Tiger Guards

Chapter 446 The Spirit of the Tiger Warriors
Inside Dingtao City, after seeing Zhang Liao off, Chen Gong also dismissed everyone else and sat alone in a quiet room in the pavilion.

The window beside him was wide open, and he was quietly reflecting on his actions.

From the moment Lü Bu retreated, he knew that his path to survival was over.

Now that Zhang Liao has entered the city to persuade him to surrender, he has been given a respectable way out. By following this approach, he can at least preserve the people of Yanzhou in Dingtao City.

However, if they resist stubbornly, in addition to leading all the officials and people of the city to their deaths, it will also trigger other variables.

For example, with the war continuing, Zhao Ji, after capturing Dingtao, would likely take the opportunity to attack Zhang Yang.

It wasn't that Zhao Ji had any deep-seated hatred for Zhang Yang, but rather that he had incurred the wrath of the people of Yanzhou after conquering Dingtao. To prevent the people of Yanzhou from becoming an obstacle once they recovered, Zhao Ji would definitely go after Zhang Yang.

The key was to defeat, kill, and plunder the officials and soldiers of Yanzhou gathered by Zhang Yang, thus extinguishing the Yanzhou people's hope for future revenge.

With Zhang Yang suffering a severe blow, how could Lü Bu possibly stand idly by?

The war will escalate and expand further. Although Lü Bu and Zhao Ji may act recklessly under the guise of the imperial court's righteousness, the imperial court's righteousness can also restrain them, making them more cautious in their actions and preventing them from using many insidious methods.

The continued expansion of the war would erode the sanctity of the imperial court's authority, deprive Lü Bu and Zhao Ji of the convenient opportunity to serve the emperor and punish the disloyal, and also expose their true colors.

The imperial court's righteous cause is like the most magnificent attire; it looks splendid on the body, but it also restricts them.

When they are no longer used or bound by the greater good of the court, they will be like tigers unleashed from their cages, ready to devour anyone they choose.

Therefore, Chen Gong only had one path to choose from: to preserve the vitality of the people of Yanzhou as much as possible, so as to accumulate strength for future revenge.

If he still hopes that one day a successor will avenge him and clear his name, he must make a rational choice now, instead of dragging the people of Yanzhou and the imperial court down with him.

After much deliberation, Chen Gong relaxed and felt relieved.

He stood up and called out, "Bring me a pot of wine."

"Here."

One of the palace guards responded and quickly brought over a plate of strained cloudy wine, along with a bowl of this year's new rice, a dish of vegetables, and a small bowl of braised salted meat.

Chen Gong grabbed the wine jug and poured himself a drink. He picked up his chopsticks and tasted the salted meat, and couldn't help but think of the year when Luoyang underwent a great upheaval.

After Dong Zhuo seized control of the capital, Cao Cao failed in his assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo and fled to Guandong. Many insightful people also fled to Guandong. Chen Gong and others met Cao Cao on the road, along with Liu Bei and his entourage.

Cao Cao had served as the Chancellor of Rencheng and the Governor of Dongjun, and was an old acquaintance of Chen Gong.

When the campaign against Dong Zhuo began, Chen Gong accepted Liu Dai's invitation to serve in the prefecture. Later, the Yellow Turban Rebellion entered the territory, and Governor Liu Dai was killed in battle, causing Yanzhou to collapse.

Chen Gong and Wan Qian, officials of the state, persuaded Bao Xin, the chancellor of Jibei, and together with Zhang Miao, they recommended Cao Cao, the governor of Dongjun who was then appointed by Yuan Shao, to be the governor of Yanzhou.

Then came Bao Xin's mysterious death in battle, and Cao Cao, contrary to common sense, committed massacres in Xuzhou, including killing Bian Rang, a famous scholar who discussed and criticized Cao Cao, showing his intention to dominate Yanzhou and enjoy power and influence for himself.

In order to protect himself and to give an explanation to Bao Xin and Bian Rang who trusted him, Chen Gong had no choice but to join forces with the Zhang brothers, Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao, to welcome Lü Bu and use his strength to drive out Cao Cao.

From the fourth year of the Chuping era to the present, the fierce battles, though seemingly long, have only lasted four years.

The four years of war were far too long for Chen Gong personally.

The torment I endured was longer and more difficult than the experience of the past thirty years.

As a result, by middle age, strands of white hair appear, revealing signs of aging.

Now it's all good; with the death of one man, the Battle of Yanzhou has ended, giving the people of Yanzhou a chance to live in peace and recuperate.

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!"

Chen Gong sighed and wrote a letter of confession and apology to Zhao Ji, and then wrote a letter to Lü Bu entrusting him with family affairs.

After completing these two tasks, he summoned the accompanying officials and handed over two silk scrolls.

The atmosphere was solemn and tragic. The officials were filled with rage, but they were powerless to do anything but watch as Chen Gong walked up to the pavilion alone.

From the pavilion, Chen Gong gazed at the houses and streets near and far in the city.

Two years ago, Cao Cao conquered Dingtao, and the city was already in ruins.

Despite the efforts of governance and restoration, the city's prosperity is far from what it once was.

Dingtao can be called the textile center of the Central Plains, and the word "Tao" alone can explain the historical heritage of this place.

The Ji River, which flows through the two cities, north and south, brought convenient transportation and irrigation.

This once prosperous town in the Central Plains was first ravaged by the Yellow Turban Rebellion and then attacked and burned by Cao Cao's army. Most of the residents who had lived in the city for generations were no longer there.

