Tiger Guards

Chapter 342 The Beginning of the Dam Collapse
During the coup in Xudu, the Xiongnu loyalist knights also took the opportunity to escape.

As the winter snow melts, some of the faster-growing vegetation is thriving and can barely feed the horses.

Because of his involvement in grave robbing, the Righteous Knights made quite a bit of money this winter.

Because the loot was relatively substantial, the desire to leave Xuchang remained strong.

This was a mindset that couldn't be bought with money, so Lü Bu could only let them leave.

At the same time, envoys were dispatched to Jinyang to prepare for the recruitment and hiring of this year's volunteer knights.

Compared to the armies recruited in the Central Plains, these mercenaries are more reliable, except when fighting against the odds.

Not only were the righteous knights withdrawing, but Zhao Yan of Luodu also formally submitted a memorial to the emperor resigning his position as Attendant-in-Ordinary and recommending Zhao Rui for the post.

Without waiting for a reply from Xudu, Zhao Yan, escorted by Zhao Yun, Xu Chu, and more than three thousand men, crossed the river at Mengjin and returned to Hedong along the Zhiguan Pass.

Because the army withdrew last autumn, the camps along the Zhiguan Pass were not damaged, and Zhao Yan and his men's retreat was relatively smooth.

It took Zhao Ji a full ten days to figure out what had happened in Xudu.

Even Lü Bu, the person in charge, was confused, so the information that reached Zhao Ji was naturally distorted. We can only judge the situation based on Lü Bu's subsequent punishments.

Lu Bu chopped off General Wei Dong Cheng's cronies with a single blow, but he couldn't very well dismiss Dong Cheng.

Dong Cheng was a relative of the emperor's family, and he commanded troops to protect the emperor, which was the last bulwark of the Han dynasty's prestige.

Without this barrier, how could the Xu Du court command respect?
Therefore, Lü Bu only retained Dong Cheng's 4,000-strong force. The followers of Tian Yu, Chen Yu, and the three Lius who had successively attached themselves to Dong Cheng during this period were scattered and incorporated into the Eagle Flying Army and the five battalions of the Grand General.

Lü Bu once again strengthened his military power, pinned the blame for the Xuchang riots on the people of Nanyang, and began to march on Nanyang.

Commander Gao Shun led the vanguard, including the Yingyang and Yingyang detachments, totaling over 7,000 men, and began their advance towards Nanyang.

As for Han Ji and Deng Zhan, they were handed over to the Court of Justice for torture for a night, and the next day they were executed by dismemberment, their bodies were torn apart and their remains were displayed in the marketplace, with no possibility of retrieval.

Zhao Ji read through this information, his expression more serious than ever before.

Today, Du was dressed in a narrow-sleeved blue robe, looking capable and smart. She wore a red headscarf and light makeup, exuding a heroic and imposing aura.

She brought hot tea to replace Zhao Ji's cooled teacup, and seeing his appearance, she asked, "Has something happened in Xuchang?"

"you know?"

"As I guessed, the only thing that could make the Grand Marshal so cautious in this spring season is Xuchang."

"Yes, the dam here still collapsed."

Du didn't immediately understand what the dam collapse meant. Zhao Ji picked up his hot tea and warmed his hands with it: "Previously, Xuchang seemed poised for a revival, like a rising star of hope in a chaotic world. In my view, however, it was a dike that had fallen into disrepair and whose construction had been malicious. Normally, the dike is tall and majestic, and it can hold back some floodwater when it comes. But with the slightest change, it collapses in an instant. This flood is poised to break, and it won't just destroy him."

Zhao Ji was in a bad mood. He turned to look at the two maids, who bowed and silently withdrew.

Upon seeing this, Du subconsciously reached under her armpit to unfasten her belt. Zhao had no intention of doing so, but seeing her interest, he let her have her way.

Zhao Ji brought the tea to the window of the attic, which was also built of logs and had a rough design.

After the spring plowing is completed, manpower will be mobilized and organized to begin repairing the Grand Marshal's residence, which is located next to the Marquis of Jinyang's residence.

Looking out at the green willows, he sighed, "Lu Bu may seem fierce and powerful, but in essence, he's nothing more than a frustrated and powerful figure from a poor family in a remote border region. He didn't even dare to kill Chen Gong, so how could he possibly subdue the former nobles?"

Du Shi came over carrying a straw mat wrapped in leather, put it down, knelt on it, and looked up at Zhao Ji: "Does the Grand Marshal dare to kill Chen Gong?"

This Chen Gong is not that Chen Gong. Zhao Ji lowered his eyes and looked at her, reaching out to pinch her cheek: "If I kill Chen Gong, I can still support his parents, wife and children. If I fail and die, it won't just be Chen Gong's family that will die. Even now, Lü Bu still has the compassion of a woman, which really makes me uneasy."

As he sighed, his hand landed on the headscarf on Du's head, but Du was speechless.

The willow branches outside the window swayed in the wind, a blend of gentleness and strength.

Zhao Ji looked around for a moment, and then Du Shi also got up to look at the scenery outside the window. She was very impolite and squeezed in front of Zhao Ji, straightening her legs.

She saw an eagle circling in the sky, pursed her lips, and then said, "The general's womanly compassion may be due to listening to a woman's words."

Zhao Ji noticed that her clothes were not very neat, so he kindly helped her straighten them. He then noticed that she was wearing leggings underneath. After touching them and confirming that they were leggings, he said with concern, "The weather is unpredictable in spring. You shouldn't be wearing leggings so early."

Du remained silent, but shook her body, and a hand suddenly grew out, as if she were holding a hundred yuan and waving it.

