Tiger Guards

Chapter 680 Death Trial
It was only after Ma Chao heard that Han Sui had been arrested and executed that he retreated from the front lines to Zhang County.

He looked sullen and unhappy, only regretting that Han Sui had died too easily.

Outside the city of Zhang County, Ma Chao led more than a hundred cavalrymen slowly towards the city. Having failed to capture Han Sui, not only was Ma Chao listless, but his personal guards and horses were also exhausted and lethargic.

Ma Chao casually observed that a group of prisoners, numbering about three or four thousand, or possibly more, were forming a procession and winding their way southeast.

Since he couldn't see the front of the line, Ma Chao couldn't estimate the exact size of the prisoner group.

What amused and amused him was the Jin army knights who supervised and detained prisoners along the way. These knights used sticks to beat and intimidate the prisoners, which in turn awakened their memories of military training.

This made the entire prisoner marching column look quite orderly, resembling an elite force.

"Hmph~!"

Ma Chao couldn't help but sneer in anger. The knights on either side glanced at him. Ma Chao stopped laughing, stretched out his arm, and pointed at the departing prisoner group: "Liangzhou is not lacking in elite soldiers. What it lacks is only a heroic and valiant ruler like Grand Tutor."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Han Sui was defeated in three ways. First, the allied forces launched and formed by the Han and Qiang chieftains of the Hehuang region lacked the spirit of sacrifice and the strict military discipline required for large-scale operations.

If Han Sui dared to enforce similar military discipline, the Hehuang allied forces would dare to mutiny and collapse.

The people's intention in raising an army was simple: it was cold, so they followed Han Sui out to plunder some things.

If you, Han Sui, try to take advantage of this situation and act arrogantly and domineeringly over everyone, holding the power of life and death... then I'm sorry, I'm not going to serve you.

How could Han Sui, who had no power of life and death, enforce strict battlefield discipline?

Secondly, large-scale troop operations meant that Han Sui lacked a stable rear supply line. When he was blocked by Ma Chao's army outside Zhangxian and Wushan, he could not obtain supplies from Tianshui, which meant that the morale of the Hehuang coalition would quickly decline, forcing the Han and Qiang leaders in the coalition to make plans early.

Finally, Zhao Ji secretly went to Longyou, which served a similar purpose to the Qin state's quiet replacement of the frontline commander during the Battle of Changping.

Even as the war was drawing to a close, Ma Chao still believed that the Liangzhou troops were exceptionally elite.

It wasn't that Ma Chao was stubbornly arrogant; it was simply the way things were. The men and women of Liangzhou had long since adapted to the chaotic world, but unfortunately, the pace of internal annexation was too slow.

In other words, Ma Teng and Han Sui dragged each other down.

Meanwhile, Ma Teng came from a fallen branch of a prominent family, while Han Sui was a renowned scholar from Jincheng. Both lacked the support of powerful clans, and their early careers coincided with Emperor Ling's prime, so they did not have a smooth start.

To put it more bluntly, Han Sui and Ma Teng were not as good at fighting as Zhao Ji.

In Ma Chao's eyes, they were not as good as him... As for who was stronger between himself and the Grand Tutor, Ma Chao did not want to compare for the time being.

Lost in thought, Ma Chao's hundred-cavalry unit slowly entered the town of Zhang County.

Seeing that Zhao Ji's purple-robed retinue was already patrolling the streets of the city, Ma Chao could only straighten his back and maintain a solemn expression to avoid these people going to complain.

The military camp inside the city had long been taken over by Zhao Ji. Ma Chao dismounted in front of the camp gate and led his cavalrymen inside.

Seeing Zhu Ling leaning against the fence, squinting and basking in the midday sun, Ma Chao stepped forward and stopped. Zhu Ling, realizing what was happening, cupped his hands and said, "Commander-in-Chief."

"General Wenbo, who captured and beheaded that old traitor Han?"

"It is Pang De, Pang Lingming, the Southern Commandant..."

Zhu Ling paused for a moment, then said, "It is said that only Han Sui's head was intact."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's anger subsided considerably, and he became intrigued, scrutinizing Zhu Ling: "It seems General Wenbo is quite pleased that the old traitor has been executed?"

"I am naturally delighted that the traitor has been executed."

Zhu Ling looked at Ma Chao, who remained neither humble nor arrogant, and mocked Ma Chao's departure: "Longyou is not a good place. With the old thief executed, we can return to the land of Qin and Jin."

Ma Chao raised his chin to look at the azure sky, and after gazing at it for a moment, he spoke: "As General Wenbo said, this is indeed not a good place."

Now that the sky is clear and the sun is out, the snow melts very quickly, which is not only bad for marching, but once night falls, the roads will freeze over, making it very difficult for infantry, cavalry, and vehicles to pass.

Seeing Ma Chao's sorrowful expression, Zhu Ling composed himself and cupped his hands, saying, "The Grand Tutor is still waiting for the Military Governor. Military Governor, please take a bath quickly and don't keep the Grand Tutor waiting."

Ma Chao scrutinized Zhu Ling for a moment, then grinned, revealing his handsome features and outstanding demeanor. He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "It seems General Wenbo has overcome this hurdle."

