Tiger Guards

Chapter 360 Disintegration
After Li Jue was killed, the Iron Cavalry only managed to rout more than 500 of Li Jue's trusted cavalrymen in a single charge.

The cavalry, valuing their horses, simply stayed by Zhao Ji's side and refused to continue the pursuit.

The following knights pressed on, and Li Jue's routed cavalry, unable to regroup, pursued them relentlessly all the way to the north bank of the Baiqu Canal, where they captured and killed them all.

When they arrived, driving the prisoners, Zhao Ji had already led his cavalry to force Li Huan to surrender.

Li Ying even opened the city gates, urging officials, soldiers, and able-bodied men to leave the city empty-handed, leaving women, valuables, weapons, grain, and cloth in the city.

At the city gate, Zhao Ji held up Li Jue's head and displayed it to the six or seven thousand men who had surrendered. Their expressions were a mixture of numbness and fear.

Zhao Ji spurred his horse forward, his iron cavalry keeping the crowd at bay.

Li Jue's still-bleeding head, like a burning flame, ignited the suppressed spirit of the vast majority of soldiers and civilians.

Suddenly, a young man shouted, "Long live!"

Inspired by him, the surrendered soldiers and civilians around him looked at each other, then suddenly realized what was going on and shouted excitedly, "Long live!"

"Long live!"

The shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" were endless. The change in the atmosphere of the soldiers and civilians lining the streets to welcome him made Zhao Ji feel as if he had been given laser silver.

He also removed the cold iron helmet from his neck, revealing a handsome face beaming with a smile, which only amplified the cheers that resounded through the sky.

Amidst shouts of "Long live the Emperor!", Li Ying and other members of the Li clan, men and women, huddled together in fear and uncertainty, awaiting their fate.

Soon, two groups of knights entered the city, took control of the city gates, and raised a new battle flag bearing the inscription "Han Grand Marshal".

Zhao Ji also came before Li Ying, looking down at him. Li Ying took the lead in kneeling and kowtowing: "This sinful subject knows that his crimes are grave, and humbly begs the Grand Marshal for leniency."

Suddenly, someone in the crowd threw a stone at Li Ying, and the soldiers and civilians watching immediately became agitated and went to observe Zhao Ji.

As long as Zhao Ji remains silent, thousands of people will swarm forward and devour the men, women, and children of the three Li clans.

However, Zhao Ji pulled a short spear from behind the horse harness with his right hand, aimed at the strong man who was throwing stones, and swung it out. Under everyone's gaze, the man was stabbed in the face and died instantly.

The soldiers and civilians surrounding the area were terrified and retreated in unison, causing a stampede that knocked down some people who were unable to react in time.

Zhao Ji looked around, and no one dared to look up where his gaze fell.

The fear they once had of Li Jue has been rekindled by this very spear.

When Li Ying's forehead was broken by a rock, he only swayed slightly, then knelt on the spot, letting the blood slide down his cheeks, chin, and beard.

After the surroundings calmed down, Zhao Ji looked at Li Ying and said, "Yuan Shu has rebelled, and now is the time when the court needs capable people. You will be spared the death penalty, but Li Jue's entire clan will be made government slaves. All men over the age of seventeen will be incorporated into the Daredevil Battalion to fight against Yuan Shu. You will be the commander of the Daredevil Battalion. Any Daredevil soldier in the battalion who accumulates ten kills or captures in battle will be freed and reduced to commoner status. If you wish to continue serving in the army, you will be incorporated into the Tiger Step Recruit and start from scratch. I am giving you a chance to reform!"

"This humble subject kowtows to thank the Grand Marshal for his great kindness!"

Li Yingxing performed a grand kowtow ceremony, with officials, men, women, and concubines all kneeling on the yellow earth.

The tense emotions of some former Liangzhou and Beijing garrison troops who had surrendered on the sidelines also calmed down.

After the noise subsided, Zhao Ji said again: "You should immediately select soldiers and civilians, and those who have committed heinous crimes should be organized into suicide soldiers. Once five people have been captured or beheaded, they can be exempted from becoming commoners."

