Tiger Guards

Chapter 46 Rejection
Later, in the kitchen.

Zhao Ji used linen dipped in hot water to scrub his body.

When Pei Xiu came outside the door, he smelled the bloody odor.

After waiting for a while, Zhao Ji came out with a coarse cloth wrapped around his waist and a wine jar in his hand. The jar was filled with hot water dyed red by washing linen.

Han Shu was waiting at the door and took away the jar of dirty water.

Pei Xiu glanced at Zhao Ji's broad chest, sat down to the side, and then said, "Aji, Ma Shizhi is here, and Zhao Xu, the governor of Jiangyi, is here too, and they are apologizing to Lord Zhao."

This Jiangyi Magistrate Zhao Xu was from Yizhou, not from the Zhao clan of Langya.

Zhao Ji turned around and went to the kitchen to get his spare clothes, and put them on layer by layer in the sun at the door.

Then he sat down opposite Pei Xiu and asked, "Seventh Brother, do you want to ask about adoption?"

"Well, just now Lord Zhao asked me about Aji's family affairs again, and I concealed some of them. If he asks again, I don't know if I should answer truthfully."

Pei Xiu also had mixed feelings. The Zhao family of Langya was certainly not the most powerful family in the county, but going back three generations, all of them had served as county governors, so they could be considered a family with a history of over 2,000 officials.

Zhao Ji combed his hair and felt that it seemed to be thicker. Without even looking up, he asked, "What do you think, Brother Qi?"

"This is Aji's big deal, I can't talk about it."

Pei Xiu further explained, "Even if it's Aji's marriage, I can say whether it's good or bad. For a clan family matter like adoption, it all depends on Aji's feelings."

"If it were up to me, I'd just let it go."

Zhao Ji tied his hair up and wrapped it with a red scarf before looking at Pei Xiu. "What's the point of watering the dead crops? I've just left home and don't need to be controlled by them anymore. If I'm adopted by Lord Zhao and receive favors from others, I should listen to their teachings."

Pei Xiu's mood was even more complicated and he felt very regretful.

Zhao Yan has a long history. Although he is only a councilor with a rank of 600 stones, he can participate in the discussion of important affairs of the court.

Whether it is the emperor's inner court or the outer court of ministers, the counselors are the ones who have a say.

Now that the ministers have died, Zhao Yan has followed the emperor through many ups and downs, and his influence is even more significant.

This time when he goes south, Zhao Yan is very likely to be ranked among the dukes and ministers... In fact, the title of duke and minister is not as influential as the current counselor.

This is an important position that directly accompanies the emperor and discusses important secrets.

Especially because of the emperor's trust, Zhao Yan's influence is even greater than that of the Secretariat.

Being adopted by Zhao Yan doesn't mean he can have everything he wants, but it can solve the congenital deficiencies of countless poor scholars.

When others are adopted, there are all kinds of hidden dangers and slanders. But the Zhao family is full of loyal and brave people. After being adopted, there are no hidden dangers.

As for hidden dangers, just as Zhao Ji said, we must listen to the teachings of our "grandfather" Zhao Yan in the future.

Besides, it was the original Zhao Ji who lacked emotional care in his childhood and adolescence, not the current Zhao Ji.

For example, now, in just two days, Zhao Ji has already gained huge influence within the Huben.

You can completely decide your own words and actions and be responsible for yourself.

But after you are adopted, Zhao Yan asks you to be the personal guard of the emperor, will you go?
This is definitely for your own good and for the emperor's sake. Do you have room to refuse?

It was difficult for others to understand, but Pei Xiu knew exactly what Zhao Ji meant.

You didn't come when I was suffering and being beaten as a child. Even though Zhao Yan is very pitiful now... this is not a reason for me to absolutely cooperate.

If we talk about pity, who isn't pitiful since the world is in chaos?
Even if Zhao Lian is really Zhao Jian's pseudonym, the problem is obvious. Zhao Lian's agreement to adoption is not decisive.

Pei Xiu felt regretful but also relieved.

Through the experiences of the past two days, Pei Xiu felt that the Huben Camp could no longer do without Zhao Ji.

If Zhao Ji really wanted to pursue a traditional career in officialdom, he would have to find a way to escape from the Huben Army.

Originally, he enlisted as a Tiger Guard in order to fulfill his duty of loyalty and filial piety as a subject, and also to set an example on the moral level and among his fellow villagers.

The original plan was to be a Tiger Guard for a while, then withdraw and pursue a traditional official career.

For a moment, Pei Xiu wanted to persuade Zhao Ji to give in temporarily. Zhao Yan was already so old, how many years could he live?
But he also enjoyed the process of the Tiger Guards growing stronger, which provided him with a primitive sensory stimulation and sense of accomplishment.

When Bai Bo was in chaos, the Pei family was right next to the road, causing chaos and everyone had to hide. Pei Xiu was fed up with that feeling of powerlessness.

