Tiger Guards

Chapter 184 First-Mover Advantage
The well-dressed young men of Taiyuan could not resist and turned around to flee.

A group of volunteer knights rushed out of the military camp. There were only 200 of them, and they were considered the ceremonial guard to welcome Wang Rou.

These more than 200 riders trampled on the people and forcibly drove away the well-dressed young men who were fleeing to the military market.

The three hundred Tiger Guards were wearing heavy armor and pursued slowly.

They stopped after chasing for more than fifty steps. When they gathered towards Zhao Ji, the Yulin knights in the camp rushed out one after another to cooperate with the Xiongnu volunteers to join the encirclement and suppression.

General Guanqiu Yi of the Imperial Guards stood helplessly at the edge of the central army's wooden platform, noticing that several people were looking at him with disappointment or even sarcasm.

The Huben represent the people of Hedong, and the Yulin represent the people of Xihe.

The remaining hundred or so guards were stationed near the wooden platform, observing the hunting-like siege outside the camp.

Many people were terrified and their faces turned pale. Isn’t the fate of Taiyuan Yiguan a lesson for them?
The smoke stacks piled up in the camp had been ignited, and thick black smoke rose into the air, gradually spreading northward under the south wind.

Zhao Ji took a few steps back and came to the side of the car. The robe on his back was hit by a crossbow arrow and stuck to his shoulders.

The gilded helmet has a more obvious dent on the back of the skull.

Because Han Shu was standing relatively close to him, he was also hit by two arrows, but neither arrow could penetrate the second layer of armor.

He was filled with rage, and cut off Wang Rou's head. He brought it to Zhao Ji and asked, "Minister?"

"Send a message to Xu Gongming, ordering him to lead 500 cavalry and immediately station in Jinyang. Send another envoy with the imperial edict, ordering the Yanmen prefect, Shentu Bei, to remain where he is and blockade Jinyang from north to south. No one except imperial envoys is allowed to pass!"

The Linghu and Guo families were powerful and influential families in the northern part of Taiyuan. They were large families with comprehensive development, and both families could mobilize about 5,000 followers.

The governor of Yanmen County, Shentu Bei, was from Shangdang County, and Shangdang was not far away, so there was no need to worry that this guy would disobey the imperial edict.

As Zhao Ji spoke, Zhang Zan immediately wrote the order, and someone ran back to the camp to ask for the imperial edict.

After Zhao Ji signed and sealed the order, he immediately sent more than ten knights to Qi County in the north to deliver the order to Xu Huang.

After finishing this matter, Zhao Ji sent someone with a handwritten letter to invite Zhang Yang.

Now that the action has been taken and the reasons are justified, we cannot just let Zhang Yang just watch.

Hanoi also has a share of Taiyuan's grain, and the Hanoi soldiers will also shed blood.

Shi Qian saw that Zhao Ji was behaving normally, so he stepped forward and asked, "How is the injury of Marquis Zhao?"

"Thanks to your Majesty's protection, I am wearing two layers of armor today."

Zhao Ji replied, looking at Sun Zi, who was standing beside him with a look of mixed sadness, fear, and relief: "Brother Yanlong, come and pull out the arrow for me."

"Here."

Sun Zi responded in a low voice and stepped forward to untie Zhao Ji's cloak. Seeing that the armor was embedded with crossbow arrows, he could only grab a crossbow arrow and shake it.

After shaking the arrow up and down but seeing no sign of pain from Zhao Ji, he mustered up the courage to pull it out.

Then came another three. Sun Zi held the four crossbow arrows in his hand, and looked at Wang Ling's body lying on the ground not far away, feeling even more sad.

He really wanted to give some advice, but the soldiers around him were all furious, and some of them looked at him with eyes that were clearly not right.

At this time, more than a dozen Yu Lin Lang rushed over, reined in their horses, dismounted, and came to the front of the carriage. The leader asked, "Lord Zhao, are you all right?"

"No problem."

Zhao Ji asked, "Did Guanqiu Yulin give the order?"

Several Yu Lin Zhong Lang looked at each other and shook their heads. They were all angry and worried when they attacked without orders.

Zhao Ji looked at Sun Zi and said, "I will immediately petition the court to request Yanlong to serve as the Imperial Guard Supervisor. Now that things have come to this, Yanlong should mourn."

Sun Zi nodded slowly, really not knowing what to say.

We can only accept it, as it can at least provide shelter for some people's families.

If he gets into trouble, not only will his family be implicated, but there will be no one to take care of them.

Seeing his embarrassment, Zhao Ji looked at the Hu Ben, Yu Lin, and Yi Cong leaders gathered around him and said, "All Yu Lin teams must immediately block all roads to the villages. Anyone who breaks the ban will be punished with treason and executed immediately."

The four Yu Lin Zhong Lang bowed and said, "Yes!"

Zhao Ji looked at Sun Zi again and said, "Immediately gather the Zhongdu County officials and compile a list of the dead in the surrounding area. If there are any minor injuries that can be treated, treat them immediately."

"Here."

Sun Zi's expression relaxed, but then became gloomy again. If he really saved a few people, more people would be implicated under torture, and then a death storm would be created.

Sun Zi was under immense pressure, and he could only grit his teeth and bear it.

He knew very well that the more ruthless he was now, the more people he could save. But how many of the villagers could understand his difficulties?
Zhao Ji looked helpless, his steps were heavy, and his face was not looking good.

