Chapter 15: Five Offices and Seven Garrisons
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The Xiangling contingent was stationed in a small camp.
They had been assigned six barracks, along with an even larger stretch of open ground to serve as a stable. Almost every man had a horse.
The migration of the Southern Xiongnu had brought both disadvantages and benefits.
The scattered raids and plundering of Xiongnu bandits had forced the common people in the counties surrounding Pingyang to seek the protection of powerful clans, gathering together for mutual defense against the Xiongnu.
Meanwhile, ordinary commerce between the great clans and the Xiongnu tribes had allowed those clans to accumulate retainers and tenant farmers, as well as a considerable number of horses.
A five-foot-high rammed-earth wall divided the inside from the outside. Jia Kui remained calm, as though he had anticipated this change.
Wei Gu, Pei Xiu, and Wuqiu Xing stood before him, all wearing expressions of harmony.
Wuqiu Xing’s father, Wuqiu Yi, had once served as a general under Grand General He Jin. Having distinguished himself in many battles, he had followed the metropolitan camps and imperial guards westward into Guanzhong after the coup in Luoyang. Now, as one of the surviving orthodox commanders of the capital forces, he had accompanied the Son of Heaven on his journey east.
Pei Xiu required little explanation. His uncle, Pei Mao, was highly active these days. It was entirely thanks to Pei Mao’s mediation that the former White Wave commanders of Hedong origin, such as Yang Feng and Li Le, had been kept in check—and through them, the other warlords as well.
Although Wei Gu was only the second son in his family, he now represented Hedong’s foremost aristocratic clan.
Wei Gu briefly explained their purpose. He and Pei Xiu had already drawn up a reorganization plan for Hedong’s twenty counties.
They had not rejected Jia Kui’s proposal outright. Instead, they had grouped the counties according to their proximity to one another: sometimes two counties, sometimes three or four, forming seven battalions. Within each battalion, the men would be mixed together.
Once circumstances permitted, a full reorganization would follow.
The largest was the First Battalion, made up of Anyi, Wenxi, and the two Jiang counties, North Jiang and South Jiang. Next came the Second Battalion, consisting of the three counties along the lower reaches of the Sushui River: Jie, Puban, and Yishi. The Third Battalion comprised Longmen, Pishi, and Linfen, all in the lower reaches of the Fen River.
The counties north of the commandery had sent an especially large number of volunteers to the Tiger Braves, many of whom had brought horses. They would form a cavalry unit and a baggage-and-transport unit.
The two counties south of Zhongtiao Mountain would form one battalion, while the counties in the southeastern mountains around the Zhiguan Pass would form another.
After listening, Jia Kui asked, “If we organize them this way, then during a march, will the scouts and cavalry ride at the front?”
Wei Gu shook his head. “The reconnaissance scouts will naturally be selected from the finest men in each battalion. But if the cavalry leads the march and encounters an ambush, there may be no time to react. Panicked horses would only hinder the battle. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the cavalry and baggage train will travel in the center.”
Jia Kui asked again, “With today’s change, where does that leave Assistant Commander Wang?”
“Today’s affair lies with us, not with him.”
Wei Gu stared at Jia Kui’s lean cheeks. “Liang Dao should have discussed such matters with us beforehand. He truly should not have made a unilateral decision with Wang Zhi. The grain, fodder, and weapons issued by the commandery—are they not, in the end, offerings from our own families?”
Jia Kui did not argue. Instead, he continued, “If each battalion elects its own commander and each unit its own officer, where does that leave us?”
Wei Gu turned his head toward Pei Xiu. Pei Xiu answered, “Below Assistant Commander Wang, we should select the worthy and appoint the capable, establishing several offices to assist with military affairs. I believe we should create the Cavalry Office, Infantry Office, Supply Office, Archery Office, and Law Office. The Cavalry and Supply Offices may be entrusted to men from the northern counties.”
Once the five offices and seven battalions took shape, Wang Zhi would naturally be reduced to a figurehead.
As Jia Kui hesitated, representatives of the Linfen contingent arrived with the Wenxi contingent. They had overheard part of the conversation through the wall.
One of them said, “What is there left to hesitate over? Even without Wang Zhi, we can still enter the imperial guard and protect the Son of Heaven!”
