Tiger Guards

Chapter 95: Dispersion of Will
Anyi County Magistrate's Mansion, back garden.

The sun was high in the sky, and Liu Xie was reading under the pavilion, while Huan Dian, the General of the Imperial Guards, was explaining the meaning of the classics to him.

There were many vacancies among the officials. When fleeing eastward, the doctors and students not only lacked protection, but also had to rush to the front with their hot-bloodedness. The doctors often had to take the lead and set an example.

Therefore, most of the doctors who accompanied the emperor were killed in battle or disappeared along with the students.

Pei Mao also served as the Imperial Censor and would take turns giving lectures to Liu Xie.

While he was giving a lecture, the Grand Chamberlain ushered in a dusty official. The official stood outside the pavilion. The Grand Chamberlain came to the steps of the pavilion and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Ziqi has sent an envoy to report."

Huan Dian also put down the bamboo slips of scriptures in his hand and asked with a smile: "Your Majesty, guess what this is about?"

Liu Xie placed the bamboo sticks on the bamboo slips, rolled them up, tied them up, and placed them on the side of the table. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Have you guessed it, sir?"

Huan Dian nodded, his voice low, "If I were Zhao Ji, I would be worried about the court's suspicion. His treasury is vast, beyond common knowledge. He was able to contain the Xiongnu and his fellow Hu Ben, forcing Qu Bei to submit a petition to the court, demonstrating his devotion to the country. His previous words and actions reveal his intelligence but also his suspicions. His patriotism is similar to Jia Xu's."

Is Jia Xu a good person?
This is difficult to evaluate. Without Jia Xu's protection and mediation, how many officials would have died at the hands of Li Jue?

But if it weren't for Jia Xu, Li Jue, Guo Si and others who lacked strategy and long-term planning would have long ago collapsed their army and fled back to their hometowns to become bandits.

Most of the existing officials and ministers have been saved by Jia Xu, and no one can speak ill of Jia Xu against his conscience.

Even if you really want to make a straw man and write Jia Xu's name on it to curse him, you just can't say bad things about him.

It is easy to say bad things, but next time you encounter danger, no one will come to save you like Jia Xu did.

It is similar with Zhao Ji. You can accuse him of rude words, but you cannot say that Zhao Ji is a bad person or an evil minister.

Liu Xie was intelligent. When he saw Huan Dian comparing Zhao Ji with Jia Xu, he knew that Huan Dian valued Zhao Ji very much.

After Zhao Ji rescued the emperor, he had been in a state of freedom, which was very similar to Duan Wei during the eastward migration.

Yang Ding and others sent troops to attack Duan Wei's camp for more than ten consecutive days, but every day Duan Wei would send people to deliver food to the emperor.

Duan Wei didn't care about other ministers at all. He would rather send people to deliver food twice a day than give enough at once.

He just put on a good show every day. Even if the ministers and court officials criticized him, who could stand up and blame Duan Wei?
They sent troops to attack, but it did not prevent Duan Wei from being a loyal minister.

With the disparity example of Duan Wei, whatever happened to Zhao Ji is understandable.

Even if a palace attendant was killed by Zhao Ji, let him die. There are so many people in the court, it is impossible for them to cut off ties with Zhao Ji just for a palace attendant.

The so-called influence of the emperor's majesty can be seen from the behavior of the ministers and officials accompanying him.

At present, it is still too chaotic, with too many wills from top to bottom, and it is impossible to have a dictatorship.

Anyone can represent the court, but no one can represent the entire court.

Not to mention Zhao Ji, any general leading troops would have to carefully examine the situation, which invisibly increased the cost of communication.

Seeing no rebuttal from the emperor, Huan Dian added, "In my opinion, Zhao Ji possesses a noble character, far surpassing all other officials. It's just that he lacks a good mentor, and his behavior is frivolous. Once Zhao Yuanming enters the court, there will be no need for worry. Your Majesty, you should show more care for him and avoid slanderous words that undermine the relationship between the monarch and his subjects."

"I think so too."

Liu Xie took a sip of the honey water, moistening his throat before saying, "I had originally intended to invite Zhao Qing to the court after moving to Anyi, and have a long conversation with him. I never imagined something like this would happen, hindering Zhao Qing from escaping. I'll have to ask you to meet with Zhao Qing and Ziqi Gong later. Please don't let the relationship get damaged."

"only."

Huan Dian stood up, bowed deeply, and stood by.

Liu Xie turned his head to look at the Grand Chamberlain. After bowing deeply, the Grand Chamberlain walked over to invite the official to come forward and narrate the story.

The official also heard the conversation in the pavilion. He did not dare to be a treacherous minister who "slandered the friendship between the monarch and his subjects", so he reorganized his words and recounted what happened in the manor. He spoke highly of Zhao Ji and described the events at that time objectively and accurately.

When Liu Xie heard that more than a thousand Hu Ben and Xiongnu people were doing indecent things in the golden brick secret room, he didn't care.

He had experienced many things that destroyed his worldview and cognition. The only thing that broke his defense was the huge wealth of the Wei family. Other things would hardly make him lose control of his emotions.

When Yang Qi heard that Zhao Ji only wanted the position of Shizhong, he asked for the title of "General of the Tiger Guards, performing the duties of Shizhong".