Li Ying looked up, his face stained with blood and dust, appearing dark red: "May I ask, Grand Marshal, what constitutes a grave sin?"

"Any officer or soldier who kills three or more civilians; any civilian suspected of robbing and killing people, shall be recruited as a suicide squad!"

Zhao Ji pointed to the people around him with his right hand: "Here in Huangbai City, I only need a thousand daredevils. Those who volunteer will be spared from being captured and executed by three ranks; you can also voluntarily expose others, and I want the thousand most sinful and vicious among you! Those who believe themselves innocent and want to follow me to Guandong to punish the traitors, then stand with me! Gather under the banner of protecting the country and opposing Yuan Shikai, and I only need a thousand of you!"

After saying this, Zhao Ji reined in his horse and did not move. Li Ying and the Li family members rose and bowed again: "Yes!"

These people immediately resumed their arrogant ways, began to gather military officers, organize troops, and begin to define and select themselves.

Zhao Ji did not enter the city, but instead stopped his horse to the side to observe and wait for the army to reorganize.

They were all people who knew each other well, but only more than 500 surrendered soldiers believed they were innocent and were willing to continue fighting. They bared their left arms and stood near the banner of the National Protection War against Yuan Shikai.

Li Yingze gathered more than two thousand guilty soldiers and civilians, who then shifted blame to each other. Li's sons and military officers beat those who couldn't resolve the dispute on the spot, thus speeding up the decision-making and screening process.

Other soldiers and civilians were also corrupt, and they denounced each other, resulting in more than a thousand people being isolated.

Zhao Ji remained unmoved and waited quietly.

The captured Li Jue's personal cavalry were prisoners of war, not surrendered soldiers, and therefore not eligible to be selected as daredevils; otherwise, none of them would have escaped.

Li Ying used extremely harsh methods to urge them on, and it took him nearly an hour to complete the selection of the suicide squad.

As a result, more than two thousand soldiers and civilians who were not deeply guilty stood there at a loss.

The suicide squad was also divided into ten hundred-man teams, which barely managed to form a formation.

Zhao Ji then pointed to the armor and weapons discarded by Li Huan's troops: "Wear the armor, and we'll make you new uniforms tomorrow."

"Here!"

Li Ying's voice was much stronger in response, and the blood and mud on his face had dried and some had fallen off.

Seeing that they could wear armor and be armed, the last bit of worry in the hearts of the officers and soldiers of the suicide squad disappeared.

After these people had finished arming themselves and lined up again, Zhao Ji pointed at the more than two thousand terrified soldiers and civilians and said, "I will demote you to slaves for ten years. What do you say?" No one answered or refused; they were like a flock of sheep.

Seeing that there was no strong resistance, Zhao Ji turned to Li Ying and said, "Supervise them and create a roster later."

The morale of the daredevils rose rapidly. Under Li Ying's command, they surrounded these people, including their relatives, friends, and colleagues. Many of them had just been arguing.

While the suicide soldiers were certainly unlucky, I was even happier to see these people suffer along with them.

Zhao Ji then looked at the more than five hundred surrendered soldiers on the left and rode his horse to them, saying, "I need a thousand men. Go find your relatives and friends, gather a thousand men, and then register them."

These people are used to military life. Many of them are single and helpless, and they don't know what to do after leaving the army.

Immediately, someone spoke up: "Grand Marshal, most of us are from outlying prefectures, and we have no relatives or friends in Huangbai City."

"I don't care about that. You can choose and persuade yourselves. In short, I need a thousand veterans who can fight."

These people had no choice but to search for people among the military and civilians. These people had become accustomed to being forcibly conscripted and had little resistance.

The tall and strong were almost all selected in the first round, and since some people were still needed, some veterans were selected as well.

Veterans have a unique charisma; these people can spot those who look capable of fighting from a crowd of ragged soldiers and civilians at a glance.

Seeing that this militia was about to be formed, Zhao Ji turned to Han Shu and said, "They are yours to take over from now on. Lead them into the city to take over the treasury, weapons, and grain."

"Here!"

