotten several, even a dozen or more, to serve in their chambers. It was boundless pleasure. Xie Mingxian alone lived simply and frugally, toiling and busying himself every day. He did not get any women to serve him, and even the gold, silver, and curios he was allotted were all distributed to his own followers.

"Exalted One, right now..." Xie Mingxian had just begun to explain when he suddenly caught the implication. He hurriedly smiled, bowed with clasped hands, and said, "These days my body has been weary. I truly do need a few thoughtful people to attend to me."

In the distance beneath the city walls, the din of slaughter shook the heavens. One could see the earthen ramp at the base of the wall slowly yet steadily rising, inch by inch...

News of the Shandong refugee rebellion had already spread throughout South Zhili. With the precedent of the refugees besieging Xuzhou that year, every part of South Zhili, especially the areas north of the Yangtze, was utterly terrified, dreading being caught up in it.

At a time like this, no matter how much they loathed Zhao Jin and the Zhao Battalion, they had no choice but to admit that the Zhao Battalion was a great floodgate on South Zhili's northern border—a wall of bronze and iron. With him blocking the south, they could feel somewhat at ease.

Compared to the worry elsewhere, a tense atmosphere was already spreading in Xuzhou. Although Xuzhou bordered Shandong and would bear the brunt if the Shandong chaos spread—and had also experienced the great disaster of tens of thousands of refugees besieging the city, a scene many could still recall—yet because Zhao Jin was in Xuzhou and the bulk of the Zhao Battalion was stationed there, the gentry and commoners of Xuzhou felt they could rest easy. The Zhao Battalion could even defeat government troops; mere refugee bandits were nothing. Some even joked that if those Shandong brigands were foolish enough to come again, they would certainly be battered and bloodied.

But in the fourth month, when the personal guard unit first moved north, Xuzhou's populace assumed it was a routine redeployment and patrol. When the First Regiment also crossed the river and moved north, everyone began to sense something was wrong. By the time Zhao Jin led the cavalry company and the Xuzhou Volunteers north, and Li Wu in Suzhou led the Second Battalion to He Family Village, the people of Xuzhou finally realized that a major event was about to unfold.

Having experienced much, Xuzhou had developed a sense for the Zhao Battalion's mobilization patterns. When the defense of a core location like He Family Village was entrusted to a battalion for garrison, nine times out of ten it meant Zhao Jin was about to lead the main army out on campaign. Coupled with the rotation of the Second Regiment and the Third Battalion, it further confirmed everyone's speculation.

Mere brigands, and they were worth Lord Jin raising such a massive force? Could the situation be more serious than everyone guessed? Based on the Zhao Battalion's movements, people began to revise their judgments and grew worried. The last time they had done this, government troops from both the north and south routes had pressed in. The time before that, a major commander of the Brocade Guard had led two thousand elite cavalry in a threatening advance...

The news spread from Xuzhou and quickly rippled across all of South Zhili north of the Yangtze. This time, however, it was different from when government troops had pressed in. Most merchants at the He Family Village salt market and trading fair did not close up shop. The previous time government troops pressed in, and the time before that when the Brocade Guard led government cavalry in a menacing approach, everyone had scrambled to shut their doors. But afterward it proved to be a false alarm, and they had lost considerable business for nothing, even letting some newcomers snatch advantages. This time it was merely refugee bandits stirring trouble, and far away in Shandong at that. Though the atmosphere was tense, it would not spread here for the time being.

Moreover, Lord Jin was such a considerate and thorough man. If there were real danger, he would certainly inform everyone in advance and let them prepare. There was no need to worry too much. They thought this, yet every household hired mounted men to patrol along the Yellow River. At the first sign of alarm, they would immediately race back to report. After all, there was still the Yellow River as a barrier...

The reaction of the great merchants of Qingjiangpu was somewhat different. Some of them sent people to deliver funds, grain, and supplies as a show of support for the Zhao Battalion, and also brought word from others: the current situation was uncertain, and they hoped Zhao Jin would keep Xuzhou's safety in mind, defend with prudence, and not act rashly.

When they learned who had sent the message, Zhao Jin and his companions were somewhat bemused. This word had actually come via the Grand Coordinator of Fengyang. Looking into it more closely, the Grand Coordinator of Fengyang, the Director-General of Grain Transport Eunuch, and the officials at every level of Huai'an Prefecture and Yangzhou Prefecture all conveyed roughly the same sentiment.

