Tiger Guards

Chapter 115 Reasonable and well-founded
Zhao Ji looked out through the garden gate. Inside, the emperor was sitting under the pavilion, while Zhao Yan and Fu Wan were kneeling opposite him. There were bamboo slips on the desks of both of them, and they seemed to be giving a lecture.

When Grand Chamberlain Shi Qian hurried to the pavilion to report, the Tiger Guards sergeant also came to Zhao Ji about ten steps away and said, "Minister, how could Cheng accidentally kill Ding Chong?"

"killed?"

Zhao Ji looked back at the other person. The captain didn't dare to look up, but nodded quickly, his head bowed. "He really killed him. Ding Chong was trying to break out and even drew his sword to attack the Tiger Guards. Cheng He accidentally killed him."

"Go and keep an eye on Cheng He, lest he get upset."

Zhao Ji held the hilt of the hanging sword with his left hand, the scabbard across his waist, and said, "Ding Chong, a dog-like thing, is nothing."

"Here!"

Not daring to delay any longer, the sergeant turned around and ran away quickly. He was also afraid that Cheng He would be so depressed that he would commit suicide.

Zhao Ji was pacing back and forth in front of the door. Grand Chamberlain Shi Qian came over and said with an apologetic smile, "Minister Zhao, Lord Zhao said we can discuss this after Minister Ding sobers up."

"Then tell Lord Zhao that Minister Ding will never wake up again. He attacked the Tiger Guards with a sword and was beheaded."

Zhao Ji said, bowing, "I'll take my leave."

After saying that, he smiled, turned around and walked towards the courtyard of "Shizhonglu". Shi Qian's polite smile froze on his face.

He turned his head and looked around, and saw that the Tiger Guard on duty had a stable expression, while the new Tiger Guard had begun to look up and observe and examine him.

He took a deep breath and walked back to the pavilion. "Your Majesty, Minister Zhao said Minister Ding was drunk and reckless, attacked the Huben with a sword, and was killed by them."

In the pavilion, Zhao Yan, who was giving a lecture, rolled up the bamboo slips with interpretations and annotations, and Fu Wan looked calm.

Even Liu Xie only took out a bookmark and put it between the bamboo slips, tied it up again, shook his sleeves and looked at Zhao Yan: "Sir, was this predictable?"

“It’s hard to predict.”

Zhao Yan sighed, "I knew Ding Chong was a heavy drinker. He was already drunk when he entered Anyi City, and I never expected him to be drunk again last night. I don't know how Liu Zifang and the other two persuaded him to let things get to this point."

Liu Xie looked at Fu Wan again: "What do you think, Mr. Fu?"

Fu Wan folded his hands in his lap and smiled slightly. "Perhaps Pei Juguang is to blame. He hid the 'Petition to Punish the Han Bandits' written by Minister Zhao. If Ding Chong had seen this yesterday, he wouldn't have dared get so drunk even if he had drunk."

Liu Xie listened and shook his head. "This isn't just about Ding Chong being drunk. Today, we're announcing Zhao Qing's marriage to the public. Gentlemen, go ahead. I'll follow."

"only."

Fu Wan and Zhao Yan stood up straight, bowed, and walked out of the pavilion.

The two walked out side by side without saying a word.

After walking out of the door, Fu Wan said, "This is a coincidence. If Yuan Ming was in the Minister's Residence, this wouldn't have happened."

"My Lord, it's too late to discuss this now. Ding Chong is dead, which is a good thing."

Zhao Yan said this, but still couldn't help sighing.

Ding and Chong were one of the four surnames of Pei State, and had been intermarried with the Cao family for generations. In addition, Ding Gong had served as one of the Three Dukes many times, and was the Secretary of State when Dong Zhuo entered the court.

When Dong Zhuo wanted to propose to depose the emperor, Ding Gong immediately responded and supported it by citing classics.

After Dong Zhuo was assassinated, the ministers were purged and Ding Gong was executed.

But Ding Gong ultimately supported the current emperor, so he was executed in secret.

Ding Gong was secretly executed, and now the great minister Ding Chong was killed. Naturally, the scholars around Pei State would be disappointed with the court.

Zhao Yan could only sigh with regret, but if Ding Chong really succeeded in causing trouble by being unreasonable, the consequences would be even greater!
At the gate of the Imperial Court, Zhao Yan and Fu Wan looked at Ding Chong, who lay face upside down on the steps. Zhao Yan asked, "Why are you so wounded?"

Liu Ai and Tai Chong stood along the wall, while Zhao Ji stood near Ding Chong's head. He replied, "He attacked the Tiger Guards with a sword. How is that any different from treason? We are only afraid of killing him, so why worry about injuring him too much?"

Zhao Ji pointed at Cheng He and said, "I've just learned everything. Ding Chong, enraged after arguing with me, drew his sword and charged at me, intending to kill me. The guards on both sides of the gate held their halberds to stop him, but Ding Chong slashed and forced him back with his sword. Seeing the situation was urgent, Cheng He, the doctor of the Tiger Guards, acted decisively and killed the thief Ding."

