Tiger Guards

Chapter 439 Punishing the Ringleader
A new sun rose, but it was obscured by rain clouds, so the sky was only bright.

Yu Fan set off in the middle of the night, without time to equip or carry raincoats and straw hats. It was Zhao's scouts who lent them some felt hats and sheepskin overcoats along the way.

The sheepskin cloak is made of three goatskins sewn together, and it feels even warmer in the chilly rain of early autumn.

Along the way, Zhao Buyi led the way with knights, all of whom wore heavy rainproof coats made of sheepskin, cowhide, or rabbit leather over their armor.

Yu Fan witnessed this and was also quite surprised.

The north is relatively dry, so only troops in the three prefectures of Jing, Yi and Yang in the Yangtze River basin are equipped with rain gear, while troops in the Central Plains are only issued rain gear during rainy season operations.

In order to move quickly, Lü Bu's troops not only carried little food, but also lacked sufficient rain gear.

Zhao Ji's army came from afar, and these rain gear were either carried with them when they set off or were recently replenished from the rear.

He saw in Zhao Ji's army a long-lost spirit of the Han army, namely the confidence brought by superior equipment.

Unlike the apathy and sluggishness of Yuan Shu's army and the ruthlessness of Lü Bu's army, Zhao Ji's army displayed a rare vitality.

Even the horse slaves who wore raincoats made of pika leather would chat and play with their companions while riding lightly.

The road, paved for who knows how many years, has not been repaired in recent years, yet no weeds have grown on it.

In the light autumn rain, there were only patches of very shallow puddles, these broken puddles connected one after another, with trickling streams flowing to even lower places.

As Yu Fan listened to the sound of the cart wheels rolling on the ground, he felt a sense of carefree longing, as if he could escape the entanglements of the court and retreat to the mountains.

The south gate of Chenliu was wide open, and Yu Fan's cavalry was not stopped or questioned. Led by Zhao's scouts, they entered the city directly.

The city streets have been renovated, and some roads have been closed.

There was a strong smell of fermenting horse manure and urine in the city, but Yu Fan couldn't see anything through the walls on both sides of the street.

Following the scout's directions, they made a sharp turn and entered the prefectural governor's mansion in the northern district.

At the front gate of the mansion stood twelve fierce guards, all wearing knee-length cowhide coats, with copper-ringed cowhide belts around their waists, long swords hanging from their left hips, and halberds resting on their right hands.

They were all wearing the legendary wide-brimmed helmets, which were perfect for keeping out of the rain.

Yu Fan took one look and immediately thought of the suitability of this type of helmet on the Jianghuai battlefield, and even the navy would be well-suited to this type of wide-brimmed helmet.

Based solely on the shape of the helmet, Yu Fan discerned its advantages on the southern battlefield and concluded that it was a deliberate design by the Grand Marshal in preparation for unifying the country from north to south.

As a family that had ruled the Yi dynasty for five generations, Yu Fan believed that the Yan Liu dynasty was not a lineage that could last for ten thousand generations, and its demise was only a matter of time.

The more one masters of the I Ching, astronomy, calendar systems, and mathematics, the more open-minded one becomes about the rise and fall of dynasties and the changes in life and death.

People like Yu Fan have no interest in sacrificing anything for the so-called continuation of the state.

Therefore, families and groups that study and delve into astronomy, calendar systems, mathematics, and the I Ching are rebel gangs that pass down knowledge from teacher to student and from father to son.

Those who follow the will of Heaven sit idly by and watch dynasties rise and fall; those who defy Heaven want to take matters into their own hands and hasten the deaths of those who are destined to die but are not yet.

A dynasty that is half-dead is not a good thing for anyone, from top to bottom.

In this calm state of mind, Yu Fan displayed neither arrogance nor servility.

Moreover, considering the current camp of the Xu Du court, he was a former official of the Zhao clan... they were all in the same group.

Inside the backyard of the prefectural governor's mansion, Guan Shang led Yu Fan along the rain shelter corridor, both wearing wooden clogs.

In a vegetable garden, when they arrived, Zhao Ji was sitting under the eaves watching the rain. He was wearing only a casual robe in shades of crimson and purple, a robe that was split in the middle, with purple on the left and crimson on the right.

The robe was devoid of any patterns or decorations; it was merely Zhao Ji's profile that made Yu Fan slow his pace, afraid that his hurried footsteps would disturb Zhao Ji.

Seeing Yu Fan walk lightly, Guan Shang slowed his pace and stopped seven or eight steps away from Zhao Ji, cupping his hands and saying, "Grand Marshal, the Imperial Advisor Yu Zhongxiang has arrived."

Zhao Ji turned to look at Yu Fan, who was a little over eight feet tall and had a robust build.

He now wears formal official attire, with a black gauze hat with two beams, a black official robe, a nearly four-foot-long sword hanging from his left waist, and wooden clogs on his feet.

Even disregarding the height of his wooden clogs, Yu Fan was barely eight feet tall, which was already considered a tall and imposing man in Jiangdong. As for his facial features... what need did a family that studied the I Ching and mathematics have for a handsome face?
"Counselor Yu Fan pays his respects to the Grand Marshal."