Jia Kui turned to look at the men from his own county. None had clearly objected, but neither were they visibly agitated.
Only then did he turn back to Wei Gu. “I am skilled at planning and accounting. I will take charge of the Supply Office.”
“With Liang Dao’s assistance, I cannot imagine anything that could stand in our way!”
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Wei Gu extended his hand. Jia Kui did the same. Outside the wall, Pei Xiu and Wuqiu Xing also reached out, and their palms clasped tightly together.
The Tiger Braves of the Linfen contingent beckoned to the men inside from beyond the wall. Several Xiangling natives who knew them could not wait for the gate to open and nimbly climbed over.
Jia Kui tried to leave through the main gate, but his fellow townsmen seized him by both legs and shoved him outward. Outside, Wei Gu and Pei Xiu joined forces to pull him free.
As for Wang Zhi, who had awakened from his nap to find that he had completely lost control of the army… who cared?
The Xiangling and Linfen contingents surrounded the group as they reached the training grounds. By then, the barracks nearest the field had their doors tightly shut. Wang Zhi’s guards stood in the courtyard with spears and halberds in hand. They did not even dare shout abuse, merely staring in silence at the more than two hundred men beyond the wall.
Seeing the crowd part, Zhao Ji turned his head and spotted Pei Xiu and Wuqiu Xing escorting Wei Gu and Jia Kui toward them. He hurried forward with Wei Xing and clasped his hands in greeting.
“Seventh Brother.”
Pei Xiu quickened his pace by two steps and spread his arms in introduction. “Brother Zhongjian, Brother Liangdao, this is my younger brother Zhao Aji. He is exceptionally brave, and no one in our county can match him in unarmed combat or swordsmanship. This is Wei Zi’ang, whose horsemanship and archery are likewise unsurpassed in the county. Aji, Zi’ang, why have you not paid your respects to the two elder brothers from Anyi, Wei Zhongjian and Xiangling, Jia Liangdao?”
Zhao Ji and Wei Xing bowed deeply to Wei Gu and Jia Kui. “Greetings, Elder Brothers Zhongjian and Liangdao.”
Wei Gu hurried forward to help Zhao Ji up, smiling as he said, “I had already heard of Aji’s reputation. Now that I have met you, I see that you truly are a fine warrior!”
Jia Kui also helped Wei Xing to his feet, then looked Zhao Ji over with some curiosity. He had genuinely never heard that Wenxi possessed such a figure.
Zhao Ji stood only an inch shorter than Wei Xing. Since Wei Xing was still too embarrassed to hold his head high after being knocked unconscious in yesterday’s wrestling match, Zhao Ji appeared all the more imposing.
As for appearance, Wei Gu was the most handsome, though his build was merely average.
Standing together, judged only by bearing, looks, and physique, Zhao Ji drew the eye most strongly, despite the scabbed wound on his left cheek and the bruises still marring his face.
If one counted from the other end, Jia Kui and Wuqiu Xing could easily have contended for first place.
A man’s appearance reflected his spirit. It was not only Jia Kui—many of the Tiger Braves meeting Zhao Ji for the first time felt that following him would be no hardship.
As they spoke, Wei Gu reached the earthen platform at the center of the training grounds. Then, worried that his words might bring trouble upon his father and brothers, he looked toward Pei Xiu.
Pei Xiu strode onto the platform as well. Raising both arms, he gave a slight wave, and the noisy discussion across the training grounds subsided.
Pei Xiu then called out, “For four hundred years, the state has nurtured men of talent. We have lived for generations on Han stipends and always possessed hearts devoted to repaying the nation! Now treacherous ministers rise one after another, the realm is shaken, and the Son of Heaven suffers humiliation. We have all volunteered for the Tiger Braves in order to protect the Son of Heaven and preserve the foundations of the state!”
He swept his gaze across the field. Meeting those pairs of ardent eyes, Pei Xiu’s voice grew ever more impassioned.
“You all know that the road to Luoyang, where we shall guard the Son of Heaven, is arduous. Bandits infest the land, and treacherous ministers and disordered armies will obstruct our path. Therefore, after repeated deliberation, we have decided to reorganize the camp. Five offices and seven battalions shall be established. The men of Anyi, Wenxi, North Jiang, and South Jiang will form the First Battalion!”
