Tiger Guards

Chapter 300 Brothers and Brothers Respect
Two days later, Lü Bu officially began to break camp.

After staying here for five days after the war, the lightly wounded soldiers were able to move with us.

As for the seriously wounded, they, along with more than 5,000 female relatives, were handed over to Zhao Ji.

While Lü Bu was marching, Zhao Ji's troops also began to set up camp step by step according to plan and headed towards the State of Chen.

Lu Bu marched at a normal pace, covering fifty or sixty li per day.

It could have been faster, but Cao Hong and Xiahou Yuan had already begun to withdraw their troops, so Lü Bu needed to expand the scouting range and also make preparations for nighttime defense.

With the imperial court right in front of him, there was no need for Lü Bu to rush these last few steps.

However, being handsome is contagious.

When Lü Bu broke camp, all the officers and soldiers wore civil and military sleeves, exposing half of their shoulders, which was quite different from the traditional Han army attire.

This combination of civil and military skills was the first impression Zhao Ji left on Lü Bu's troops.

During the banquet and alliance meeting, Zhao Ji's words and demeanor, which suggested he was destined to rule the world, left a deep impression on the mid- to high-ranking military officers under Lü Bu who were present.

That evening, Zhao Ji led his vanguard to garrison north of Xiangyi City, south of the Sui River.

Seven pontoon bridges have been built and will be able to support the rear guard crossing the river tomorrow.

Zhao Ji led more than ten riders to observe Xiangyi. With the setting sun on their side, he and Guo Jia on the north gate gazed at each other.

A messenger, holding a silk scroll, was about to step forward when Guo Jia raised his hand and waved it down. A military officer beside him shouted, "Shoot!"

More than a hundred archers unleashed a hail of arrows, and the messenger, seeing this, turned his horse around and fled in disarray.

He reined in his horse and approached Zhao Ji: "Attendant-in-Ordinary."

"No problem."

Zhao Ji leaped off his horse, took a strong bow, stood in a shooting stance, aimed at Guo Jia on the city wall, slowly drew the bow, and released the arrow with full force.

Guo Jia was no weak scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken. Before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he believed that the world was about to fall into chaos. He traveled around the world to visit heroes and valiant men, and they were all agile and quick-witted.

Seeing Zhao Ji shoot an arrow, he had no interest in betting on whether Zhao Ji would miss.

He quickly crouched down behind the parapet, then heard a sharp crack from the pillar behind him. Turning around, he saw an arrow embedded in the wooden pillar.

After shooting an arrow, Zhao Ji tossed the bow to Zhu Ling, mounted his horse, and said, "Back to camp."

"Here!"

The crowd escorted Zhao Ji back to the camp.

Guo Jia glanced around cautiously to make sure Zhao Ji and the others had left before straightening up and turning to pull out the arrow.

Unable to pull it out abruptly, he could only break the arrow. Looking at the four simplified Chinese characters "Zhao Hou Yong Jian" (Arrow Used by Marquis Zhao) burned black on the shaft, Guo Jia remained expressionless.

This is a warning to him, telling him not to cause trouble tonight.

Otherwise, the Guo clan of Yangdi in Yingchuan would be destroyed.

Although Zhao Ji promised Lü Bu that he would not interfere in the affairs of Yan and Yu in the Central Plains, would Lü Bu care if he wiped out the Guo family on the way back?
This is also why Guo Jia was reluctant to serve Cao Cao. Although his branch of the family was small, the Guo clan as a whole had a considerable number of members.

Besides, it's normal for people to die in chaotic times.

But if Guo Jia angered Lü Bu and Zhao Ji, and they happened to dig up his ancestral graves, then he would be committing a grave sin.

At this moment, Guo Jia had many strategies in his mind, but he could only endure it.

If it were only Lü Bu or Zhao Ji, given the influence of the Guo family of Yingchuan, someone would naturally step forward to mediate and offer advice.

