Tiger Guards

Chapter 749 The Ruler's Decisive Actions
Zhang Zhao stormed off, not daring to linger or act arrogantly.

As a local leader, Zang Ba was mindful of the impact of his actions and also considered the future.

But the refugee leaders or military officers under Zang Ba's command would not have such long-term planning.

Therefore, Zhang Zhao did not delay. After reuniting with the guards, he immediately left the city and sped south.

The roads in Langya were relatively well maintained, and even if ordinary small-time peasant leaders wanted to ambush and kill Zhang Zhao, they would lack the cavalry to pursue them.

The higher the rank of the refugee commander, the more they knew about Zhang Zhao's enormous influence. Although they coveted the horses used by Zhang Zhao's guards, few dared to make a move.

After killing Zhang Zhao, it wasn't just Grand Tutor Zhao who sought revenge; the scholars of Xuzhou also joined in.

Whoever avenges Zhang Zhao will reap immense fame and rewards.

Not killing Zhang Zhao but merely taking his horse would be even worse, because Zhang Zhao is stubborn and will always be obsessed with revenge, which would be even more unbearable.

Zhang Zhao was also afraid that he would die before achieving his great cause. Although his legs were chafed painfully by the saddle, the sweat made him even more energetic.

Therefore, he rushed all the way and, upon arriving in Langya, immediately wrote a report to Zhao Ji about the impending changes in Langya.

He then recounted in detail the changes in Zang Ba, thus repaying the favor of Zang Ba for letting him leave.

After all, if Zang Ba was truly determined to surrender to Sun Ce, he should have arrested Zhang Zhao, who had come to him, or led his troops in a surprise attack to defeat Zhang Zhao's militia. That would have served as a pledge of allegiance, making him a trustworthy force under Sun Ce.

Zang Ba upheld the bottom line between fellow villagers, and in return, Zhang Zhao naturally had to show his appreciation.

Not only should Zang Ba be protected to some extent in official documents, but the opportunity should also be presented in the future to repay the kindness of not killing or harming him today. Even if Zang Ba's life cannot be saved, a way should be found to save Zang Ba's children.

These were all unspoken understandings. Given Zhang Zhao's resolute character, he believed that he should repay the kindness he received.

Zhang Zhao was also afraid that the letter would be intercepted while traveling through the Yan and Yu regions, or that it would get lost, so he could only send out a fleet in the name of the Langya royal family to hide the secret letter in the cabin.

As for other channels of communication, Zhang Zhao was worried about leaks... After all, many of the informants developed in the Yanzhou-Henan region were, in essence, speculators.

Such people are not trustworthy, and Zhang Zhao does not want to use them to harm Zang Ba.

Thus, this secret letter embarked on a difficult journey.

It's possible that even when Zhao Ji's army breaks through Yan and Yu provinces and advances down the Si and Bian rivers towards Pengcheng, this letter still won't reach them.

In Xuchang, at the residence of Grand Tutor Yang Biao.

Since the coup in Xudu, a relatively stable order has only been restored since the beginning of this year.

His Grand Tutor's Office was also filled with recruits and staff, and following the example of Zhao Yan's Grand Tutor's Office, the various departments within the office were basically connected with the six departments of the Ministry of Personnel, thus directly completing the construction of his powerful office.

Under such circumstances, the efficiency of the Grand Tutor's Office in governing the country was naturally significantly improved.

There are too many benefits to reducing factional strife, but besides the Grand Tutor's Mansion, there should also be the Grand Protector's Mansion and the Grand Preceptor's Mansion.

Now, Liu Biao, Liu Bei, Liu Ai, Sun Ce, Yuan Shao, and Dong Cheng are all vying for the positions of Grand Protector and Grand Tutor, and even Liu Xun, the governor of Lujiang Commandery, wants to give it a try.

According to Yang Biao, Yuan Shao was very suitable to be the Grand Tutor, but Yuan Shao was ashamed to be given an official position that was equal to that of Lü Bu, and he refused to accept the position of Grand Tutor because he said that the traitors Dong Zhuo and Zhao Ji had both served as Grand Tutors.

