Chapter 16: The True Boundary

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Zhao Ji was not in a hurry; he also saw that Ximen Jian and his companion were at their limit, barely managing to win. Generously, he said, "Rest your strength, and let’s fight again."

Ximen Jian snorted with a laugh. "Victory and defeat are but momentary; no need for chatter. Come, face me once more."

Seeing this, Zhao Ji glanced at Wei Xing. "Brother Zi’ang, shall we each take one, or should I face them alone?"

Wei Xing tilted his head, thinking for a moment. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he proposed, "I was dissatisfied with my loss yesterday. How about another round between us?"

"Fine."

With that, Zhao Ji twisted his waist and turned, delivering a straight kick. Even though Wei Xing was prepared, he was forced to retreat uncontrollably. Before he could regain his footing, Zhao Ji pushed off the ground, leapt forward, and executed a magnificent whirlwind kick. The backward-moving Wei Xing was struck in the chest, falling hard on his back, his lungs jolted, and his head spun in confusion.

He only saw the first kick; the following whirlwind kick was a technique he had never seen before.

Lying on the ground, he still couldn’t comprehend what the second move was, nor how Zhao Ji had executed it.

Not only him, but over two hundred onlookers also failed to catch the moves clearly.

In that instant, Zhao Ji’s whirlwind kick seemed to leave afterimages, as if he had three legs.

Ignoring Wei Xing’s dazed state and gasps for breath, Zhao Ji returned to his original position and smiled at Ximen Jian. "Will you two attack together?"

"Then I shall take the liberty," Ximen Jian replied.

He gave his companion a look, and the two of them attacked Zhao Ji from left and right.

Zhao Ji did not dare to be careless. With fists clenched, using the Tongbi Fist style, he shifted his stance, using footwork to generate momentum, swinging his arms with inertia. His reach was naturally a bit longer, making it difficult for the two opponents to close in.

Within a breath, both sides stepped back and disengaged.

"I underestimated myself," Zhao Ji said, looking at the two men who could barely straighten their backs. He did not understand the Tongbi Fist style but could tell the others had fought with it before.

Unexpectedly, with increased damage and corrected power posture, the two opponents were grimacing, holding on purely for pride.

At this moment, Wei Xing stood up. Zhao Ji slightly shifted his body as if ready to face three at once.

However, Wei Xing clutched his chest with his left hand and wisely stepped back a few paces.

At this point, Ximen Jian beckoned with a finger to Zhao Ji, as per the rules signaling it was Zhao Ji’s turn to attack.

Clearly outmatched by two opponents who had already struck first, Ximen Jian was still stubborn, preferring to take more blows than fall dishonorably.

Seeing no immediate move from Zhao Ji, Ximen Jian asked, "What was that kicking technique that just knocked down Wei Zi’ang?"

"The first move is called ‘Rabbit Kicks the Hawk,’ the second ‘Mount Tai Presses Down.’"

Zhao Ji observed their positions and smiled. "There’s a third move, ‘Divine Dragon Swings Its Tail.’ You won’t be able to catch it."

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With that, Zhao Ji stepped forward and threw a stabbing punch. Ximen Jian, aching and slow, barely raised his hand to block, but Zhao Ji retracted his fist and easily rammed his right shoulder into Ximen Jian, knocking him to the ground.

The other man stepped forward with a kick, but Zhao Ji caught his ankle with his left hand. Countless lethal moves flashed through his mind, yet he forced himself to simply push. The opponent lost balance and fell.

Only then did Zhao Ji move forward to help the two men to their feet, then stepped to the center of the arena. He removed his deerskin jacket, clenched his right fist, and struck his armored chest with a crisp sound. Raising his right arm high, he declared, "The victor is me, Zhao Ji!"

His gaze swept the crowd. "Is there anyone else who dares challenge me?"

"Uroar~!"

Immediately, from the gathered crowd, someone let out a strange howl. Zhao Ji turned to see and tore off a pouch of dried meat tied at his waist, tossing it into the loudest cluster.

The man reached out to grab it, but a dozen hands surged up around him, and the pouch vanished instantly.

On the elevated platform, Pei Xiu saw Zhao Ji’s excited expression and even his balled-up deerskin jacket tossed into the crowd where the cheers were loudest.

As the cheers subsided a bit, Pei Xiu looked at Wei Gu. "Brother, shall Aji be temporarily appointed as garrison commander?"

"It should be so. I have no objection," Wei Gu replied with a broad smile. "Ximen Jian almost tricked us. Aji should give him a good thrashing."

As he spoke, Wei Gu pulled a gold ingot from his pocket, quietly slipping it into Pei Xiu’s hand. "Aji can call me Brother too. Use this money to buy wine and meat. Consider it Aji’s treat."

"Brother’s kindness is well understood," Pei Xiu said.

"Our busy work is just beginning. Let’s go meet Wang Zhi."

"Yes."

Pei Xiu agreed and followed Wei Gu to a low wall nearby, with Jia Kui and Guanqiu Xing quickly trailing behind.

