Tiger Guards

Chapter 683 Determining the Goal
On the dilapidated city wall of Chencang, Jia Tong wore a relatively light two-piece suit of armor, covered by a large, fluffy bear fur cloak.

He wore a deerskin glove on his left hand and rested it on the hilt of his sword at his waist.

He raised his right hand to stroke his temples, now growing a beard to reflect the majesty of a prefect of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measure).

Only a short stubble, about half an inch long, had grown above and below my lips. Although I also had a beard on my temples, I felt it wasn't suitable to grow any longer, so I shaved it off.

During his military campaigns, stubble grew on his temples, making him look somewhat weathered and rugged... He couldn't shave now, as he had to keep this messy beard to see Zhao Ji.

The feel of his sideburns and stubble through the deerskin gloves made him feel relaxed, comfortable, and at peace.

Inside the city gate passageway beneath his feet, the fifth contingent of prisoners was slowly moving through.

Zhao Ji's withdrawal was very efficient because he did not need to detour through Longshan and Jieting; instead, he abandoned the baggage train and used horses to carry his own officers and soldiers, leaving the wounded soldiers in Tianshui to recuperate, while the prisoners had to carry fodder and food on foot.

It's really too close to go directly from Tianshui through Chencang into Guanzhong.

The boy was merely observing the prisoners, looking quite content.

His gaze shifted and landed on a tall knight.

The other person's face was covered by a scarf, and their eyes met... They were about thirty steps apart, and Jia Tong couldn't see the outline of the other person's eyes and eyebrows, but a cold and sharp aura came towards him, and a chill ran from his feet to the top of his head!
Jia Tong's eyes widened, only to see that the other person was just waving at him. Jia Tong forcibly suppressed the urge to turn around and take a step, and immediately smiled and lowered his head.

Even with his face covered by a scarf, Zhao Ji couldn't help but smile.

Ma Chao, who was standing beside him, sensed the change in Zhao Ji's emotions. He glanced sideways to observe, then looked up and saw the Right Fufeng Jia Tong, dressed in a bear fur coat and looking imposing on the city wall. Ma Chao couldn't help but laugh.

Inside the military camp in Chencang City, the prisoners, though unsteady on their feet, entered in an orderly fashion.

As for those rebellious and stubborn individuals who were fearless and had strong personalities... Zhao Ji had no interest in playing games with them. Any troublemakers who disrupted the march or camping order were simply taken away and made to disappear completely.

He disliked killing people, disliked killing people in public, and disliked his soldiers killing people with swords, spears, and halberds.

For the sake of their own emotions and the mental health of the soldiers, executions were carried out by dragging the body to the front of the bunker and executing it with a crossbow in a relatively enclosed environment.

Therefore, under torture, the order and discipline of the marching ranks of the Han and Qiang prisoners from Liangzhou were no less than those of some county soldiers.

After all, Liangzhou had been in turmoil for so many years, and veterans skilled in military techniques were scattered everywhere. Han and Qiang youths and boys in the mountains and fields could also receive good military training during the off-season.

The frequent conflicts between Han and Qiang leaders intensified their internal arms race and martial spirit.

If these people hadn't been lured out of their hideout and gathered together, it would have been incredibly difficult to resolve, annihilate, and capture them so quickly.

If the problem can be solved in open field, the cost is low, the time is short, and the efficiency is high. However, if the forces are concentrated to advance little by little and eliminate the strongholds and fortresses of the Han and Qiang chieftains one by one, it will take too much time. Under such severe pressure of life and death, it is possible that the Han and Qiang chieftains will be able to complete a deep level of integration.

Therefore, Zhao Ji is satisfied with the results of the battle in Liangzhou.

As for the subsequent harvesting of people, how many can be captured is no longer so important; at least strategically, he does not need to be attacked from both sides and can concentrate on dealing with the enemies in Hebei, Central Plains, and Jingchu.

As for the enemies in the Bashu region, Zhang Lu can handle them.

It's possible that Zhang Lu could launch a counterattack against Liu Zhang on his own... The fervor of the first generation of believers is difficult to explain in words.

Inside the military camp, the officers and soldiers escorting the prisoners removed their cloaks, revealing the relatively ornate bright armor worn by both civil and military officials. It was an entire unit of civil and military officials wearing bright armor, and the power within the military camp immediately shifted.

