Tiger Guards

Chapter 105: Abolition of the Old Order
The south gate of Anyi, on the city wall.

Weiwei Zhou Zhong looked at the "rebels" who were slowly approaching and changing their column marching formation outside the city into a large horizontal formation.

The county soldiers on the city wall were armed with bows and crossbows, and even the militiamen were recruited, with young and strong men driven to the top of the city walls.

Seeing the rebels halt, the knights dismounted to rest, and the hundred-man formations formed into a circle.

The rebel army outside the city numbered no less than a thousand cavalrymen, and the county soldiers and military officers just watched quietly. They did not want to go out of the city to fight in the field.

Zhou Zhong turned his head and heard footsteps. He turned to look at Pei Mao and asked, "Can you please give me the imperial edict to punish the enemy?"

"The emperor sent his servants to mediate the misunderstanding. Please ask the guard to open the gate and let them pass."

Pei Mao answered loudly that the people on both sides of the city wall were from Hedong and he was not afraid of Zhou Zhong.

Now it is unclear where Zhao Ji’s bottom line is.

Zhou Zhong pointed outside the city, his brow furrowed as he shouted, "Yesterday, you assaulted important state officials, recruited the Baibo rebels, and imprisoned Minister Yang. Today, you are leading your troops to invade the palace. This is sheer treason! Is there any room for mediation or appeasement? If you succeed today, we will protect the emperor and the court. If you fail, we will sacrifice our lives for our country!"

Pei Mao refused to budge, holding his neck high and glaring, pointing outside the city walls: "This is the emperor's beloved minister, the attendant Zhao Ji, who led the brave soldiers to defend the emperor. How could he be considered a rebel?"

Pei Mao turned and shouted to the gatekeeper, "Why don't you open the door?"

The military captain turned to look at the Weiwei Zhou Zhong. The first person Zhou Zhong took over and reorganized were the four gate guards.

Zhou Zhong sneered: "The city gate cannot be opened. If Minister Pei insists on leaving the city, he can only descend by rope!"

"Get the rope!"

Pei Mao was not afraid of being tricked by the ropes, so a county soldier immediately brought a bundle of thick hemp ropes and Pei Mao raised his arms.

The knot was quickly tied, Pei Mao climbed up the parapet, and slowly descended with the help of the county soldiers.

After landing, the rope was too tight to be untied, so Pei Mao drew his sword and cut the rope behind him. He walked a few steps away, looked back at Zhou Zhong, sheathed his sword, turned around and strode towards Zhao Ji's chariot eighty steps away.

In front of the city wall, Zhou Zhong asked the veteran beside him: "Is it possible to shoot and kill the traitor at such a distance?"

The old soldier, holding his powerful crossbow, replied without blinking, "If we move another forty paces, we might be able to succeed."

Zhou Zhong nodded slowly. If Zhao Ji was eliminated, how would Zhao Yan control the army?
At this time, Zhao Ji drove forward twenty steps, jumped out of the car, and bowed to Pei Mao: "Uncle, is the emperor well?"

"The emperor has guards and eunuchs guarding him, and hundreds of good men in the city are also there to protect him. There is no need to worry for the time being."

Pei Mao pointed to the flag on the chariot and asked: "What kind of reform is this that the Minister of the Interior is advocating?"

"Abolish the power of the ministers and govern with the three provinces and six ministries!"

Zhao Ji didn't hesitate and said according to his own understanding: "Establish a Zhongshu Sheng to handle confidential information and issue government orders, similar to the chief clerk of the Huangge in prefectures and counties. Then establish a Menxia Sheng, led by the ministers, to discuss politics and advise on successes and failures. Change the six departments of the Shangshu Tai to the six ministries of the Shangshu Sheng to implement government orders. The remaining nine ministers will also be supervised by the three ministries."

The power of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers to participate in politics was directly cut off. The power to participate in politics was handed over to the Shizhong of the Menxia Province, and the power to issue orders was handed over to the Zhongshu Province. The Shangshu Province was simply strengthened.

Pei Mao directly asked the key question: "How should the new Secretariat be set up?"

"There are the Zhongshu Ling, Zhongshu Jian, and Zhongshu Sheren. Government orders are decided by the Menxia Province and issued by the Zhongshu Province."

The power of the Minister of State in the discussion of government increased dramatically, and Pei Mao asked again: "What about the Minister of the Court?"

According to the Han system, the Shizhong was under the jurisdiction of the Shaofu.

Zhao Ji replied, "The Shaofu is solely responsible for the management of the imperial treasury and farms, and no longer oversees the Shizhong. The Shizhong are subordinate to the emperor and exercise the power to participate in and discuss government affairs. If there is a disagreement on government affairs, the Shizhong vote, and the one with the most votes prevails. Therefore, there should be an odd number of Shizhong, preferably five or seven."

Pei Mao nodded slowly. This didn't seem like a spur-of-the-moment decision, but more like a coup that had been considered for a long time.

The ministers, officials and the emperor in the court were already dissatisfied with the Yang brothers and were already making adjustments.

Now that the three ministers are all in charge of the affairs of the Secretariat, the government's decrees have become unstable.

However, the Yang brothers had a strong foundation and their influence was difficult to diminish, and they were concerned about the attitude of the scholars in Xizhou and could not punish them severely.

This adjustment is of no concern to the Yang brothers, as they rely on their connections to exert influence and no longer need to rely on official positions.

If the vote was the basis, Sikong Zhang Xi and Situ Zhao Wen would be able to suppress Taiwei Yang Biao.

But there is no way, the Yang family relies on facial recognition.

Pei Mao thought for a moment and then asked, "How should the Shangshutai be changed?"