Inside the spacious barracks, Wang Zhi, clad in armor, sat at the main seat, looking levelly at the four who entered, then focusing on Jia Kui’s face. "Liang Dao, how am I to speak of you?"

"I was careless and thoughtless," Jia Kui admitted frankly, taking responsibility alone.

The camp extended over four hundred paces in depth; any disturbance quickly became known to all.

Did Wang Zhi not know when the Wenxi people ventured out of camp to gather support?

When the Wenxi and Anyi people flooded the training ground, making noise outside Wang Zhi’s door as he strolled, Jia Kui had yet to bow his head.

Jia Kui was too lazy to dwell on these details and scorned to explain to Wang Zhi.

Wang Zhi wanted to scold Jia Kui harshly, but Jia Kui offered no defense, simply answering honestly and standing behind Wei Gu.

Wang Zhi had no choice but to give up on Jia Kui. He appraised Wei Gu from head to toe. "Was this all Zhongjian’s idea?"

"Not at all. We simply felt that Sima and Liang Dao’s plan was flawed. To avoid a grave mistake, we followed the will of the soldiers. I will write to report everything to the duke, and I hope Sima will report fairly to clear any misunderstanding."

Wei Gu glanced left and right before continuing, "Our aspirations align with Lord Wang Sima’s. Life and death are trivial in comparison. We should not be caught up in petty matters. Protecting the Son of Heaven and supporting the realm transcends any single family, surname, or commandery. We ask Sima to forgive our temporary offense."

"If it weren’t for concerns about court affairs, I wouldn’t be here waiting," Wang Zhi said, his expression softening somewhat. He gestured expansively to invite them to sit. "What does Zhongjian think of the camp affairs?"

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"Below the Sima, five departments are set up to oversee camp affairs. Each county’s Tiger Guards are organized into seven garrisons. When we reach Henei, we will examine and reorganize in detail," Wei Gu explained calmly, outlining the five departments and seven garrisons.

But after listening, Wang Zhi said, "The Bow Department managing bows and crossbows is rather inappropriate. Bows and crossbows are lethal weapons; storage, maintenance, and repair can be handled by a single military officer. In battle, command of these weapons should remain with the garrison commanders."

Wang Zhi pondered and proposed, "Change the Bow Department to the Merit Department to review merits, the Law Department to oversee military discipline, and the Merit Department to manage officers’ merits. Liang Dao can take charge of the Warehouse Department. Please have Zhongjian and Axi jointly handle the Merit and Law Departments. The Cavalry and Infantry Departments should be led by those skilled in warfare to train their respective troops."

He immediately suggested removing the two departments responsible for training the cavalry and infantry. Jia Kui was unhurried.

The Cavalry Department was assigned to men from the northern commandery, unless Wang Zhi recommended a military officer of northern origin.

At that moment, Wei Gu said, "Xu Gongming, the former county officer of Yang County, who returned home to visit relatives, could serve as the Cavalry Department head."

Wang Zhi frowned. Since Yang Feng raised troops to support the king, many county officers were swept up, including Xu Huang.

The recent war, still wintertime, saw Yang Feng join forces with the former White Wave generals to drive out Dong Cheng. No battles followed. Xu Huang returned home after spring plowing to recruit soldiers for Yang Feng—it was not surprising.

The Son of Heaven spent every day with Yang Feng, who could easily demand and issue legitimate recruitment orders.

What surprised Wang Zhi more was Wei Gu’s attitude—was he trying to sway Xu Huang?

In winter, Zhang Yang and Dong Cheng proposed escorting the Son of Heaven to Henei or Luoyang.

After all, Hedong lacked grain, all supplied upstream from Henei. The Sanmen Gorge was impassable by boat, with thirty-six notorious rapids below it.

Transporting grain through Henei was arduous and costly in manpower and vessels.

Zhang Yang’s proposal was reasonable but rejected by Yang Feng and others, who defeated and expelled Dong Cheng.

Currently, Dong Cheng was assigned by Zhang Yang to restore the palace in Luoyang, waiting for Yang Feng and the others to escort the Son of Heaven through Zhiguan and Xing to Henei, then onward to Luoyang.

Indeed, the Son of Heaven was now in Anyi, controlled by former White Wave army generals.

The Tiger Guards gathered in the northern Jiangyi precisely to prevent misunderstandings or seizures by the White Wave forces.

The quota was only five hundred, meaning the Tiger Guards would certainly be overstrength.

After formation, they planned either to proceed through Zhiguan and Xing to Henei or turn back to confront Yang Feng—both uncertain.

What was the ultimate stance of the Hedong gentry and powerful families?

Sending their sons to serve and sacrifice for the Son of Heaven was one thing, but destroying their homeland was clearly against their interests.

Therefore, their bottom line was to avoid Hedong’s complete ruin, to prevent it becoming a wasteland like Luoyang or the Three Auxiliary Regions.

Wang Zhi was but a clan nephew from Wangyi; even his closest relatives would not be told such secrets.

At this moment, Wang Zhi felt the Sima position was a hot seat, not conducive to clear thinking.

But the path of officialdom was arduous, and he had no way out.

He would endure the grievances; among his peers, he was already at an advantage.