Tiger Guards

Chapter 56: Hundred Horses and Generals
Before noon, at the military camp outside Jiangyi City.

Xu Huang rode his horse out of the camp to meet him, and from afar he saw Zhao Ji, wearing gilded armor and riding ahead.

Except for a dozen knights who followed closely, the remaining knights were divided into teams of dozens, with scattered formations, and came slowly.

Li Le's armor was in excellent shape, and had already taken on the initial form of Ming Guang armor, with a heart guard with an animal head pattern on the chest.

This is not a front-opening or side-opening type, but a back-opening type.

When worn, it is a bit like wearing a surgical gown. There are pairs of ropes on the back, which can be tied tightly to close it.

In order to cover this defensive loophole, it is best to hang a cloak.

In general, this original form of Ming Guang armor is suitable for riding, and the cloak is a bit heavy for infantry.

Zhao Ji slowly reined in his horse, gripped the whip in his hand, and turned the horse's head to the right with his left hand holding the reins.

Xu Huang also rode forward and turned his horse to the right, with both of them holding their right arms behind them.

Xu Huang stopped his horse and said, "Zhao Zhonglang, Lord Zhao has ordered his servants to come and greet you."

"Is Lord Zhao in the camp?"

"Yes, please, Zhonglang."

"No rush, return to the camp after handing over the horses."

Zhao Ji wasn't a very good rider, and his horse kept shifting. He held the whip in his right arm and pointed at the knights behind him. "There are quite a few people in the camp. Let's make this clear to avoid any gossip."

"Thank you, Zhonglang, for your care."

Xu Huang also went to the rear. After a night of thinking and brewing, many people's mentality had changed.

Even he was no exception. His situation began to deteriorate and he became a remnant of the Baibo clan.

Recruit the Baibo generals to surrender and resolve the issue peacefully?
Originally, Zhao Yan might have had this idea, but not now.

If the Baibo generals were dealt with peacefully, Xu Huang would not be implicated much; if one insisted on beating, killing and punishing them, Xu Huang would inevitably be implicated.

As the saying goes, times have changed, and now we rely on the few troops Xu Huang has.

After the powerful troops from all over the country arrived, Xu Huang's troops would no longer be so important.

Especially after defeating the Baibo generals, reorganizing the more than 300 people under Xu Huang's command was just a matter of issuing an order.

After all, Xu Huang was recruiting soldiers on orders, and those under his command were not his personal troops.

It is also legitimate for the imperial court to take it away.

Xu Huang carefully observed the approaching cavalry units and then tentatively said, "This morning, Lord Zhao discussed matters with Commander Ma. Commander Ma believed that all evil must be eradicated. He also said that Han Xian should not be trusted. I am deeply uneasy after hearing this."

"Since Ma Shizhi put it so simply, I'll ask him to be the vanguard. After he captures Han Xian, we'll lead the main force to follow."

Zhao Ji wore a half-smile, clearly teasing Ma Shizhi. Seeing Xu Huang's heavy, depressed expression, he calmed down and said, "He does have a point, though. After Li Le's death, even if Han Xian were forced to surrender, he would still be dissatisfied with the loss of power. It would be hard for them to trust each other. Sparing their titles and lives, Captain Xu, do you think they would be grateful for the court's mercy and leniency?"

Xu Huang was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't know."

"Yes, even you can't predict their thoughts, let alone the court."

Zhao Ji surveyed Xu Huang's cavalry and continued, "Yesterday, I was considering persuading Han Xian to persuade Yang Feng and the others to resolve the situation peacefully. Looking back now, it seemed a bit naive. But Commander Xu, don't worry. When Lord Zhao first arrived at the Huben camp, he repeatedly praised you as a loyal and righteous man. Everyone in the Huben camp knows this; I didn't deceive you."

"Don't dare."

Xu Huang watched as the Huben knights arrived one after another. These knights drove the horses they brought with them and surrounded them.

Xu Huang really wanted to open up and reveal his loyalty, but as Zhao Ji said, it was difficult for them to trust each other.

However, if he took the initiative to use the identity of Yang Feng's old subordinate to defraud and assassinate Han Xian, he would arouse the fear and disgust of the officials.

He was in a dilemma. At this time, making achievements was a moral issue, while slacking off was a loyalty issue.

Seeing Xu Huang's distressed expression, Zhao Ji pointed his whip at the horses and said, "Captain, can these over a hundred horses buy your life?"

Xu Huang examined the horses carefully, and found that most of them were serviceable, with several tall and fine horses among them. He answered truthfully, "In my opinion, fifty horses would buy my life."

