Tiger Guards

Chapter 59 Banquet in the Camp
As the sun sets, curtains are set up in the central military camp.

The banquet was in full swing. Zhao Ji knelt beside Zhao Yan, watching the people coming and going, toasting each other and reveling, as if the Baibo generals could be wiped out at any time.

This gave Zhao Ji a very bad feeling, as if he had opened champagne at halftime.

Therefore, he always had a gloomy face, which was out of tune with the cheerful atmosphere of the banquet.

Jia Tong was sitting below him. Seeing that Zhao Ji did not drink or have fun, he also refused to drink at the banquet and just picked up his chopsticks and ate the food.

Zhao Yan really wanted to take this opportunity to find some friends of the same age for Zhao Ji, but when he saw this atmosphere, he gave up.

When the atmosphere of the banquet became tense, Captain Ma Shizhi stood up, raised his hands and clapped them, attracting everyone's attention.

The dozen or so scholars who were dancing with their sleeves waving also stopped. Their cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, and they supported each other as they stood up staggeringly, looking at Ma Shizhi.

Ma Shizhi smiled broadly, his mustache curling upwards. His gaze swept over Zhao Ji, and he spoke loudly, "Everyone! The messenger has come to report that Li Bocheng and Hou Wenzhe have sent envoys to announce their willingness to obey the imperial edict and defeat the enemy! They will soon lead their troops here to join us in this great cause!"

There was another round of cheers, and some people threw their hats into the air in excitement.

Zhao Ji moved towards Jia Tong: "Who is this?"

"The nobles of Pingyang were captured by the Xiongnu, and they gathered to protect themselves. Li Kan has over 3,000 families under his command, with 1,000 followers; Houxuan is slightly weaker, but also has over 2,000 families."

Jia Tong explained in a low voice, "When the Baibo generals led their army south, Li Kan, Hou Xuan, Liang Xing, Cheng Yi, Cheng Yin, and others attacked the Baibo people and won a great victory. Fearing that Yang Feng would attack them, Cheng Yi and Cheng Yin crossed the river and headed west to Zuo Fengyi."

Amid the cheers, Ma Shizhi swung his arms to muffle the noise, then shouted excitedly, "My cousin will also lead a thousand brave men to help us in the battle!"

"Ma Shiwan, courtesy name Boqiu, was a prominent general from Fenyin."

Jia Tong continued to explain: "If we wait for them to arrive before sending troops south, Han Xian and others will be prepared, and the emperor will be in danger!"

Zhao Ji nodded slowly, and saw everyone looking at Ma Shizhi eagerly, as if expecting the next good news.

Ma Shizhi said, "Liang Wenmao's envoy will arrive tonight. Please enjoy the singing and dancing and wait for good news!"

As he spoke, he waved his right arm, and the musicians beside him began to play again. A dozen slender warriors wearing double-leg armor, holding short spears and small shields came on stage.

Zhao Ji could tell at a glance that these warriors were dressed as Kabuki actors. They had their faces covered with black veils, stepped to the rhythm, twisted their waists, and danced a battle dance.

The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily, and he looked intently at Xu Huang who was sitting diagonally opposite him. Xu Huang's mind was not on dancing either.

Noticing Zhao Ji's gaze, Xu Huang raised his glass and took a sip.

Zhao Ji just nodded and was about to resign to Zhao Yan.

Ma Shizhi's nephew, the Tiger Guards Assistant Minister Ma Shitong, approached Zhao Ji with a wine glass in hand. "Captain, these people are questioning your archery skills. After the dance, could you please demonstrate a few things in public? I think this would boost morale."

"I have painstakingly studied archery to hunt for survival and to kill thieves and eliminate harm. How can I be treated like an entertainer or a dancing girl for others to enjoy?"

Zhao Ji stared at the man and said, "If anyone really wants to watch, they can shoot with me. That would be fun."

"You are joking, Captain. I am being presumptuous. I will drink a glass of wine as punishment."

As Ma Shitong spoke, he tilted his head back, revealing his Adam's apple, and grabbed the wine glass and drank it down in one gulp.

Seeing him drink it all and show the empty cup, Zhao Ji just nodded.

Ma Shitong then retreated, walked around the backs of the group and came to Ma Shizhi: "Uncle, Captain Zhao is unwilling. He will only demonstrate his archery skills if there is someone who can shoot against him."

"The little thief is rampant."

Ma Shitong commented with a smile, his eyes falling on the group of powerful young men from Beijiang who were drinking.

He waved his hand to signal his nephew to return to his seat, then turned to the clerk beside him and whispered, "Hu Qian in this county is the best archer. Would he be willing to compete with Zhao Zhonglang in archery?"

"Yes, I'll go and ask."

The official agreed and walked towards the local powerful young men with a wine glass in hand to inquire about their attitudes.