Liu Xie could feel that the old man Yang Qi was angry and was using force to gain control of his official position.

He originally wanted to appoint Zhao Ji as the Shizhong... He was the emperor, and he didn't need to consider anyone's qualifications when appointing him as his close attendant.

The Hubenlang themselves were a kind of official career, similar to the emperor's disciples, and were close ministers and guards of the emperor.

If Zhao Ji were to resign and go through the official recruitment process, serving in the cabinet, etc., it would be a violation of the emperor's authority and a minor offense. As for the position of General of the Tiger Guards, this position actually had limited control over the Tiger Guards, and the daily management of the Tiger Guards was very complicated.

Under normal circumstances, the General of the Huben Army would not be able to mobilize the Huben Army to do things outside of the regulations.

In recent years, only during the Luoyang riots, Yuan Shu, the Lieutenant General of the Tiger Guards, could order the Tiger Guards to attack and burn the Suzaku Gate when the situation was out of control.

Other troops did not dare to attack, but the Huben, as the emperor's guards, could.

There is cross-management within the Huben, and promotions must be approved by Guanglu Xun. The Huben Zhonglang Jiang does not have the final personnel authority.

If his superior Guanglu Xun does not give him face, the Huben Zhonglang Jiang will not be able to replenish the Huben or promote any Huben.

This is similar to the General of the Imperial Guards. The four people who actually manage the Imperial Guards are the Left and Right Supervisors and the Chancellor. The power of personnel promotion is also in the hands of Guanglu Xun.

Guanglu Xun could not directly intervene in the dispatch without going through the Huben and Yulin Zhonglang Jiang.

The entire Guanglu Xun system was thus controlled in a large and small manner, which ensured the stability of the guard system.

The only person who can effectively integrate the guards is the emperor. Others who enter this system must divide power among themselves.

Liu Xie thought for a moment and said, "Draft an imperial edict to appoint Zhao Qing as Shizhong and concurrently as Hu Ben Zhonglang Jiang."

The Shangshu was drafting the imperial edict nearby. Liu Xie then looked at Huan Dian and said, "Sir, go with the Imperial Servants to discuss with Lord Zhao the matters concerning the rewards for the Tiger Guards and the Xiongnu loyalists. If there are no concerns, Lord Zhao will select a team of Tiger Guards and assign them to the Imperial Servants to oversee the secret room."

The palace servant was Fu De, the queen's brother.

As he spoke, Liu Xie raised his hand and pondered for a moment: "Zhao Qing must be under great pressure guarding the secret room. Let him make as much concessions as possible. Don't let Zhao Qing lose his trust in the villagers."

"only."

Huan Dian bowed deeply, accepted the imperial edict, and when Liu Xie gave him no further instructions, he retreated to the steps of the pavilion and said, "I'll take my leave."

Inside the pavilion, he was a lecturer and the emperor's teacher; outside the pavilion, he was a minister of the Han Dynasty, the General of the Imperial Guards, Long Kang Huan Dian of Pei State.

After watching Huan Dian leave, Liu Xie picked up the bamboo slips he had just tied on the table, stood up and walked towards the small courtyard.

Because of the diarrhea he had suffered before, he didn't walk fast.

In the courtyard, when he arrived, Fu Shou was weeding in the vegetable garden with two nobles, Song and Zhao, who were wearing coarse clothes.

The vegetable garden is not large, and Wang Yi's wives and concubines who lived here before took excellent care of it.

So there weren't many weeds, they were just loosening the soil.

Seeing him come in, Fu Shou rolled up her sleeves to wipe the sweat off her face, put down her hoe and walked to the edge of the vegetable garden: "Your Majesty, why are you back so early?"

"There are some matters with Zhao Qing, and I am tired, so I used an excuse to ask Huan Dian to go and negotiate."

Liu Xie took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat-stained dirt stains on Fu Shou's cheek. Fu Shou entered the palace at the age of thirteen and is now eighteen.

During the past six months, he almost watched Fu Shouqing become thinner.

There is almost no excess flesh on the cheeks.

Fortunately, everything has changed and everything will be fine.

Fu Shou closed her eyes and waited until Liu Xie finished wiping before she said, "Then your Majesty, please rest for a while. I will go and cook dinner."

"Ah."

Liu Xie looked at Concubine Song and Concubine Zhao who were standing beside him. Concubine Zhao was the daughter of Zhao Rui.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Zhao Zimao and Zhao Yuanming are from the same clan. Queen, please make arrangements. When Zhao Qing enters the court, have Concubine Zhao and Zhao Qing become siblings."

"I accept my orders."

Fu Shou bowed and accepted the offer, and Concubine Zhao also prostrated herself on the ground and kowtowed deeply.

She was shaking uncontrollably due to excitement.

The so-called clan union was nothing more than the ministers were in trouble, and Zhao Yan's four grandsons died in battle while protecting the emperor. Zhao Rui recounted the family tree to comfort them, to warm each other and to comfort Zhao Yan.

Zhao Rui also had his sons and nephews killed in battle, leaving only his cousin, the official Zhao Fan, and they relied on each other.

(End of this chapter)