Chapter 945: Shandong Government Troops Are About to Arrive

Liu Yong hesitated a moment, then spoke again: "Big Brother, since Little Brother and Lei Zi took on this assignment, we have to bear the risk. If we're always afraid of death, we'll never get anything done. I understand Big Brother's intentions, but please, Big Brother, be a little hard-hearted toward me."

"My brothers, Zhao Jin's brothers, have no need to risk life and limb in situations like this. We haven't reached that point yet. Compared to Shandong, some matters on our side are far more critical — a single whisper leaking out would mean huge trouble. You need to keep a tight watch on this for me. Leave the front-line work to me, Dasheng, and the others. Understood?" Zhao Jin said.

Liu Yong gave a bitter smile, shaking his head in agreement. After a pause, he continued: "The court has already issued an edict. Shandong Regional Commander Yang Guodong is leading six thousand troops south to suppress the rebellion. At the same time, troops from the Northern Metropolitan Region in Daming Prefecture and Guangping Prefecture are being transferred as reinforcements. The former Datong Regional Commander Yang Zhaoji, now retired in his home village, has been appointed Caozhou Regional Commander, leading four thousand troops. They plan a two-pronged attack on the main refugee force."

"Counting the two thousand-plus government troops already in Yanzhou Prefecture, the combined force moving against Xu Hongru is roughly over thirteen thousand. Reckoning the days, Yang Guodong's troops should be nearing Jining by now, shouldn't they?"

"They should arrive within these three days. It's disheartening to say, but the five men our Internal Guard lost were all killed by government troops out foraging." As he said this, Liu Yong couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"The refugees are a scourge upon the land, but the government troops aren't much better. By now, the entire stretch along the canal must be stripped bare!" Zhao Jin said coldly.

"Foraging" by government troops is, in truth, simply looting the populace. Compared to the refugees, they might show a modicum of restraint, but in places the refugees have just ravaged, where there is no government and no order, the troops likely abandon all restraint. The common folk who barely survived the refugee chaos are the ones who suffer misfortune.

As the two were discussing, they heard cavalry squad leader Tao Gui shout a few orders. Immediately, several dozen riders wheeled around and closed in. Tao Gui's face held a trace of tension. Seeing Zhao Jin's attention turn his way, he reported in a gruff voice: "Master, there's something off about the men Wang Ziyang brought. Eleven sturdy fellows, all look like the type who've killed plenty — real hard cases."

No matter how estranged Wang Ziyang had become, within the Zhao Camp system he was still considered one of their own — now "one of their own from before." He came and went from Zhao Camp. Zhao Jin and his companions kept their distance, but the rank and file were still fine with him. After all, Zhao Jin hadn't meant to utterly destroy him and even let him continue earning money in the liquor business. So his several requests for an audience were all reported to Zhao Jin, and they weren't refused outright, merely postponed.

No one imagined Wang Ziyang would try to harm Zhao Jin. But the guards and the household troops attending Zhao Jin never lacked vigilance. Even if Ji Xiang didn't remind them, Wang Zhaojing and Liu Yong would constantly look out for it. So the moment something seemed off about the men Wang Ziyang brought, it was discovered immediately. Yet because it was Wang Ziyang, it was discovered only when they were already very close to Zhao Jin.

"Bring Wang Ziyang over," Zhao Jin said offhandedly. Liu Yong quickly added from the side, "Remember to search him."

Tao Gui answered loudly. Zhao Jin and Liu Yong exchanged a glance and both shook their heads, smiling. Neither believed Wang Ziyang would have such nerve. It was probably just some misunderstanding. Those eleven men who looked like hard cases, though — they were rather intriguing. At most, the whole affair was merely interesting.

They found it interesting, but the household troops did not see it that way. Before long, Wang Ziyang was being hauled over, arms pinned by two household troopers. Ever since striking it rich in the liquor trade, Wang Ziyang had lived in silks and fine food, enjoying the most refined comforts. Now he was being marched over like a common criminal.

Wang Ziyang's face had gone deathly pale. He still had no idea what had happened and probably thought his final hour had come, that Zhao Jin was ready to deal with him.

When he was forced down in front of Zhao Jin's horse, before Zhao Jin could even ask a question, Wang Ziyang pleaded in a hoarse, tearful voice: "Master Jin, this lowly one received great kindness from Master Jin and should never have lost his head and done that treacherous, colluding thing. This lowly one deserves death by a thousand cuts. But I beg Master Jin, seeing that the treacherous deed never came to pass, to grant this lowly one's wife and children a path to live."

"Treacherous deed?" Zhao Jin was puzzled.

Wang Ziyang, on the ground, looked up in shock and stammered, "Is it not... about when the river was cut off, the government troops pressed in, and this lowly one colluded..."

Zhao Jin laughed in spite of himself and waved his hand. "Tell me about those eleven men you brought. All killers, hard cases? Let him stand up to speak."

By now, everyone realized it was a misunderstanding, but the household troops holding Wang Ziyang still did not relax their grip.

"This lowly one has been searching the grasslands for fierce warriors for Master Jin, and this time I finally found some. These eleven men were all personal guards of the Altan Khan in Guihua City. They committed a crime and fled into the grasslands. They escaped themselves, but their wives and children were left behind in Guihua City and were all slaughtered. The eleven of them have been banding together to take revenge ever since, but with so few men, they've been hunted across the entire grassland. This lowly one got word of them and spent enormous effort to track them down, and now brings them especially to present to Master Jin."