But now it is an alliance of Lü Bu and Zhao Ji. Zhao Ji does not care about the opinions of the scholars of Ruying, so when he wiped out the Guo family, almost no one could stop him.

The powerful clans and gentry of Taiyuan and Shangdang serve as a cautionary tale; Guo Jia must proceed with utmost care.

When Zhao Ji returned to camp, dinner was already prepared.

Zhao Yuan was pacing near the main tent when he saw Zhao Ji return. He immediately went up to him and said, "Attendant-in-Ordinary."

Zhao Ji nodded without speaking. After dismounting, he led Zhao Yuan into the tent, while Zhu Ling tactfully waited outside.

Inside the tent, Zhao Ji took off his helmet and hung it on the armor rack that could be assembled, then grabbed a sip of the cloudy wine on the table to moisten his throat: "Why is Second Brother here?"

"That...that."

Zhao Yuan stammered slightly, pursing his lips: "Didn't Marquis Lü Meng hand over a large number of female relatives? Well, I'm going to Chen State, and A Xi is still in Hanoi. I can't bear to see her travel all the way to the Central Plains."

"You've also set your sights on the Du family?"

Zhao Ji casually sat on a corner of the table, picked up a wheat cake, took a bite and chewed, glancing sideways at her: "Don't even think about it, she wouldn't be interested in you."

Zhao Yuan's face immediately turned red: "A lowly servant girl, what right does she have!"

"They understand the Spring and Autumn Annals, know the Book of Poetry, and are familiar with Han Dynasty law. What do you know?"

Zhao Ji took a small sip of wine, swallowed, and continued, "I've also inquired with Miao Shang. Since you joined Zhang Yang's forces, you haven't learned any skills in leading or training troops. Under me, your talent is at most that of a deputy captain of the Tiger Steps. I'm letting you go because I'm worried that Xu Huang and his ilk will look down on me because of you."

Zhao Yuan's face flushed with anger as he glared at Zhao Ji: "Zhang Yang's men are all incompetent; who can I learn from! You suddenly killed Sui Gu Yang Chou, and they'll all think I betrayed them. How am I supposed to face anyone after this?" "It was Zhang Yang who asked me to kill Sui Gu Yang Chou. This has nothing to do with you. I was just afraid you'd be implicated and killed, so I got you back, didn't I?"

Zhao Ji ate his dinner methodically, poured himself a drink, and said in a neutral tone, "The land under King Chen is rich in resources and has no shortage of scholars seeking refuge. When you go to Chen, don't rush into anything. Seek out scholars and study military strategy. Come back and help me when you have mastered your skills."

Zhao Yuan just stared wide-eyed, panting like an ox.

He disliked this feeling; that's how Lao Zhao arranged things for him, without ever asking for his opinion.

What's most infuriating is that he lacks the courage to confront or refute.

At this moment, only an angry expression can make me feel a little better.

Zhao Ji couldn't help but laugh when he saw him like this: "You're just making people look down on you. You have to be calm when you're killing someone. Your hands are shaking so much that you can't even hold the sword properly. You're just arousing suspicion. What can you do?"

"If you count it up, Second Brother is only twenty-three years old. It's the perfect age to study the classics and military strategy. How can he be so lazy? Grandfather also started his studies late, but he still became the magistrate of Guangning County. If he hadn't committed suicide because of a crime on official business, you and I would both be from families with a salary of two thousand shi."

"You are now a valiant military captain, what more could you possibly want?"

Zhao Ji handed over a piece of cake, and Zhao Yuan instinctively reached out to take it, then asked, "What's the arrangement for eldest brother?"

"His appointment as a squad leader was the greatest help he could give me."

As Zhao Ji spoke, seeing Zhao Yuan's anger subside and his barely suppressed laughter, he couldn't help but smile as well: "Don't worry, I won't harm you. With me out there, the King of Chen won't treat you poorly. Chen is a paradise in a chaotic world; once you leave Chen, why worry about women?"

"Well, Aji, you know I haven't met many good women."