If I take fifty horses to Yang Feng to buy or exchange Xu Huang, will Yang Feng agree?
Before the King's patriotism, Yang Feng would have agreed without a care in the world; now that Yang Feng was desperate for horses, it wasn't hard for him to agree. Seeing Xu Huang admit this, Zhao Ji seriously inquired, "If I give the captain a horse, does that mean he owes me two lives?"

Seeing Xu Huang nod, Zhao Ji said, "A captain's worth is far greater than a hundred horses. I hope you won't underestimate yourself. From now on, if anyone demands justice, Lord Zhao will protect you. If Lord Zhao is unable to mediate, the captain will lead the knights back to Pingyang. Pingyang is vast, and with your skills, who can truly defeat Captain Xu?"

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Xu Huang bowed solemnly. His life was really not worth these hundred horses. Even he himself felt that it was not worth it.

The Zhao family gave him so many horses just to buy his life.

If he gave his life to the Zhao family, how could the Zhao family watch him being controlled by others?
In other words, accepting this batch of horses at this moment will strengthen his own strength and will also firmly bind him to Zhao Yan.

What did Yang Feng give him?
When the army was mobilized to support the king, he was forcibly recruited into the army; all his achievements were made by him from the pile of dead bodies during the period of supporting the king, and had nothing to do with Yang Feng's trust, command, and cultivation.

As for being promoted to the rank of Cavalry Commandant and granted the title of Marquis of Duting, it was not Yang Feng's contribution at all.

The Baibo Army officers and soldiers who arrived in Hedong alive were all at least a colonel.

What was meaningful to Xu Huang was not the rank of Cavalry Commandant, but the title of Marquis of Duting, which was the symbol of recognition by the court.

This time, when he came to recruit soldiers, he took the imperial edict and brought a dozen or so fellow villagers with him. He did not take any money or food, but relied entirely on writing blank checks and making various promises to recruit soldiers.

What did Yang Feng give him? Nothing at all. He was able to recruit these soldiers only through imperial edicts, coaxing and deceiving him, and some threats. Only then did he gather these three hundred people.

Compared with Yang Feng, Zhao Yan was extremely generous. He sent over a hundred horses, and Xu Huang's strength skyrocketed!

He was the Wuyi Commander, and the more than 300 people recruited this time could be considered Hedong Knights.

With Zhao Yan's support, there is a chance that he will be transferred to the position of General of the Imperial Guards, and there is a very small chance that the Hedong Knights under his command will be converted into Imperial Guards Knights.

But the probability is very low. Like Huben Lang, not everyone can become a Yulin Lang.

Then again, when he led his troops across the river and reached the south bank, he had already lost the means of resistance unless he rode away alone.

This is how the army works. When more and more troops gather together, the leaders of each army will be in danger of their lives.

If they violated military law even slightly, they would be replaced by their subordinates.

When the army gathered to rectify the situation, it was the leaders of small armed groups like Xu Huang who were killed.

Forcing himself to think clearly, Xu Huang looked at the herd of more than a hundred horses with an extremely enthusiastic gaze.

This is not a horse, it's his amulet!

The Zhao family invested more than a hundred horses. Before they could recoup their investment, Xu Gongming was worth keeping alive!
Xu Huang gladly accepted the change in fate, and Zhao Ji did not feel sorry for the horses.

The two men immediately handed over the horses, and the Tiger Guards helped drive the horses into the camp.

Xu Huang also enthusiastically led the way, bringing most of the Huben cavalry into the planned camp.

The Huben camp has a "甲"-shaped structure. The internal structure of this camp is like a "口" with a "叵" inside. There is a central military area surrounded by a low wall. Except for the training ground area, the entire camp has roughly three floors.

Relying on the ruins of the ferry crossing, the low walls and wood in various parts of the camp were obviously taken from the ruins and were built quite solidly.

When Xu Huang led him to the central military camp, there was a separate guard there.

Zhao Ji then dismounted. At this moment, Zhao Yan, the long-servant guarding the camp gate, came to greet him quickly: "My lord, how are you?"

"Nothing happened tonight, everything is fine."

Zhao Ji handed the reins to Han Shu and asked him, "How is Lord Zhao?"

"The master was thinking about the young master at night, and now he is taking a nap. He said that the young master has arrived, so he will take him to see him immediately."

Zhao Ji heard this and turned to Xu Huang beside him and said, "I think Lord Zhao is fed up with them and is using this as an excuse to take a nap to get some peace and quiet."

Xu Huang didn't dare to express his opinion, but just nodded slowly with a stern face.

The long-servant smiled when he heard this: "Young Master really understands the Master."

When they approached Zhao Yan's barracks, Xu Huang tactfully waited outside to be summoned.

(End of this chapter)