Tiger Guards

Chapter 134 Bingzhou Envoy

On the first day of April, Zhao Ji settled the camp affairs and went to Anyi to attend the meeting.

Training will be stopped today and the entire army will close camp for rest.

Except for the transportation of grain, all military operations around Anyi were stopped.

In more than half a month, Zhao Ji had a set of newly modified and reinforced armor.

It is still made of gilded iron armor, with protruding heart guards on both sides of the chest.

At the same time, the armor added a basin collar structure, and it was matched with a heavy helmet.

As for the arrogant-looking hat helmet, it is not very suitable at the moment, especially at a critical moment like today.

Zhao Ji and his guards entered the city fully armed. The streets had been tidied up and were full of patrolling Hedong knights.

The people were not allowed to move around, and they were not allowed to move around.

The chariot slowly approached the emperor's palace. The guards on duty at the gate came forward to greet him: "Minister."

Zhao Ji nodded gently, raised his hand and patted Jia Tong's shoulder: "Send the troops in three days."

"Yes, I understand!"

Jia Tong answered in a low voice, looked up and looked at Zhao Ji. He saw the impatience that Zhao Ji had suppressed.

Today's gathering is peaceful, but if the new Langguan is looking for an opportunity to cause trouble, then we will start the war from Anyi!
Zhao Ji patted the armband on Jia Tong's arm again. It had two bars and four stars. Even the armband on Zhao Ji's arm armor had two bars and four stars.

Jia Tong took two steps back and stood still with the halberd in his right hand.

Zhao Ji raised his eyebrows and examined the plaque of the palace. It now read "Shaoliang Palace".

Two hundred of the seven hundred palace guards were also transferred today to be on duty and stand guard outside Shaoliang Palace.

The commander of the Shaoliang Palace guards was also wearing heavy armor, with a sword hanging from his waist, and he was waiting in the palace courtyard with a dozen or so officials.

His eyes met Zhao Ji's, and he slowly lowered his head.

This is because he doesn't want to look at each other, not because he is afraid of Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji stepped inside, his heavy boots making a crisp sound as they stepped on the ground. Behind him, Cheng He, the swordsman, was holding the imperial sword and walking close to Zhao Ji.

Behind Cheng He was the fully armed Han Shu.

A few days ago, Zhao Ji sent him on a business trip, and he took the opportunity to return home in glory, having shown off all his might.

Even if I die now, I won’t have many regrets.

Han Shu lagged behind by two steps, wearing a heavy helmet with the curtain lowered, revealing only a pair of eyes.

He held a shield in his left hand and a halberd in his right hand, staring intently at the guard commander of Shaoliang Palace.

Following Han Shu in were his fellow townsman, the Huben, who were on duty at the corridors and entrances of the palace.

But as the Langwei expanded, more Langguan patrol teams were added.

When the emperor lived and worked, there were usually more than fifty eunuchs accompanying him. They were all dressed in brocade clothes and carried swords, but no armor.

Zhao Ji could kill all these unarmored officials by himself.

What we are guarding against are the heavy crossbows hidden in the palace.

At this time, the guards of Shaoliang Palace came to greet them quickly: "Minister Xiao Zhao, bows, crossbows, short spears, throwing axes and the like are not allowed in the palace."

"give him."

Zhao Ji spoke, looking at the other party with a smile: "Should I take off my armor?"

"The Minister of the Interior is also the General of the Tiger Guards, and he is able to wear armor and carry a sword."

The guard ordered an explanation and watched as Han Shu took off the various long-range weapons he was carrying, including the copper melon hammer, and handed them over to the palace guards.

Several guards did not retreat, pointing at the fist-sized bag hanging from Han Shu's waist: "What is this?"

"You guys want to check my seal too?"

Zhao Ji asked back, and then looked at the guard: "Shang Hong, right? I remember you."

"Thank you for your concern, Minister."

