Tiger Guards

Chapter 707 Investigating and Prosecuturing According to Law
January 17th, Pingyang Camp.

For the vast majority of officers and soldiers in the camp, after the campaign against the Hu ended and they returned to their hometowns to visit their families, they regrouped in Pingyang and ate government-provided rice for three whole months.

This is equivalent to the three months of rest and recuperation during which the squad leaders who had distinguished themselves on the battlefield had barely learned to read and write common characters.

The junior officers also made progress, reinforcing their basic mathematical calculation skills and studying the newly compiled "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art: Military Applications," an adapted version that focuses on calculation problems encountered in daily military operations.

However, as spring plowing approached, Yuan Shao and Sun Ce's armies also withdrew from the outskirts of Luoyang, so the troops gathered at the Pingyang camp also needed to be gradually sent back to their hometowns.

However, the process was rather cruel, as officials involved in the Pei family's rebellion were successively screened out and placed under quarantine and closed management.

"This is treason!"

The newly built isolation camp is located near the central military camp. Wei Gu, who was transferred from Taiyuan, is patrolling outside the camp.

He observed the camp through the low earthen wall and fence. The camp was in a rudimentary state, with only various military tents inside.

Weeds are sprouting on the ground, and the traces of recent trampling can be vaguely seen on the road.

The officers and soldiers in the camp did not need to train or gather for study, so they lazily leaned against the sunny side of the tents, sitting closely together in a row, chatting and basking in the sun, which was particularly pleasant.

What horrified Wei Gu even more was that the camp was almost autonomous, and Zhao Ji did not send any extra military force to suppress it.

Even when the grain and fodder wagons transporting supplies arrived near the camp gate, the officers and soldiers inside the camp would come out to help unload them.

Wei Gu reined in his horse and slowed down, feeling somewhat more at ease.

This shows that Zhao Ji did not intend to execute a large number of soldiers, but they should not be let off so easily.

This is treason. If we let it go easily this time, there will be even more officials and soldiers who dare to plot and participate in rebellion next time!
After observing for a moment, Wei Gu turned his horse around and headed straight for the central army camp.

Over the past two years, Wei Gu was transferred to the position of magistrate of Yangqu County. Now he has been promoted, officially rising from a rank of 600 shi (a unit of grain measure) to a rank of 1,000 shi (another unit of grain measure).

The army he commanded was this isolated battalion that had gathered together and was involved in a rebellion.

In the central army, Zhao Ji was lost in thought, holding Jia Kui's letter.

Jia Kui was not involved in the rebellion orchestrated by the Pei family, but Liu Fu's cousin was implicated as a former student and official of Pei Mao. At the very least, he was caught up in the situation but failed to report it.

When the army withdrew after winning the campaign to protect the country against Yuan Shikai, Zhao Ji executed almost all the county magistrates, county officers, county officials, and local tyrants who could be captured because the counties in eastern Hanoi had concealed the whereabouts of Yuan's army.

For the same crime, Liu Fu's cousin would surely lose his head.

The problem now is whether Liu Fu knew about it, and whether Liu Fu's closest relatives knew about it.

Someone who knew about something but didn't report it... if investigated further, they should at least be beheaded to justify it.

This is ultimately treason, not some other crime.

Even if there is a mutiny, the ringleaders and those deeply involved are simply dismissed or stripped of their titles and ranks. Other ordinary officials who join in the commotion, are just there for the fun, or are simply dragged into it are usually pardoned, or demoted and have their salaries reduced.

Therefore, this process requires classifying individuals, with different punishment rules applied to those of different identities and backgrounds.

Another major principle to establish is to eliminate the big and let go of the small.

But how high does a military rank have to be to be considered "great"?

However, if the policy of killing the big and letting the small is implemented, then at least thirty members of the Tiger Warriors from Hedong will lose their heads.

Zhao Ji put down Jia Kui's writing and turned to look at Zhang Wei, who was on duty: "Draft a letter, ordering Jia Kui to come to Pingyang to see me overnight, and Gongyou to select an envoy who has a past relationship with Jia Kui."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei looked up and cupped his hands in greeting: "Grand Tutor, is there anything you wish to instruct me on?"

"There's no need to overdo it. Brother Liang and I are just two of a kind, there's no need for this."

"Here."

Zhang Wei took a few steps back, turned around and quickly left.