Zhao Yan ignored him and turned to ask, "Zifang, is that so?"

Liu Ai bowed and replied, "My servant and I were unable to stop him. He was drunk and mad, and he drew his sword and swung it wildly. No one dared to approach him. The Tiger Guards outside the gate saw him holding a sword and shouting and cursing, so they only used their halberds to stop him. As the Minister Zhao said, they did injure the Tiger Guards with their halberds."

Zhao Yan and Fu Wan turned to look at Tai Chong, who also bowed and replied, "I tried to persuade Minister Ding to stay, but it was in vain. When Zifang and I reached the gate, Minister Ding refused to listen and struck with his sword, forcing the two Tiger Guards to retreat. He then screamed and cursed, and was killed by the Tiger Guards."

Zhao Ji bowed again and said, "We agreed to hold a meeting this morning. Lord Zhao was summoned to the Forbidden City when I arrived, and Ding Chong was drunk and deliberately insulted me. I suspect someone is plotting to harm me." Zhao Yan waved his hand and concluded, "It's just a coincidence. Before, when I entered the court, I always went to the Forbidden City to give lectures."

He paused for a moment and then said, "Discipline the Tiger Guards well. Don't be so cruel next time. Leave them alive so we can interrogate them and track down any remaining accomplices. If there are no remaining accomplices, the court officials will be reassured."

"Here."

Zhao Ji bowed and turned to look at the dozen or so Tiger Guards: "Didn't you hear what Lord Zhao said?"

"Here!"

A dozen Tiger Guards stood with their halberds in hand, bowing their hands. Zhao Ji looked at him again and said, "Since this is your first offense, I will demote you to a subordinate and fine you three months' salary. Next time, I will cut your arm and leg tendons, but I won't have to kill you."

"I understand."

Cheng He lowered his head, his face flushed red.

Seeing him like this, Zhao Ji said again: "It is not suitable to be on duty today, return to the camp and rest."

"Here."

Seeing that the Tiger Guards had returned to their respective positions and that two new Tiger Guards had been added to the gate of the Shizhonglu Courtyard, Zhao Yancai said to Tai Chong and Liu Ai, "Follow me to pay homage to the Emperor and explain the dispute."

"Here."

The two men saluted, and Zhao Ji also turned slightly to the side. Zhao Yan thought about dealing with the body and cleaning the ground, so he asked, "Where is Minister Li?"

Tai Chong and Liu Ai looked at each other, then looked at Zhao Ji. Zhao Yan and Fu Wan also looked at Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji's expression remained calm. "After arguing with Ding Chong, I was about to leave when this new Minister stretched out his arms to stop me. I was worried that if he got caught, I'd be harmed by him. In desperation, I kicked him out and quickly walked away. I don't know what else happened."

Upon hearing this, Fu Wan turned his head and carefully examined Tai Chong and Liu Ai, and asked in a serious tone, "Is what Minister Zhao said true?"

Liu Ai even forgot to bow: "That's right, I think Li Boyang just wants to keep Minister Zhao, or perhaps he wants to clear up the misunderstanding so as not to disturb the emperor."

"You think, maybe?"

Fu Wan glared: "Who is Li Boyang to you? How dare you defend Liu Zifang!"

Fu Wan was so angry that if the worst happened, everything would be over.

No matter whether Zhao Ji is injured, dead, or killed in a counterattack, Anyi and Hedong will be reduced to dust!
Especially after Zhao Ji's death, the Wei family's treasury alone was enough to cause fighting among all parties, with corpses everywhere!
But Zhao Yan said nothing, drew his sword, walked over and stabbed it into Ding Chong's eye socket, stirring it.

He drew his sword and stabbed the other eye, then released his hatred a little and turned to look at Liu Ai: "Zifang, where is Li Boyang?"

Liu Ai bowed and said, "Lord Zhao, Li Boyang is weak. He didn't want to be kicked by Minister Zhao and die of suffocation."

"hehe."

Zhao Yan sneered, drew his sword, wiped the blood from Ding Chong's relatively clean leg, sheathed the sword, and looked at Fu Wan: "Please inform His Majesty first."

"Ah."

Fu Wan agreed without saying anything, turned around and walked away quickly.

Go and inform the emperor first to avoid any difficulties.

Seeing him walk away, Zhao Yan looked at Zhao Ji with an unhappy tone: "Next time, explain the matter clearly. This is no longer a coincidence. It was only you who were smart enough to prevent the traitor from succeeding."

"..."

Zhao Ji was speechless. According to the current inference, this might really be a conspiracy.

When weaving a conspiracy, it is naturally better to have as few people involved as possible and as short a time as possible.

He couldn't help but start to look at Tai Chong and Liu Ai. The two of them lowered their heads and dared not look at each other, both of them were terrified.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Ji said, "If this isn't a coincidence, if a coincidence like this happens again, there will be even more traitors and it will be even harder to guard against them."

"Well, at this point, there's nowhere for you to hide."

Zhao Yan sighed and said, "Let's go, everyone, follow me to pay homage to the emperor."

(End of this chapter)