Shang Hong waved to his left and right, extending his arms to invite: "Minister, please come in."

Zhao Ji smiled up to the sky, it seemed that he had not suffered much loss during this period. Although he was wary of the imperial court like a thief, his own strength was growing rapidly, and the imperial court's growth rate was too slow compared to his.

The ones who really suffered were the powerful people in Hedong. They were divided into two groups, one merging with themselves and the other with the imperial court.

Whether the Hedong tyrants will use a backdoor listing to revive themselves, or be digested by themselves or the court separately, is still unknown.

Thinking of this, I felt a lot better.

"Shizhong, Tiger Guards General Zhao Ji, enter the palace!"

Grand Chamberlain Shi Qian sang loudly, and Zhao Ji walked into the hall with his head held high.

The seats for Yang Qi and others in the front row of the right column were empty, so Zhao Ji went straight to the left column and knelt at the last seat in the row of the Minister of the Palace.

The outer sides of the hall and the corridor outside the door are all staffed by Hedong Tiger Guards, mainly from Wenxi and Fenbei.

Then Zhao Ji sat down, and Shi Qian entered the hall and went to the side door to welcome the emperor.

At this time, Zhao Ji looked around the hall and saw some unfamiliar faces.

While he was observing everyone, many new officials in the hall were also secretly observing him.

The new governor of Hedong County was Sima Fang of Henei, who reluctantly sat in the front row. His eldest son, Sima Lang, also entered the court as a secretary, and stood at the end, listening in. Among the officials in the hall, there was a second figure wearing armor and carrying a sword: the newly appointed General of the Imperial Guards, Guanqiu Yi.

He is in his early forties, in the prime of life.

He knelt upright, with his eyes lowered and his mind focused, not interacting with the outside world.

A few days ago, Guanqiu Yi decided to accept the post of General of the Imperial Guards, and as a result, his son Guanqiu Xing withdrew from the Huben.

This is the foundation of the imperial court. As long as you still want to rely on the power of the imperial court, you must ensure the survival of the imperial court, and the imperial court will naturally expand its influence.

In the process of growing stronger, the imperial court will draw manpower from within you and from near and far, and transform them into a new conservative force.

The Zhao family's status was still too low, and they couldn't find many reliable disciples and former officials to take up key positions.

If Zhao Ji had not firmly grasped the military power, he might have followed in the footsteps of the four generals of Bai Bo.

The court, which seems to be well-dressed, is actually a battlefield where people kill each other at the slightest disagreement.

The new councilor Zhang Shi sat at the last seat, squinting his eyes and examining Zhao Ji's profile with his peripheral vision.

After a dozen breaths, the atmosphere became heavy and so quiet that you could hear a pinpoint. Some people began to sweat on their foreheads.

Zhao Ji continued to look at everyone's appearance and expression unscrupulously, and immediately made a decision.

If you gain some more advantage, I will let the court go to Luoyang.

After all, I don't have as strong a foundation as Boss Cao. If I also have hundreds of thousands of prisoners and private armed forces formed from surrendered soldiers, would these people still dare to look at and examine me like this?
The imperial court may be the white moonlight in the old man’s heart, but it is not his own.

Those who want to leave can leave, and only those who stay are yours.

Even if Lao Zhao, the eldest brother, and the second brother want to leave, then let them all leave.

It's hard to persuade a damned ghost with kind words. When the time comes, try to persuade him out of conscience. If he really wants to leave, you can't break his legs.

Thinking of the broken leg, I began to miss Zhong Yao. I don’t know how serious his injury is.

"Your Majesty is here!"

"I will pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Shi Qian sang loudly, and Zhao Ji followed everyone in bowing, but he only bowed slightly and remained vigilant at all times.

Liu Xie was wearing a brand new bright green brocade robe. He had recuperated well during this period, and his face looked fuller. The indifference between his eyebrows was gone, and his eyes were much more lively.

"No need to bow, ministers."

