Tiger Guards

Chapter 55 The Changing Situation
"It's really not easy to offend Wei Zhongjian now."

In the barracks, Zhao Ji listened to Pei Xiu's story and said to Hu Ban, "The sergeant can spend the night in Beixiang and say that the horse has injured its legs and feet and can't move."

Hu Ban glanced at Pei Xiu again, and seeing that Pei Xiu acquiesced, he said, "If this is the case, Wei Zhongjian will probably feel resentful when he thinks about it later."

"How can his grudge compare to my eldest brother's life?"

Zhao Ji asked, adding, "Without communication between the north and the south, my elder brother's return to the county is like throwing a stone into a pond. Even the smallest stone will create ripples. If these ripples alarm Han Xian, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?"

Hu Ban didn't understand ripples, but he understood water waves, so he nodded reluctantly: "I'll do as Aji says."

Zhao Ji looked at Pei Xiu again. "Seventh Brother, how many men do you think we should send this time? Last night, I discussed with Jia Liangdao, and we both felt that 500 men was too many. If we select those with excellent riding skills, we'd better send more than 300 cavalrymen. The remaining people can suppress the auxiliary troops and prisoners and prevent chaos."

Pei Xiu sat at a low table nearby, pondering for a moment. "Aji, are you worried that Ma Shizhi and the powerful Northern Jiang tyrants might stir up trouble? If so, there's no need to worry. The southern Tiger Guards' movement is going smoothly, and they won't dare to act rashly. If they're thwarted, even leaving 400 Tiger Guards behind won't be enough to save us. In my opinion, we should spare no effort now and achieve success in one fell swoop."

"I'm just worried, so I'll just listen to Seventh Brother."

Zhao Ji added, "I originally wanted to ask Lord Zhao for help and recommend Jia Liangdao for the position of Shangshu Lang, but Jia Liangdao was more concerned about expelling the Xiongnu and wanted to give the opportunity to his brother-in-law Liu Fu."

Shangshulang?
This was something Hu Ban could not even imagine, as the political decrees of the Later Han Dynasty came from the cabinet.

Who can serve as Shangshulang and is under 30 years old?
Not only does one need to be famous, but after being recruited, one must also serve in government offices and be a palace attendant. How can one enter the government without at least three years of experience?
But now the Secretariat is seriously understaffed, and the court's own reserve of officials has suffered heavy casualties.

This is an excellent opportunity at hand. Shangshu Lang's resume basically lays the foundation for his future position as an official.

This is to give the other party a generous gift.

With Lord Zhao here and the support of the Huben soldiers, this matter is almost stable.

Now it depends on whether Liu Fu wants to be Zhao Yan's disciple.

Pei Xiu's thoughts changed, and he asked instead, "Aji, are you going to recommend Tiger Guards to various offices?"

"I have this idea. After I go south, I hope that Seventh Brother can sort out the military register and select suitable candidates. Then, Lord Zhao will appoint them based on their merits."

Zhao Ji also felt that this matter was very important and did not explain it to Jia Kui in detail.

But Jia Kui, with his intelligence, was sure to anticipate the next move, so he continued, "After all, only a few are good at fighting and leading troops. I don't want my companions to use their weaknesses to attack the Xiongnu's strengths. Ten Xiongnu are no match for one companion."

Compared with this plan, what is Wei Gu?
What is the Wei Gu branch of the Wei family?
Pei Xiu rubbed his knees and thought hard... He didn't think his uncle could be the leader of the village party. Although he had this idea, he was only choosing the best among the best.

The imperial court provided Pei Mao with a troop of 500 Tiger Guards, and Pei Mao could only recruit three or five of them, which was already the limit.

It’s not that Pei Mao only has so much influence at his disposal, but he can only mention so many people in the short term.

No matter how corrupt the imperial court is, it must follow basic rules.

Pei Mao was born in Hedong, and his extensive use of Hedong-born tiger guards was itself a taboo.

But now it’s different. Huben almost turned the tables on his own and made up for the shortcomings of the royal army.

There is no need for Pei Mao, or even Zhao Yan. The court officials will select the Hubenlang as their own clerks based on their merits.

If you don't choose the brave warriors who have made great contributions, would you choose the sons of wealthy and powerful people who are just watching?

Hubenlang's origin is already very clean, that is, it is too dense, which is not conducive to the future.

However, as long as the Baibo generals are eliminated, the scholars from Taiyuan, Henei and Hongnong will quickly gather together, which can wash away and dilute the influence of Hedong.

Even the scholars in the Three Auxiliary Areas and the middle and low-level military officers would lead their troops to rebel and cross the river to surrender.

All aspects will develop in a positive direction. Under this expectation, rewarding and employing the officials who came from the Tiger Guards will instead inspire those who come after them.

What's more... within the Pei family, Pei Mao's family is also unstable.

Although things were getting awkward in Zhao Ji's family, the Pei Qian brothers also did not get along very well with Pei Mao and Pei Mao's other three sons.

If there is trouble at home or in the village, your clan and villagers will naturally shield you from outsiders.

Even if the imperial court sent people to visit Zhao Ji's family now, the villagers would naturally say good things about him.