I originally wanted to wait for the arrival of Shentu Bei, the prefect of Yanmen County, before taking action. During this time, I would gather more young men from Taiyuan. It would be best to make a list, record the heroes of each county in detail, and screen out some poor people who have suffered from oppression.

But the effect is similar. Those who can squeeze in and pay homage to the emperor with Wang Rou today generally have high family backgrounds.

After counting their names, we can search their houses.

Sun Zi, feeling worried, could only lead a dozen knights into Zhongdu County to exert his influence.

Zhao Ji began to mobilize the Tiger Infantry, surrounded the city, and searched the area, detaining all the strong and muscular men.

When Zhang Yang arrived after hearing the news, he saw that the well-dressed young men of Taiyuan had been beheaded. Those who had confirmed their identities had their heads hung on bamboo slips with their names written on them from their hair crowns.

Zhang Yang was not used to this kind of efficiency, as these were the powerful people from Taiyuan who had oppressed the settlers in the north of the county for a generation.

He spent eight years in Hanoi and failed to eliminate any powerful person.

Look at Zhao Ji again. He tricked Wang Rou over and took action immediately. The difference in their efficiency cannot be described in numbers.

Seeing Zhang Yang's expression of shock, fear, and suspicion, Zhao Ji took the initiative to explain: "Wang Rou arranged assassins and forged the imperial edict, and almost shot me to death."

Zhao Ji showed Zhang Yang the four iron arrows and turned to gesture for Zhang Yang to look at his back. Zhang Yang took a deep breath and asked, "How can this man be so ruthless and decisive?"

This is consistent with Zhang Yang's understanding. How could Wang Rou be someone who would just sit there and wait to die?

When the emperor toured north to Taiyuan, he could either eat in Taiyuan or hold Taiyuan accountable for the crime of blocking the road.

No matter which one it was, it would be difficult for the Xiongnu General Wang Rou to escape.

Zhao Ji put the four iron arrows away and said, "It's clear that Wang Rou is guilty. He instigated the Xiongnu to disrupt the counties of Pingyang and cut off the passage. The disappearance of several waves of imperial envoys must be Wang Rou's fault."

Zhang Yang nodded and first examined Wang Rou's head. After confirming that he was truly dead, he immediately said, "With Wang Rou executed, Huochuquan will surely make some unusual moves."

"Huchuquan isn't difficult to deal with. Most of the boats on the Fen River are on the east bank. Can he fly over here?"

Not to mention Huochequan, the soldiers from Taiyuan County on the other side had no chance of crossing the river either.

Zhao Ji added, "I also ask General Zhang to mobilize his troops and deploy them to the cities and towns of Jiexiu and Wuxian. He must enforce strict military discipline and not infringe upon the civilians. I am a strict military commander who can kill the troops from Hedong, and I will not spare the troops from Henei just to save General Zhang's face."

"Rest assured, Minister. If anyone breaks the law, I will execute him immediately."

Zhang Yang immediately made a promise that since Zhao Ji wanted to take the lead, he would just give in.

Anyway, whoever takes the lead will have to deal with Huochequan, the county soldiers, the Yanmen soldiers and the Dai County Magistrate Wang Ze.

It doesn't matter if we give in a little now, the most important thing is to reconnect Lu Bu's leg.

After searching many places, only Zhao Ji was able and willing to reattach Lu Bu's broken leg.

Zhang Yang thought for a moment and then said, "I have many allies in the counties of Yangqu. If the Minister is interested, I would like to send envoys to call on all the tribes to rise up in rebellion. Within a few days, I can gather 3,000 strong men. If we can form an army, they will serve under the Minister's command."

"If that's the case, I owe General Zhang a favor."

Zhao Ji bowed his hands in thanks and turned to look at Zhang Zan: "Hurry up and write a military order in the name of the county government."

"Here."

Zhang Zan agreed and walked quickly to the chariot, where a piece of silk book was spread out and writing materials were available. He immediately picked up the pen and started writing.

Zhao Ji also walked over and took out his silver seals of Shizhong, Huben Zhonglang Jiang, and Taiyuan County Governor and stamped them respectively.

There were quite a lot of seals, so he felt that he should cast a polyhedron and carve the seal text on each one so that it would be easier to carry.

After the order was written, Zhang Yang also quickly wrote a few letters and selected people from his hometown to act as messengers.

Zhao Ji also sent additional guards and immediately dispatched more than a hundred cavalrymen, each with two horses, to head straight for the counties in the north of the county.

For a time, the Han army's infantry and cavalry went out in all directions, starting from Zhongdu County, occupying one town after another and cutting off the roads.

Before the afternoon, the county governor Zhao Ji's recruitment notice was posted in the five counties of Zhongdu and various townships. The imperial court's edict to fight against the rebels and the ministers' manifestos denouncing the Wang brothers were also posted and announced one after another.

There were even people who were not afraid of death. They received the imperial edict and went straight to Dai County.

If they are lucky, an imperial edict will allow the people of Dai County to kill Wang Ze.

Even if he was unlucky, the people of Dai County were simply lazy and tolerant, allowing Wang Ze to escape.

As for Wang Ze bringing the Daijun soldiers to seek revenge... never mind that the emperor is here, even if the emperor is not here, why would the people of Daijun travel thousands of miles to avenge Wang Rou?
The Han powerful people in Dai County would choose to remain neutral out of concern for political influence and family reputation.

But it is hard to say about the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Wuhuan and Qiang people in Dai County. It is very likely that they were instigated by Wang Ze to attack Taiyuan.

(End of this chapter)