Tiger Guards

Chapter 347 Parting Instructions
Jinyang, on Longshan Mountain.

Zhao Ji helped Zhao Yan up and led more than a hundred of his civil and military officials to a flat area halfway up the mountain.

The terrain has been slightly tidied up, wooden stakes have been laid, and a wooden platform has been built.

Enclosed by wooden walls, it forms a relatively complex villa on the hillside, which is now more accurately called an attic.

Zhao Yan's eyesight was poor, and he couldn't see Jinyang New City very clearly from the high place, but he could still make out its roughly square outline.

After spring plowing was completed, construction resumed in the city.

Pei Xiu, as the person in charge, pointed to the trenches that had been dug in various places and explained the plan, explaining that they were all sewage channels.

To ensure effective sewage discharge, ceramic sewage pipes are currently being used.

Originally, some people planned to cut the logs, carbonize them, and then assemble them into pipes for use.

However, the wood that can be used to make pipes must be of excellent quality, and the city is in dire need of such high-quality building materials.

In terms of urban planning, a very large amount of timber was used.

Therefore, Zhao Ji intervened, sending more apprentices and slaves to potters, thus expanding the scale and scope of pottery and tile-making operations.

Currently, they are firing earthenware drainage pipes, and the next step is firing roof tiles. Later, Zhao Ji will need these people to fire bricks.

With the Fen River for transshipment, brick factories could be set up near coal-producing areas, where bricks could be fired locally and transported by water to Jinyang.

A single Golden Terrace is not enough to truly awe-inspire people.

If we were to cover Jinyang City with bricks in the future, it would be enough to make the Xianbei people who come here to trade despair.

Pei Xiu explained the sewage ditch plan, including some trenches that were to be dug by the troops that had been transferred here, and that another group of troops would be used for construction. They were responsible for the hidden troop tunnels and troop deployment tunnels that would eventually be built inside Jinyang City.

Zhao Yan asked questions from time to time, and Pei Xiu quickly gave various answers.

After a moment, Zhao Yan turned to look at Zhao Ji: "I have no other concerns but the possibility of a water attack."

“Grandfather, I will build a structure to raise the water level of Jinyang Lake and leave an outlet. Future generations should maintain it properly, and release the water automatically if there is any warning.”

When the water level of Jinyang Lake rises to a certain height, the Jinshui Canal may overflow.

It was transformed into an upstream water diversion canal to supply water to Jinyang Lake, and then flowed back into the Jin River via the Jin Canal, making the Jin River more abundant and beneficial for irrigation on the south bank of the Jin River.

The city walls are now made of loess slabs, and the magnificent city used many stone foundations.

As Jinyang City continues to be expanded and renovated, Zhao Ji's requirement is to withstand the floods of the Fen River.

Even the dikes along the Fen River near the city were covered with stone slabs to allow for sufficient width for floodwaters to pass through.

Zhao Ji really didn't like spending too much manpower on civil engineering projects, but since he wasn't surnamed Liu, he had to invest enough resources in Jinyang City.

The better Jinyang City develops, the stronger its inherent strength becomes.

Compared to Anyi and Wenxi, Jinyang and Pingyang are his future strongholds.

If the base is stable, then many things will naturally be stable, and even if there are storms, they won't cause serious damage.

The riots in Xuchang left Lü Bu humiliated and disgraced.

The Jinyang New City, which I built and focused on developing, will certainly not experience the kind of mutiny or unrest that occurred in Xuchang.

The "blank seal case" at Lü Bu's place also reminded Zhao Ji that it was necessary to ensure the supervision of seal inscriptions.

It was because Lü Bu lacked enough trusted clerks that the handling of official documents and seals was infiltrated by Ru Ying and the people of Nanyang. These people forged too many legitimate troop mobilization documents in advance, which made the Xuchang riots get out of control.

Ultimately, Lü Bu did not exercise strict control over his forces. These people, right under Lü Bu's nose, stamped many blank silk documents, becoming the source of fake military orders.

