Tiger Guards

Chapter 73 Solve the Dilemma
Wei's Manor, after the Xiongnu envoys reported back.

Qubei had just returned and was sitting quietly, pondering for a moment: "This kid killed Li Le and Han Xian, so how could he be so easy to talk to? He's trying to test my strength. Tell him I can give him a fine horse, and I'll take all the remaining carriages and horses."

"Yes!"

The cavalryman agreed, changed horses, and drove north again without complaining about the hardship.

Qubei watched him leave, then called over a leader and said, "Prepare firewood and grass. Once the main force passes, set fire to the enemy. I wonder if he's going to intercept and kill our troops, or return to put out the fire!"

"Yes!"

The chief responded excitedly, turning to leave when Qubei stopped him again, "Wait, use more wet firewood, stay away from the granary, and make more fireworks. I want to scare him, not take it too far."

"Yes!"

Feeling that his king had handled everything well, the leader felt at ease and walked faster.

Qubei thought for a moment, then said to his attendants, "Prepare writing materials. I am going to present a memorial to the Emperor. With the Emperor's edict, what can I do to this child, no matter how rampant he is?"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The follower was delighted and immediately made preparations. He went to Beiyuan to think about it and considered everything he needed to consider. Then he went into the house and prepared to gather his emotions. He was going to sell Wei.

His memorial was the ironclad evidence for the court to punish the Wei family.

Although it was he who persuaded Wei to put on a show, now that he was gone, what could Wei use to prove his innocence?

If the emperor and the imperial court had not been around, a wealthy family like the Wei family would have been eaten by him long ago.

Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang had done this kind of thing many times, so Qu Bei had seen a lot and was very experienced.

Even for things like digging graves, the Hun mercenaries under his command had mastered the relevant civil engineering excavation techniques.

The tomb is there, and how to dig it in the easiest way obviously requires experience and skills.

There are also many wealthy families who are very particular about burials. Their tombs are not obvious, and finding them quickly is a profound science.

There are so many large tombs around Anyi that it was very difficult to endure the time I spent in Bei.

However, the terrain of Hedong is not very friendly, with the Fen River blocking the way. Although there is a wide highway running through the north and south of the Fen River, there is Jishan to the west and Zijin Mountain to the east, which form a narrow pass around the highway.

This made it extremely unsafe for the Huns to travel. If the pass was blocked, the Huns heading south to Anyi would be in danger of having their retreat cut off.

He had just finished writing a memorial and was about to send it off when a messenger dismounted outside the gate and whispered, "Your Majesty, the combined forces of the Wei and Fan families are coming, no fewer than two thousand men!"

In an instant, Qubei's face changed drastically: "Damn thief!"

At this time, the envoy who had gone to see Zhao Ji returned with bad news: "Your Majesty, the Han generals do not allow it. You are only allowed to bring three chariots."

Upon hearing this, Qubei sneered, "Go ask him if he dares to recruit me, saying I'm willing to serve the court and join him in fighting against the traitors Wei and Fan. Tell him not to be so hasty to refuse, as I'll be sending a memorial of apology later."

"Yes."

This made the rider take a few breaths, then he got on the horse again and headed north. His riding posture seemed a little weak and soft.

"Call the leaders of all tribes to discuss matters!"

With a shout, he strode into the house, took out another piece of silk book, and began to write a memorial of apology to the emperor.

The content is simple, that is, he mistakenly believed in Wei...

As for the silk memorial written earlier, it was burned immediately.

Compared with the Wei and Fan families, he had the merit of protecting the emperor after all, and he felt that he was of greater use to the court.

He has more than 500 elite Xiongnu cavalrymen who have fought in many battles and are of great value to the court.

Soon, his letter of apology was delivered to Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji read it carefully. He naturally did not believe that Qu Bei had much sincerity in asking for forgiveness and admitting his guilt, but the wealth of the Wei and Fan families was too important to the court.

After thinking for a moment, he said to Jia Tong, who was standing beside him, "Wen Zhen, quickly deliver this memorial to the court officials and wait for the court's decision. I will follow the imperial edict."

Jia Tong also glanced at the content and whispered, "What should Wei Zhongjian do?"

"Wei Zhongjian has served his country and made great contributions. How can he be guilty of the same crime as the Wei family?"

Zhao Ji patted Jia Tong's arm and said, "You and I are the emperor's brave soldiers. How can we interfere in the affairs of Hedong County?"

"Yes, I understand."

Jia Tong replied, put away the silk book, and quickly walked to his horse, leading a dozen knights to the nearby emperor's camp. Zhao Ji looked at the Xiongnu knights again and said, "Drink some water and go invite your king. I need to meet with him."

"Thank you, General."

