Tiger Guards

Chapter 395 Rewarding the Small to Subdue the Big
In the tiger-shooting contest, Sun Ce suffered a crushing defeat.

Nothing unexpected happened during the event. A total of fifteen tigers were placed in the arena, and Zhao Ji killed four of them with a single arrow, not to mention the other dead tigers with Zhao Ji's arrows stuck in their bodies.

Sun Ce took off his Zhongxing sword, stepped forward, bowed, and presented it with both hands: "Grand Marshal, your archery skills are unparalleled in the world, I admire you."

"It was just a fluke."

Zhao Ji also took off his sword and exchanged it with Sun Ce.

Sun Ceze was taken aback, but a bright smile appeared on his face as he accepted the sword that Zhao Ji offered.

Zhao Ji added, "I also hope that Lord Sun will accept the armored cavalry and horses."

"Thank you for the reward, Grand Marshal."

Sun Ce hung up his sword. Both of them used long swords, and the hilts of the swords protruded a lot after they were hung at their waists.

But Zhao Ji was taller, carrying a four-foot sword, and his physique was well-proportioned and harmonious.

Zhao Ji then said, "We are busy with military affairs now. After we defeat Yuan Shu, we will have a feast and enjoy ourselves with Lord Sun."

"I am willing to comply."

Sun Ce bowed again, then pulled Zhou Tai from behind him to the front and introduced him with outstretched arms: "This is Zhou Tai, also known as Zhou Youping, from Jiujiang. He is temporarily serving under the Grand Marshal. I will surely redeem him in the future."

Zhou Tai stepped forward with his head held high, knelt on one knee, and bowed with his hands clasped: "Zhou Tai greets Grand Marshal."

He had nothing to be ashamed of. As a wager, he had almost lost as the number one warrior under Sun Ce, and his value would rise greatly from then on.

He also believed that Sun Ce would definitely find a way to redeem him.

Zhao Ji examined Zhou Tai, who was nearly eight feet tall with broad and imposing shoulders, and nodded: "For today's game, you will temporarily be forced to serve as a middle-ranking officer under my command, accompanying me on my comings and goings, and receiving an annual salary of six hundred shi (a unit of grain).

"Here."

Zhou Tai stood up, then turned and bowed deeply to Sun Ce. Sun Ce helped him up and admonished him: "The Grand Marshal is a hero of our time and will not mistreat Youping. After you come under the Grand Marshal's command, you must not be negligent or slack off."

"As ordered."

Zhou Tai stood up and joined Zhao Ji's escort team.

Zhao Ji then said to Sun Ce, "I will launch a strong attack on Ji Ling's camp in the coming days. Lord Sun, you must block Yuan Shu's reinforcements and also be wary of Cao Cao's attacks from the rear."

"Follow the order."

Sun Ce answered with a cupped-hand salute, displaying proper etiquette.

Zhao Ji nodded, then pointed to the tigers lined up in a row: "The tiger meat will be divided among the officers and soldiers of the two families. I will have eight tiger skins, and Lord Sun will have seven. As for the tiger bones, I will use them to brew wine. Once the tiger bone wine is brewed, I will invite Lord Sun to a banquet."

"As ordered."

Sun Ce bowed again, and Zhao Ji returned the bow, saying, "We must part here. Take care, Lord Sun."

"The same applies to the Grand Marshal."

Sun Ce changed to a deep bow, looked up and watched Zhao Ji turn and leave.

He could be willing to sacrifice Zhou Tai, whose command ability was lacking.

He was more worried that Zhao Ji would ask for Huang Gai or Taishi Ci. Taishi Ci was a partner who would play a key role in stabilizing Qingzhou; Huang Gai was also a good general, capable in both civil and military affairs, and possessed governance and administration abilities that were rare among officers at the current military level.

Zhao Ji mounted his horse and turned to Zhou Tai: "Does Youping have any attendants? It's inconvenient for you to be traveling alone. If so, I'll provide ten fine horses to borrow from Lord Sun."

Zhou Tai hesitated for a moment, then said, "There are dozens of fellow villagers, and I have already entrusted them to my fellow villager Jiang Qin."

