Tiger Guards

Chapter 114: Swift Reaction
In front of the palace gate, Zhao Ji saw Zhao Fan waiting there, with a small convoy behind him.

Zhao Ji dismounted, and Zhao Fan stepped forward and bowed, "Minister, today I will go to Wenxi to announce the imperial edict. Lord Zhao has also instructed that you and your two brothers will also be recruited as imperial guards. I wonder if you have any instructions?"

"Warn them that I manage my family like I manage my army, and it's very serious. If anyone uses my name to break the law and harm others, even if the national law doesn't kill them, I will kill them."

After a pause, Zhao Ji turned to look at Pei Bao, who had just dismounted. "Abao, lead the cavalry slaves and the Guardian Angels to Beixiang to bring my brother-in-law and his family to Anyi. When you go north to the county, say hello to Hu Wenxu and take Alan, my Dahuang, and Sanhuang with you."

Pei Bao nodded and asked, "Should we pick him up first and then go to Beixiang, or pick him up on the way back?"

"Pick up Alan and then go pick up my brother-in-law and his family. Don't stay in Beixiang and don't worry about those pots and pans. Head south immediately. If you can't come to Anyi before dark, spend the night in Wenxi City."

After giving Pei Bao clear instructions, Zhao Ji still felt a little unreliable and looked at Han Shu. "You should come with us and fetch Seventh Brother's mother as well. Be sure to take care of everything. If the villagers or clan elders celebrate and offer wine or a banquet, and anyone of you eats a bite and delays your return, I'll rip out his tongue!"

"Here!"

Han Shu was horrified. He knew the cause of death of Rui Dan, the first person killed in Hedong. If he lost the big picture for the sake of a small detail, his head would still be in danger.

Seeing Pei Bao's bewildered look, Zhao Ji instructed Han Shu, "If A Bao tries to persuade you, whip him. If my brother-in-law and his family linger, don't worry about them. Pick up my sister and nephew and head south immediately."

The Pei clan was a complex clan, and Zhao Ji was well aware of the competitive mentality among the various branches of the Pei clan.

If Pei Hu can't figure it out at this time, Zhao Ji doesn't mind changing his brother-in-law.

"Well, after I pick you up, I will head south immediately and will not linger!"

Han Shu repeated the order and had made up his mind that even if his father came back to life and stood in front of him to help persuade him, he would whip him away.

"Very good, one man and two horses, go ahead."

Han Shu and the others bowed, and Zhao Fan also bowed: "Goodbye."

Zhao Ji also took two steps back and stood on the steps, bowing, watching Zhao Fan and his group leave. His riding slave also mounted his horse, and the other Huben also gave up their horses and let the riding slaves take them away to serve as spare horses.

In this way, Zhao Ji walked into the palace alone.

A Huangmen Shilang who had been assigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs yesterday stepped forward and bowed, "Minister Zhao."

"Have the other attendants arrived?"

"Lord Zhao has been giving lectures in the Forbidden Palace since this morning. The other three have already gone to the side hall."

"Well, how is Zhong Yao's injury?"

The two men walked one in front and the other behind. Zhao Ji asked, Zhong Yao is a senior Huangmen Minister, the three provinces and six ministries are expanding, and someone suggested that Zhong Yao go to the Shangshu Province to serve as a Pushe.

"Reporting to the Minister, Zhong Yuanchang's injuries are not serious and he can barely walk."

"How can this be done? If he remains disabled and limps in the future, how can he be a role model for the officials? You will warn Zhong Yuanchang later and let him recover in peace."

Zhao Ji gave a concerned instruction. The unfamiliar Yellow Gate Minister looked sad, as if he was very worried about Zhong Yao's future.

If he really missed this round, the good official positions would have been allocated, and even if the position left for Zhong Yao was high in rank, it would be a marginal one, and it would be difficult for him to establish merits and play a role.

It was Zhong Yao's official career that was ruined, what does it have to do with him?
The gate of Menxia Province is Huangmen.

There are currently two Yellow Gate Assistant Ministers, and there are also Palace Attendants and Counselors serving as secondary advisors.