Given Zhao Jin's immense wealth, he naturally had no interest in gold, silver, or jewels. As for cattle and horses, if Zhao Camp merely gave the word, plenty of high officials and wealthy merchants on the grasslands and in the border garrisons were eager to cooperate. The only thing Wang Ziyang could offer to curry favor was these grassland bowmen and horsemen. After Wang Ziyang became rich, he had grown less diligent in these matters, often just procuring a few beautiful women from the grasslands. Zhao Jin certainly wouldn't take them, so Wang Ziyang kept them for himself. Only after that incident did he once again put in tremendous effort, sparing no expense in the search.

"What crime did they commit?"

"It's said that while on duty, they witnessed the Khan's favorite concubine committing adultery. The Khan then wanted to kill them to silence them." Wang Ziyang had clearly inquired in great detail.

Zhao Jin shook his head with a smile. Liu Yong asked from the side, "You spent quite a bit of silver, didn't you?"

"I won't hide it from Master Yong — I did spend quite a lot. At the time, the two largest bands of horse bandits on the grassland had already surrounded the eleven of them. Fortunately, one of those bands has always done business with this lowly one and knew I had previously put out word searching for such men. So they named a price higher than Altan Khan's and this lowly one paid it in full. Master Jin, Master Yong, these eleven men are all elite warriors of the grassland, one-in-a-hundred strongmen. They will surely be of great use to Master Jin. This lowly one presents them to Master Jin and hopes they can earn merit for you!" Wang Ziyang knelt there, speaking with the utmost earnestness.

"These eleven might not be weak in single combat, but to Zhao Camp, their use at best is as slightly better scouts. The language barrier is also a problem. Still, they have some use. Arrange for Bayin to lead them, and have them follow the Xuzhou Volunteer regulations," Zhao Jin gave a few orders.

A look of delight appeared on Wang Ziyang's face. Zhao Jin turned to him and said, "I still don't trust you, but I still let you continue doing business. That is out of regard for our old ties. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Wang Ziyang's expression immediately turned awkward, but he still bowed and answered, "Master Jin remembers this lowly one. This lowly one understands in his heart."

"Conduct your business well, and you can still maintain your wealth and family estate. Think about the fate of others." After saying this, Zhao Jin paid him no more attention and rode on. Wang Ziyang bowed deeply in salute.

"Big Brother, Wang Ziyang can still be of use. Half the people around him now are our men. There's no fear of him doing anything foolish again. That route of his is well-established. Over the years, Wang Ziyang has built up some face in the border garrisons and on the grasslands. Letting it go to waste would be a pity," Liu Yong said.

Zhao Jin rode on in silence for a stretch before finally speaking: "Everyone thinks this time is about earning wealth and merit. Even those few men from the Li family want to join the battle. But I feel uneasy. Just what makes the Incense-Smelling Sect so confident? Until the dice cup is lifted, I won't be at ease!"

"General, up ahead is Jining City," a government scout cavalryman reported loudly.

"I'm not blind. The city's sitting right there, plain as day. Do I need you to tell me that? Go find out something useful, instead of always lying on top of women." The man addressed as General laughed and cursed.

A burst of raucous laughter erupted around him. The scout, grinning, wheeled his horse and rode off. The one called "General" was tall and burly, with a waist like a barrel. Clad head to toe in full armor atop his horse, even his sturdy mount seemed barely able to bear the load. Looking around, one noticed several riderless horses nearby and realized they had prepared for this in advance.

At this central command position, banners and pennants fluttered. Messenger riders came and went. Large formations marched to the front and rear, dust billowing skyward — a display of immense, awe-inspiring might. Not far away on the canal, one grain transport boat after another followed, laden with supplies.

"Regional Commander Yang, we are about to reach Jining. We must engage the bandit rabble, but we must also deal with the Jining gentry. Many of those people have connections in the capital, or at the very least in the provincial seat. Perhaps you should have your lads show some restraint, lest others seize on their misdeeds. And save some spirit and strength for dealing with the bandits." Beside Regional Commander Yang, a middle-aged civil official on horseback cautioned him.

Hearing this, the swaggering Regional Commander Yang Guodong's face immediately showed displeasure. He replied dismissively, "What Prefect Song says is correct. This general has already made arrangements. Military discipline must be strict before battle."

Without waiting for Prefect Song to speak again, Yang Guodong said brashly, "Prefect Song has spent his whole career in the Military Defense Circuit yamen and knows little of marching and war. You think too highly of this gang of bandits. They're not the private soldiers of those powerful families in Xuzhou. They're nothing but a bunch of starving wretches who can't fill their bellies, without even an iron tool in their hands. How could they possibly defeat our great Shandong army!"

Prefect Song's brow furrowed as well. Just as he was about to speak, Yang Guodong swept his hand in a wide arc and said, "Just look! See how full of spirit and vigor my lads are! And look at the boats on the river — packed full of grain and fodder. With momentum like this, how could we possibly lose? Prefect Song, just sit back and wait for this grand merit!"

Ostensibly boasting, his words were in fact a jab at Military Defense Circuit Prefect Song for not understanding military affairs. A flash of anger flickered across Prefect Song's face, but he suppressed it and said nothing, merely nodding with stiff restraint.

Thanks to old friends "Yuan Heng Li Zhen" and "User Light in the Darkness" for their tips. It's the end of the month, brothers — The Martial Man of the Ming needs your subscriptions, monthly tickets, and tips. Please give your support!