“In that case, serve me with peace of mind. Knowing Lord Sun, he will surely redeem Youping.”

Zhao Ji didn't pay much attention; it was indeed difficult for someone like Zhou Tai, with his past experiences, to make a name for himself.

He has no shortage of fierce warriors like Zhou Tai under his command, so there is no need to make things too difficult for Zhou Tai.

More than a hundred riders escorted them westward, joining the three thousand infantry and cavalry guards, and headed towards the newly built camp in Zheqiu City.

This large camp was built around carts, which were loaded with bundled straw mats or wooden planks.

After the flood, the entire army pushed carts forward and launched an offensive near Ji Lingdong's camp.

A water attack launched from upstream is just a single wave of flood peak, and it won't cause too much waterlogging on the ground.

If a dam is built downstream to store river water and flood Ji Ling's camp, it will become a muddy mess. While it could completely destroy Ji Ling's camp, it would also prevent an attack for several days.

Unless a dam is built to store water, boats can be used to launch an attack.

Unfortunately, the manpower and time were insufficient; otherwise, if they had gone downstream to build a dam at Ji Ling's camp, Ji Ling would have definitely panicked.

After pondering the battle situation and summarizing various areas for improvement, he soon entered the main camp.

Here, Liu Xie waited anxiously. After deciding to turn against his own side, every moment was agonizing, fearing that unexpected changes might occur. Inside the camp, Zhao Ji changed into light and cool clothes, washed his feet, put on wooden clogs, held a palm-leaf fan in one hand, and sipped some cool tea in the other.

Footsteps sounded, and turning to look, one could see Guan Shang leading Liu Xie in, a middle-aged man of ordinary appearance.

Guan Shang spoke up: "Grand Marshal, this is Liu Xie, Liu Zitong of Langya."

"This guilty subject Liu Xie pays his respects to the Grand Marshal."

"Sit down. You must be tired from your journey. Have a cup of tea first."

Zhao Ji sipped tea through a hollow straw, behaving very rudely.

Liu Xie had been traveling back and forth, and had just washed his face, but only most of it; a little gray sweat was still seeping down from the strands of hair on his forehead.

Zhao Ji was already covered in sweat from hunting, but Liu Xie smelled even more strongly of sweat.

Liu Xie bowed and waited. A guard brought over a folding stool, and he cupped his hands and sat down, saying, "Thank you for the seat, Grand Marshal."

"Drink tea first. Tea can calm the mind. We can talk about it after we've calmed down."

After saying this, Zhao Ji closed his eyes. He didn't like to follow the other party's or standard procedures in these meetings and negotiations.

Regardless of the other party's sincerity, they must have envisioned various possible scenarios along the way and have a set of flexible and adaptable lines of conversation.

Guan Shang brought Liu Xie a bowl of cool tea, and then carried a ceramic pot to Zhao Ji's table to refill Zhao Ji's cup. He then asked, "Grand Marshal, the food is just cooked. Shall we serve it now?"

"Right now."

Zhao Ji gave an instruction: In addition to the three meals a day at fixed times, the kitchen would always prepare fresh food for the officers and scouts coming and going.

With the decisive battle approaching, there's no need to be overly frugal with food supplies.

Only what you eat is your own food; when you withdraw your troops, you promise that the food in the palace belongs to the state and you can't take it away yourself.

Liu Xie drank a bowl of cool tea on an empty stomach and was about to speak when Zhao Ji said, "Continue, three bowls of tea are needed to wash away the summer heat. We are from the same hometown, so why would I make things difficult for you?"

"Yes."

Liu Xie could only hold up the teacup, and a guard poured tea for him. He immediately tilted his head back and gulped it down. Soon it was the third bowl, and Liu Xie still drank it down.

After the fourth bowl of tea was filled, Liu Xie put it down and said to Zhao Ji, "Reporting to the Grand Marshal, my eldest brother has been taken hostage by Yuan Shu, and my second brother, Liu Zitai, was forced to submit to Yuan Shu's command. We have been enduring humiliation and waiting for the right opportunity to defeat the enemy. I humbly request the Grand Marshal's wise consideration."

