Tiger Guards

Chapter 557 Unparalleled Merit
South of Xudu, beside the Ying River, within the Xutian area spanning hundreds of miles, Lü Bu was inspecting the progress of spring plowing by officials, civilians, and soldiers.

Lu Bu rode in a light carriage drawn by a single horse, gently waving a plain silk folding fan in his hand, his eyes scanning the distance.

Since February this year, the temperature has been slightly warmer than last year, and the winter snow has melted quickly, making it feel like an early spring.

Unable to accurately predict climate change, unable to rely on past planting experience, and lacking any heavyweight farmers, mathematicians, or astronomers willing to step forward and take responsibility.

Faced with such an unusually early spring, all the Xu Du court could do was to plow the land ahead of schedule and decide on this year's planting time based on last year's planting time.

The specifics of how the seeds were sown were actually beyond the control of the imperial court in Xudu.

For example, at this moment, when Lü Bu was on patrol, he saw many officials and people turning over the soil, breaking up clods of earth, and then making furrows and sowing seeds.

Lu Bu saw this but did not interfere. The climate change over the years had long since worn Lu Bu down, leaving him with a somewhat indifferent attitude of going with the flow.

His forceful interference, even with good intentions, may only lead to a worse outcome.

If the military and civilians are allowed to sow seeds at will, even if the situation gets worse, at least one-third of the spring planting results can be preserved.

Lu Bu didn't want things to be this way either, but after being tormented by the climate for so many years, he really had no temper left.

Along the roadside in the fields, Yang Jun, the chief secretary of the general's headquarters, was waiting with several people.

As Lü Bu approached in his light chariot, Yang Jun stepped forward and bowed, saying, "My lord, the Grand Secretary has agreed to Yuan Shao's proposal."

Lu Bu did not get out of the carriage. He took the official document from Yang Jun's clerk, picked it up and read it. He couldn't help but chuckle: "Now that things have come to this, just as Yuan Si said, Yuan Shao is truly an old man with undying ambitions."

"Is the Ministry of Personnel authorized to use this method?"

“Even if I approve it, the prefect appointed by Yuan Si will reject it.”

Lu Bu chuckled. He didn't want to cause Zhao Ji any trouble; he simply wanted to make his presence known.

He suppressed Zhang Liao's promotion and rewards for nearly four months, but Zhao Ji then added another merit to Zhang Liao's record: killing Qianman, the successor of the Xianbei state.

Zhang Liao later achieved other merits such as defeating enemies, capturing cities, and taking prisoners of people and livestock. This matter made Lü Bu even more troublesome. He temporarily seconded and supported Fu Wan, which naturally allowed him to show Zhao Ji his presence.

Lu Bu didn't feel much hatred towards Zhang Liao; he felt more regret and made things difficult for him.

A little bit of arbitrariness in power—after all, he was manipulating Zhang Liao, not Zhao Ji, so what's the big deal?
Besides, although Lü Bu believed that Zhang Liao could kill the enemy chieftain in battle, the price would be too heavy.

If Zhang Liao's achievements fail to earn him a reward, many interesting things will surely happen.

Therefore, based on this, Lü Bu believed that Qianman, the successor of the Xianbei state, was indeed killed by the Han army on the battlefield, or even by Zhang Liao's troops, but not necessarily by Zhang Liao himself.

Zhao Ji deliberately attributed the credit to Zhang Liao in order to force the court to quickly implement the reward for Zhang Liao's merits.

Lu Bu naturally wanted to test and challenge Zhao Ji's behavior.

Therefore, it was decided to cooperate with Fu Wan to sabotage the three-province system.

The prefect who acted as the Right Minister of Justice under Zhao Ji was a member of the Tiger Guard, and this person would certainly exercise the right of veto.

This was merely Lü Bu's personal opinion. After he made the decision to support Fu Wan, Yang Jun, standing before him, was visibly taken aback: "General, if the Grand Secretary is permitted... and the Vice Prefect appointed by the Grand Marshal is bribed or dies suddenly from illness, I believe this will surely enrage the Grand Marshal." Lü Bu also felt somewhat uneasy, but he had already spoken in front of several of his staff. If he were to retract his words because of Yang Jun's comments, what would become of his authority as the Grand General?

Sometimes that's how it is; if someone, as the head of the household, says something in advance, and then wants to take it back or change it, they have to pay a much higher price.

Although he didn't want to provoke Zhao Ji, Lü Bu felt that his own reputation was more important.

He's currently holding on to his position as a general only because of his reputation.

Pretending to ponder, he secretly decided to send someone to protect Huo Heng, Zhao Ji's assistant official in the Ministry of Personnel.

He nodded slowly, clearly indicating that he had thought it through: "I understand what Ji Cai is worried about, and I will make proper arrangements. Ji Cai need not worry."

With things having come to this point, Yang Jun had many words and emotions stuck in his throat. Looking at Lü Bu, who seemed to have everything under control, a sense of powerlessness arose from the void, flowing into his body and limbs, consuming his mind and body.

Suppressing his resentment at being cast aside like a pearl, Yang Jun bowed deeply with his hands clasped, his expression meticulous: "Yes, sir."

Seeing Yang Jun retreat a step, Lü Bu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The situation has now changed far beyond his control, and even the emperor and high officials are in a very passive position.

Who could have imagined that Zhao Ji, with the devastated Bingzhou and Sizhou, launched a war, coercing various Xiongnu tribes, and actually managed to shatter the Qiang tribes of the three northern prefectures and the Xianbei royal court of the four Yunzhong prefectures, with the remnants fleeing east to the old royal court at Tanhan Mountain.

Zhao Ji, showing no sign of respite, organized his troops and launched another eastern expedition to pursue the remnants of the royal court.

How to reward and confer titles for these merits was a huge headache for not only the emperor and his ministers, but even for Lü Bu himself.

Let alone Zhao Ji, even if he himself had established such merits, he wouldn't know whether he should continue to be granted fiefdoms or have his rank elevated.

Zhao Ji had already reached the pinnacle of his official career, holding the titles of Left Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Grand Marshal, Governor of Bingzhou, Commander-in-Chief of the military affairs of the four prefectures of Yong, Bing, Liang, and You, and Marquis of Pingyang, with a fiefdom of nearly ten counties.

Even now, Zhao Ji still holds the position of Tiger General.

Now, if Zhao Ji breaks through any limit in any aspect of his position, it will bring a huge public opinion storm.

However, if you do not offer a decent reward, Zhao Ji will have a legitimate reason to take action. With the support of public opinion, as well as the strength of his army and military deterrence, he can ignore the court and even establish a new dynasty.

Lü Bu did not want to see such extreme things happen; maintaining the old system would naturally consolidate his position as the Grand General of Han.

Now, although Zhao Ji has not asked for any reward, the emperor and his ministers are sending people to him, trying to find out his bottom line in advance.

Try your best to satisfy Zhao Ji without pushing the limits, and suppress the storm brought about by this unparalleled achievement.

If it can't be suppressed, no one dares to imagine what will happen when it really explodes.

Anyway, with the emperor and high-ranking officials living in seclusion, all these matters are now weighing on Lü Bu's shoulders, which is making him very irritable.

The meritorious official who suppressed Zhang Liao wanted to argue with Zhao Ji about Zhang Liao's affairs and keep the matter within a controllable range as much as possible.

As for Zhao Ji's personal achievements, Lü Bu could only leave that to the emperor to discuss; he couldn't handle it himself.

(End of this chapter)