Zhu Ling remained silent, only nodding with a smile—a typical forced smile that offered no joy or warmth to Ma Chao.

The two then separated. Ma Chao rationally listened to Zhu Ling's advice and pursued and fought for two days and two nights, his whole being exuding a strong smell of blood.

Hot water was always available in the military camp, so Ma Chao borrowed some near the wounded soldiers' camp to wash himself thoroughly. He then changed into a plain dark brocade robe and a fur cloak made of clouded leopard skin before meeting Zhao Ji. Zhao Ji was not in the military camp, but was temporarily staying in the county magistrate's office.

A wooden pole stands in front of the county government building, with Han Sui's head hanging on it.

This head has already undergone secondary treatment by skilled military personnel. If it is properly maintained in the future, it should be able to remain incorrupt for a long time.

Ma Chao recognized Han Sui's head at a glance and regretted urinating all his urine while taking a bath earlier.

He tilted his head and glanced at the government office for a moment before stepping inside.

His job was to be a military officer in charge of military affairs. As a high-ranking official in the shogunate, he naturally did not need to announce his presence when he came and went.

In the backyard, when Ma Chao arrived, he saw Zhao Ji pruning a clump of arrow bamboo by the wall.

There was still some snow on the courtyard wall, and most of the arrow bamboo leaves had turned yellow, but some new leaves were still green.

Zhao Ji was pruning the tender bamboo where these new leaves were growing, and picked a bundle of more than fifty stalks.

After putting down the scissors, Zhao Ji looked at Ma Chao, who bowed deeply and said, "Grand Tutor."

“Meng Qi’s military achievements in Liangzhou are outstanding, which makes me feel somewhat embarrassed.”

As Zhao Ji spoke, he turned and walked towards the door of the house in the courtyard without looking back: "No need for formalities, come in and talk."

"Here."

Ma Chao agreed, followed closely, took off his boots and put on wooden clogs at the door, and then entered the living room.

Inside the hall, Zhao Ji sat in front of the bronze stove, warming his hands by the fire. In fact, the midday sun in Longyou during winter was not as cold as one might imagine.

A foot of snow can melt away in three sunny days.

Ma Chao asked cautiously, "What is it that is troubling the Grand Tutor?"

"I am concerned about the war in Guandong and intend to return to Pingyang immediately. However, your father has already been conscripted to the capital, so who will take charge of Liangzhou?"

Zhao Ji sized up Ma Chao, and noticed that the sword at his waist was quite nice, so he took a second look.

Ma Chao bowed even lower, not wanting Zhao Ji to see his sword, and said with his hands clasped, "I am young and inexperienced, and have never served in a prefecture or county. How could I possibly have the talent to oversee the affairs of a province? I believe that General Zilong has served in various places for a long time and has made outstanding contributions. He is suitable to oversee the war in Liangzhou."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji raised his hand to touch his chin, looking thoughtful: "Liangzhou is only left with minor battles to finish. Since Meng Qi has no intention of staying in Liangzhou, then he should come with me to conquer Guandong and show our martial prowess to the villains there."

“This is exactly what I’ve been longing for!”

Ma Chao spoke excitedly, looking up at Zhao Ji with sincere eyes.

Only Zhu Ling's words came to mind, which should have been a warning to him.

"Well, since that's the case, it's not convenient to scrutinize Mengqi's merits in detail. He will be temporarily appointed as a captain of the vanguard. The officers and soldiers under Mengqi's command will be selected based on their bravery and loyalty, and they will be organized into one battalion under the vanguard. The rest will be organized into four battalions, and your father's former troops will be organized into ten battalions. These fourteen battalions will be temporarily under the command of your uncle. When Mengqi is appointed general and I launch another campaign in the Hehuang region, Mengqi will lead these fourteen battalions in this battle."

"I am deeply grateful for the Grand Tutor's kindness in recognizing and promoting me, and I will never forget it!"

Ma Chao knelt on one knee and saluted.

He should be content; leading a battalion of soldiers to become a captain in the Fifth Division would allow him to quickly establish himself.

As for whether he could get those fourteen battalions back from his uncle Ma Yi in the future... Ma Chao didn't have much hope.

Ma Teng's followers, like Han Sui's, were formed through a united group.

Ma Teng's true retainers numbered no more than 20%, while Ma Yi's forces comprised about 10%.

Ma Teng had a son, and Ma Yi also had a son named Ma Dai; other officers also had sons.

Moreover, Ma Teng engaged in numerous marriages during the process of integrating and expanding his troops, so when Ma Teng's own troops are divided as family property and inherited separately in the future, Ma Chao will not receive much.

When Ma Teng supported him in leading troops to assist in the campaign against the Hu, it was essentially a separation of the two families.

Even so, Zhao Ji promised Ma Chao the opportunity to lead the 14 battalions of Ma Teng's former troops into battle, and Ma Chao held some expectations.

By overseeing the operations of these fourteen battalions, many past unresolved issues can be addressed.

As Zhu Ling said, Longyou is not a good place.

(End of this chapter)