Tiger Guards

Chapter 720: Admonishing Minister Wen Hui
After most of the troops in the Pingyang camp were disbanded, Zhao Ji also rested at the manor for half a month.

This nearly solitary retreat over the past two weeks has largely dispelled my fatigue and restlessness.

Another day passed, and in the misty drizzle of early morning, Zhao Ji awoke from his meditative state.

Wearing only a close-fitting linen garment, he opened the window and looked out at everything in the small courtyard.

The shrubs with their blossoming leaves and the various flower and vegetable seeds that are sprouting now present a bluish-gray hue.

Zhao Ji gazed silently into the courtyard. There were no guards or officials on duty, nor any maids to attend to his daily needs.

There were no distant neighings of horses, nor the pungent smell of horse manure that could overpower anyone, nor the stench of death that could not be dispelled by washing or burning incense.

A sense of tranquility enveloped Zhao Ji. He held onto the windowsill with one hand, stood on tiptoe, stretched out his other arm, and barely managed to cross the corridor outside the window to catch some raindrops flowing down from the roof tiles.

A cool, moisturizing sensation came from his palm, and Zhao Ji withdrew his hand with satisfaction.

Continuing to gaze at the small courtyard, the skill of concentrating one's mind and nourishing one's energy can dispel fatigue and restore spirit... but it is more like a development of the body's limits.

Humans need sleep, and many thoughts and ideas need to be cleared away through sleep.

Similar to disk cleanup, Zhao Ji felt that he had recovered well during this period of rest and recuperation.

However, due to the chaos caused by the Pei clan, Zhao Ji was very exhausted.

Even though he knew he was full of life, he still felt a sense of resistance towards the women in Jinyang.

It's been almost two months since Cai Zhaoji wrote her letter, and Zhao Ji hasn't even bothered to reply.

Tired of these women, who, like scholars yearning for officialdom and power, robbed Zhao Ji of the pleasure of hunting and chasing.

Power is most capable of alienating people, especially those in positions at the core of power.

Holding the highest power to allocate resources, Zhao Ji no longer saw the difference between men and women.

Sometimes when I think back on it, I always feel like I was the prey.

Dealing with men and women who are all molded from the same template is less appealing than fishing, archery, or horseback riding.

At least, fishing involves a process of anticipation and the uncertainty of the catch.

Even archery, which never misses its mark, no longer brings Zhao Ji any joy.

What he can do with his archery, he can also get others to do for him with just a word.

The courtyard in sight gradually brightened and became more vibrant from its bluish-gray hue. The drizzle had not stopped, and the faint sound of a morning bugle could be heard from two or three miles away.

Zhao Ji took a deep breath, turned around and strolled back to his dormitory to put on his robe.

Wearing wooden clogs and with a sword at his waist, Zhao Ji walked out of the door with his head down, and walked along the corridor past the vegetable garden and flower field out of the small courtyard.

Standing under the gate of the small courtyard, Zhao Ji glanced back at the flowers, trees, and vegetable seedlings that had been transplanted in the garden during this period, feeling somewhat nostalgic.

When I come back again, I don't know what will be left.

As for having someone take care of these flowers and plants, Zhao Ji was somewhat reluctant, preferring that these flowers, trees, and seedlings go to waste rather than have anyone else handle them.

As you turn and step out of the pavilion, you can immediately feel the raindrops falling on you.

Zhao Ji walked at a leisurely pace. When he passed through the middle gate and arrived at the front yard, he saw five Tiger Guards on duty inside the front yard gate.

Four Tiger Warriors stood facing each other under the gate, each holding a halberd. In the middle was a Tiger Warrior Corporal with a sword at his side and his hands behind his back under his cloak, pacing back and forth. Even as a corps leader, his shoulder insignia were those of a Senior Army Captain with one bar and three stars, and his official position was Tiger Warrior Physician.

Seeing Zhao Ji approaching, the Tiger Guard Corps leader quickly stepped forward and, when they were seven or eight steps apart, bowed deeply with his hands clasped, saying, "Your Excellency."

"Prepare the carriages and horses, seal the gates here, and come back later." Zhao Ji said as he walked without stopping. The four Tiger Guards inside the gate worked together to lift and remove the crossbeam behind the gate, and then pulled open the left and right doors.

Outside the gate, twelve elite soldiers stood on either side, each holding a halberd. The officer in charge knelt on one knee and said, "Grand Tutor."

"stand up."

