Chapter 32: A World Unto Itself

Inside the military camp, the captives assigned to bury the fallen Xiongnu soldiers found no rest upon their return. Carrying various tools under the watchful eyes of the Huben guards, they cleaned the bloodstains within the camp and gathered scattered arrows; those among the captives who could communicate in the local tongue were tasked with repairing the barracks. Before nightfall, they had to ensure the wounded soldiers had shelters protected from the rain.

In the parade ground, the group gathered once more. Liu Fu submitted the tallied report of their spoils, and Jia Kui, the Granary Official, held the bamboo slips: "A total of two hundred and thirty-seven captives were taken, with over ten others lightly wounded who should recover within the month. One hundred and eighty-three heads were severed, including the minor king Liu Hedu and his son Liu Ping. Beyond armor and weaponry, there are thirteen fine horses and thirty-two inferior ones. Five wounded horses that could not be saved have been slaughtered, and another ten are awaiting the same fate."

Horses with minor flesh wounds can generally be healed, but once their legs are injured, they are beyond saving. Horses are stubborn creatures; they cannot lie down for long, as doing so only worsens their injuries, which is a form of torture for the animal itself. Even the old horses that the Huben soldiers had brought from their homes, if their legs were broken, would be put down.

Glancing at the men, Jia Kui continued, "Once all weaponry is repaired, it will be stored in the public granary and distributed among the various squads. The current dilemma lies in how to allocate the captives and the horses."

He looked toward Wei Gu, who nodded. "Cao, the Legal Official, and I have discussed this matter. Our military supplies are currently scarce. I have two proposals: first, to sell the captives in exchange for grain and equipment; second, to distribute them among the deserving soldiers within the camp as rewards. We would allocate them based on the merits of each squad, and the squads would then distribute them further."

He looked at Zhao Ji, who nodded. "Jiangyi still refuses to open its gates, and there are warning beacons lit on Mount Zijin; we have no other choice. Even with internal distribution, we must remain vigilant against potential uprisings by the pure-blooded Hu."

Should they face high-intensity combat, the Xiongnu among the captives would indeed be a hidden danger. Everyone realized this, but they were captives nonetheless, and for many, this was their first time participating in a battle of such scale, leading to many hesitations. For instance, Jia Tong, who had taken the head of Liu Hedu, had yielded the trophy to Zhao Ji, fearing that keeping it might bring ruin upon his own family and clan. The same applied to the killing of captives—whoever proposed it might fear future retaliation from the Xiongnu.

Pei Xiu spoke up then: "Let us proceed as I discussed with the Merit Officer: classify the pure-blooded Hu as forced laborers, incorporate the captured commoners into the auxiliary troops, and distribute the Han-Hu youths who can speak our language among the meritorious soldiers as servants. But what of the horses?"

He looked toward Wei Gu, who also coveted the horses. The problem was the unexplained warning beacons; time was pressing, or else he could have taken these horses to the estates of nearby prominent families and traded them for much-needed equipment and grain.

Seeing the others looking at him, particularly the cavalry leaders Jia Tong and Wang Qi, whose eyes were fixed intently on him, Wei Gu cleared his throat. "Priority shall be given to replenishing the mounts of those whose horses were lost; the remainder will be distributed to the most skilled riders. This way, we can increase our tally in the next pursuit."

Only then did Jia Tong speak: "The Merit Officer’s judgment is sound. Had we had a hundred more riders last night, that band of Tiele Xiongnu would not have escaped."

Seeing no further objections, Wei Gu looked at Jia Kui. "Liangdao, you are to organize the roster of captives. Once they are categorized, we will distribute the servants according to the merits of each squad. If there are no other opinions, let us discuss how to prepare for battle tonight."

Wang Fu, the commander of the second battalion, spoke before the others: "The Xiongnu are not stronger than us. Last night's tactics were too conservative. I propose that we reinforce the unit under Commander Zhao. If the enemy attacks again, Commander Zhao shall act as the blade, with the left and right flanks following up and the cavalry outflanking them. I believe that even if a thousand enemies come, we can crush them in one fell swoop!"

The transport battalion commander, Xiangli Bao, who was standing near Jia Tong, chimed in: "I agree. My unit arrived late to the battle; if a hundred men had followed Commander Zhao last night, the Xiongnu would never have broken through to the parade ground." He turned to look at Zhao Ji. "When Commander Zhao assigns tactics, please consider our transport train as well. We are only assigned to transport because we have horses and carts. It does not mean we lack the courage to fight or that we are weaker than the others."

Seeing this, Pei Xiu said, "Aji, do not refuse. As long as we can defeat the enemy, do not concern yourself with minor details."

Wei Gu nodded as well. If the spoils were not distributed, the Huben might scatter; yet, if they were distributed without a clear path forward, they might still scatter.

Zhao Ji listened intently, clearly in agreement. He turned to look at Liu Fu. "Big Brother, can the county soldiers be incorporated into the transport units?"

All eyes shifted to Liu Fu, who immediately stated, "I will lobby the county officials; I have some confidence in this."

