Tiger Guards

Chapter 729 Surging
Outside the Grand Tutor's residence, soldiers stood guard every five steps.

Zhao Ji's chariot entered through the west gate, and his entourage along the way were all dressed in armor.

Upon hearing the news, soldiers and civilians from all over the city flocked to the scene in a great uproar... In this era, no one would force their way to Zhao Ji's carriage to ask for an autograph, let alone jump out to cry out for justice... There was a shortage of manpower in various places at the grassroots level, and if such people who insisted on seeking justice delayed production, they would most likely be arrested and forced to work.

As long as the war continues, and there are still avenues for advancement for military officers and soldiers, as well as for those in various professions serving the military, the shogunate system will not support idlers.

Compared to these trivial matters of clearing people's names, Zhao Ji was more concerned with the big picture.

Only when the overall direction is flawed will people start to nitpick over these trivial matters.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for anyone to rush in front of his carriage and cry out for justice.

Therefore, the soldiers and civilians on both sides of the street behaved differently. Some returned home to enjoy their leisure time, while the Tiger Step soldiers who were not on duty also participated in maintaining order.

Some of these people stood on either side of the armored soldiers, spreading their arms to shield the surging crowd behind them; others maintained order among the crowd.

On the walls of the pavilions, drum towers, and watchtowers along the streets, the soldiers, dressed in brand-new summer uniforms, either watched Zhao Ji's chariot corps or observed the surrounding courtyards, keeping a watchful eye on any small groups behaving strangely.

The men were trying to maintain order, while the women, whether married or not, were all striving to move toward Zhao Ji's chariot.

His chariot moved slowly forward, and wherever it passed, it was greeted by shouts from women.

The passion of the men and women of Jinyang rushed towards Zhao Ji, making him feel for the first time what it meant to be overwhelmed with emotion.

His heart, which had been almost frozen, was warmed by this simple enthusiasm. Zhao Ji felt as if he had returned to four years ago, when he led the Tiger Warriors, who had already been tested in a great battle after their initial assembly, south to wipe out the White Wave bandits, and then led them north to fight against the Xiongnu.

At that time, the men and women of Wenxi were so enthusiastic.

In Wenxi County, under Hu Ban's vigorous mobilization, 3,000 young men contributed to him, and more than 2,000 of them were eventually selected to join the Tiger Step Army, becoming the backbone of the Tiger Warriors.

At that time, his fate was closely intertwined with that of the people of Wenxi, and they could be said to have shared both prosperity and decline.

However, as he attached himself to more and more groups, the status of the people of Wenxi began to decline.

This year's purge of Pei Mao's cronies also included a thorough cleansing of officials from Wenxi.

Most of the people from Wenxi who were implicated were not yet eligible for execution, but their military ranks would be reduced or wiped out.

At this moment, Zhao Ji missed his fellow villagers in Wenxi.

As he looked at the crowds on both sides of the street, they swayed like seaweed. He even saw signs of organization... such as several older, strong women with their heads covered rushing forward, trying to send women of marriageable age into the street.

But Zhao Ji is no longer the Zhao Ji of four years ago. Back then, he could be as carefree as he wanted, throwing his wallet at the women in the village and accepting the bags of dry food they handed him.

His unintentional actions would not have had any long-term impact.

However, his status rose too quickly, and besides, he was already the most outstanding young ghost fire spirit in the world. Girls who had interacted with him often became somewhat abnormal.

Over the years, the ghostly aura around him gradually dissipated, and he became an emotionless computing machine.

But how could those girls from the same village forget the eye contact they exchanged in a single breath?

At this moment, Zhao Ji maintained a calm demeanor, his chin slightly raised, and did not interact with the soldiers and civilians on both sides of the road.

Sometimes, maintaining distance is the best way to protect those who truly support and love him.

Otherwise, a single glance could lead one or more men to abandon everything and join the military; it could also cause many women to misunderstand and remain unforgettable for the rest of their lives.

Even though Zhao Jili stood upright in the car, the men on both sides of the street, deeply inspired, felt an even stronger urge to join the army and make a name for themselves.

Even without any eye contact, Zhao Ji, as still as a stone sculpture, remained firmly imprinted in the hearts of the women lining the road. Status, in itself, is a catalyst for charm.

