Chapter 565: Red Barbarians

"How many families are waiting to have their houses rebuilt, and here I am, with these hands meant for trimming fuses, doing this rotten crap. Damned Infantry Firearms Battalion."

Outside the Martial Academy barracks on the north side of the First Cavalry Division, rows of soldiers sat on benches with their hair hanging loose, each with another soldier standing behind them, picking through their scalps.

The Craftsmen Gang man stood behind Zhou Chen, cursing under his breath from time to time. Ever since the two of them had entered the Infantry Firearms Battalion, they had drilled in formation and standing at attention all day long. According to Wu Dacai, Lord Pang's first requirement for the Infantry Firearms Battalion was to maintain formation — at all times, under any circumstances, maintain formation. Apart from formation, it was all this sort of cleanliness business.

Sitting there, Zhou Chen waved a hand around his head to drive off the mosquitoes circling him. In early September, the temperature in Anqing had risen again, and the mosquitoes had revived, even more numerous than during the hottest part of July. Shipai Town was crisscrossed by rivers and lakes, and their division's barracks stood right beside the river channel, so mosquitoes were worse here than in the other encampments.

A mosquito was perched on the Craftsmen Gang man's arm. He slapped it with a lightning strike, then flicked it away with a shake of his hand and went back to picking through Zhou Chen's scalp, parting the hair layer by layer, searching as meticulously as a monkey. "Whose household doesn't have a louse or two? Who ever died of a louse bite? Only his precious Anqing Battalion can't have a single one."

Zhou Chen spoke up. "Lu Xiaoma, when you're picking lice, don't talk. If you miss one and the Pacification Commissioner finds it, I'll get another beating. I check yours clean enough."

Lu Xiaoma was the Craftsmen Gang man's name; he was from Chizhou. He pressed down on Zhou Chen's hair with one hand. "Don't move your head. Found one."

Zhou Chen felt fingers rubbing against his scalp and dared not budge. "Grip it tight. Don't let it get away and then we can't find it."

"You know why the gang boss had me learn fuse-trimming? Because my hands are strong and steady. Let's see this one run."

As he spoke, a faint, crisp pop sounded on his scalp, and the hand on his head withdrew. Zhou Chen immediately turned to look and saw the Craftsmen Gang man glaring fiercely at his fingers, his two thumbnails pressed together with deadly force, crushing. The louse had already met its end on the spot, flattened into a thin smear.

Boom — a resounding cannon blast echoed far and near. The soldiers of the Infantry Firearms Battalion all around flinched in unison. Before, the artillery training had been on the west side of Matang Lake, farther from town, and it hadn't sounded so frightening.

These past two days, the Martial Academy had also begun cannon fire. The soldiers of the Infantry Firearms Battalion were nearly all new recruits, most of whom had never seen a cannon, and every shot today made them jump.

Just then, a voice shouted, "Second Squad, everyone search carefully! These days there aren't enough fire lances to go around, so the Centurion says we're checking for lice and formation. Especially the lice — Academy Director Wu himself said it, called it some kind of… anyway, it means unclean. If you're unclean, you get sick. Think about it, what Lord Wu said makes sense. We're soldiers of the Anqing Battalion, meant to go to battle. If you fall ill before you even get there, won't someone have to look after you? How can you fight then? Wouldn't that just be making trouble for Lord Wu?"

The one speaking was the Squad Leader, also a new recruit, around thirty-some years old, missing two teeth. He had no particular ability, but he was exceptionally obedient, always echoing whatever the instructor said, and so he had been made Squad Leader.

Lu Xiaoma gave a loud cough and spat on the ground, the spittle landing right beside the Squad Leader. The Squad Leader glared at Lu Xiaoma and took a step back.

Zhou Chen saw this and hurriedly got up. Just as he was about to go over and mediate, the Squad Leader was already furious. "Lu Xiaoma, let me tell you, it's not me who wants to check you. It's a rule set by Lord Wu. When they find something and beat you with bamboo strips, you're still the one who gets hit more. Under the Mutual Responsibility System, I only get a few strokes…"

From the south side, a sudden bellow: "Form ranks!"

Outside the barracks, the soldiers, whether standing or sitting, moved as if a switch had been thrown, scrambling to find their positions. The field descended into chaos — people colliding had no time even to argue. The Squad Leader, no longer concerned with his dispute with Lu Xiaoma, frantically called his men to order.

Zhou Chen knew another senior officer from the Martial Academy had come for a spot inspection. Lately, fire lances had been in short supply; their squad hadn't received a single one and drilled only in formation all day. Soldiers were struck by bamboo strips countless times daily. Zhou Chen dashed to his position, and seeing Lu Xiaoma still rooted to the spot, hurriedly waved him over.

Lu Xiaoma cursed twice under his breath before heading toward his position in the formation, nearly the last one to take his place.

Seven or eight Pacification Commissioners walked along the ranks. One after another, they stopped in front of the formation. One Commissioner pointed a finger at Lu Xiaoma. "Pacification Commissioner inspecting personal cleanliness. Squat down."

Zhou Chen, standing beside him, let out a long breath of relief. The Pacification soldiers generally spot-checked one man for every few they passed. If they had picked Lu Xiaoma, they wouldn't be checking him.

