Tiger Guards

Chapter 68 Seizing Power in a County

The setting sun is at hand, and the south gate of Wenxi is wide open.

The captured surrendered soldiers marched in a line, with each team of forty or fifty people, escorted by five or six Tiger Guards.

Among them, the Han Xian troops and veterans were grouped into groups of ten, and their right hands were tied with leather ropes.

Outside the South Gate, the Tiger Guard chariot was parked here, with a battle flag on the chariot that read "Fight the Bandits in Accordance with the Imperial Order."

County Lord Zhang Bu led the county official to wait here. There were bruises and swelling on his face, as if he had been punched in the cheek.

Not long after, Zhao Ji returned with the last group of Hu Ben knights and vehicles that were cleaning up the battlefield.

Most of the vehicles were captured from Nanxiang. They transported various types of military equipment and food, and the prisoners took turns pushing and pulling the vehicles.

"Your humble servant, Wenxi, has ordered Zhang Bu to welcome you."

Zhang Bu came quickly to greet him, bowed deeply, and even seemed to be performing a kowtow.

Behind Zhao Ji, Han Shu was holding Li Le's head on his spear, and Pei Bao was holding Han Xian's head.

The General Who Conquers the East and the General Who Conquers the West of the Han Dynasty court hung listlessly on their weapons.

Zhang Bu was very worried that he would also be chopped to pieces and hung on the city wall for public display.

Zhao Jilema, he had no impression of this county lady, and didn't know what her reputation was like; in his memory, the county lady's surname should be Geng, and he didn't know when it was changed to Zhang.

Seeing Zhao Ji's silence, Zhang Bu became even more frightened and hurriedly explained, "It's not that I followed the rebels. The rebels held Han Xian's order. I was unaware of the imperial edict to punish the rebels, so I could only follow orders and cooperate."

"I cannot discern the truth from your words, nor can I arbitrarily punish you. The court will later determine your merits and demerits."

Zhao Ji pointed his whip at Hu Ban behind him and said to the group of county officials surrounding Zhang Bu, "I will temporarily confine the county lord to await the court's decision. Hu Bingcao will temporarily handle the affairs of this county. What do you think?"

Hu Ban's face was tense and he did not refuse. This was almost what he deserved. Only he could quickly integrate his former colleagues and mobilize the power of the county.

However, the county officials did not express their opinions and were all waiting for Zhang Bu to make a statement.

Zhao Ji tilted his head and looked at Zhang Bu. "What do you think, my lord?"

"I am willing to lead the troops to follow the Tiger Guards and fight against the enemy. Even if I have committed a crime before, I will redeem myself and make meritorious contributions. I beg you to give me a chance."

Zhang Bu bowed deeply again and made a solemn request.

Zhao Ji looked up at the sky and saw the morning star. "So, County Lord Zhang refuses to follow my judgment?"

"I beg you to give me a chance!"

Zhang Bu even cried. He was confined to his house and then dismissed from office. There would be no better end for him.

Wenxi is the northern gate of Anyi. Even if he has no fault, he cannot stay here.

Hu Ban couldn't bear to see this, because after all, he was appointed as the military assistant by Zhang Bu.

It is true that he was recruited, but his father also spent a lot of money and asked for help from others.

If he spoke up for Zhang Bu now, he would certainly gain Zhang Bu's favor and protect his former master's personal reputation.

But if this happens, as long as Zhang Bu is alive, his mouth will be out of control, and Zhang Bu's connections will continue to play a role, which will ruin Zhao Ji's reputation.

Hu Ban also looked at his colleagues and superiors; these local tycoons and sons of powerful families all hung their heads and remained silent.

Since Zhang Bu himself refused to hand over the official seal, it was impossible for these people to betray him.

A bad reputation will bring trouble to the clan and descendants.

With a father and brother who betrayed the county lady, how could the Wenxi magistrate dare to recruit their relatives in the future?

If the heads of Li Le and Han Xian were not so intimidating and their killers were not from the same county, some of these county officials would have dared to stand up and protect Zhang Bu with their lives.

His death benefits the whole family.

No matter who becomes the magistrate of Wenxi in the future, he will rely on the relatives of loyal and righteous people.

Tang Xian, who was watching nearby, said, "Zhonglang was nearly shot by an arrow today because they followed the bandits!"

At that moment, the county officials immediately looked at Tang Xian with angry eyes. Tang Xian's hometown was Nanjiang. Although he also lived in Wenxi, it was still separated by a county.

Now the county officials were finally scared. Dying for protecting Zhang Bu and being implicated and killed as a follower of the bandits were obviously two very different treatments.

Even so, no one offered any words of comfort, and they were still holding on and refusing to give in.

Seeing these people so stubborn, Zhao Ji couldn't help but laugh. "The emperor is controlled by the enemy, and I have never seen you so strong. Yet you are so fond of the county lady in front of me. It can be said that you choose small loyalty and small righteousness over great loyalty and great righteousness. You even want to keep you here to make meritorious contributions while serving your sentence. It seems like I am talking to a cow."

The slightly lazy Tiger Guards around also grasped their spears and halberds firmly again, and a few Tiger Guards who were far away from the edge also moved forward and surrounded the seventeen or eighteen county officials.

Zhang Bu turned back to look at the group of county officials. His expression was troubled but also somewhat relieved. "It's Bu who has caused trouble for you all."

"I dare not. It is because of our incompetence that we have allowed the traitor to escape, causing the county lord to be held hostage by the thieves."

