Zhao Dezhu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhao Dezhu (赵德柱)
Alias(es)	Steward Zhao; Manager Zhao; Brother Zhao 21 23
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Li Residence; Sword-Forging Courtyard; Li Jiwu's faction; Red Lotus Sect
Occupation/Role	Steward of the Sword-Forging Courtyard; former subordinate of Li Jiwu 17 18
Status	Deceased; publicly presumed to have embezzled funds and fled after a fire destroyed his room 27 28
First Appearance	Chapter 17

Background / History

Madam Liu, Zhao Dezhu's distant cousin, proposed him as the replacement steward after Steward Li's death. She and Li Jiwu arranged for Li Chengwen to leave on a business trip so Zhao could establish himself in the Sword-Forging Courtyard without opposition. Zhao had previously worked under Li Jiwu and was presented as diligent, steady, and dependable. 16 17 18

Upon taking office, Zhao initially managed fairly: he assigned work evenly, resolved shortages of tools and charcoal promptly, and treated the craftsmen courteously. This conduct lowered the courtyard's guard. 20

He gradually divided the craftsmen into factions. Masters willing to support him received better iron, lighter schedules, raises, rest days, food, and private gatherings; dissenters and Steward Li's former subordinates received poor materials, exhausting miscellaneous labor, wage deductions, and public reprimands. Sun Ping and Shen Chu remained outside both sides. 20 21

Zhao attempted to recruit Shen Chu through promises of wealth, improved treatment, and membership in a “big family.” Shen Chu recognized the rhetoric as Red Lotus Sect-style proselytizing and refused. 23

When Master Wang uncovered discrepancies in the courtyard accounts and tried to extort a share, Zhao murdered him with a door bar. He subsequently removed the other old craftsmen under the false claim that they had accepted settlement money and retired. 24 25

Zhao later offered Shen Chu the lucrative purchasing post, then sent him outside the city with two guards on an urgent procurement assignment. The guards ambushed Shen Chu but were killed; Shen Chu used their corpses to infiltrate Zhao's room and expose his involvement in eliminating everyone who knew of his embezzlement and the Flag Master's plans. 25 26

Cornered, Zhao tried to bargain with Shen Chu as a supposed fellow disciple of the “Sacred Sect,” then attempted to kill him with a concealed needle weapon. Shen Chu survived due to concealed iron armor and killed Zhao with Stone-Shattering Fist. Zhao's corpse dissolved after Shen Chu's Incense Offering to All Living Beings activated. 27

Shen Chu burned Zhao's room and left the two guard corpses behind. The authorities concluded that Zhao had stolen 300 taels, murdered witnesses, set the fire to destroy evidence, and fled; Madam Liu later appealed for Master Li to reconsider the case. 27 28 30

Appearance

Zhao Dezhu is a sturdy man in his early thirties who initially wears plain, simple clothing. His outwardly humble smile contrasts with watchful eyes that repeatedly scan his surroundings. 17 18

• Sturdy build. 17
• Usually presents a friendly, harmless, or beaming expression. 18 21
• His eyes often reveal calculation, vigilance, or cold resolve beneath his approachable demeanor. 18 24

Personality

Zhao is politically adept, patient, and manipulative. Rather than immediately imposing control, he builds dependence through selective rewards, private conversations, and promises of better livelihoods. His tactics split the courtyard while limiting open resistance. 20 21

He is also ruthless when threatened. After Master Wang discovered his financial misconduct, Zhao feigned cooperation before killing him and resolved to remove further potential witnesses. He later arranged Shen Chu's ambush and attempted a final concealed-weapon attack when direct manipulation failed. 24 26 27

His concern for impoverished craftsmen is used as recruitment rhetoric. He speaks of shared hardship, mutual aid, and a “big family,” but his actions ultimately serve Li Jiwu's faction, the Red Lotus Sect's plans, and his own control of the courtyard. 21 23 26

Methods & Resources

Faction Building

Zhao consolidates authority through selective patronage and workplace pressure.

• Rewards supporters with better materials, higher pay, lighter workloads, rest days, meals, and personal gatherings. 20 21
• Marginalizes opponents through inferior iron, labor assignments, wage deductions, and criticism. 20
• Uses promises of status and prosperity to recruit skilled workers such as Shen Chu. 23

Red Lotus Sect Recruitment

Zhao uses cult-like language to draw recruits into the Red Lotus Sect.

• Frames the sect as a supportive “big family” that shares blessings among its members. 23
• Identifies Shen Chu's unusually high forging ability and seeks to bring him into the organization. 23
• Refers to the Red Lotus Sect as the “Sacred Sect” and claims kinship with Shen Chu because both know its secret arts. 27

Concealed Weapon

When Shen Chu confronts him, Zhao produces a short-barreled hidden weapon that fires several needles or cold glints at close range. 27

• The attack is powerful enough to appear fatal until Shen Chu reveals his iron armor. 27
• Zhao expends vital essence to destroy Shen Chu's corpse-controlled guard during the confrontation. 27

Equipment / Items

• Concealed needle weapon — A pitch-black, short-barreled weapon used in his failed attempt on Shen Chu's life. 27
• Sword-Forging Courtyard accounts — Zhao manipulates procurement and production records to conceal missing funds. 24
• Embezzled silver — He withdraws 300 taels for an unrecorded purchase and keeps additional money hidden in a compartment beneath his bed. 27 28

Relationships

• Madam Liu — Distant cousin; she advocates for his appointment as steward and later pleads for his case to be reconsidered. 16 30
• Li Jiwu — Former superior and political patron; Zhao is installed as Li Jiwu's man in the Sword-Forging Courtyard. 17 18 20
• Flag Master — Red Lotus Sect leader whose “grand plans” Zhao fears jeopardizing. 26
• Shen Chu — Intended recruit, later assassination target and killer; Zhao repeatedly tries to bring him under his control before arranging an ambush. 23 26 27
• Master Wang — Old courtyard craftsman who discovers Zhao's embezzlement; Zhao murders him to silence him. 24
• Sword-Forging Courtyard craftsmen — Zhao's base of support and targets of manipulation; he rewards loyalists while isolating dissenters. 20 21

Story Role / Major Arcs

Appointment and Takeover

Zhao enters the Sword-Forging Courtyard as the new steward while Li Chengwen is sent away. He establishes a respectable public image before quietly restructuring the courtyard around loyalists. 17 18 20

Division of the Courtyard

Through preferential treatment and intimidation, Zhao creates a dominant faction loyal to himself and Li Jiwu. His efforts leave the old hands isolated and Sun Ping's group politically detached. 20 21

Embezzlement and Purge

After Master Wang discovers inconsistencies in the accounts, Zhao kills him and removes the remaining old craftsmen. He publicly claims they retired with settlement money, concealing the purge. 24 25

Conflict with Shen Chu

Zhao unsuccessfully attempts to recruit Shen Chu, then uses a false procurement mission to have him killed. Shen Chu survives, confronts Zhao, and kills him after Zhao's hidden-weapon ambush fails. 23 26 27

Trivia

• Zhao's apparent disappearance is accepted by the authorities despite the lack of a body; only Shen Chu knows that Zhao was killed. 27 28
• His theft totals at least 300 taels from the courtyard accounts, while Shen Chu finds additional hidden silver and banknotes in Zhao's room. 27 28