Zhao Ji returned to his desk and picked up Jia Kui's letter of plea for mercy again. He was somewhat puzzled, because Jia Kui was a stern and upright man.

It seems that even the most stern and upright person can be manipulated by their closest relatives. After personally putting away Jia Kui's letter, Zhao Ji picked up the first batch of names transferred from the Court of Justice.

At first glance, most of the names were familiar, and seeing these names brought their faces to mind.

Besides the faces and smiles of these people, there was also Rui Dan's playful manner as she deliberately tried to start conversations.

Zhao Ji's expression grew increasingly indifferent; he couldn't help but reflect on himself.

The reason he was able to decisively kill Rui Dan, who was from the same hometown, was not only because Rui Dan had offended him, infringed upon his interests, and damaged his image, but also because only by killing Rui Dan could he quickly establish his authority and bring order to the camp.

Without Rui Dan's life as a stepping stone, it would have been very difficult for her to rise to prominence back then.

They defeated the Tiger Warriors from other Wenxi ancestral homes, and these people held a grudge. If they tried anything underhanded during the battle, it would ruin everything.

Using Rui Dan's life to establish authority did not harm the interests of others, and the dead have no interests or positions to speak of.

Looking back on that day, I realize that I was able to calmly kill Rui Dan because I wasn't driven by a strong desire to establish my authority or gain personal benefits. My main motivation was my aversion to theft.

The education I received instilled in me a contempt for and hatred of theft and fraud.

Compared to today, the background of the execution of Rui Dan at that time was that the external environment was relatively stable, but because the external enemy was weak, the internal mutual tolerance and unity under the pressure of life and death was absent.

If they could kill Rui Dan then, they should kill Hu Ben, who participated in the rebellion, now.

Rui Dan was also a Tiger Warrior, and even a fellow Tiger Warrior from the same hometown.

Why am I so hesitant and indecisive?

Zhao Ji, without any emotion, carefully examined the issue and began to reflect on the education he had received.

Gradually, I came to understand the two key differences.

Firstly, it was the education I received that taught me to be a fair, upright, open, enthusiastic, brave, and responsible person. Therefore, I killed Rui Dan without hesitation and could be full of fighting spirit when engaging in military struggles with other warlords, without being stopped by the instinctive discomfort brought about by killing.

The problem also lies in education; they haven't received specialized education related to 'immune cells'.

While there is sufficient vigilance and suspicion towards unsuitable individuals within the organization, there is a lack of awareness and initiative to eliminate them.

Externally, they are full of fighting spirit, as if they are ready to fight to the death; but internally, they lack the fighting spirit to deal with the corrupt officials... as if this fighting spirit and hostility have been stripped away or dulled.

Now that our business has developed to this point, the harm from external enemies is far less than that from internal traitors.

Zhao Ji's momentary reflection gave rise to a sense of absurdity, as if he were the enemy of the whole world.

If even those closest to you can cause trouble in the future, then it's only natural that those far away from you will also cause trouble.

One should not have high expectations of everyone. Even someone like Jia Kui was implicated by his brother-in-law Liu Fu's cousin and had to write a letter to plead for mercy and explain the situation.

After reflecting on the education he received, Zhao Ji began to reflect on his own growth experience.

The original owner suffered too much hardship and endured great humiliation. Although these memories are in her own mind, they are stored memories that can be retrieved.

But he was forced to enlist in the Tiger Warriors a few days after he 'woke up'. So along the way, he grew up facing enemies on the battlefield and ministers who tripped him up. He could beat them up as long as he could reach them.

So my life is actually less than five years. In these five years, I have experienced various wars. Overall, I have been the one hammering others. With continuous military victories, it is as if I have nuclear bombs in my hands. Everything seems to be going smoothly. Everyone greets me with smiles. Life and career are full of goodwill.

It went so smoothly.

Such a smooth life gave rise to a kindness that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

Kindness is a luxury.

Thinking about these things, Zhao Ji decided to put away this kindness. Most people in this era, due to the lack of productivity, were actually very barbaric and fierce, regardless of whether they had received education.

One's own kindness can become a weakness, and if these people with layers of disguise seize on this weakness, one may become a puppet and be driven by them.

Thinking about these things, Zhao Ji calmed down and wrote his opinion on the list provided by the Court of Justice: "Read and dealt with according to law."

(End of this chapter)