Tiger Guards

Chapter 119 It’s terrible
Located in the northern suburbs of Anyi, it is very close to Sushui.

In the northwest corner of the city, near the Sushui Bridge, is the Yuwang Temple.

Zhao Ji and Qu Bei each led dozens of riders to the Yuwang Temple, where there were no professionals to serve or sweep the temple.

The Yuwang Temple was built on a high platform made of earth. Going to Bilema, he looked up at the temple on the platform and asked, "Would you like to offer your respects, Minister?"

"it is good."

Zhao Ji jumped off his horse, and Tang Xian followed suit. He waved to a sergeant, who led the Huben soldiers up the steps. Other Huben soldiers and Xiongnu volunteers drove their horses around the earthen platform to check for hidden dangers.

Zhao Ji adjusted his helmet and cloak briefly, grabbed a bag of Hu pancakes and went up the stairs.

The steps have been eroded by time and are no longer smooth.

Walking up the steps along the neat edge, Zhao Ji arrived at the Yuwang Temple. The doors and pillars were cracked, the paint was peeling, the outer wall had collapsed and there were traces of recent repairs.

The jujube trees in the courtyard are lush and green, as tall as a waistline.

Zhao Ji came into the temple and saw the ground was covered with new yellow soil, which was patted neatly.

The altar was also cleaned and the wooden statues had faded.

Zhao Ji stepped forward and took out a bag of cakes, took out ten cakes and placed them in the shape of a Chinese character "品" on the altar.

After putting away the bag, he took a few steps back, took off his helmet, looked up at the statue of King Yu, and couldn't help but think of the Jiwang Temple in Jishan.

"King Yu, bless me. When I have unified the three counties, I will rebuild this place and plant a hundred acres of mulberry and jujube trees to benefit the surrounding people."

Zhao Ji prayed softly, trying to make a deal with King Yu.

The one who followed him glanced at him and then prayed silently for blessings.

Then Qu Bei took out a bag of five-zhu coins from his waist and placed it on the altar along with the leather bag.

There is no one specifically responsible for offering sacrifices here, so it is basically for later comers to use as they please.

In Anyi City, officials have begun to get busy.

Officials at the county and prefectural levels were no exception and were all preparing for war.

Because the court broke its promise to the Wei and Fan families, the chief clerk Liu Zheng committed suicide to preserve his reputation, and many officials in the county governor's office resigned out of guilt.

Even the influence of the county governor Wang Yi has declined to such an extent that after hearing about the assassination plot by the Minister Ding Chong, he also submitted a letter of resignation to the court today.

After Wang Yi voluntarily handed over the seals of the county governor and the general who guards the north, the county governor's office was declared to be disbanded.

Inside the official residence, Zhong Yao's left leg was wrapped in willow bark. He was lying on his back, flipping through bamboo slips.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Zhong Yao's face relaxed and his spirit dissipated a lot.

Then the Imperial Censor Dong Fen walked in, looking terrified. "Yuan Chang, Dong Gongren has been imprisoned. The Anyi Magistrate is going to try him tonight. Can you help him?"

"I can't even save myself, how can I save him?"

Zhong Yao smiled bitterly. He had also heard about the assassination attempt at the first time. He felt that it was more of a coincidence.

Ding Chong was originally a drunkard. He endured it for a whole winter. After Zhao Ji killed the generals of Baibo and all the officials entered Anyi, Ding Chong stayed in a mansion of the Wei family and got drunk that day.

Later, when the nobles and officials were enjoying the hospitality of the powerful people in the city, the drunkard Ding Chong did not go anywhere. He drank as soon as he woke up, thinking that attending the banquet was a waste of time.

Just when Zhao Ji raised the flag to denounce the ministers for inaction, Ding Chong, who had sobered up, was dragged to the "palace" and did not have time to drink.

After get off work last night, I naturally soaked in the wine jar again. This morning I went to work in a drunken state. I usually have a bad temper, and I didn't expect to offend Zhao Ji.

The most unlucky one was Li Yue of Chen State. He was finally promoted to the Minister of Menxia Province, but was kicked to death by Zhao Ji on his first day at work. How could he seek justice for this?

Dong Zhao felt even more wronged. He told Zhao Ji the truth about what happened in Guandong, thinking that Zhao Ji would let him go.

Judging from the current situation, it is obvious that Fu Wan refuses to believe it and wants to torture Dong Zhao, forcing Dong Zhao to tell him the truth that Fu Wan wants to hear.

Although Zhong Yao was lying here, Anyi was so small that most of the officials lived in official residences. With the comings and goings of them, all kinds of news could be gathered here.

Apparently, Fu Wan began to suspect that Dong Zhao had been bribed by the Zhao family and was deliberately trying to intimidate the court. Unaware of how much information Zhao Ji possessed, Dong Zhao could only tell the truth; if he lied, he would surely not survive the night.

If you go to jail, there is still some chance of survival.