In addition, six attendants were appointed in the Menxia Province, with an official rank of 300 stones, who were responsible for sealing and rejecting documents.

If the Secretariat issued an edict without discussion or vote by the Ministry of Personnel, the edict could be covered with ink when it was reviewed by the on-duty Secretary, and the Secretariat would be rejected.

In this way, the possibility of the Secretariat and the emperor acting alone was blocked.

From now on, imperial edicts must be signed by the on-duty official and sent to the Secretariat before they can be considered true edicts.

A legal imperial edict must have the signatures of a majority of the Shizhong (ministers of the imperial court), one of the Zhongshu Ling (minister of the imperial court), the emperor's seal, and the Jieshilang (official secretary).

For example, the Yidaizhao and the like are definitely fake edicts from a procedural point of view.

When Zhao Ji arrived at the small hall of the "Minister's House," Ding Chong stood up to greet him, swaying and waving, "From the footsteps, I know it's Minister Zhao."

Seeing Ding Chong reeking of alcohol and his cheeks flushed, Zhao Ji frowned, "How can we discuss matters when we're so drunk?"

Ding Chong chuckled and was about to speak when Tai Chong, who had followed behind him, covered his mouth with his hand. Tai Chong hurriedly explained to Zhao Ji, "Minister Zhao, he's completely drunk. We don't want to bother him. Minister Zhao, please don't argue with him."

Zhao Ji stood still, staring at the struggling Ding Chong, but Tai Chong grabbed his mouth and nose tightly from behind, preventing Ding Chong from speaking.

Ding Chong struggled several times and became even more angry. His cheeks turned redder and he was obviously angry. He stepped back and slammed Tai Chong against the wall, and then used brute force to break free from Tai Chong.

Liu Ai also stood up at this time, looking at Ding Chong with a gloomy face: "The country is slightly stable now, what do you want to do?"

Ding Chong took two deep breaths and looked at Zhao Ji. "Little Minister Zhao, although the Ministry of Personnel is newly established, you two, grandfather and grandson, are just puppets. What difference does it make whether I'm drunk or not?"

Zhao Ji looked at Ding Chong in confusion. "If the three of you are determined to accomplish one thing, you can accomplish it. How can you say that I'm treating you as puppets?" Ding Chong glared at him and asked directly, "Can the three of us, if we decide to dismiss Xiao Zhao from his position as Hu Ben Zhong Lang Jiang, actually accomplish anything?"

"You can try. I will object when the resolution is made."

Ding Chong asked again, "When the imperial edict is issued, will Minister Zhao obey it?"

"The truth is revealed, I will obey your orders."

Zhao Ji turned to look at Liu Ai and said, "Please ask Lord Zifang to ask Lord Zhao to come and take a vote today, as Ding Chong proposed. No matter what, I will impeach Ding Chong for delaying state affairs due to his drunkenness. I will punish him for dereliction of duty and disloyalty."

There were other officials from the Ministry of Personnel in the small courtyard. Zhao Ji looked around as he spoke. These people did not dare to look at each other and lowered their heads.

Tai Chong covered his chest and walked to Liu Ai's side: "Zifang, the country is in danger, his drinking is really inappropriate and cannot be forgiven lightly."

Liu Ai looked at Zhao Ji and said, "Minister Zhao, is there any room for maneuver in this matter?"

Zhao Ji turned sideways and looked at the people in the courtyard: "Do you go to invite Lord Zhao, or should I go?"

Liu Ai said again: "Mr. Zhao is giving lectures in the forbidden area, so it is not appropriate to disturb him."

"So, no one among you is willing to listen to what I, the Minister, say?"

Zhao Ji said this and turned to leave. The Yellow Gate Minister who was leading the way raised his hand to stop him, but Zhao Ji raised his leg and kicked the man five or six steps away. The man fell to the ground and rolled into the corner of the wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood, pointing at Zhao Ji with wide eyes, and after holding on for half a breath, his head drooped and his arm fell to the ground.

The other officials were in an uproar. Liu Ai took off running, trying to catch up with Zhao Ji: "Minister Zhao, please stay!"