The people who flocked to the city after these two upheavals had production skills that were far inferior to those of the original inhabitants.

Therefore, its decline here has become irreversible.

Filled with endless longing and regret, Chen Gong remained calm. He raised his chin and gazed into the distance for a moment, then slowly drew his sword. Finding it too long and not quite handy, he took out a small knife, held it upside down with both hands, aimed slightly, and without thinking, stabbed it into the throat. He lost his balance and staggered back two or three steps, leaning against a wooden pillar before slowly sliding down to sit on the ground.

Despite the discomfort, he thrust harder, and his head drooped uncontrollably.

The officials who heard the strange noise rushed up the stairs from the attic, and immediately there was a cacophony of cries and shouts.

As the accompanying officials selected by Chen Gong, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, they were not only Chen Gong's former subordinates, but also talents that Chen Gong valued.

Even those officials from Bingzhou, Guanzhong, and Liangzhou could only hang their heads and look sorrowful as they mingled among the crowd.

Before nightfall, the gates of Dingtao's north and south cities opened simultaneously. The troops inside either discarded their uniforms and flags as identification, or accepted orders to leave the city and follow instructions.

Chen Gong's head was also cut off, cleaned, plated, and presented to Zhao Ji outside the city.

On the north bank of the Ji River, within a curtain.

Looking at Chen Gong's head, which remained calm on the plate, Zhao Ji couldn't help but sigh, "Chen Gongtai's misfortune today is because he refused to believe me."

Looking around at the kneeling officials, he said, "The main culprit was Chen Gongtai. Since he committed suicide out of fear of punishment, it is not appropriate to pursue your crimes. After returning to Xuchang, each department will punish you accordingly. You should take this as a warning."

"Here."

The officials were listless, which displeased Zhao Ji: "As officials, you are the pillars of the court in the future. Although you have suffered a minor setback and still harbor resentment towards me, how can you be so dispirited? Answer me loudly so I can hear you clearly."

One of the officials could no longer contain himself and looked up at Zhao Ji, his neck stiffening as he shouted angrily, "Yes, sir!"

Zhao Ji smiled at the other person and asked, "Where are the others?"

The other officials watched from the sidelines, thinking that this official would be severely punished, and dared not utter a word.

Zhao Ji simply wanted to torment and amuse these people. He turned to Guan Shang and said, "Gather the Tiger Warriors on both sides, wield short sticks, and infuse the spirit of the Tiger Warriors into these three officers!"

Guan Shang asked in confusion, "Grand Marshal, how is this spirit injected?"

"I'll teach you."

Zhao Ji unsheathed a short spear, held it upside down, and struck Guan Shang's shoulder armor with a crisp sound: "Just inject it like this. If A Shang feels it's not enough, he can remove his armor."

"Grand Marshal, this is enough!"

When Guan Shang turned his head to look, the other Tiger Warriors had already begun to call to their companions. Where in the army were there any short sticks that were always on hand?
There were many torches prepared, and they all rushed forward with torches in hand. When Guan Shang waved his hand, they immediately rushed forward with torches in both hands, and the thirty-odd officials chased after and beat the more than ninety officials.

The three officials turned and ran after being beaten, but a group of guards stood outside the curtain with spears in hand, the blades like a wall pressed against them. They had nowhere to run away and nowhere to hide, yet they dared not fight back.

Before long, he was beaten and curled up on the ground, rolling around to avoid being hit.

When these fierce warriors were exhausted, they retreated to the sides, panting.

Only the official who had initially answered loudly remained in the room, looking around blankly at everything that was happening.

Seeing that things had quieted down, Zhao Ji asked the other person, "Who are you?"

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, this humble servant is Zhang Fa, Right Attendant."

“Very good. I will issue a document to the Right General of the Central Army, and you will be the Right General of the Central Army from now on. You will personally guard Chen Gongtai’s head. After the head is sent to Xudu, you will be responsible for sewing up his body. Bury him with the honors due to a Nine Minister near the north city of Dingtao. He was from Dongwucheng and could not bear to see the officials and people of Dingtao suffer the same fate as Dongwucheng, so he did this.”

"Here."

Zhang Fa replied, and then said, "Reporting to the Grand Marshal, the Grand Master of Ceremonies had a handwritten letter that he wanted to present to the Grand Marshal before his death."

Where is the handwritten letter?

Zhao Ji asked a question, and a court official who was curled up on the ground got up, grinned, and pulled out a silk book from his bosom.

Tiger Warrior was careful not to hit the face or hands, and even if his skin was bruised, it was covered by his clothes.

The silk scroll was handed to Zhao Ji. After reading it, he said, "I will not let Chen Gongtai die in vain. I still know the rules; one must keep one's word in this business. However, the officials and people of Dingtao should also be punished. Immediately transport 20,000 shi of rice and millet, and 10,000 bolts of cloth. I do not want the women, money, or weapons in the city, but all the carts in the city must be handed over to me. Is this possible?"

While it appeared that the questioning was directed at Zhang Fa, the powerful figures and officials of Jiyin kneeling to one side knew very well that it was a questioning of them.

They dared not negotiate any further, and bowed deeply, agreeing in clear voices.

He was afraid that his unclear speech would invite a beating from the tiger-like guards.

However, given their status, they were not worthy of being beaten by Tiger Warriors.

The three officials in charge of the three departments, the Tiger Guard, the Feathered Forest Guard, and the Yellow Gate Guard are the true officials, the future pillars of the court.

These powerful local magistrates and county officials were not qualified.

(End of this chapter)