The Xiongnu envoy took the water bag handed to him by Han Shu, drank it, bowed, got on his horse again, and drove the equally exhausted horse south.

Jing Chun asked, "Zhonglang, will this hinder our plan to expel the Xiongnu?"

"Using barbarians to control barbarians will save trouble."

Zhao Ji knew what he was worried about. Jing Chun and his clan had lived in Fenyin for generations. If they did not suppress the Xiongnu, they would be in trouble in the future.

Signaling those around him to continue resting, Zhao Ji sighed, "The Wei family was incredibly astute and decisive. But they never imagined that the Baibo generals would be slaughtered by us all."

Chang Mao couldn't help laughing when he heard this. He lived in Taihang Mountain and was not afraid of the Wei and Fan families.

The more stingy he was towards the court before, the more embarrassed he is now.

All the wild vegetables near the emperor's headquarters were dug up, and every bite of wild vegetables eaten was filled with hatred towards the Wei and Fan families.

Liu Xie did not sleep all night in the emperor's camp.

The operation of dealing with the sudden rebellion of the Huns and punishing the treacherous ministers came to an end.

He had already decided to let the Huns go, and did not want to bear any additional changes or risks.

Inside the house, the queen and others had already left, and the ministers were also seated in their seats.

The cousins Yang Qi and Yang Biao were obviously very tough, and even both brothers thought that letting the emperor lead the army in person was a great idea.

There is no need for the emperor to go forward to kill the enemy. The appearance of the emperor's carriage on the battlefield will greatly boost morale.

Even if the enemy is the Huns, their morale will be hit.

Even the two thieves Li and Guo, their fierce soldiers did not dare to besiege the emperor's carriage.

Theoretically speaking, as long as the emperor does not encounter the Xianbei or Qiang people, he is very safe.

Even the Yellow Turban Army would most likely welcome the emperor.

The Yellow Turban Army's demand was never to kill the emperor, but to eliminate treacherous officials and restore peace to the world.

But the economic base determines the superstructure. Although the ministers did not know this sentence, they understood this principle.

The problem since the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling has been financial.

Emperor Huan wiped out the Eastern Qiang, and the war in Western Province cost nearly 100 billion... Although the Eastern Qiang was pacified, it also created a huge spending habit. Too many people became addicted to this windfall, and it was during the reign of Emperor Ling that some people deliberately provoked the rebellion of the Hehuang Qiang.

With the example of Emperor Huan as a precedent, Emperor Ling was obsessed with making money.

Normal tax collection methods were difficult to rely on, so the means of selling official positions and titles were adopted, and the Ten Attendants and the like were merely helping to make money.

Anyway, officials will make money when they take office in counties. Instead of taking all the money for yourself, you might as well give some to the emperor.

Besides, if the emperor and the Ten Attendants don't take advantage of you, and other ministers recommend you to be an official, why don't you offer some local specialties as tribute?

It was precisely because Emperor Lingdi had accumulated a huge treasury through unconventional means that the Yellow Turban Army rose up in all eight states with great momentum, but was destroyed by a single blow from Emperor Lingdi's treasury.

Supported by the small treasury, he also maintained the Western Garden Forbidden Guards, which made many people very uncomfortable, so Emperor Lingdi died of illness.

Given Emperor Ling's rich experience, flexible and shameless tactics, and the increasingly mature Xiyuan Imperial Guards, if he had been allowed to live, who knows whether he would have done something even more terrifying than the Party Factions and Persecutions.

Only Dong Zhuo was foolish enough to seize power, and the family's wealth was immediately dragged down by financial pressure.

In order to avoid being dragged to death, Dong Zhuo had no choice but to rob.

The common people had long since run out of money, and they either robbed local tyrants or dug up graves to steal the coffins of the dead.

By the same token, the imperial court currently wants to resolve urgent financial pressures, and relying on taxation will not work at all!
Only by devouring the powerful people in Hedong can we obtain cash and grain reserves, and also obtain a large number of hidden households, so that the number of registered households in Hedong will increase dramatically, thereby ensuring the mobilization of troops and tax revenue.

The only way to break the deadlock is to face reality, put aside one's noble attitude, and make the court warlord-like again.

Zhao Ji conveyed a message through Zhong Yao, and the meaning was very clear: all parties in Guandong assisted the court, and after pacifying the world, if they did not want to be Huo Guang, then what else could they be?
Would Zhao Ji, who was able to put forward this point of view, be willing to do so?
Therefore, it is imperative that the emperor lead the army in person!
How to deal with Qubei became a thorny issue. At this difficult moment, Qubei's apology letter was delivered.

In an instant, the two dilemmas of defeating the Huns and eliminating the powerful were resolved.

(End of this chapter)