The grand Great Ming government was actually counting on Zhao Jin to guard the northern gate of South Zhili for them. It sounded absurd and laughable, but on closer thought, it was only to be expected.

However, this reaction from the government officials did provide Zhao Jin with convenience. The gentry and commoners of Xuzhou submitted a joint petition. The Prefect of Xuzhou, Tong Huaizu, sympathetic to the people's plight, forwarded it to the Grand Coordinator, stating that the Shandong refugee rebellion might well spread to Xuzhou, and that the locality wished to organize militia for self-defense and to protect the countryside, requesting approval from the higher authorities.

Xuzhou wanting to organize militia—a moment's thought made it clear what this was about. It was simply the Zhao Battalion seeking a formal pretext. In the past, this door absolutely could not be opened. But as things stood now, with everyone needing something from him, they could only hold their noses and accept it.

The officials of South Zhili north of the Yangtze also heard another piece of news: initiated by the gentry of Pizhou in Xuzhou, a petition had already been sent to the capital to lobby, stating a willingness to contribute to the imperial court and assist government troops in exterminating the refugee bandits.

The great merchants of Qingjiangpu also noticed one more thing: the Xuzhou household retainers led by Dong Bingfeng had begun to prepare, with boats and carts assembling and supplies being stockpiled, clearly ready to break camp and march north at any moment. In addition, Li Dajin was recruiting patrolmen in large numbers locally. When these several movements were pieced together, everyone felt that the Zhao Battalion's operation this time was far too large in scale. Yet there was also a strange, tacit understanding among them—no one pointed this matter out.

After the news of the great Shandong refugee rebellion and its gradual southward movement reached South Zhili, the areas north of the Yangtze, which were most vulnerable to its impact, unexpectedly remained calm. Only beneath the surface did all kinds of rumors fly and swirl chaotically.

Compared to the reactions of officials, gentry, and commoners, the response from the local strongmen and the greenwood underworld was entirely different. From the moment Zhao Jin began preparations and crossed the river north, heroes of every stripe came daily seeking an audience. Those involved in grain transport on the canal came to dissociate themselves, swearing by heaven and earth, putting up gold, silver, and even their own sons as collateral to prove they had nothing to do with the Shandong upheaval. While disavowing any connection, they vehemently cursed Xu Hongru for throwing away a good life by rebelling and courting death. Then, thumping their chests, they swore that if Lord Jin needed boats, no one would say a word; no Smelling Incense Sect spies from Shandong would ever affect things here, and they themselves would conduct strict investigations.

Beyond these, there were those who wished to follow Zhao Jin north and win wealth and rank. The Zhao Battalion was thriving so brilliantly, yet they had never had a chance to join. This was their opportunity. When Zhao Jin issued the call to assemble the Xuzhou Volunteers, everyone whose name was on the roster rushed over in haste. A few who were ill or whose family matters absolutely prevented them from leaving even sent their sons or younger brothers in their stead. As for those from other places, they converged in droves, riding horses and bearing blades.

For those seeking to pledge allegiance, the Zhao Battalion conducted a selection. Only those with outstanding martial skill, mastery of bow and horse, and reliable, clean backgrounds were accepted.

Once accepted, they were immediately treated generously. In South Zhili, horse prices were exorbitant. Many martial men could not bear to replace their mounts even when they were old and sick. Weapons and bows were the tools of their trade and could not be skimped on, but armor and protection were out of the question. Upon arriving at the Zhao Battalion, they witnessed true wealth and largesse. Every person accepted was given a replacement with a healthy horse and issued armor.

Fine horses and iron armor—many martial men could toil a lifetime in the greenwood underworld and never acquire them. Who could have imagined they would receive them the moment they joined the Zhao Battalion? They had come to risk their lives for wealth and rank, never expecting to gain such benefits right upon arrival. If they achieved merit, what else might they receive? Just thinking about it filled them with longing.

They all lived a life of licking blood from a blade's edge and were long accustomed to life and death. In many places, men shed blood and lost their lives for nothing at all. Yet here at the Zhao Battalion, they could receive such rich rewards and prospects. Naturally, their morale was entirely different.

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