Tiger Guards

Chapter 424 Grand Marshal's Order
At noon, ten miles south of Fugou, at the border of Yanzhou and Yuzhou.

Zhang Yang's remaining commander re-deployed his troops, maintaining the defensive formation of three in front and one in the back.

Zhao Ji's cavalry and chariots assembled and slowly set off, approaching the border of the prefecture.

Zhao Ji arrived at the front of the battle in his carriage and said to Qin Yi, who was covered in dust from his journey, "You are a lieutenant general in the General's staff. I will give you a chance, and I will also give the other side a chance. Bring the opposing captain to my carriage."

Qin Yi did not agree immediately, but considered for a moment: "The Grand Marshal has just executed the traitor Cao, and his prestige shakes the land. In my opinion, the people left behind by Prefect Zhang will not dare to show themselves."

"I am the Grand Marshal appointed by the Emperor, in charge of all military affairs of the state. As long as he is a military officer in Yanzhou, I can examine and deal with him."

Zhao Ji pointed to Cheng He, who was holding the sword behind him: "The Emperor has also bestowed upon me the Shangfang Sword. I can punish and execute even a prefect with a salary of two thousand shi, let alone a captain with a salary of less than two thousand shi?"

He then looked at Qin Yi and said, "His absence shows that he does not obey my command as Grand Marshal. How is this any different from treason? Since the enemy is a rebel army, General Qin can serve as a witness and see how I quell the rebellion!"

Qin Yi could only nod: "Grand Marshal, please be patient and allow me to investigate."

"Go quickly and return quickly, lest you accidentally injure General Qin in the chaos of battle."

"Yes."

Qin Yi spurred his horse forward, leading a dozen or so guards to whip their horses and speed up.

Zhao Ji watched quietly, knowing that such opportunities to show off the Grand Marshal's power would become increasingly rare.

Qin Yi was obsequious to Zhao Ji, but he was quite imposing on the other side, lashing his horsewhip so hard that the officers and soldiers of Yanzhou dared not dodge or make excuses, and pointed out the captains hiding in the army formation.

Qin Yi then lashed the captain with his whip, forcing him to mount his horse and pay his respects to Zhao Ji.

"This humble servant, Lü Qiu Jian, Southern Commandant of Chenliu, pays his respects to the Grand Marshal."

The other man tumbled off his saddle, knelt on one knee in front of Zhao Ji's chariot, and bowed his head to introduce himself.

Zhao Ji lowered his brows and looked at him: "Whose orders are you on to block my entry into Yanzhou to suppress the bandits?"

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, this humble servant is acting on the orders of Prefect Zhang."

As he spoke, Lüqiu Jian took out Zhang Yang's military dispatch and held it with both hands: "The military dispatch is here. It is not that I have mobilized troops without authorization. How could I dare to obstruct the Grand Marshal?"

The guard took the military dispatch and handed it to Zhao Ji.

After Zhao Ji seized the document, he tore up the silk scroll in front of Lüqiu Jian and said, "There is an order of rank and hierarchy. Zhang Yang and his subordinates have disobeyed their superiors. This decree is hereby repealed. Does Commandant Lüqiu agree?"

"Yes, Grand Marshal is absolutely right!"

Luqiu Jian nodded immediately, not daring to say anything more. He hadn't expected that his checkpoint at the state border would be able to block Zhao Ji for a whole day and night.

Seeing this, Zhao Ji turned to a guard accompanying the carriage and said, "Bring me a pen."

Soon, Zhao Ji held a long, narrow wooden tablet in his left hand, with a layer of paper pasted on its surface. He then took a pen in his right hand and wrote on it. He then took out his seal and stamped it on the paper on the surface of the wooden tablet.

After confirming that the handwriting was correct, Zhao Ji waved the military order in his hand: "This is a military order written by me personally, and it bears the seal of the Grand Marshal of Han. Do you accept it or not?"

"This humble servant accepts his fate and dares not disobey."

Luqiu Jian quickly replied that he didn't want to die. In any case, he had already held out for a day and a night, and Zhang Yang couldn't possibly kill his whole family anymore.

Seeing this, Zhao Ji handed over the order: "In that case, step forward and receive the order."

"Here."

Lu Qiu Jian stood up and, after observing briefly, saw that no one was passing on the military order that Zhao Ji had handed out. He could only carefully step forward and take the order with both hands. It read: "By order of the Grand Marshal, Lu Qiu Jian, the Southern Commandant of Chenliu, is appointed as the Commandant of Zhaoyi, and his troops are under the command of the General Who Pacifies Bandits."

"Judging from how dedicated you are to your duty, you must be an honest man."

Zhao Ji pointed to the east: "Go and meet up with General Zhang Wenyuan, who is in charge of suppressing bandits. Don't get involved in the affairs of western Yanzhou. Otherwise, your life won't be able to withstand any more trouble."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey!"