Therefore, Zhao Ji also needed to establish a strict procedure for troop deployment. Only when all three documents—official documents, command tokens, and messengers—were present could troops be legally deployed.

The silk used as a carrier for official documents also requires special weaving, with colorful threads mixed into the silk to create a unique texture for anti-counterfeiting purposes; the texture is changed regularly.

The command token is simple; it's a variation of the tiger token, consisting of two halves that must match to mobilize troops.

The messenger's words meant that Zhao Ji would have an additional permanent staff member by his side, and this group would be responsible for transmitting military orders in the future.

He will not acknowledge any orders given by others.

However, there is no time for construction now; we can only proceed with this work and implementation after defeating Li Jue.

After Zhao Ji led Zhao Yan to a high place to overlook the new city of Jinyang, they enjoyed a banquet there before the event ended.

After descending the mountain, Zhao Ji rode on horseback and chatted with Jia Xu.

Zhao Ji was still confident in mediating the conflict with the Xiongnu in the Western Regions.

But then he was about to march into Guanzhong, and he wanted to take Jia Xu with him.

Jia Xu politely declined, explaining, "I have no face to return to Guanzhong. My only wish for the rest of my life is to restore Bingzhou and Shuofang, and to reclaim the lands of Qin and Han."

"In that case, I will have to trouble you to take charge of the logistics and general affairs this time."

With his left hand holding the reins and his right hand gripping the whip, Zhao Ji spoke with concern: "Yuan Shao will certainly not sit idly by and watch us recover Guanzhong. We must be wary of Yuan Xi and Gao Gan escaping, and also of Yuan Shao sending his elite troops to attack. We cannot be negligent or lax just because Yuan Xi and Gao Gan are being held hostage."

"I understand, Grand Marshal, please rest assured."

Jia Xu, with a confident and calm demeanor, also advised: "The generals of Guanzhong have experienced the chaos and turmoil of war, so they should not be trusted lightly; after they surrender, the Grand Marshal should not be too lenient; however, if the supervision is too strict, it will backfire."

Zhao Ji frowned as he listened: "I roughly understand what you mean, sir, but I'm not sure." "Just as the Grand Marshal understands it."

Jia Xu looked up and gazed at the mountain road. It had rained a few days ago, so the road was dry, and the flowers and plants on the mountainside were lush and vibrant.

Based on the rainfall trend at the beginning of this spring, as long as it's not too extreme after summer, we should be able to get through this year smoothly.

He has been going through so many ups and downs over the years, ever since the Yellow Turban Rebellion... perhaps ever since he can remember, things have gotten worse year by year.

Given this overall situation, the fact that Hedong and Jinyang can maintain their position this year is, in a sense, progress. Compared to the other sides that are continuously declining, they are in a state of strengthening.

Zhao Ji also observed the surrounding area and concluded that rainfall was likely in the spring, which was the best news.

Even if there is a shortage of food, as long as there is sufficient rainfall, there will be enough resources for gathering, fishing and hunting in the wild.

He naturally understood Jia Xu's words: do not give Jia Xu face, nor indulge the surrendered and subservient generals of Guanzhong.

Don't be harsh on these people; if you really don't like them, it's best to kill them on the spot.

In short, if the other party can adapt to the strict laws of the Grand Marshal's shogunate, then keep them alive; otherwise, it's best to kill them beforehand.

Otherwise, if they were to be recruited and then killed, it would cause unnecessary concern among other surrendered generals.

It's best to filter them out beforehand.

Zhao Ji felt that this guy might have sensed some danger, which was why he instructed him to start a massacre.

It wasn't appropriate to press for details, since Jia Xu's willingness to reveal hints already betrayed some of his former friends.

If he were to ask directly, how could Jia Xu maintain his dignity? How could he continue to remind himself of these things in the future?

In the city, at the residence of the Marquis of Jinyang.

This place has only been initially built out, and Zhao Yan only came here for a short while before heading to the Grand Marshal's Mansion next door.