Zhao Ji walked out of the door quickly and took a look at the two warriors holding spears who were eager to try. The two men immediately turned around and pointed their spears at Liu Ai. Liu Ai's hair stood on end and his body and mind immediately felt refreshed.

Zhao Ji looked at Liu Ai and Tai Chong who were chasing him. "I fought my way out of this situation, and not even three days have passed, and Ding Chong is already using this trick on me? I don't know if he did this on impulse, or if he tricked Lord Zhao into giving lectures in the Forbidden City first, and then tried to deceive me."

Tai Chong said urgently, "Minister Zhao, don't bother with this drunkard!"

"Even if all this is a coincidence, when a coincidence happens, it is no longer a coincidence, but a fact."

Zhao Ji bowed to Tai Chong and said, "This is beyond the control of the two of you. I must meet the Emperor and seek an explanation. If you won't tolerate me, I will give you the gold and I will fight the Xiongnu myself! Even without you, the people of Hedong can still wipe out the Xiongnu threat!"

"Minister Zhao, please stay!"

Tai Chong shouted, "The Emperor invited Lord Zhao to discuss the marriage of Minister Zhao!"

Zhao Ji didn't stop. Tai Chong stamped his feet in anger and pointed at Liu Ai: "Ding Chong is drunk, are you drunk! Confused! Stupid!"

Tai Chong cursed, feeling a pain in his liver. He clutched his left abdomen with his right hand, gasping for breath. He turned to look at Ding Chong, the angrier he got. "You pigs and dogs! The country's downfall started with you! You beasts, what use are you to the country? You're drunk all day, and sooner or later you'll die of rotten intestines and a ruptured stomach!"

As he spoke, he drew his sword and walked towards Ding Chong. Ding Chong spread his arms and said, "Come and kill me! My death will let the Zhao family know that there are loyal and brave people in the country. How dare they be so presumptuous!"

He walked towards Tai Chong while shouting, and the surrounding officials stepped forward to separate them, and even Tai Chong's sword was taken away.

Tai Chong was shaking with anger and was pushed and shoved by three or four people, and someone even accidentally stepped on his foot.

Ding Chong, confident and fearless, also drew his sword and headed for the gate. Drunk and drunk, he shouted, "I am an important official of our country. The enemy soldiers can kill me, but how can the Tiger Guards kill me?"

The two Tiger Guards holding spears in front of the door were also hesitant. The sergeant who was on duty led the other two Tiger Guards and walked quickly towards here.

Seeing Ding Chong already standing on the steps outside the door, the sergeant drew out his spear and threw it at him without thinking.

At this time, Ding Chonggang turned around to look at Liu Ai, and the officials said: "See, how could the Tiger Guards kill..."

The short spear pierced his back. Seeing that he was injured, the two Tiger Guards on the steps stepped forward and pushed their halberds, and the front branches of the halberds pierced Ding Chong's waist and back.

Ding Chong was shaking all over and wanted to turn around to see, but the pain in his waist and abdomen was so severe that he turned his neck very slowly and with great difficulty.

He only heard the faint sound of footsteps, and then three more halberds pierced his waist and back, causing him to tremble again.

The captain of the Tiger Guards drew out his halberd and swung it back with his backhand. The other Tiger Guards also drew out their halberds and pulled Ding Chong over. Ding Chong fell backward onto the steps, his feet upside down and his head down.

He then saw clearly that they were some Tiger Guards. He opened his mouth to curse, but no sound came out.

Seeing this, the sergeant's face turned fierce and he stabbed again with his halberd. The four tiger soldiers surrounded Ding Chong and stabbed him repeatedly.

Until a Tiger Guards squad leader ran over, pulled the sergeant away, and shouted, "What happened?"

The sergeant finally came to his senses and, looking at Ding Chong who had smashed his front body, he became even more furious: "He dared to humiliate the captain!"

"Look at Cheng He! I'm going to see Minister Zhao."

The sergeant turned his head and glared fiercely at the officials watching inside the door, and these people immediately dispersed.

Liu Ai was confused. How dare these brave warriors do that?
(End of this chapter)