The legendary story, along with Zhao Ji's appearance, which resembled that of a mythical figure, made him seem like a celestial being to the men and women of Jinyang.

The men and women who were able to settle down in Jinyang were all followers of the shogunate, and even if they had no merit, they had worked hard.

They knew all too well the horrors of a chaotic world. Although Zhao Ji was unable to end the chaos, he had already brought peace and prosperity to the people of Jinyang.

Their love and respect for Zhao Ji even surpassed that for their parents or children.

Amid cheers from the men and women of Jinyang, Zhao Ji's convoy entered the relatively enclosed Taicang Pavilion.

The residents here were mainly officials and scholars from Hedong, who together formed a neighborhood cluster surrounding the granary, armory, and the Grand Tutor's residence.

The terrain here belongs to the first level within the city. The old city of Jinyang itself is located on high ground, and the overall plan at this moment is clearly a city within a city... Although there is no large-scale city wall, after the difference in terrain levels is formed, anyone who has seen it will regard Taicang Pavilion and Taiping Pavilion, where the Imperial Palace and the Grand Tutor's Mansion are located, as two cities within a city.

Just like Luoyang, which was not burned or destroyed back then, there are three palaces inside the tall Luoyang city walls: the North Palace, the South Palace, and the Yong'an Palace.

The families of soldiers and civilians inside Taicang Pavilion blocked the road, shutting out the men and women from other pavilions that were following the convoy on both sides of the street.

After the chariot drove into the tunnel that resembled a bridge, Zhao Ji officially entered Taicang Pavilion.

The passageway is about thirty steps long, with a very gentle slope, so the chariots hardly change their angle of elevation when they travel.

After walking out of the passageway, Zhao Ji looked back and saw that the entire area of ​​the two pavilions, Ximen Pavilion and Xiji Pavilion, was in full view. The ground here was exactly the same height as the walls and houses of the neighborhoods inside the two pavilions.

Both of these pavilions also have two- and three-story buildings. The third floor houses important government offices, while the second floor is where the pavilions and post stations are located, or the residences of important military families.

Only those of the rank of Tinghou or above could build three-story buildings, while only military officers of the rank of Zhongxiao (equivalent to battalion commander) and above, as well as officials with an official rank of 600 shi or above, could build two-story buildings in their homes.

If a father or elder brother has reached the required rank and built a second-floor building, and that father or elder brother has passed away, then if the father or elder brother's wife is still alive, she can continue to use the second floor while maintaining the existing privileges.

If the father, elder brother, and widow also pass away, the second-floor space, with its windows closed, can only be used for storage and cannot be lived in.

In such a large city, the view from tall buildings is a huge advantage.

Being able to stand at a high place is a huge psychological advantage in itself.

For most people, an improvement in status is difficult to quantify in terms of money and wealth, but changes in the scale of their homes can often provide them with a long-term sense of psychological advantage and satisfaction.

For ordinary residents in Taicangting and Taipingting, although they only have one-story buildings, they can see all parts of the city at eye level by standing inside the low stone walls when they go out for a walk!
This is also a great psychological enjoyment, adding a lot of fun to their lives.

So naturally, they would want to live here for a long time.

Only by steadfastly following the Zhao family could they live and grow old in these two capitals.

Compared to those from Hedong or Langya, people from Taicangting and Taipingting were more like Zhao Yan and Zhao Ji's fellow villagers and neighbors.

In front of the Grand Tutor's residence, Zhao Jian and Zhao Yuan stood side by side.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Zhao Jian, dressed in a blue robe commonly seen in spring and summer, with a dark green gauze jacket over it, appeared increasingly scholarly, with a slender face, upright posture, and short mustache.

Zhao Yuan had been transferred from the Four Generals of Chen to the Commandant of Jinyang Marquisate, a position equivalent to a county commandant.

However, the Marquisate of Jinyang was different; its army consisted of 8,000 infantry and cavalry, all under the command of Zhao Yuan.

He could be considered to hold a high position and great power. At this moment, Zhao Yuan was calm and composed, showing no signs of being disturbed by Zhao Ji's arrival.

(End of this chapter)