The county's chief clerk, Pei Zheng, stepped out and bowed, then glanced at Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji picked up the folding horsewhip and scratched his cheek. "Third brother, don't blame me for being ruthless. The military situation is urgent, I can't hold back."

Pei Zheng also bowed: "Since taking office, County Lord Zhang has worked diligently and conscientiously, and has never violated the officials or the people. I beg Aji to spare your life." "I never intended to kill him, it's just that he's greedy for power."

Zhao Ji turned his head to look at Tang Xian and said, "Take County Lord Zhang and the county officials to the camp for custody, and hand over the county magistrate's seal to Hu Bingcao."

"Here!"

Tang Xian responded and stepped forward to grab the seal and brocade bag.

Zhang Bu was reluctant to let go and subconsciously reached out to protect him. Tang Xian shouted, "Don't be angry with me, or I will not let you off easily if you hurt your reputation!"

After hearing the scolding, Zhang Bu dared not resist anymore.

Tang Xian successfully obtained the seal. After checking the inscription on the copper seal, he nodded to Zhao Ji and said, "Zhonglang, the seal is correct."

"Ah."

Zhao Ji looked at the county official again and said, "I want to rush to the emperor's aid overnight. Since you are unwilling to help, please don't ruin things."

The county officials all had different expressions, and Zhang Bu's face also kept changing.

Pei Zheng had no expression on his face. He just glanced at his cousin Pei Bao, who was riding a horse with a spear holding Han Xian's head.

Pei Bao also had a blank expression on his face. He hadn't even read much, and his family background was very different from Pei Zheng's, so they were not close.

Zhang Bu and the county officials did not respond. Zhao Ji gently waved the horsewhip in his right hand, and immediately the tiger guards came forward with spears and escorted these people into the city.

After these people disappeared into the city gate corridor, Hu Ban said, "Why did Aji offend them?"

"I even killed Li Le and Han Xian, but they refused to join me in the uprising. If the war goes against us, it will inevitably be repeated."

Zhao Ji leaped off his horse, took the copper seal from Tang Xian, and handed it to Hu Ban with both hands. "Immediately recruit the young and strong men in the city, using the county soldiers as the backbone, to form a volunteer army of 500 to assist the Huben in guarding the prisoners. Tomorrow, carefully screen the prisoners for any former Baibo soldiers hiding among them and compile a military roster. Also, issue orders to all the villages to recruit volunteers. The sooner the better!"

Hu Ban held the official seal in both hands, wondering, "How many men will Aji recruit?"

"Two thousand people!"

Zhao Ji said firmly, "When I'm done defeating the bandits and head north, the county must give me two thousand new soldiers! Tell them, as long as I have something to eat, they won't starve! I'll also leave our Tiger Guards to you, temporarily taking over the duties of county official."

Hu Ban felt the seal was even more heavy. "Two thousand men? That's too many. There are no more than ten thousand young men of working age in this county."

"I don't care. I want two thousand men, a small portion of whom are new recruits from Han Xian. This task is not difficult. In my opinion, this is not a bad thing at all, and we must not shirk it. If we have too few troops, there will be trouble in the north!"

Zhao Ji had no choice but to borrow Zhao Yan's tiger skin. Hu Ban nodded immediately after hearing this: "Yes, I understand."

Zhao Ji nodded and said, "I won't enter the city. I'll just rest for a bit and then head south to protect the emperor!"

"I wish Zhonglang good luck in military affairs and victory!"

Squad leader Hu bowed and gave a congratulatory speech that surprised Zhao Ji a little, but he felt that it was in line with the current martial spirit.

He then supported Hu Ban and said, "Don't delay, go to the county government!"

"Yes, I am resigning."

Hu Ban bowed again, took two steps back, turned around and mounted his horse, and several guards from the same county followed on horseback.

Zhao Ji came to the Huben chariot, where a campfire had already been lit.

He had just sat down when Wang Qi from the city came riding up on horseback and jumped off his horse, asking, "Has the Zhonglang General put the county official under house arrest?"

"Well, they were confused for a moment, but I wasn't."

Zhao Ji was eating a cake when Wang Qi sat down cross-legged beside him and asked, "How are the wounded being treated?"

"It's not so bad. Most of the doctors in this county were forcibly conscripted by the Baibo bandits. There are five doctors and a dozen apprentices in Han Xian's army. They have all been properly treated."

Wang Qi took the cake Tang Xian handed him and continued, "The steamed wine we brought from Beijiang has run out, so we've conscripted the local lords to store their wine and have them steamed. Once it's steamed, Wen Qing will take it with him when he heads south to help in the battle around four o'clock in the morning."

"That's good. Let Jingchun bring two more doctors."

"Zhonglang, how is Wenzhen?"

"They are all resting in Nanxiang. I will join them later and go to defend the emperor."

Zhao Ji spoke in a low voice. The Huben were still inexperienced and had let out more than a dozen of Han Xian's cavalrymen. The news might have already reached Yang Feng and Hu Cai.

Fortunately, no one likes night battles these days, so few Tiger Guards suffer from night blindness.

If we can reach the emperor's headquarters before Baibo's generals, we will have won most of the battle.

Before setting off, Zhao Yan also analyzed people like Yang Feng and Hu Cai, and did not think they had the courage to attack and kill the emperor's guards.

They dare, but their followers may not.

Wang Yi, Wei and Fan are not dead, they will send troops to fight.

　Go to Sanjiang!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)