Given Yuan Shao's position, it couldn't remain vacant like this... Yang Biao naturally understood that Yuan Shao wanted to be on par with Zhao Yan and wanted to become the Grand Tutor of the Xudu court.

After all, Zhao Yan's previous tutor was Yuan Shao's uncle, Yuan Wei.

Yuan Shao and his protégés and former officials naturally assumed that the court should appoint Yuan Shao as Grand Tutor, and that the imperial edicts should be issued remotely from Yuan Shao's residence in Xuchang. But how could Yang Biao possibly allow that?

Before becoming Grand Tutor, Yang Biao didn't care about the position.

Furthermore, although he became the Grand Tutor and gained the support and admiration of scholars from all over the country, the influence of the Yang family of Hongnong was expanded.

In reality, the influence of the Yang family actually declined during the five years since the emperor moved the capital east.

Previously, Yang Qi was the leader, with Yang Biao and Yang Zhong as his assistants. The disciples and former officials of the Three Yangs were all over the palace and the court. If they hadn't been unable to control the military forces, with the influence of the Three Yangs, they could have manipulated the affairs of the court and the emperor's attitude.

After Yang Qi and Yang Zhong's plot to stage a coup against Liu Bei failed, they were secretly executed by Lü Bu.

As a result, the Yang family lost its influence in the palace, which led the emperor to be misled by treacherous officials and make the wrong decision to massacre Fu Wan's entire family.

Now, after the fierce factional struggle in Xudu, Yang Biao has become the final victor. After being appointed as Grand Tutor, he has only restored the influence of the Yang family at the beginning of the eastward migration.

Faced with Yuan Shao's unreasonable demands, Yang Biao naturally had his own way of dealing with them.

Then let them continue to fight for it. As long as the Grand Tutor and Grand Protector are not established, no one can share power with the Grand Tutor's mansion.

Furthermore, there are still meritorious officials and former ministers who were transferred eastward and await resettlement in the court, such as Minister Zhao Wen.

Compared to Yuan Shao and Sun Ce, the emperor trusted his mentors, with whom he spent every day, more.

There was also Dong Cheng, as well as Liu Biao, Liu Bei, and Liu Ai, three powerful vassal states near Xuchang.

The position of Grand Tutor requires the selection of virtuous and capable individuals, and Yang Biao, being the popular choice, naturally deserves it without hesitation.

Therefore, among the Grand Protector and Grand Tutor, one must be a virtuous member of the imperial clan.

Otherwise, what would the world think?
Previously, when the traitors Zhao Ji and Lü Bu were in power, they continued the policy of heavily relying on the imperial clan during the time of Li Guo and Dong Zhuo; it is impossible for Yang Biao to be in power when all the virtuous and capable members of the imperial clan died out and all three high-ranking officials in the court came from outside the clan.

Therefore, the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector must both be from the imperial clan.

Compared to his old acquaintance Liu Ai and the two-faced Liu Biao, Yang Biao favored Liu Bei more.

Liu Bei was one of the former rulers, and it was with Liu Bei's strong support that Yang Biao was able to quickly stand out and become the Grand Tutor.

In terms of ability and personality, Yang Biao, in his honest opinion, also believes that Liu Bei is more outstanding.

Liu Bei's excellence was acknowledged by traitors Zhao Ji and Lü Bu.

Both men were willing to bring Liu Bei into the court to participate in governance. It was Liu Bei's defection that made Lü Bu back down, successfully rescuing the emperor and restoring the state.

Is Yang Biao's magnanimity and vision inferior to those of the traitors Zhao Ji and Lü Bu?
As Yang Biao pondered these things, he flipped through some important letters and came across a letter from Yang Xiu.

The contents of Yang Xiu's letter made Yang Biao ponder deeply, and he began to prepare a natural and unpretentious scheme based on the existing conditions.

The most important political matter was actually personnel management, specifically how to allocate official positions.

This is the important matter that Grand Tutor Yang Biao should be considering. Ordinary military affairs can be handled by the various clerks in the Grand Tutor's office, and this is also a great opportunity for them to train.

"Wonderful!"

As Yang Biao pondered the series of adjustments to official positions, his eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but slap his thigh and stand up.

(End of this chapter)