Han Shu dismounted and bowed deeply. Zhao Ji was worried that he couldn't handle things alone, so he assigned Han Shu an extra hundred-man team.

At that moment, a large plume of smoke and dust billowed in from the west.

After Han Shudu's righteous army entered the city, these soldiers also cut their flags into ribbons and tied them to their foreheads as identification.

Li Ying also dispatched a group of unarmored daredevils, more than two hundred men, to drive a newly formed slave force ten times their size into the city.

The remaining daredevils stood in formation and watched the west.

The enemy from the west slowly approached and then slowed down. After the dust settled, about a thousand infantry and cavalry appeared about a mile in front of Zhao Ji's formation.

Several cavalrymen rushed over, carrying apricot-yellow flags. When they reached the front of the formation, they saw Zhao Ji's battle flag and long banner, and then they saw Li Jue's head hanging on a flag.

The cavalrymen were greatly alarmed. The leader dismounted, stepped forward quickly, and bowed deeply: "General Yang, the commander of the Expeditionary Army, has heard that the Grand Marshal is leading his troops to assist in the campaign against the traitor Li Jue."

Zhao Ji observed these people: "Let him come see me."

"Here."

The envoy dared not say more, took a few steps back, turned around and left, mounted his horse and spurred it on.

Soon, Yang Qiu led his team of military officers and a few guards to Zhao Ji's front. When they were about fifty or sixty paces apart, Yang Qiu reined in his horse, dismounted, and walked forward: "This sinful general Yang Qiu is late. I beg the Grand Marshal's forgiveness."

"You arrived neither too early nor too late, what crime have you committed?"

Zhao Ji pointed to the banner of "Protecting the Nation and Opposing Yuan" behind him and said, "Yuan Shu of Guandong has established a system of officials and is already plotting a rebellion. Now that the court is in need of capable people, I killed Li Jue and pardoned his followers, intending to allow them to remain useful and atone for their crimes through meritorious service. What does General Yang think?"

"I am willing to obey the Grand Marshal's orders, advance into Guandong, and punish the traitors!"

Yang Qiu knelt down on one knee; how could he dare to offer any opinions on the matter?
He clasped his hands above his head, appearing submissive.

"Very well. Now that Li Jue is dead, his followers have disintegrated and belong to the state. Only Guo Si's family remains in Guanzhong. General, are you willing to lead the vanguard for me?"

"Your humble servant obeys!"

As Yang Qiu stood up, he stretched out his arm and pointed to the southwest: "Grand Marshal, General Wang Cheng of Jianyi has also raised troops to come and assist in the battle."

Wang Cheng inherited Wang Fang's troops, but his seniority and reputation were inferior to Wang Fang's, so he did not participate in the chaos and struggle between Li Jue and Guo Si, or Fan Chou and Li Meng.

Since Wang Fang died of natural causes, this unit had no personal grudges against Li Jue and Guo Si, and thus remained relatively intact.

Two years ago, when Ma Teng was transferring garrison areas in Chiyang, he approached Wang Cheng. Wang Cheng had only recently ascended the throne and thought that Ma Teng wanted to annex him.

So they struck first, attacking Ma Teng, severely wounding him, and driving him out of Guanzhong.

"In that case, the two of you will join forces as my vanguard and advance together on Meiwu; I will raise an army within two or three days to follow up."

As Zhao Ji spoke, he turned to look at the accompanying scribe: "Write down the military orders."

The armored clerk bowed and said, "Yes, sir."

He turned around and began to write. He laid the silk scroll on the shield, squatted down, and picked up the pen.

Yang Qiu also turned his head to wait, and took the official military document so that he could discuss it with Wang Cheng.

After more than a year of twists and turns, Zhang Xiu had joined forces with Duan Wei, Liang Xing, and Zhang Heng, and later with troops from Hedong and Taiyuan. When they pressed forward, Li Jue could not stop them, Guo Si could not stop them, and neither could they.

Before the refugees from the Three Auxiliary Regions who had been scattered abroad returned, these traditional warlords in Guanzhong were all weak and could not withstand the attrition.

(End of this chapter)