Tiger Guards

Chapter 8: Rui Dan steals the boots
Nothing happened all night.

When Zhao Ji woke up, the morning air was filled with smoke from cooking fires and the occasional sound of horses neighing.

The small camp was narrow, and after just one night, he smelled the stench of horse manure and urine when he woke up.

Seeing that the two sergeants were still sleeping, Zhao Ji got up but could not find his deerskin boots or anyone else.

He took out straw sandals from the package and put them on. He walked out of the barracks and looked around. He saw Rui Dan from his team wrestling with someone. He was wearing his deerskin boots.

The other party was only wearing straw sandals. Although he was taller and stronger than Rui Dan, the sandals were not tough enough and could not withstand friction, so they were almost visibly broken.

Pei Xiu was also watching the fight, his arms folded across his chest.

Seeing Zhao Ji coming out, he moved over and raised his chin to the crowd: "Aji, are you selling these boots? Alan said he wants to buy them and then have a fistfight with you."

"Not for sale."

Zhao Ji was puzzled and asked, "Didn't they say they would distribute weapons, armor, and clothing?"

"Do you believe this too?"

Pei Xiu whispered, "Commander Hu has gone to find Wang Zhi. We're lucky to have enough food to eat. If we could also have a uniform made of half a piece of red cloth, that would be an incredible feat."

At this time, the winner was decided on the field. Rui Dan won and opened his arms to celebrate with several familiar partners.

After circling the field halfway, he quickly ran up to Zhao Ji, blushing with embarrassment: "Sergeant..."

"Keep fighting. I won't blame you if you win."

"Yes!"

Rui Dan was excited and turned back to the court with a happy expression.

Pei Xiu and Zhao Ji looked at each other, suddenly smiled, turned their heads to look at Shen Tulan in the distance, and made a painful face.

Shen Tulan immediately came on stage, and without waiting for Rui Dan to react, she grabbed Rui Dan and threw her over her shoulder with great speed.

Without waiting for Rui Dan to react, he kicked Rui Dan on the butt again, which immediately stopped Rui Dan's howling.

Seeing that Rui Dan wanted to scream again, Shen Tulan pretended to kick her. Rui Dan curled up on the court like a red shrimp and trembled.

Shen Tulan hooked her hand at Zhao Ji and said, "Captain Zhao, just watch me beat your men?"

"You still want to fight me?"

"You refused to accept me last time, this time let's have a duel!"

After Shen Tulan finished speaking, she began to warm up, while Zhao Ji squatted down, tied his straw sandals again, stretched his muscles, and walked onto the court.

Only then did Rui Dan dare to get up, his face full of grievance and anger: "Sergeant, he attacked by surprise!"

"Would you like me to sneak attack him, or would you like me to take revenge later?"

Zhao Ji asked back, waved his hand, spread his arms, leaned forward and walked slowly towards Shen Tulan.

Shen Tulan also made a wrestling motion and slowly approached: "That's right, you and I are wrestling, why are we using fists and feet?"

As he spoke, he grabbed Zhao Ji's deerskin coat with both hands. Before he could exert any strength, Zhao Ji grabbed his arms with both hands.

After testing their strength, Shen Tu Lan felt that she could not shake Zhao Ji.

He was about to pull Zhao Ji, but when he pulled, Zhao Ji pushed back hard, giving Shen Tulan almost no chance to react. Even as his center of gravity tilted backward, he still held Zhao Ji's arms tightly.

As expected, Shen Tulan's broad back hit the ground.

When flipping backwards, Shen Tulan used his arms to try to throw Zhao Ji over instead of letting Zhao Ji fall on him.

As a result, Zhao Ji's arms exploded with even greater strength and he easily broke free.

However, at this moment, Zhao Ji took a step forward and unfortunately his heel hit the big toe of Shen Tulan's hemp shoe.

Shen Tulan, who was trying to fight back, screamed in pain, her face turned red, as if she was about to suffocate.

Zhao Ji took a few steps back and spread out his hands. The few people who saw his little movements remained silent.

Rui Dan, who was rubbing the swelling to loosen the bruise, was also beaming. However, Zhao Ji said nothing as he approached him. He simply placed his hand on his shoulder and forcefully hugged him, dragging him back to the barracks. The others watched, looking like they were watching a spectacle, waiting for the outcome.

Only a few people related to Rui Dan came to the barracks and prepared to say some good words. Before they entered, a strange crisp sound was heard.

Then there was the sound of whips lashing, which never stopped.

Pei Xiu passed the crowd and saw Zhao Ji holding a horsewhip and whipping Rui Dan repeatedly in a pile of grass in the corner. He whipped her with his backhand and then again with his left hand.

Kredan just twisted and rolled back and forth to dodge, whimpering but unable to make a sound to beg for mercy or alert the patrol soldiers outside.