Yu Fan straightened his back and waist, his left hand naturally gripping the hilt of the sword. He slightly adjusted the angle of the sword so that the hilt was closer to his abdomen, and then bowed deeply with his hands clasped together.

The term "four-foot Han sword" does not refer to the blade itself being four feet long, but rather the hilt and blade combined being four feet long.

Officials' four-foot Han swords often had long hilts, which were easy to hold with both hands and allowed for wide, sweeping slashes.

Wearing a two-handed Han sword is the true symbol of bravery.

The shorter a person is, the more they care about this. A sword blade that is too long will drag on the ground, which is very unsightly... So the only option is to continue to lengthen the hilt.

There's even a peculiar aesthetic with an enlarged sword hilt, coupled with bulky clothing and a physique, making them look like chibi characters from afar.

Looking at Yu Fan at this moment, Zhao Ji couldn't help but recall Cao Cao that night. Cao Cao's sword hilt was really long and big.

"No need for formalities, please sit closer, Your Excellency."

Zhao Ji pointed to the spot to his left, and Guan Shang turned around to fetch a small stool. Yu Fan thanked him again before awkwardly stepping forward and sitting two steps away from Zhao Ji.

After taking his seat, Yu Fan said, "I have come here to plead for the General. The General already knows that Zhang Yang and Chen Gong are guilty, but I wonder how the Grand Marshal intends to deal with the two men and the governor of Yanzhou?"

"You came too fast."

Zhao Ji glanced at Yu Fanlu and smiled, then looked back at the rain curtain under the eaves: "Heaven does not want me to fight him. If you had not come, we would have each withdrawn our troops, and the matter would have been over. But now that you have come, there must be an explanation."

Yu Fan slightly turned his head to look at the rain curtain, a smile on his face: "Then the Grand Marshal can pretend that he never came."

"It's impossible."

Zhao Ji went to see Guan Shang: "Go and fetch the bamboo rice, and also bring the honey. Mr. Yu, you've had a long journey, so please have some light food with me first to fill your stomach; it'll be good for your digestion. Later, we'll have some of our army's special delicacies."

Yu Fan's eyes lit up: "Is it hand-pulled mutton rice?"

"Lamb pilaf is too fatty and not good for health and longevity."

Zhao Ji said in a serious tone, "I want to treat you to lamb bone pilaf. The lamb is from Xihe, and the rice is from Chen State."

"Being respectful is worse than obeying orders."

Yu Fan bowed again, then asked, "How should I reply to the General?"

He had already determined that Zhao Ji would not pursue Lü Bu relentlessly, which was also Lü Bu's biggest worry.

His sudden stop was dangerous, but if Zhao Ji suddenly turned around and chased after him, the conflict between the previous and current military orders would leave the officers and soldiers at a loss, causing great confusion and a decline in morale.

Anyway, Lü Bu has already begun to order a retreat, and now he is only worried that Zhao Ji will keep pressing him.

Zhao Ji said that Heaven forbade a fight, so he wouldn't pursue Lü Bu.

You can lie to others, but there's no need to lie to Yu Fan, who's practically one of your own.

As for Zhang Yang, Chen Gong, and Yanzhou, Lü Bu made the difficult choice to bow down, so why would he care too much about these things?
The hardest thing is to bow your head. Once you've bowed your head, everything else can be compromised.

“Yanzhou belongs to the imperial court. I am merely ordered to pacify and suppress the various armies in Yanzhou. I will respect the imperial court’s natural preservation policy. Those who resist the imperial court will be wiped out without exception.”

Zhao Ji set the tone and continued, "Zhang Yang and I are also acquainted. I know he is kind and honest by nature. This must have been instigated and encouraged by Chen Gong. As a partner who escorted the emperor back to the east, how could I make things difficult for him because of his momentary lapse in judgment?"

"Chen Gong is the Grand Master of Ceremonies, the head of the Emperor's guards. He should have accompanied me on an inspection tour of the various armies in Yanzhou. I would have demonstrated the might and majesty of the court by displaying the strength of the army, while he would have demonstrated tolerance by showing compassion for his fellow townsmen. With both authority and human touch, we can successfully pacify and suppress the rebellion and bring peace to Yanzhou."

Zhao Ji spoke clearly and logically: "I don't know what he's thinking. This time, we must capture him and bring him to the court for the Emperor to decide his fate. Because of his selfishness, all the officers and soldiers of the army have been forced to travel back and forth, the traitor Yuan Shu has escaped, and there have been new changes in the Jianghuai region. I don't know how many officers, soldiers, innocent men and women have suffered because of this. Such a big mistake cannot be easily forgiven."

“I understand. Chen Gongtai is the ringleader, and this matter should be reported to the Emperor.”

Yu Fan composed himself, cupped his hands, and further stated: "How can the momentum of the court's restoration be wasted because of Chen Gongtai alone? If this person is not severely punished, there will inevitably be others who follow suit in the future. In my opinion, the emperor is wise and will be able to make a clear decision."

(End of this chapter)