Hu Ban, who was listening nearby, immediately stepped forward and declared loudly, "As long as we can defeat the enemy and kill the Hu, my Yingxi county soldiers can be incorporated into the transport train."

Following this, the county official sent by Anyi also expressed his support, and the surrounding officials voiced their agreement one after another. Liu Fu smiled and said, "Then it is settled. Commander Zhao, continue with your arrangements."

"Yes."

Zhao Ji pulled out the dagger strapped to his boot and traced a diagram on the open ground. "The Fifth Battalion has not arrived, so we currently have four infantry battalions, one cavalry battalion, and one transport battalion—the latter having the most manpower. This is not enough; the newly formed auxiliary troops and the laborers must also be integrated into the transport train."

Jia Kui, the Granary Official in charge of the transport train, raised a hand. "Is Commander Zhao planning to relocate?"

"It is not so much about moving the camp as it is about making each combat unit more specialized, so they need not worry about camp chores and can focus solely on the battle."

Seeing that no one else interrupted, Zhao Ji continued, "We must break down regional prejudices. Those skilled in infantry combat should join the infantry, and those like Captain Shentu, who excels in cavalry warfare, should join the cavalry. After this reorganization, the cavalry will be swift, and the infantry will be elite. When another five hundred Xiongnu come, we will march out of the camp in formation and engage them in a proper, head-on fight!"

Jia Tong looked up at Shentu Lan, who was standing nearby listening, and smiled. "I also believe this is reasonable. If we do this, however, the cavalry will be strong while the infantry is split into four, which may leave them thin."

Even though nearly a hundred county soldiers had actual combat experience, no one would agree to incorporate them into the ranks of the Huben. The Huben possessed their own glory and political privileges; the mere starting salary of "two hundred shi" was something the county soldiers could not aspire to. A battalion commander of the郡兵 (Commandery Troops) held the same rank as the lowest-ranking Huben attendant. What kind of promotion environment did the Huben enjoy, and what was that of a commandery battalion commander?

Jia Tong's words carried weight. Wang Fu, the second battalion commander, spoke up: "Why not merge my unit into the first battalion, and then distribute some men to bolster the third and fourth battalions? That way, Commander Zhao would oversee a hundred men, and the three infantry squads would have over three hundred, which would be sufficient to form a proper line."

The Huben leaders of the second battalion who were listening had no objections and all looked at Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji shook his head. "That is not appropriate. The units should not be so easily cut or merged. Merging is simple, but rebuilding a unit is difficult." He turned to the transport battalion commander, Xiangli Bao. "Could the transport unit spare some Huben soldiers to bolster the other squads?"

"That is only right. The transport train has integrated over two hundred county soldiers, auxiliary troops, and laborers; we can spare fifty Huben soldiers."

Xiangli Bao readily agreed. Personnel redistribution and rational arrangement would only benefit him, not harm him. Although they were all fellow countrymen, there were still degrees of closeness. Distributing most of the Huben soldiers would make it easier for him to manage the transport train.

Zhao Ji then looked at Wang Fu. "The four infantry squads will have their respective roles. I want to select the swift and nimble Huben soldiers who are familiar with mountain terrain to form a dedicated squad. The first three squads will face the enemy head-on, while the mountain squad will outflank them. When the Huben from Dayang and the two counties arrive, we will re-evaluate and reorganize as necessary."

Wang Fu glanced at Liu Fu, and seeing no objection, he nodded. "Very well, my unit is willing to reorganize."

Only then did Zhao Ji look at Wei Gu. "Big Brother, is this reorganization acceptable?"

Wei Gu pondered the matter earnestly and then turned to look at Pei Xiu. "What do you think?"

"It is feasible."

Pei Xiu knew that this was implementing the mixed-integration strategy that Jia Kui had originally proposed. The reason it was opposed then was that the Huben were unfamiliar with each other; in battle, they would fight as individuals and scatter at the slightest setback. Now, having experienced a glorious victory that nearly annihilated the enemy, the foundation for complete integration was already in place. The Huben who had participated in the battle all held merits, and their mental state had undergone a transformation. During the integration, squad leaders with merits could win the respect of their men, allowing them to establish firm control quickly.

Pei Xiu thought for a moment and said, "Distribute the identification slips to the Huben, and after the reorganization, register and copy the rosters. Once registered, promote and appoint ranks based on their official positions." He looked at Wei Gu. "We, the various officials, shall temporarily hold the positions of 'Puye' (Assistant), let the battalion commanders receive the title of 'Zhonglang' (Gentleman), the squad leaders 'Shilang' (Gentleman-in-waiting), and the squad leaders of ten 'Langjiang' (Commandant-in-waiting). How does that sound?"

"That is exactly as it should be."

Wei Gu stood up and surveyed those around him. "The enemy may come at any time. Organize the military records and re-allocate the camp areas as quickly as possible."

"Yes!"

Everyone stood up one after another to answer. Jia Kui let out a helpless, bitter laugh; the Huben had truly become a unified entity. Even if they were to enter the capital to guard the Emperor, how many of the courtiers accompanying the carriage would dare to dismantle or adjust them?