This feeling is very good now, especially after the Hou brothers were killed.

Not to mention Li Le, watching Zhao Ji shoot an arrow through Li Le's neck, Pei Xiu was so pleased that he wanted to chop a few people with his own hands to add to the fun. Just like that, Pei Xiu looked at Zhao Ji with a complex look that he himself didn't understand.

Zhao Ji couldn't understand Pei Xiu's expression, so he said, "Seventh Brother sent someone to tell my family that in today's world, a real man should wield a four-foot sword and accomplish unparalleled feats. Why bother to submit to others and be manipulated by them?"

"Then Aji should write a letter by hand, so as not to miss it."

"This kind of thing can be communicated verbally. Leaving a written document would be bad."

Zhao Ji smiled as he spoke. He had to be careful that Old Zhao was selling him out. "Just convey my attitude back. After all, I'm a Zhao, and my children will be too. Compared to the Zhao family of Langya, I'd rather be the founder of the Zhao family of Jishan."

Pei Xiu laughed when he heard this: "Then you can't be considered an ancestor, but just a minor branch of the Langya Zhao clan."

"Seventh brother, our contributions are great enough. I am the ancestor of the Zhao family of Jishan, and you are the direct descendant of the Pei family of Wenxi!"

Zhao Ji looked serious. Pei Xiu pondered, "That makes sense. Do you think I should change my name?"

Pei Xiu's military register information recorded his given name as "Pei Xiu" and even his courtesy name had been chosen. Because he lost his father at a young age, the elders of the clan proposed the courtesy name "Xiao Xian", which was different from the courtesy names of his other cousins that began with "Wen".

If Pei Xiu's father had not died early, his courtesy name would have been "Wenjun".

The sixth child, Pei Jun, who was about the same age as Pei Xiu, was the second son of Pei Mao and the younger brother of Pei Qian.

Because his mother died early, he was given the courtesy name "Fengxian". Before the Sanfu Rebellion, he accompanied his brother-in-law's family to Yizhou to attend the funeral, and there has been no news from him since.

The chaos in the Three Prefectures came so suddenly that Pei Qian and others who were studying or serving in Guanzhong lost contact.

Because Pei Mao remarried, the brothers Pei Qian and Pei Jun were not very close to Pei Mao.

The entire Later Han Dynasty had to avoid the taboo of Emperor Guangwu.

The word "xiucai" was changed to "maocai". If one wanted to become an official, no one dared to use the word "xiu" as a name.

The villagers called him Pei Xiu orally, and preferred to use the simple character "Xiu" in letters, which Pei Xiu himself also liked.

The world is in such chaos that not many people care anymore.

Even during the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, scholars dared to write the word "Xiu" (showy) and throw it into the toilet when swearing an oath or making a pledge of allegiance.

But as long as the Han Dynasty still exists, Pei Xiu will never be able to use the word "Xiu" openly in his life.

Unless he does not take up an official position, if he does, he will have to take care of the dignity of the court.

Whether the word "xiu" can be used in official documents directly reflects the survival of the Han Dynasty.

Pei Xiu was asking about the name on the military roster, but Zhao Ji felt that this guy was asking whether he would always be in the big group of Huben Camp.

Most of those who can become Tiger Guards are the spare tires in the family; or they are the rising stars of the family who have sold everything they have.

Obviously, considering the family background and status of the Pei and Wei families, Pei Xiu and Wei Gu were both backup options.

Wang Zhi is even more of a spare tire among spare tires. Jia Kui is being invaded by the Huns and has no other good way to deal with it, so he can only try the Huben.

As the two of them sat in silence, Guanqiu Xing brought over a plate and said, as if to show off, "Seventh Brother, Aji, take a look at this."

This is a completely painted dinner plate with a black and red background, decorated with gold lines, and a surface as smooth as jade...giving Zhao Ji a plastic texture used for decoration.

But at the moment, this is the top luxury product in the world.

Pei Xiu glanced at it and asked, "Li Le's?"

"It can't be said to be Li Le's. He must have stolen it from somewhere else."

Guanqiu Xing sat cross-legged, placed his plate on his lap, and turned to Zhao Ji, saying, "Lord Zhao is also having dinner. Let me call Aji to join us."

Pei Xiu reached out and grabbed a piece of bread from his plate, took a bite, and said to Zhao Ji, "Lord Zhao's grandsons all died in the king's service. Aji should go and have dinner with Lord Zhao. When I arrived, Lord Zhao had already had Li Le's armor cleaned. It must be prepared for Aji."

"it is good."

It's just a meal, not a battlefield.

Zhao Ji stood up and went back to the kitchen to get other personal items. When he came out, he said to Pei Xiu, "Seventh brother, don't forget to send a message to my family."

"Ah."

Pei Xiu glanced at Zhao Ji's shadow and said, "It will be delivered tonight."

(End of this chapter)