Zhao Ji's face was calm, without even a hint of anger, as if he was whipping a willow stump.

After the tenth lash, he grabbed Rui Dan by the collar and lifted her up, then asked calmly, "You took my leather boots without asking. I'll give you ten lashes and we'll be even. Is that okay with you?"

At this time, Pei Xiucai saw that Rui Dan had a ball of linen stuffed in her mouth and tied tightly with a leather rope, so that Rui Dan could not make any sound.

Seeing Rui Dan's sharp eyes, Zhao Ji didn't get angry. "You're still not convinced. Are you still thinking of finding an opportunity to pee in my boots? Put a scorpion, centipede or other poisonous insects? Or quietly throw my boots into the toilet?"

Zhao Ji even wanted to laugh: "Do you know what we were talking about with Sergeant Hu during the march yesterday? We were talking about the military laws in the camp. There are visible military laws and invisible military laws. You stole my boots, it's a big deal or a small deal. Even if I cripple you, no one will say anything."

Rui Dan's eyes widened with the whites of her eyes bulging out, and she jumped up and down trying to break free. She caught a glimpse of Pei Xiu out of the corner of her eye and looked at him pitifully.

Pei Xiu remained unmoved, and even Wei Xing, who followed him in and stood next to Pei Xiu, remained indifferent.

A squad leader is a squad leader. Not to mention the squad leader, if Rui Dan secretly used the precious belongings of a sergeant or a veteran, they, the squad leaders, would also step in to punish him.

Not to mention Pei Xiu and Wei Xing, anyone above the rank of sergeant would not care about Rui Dan's fate.

What happened to the villagers?
The army composed of fellow villagers does not abide by military laws and implicit rules?

The two sergeants who had been awakened stepped forward at this time. Lu Chun tried to persuade them, "Sergeant, this boy lacks the discipline of his father and brothers. He only has his mother at home. His mother takes care of the elderly and raises the boy. Please, for the sake of his mother, a brave woman, spare this ignorant boy."

Another sergeant, Yang Ji, squatted on the ground and tried to take off Rui Dan's deerskin boots. He quickly took them off and warned Rui Dan fiercely, "Wipe those boots clean! If you can't, I'll cut off your tongue and use it to wipe them!"

Yang Ji then turned around and looked at Zhao Ji with a wry smile: "Sergeant, why don't you just spare this brat for now? If he does something wrong again, I will let him know the consequences."

"I'm in a difficult situation."

Zhao Ji let go of Rui Dan and let her fall to the ground. He turned to Pei Xiu and said, "Seventh Brother, you know me well. My brothers and sisters-in-law and nephews are young. If this kid is sent back and harbors a grudge, colluding with a group of young men, how can my brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews and nephews live in peace?"

"It's hard to convince the public if they kill him like this."

Pei Xiu also looked distressed: "I've heard what Lu Chun said. Killing this kid is no different from killing his mother. But if we let him go, who can guarantee that he won't take revenge on Aji's brothers, sisters, and nephews?"

As for Hu Ban’s attitude, the attitude of everyone is actually Hu Ban’s attitude.

Everyone fell silent for a moment. There were not many real orphans. Everyone had relatives.

Having someone around who steals his friends' property is a trouble in life and a disaster on the battlefield.

At this time, Wei Xing suddenly stepped forward and raised his foot to step on Rui Dan's shin. Zhao Ji stepped forward to stop Wei Xing.

Wei Xing looked at Zhao Ji angrily and said, "You are in trouble, but I am not. I feel deeply ashamed and uneasy to have such a villain staying in the camp. Break his tibia to prevent him from causing trouble, so that he can return to take care of his mother. If you and I become noble in the future, it will only take some money and food for us."

"Brother Wei, that's not what I meant. I meant that these soldiers are my soldiers after all, and the boots they stole are my boots. It's not right for you to do this for me."

Zhao Ji turned to look at Lu Chun and Yang Ji and said, "Ask him which leg he wants to keep."

Rui Dan curled up in the corner and reached out to untie the leather rope that was tied around her lips. Yang Ji kicked Rui Dan on the wrist and hit her nose, causing her to bleed immediately.

Under the severe pain, Rui Dan fainted quickly.

Yang Ji turned back helplessly: "Sergeant, he wants his left leg."

Lu Chun could only squat down and lift Rui Dan's right leg, then turn his head away, unable to bear to watch any longer.

Pei Xiu handed over a piece of wood and said, "Aji, please be quick and don't let him suffer."

Wei Xing suggested, "It's better to kill him. Lame guy is doing bad things and it's harder to prevent him. Not to mention Brother Zhao, even I'm afraid this kid will go back and start a fire."

Pei Xiu then quietly retracted the stick and asked, "Aji, what would be better?"

(End of this chapter)