Tiger Guards

Chapter 312 A Brand New Stable
After the army passed through Beijiang, it began to split up.

Two-thirds of the military and civilians will continue to migrate to Taiyuan, while one-third will remain around Pingyang to replenish the population and increase productivity.

In order to promote the Three Auxiliary Battle next year.

As for Zhao Qi's concern about refugees fleeing after arriving in Hedong and seizing Hedong's tax-free treatment... the people of Hedong are very vigilant about this.

The displaced people who followed the army had no chance to leave the group. The only ones who could be settled in Pingyang were the six armies and their families of Zhang Xiu, Zhang He, Han Meng, Zhu Ling, Xu Chu, and Gou Huan.

Even the prisoners captured earlier and later were not allowed to stay in Hedong; they were all moved to Taiyuan for centralized resettlement.

They will be screened together with the previous prisoners of Yuan Xi and Gao Gan. Some will be kept as government slaves to perform intensive industrial labor; some will become Zhao Ji's servants; and others will be distributed as military merit rewards to enrich the families of military officers.

The Tiger Steps Army that withdrew earlier, as well as the various troops that are now withdrawing, all need to undergo merit assessment, and the rewards will be determined based on the spoils of war after overall coordination.

This was a very complicated matter, and it was the first thing Zhao Ji had to do after establishing the Grand Marshal's Office.

Therefore, Zhao Ji was in no hurry to reward merit. When he passed through Jiangyi, he stayed for five days. After allocating resettlement sites for the various armies and groups of refugees, he waited for Zhao Yun to arrive.

He and Zhao Yun led more than 300 cavalry south to Anyi.

As the weather turns cold, the officials and people of Wenxi, both men and women, line the streets to welcome them.

When they crossed the river at Tongxiang, the three elders of the county gathered there to welcome Zhao Ji.

During the banquet, Zhao Ji did not drink alcohol, but ate roasted chestnuts. He then heard the county elder, who came from the Pei family, say: "Grand Marshal, you hold the highest position among officials. How can you forget the kindness of your parents who raised you? Now that you are passing through Tongxiang, I think you should pay respects to the Lord of Tongxiang."

Before enlisting in the Tiger Warriors, Zhao Ji didn't even have the qualifications to meet these three elders.

It's not that these people have great power, but rather that they have great influence and are very particular about things. They simply look down on the Zhao family who migrated from other places.

These people were generally retired officials and elders of their respective families. They had the responsibility of assisting in education and also had the influence to help with tax collection, conscription, and corvée labor.

Rules and regulations are just rules and regulations; these local gentry and county elders are the core of how each county operates.

The county and township officials were their relatives and juniors, and all of them had official careers, so they were in an invincible position with respect to the county magistrate above them and to the common people below.

Under the tradition of respecting the elderly, the words of these county elders can be regarded as the sentiments of the local people.

“I have already been adopted out of the family, and I have also claimed credit for my service in supporting the emperor, so I have petitioned the court for the fiefdom and title of Lord of Tongxiang…”

Zhao Ji chewed on a chestnut, then turned to look at Zhao Yun: "Zilong, I heard a horse neighing, go and see what's wrong."

"Here."

Zhao Yun didn't ask any further questions and got up to leave.

Zhao Ji glanced at Han Shu and said, "It's getting windy. Draw up the curtains so that the elders won't catch a cold."

"Here."

Han Shu agreed, and the accompanying knights took out the curtains and cloths they were carrying. Two people formed a group, and four groups of people spread out the cloths, which were two zhang square, to block them from seeing inside and outside.

Five county elders... Although they were called elders, the oldest was only forty-seven years old. In such chaotic times, it was difficult for older people to survive.

Behind the curtained wall, Zhao Ji asked with a smile, "What do you want to do?"

"I wonder what the Grand Marshal's question is?"

An old man looked around in confusion, glancing at the cloth wall. He heard heavy footsteps outside, as well as the sounds of people chasing away the children and servants of the surrounding families.

The Tiger Warriors of Hedong now only listen to Zhao Ji, and completely ignore their fathers, brothers, and other clan elders.

Because of the ten-year tax exemption, the three elders of Hedong could only do their job of assisting in education on a daily basis.

When Zhao Ji heard the footsteps outside stop, he knew that the clearing was complete.

He slowly stepped forward and reached out his hand, asking the question in return. The three elders didn't even dare to dodge or resist, just staring blankly at him as they knelt there until Zhao Ji's left hand gripped their throats.

The other four elders then realized what was happening and dared not shout for help or refute the argument.

If things really come to a head, they'll be the ones who are doomed!
Grabbing the other man by the neck, Zhao Ji pulled him close: "I didn't get my fill of killing outside, are you here to cheer me up? My family's private affairs are none of your business?"

The person in front of him was being choked until his face turned red, his eyes bulged out, and he stammered, unable to utter a sound.

The elder of the Pei clan spoke up: "The Grand Marshal is a model for officials. If he passes through Tongxiang without paying respects to the Lord of Tongxiang, he will surely be criticized. The local custom of filial piety will also be ruined as a result."