When Pei Xiu finished, he turned to Wei Gu. Wei Gu stepped forward and shouted, “The battalion commander and unit officers shall lead from the front, charging first into battle and serving as the vanguard for their men. Should any man resist orders, the officers to his left and right may strike him down, after which a replacement will be appointed. If a unit officer dares not fight, his squad leader shall execute him! Any man from our four counties who wishes to compete for battalion commander, step forward!”
As his voice fell, several men who coveted the position stepped forward—eight in all.
Each was a respected representative of his county. If they were unqualified, no one else would be better suited.
Among the eight, Ximen Jian of South Jiang raised his arm. When he saw all eyes turn toward him, he said, “The men of North and South Jiang share the bond of brothers. Though they are called two counties, they are truly one.”
Pei Xiu smiled. “And what do you propose?”
“Let North Jiang compete against Wenxi, and South Jiang against Anyi. The two winners will then compete for command of the battalion!”
As he spoke, Ximen Jian turned to look at the two men from North Jiang. They nodded as well.
Pei Xiu said, “Not to boast, but Wenxi and Anyi have always been strong. By your proposal, South Jiang and North Jiang will both be defeated in the first round.”
Ximen Jian glanced at his companions, then answered, “Even if we lose, it will not matter. Our two counties will not turn against one another.”
“Excellent.”
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Pei Xiu said, “Then choose your opponents and compete. Fists and feet only—no weapons.”
The moment he finished speaking, Zhao Ji and Wei Xing turned slightly in perfect understanding, presenting their backs to each other.
Wei Xing shouted, “Who will fight me?”
“Wei Zi’ang, I will!”
A man from North Jiang had already rolled up his sleeves. He crooked a finger at Wei Xing, his expression openly provocative. Judging by the look in his eyes, the two seemed to have an old grudge between them.
Wei Xing immediately stepped forward to accept the challenge, while another man came to face Zhao Ji.
The two had never met before. Neither dared be careless, and neither was willing to attack first.
As they watched one another, the two men from South Jiang also began wrestling with their opponents from Anyi.
The man facing Zhao Ji gave a low shout. “Here I come!”
As he lunged forward, Zhao Ji moved as well. Unlike their previous encounter, they seized each other’s arms at the moment of impact and began testing their strength at the waist.
Almost the instant they made contact, Zhao Ji lifted his opponent high into the air like pulling up a scallion and slammed him to one side.
The fall left the man’s arms weak and numb. Zhao Ji released him and stepped back instead of following up with a kick, waiting for him to rise.
Once on his feet, the man rubbed his aching arms and studied Zhao Ji’s stance carefully. He decided to use a Xiongnu tackling technique.
“Here I come!”
Zhao Ji noticed the change in his eyes and saw him crouch before lunging. He drove his feet into the ground and leapt.
With his explosive strength amplified, he sailed over the man’s head.
When Zhao Ji turned around, his opponent was red-faced with humiliation and fury. Without even pausing to catch his breath, he charged forward again, reaching for Zhao Ji.
With his strength increased by thirty percent, Zhao Ji could almost completely overwhelm the slight difference in technique.
There was no suspense. The instant they engaged, Zhao Ji threw him over his shoulder, and this time the man was thoroughly subdued.
Seeing him lying on the ground, gasping heavily, Zhao Ji stepped forward and offered him a hand.
After being pulled upright, the man brushed the dust from his clothes. Watching Wei Xing wrestle nearby, he then said to Zhao Ji, “My name is Wang Cheng.”
“Zhao Ji.”
After more than a dozen breaths, Wei Xing emerged victorious, though the corner of his mouth had been split open.
Before them stood the South Jiang team, which had likewise won only after a difficult struggle.
On the platform, Wei Gu’s expression was not pleasant. There was nothing to be done about it. The people of Anyi enjoyed better living conditions. Even when physically robust, they lacked a certain fierce tenacity.
Ximen Jian narrowed his eyes slightly. His gaze passed over Wei Xing before settling on Zhao Ji, and he sighed.
“I miscalculated.”