Zhao Ji sat up straight and asked in return, "How is the battle at Pengcheng?"

"Since the dam was built at Hanshan, it has been storing water for more than half a month. The rising river has already submerged all the gates of Pengcheng. The defending general Guan Yu and the soldiers and civilians in the city have vowed to fight to the death and not surrender. My brother has sent a messenger into the city to explain his true intentions. With the reserves of Pengcheng and Guan Yu's response, I think we can hold out for another ten days."

Liu Xie continued, "Currently, the Chen army is determined to launch a strong attack. Once the walls of Pengcheng collapse, even my brother will find it difficult to suppress the Chen army. If Yuan Shu and Zhang Xun discover this, my brother will be in grave danger."

Liu Xun's army configuration was also open to the public. Apart from some of his own fellow villagers and soldiers from Lujiang, the rest of his army consisted mainly of soldiers from the Chen State, supplemented by newly recruited refugees and bandits.

Zhao Ji put down his teacup: "What does your brother want? And what can he give me?"

“Well… since the death of Prince Chen, the court has lost a powerful vassal state in the Central Plains. My brother is not talented, but I am willing to guard Yuzhou for the court and resist Cao Cao.”

"impossible."

Zhao Ji flatly refused: "The two provinces of Yan and Yu are under the command of the Grand General, and it is inconvenient for me to interfere. I have already handed over Qing Province to Sun Ce, the Marquis of Wucheng. If he makes meritorious contributions, I will arrange for Sun Ce to lead troops to recover Qing Province in order to suppress Hebei. As for Liu Zifang, the Governor of Yang Province, he is easier to talk to. If your brother is wholeheartedly devoted to the court, I can recommend him to be the Governor of Jiujiang Commandery, in charge of Huainan. As for your elder brother, after being rescued from Yuan Shu, he can enter the court to assist the Emperor."

After a pause, Zhao Ji continued his offer: "Lujiang is the former territory of Liu Zitai. I want to establish more vassal states in the south to protect the country. In this way, you can lead Lujiang, and you and your brother can live together on the north bank of the river, which can support Liu Zifang in his campaign against the remnants of the Yuan clan in the three counties of Jiangdong."

Previously there were five vassal states. After destroying Yuan Shu, Zhao Ji wouldn't mind establishing a few more vassal states in Yuan Shu's territory.

The more vassal states there are, the more dispersed their power becomes, which actually makes them easier to control.

As for the regional princes, they all lost a great deal of wealth during the Yellow Turban Rebellion and declined along with the Liu family princes.

These princes and nobles were not wealthy, and in their early years they were the main force in seizing local land and monopolizing many industries; even though they have declined, the local people will not easily forget their evil deeds.

Therefore, these Liu-surname princes no longer possess the popular support to seize power in their fiefdoms, and it is difficult for them to become the second King of Chen.

Even though King Chen protected the officials and people of Chen from the chaos of the times, the officials and people of Chen wanted more and abandoned King Chen instead.

There was nothing that could be done. Chen County was too close to Ruyang, and the local scholars were too deeply influenced by the Yuan family, beyond redemption.

Upon hearing the conditions that Zhao Ji had casually offered, Liu Xie was overjoyed and immediately added, "If the Grand Marshal does not mind, my brother has a daughter who is willing to marry the Grand Marshal. In addition, Liu Fu of Pei State is also coerced by Yuan Shu and has always had a heart to serve the country. I can also persuade Liu Fu to raise an army to punish the traitor as soon as possible."

"There's no rush for marriage. If you can persuade Liu Fu to raise an army to fight the rebels, I can grant you a fief of five hundred households."

Zhao Ji smiled as he spoke, saying that the cost of winning over Liu Xie was much lower than that of winning over Liu Xun, making it a very cost-effective move.

As for their elder brothers, they were held hostage by Yuan Shu and had no troops of their own, so they were easy to settle. They were given prestigious positions in the imperial court, and as elder brothers, they could effectively control Liu Xun and Liu Xie.

(End of this chapter)