He rose, leaning on his five-section rattan cane, and gently advised Zhao Ji: "The future Grand Marshal will also have offspring. This action can rectify the family's reputation. How can it be a trivial matter?" "When Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling passed away, the scholars of the world cursed them without restraint."

Zhao Ji chuckled and retorted, "If the ruler or father makes a mistake, even the common people can insult him. How can one's father or elder brother not make mistakes? Since my parents cannot make mistakes, isn't it a pity for them to live in the countryside? In that case, I should abdicate and let them become the Grand Marshal?"

"If the emperor is wrong, he should be scolded. But if our parents or clan elders are wrong, shouldn't they be scolded too? Or are you clan elders more noble than the emperor? Can't you tolerate criticism from your juniors?"

When questioning him, Zhao Ji noticed that the person he was holding in his left hand looked stiff, so he let go, and the person slid to the ground.

The other four elders were ashen-faced; they too had cursed Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling.

What shocked them even more was Zhao Ji's blasphemous act.

Previously, he could loudly criticize Zhao Ji, exert influence, and isolate and expel the Zhao family.

Now, none of them dared to speak, their heads hanging low.

Zhao Ji scanned the crowd: "Did you all not read the 'Memorial to Punish the Great Traitor of Han' that I wrote during the Anyi Mutiny? The affairs of the court and the state, as well as the situation in the counties and villages, are in complete disarray. This is not only due to the incompetence and lack of virtue of the officials, but also to the decay of the elders in the villages, counties, and prefectures. How are you any different from the officials of the past!"

Sometimes it's like this: you can criticize the emperor or the county magistrate without consequence, but you can't criticize elders, village chiefs, or township heads.

It's not that you can't insult others, but insulting others will lead to an endless war until one side withdraws.

It's not necessarily insults; harsh words like criticism and accusations will be seen as insults and disrespect by these people.

"How do you compare to Zhang Xi, the Minister of Works, and Huan Dian, the General of the Imperial Guards? Are your shinbones harder than those of Zhong Yao, Dong Zhao, Xun You, and Sima Fang?"

Zhao Ji lowered his eyebrows and asked, while the elder of the Pei clan took half a step back and fell onto the low stool of the folding chair, looking panicked.

He is now nine feet tall. When he looks at these seven-foot-tall people, he either bows his head or sits or kneels to look at them straight ahead. If he wants to save energy and avoid straining his neck, he can only lower his eyes.

Therefore, in the eyes of these three elders, Zhao Ji always had a half-closed expression.

The elder of the Pei clan opened his mouth as if to speak, but upon hearing the commotion outside the curtain, Zhao Ji also turned to look. It was Han Shu outside, peering inside, carrying a hammer and about to walk in.

Realizing he might have misheard the signal, Han Shu shrank back.

Now, the elder of the Pei clan completely forgot what he was about to say, and stammered, not knowing how to explain himself.

Zhao Ji, having lost interest due to Han Shu's sneaky peeking, coughed twice. Han Shu immediately slipped in through the gap, tucking the hammer behind his waist: "Grand Marshal?"

"I see that you county elders are in your prime. With the country in peril, how can you live in the mountains? My camp is short of stables, so I will arrange for you to work in the Jiangyi Cavalry Camp. You must not communicate with outsiders. I will inspect you again after June and decide on your promotions based on the situation."

"Here."

Han Shu bowed in acceptance, and seeing these people standing there in a daze, he stepped forward and whispered a rebuke: "Why don't you thank the Grand Marshal for his appreciation?"

To become one of the three elders of a county, one must at least have a respectable official career before being eligible to retire.

As for the three elders of the village, they can be county officials or prefectural officials.

Therefore, Zhao Ji's very first words pulled them back into officialdom. Returning to officialdom naturally meant they could no longer be considered the three elders of Wenxi County.

Now that you're back in officialdom, you naturally have to do whatever the country needs you to do.

"Thank you, Grand Marshal."

The elder of the Pei clan took the lead in bowing, and the other three county elders also bowed and thanked him listlessly.

Han Shu kicked the person pretending to be unconscious on the ground again. Seeing that he could still bear it, he immediately raised his foot and stepped on the other person's fingers, crushing them.

The other person immediately woke up in pain, their lips tightly pressed together, not daring to make a sound.

Fearing he might lose his composure, the other three elders from the county pulled the man along to bow and express their gratitude.

Seeing this, Zhao Ji raised an eyebrow: "That's right. Young people are strong and should volunteer to kill bandits and protect the country. You are not old thieves with white beards. Doing some small things within your power can be considered as sharing the burden of the court and fulfilling your duties as subjects."

After saying this, he looked at Han Shu and said, "These five stable masters felt the country's difficulties and resolutely returned to officialdom. I suppose they don't care about their salaries. Give each of them five liters of rations every day, and make sure they don't go short of them."

"Here."

Han Shu solemnly agreed, as five liters of rations were far from enough to satisfy his hunger. In the absence of oil and other side dishes, it would not be enough for an elderly man who was doing manual labor.

Even the five noble and upright officials could only agree with Zhao Ji's statement.

(End of this chapter)