Lü Qiu Jian readily agreed. Zhao Ji then selected several of his personal guards to join Lü Qiu Jian's forces, tasking them with leading the way and connecting Lü Qiu Jian's troops with Zhang Liao's detachment. Zhao Ji didn't need to think too much to know that the most direct way for Lü Bu and Zhang Yang to clear up their misunderstandings was to kill Lü Qiu Jian, or to force a confession out of torture, making it appear that Lü Qiu Jian had obstructed the operation without authorization, thus absolving Zhang Yang of responsibility.

That's why I deliberately waited a whole day and night... Actually, it didn't really matter. Lü Bu wasn't a reasonable person, and the high-ranking officials of his generation disdained reasoning even more.

If the people in power in this world were reasonable, the world wouldn't have deteriorated to this point.

Looking at Lüqiu Jian's retreating figure, Qin Yi sighed, "The Grand Marshal is so kind and benevolent that he actually let this man go."

“I won’t kill him. If I were going to kill him, I would have done it yesterday.”

Zhao Ji said indifferently, "I have no grudge against him. Killing him won't establish my authority. If he dies, many things will become unclear. Besides, the most important thing right now is to keep my distance from the General. Our fates are incompatible. Two tigers cannot share the same mountain. It is better for our two families to be at peace if we are far apart."

Looking back at Qin Yi, he said, "General Qin, let's part ways at the border of the province. I will not severely punish Zhang Yang, and I hope that the General will not lead his troops across the border. The border is my bottom line. If he leads his troops across it, I will disregard Yuan Shao and Cao Cao's army and turn south to fight him to the death."

Zhao Ji's eyes were indifferent, and his tone was as usual. Qin Yi felt a chill run down his spine: "Grand Marshal, things have not come to this. The General also has many difficulties, but he has absolutely no intention of harming the Grand Marshal."

“I know him as well as I know myself. I have to make things clear with a man like him. Otherwise, if we fight for no reason and both sides suffer heavy casualties, he'll still have the nerve to come to me to clear up the misunderstanding. Remember, if he crosses the border, I will fight him without hesitation! You also need to clearly convey my words to him: I can afford to lose, but he can't!”

"Could the Grand Marshal possibly grant me a written agreement?"

Qin Yi also composed himself: "If the General is unwilling to believe it, then there is nothing this humble subject can do."

"Okay, I'll give you two copies of the agreement."

Zhao Ji smiled and immediately looked at Zhao Jian and Zhang Hong who had come over: "Shu Mao and Zi Gang, you've come at the right time. Following what I just said, write a letter to the General with even stronger wording."

"Here."

Zhao Jian and Zhang Hong bowed in agreement and went to prepare to write.

Qin Yi's expression was also somewhat unpleasant. With so many people knowing that he had been given two written agreements, it would be difficult for him to renege on his promises, and it would also be difficult for Lü Bu to pretend to be confused.

He also understood Lü Bu's character; it was only because Lü Bu was now older and held a high position that he had more patience.

In the past, given Zhao Ji's threat, Lü Bu would definitely have led his troops to repeatedly cross the border and provoke Zhao Ji.

Now, Lü Bu is unlikely to do anything provocative or demonstrative, but he will definitely regard Zhao Ji's warning as an insult. Even Zhao Ji, the informant who delivered the message, will be targeted and resented by Lü Bu.

Soon, the two handwritten copies were completed. After reading them, Zhao Ji took out his personal seal, stamped it on, and handed them to Qin Yi.

Seeing that Lüqiu Jian had also gathered his officers and soldiers and returned to the nearby camp.

Zhao Ji raised his right hand and summoned Han Shu to his side: "Go to Fugou City. If the garrison refuses to let you in, surround it immediately. Once the Daredevil Battalion arrives, attack Fugou City. I am the Grand Marshal appointed by the Emperor, ordered to suppress the rebels. Anyone in Yanzhou who dares to resist is a traitor!"

"Your humble servant obeys!"

Han Shu bowed deeply, then turned and mounted his horse, leading over a hundred knights ahead.

Taking over a county town with just over a hundred knights was already a formidable force, backed by the powerful Han Dynasty court, with the Grand Marshal's army just a stone's throw away.

Whether the other side is willing to open the city gates has nothing to do with courage; it is determined by political stance.

Cao Cao had already wiped out Yanzhou, leaving few tough enemies. Even those who remained were more agile and pragmatic.

Luqiu Jian and Fugou County were just the beginning.

With such a large army, Zhao Ji would definitely take over the cities and towns along the way, and also divide his troops to plunder territory, taking them over one by one.

It doesn't have to be like a tidal wave, but it should at least be like combing hair, smoothing out every part it passes through!
If the dough is too stiff, just break it.

What kind of profit could ordinary officials and commoners in Yanzhou possibly make from?

The only way to gain a relatively considerable profit is to follow the trail of Cao Cao's remnants.

(End of this chapter)