Tiger Guards

Chapter 10 Different Tracks
Mountain bay, a higher place.

The old and new graves are connected, there are many dug-up graves, and bones can be seen everywhere within sight.

Zhao Ji personally took action, digging the soil with an iron hoe.

With 'Breakthrough' activated, even digging movements seem to be more standard, with a 24% increase when digging.

I was also afraid that I wouldn't kill him with one punch, and I was also afraid that the nearby mountain people would come to dig up the grave and take the clothes and destroy the body.

The grave was dug five feet deep. Zhao Ji personally placed Rui Dan in the grave and did not forget to tidy up his clothes.

Yang Ji stretched out his hand and pulled Zhao Ji out of the pit.

He brushed the dirt off his body, turned around and squatted beside the pit, seeing several people gasping for breath from exhaustion.

He said, "He can still be buried. We are protecting the emperor. If we fight with the soldiers from Guanzhong, our bodies will be in great danger, let alone a proper burial. In this way, the boy has not lost anything."

Yang Ji grinned. "Yeah, if I die, Aji will dig a grave just as deep for me, and I won't be buried with him. I'm afraid that after I die, I'll be dug out and left exposed to the wilderness like these corpses, being eaten by wild dogs and crows."

"Who can predict what will happen in the future? Perhaps you and I can return home in glory, wearing official titles and riding fine horses."

Zhao Ji grabbed a handful of soil and threw it into the pit, then stood up and said, "You guys fill it up."

The two young men holding the iron hoes did not even take a rest. They got up and started shoveling soil into the pit.

Yang Ji followed Zhao Ji to the upwind side and looked at the grave pit with some nostalgia: "Aji, when I dug my grandfather's grave, it wasn't this deep. This brat really got away with it."

"How about you lie down in there?"

"Aji, you're joking. I haven't lived enough. Even if I die, I want to make a name for myself before I die!"

Yang Ji encouraged himself and asked Zhao Ji, "Aji, what would happen if I took your boots?"

Zhao Ji was silent, thinking seriously for a moment: "I won't feel bad. I have new boots. You can take them, but I don't want you to do something like this without asking for permission. The army is different from the countryside. Some things cannot tolerate favoritism. The more favoritism, the worse it will be."

After a pause, he said, "For example, if you and Lu Chun commit the same mistake, since we are old friends, I will definitely punish you severely."

As for what bad thoughts will be triggered by Rui Dan’s death?

Basically, you're worrying too much.

It sounds as if the villagers are as close as brothers and there is no dispute over water or fighting with weapons. In Zhao Ji's memory, there were young people of the same age group who died young or unexpectedly from time to time.

The so-called fellow villagers appear close and trustworthy only when competing with outsiders.

Once we go out, we have no one to rely on, so we can only stick together to help each other, pull each other forward, and seek better development.

If it weren't for this recruitment, Rui Dan would have died here, or in some other fight or something else in the future.

For a young man like Rui Dan who has no brothers, others will never hold back when there is a group fight.

Armed brawls and group fights are the privileges of the children of wealthy families and the powerful; if the fights are fierce, the county will have to send people to offer condolences.

This kind of thing is not something that a small person like Rui Dan should be involved in.

Zhao Ji also didn't like to participate in this kind of group fight. It would be one thing to be surrounded and attacked, but it would be difficult to clean up the mess after seriously injuring the other party.

It was only because he had a bad reputation and could seemingly defeat Shen Tulan easily, otherwise in Pei Xiu's eyes, he would barely be a sergeant or a close follower.

Yang Ji looked unhappy. Seeing that one of his companions was tired, he stepped forward, took over the hoe, and shoveled the soil with all his might.

When the grave was piled up and Yang Ji was patting the soil to decorate it, he saw Zhao Ji pick up a wooden plaque. It was old and rotten, and the original words engraved on it could be vaguely seen.

Zhao Ji squatted down, took out a dagger and carved again on the back.

Soon, Zhao Ji cleaned up the wood chips and gave Rui Dan the last bit of dignity.

The carved words were in a sloppy manner, but one could vaguely make out the eight characters "Tomb of Rui Jun, Nanxiang, Wenxi".

After setting up this simple tombstone, the five men said nothing more and rode three horses back to the camp.