Fearing she might catch a cold during her pregnancy, Zhao Ji had no choice but to lean against her gently, covering the skin exposed by her blouse to prevent her from getting chilled.

At this moment, Zhao Ji was doing hula hoop exercises, looking out the window: "Grandfather has also set off. You will move to the west side of the city in a few days."

These words startled Lady Du, who shrank back and looked at Zhao Ji: "Is the Marquis of Jinyang very strict in disciplining people?"

“He asked someone to find some young women from the local area in Langya. He probably prefers children who speak with a Langya accent. If you stay here, you will displease him.”

Zhao Ji placed his hands on his wrists and said calmly, "The Marquis of Jinyang is so wealthy; he certainly wouldn't be happy to hand over such a large estate to a kid who speaks with a Hedong accent."

If you do the math, after the adoption, Zhao Ji will have to give away four children: one each from his four adult brothers, his brothers who died in battle, and his cousins.

In fact, Zhao Yan had other grandchildren who were even younger, but they either died of illness or perished or disappeared in this chaotic world. Madam Du remained silent, her chin resting on the windowsill.

The sound of steel boots stepping on the suspended wooden planks could be heard, and a maidservant hurried up to the third floor: "My lord, Han Sima requests an audience."

“Take him out for tea and tell him I’m annotating the scriptures.”

"Here."

The maidservant responded softly, took a few steps back, and looked back as she turned to leave and descend the steps.

She was not very old, only sixteen or seventeen, and the reason she was chosen to work in the study was that she was illiterate.

Despite their illiteracy, Du Shi continued to explain historical allusions to them during this period, thus providing them with some basic education.

Understanding historical allusions and mastering the ability to read and write characters are two different things.

Of course, Du also punished them quite a bit when she was teaching them.

Du had received a formal court education, and her skills in deportment and etiquette were among the best in the world at that time.

Soon after, Lady Du got up and whispered to Zhao Ji, "My lord, I don't want this bastard child."

Zhao Ji's slightly better mood immediately turned sour. Personally, he felt some joy, but not much, and more of an instinctive disgust.

After thinking it over carefully, he said, "My child is ignorant and innocent. You know what I'm thinking. He won't lack food or clothing in the future. Even if he's surnamed Zhao, who can say anything about it?"

Seeing the unprecedented determination in her eyes, Zhao Ji reached out and covered her mouth, saying, "Give birth to him. I have a feeling he will be a magnificent man. I will be useful."

Du looked at him with suspicion, and Zhao Ji whispered, "Your and Consort Dong's delivery times are close, with an error of no more than a month. If it's a boy, give him to the Empress to raise. If you can persuade her later, you can raise the child."

Du shook her head, her tone resolute: "If that's the case, I can't take him. It's just a short pain now, but to watch him grow up, get caught up in power struggles, and die a violent death... I would feel even more guilty."

She had also spent some time in the palace, and had heard all sorts of distorted rumors, which had shattered her worldview.

She didn't find Zhao Ji's arrangement unusual or abrupt at all.

"Listen to me. With you and the Empress around, even if I fail, I might still be able to leave some descendants."

Zhao Ji spoke gently, and they had only recently built trust with each other.

For someone like Mr. Du, who has had similar experiences, trust is a very precious thing.

Even so, Zhao Ji suspected that this sense of trust was an atmosphere she had deliberately created.

It was only recently, after Cai Zhaoji and Alan became pregnant, that he began to get close to Lady Du. Everything happened so naturally.

Currently, he can no longer find anyone in this land who dares to refuse him.

Mrs. Du clutched her abdomen, predicting that her due date was only three months away.

She didn't refute anything, and helped Zhao Ji clean up again before lighting incense. Zhao Ji also closed the window.

After taking another sip of the cooled tea, Zhao Ji picked up the secret report from Xudu and began to study it again.

As for Han Shu, who came downstairs to wait in the side hall, waiting a little longer wouldn't make a difference.

If it was truly urgent, Han Shu would personally go upstairs to report it in person.

After the incense burned out, Zhao Ji took the secret report and went down to the side hall.

Han Shu was scraping his fingernails with a short dagger when he saw Zhao Ji enter. He put the dagger back into his boot and stood up, saying, "Grand Marshal."

"sit."

Zhao Ji casually pointed and sat down in the main chair. A guard from the outer hall brought him hot tea. Zhao Ji held the teacup with both hands and asked, "Tell me, what's wrong now?"

“Qubei sent an envoy to report that the Xianzhi King in Xihe County had just died, and his brother was vying for the throne, resulting in the division of the tribe into three. His brother was powerful, and his son wanted to ally with the Tu Ge tribes to seize the throne.”

Han Shu handed over a roll of sheepskin, which Zhao Ji picked up and read, his brows furrowed as he looked at it: "The spring plowing is just finished, it's time to stretch our muscles. Select three thousand cavalry to accompany me to Xihe. I want to see what's going on with the Tu Ge tribes."

Han Shu asked, "Should we conscript infantry?"

“Mobilize three thousand men, led by Xiangli Bao, to escort ten thousand shi of grain as a backup.”

Zhao Ji pondered for a moment, then said, "Jia Tong and Wei Xing will serve as the left and right cavalry generals, respectively. The cavalry of this unit will remain under your command. Go and inform them that the official document will be delivered shortly, and that the troops will be assembled within three days and set off for Lishi."

"Here!"

Han Shu agreed, stood up and bowed, and before leaving he said, "Grand Marshal, Zi'ang's concubine has given birth to a daughter, and he has been quite busy lately."

"Reassure him that we won't delay his full moon celebration."

(End of this chapter)