The log-built military camp-style shogunate also gave Zhao Yan a rugged sense of security.

Zhao Rui, the Eastern Secretary of the Shogunate, has been appointed as a Chamberlain and will represent Zhao Ji in deliberating and governing in Luoyang.

The successor of the Eastern Secretariat is a crucial position; anyone who holds this position can cultivate a large number of protégés and former subordinates.

Any official who was recommended and appointed by the Eastern Secretariat was inherently indebted to the Eastern Secretariat.

The cumulative effect is terrifying.

Zhao Ji preferred to leave the position vacant and have the Eastern Bureau officials and clerks draft the list rather than recruit another Eastern Bureau clerk.

The feeling he got from the Eastern Clerk was not that of a subordinate official, but more like that of a partner.

The chief steward was also a powerful figure, much like a prime minister.

Zhuge Xuan, the Western Cao Yuan, was essentially a junior steward.

With the departure date fast approaching, Zhao Ji was pressed for time.

After accompanying Zhao Yan on a tour of the Marquis of Jinyang's residence, they arrived at the West Garden of the Military Governor's Office, which was separated by a wall. Watching the old man and Han Rong discuss and plan the garden and pond, Zhao Ji asked Zhao Yun, "Zilong, do you have any interest in this campaign against the treacherous ministers Li Jue and Guo Si in Guanzhong?"

Zhao Yun was tempted, but still said, "Grand Marshal, Li Jue and Guo Si are both dying men. Compared to the safety of the Marquis of Jinyang, ten Li Jue and Guo Si are not worth mentioning."

"Well, then I'll have to trouble Zilong."

Zhao Ji stood to the side of Zhao Yun, looking at the two old men squatting on the ground drawing a map in the distance, and said with a smile, "Most of Zilong's troops have been dismissed. I will replenish the troops with another batch to make up five hundred, and then Zilong will personally take command."

Not only Zhao Yun, but also the clansmen and local guards that Xu Chu brought back were granted military land, registered in the military register, and then dispersed to various counties.

Zhao Yun still has over a hundred men with him, all of whom are his fellow villagers from Zhen Ding.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun looked at Zhao Ji and asked, "Grand Marshal, are you saying that this is the Marquis of Jinyang's guard?"

"Yes, Zilong, just train hard. I will allocate another thirty sets of great armor, and Zilong will also study the training tactics of the Iron Cavalry. In the future, the first Iron Cavalry battalion under my command will definitely be under Zilong's command."

Zhao is capable of making empty promises, and he is genuinely sincere about it.

Zhao Yun was deeply moved. Clearly, the soldiers who were given to him were high-ranking officers to train his cavalry tactics. Even so, they were high-level consumables for him to practice on.

In the Battle of Chenliu, the iron cavalry force of over a hundred men fought five battles in one day, changing horses in each battle, achieving the effect of a battle with no less than a thousand cavalrymen.

It played an irreplaceable role, especially in destroying Cao Cao's fortifications.

Zhao Yun's biggest regret at the time was that there were too few iron cavalry. If he could have gathered three to five hundred cavalry, who could withstand the charge across the vast Central Plains?
What merit or ability did Li Jue and Guo Si have to warrant the deployment of their iron cavalry?

These two forces have lost their offensive capabilities and drive; they dare not engage in open battles or decisive engagements, and can only defend their cities to the death.

Bringing the Iron Cavalry there would leave them with absolutely no room to maneuver.

Therefore, the Iron Cavalry has only one mission this year: to accompany Zhao Ji to Xihe and mediate disputes within the Xiongnu.

The fact that the dispute has dragged on until now shows that the various Xiongnu tribal kings are also using this matter to get to know each other.

The purpose should be quite simple: to assess one's own capabilities and then decide what to do next.

After so much turmoil in the Central Plains, the various Xiongnu tribes had already shown a tendency to revert to non-Han culture.

If this expedition to Xihe fails to suppress the rebellion, the Xiongnu may split again.

(End of this chapter)