Liu Xie spoke calmly, "Today's court meeting has three matters to discuss. The first is the Xiongnu bandits who are harassing the border and harming the people, and the matter of me leading my troops to fight them. This matter has been resolved, and only the issue of the garrison of Anyi will be discussed. The second is that the Bingzhou Governor Gao Gan has sent an envoy to the court to submit various matters; and the third is to appoint Concubine Zhao as a noble concubine."

In fact, when discussing the matter of staying in Anyi, what was more time-consuming was the reading of the memorial brought by the envoy of Gao Gan, the governor of Bingzhou.

As for raising Concubine Zhao's status, it would have been more solemn if it was brought up during the court meeting.

The emperor would personally lead an expedition against the Xiongnu. This was something that had been decided before and was difficult to change. This was also the call of the officials and people of Hedong.

The court naturally had to be divided into two parts, one part would accompany the emperor, and the other part would stay in Anyi to be responsible for the operation of the court.

Zhao Ji did not express his opinion, but just observed Sima Fang. He always felt that this guy would cause trouble after he went on the expedition.

As the governor of Hedong County, he could naturally put the old man under house arrest by suddenly mobilizing hundreds of people and launching an attack.

Zhao Ji said nothing and just watched them discuss.

Soon, Guo Yuan, the envoy of Bingzhou Governor Gao Gan, began to read the memorial, which mainly praised Yuan Shao's merits and denounced the lawlessness and cruelty of Zhang Yan and Gongsun Zan.

While Guo Yuan was reading, he was also distracted to observe Zhao Ji. His sharp eyes could hardly hide his hatred.

His good uncle Zhong Yao had his legs broken by Zhao Ji himself, and this hatred is really hard to erase!

Zhao Ji also looked at Guo Yuan as if he were a dead person.

Guanqiu Xing, who served as the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, also stood at the end of the hall, hiding behind a few people.

He was a little short, kept his head down, and wore a loose official uniform, so he was not discovered by Zhao Ji.

At this moment, he observed Zhao Ji's eyes and his heart skipped a beat.

Besides feeling bitter, I could only secretly lament Zhao Aji's murderous nature.

Just a few glances from Guo Yuan made Zhao Aji want to kill him.

After Guo Yuan finished reading the memorial, the Imperial Secretary Liu Ai spoke up, "Yuan Benchu stabilized Hebei and made great contributions to the country. He should be rewarded to show the court's kindness."

The others listened quietly. Tai Chong wanted to speak, but Zhao Yan, Pei Mao, and Zhao Ji didn't speak, so he couldn't figure out their attitudes.

If he loses the game with a score of 2 to 3, he will be unlucky; if he wins against the Zhao family's grandparents and grandchildren with a score of 3 to 2, many people today will be unlucky.

Not only Tai Chong, but Pei Mao was also in a dilemma. It was not difficult to promote Yuan Shao, but the difficult part was to recognize the positions of governors of Gao Gan, Yuan Xi, Yuan Tan and others at once... This was obviously a disgrace to the court.

Pei Mao asked, "What does Lord Yuan Ming think?"

Zhao Yan lowered his eyes and asked calmly, "Wen Jing, what do you two think?"

Tai Chong immediately replied, "Yuan Shao seized Han Fu's throne, murdered the prominent family of Jizhou, and then appointed his sons and nephews as provincial governors. I don't know what Lord Zifang thinks of this, but as a minister of state, I am deeply resentful!"

Liu Ai lowered her head, her cheeks flushed and burning.

Some people went to see Zhao Ji, who spoke calmly, "When Dong Zhuo rebelled, if Yuan Shao had not raised his army in Guandong, pillars of the court like Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji would not have been overthrown in one day. In my opinion, it is the Yuan brothers who are causing chaos in the world."

As he spoke, Zhao Ji felt some pain in his knees, so he stood up, turned his head and glared at the person outside the door, "Where are the warriors?"

(End of this chapter)