As they returned to camp, another contingent arrived, carrying hay to cover their homes. Yang Ji led his horse to the stable, while Zhao Ji brought a wooden sign to meet Hu Ban.

Inside the house, Guan Shang was sorting a bag of coins. He stood up and said to Zhao Ji, "Aji, the team has collected 11,600 coins."

"Well, who paid more?"

"The military sergeant contributed one thousand, Seventh Brother also contributed one thousand, Wei Ziang contributed five hundred, and the remaining amount was either three hundred or two hundred."

Hu Ban said this as he handed over a stack of freshly bound bamboo slips, on which was the list of people who wanted to raise money.

Zhao Ji took one look and said, "I'll give you 500, and Yang Ji and the others will also contribute. You can come with me to get it later."

At this time, Hu Ban, who was writing on bamboo slips, put down his pen and rubbed his right wrist: "Aji, do you think this is worth it?"

"It's just a matter of time. It's too late to ask whether it's worth it now."

Zhao Ji stepped forward to hand over the token and sighed.

There's no easy explanation for this. Stealing his boots and getting beaten to death by him, any explanation is meaningless.

Sergeant Guanqiu Xing, the seventh officer in charge of transporting and managing fodder, spoke up. "Sergeant Hu, Zhao Aji is right. It's too late to pursue this matter any further. But next time something like this happens, it's best to wait for Sergeant Hu to return so we can make a decision together."

"I'd rather not know."

Hu Ban said this, but he still looked at Zhao Ji: "After all, we are from the countryside. When we are away from home, we should be lenient. You are happy with it, but I still have to write a written document to the county to explain the whole process. If the county asks, I will have to write again. Rui Dan's mother is a well-known heroine in the county, so you must not let her know, or she will be upset."

He died in the king's business, being kicked to death by a frightened horse while volunteering to feed the horses. Although it was a bit cowardly, it was better than being executed for a crime or dying suddenly for other reasons.

Although there is no such clear-cut death indicator these days, a certain degree of accidental losses is tolerable and understandable.

"Yes, I will warn the team."

Zhao Ji was silent for a moment, then pretended to ask in a low voice, "Brother, should we only take 500 Tiger Guards this time, or should we take more?"

Hu Ban restrained his expression and asked seriously, "Aji, do you want to recommend someone?"

According to common sense, it is normal for Zhao Ji to have a relationship with the Jishan bandits.

If he could recruit a group of good players from them, Hu Ban would not refuse.

Seeing no response from Zhao Ji, Hu Ban casually replied, "With the country in turmoil and the emperor in disgrace, the more loyal and righteous men we have, the better. The original number of 500 was set because the county could only provide equipment and fodder for 500 men. This was also the amount provided by the court... I can't go into detail, but the opportunity is right before us. If we go, who can drive us away?"

Zhao Ji probably understood that this was an attempt to steal the chicken, to create a fait accompli in order to cram so many people around the emperor.

The more people who go, the less likely the warlords who protect the emperor will dare to break up with each other.

My Lord, this is the most precious treasure in the world.

Hu Ban noticed Zhao Ji's change of expression and said, "It's not appropriate to discuss this in the camp. Go back and get some rest. Tomorrow, the King of the Army will hold a martial arts competition to select two garrison commanders. Aji must work hard and make a name for himself in this county."

Hearing this, Zhao Ji smiled brightly: "Yes! Don't worry, big brother."

Guanqiu Xing also came closer and said in a low voice, "During the competition, Aji, don't be soft-hearted. The Wang family is an outsider, and what belongs to us must not be easily given up."

To be the bravest among the three armies, one can gain such reputation by beheading people; or by competing in martial arts competitions.

Like Pei Xiu, Guanqiu Xing was not interested in military service.

Once in Hanoi, many people like Bui Xiu and Guan Qiu Xing will take the fast lane.

The higher the temporary military rank now, the more disadvantageous it will be in the future.

This is also like a curse. Once you are infected with it, it is difficult to have a good reputation.

Even serious official positions such as Huben Zhonglang and Yulin Zhonglang were not valued by them.

They preferred officials close to the emperor, such as Huangmen Lang, Huangmen Shilang, Wuguan Lang, Zuo Zhonglang, and You Zhonglang.

(End of this chapter)