Zhao Ji stepped over the threshold and stood on the steps, gazing at the rain scene outside the courtyard. The view was expansive, and he could see the former imperial palace and Consort Zhao's manor two or three miles away. His mood was completely different from when he was inside the house.

As he looked around and waited for the carriage, Wen Hui and Zhang Wei, who had heard the news, came side by side. They stepped up the six steps and bowed to Zhao Ji, saying, "Grand Tutor."

"time to go."

Zhao Ji raised his eyebrows to look at the gray-white clouds: "The more I slack off here, the more my grandfather has to work hard. It's time to go back to Jinyang. I have to see Pei Mao off."

Wen Hui cupped his hands and said, "Grand Tutor, the two battalions under the command of General Fubo arrived in Tang City yesterday and will be able to garrison the Pingyang South Camp today."

"We can hand over the Southern Camp to him; there's no need for us to meet."

Zhao Ji still looked up at the clouds, still with a carefree expression: "I want to go to Jinyang. This rain can't stop me, and neither can General Fubo. If Wenman is worried, take my letter to receive General Fubo."

Zhang Wei glanced at Wen Hui, who bowed deeply again and explained in a gentle and patient voice: "Grand Tutor's rash actions will not only arouse suspicion and speculation from General Fubo. In my opinion, you should summon General Fubo and the officers and soldiers left behind in the camp before proceeding north at a more leisurely pace."

Zhang Wei somewhat admired Wen Hui's courage, daring to speak up and dissuade Zhao Taishi when he was in high spirits.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Ji suddenly turned to look at him and asked, "What does Gongyou think?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei quickly bowed deeply: "Reporting to the Grand Tutor, I believe that Wen Man's words are not without reason. Now, the Grand Tutor's prestige shakes the entire country. When he looks towards Hebei, Yuan Shao is terrified; when he looks back at the Central Plains, Sun Ce is trembling with fear. If you rashly march straight to Jinyang, the people and soldiers of Pingyang and Hedong will be filled with doubt and uncertainty. To reassure the people of Hedong, I humbly request the Grand Tutor to postpone his journey."

"What you said makes some sense. I'm tired of all this, so I'm hiding here for some peace and quiet."

As Zhao Ji saw the carriage slowly approaching, and then saw Wen Hui standing nearby, he once again rose and bowed deeply. Although he did not say anything, his attitude was very strong.

Wen Hui's consideration was naturally very reasonable. Now, if Zhao Ji takes a look at the trees by the roadside when he goes out, his attendants and guards will dig them up and transplant them back for him afterwards.

If the roadside trees were like this, one can imagine how badly the woman we encountered was treated.

Similarly, any sudden action he takes will trigger various speculations among those around him.

Heading straight for Jinyang is often associated with bad things... This is not conducive to stability.

In terms of internal stability, four factors are indispensable: Zhao Ji's personal military prestige, Zhao Yan's political prestige, the historical inertia of the empress regent's rule, and the eldest son's inherent legitimacy to the throne.

Of course, the restoration of productivity under the rule, the ability of men and women of all classes to have enough to eat, and the enjoyment of a relatively stable order and peaceful life are all necessary conditions for maintaining stability.

Seeing the carriage stop in front of the gate, Zhao Ji said, "Then let's set off for Jiangyi. Arrange three hundred carriages and cavalry, and the rest of the troops will break camp and head towards Baibo Ferry. It just so happens that the transport team heading north is also in Jiangyi, so I will set off from Jiangyi."

"Here."

Upon hearing this, Wen Hui responded loudly, feeling a slight sense of accomplishment and pride in successfully advising the emperor and correcting his minor fault.

In fact, the overall journey will not be delayed too much. Zhao Jizhong's army guard has too many vehicles and horses. Although the distance from Pingyang to Jinyang is not very far, the vehicles and animal power will be greatly damaged.

Traveling north by boat avoids these unnecessary losses, and the journey is faster and the time is more stable.

Unless there is a major spring flood in the upper reaches of the Fen River, the negative impact of ordinary floods in the Fen River is not actually that great.

Firstly, Jinyangze can discharge and store floodwaters. In the middle reaches, north of Queshugu, there are Jiuze, which can store most of the floodwaters from the middle and upper reaches of the Fen River.

When the Fen River flooded into Queshu Valley and the surrounding areas of Pingyang, the river channel remained straight from north to south, and the remaining floodwaters did not cause any significant damage.

Given the significant lack of rainfall this year following the early spring cold snap, how could the Fen River basin possibly experience a major spring flood?
(End of this chapter)