Besides, he could have been able to get away with it before; now that the court had formally inquired, Dong Zhao deceived the court again and really moved back to Luoyang, only to find that the situation was different from what Dong Zhao had said.

Then the imperial court would not let Dong Zhao go, and people all over the world would criticize Dong Zhao.

Dong Zhao could not bear such heavy accusations and could only tell the truth.

Dong Fen saw that Zhong Yao was in a good mood and immediately asked, "How could Yuan Chang have the heart to do that?"

"Not urgent."

Zhong Yao frowned, "We really can't be impatient now. Perhaps Dong Gongren being punished is a good thing."

"How can this be a good thing?"

Dong Fen complained, then noticed the willow bark wrapped around Zhong Yao's left leg, and then looked at Zhong Yao's face, which was calm. "Too many people are watching. Whoever saves Dong Gongren will bring disaster upon himself. The court is in need of talents now. Dong Gongren is a man of strategic vision, both civil and military, far superior to the common officials. If Minister Zhao knows how to use people, he will save Dong Gongren."

At present, only Zhao Ji is suitable to rescue Dong Zhao. With Zhao Ji's order, the magistrate of Anyi dared not disobey.

Dong Fen sighed deeply after hearing this. "A few days ago, Minister Zhao asked the court to send a minister knowledgeable in military affairs to explain the art of war to Hu Ben. Everyone recommended him, but he refused. If I had known this would happen, I wonder if he would have regretted it."

When Yuan Shao conquered Jizhou, he appointed Dong Zhao as the governor of Julu County. Dong Zhao took the post alone, analyzed the situation, used the opponent's strength to defeat him, and quickly pacified the situation in Julu.

Later, the powerful Wei Jun rebelled, Gongsun Zan attacked, and Yuan Shao, besieged by internal and external pressures, appointed Dong Zhao as the concurrent governor of Wei Jun. Dong Zhao, with his skillful analysis of the situation and strategic deployment, quickly dismantled the alliance of the powerful Wei Jun. Tens of thousands of rebellious clansmen who had rebelled against Yuan Shao and defended Han Fu's cause were defeated one by one.

Later, because Dong Zhao's younger brother worked for Zhang Miao and Han Fu fled to Chenliu to ask Zhang Miao for shelter, Yuan Shao became wary of him, so Dong Zhao left Jizhou under the pretext of going to court.

On the way, he was detained by Zhang Yang, who gave Dong Zhao a seal of Wu Meng Du Wei, who was in charge of the Hanoi Knights, and thus recruited Dong Zhao.

During this period, Cao Cao's envoys wanted to pass through Henei to enter the court. It was Dong Zhao who persuaded Zhang Yang, and Zhang Yang let them go. This led to the second time last year when Cao Cao's envoys spent gold coins to make friends with Li Jue and the ministers, and let the court confirm that there was a loyal minister like Cao Cao in Guandong.

There is no need to hide Dong Zhao's position, which is that he is biased towards Cao Cao, but it can also be said that he is biased towards the court.

Invoking Cao Cao's power could initially help the court suppress Li Jue.

But no one expected that the eastward migration of the emperor and the court last year would cause such a great disaster.

From Dong Zhao's personal experience, he once ruled Julu and Weijun at the same time, so naturally he looked down on Zhao Ji, the newly rising leader in Hedong.

Zhao Ji's foundation was as shallow as a joke. Without the imperial court, most of his brave soldiers would immediately disperse.

But within a few days, Zhao Ji colluded with the Xiongnu, raised an army to denounce the ministers, and usurped control of the court.

The Hedong County soldiers, together with the Zong rebels and Baibo's old army that were incorporated by the court, were like clay. They collapsed at the first touch and even had internal chaos.

This was simply beyond Zhong Yao's understanding. The situation in Hedong was extremely bad.

What’s even worse is that Ding Chong, Cao Gong’s childhood friend and best friend, actually tried to assassinate Zhao Ji after getting drunk!

Zhong Yao was also speechless about the current situation. The imperial court was being held hostage by an uncrowned young man. Only by lying here could he avoid the turmoil. Even a hero like Dong Zhao, who once dominated the fate of hundreds of thousands of people, had to submit to punishment.

After persuading Dong Fen a few more times, he finally persuaded the man from Hongnong to leave.

Zhong Yao was worried that if Dong Fen stayed with him for too long, Zhao Ji would notice her again.

If Zhao Ji found out that he was faking injury, based on Zhong Yao's understanding of Zhao Ji, he would most likely become the second Huan Dian, with his tibia broken by Zhao Ji himself, and become a disabled person.

Just as he was thinking, Dong Fen came back, looking panicked: "Yuan Chang, Minister Zhao has returned to the city to visit Yuan Chang!"

After saying that, Dong Fen ran away.

At this time, Zhong Yao vaguely heard the long neighing of horses outside the official residence, and his face suddenly became sad.

I wish I could knock myself out with one punch and sleep till tomorrow morning.

(End of this chapter)