Zhao Ji glanced at Pei Mao, his emotion unnoticed. "To the positions of Shangshu and above, we will appoint left and right Pushe to assist the Shangshu Ling, and then appoint Shangshu Supervisor to supervise the six ministries."

Pei Mao then asked, "There are four ministers in the court today: Yang Qi of Hongnong, Ding Chong of Pei, Tai Chong of Jingzhao, and Minister Zhao. Who should be appointed as the new minister and be considered a good minister?"

"Counselor Zhao Gong is knowledgeable about military affairs and has taught at the Imperial Palace. He can be appointed as the Minister of the Interior." Zhao Ji paused, gritting his teeth. "Yang Qi is corrupt and a disservice to the state. He should be transferred elsewhere. If he has the courage, he can be appointed Governor of Liang Province and General of the Western Expedition. If he despises the remoteness of Liang Province and the wealth of Jing Province, he can be appointed Governor of Jing Province and General of the Southern Expedition."

Pei Mao only smiled gently at this suggestion and asked, "Who can fill Yang Qi's vacancy?"

"I'm not familiar with the various officials. Rather than recommending someone based on reputation, I'd rather recommend your uncle. I know your uncle is more talented than anyone else and can advise on important matters for the nation."

After Zhao Ji finished speaking, he saw Pei Mao was stunned.

After a moment, Pei Mao stopped smiling and asked solemnly, "Minister Zhao, have you been studying under a hermit in Jishan these past two years? If there is such a great sage in Jishan who can plan state affairs, please let me know. I will report it to the emperor and summon him to the court to participate in state affairs!"

How does Zhao Yan have time to educate Zhao Ji?

As for Zhao Lian, his eldest son's upbringing was mediocre, and Pei Mao really couldn't see that Zhao Lian had any special skills in educating his sons.

Zhao Ji didn't know how to answer. Jishan was a remote, mysterious and dangerous place to outsiders.

But if Pei Mao wanted to investigate, he could basically find out everything.

Zhao Ji didn't want to answer this question. He turned around and took out two scrolls of silk books and handed them over: "Minister Pei, this is Zhao's "Memorial to the Three Provinces and Six Departments" and this "Petition to Punish the Great Bandit of Han."

Let's file a petition to punish the rebels, Pei Mao muttered as he carefully examined the "Memorial to the Three Departments and Six Ministries". After confirming that it was more detailed than what Zhao Ji had described, he opened the petition to punish the rebels in his eyes. He couldn't help but take a breath and his hands trembled.

Taking a deep breath, he examined it carefully and saw the following: "During the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, the Han dynasty declined, and eunuchs caused disaster; the country was in turmoil, the years were bad, and the four directions were in turmoil. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, Guo Si and others rose up one after another, kidnapped the Han emperor, and brutally murdered people.

Why is it that in the temple, rotten wood serves as officials, and between the steps of the palace, beasts eat the salary; this has led to the people with wolves' hearts and dogs' behavior to be in power, and the servile and fawning people to rule the country. As a result, the country has been reduced to ruins, and the people have suffered untold suffering.

At this time of national crisis, what will you, the ministers, do?
He is in a high position but cannot resolve the national crisis. He is incompetent, immoral, cruel and vicious!

It also brought disgrace upon the emperor and the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of thousands of officials and civilians;

Therefore, this crime is so grave that it cannot be tolerated by heaven and earth!"

These words seemed to jump out from the silk book, surrounding him in strings and echoing repeatedly in Pei Mao's mind.

After a long while, he calmed down a little and asked, "Is this written by the Minister?"

"No, this is written in the blood of all the people in the world!"

Zhao Ji pointed at the flag carriage and said, "I still have one flag. I hope Minister Pei can persuade the people of Anyi to open the city. Otherwise, I will raise a second flag, and this will no longer be a righteous act of reform."

"May I ask what it is?"

"Get rid of the old life!"

Zhao Ji stared at Pei Mao expressionlessly. "This is what I wrote myself. Now only Minister Pei and I know it. When the city gates are opened, I will burn it. If it is leaked to a third person in the future, I want my uncle to know how my family survived."

"I just had tinnitus and couldn't hear clearly."

Pei Mao said this and took a deep breath. Not wanting to say anything more, he turned around and left with the two scrolls of silk.

Zhao Ji stood still, stretched out his left hand behind him, Han Shu stepped forward with a painted bow, and Pei Bao brought a pot of arrows.

This quiver has been modified and when in use it is hung diagonally on Zhao Ji's chest with the arrow feathers resting on his right shoulder.

When shooting arrows in this way, he could shoot an arrow and then pull the bowstring, pinching the arrow and pulling it out, all in one go.

He could shoot seven arrows in a row in one breath; if he shot rapidly at 70% or 80% full, he could shoot half a pot of arrows.

Just like that, when Pei Mao walked towards the city wall, Zhao Ji stood still, observed the flags on the city wall, drew his bow and shot an arrow.

Pei Mao had not walked fifteen steps when he saw a flag being shot down.

He couldn't help but stop, and then Zhao Ji shot out a series of arrows, and shot down another flag.

At this time, the people on the city wall took shelter and crouched on the inner wall of the parapet.

In a moment, Zhao Ji shot down five flags in front of the city wall with seven arrows in a row.

He finally exhaled, took a deep breath, and grinned: "Let's go and wait for good news!"

Five flags fell one after another, and Qubei was so frightened that he jumped up from his stool. The Xiongnu volunteers who were resting nearby stood up and watched.

The other teams were also in an uproar.

Hu Qian buried his head in the sand, afraid of being pulled out by his friends for comparison.

(End of this chapter)