Zhao Yan, holding a wine glass, whispered with a faint smile to County Magistrate Zhao Xu. He noticed Ma Shizhi's small movements with his eyebrows and asked with a smile, "How do you think my Aji should respond?"

Zhao Xu grabbed the cup and glanced at Zhao Ji's profile from across Zhao Yan. Seeing that he was serious, he suppressed his smile and said, "They are short-sighted and not worth worrying about. I also want to congratulate Lord Zhao on having such a noble person in your family."

No matter how mediocre Zhao Xu was in his administration, he had to go through the government offices and the Lang Office and pass a series of assessments before he was appointed to an official position.

Compared to a local commander like Ma Shizhi, his rank wasn't as high, but his vision far surpassed his. Zhao Yan simply chuckled at Zhao Xu's praise, showing no change in emotion.

What does Ma Shizhi want to do?
Zhao Yan knew it very well, it was just a matter of testing him step by step.

Li Le's death was too hasty, and he was easily eliminated by the newly recruited Tiger Guards. Seeing this happen before his eyes, how could Ma Shizhi not have other thoughts?

It turns out that Baibo's generals are so weak and so easy to kill.

They ignored the fall of the Hou family and the defeat and death of the invading Xiongnu king. All they saw was that the Baibo generals were strong on the outside but weak on the inside!

Soon the singing and dancing stopped, and the fake warriors holding short spears and small shields came down from the stage to accompany the drinking, and the laughter was one wave after another.

When the local Hu Qian came on stage, he turned his head to look at the drummers and musicians. The music stopped and the laughter of the men and women seemed abrupt and gradually stopped.

Hu Qian bowed deeply to Zhao Yan and said, "Lord Zhao, I have heard that Zhao Ji, the Tiger Guard Lieutenant, is an excellent archer. I am willing to challenge him to a duel. I have a fine horse as a prize. I beg your permission."

Zhao Yan turned his head to look at Zhao Ji: "How is Aji?"

"can."

Zhao Ji stood up and twisted his neck, staring at Hu Qian, who was over eight feet tall and had no beard but dark skin. "I'll also offer a good horse. You proposed a competition of archery, and I'll propose a competition of shooting techniques. How about that?"

"That makes sense. I'm willing to follow Zhao Zhonglang's arrangements."

Seeing Hu Qian's agreement, Zhao Ji saw that everyone was looking at him, and Ma Shitong was almost suffocating the fake warrior in his arms.

After looking around, Zhao Ji said, "The archery competition will go from easy to difficult. First, shoot fifty steps, then seventy steps, then ninety steps, and finally one hundred and ten steps. Can we increase the prize each time?"

"Okay, how would you like to shoot, Zhao Zhonglang?"

"It's very simple. Look at this."

Zhao Ji picked up the wheat cakes on his table and turned to look at Han Shu who was standing guard at the curtain door: "Bring the bow and arrows."

"Here!"

Han Shu answered in a loud voice, stepped forward quickly, pulled out an arrow from the quiver at his waist and handed it over with both hands.

Zhao Ji took the arrow, thrust it into the side of the cake, and then raised it above his head. "Let our partner hold the cake, and we'll shoot it. If there are any casualties, neither can be blamed on the other, and it won't damage our harmonious relationship."

Hu Qian frowned upon hearing this: "Isn't this too harsh, Zhonglang?"

Zhao Ji took the painted bow from Han Shu's back, handed the cake to Han Shu, untied the quiver from Han Shu's right waist and hung it on his own waist, and asked Han Shu with a smile: "Do you dare? All the winnings will be yours."

"Why don't you dare!"

Han Shu grinned, turned his head to look at Hu Qian, and then looked at the others who were looking at each other in confusion.

Seeing Hu Qian remained silent, Zhao Ji grabbed the wine pot on the table and asked Han Shu, "I'll drink it all. Do you still dare?"

"I am willing to die for Zhonglang!"

Han Shu took a deep breath, his expression resolute and his brows firm.

Zhao Ji glanced at Hu Qian, then looked at his companions, opened the lid of the pot, raised his head and began to drink.

We won't bully the other person because he has been drinking. What we are competing for now is courage.

Seeing this, Hu Qian could only turn his head and look around, but no one responded to his gaze.

Seeing this, Jia Tong elbowed Ximen Jian, who was sitting below him, and whispered a few words. Ximen Jian then stood up and shouted to Hu Qian, "Brother Wen Gong, I'm not afraid of death, but I'm in need of horses. Give me two mares of three or four years old, and I'll help you. Two horses for every fifty steps, four horses for every seventy steps, and six horses for every ninety steps!"

"Sure, I'll give you the prize money if you win."

Hu Qian agreed immediately. Ximen Jian bowed to Zhao Ji and said, "I dare to borrow the armor from the captain."

"Yes, it's in Lord Zhao's barracks. Go get it."

"Here!"

(End of this chapter)