It will ruin a person's future, and this is a matter of life and death.

No matter how powerful the imperial court is, it's far away; neighbors live with you day and night. If you don't even protect the future of your fellow villagers, even if bandits wipe out your entire family in the night, no one will question it. By promoting your fellow villagers, you and those around you will also benefit.

Under this simple concept, many bad things will never be brought to the table.

To Pei Xiu, is he closer to his uncle Pei Mao, who has been an official away from home for many years, or is he closer to Pei Qian, with whom he grew up?

Pei Mao's new and old wives gave birth to five sons. He couldn't even manage his household, so how much help could he provide to his nephew Pei Xiu?

The support he could give to Pei Xiu was definitely not as great as that given to Pei Qian.

If Pei Xiu had a stable future, why would he leave his mother and enlist in the Tiger Guards?
One reason was his mother's constant pressure, another was setting an example for his fellow villagers, but the key point was that his father and grandfather died early, and Pei Xiu lacked the support and assistance of his ancestors' disciples and former officials!
If the men in every household were really so respectful, polite and modest, they would not be repeatedly emphasized and regarded as precious virtues.

Zhao Yan was different from Pei Mao. Zhao Yan was from Langya, and it was no big deal for him to recommend the Hedong Tiger Guards on a large scale.

Serving as an official in a different place makes it easier to cultivate a large number of disciples and former officials.

Zhao Ji kept saying that he wanted to be the ancestor of the Zhao family in Jishan. Apart from the majority of simple Hu Ben, who outside believed him?
Even if there was no adoption ceremony, who would deny his identity as the future head of the Langya Zhao family?
Zhao Yu, who could have succeeded Zhao Yan, has died, and the Zhao family of Langya has been severely damaged.

Pei Xiu pondered, turned his head to observe Zhao Ji who realized it later, and couldn't help but sigh at this guy's good luck.

Given the life-and-death friendship between Zhao Yan and the emperor and the ministers, no one in the current court is willing to suppress Zhao Ji!

Not to mention the Hou family, even if Zhao Ji was so crazy that he wiped out the Wei and Fan families, he would have returned to his hometown to recuperate.

After he recovers from his illness, the ministers will compete to recruit Zhao Ji.

Perhaps on his way back home, someone sent an official to recruit Zhao Ji and fill the gap in his qualifications for being "recruited by the government."

All Zhao Ji had to do was to politely decline the offer until he received a heavyweight invitation.

Pei Xiu was a little envious of this treatment.

The ministers today are the most united as never before, and this is a bond forged in the blood of countless people.

All unstable factors were eliminated during the eastward migration process.

I wonder who among the court officials at this moment can resist the temptation to be Zhao Ji's sponsor?
From the moment Zhao Ji shot Li Le to death with an arrow, the situation in the entire Hedong area, and even the situation in the court, changed drastically.

Many things are changing. People who cannot adapt to these changes and still stubbornly interpret the current situation with old ideas will inevitably make decisions that go against their will.

Just like Wei Gu, he may have noticed this change, but what can he do?
Send Hu Ban to die, what else can you do?
If Jia Kui really sent five hundred gold and two thousand horses to the court, his branch of the Wei family would be severely damaged if not killed!
The imperial court ordered a campaign against the Wei clan. Even the Hedong Tiger Guards didn't need to take action. The county officials and fellow villagers could capture Wei Gu's father and brother!
A combat-capable army is the foundation of law enforcement.

Using the army to fight against the Wei family... is really a waste of talent.

After the Hedong Huben eliminated the Baibo generals, the counties' ability to execute the imperial edicts will be unprecedentedly strengthened!

But at the same time, Li Jue and Guo Si could allow the imperial court, which had lost three legs, to catch its breath in Hedong; if they knew that the imperial court had regained its authority, Li Jue and Guo Si would definitely lead their troops across the river.

It is no longer important for them to seize the emperor and the imperial court. They must interrupt the momentum of the imperial court's revival so that they can continue to live in seclusion.

The hatred between them could no longer be resolved. Only by annihilating the three clans of Li Jue and Guo Si could the court be considered to have initially restored its authority over the world.

Pei Xiu thought about it and felt a strong sense of urgency.

He didn't want to be like Wei Gu, who was inadvertently squeezed out of the core team.

Without the protection of the Huben group, what else can Wei Gu do?
This time he is transferred to the public mansion, and the Wei family will not invest resources in Wei Gu. The Wei family has better and more professional candidates.

It is very difficult for Wei Gu to turn around now. His starting point is too high and it is difficult for him to lower himself.

Exit with dignity, wait for an opportunity to come back, and find a suitable position to accumulate merit again.

As for whether or not to persuade Wei Gu... Pei Xiu suppressed this thought as soon as it appeared. He had good intentions, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he might arouse Wei Gu's hostility.

Let this guy get hurt first, and then come out and give him some advice.

After figuring this out, Pei Xiu stood up and said to Zhao Ji, "Aji, Li Le's armor has been cleaned, and I had a new lining replaced overnight. Put it on quickly. If it doesn't fit, we can modify it."

(End of this chapter)