Zhao Yuan chuckled awkwardly, took a bite of the biscuit and chewed, then said, "I heard that Du Shi is Qin Yi's wife. A Ji, will you return her to Qin Yi?"

"will not."

Zhao Ji also took a bite of the pancake: "Qin Yi won't want it, and neither will Lü Bu. What they want is power and official positions. To them, Du Shi is just a sweet drink they occasionally enjoy in their lives. It's like my Moonlit Night. If you want it, I won't give it to you, but if you secretly ride it, I won't punish you for such a small thing."

Noticing the gleam in Zhao Yuan's eyes, Zhao Ji switched the cake to his left hand and raised his right hand with a hook.

Zhao Yuan was secretly pleased, but as soon as he got close, Zhao Ji punched him in the chest, hitting his leather armor. Zhao Yuan fell backward, landing on his back with his feet in the air.

He cried out in pain, but immediately stopped after getting up, his eyes darting away as he looked at Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji pointed to the wheat cakes on the ground: "Pick them up and eat them."

The wheat cake was covered in dust. Zhao Yuan hesitated for a moment, but still reached out and picked it up. He blew off the dust and took a bite. It was extremely hard and gritty.

Seeing his expression, Zhao Ji sneered, "You've only been eating soft cakes for a few days, and you've already forgotten about bran cakes?"

Zhao Yuan remained silent, lowered his head, and ate the pancake, chewing and swallowing it dry.

After finishing the cake, he went to see Zhao Ji, who handed him a bowl of turbid wine. He accepted it with both hands and drank it.

But Zhao Ji sighed, “I am very disappointed in you. If my grandfather and I are defeated, everyone will die. You are my closest relative. Even if you die, it will be announced in the capital and made public to the world.”

"When you go to Chen, be humble and avoid speaking unless necessary. Focus on your studies. I will send someone to fetch you within two or three years. If you make progress, you will become a county commandant, and by the time you are thirty, you will become a prefectural commandant. Before you turn forty, I will guarantee you a prefectural governorship, a true general."

"You have the potential to become a high-ranking official in this lifetime. I don't know what else you'd be dissatisfied with?"

Zhao Ji put the wheat cake in his mouth and chewed it, holding a half-bowl of wine, speechless.

Even more speechless, Zhao Yuan then asked, "What about the eldest brother?"

"Serve as a squad leader for five years, then return to your hometown to farm and study, passing down the family tradition."

Zhao Ji raised an eyebrow as he spoke: "Since Mother loves him so much, he should stay at home and take care of Mother in our place. A loving mother and a filial son, we should support each other."

Thinking of his family's situation, Zhao Yuan stared blankly at Zhao Ji, feeling even more pained than if he had killed his mother or elder brother.

While doing such things, Zhao Ji could speak eloquently, making it difficult for him to refute.

Zhao Yuan seemed to have a sudden realization: "Don't worry, Aji, I will study hard."

"Yes, don't just study books blindly, and don't be a bookworm. If the Chen Kingdom perishes in the future, you must also try your best to survive."

Zhao Ji finished the wine in his bowl, tilted his head to look at Zhao Yuan: "Live well. If you're gone, my brother and I will be very sad."

Zhao Yuan nodded and asked, "What about Father?"

"Let him have his own children. As long as he doesn't embezzle public funds or misappropriate public money, that's fine."

Zhao Ji smiled and said, "Actually, I'm also looking forward to the day when he's stripped of his official position."

Old Zhao's idea was simple: to stay in Dai County, take many concubines, and try to have more children.

The most rebellious one in the family is Old Zhao, who may still be dreaming of the day when all his sons become kings and nobles.

Even Zhao Yuan could guess some of it; such family matters were unnecessary and should not be discussed with outsiders.

Meeting Zhao Yuan's expectant gaze, Zhao Ji continued, "We've been through thick and thin together. I acknowledge you, but I don't acknowledge those brats. Now, go back to your camp; curfew is approaching."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)