The camp commander practically crawled to see Zhao Ji. Upon seeing Zhao Ji, the camp commander was visibly agitated, prostrated himself on the ground, and kowtowed, weeping, "This humble servant greets the Grand Marshal!"

Zhao Ji only vaguely remembered the other person upon seeing him, and asked, "Back in the day, during the Battle of Bianqu in Chenliu, you were a squad leader in my Iron Cavalry, and you fell off your horse and knocked out a pair of front teeth? If I remember correctly, you were Lin Tao, a member of the Xihe Righteous Cavalry."

"Yes, sir!"

Lin Tao couldn't help but burst into tears, and Zhao Ji could hardly laugh: "Get up and talk with your head up." "Yes."

Lin Tao propped himself up with his hands, bowed his head, and wiped away his tears with his sleeves: "I didn't expect that the Grand Marshal would still remember this humble servant."

The only response Zhao Ji gave was a sigh, and he began to recall Lin Tao's resume: "How could I not remember you? After the Battle of Chenliu, you became a garrison commander in the Left Army School. You also fought bravely and made meritorious contributions during the campaign against Li Jue and Guo Si in the Three Auxiliary Regions, and were promoted one rank and appointed as the commander of the Daredevil Battalion. Then there was the campaign to protect the country and punish Yuan Shikai, where you also made significant contributions. I wrote you a commendation letter and transferred you to the Three Auxiliary Regions. Then came the campaign against the Hu, but unfortunately, the armies in the Three Auxiliary Regions were unable to participate in the battle."

"Yes, Your humble servant still wishes to follow the Grand Marshal to kill the traitors."

Lin Tao wiped his cheek with the corner of his cloak, revealing his two gleaming gold front teeth as he spoke to Zhao Ji.

Upon seeing his large gold teeth, Zhao Ji smiled and said, "No rush. After we defeat the bandits of Guandong, I will reorganize the various armies. If you can pass the test, you can still return to the Tiger Infantry or the Five Battalions. In the future, it will be the time for patriots to fight to eliminate the traitors."

"Yes, I understand!"

Lin Tao stood up straight with his head held high: "This humble servant will diligently study military strategy!"

"Okay, go slaughter a sheep. Tonight, you and Wenzhen will have mutton pilaf with me."

"Here!"

Lin Tao responded loudly. Although he now held an official rank of 1,000 shi, what he missed most was his life in the Iron Cavalry.

Even as a corporal in the Iron Cavalry, he enjoyed the highest level of supplies available at the time.

They have access to excellent warhorses worth hundreds of thousands of coins to choose from, and no one will make things difficult for them if they wear out during training.

They ate the best food, wore armor equivalent to the Mingguang Great Armor of a general, and used the finest weapons.

As long as you pass the assessment for riding skills and physical fitness and are selected for the Iron Cavalry, it doesn't matter if your martial arts skills are a little lacking. There will be experienced knights and martial arts masters to provide targeted training.

Moreover, the Iron Knights do not pursue individual martial arts skills, but emphasize teamwork.

Even if all you can do is coordinate with your partner to charge forward with spears, that's good enough.

Unlike other cavalry units, those selected as knights also had to serve as veterinarians and grooms.

Lin Tao left in high spirits, and Zhao Ji's unease gradually dissipated.

After resting briefly and drinking a bowl of hot tea, Zhao Ji got up and went into the barracks, where he saw that the map had already been hung up.

He walked to the map with his hands behind his back, stared at Chang'an City, and couldn't help but sigh, yet he felt that all of this was quite normal.

Wen Hui lifted the thick felt curtain and slipped in, handing over the document: "Grand Tutor, the Right Prefect requests an audience."

"Okay, go and invite him in."

Zhao Ji turned to look at Wen Hui as he spoke: "Wen Man, I find this very interesting. Back then, I rallied the people of Hedong, escorted the emperor to Taiyuan, and nearly wiped out the Taiyuan gentry. Now, it is my relatives, the Pei clan, who are plotting rebellion."

Upon hearing this, Wen Hui simply lowered his head. He knew that the only thing Zhao Ji was currently unsure about was whether Pei Xiu had been involved.

Knowing something but not reporting it or participating in it is one thing, not knowing it is another, but knowing it and participating in it is yet another.

Without Zhao Ji pressing further, Wen Hui cupped his hands and said, "This humble servant takes his leave."

"Yes, after welcoming Wenzhen into the camp, bring me my tea set. I want to personally brew tea and reminisce with Wenzhen."

(End of this chapter)