Lu Xiaoma pursed his lips and squatted. Zhou Chen glanced over sidelong. The Pacification soldier began inspecting from the back of Lu Xiaoma's head with one hand, examining with extreme thoroughness.

Suddenly, the Pacification Commissioner beside them said loudly, "One louse found."

Lu Xiaoma shot to his feet. Zhou Chen also leaned in to look at the Commissioner's hand, then raised his head and said to the Commissioner, "That's not a louse. It's a nit."

The Commissioner stared coldly at Zhou Chen. "A nit will become a louse. Punishment: ten strikes of the bamboo rod. Mutual-responsibility partner, Squad-of-Five Leader, and Squad Leader: five each…"

Just as he said this, Lu Xiaoma suddenly blew a sharp breath — whoosh — right at it. The Commissioner's grip slipped, and the nit vanished without a trace.

Without another word, the Commissioner grabbed Lu Xiaoma and started dragging him away. Zhou Chen hurried over to help, trying to separate the two.

Shoving back against the Commissioner, Lu Xiaoma said, "Where's the louse?"

"You blew it away! I caught it from your own head!"

Lu Xiaoma cursed loudly, "So what if it was on my head? It's just your Infantry Firearms Battalion making a fuss. I'm not afraid of a few bites!"

The other several Pacification soldiers rushed over, drew their bamboo rods, and began beating him. Lu Xiaoma blocked while kicking back with his feet. The surrounding Infantry Firearms Battalion soldiers scattered in all directions. Zhou Chen stood between them, his mouth ceaselessly trying to explain, but the scene was a clamor — no one was listening.

"Who says they're not afraid of bites?"

A voice carrying its own authority came from outside the circle. The Pacification soldiers, one after another, turned their heads, saw who had arrived, and retreated.

Zhou Chen's gaze shifted over. In the center, an officer leaning on a cane was slowly making his way toward them. Zhou Chen knew it was Academy Director Wu Dacai. Lately, this Director Wu had been on the drill field every day, sitting on the reviewing platform with a group of men for the better part of each day.

Director Wu, leaning on his cane, arrived before them. His eyes swept over Zhou Chen and Lu Xiaoma. "Who just said they weren't afraid of bites?"

Lu Xiaoma was panting, his eyes fixed only on the ground.

Wu Dacai's expression was calm. He looked around at the soldiers of the Infantry Firearms Battalion and said, "This is the Anqing Battalion. Every rule is made so that you can kill the enemy and not be killed by the enemy. Doctor Shen of the Military Medical Hospital says these lice drain your blood and vital energy and spread external pathogens. If you have even one left on you, it will spread to the whole squad, and the squad will spread it to the entire unit. How will you fight then?"

The Pacification officer beside him said in a low voice, "Lord Wu, these two resisted the Pacification inspection. According to Military Law, they should be punished with ninety bamboo-rod strikes, which can be administered in three separate sessions."

Zhou Chen's body trembled. Lu Xiaoma's face twitched as well. The bamboo rod struck with a searing, fiery pain. Splitting it into three sessions was done for fear a soldier couldn't endure it all at once, but it only prolonged the agony.

Wu Dacai suddenly waved his hand. "Those instructors have all arrived. Real drilling is about to begin in earnest. Injuring them would only hinder the training. Mistakes deserve punishment, but the purpose isn't to beat a man — it's to make him know his error and not repeat it."

Zhou Chen looked at Wu Dacai with gratitude. This Academy Director of the Shipai Martial Academy still cared for the soldiers.

"Our Anqing Battalion is different from other military units. We value camaraderie above all. For soldiers who make mistakes, there's no need to resort to beating and killing at every turn." Wu Dacai looked at the two men, his tone gentle. "We must be methodical."

…

"Wu Dacai, I fuck your ancestors eighteen generations back."

On the banks of the Wan River after nightfall, amid the pitch-black darkness, mosquitoes and insects danced everywhere. Zhou Chen wore only a pair of shorts; the rest of his skin was bare.

His hands and Lu Xiaoma's were tied behind their backs and then bound together with rope. Their feet were also tied. The two men couldn't walk even if they wanted to; they could only keep turning their heads, trying to drive away the mosquitoes with this tiny motion.

Zhou Chen felt an unbearable itching all over his body. He could even sense mosquitoes landing on his skin one after another. The buzzing of mosquitoes lingered around them, impossible to drive away no matter how they shook their heads.

Lu Xiaoma's voice cursed, "Damned Wu Dacai!"

"Stop cursing." Zhou Chen struggled, a wave of irritation rising in his chest. His tone was harsh. "It was a matter of ten military rods for one louse. Why did you have to go hit that Pacification Commissioner? Now you've dragged me into suffering this misery."

"Who dragged who into this? If you hadn't come running around wildly, would I have been caught by Wu Dacai and forced into this death-dealing Infantry Firearms Battalion, risking my life for five Mace a month?"

"You chased after me yourself."

Lu Xiaoma twisted his head around. "I chased after you myself? Then who was it today that missed that nit? If you hadn't missed it, would I have blown it away?"

Zhou Chen also twisted his head around and cursed back, "You blew the nit away, fine, you blew it. But why did you have to add that you weren't afraid of bites? Letting that Wu Dacai hear it. So now, are you afraid of bites or not!"

Lu Xiaoma let out a low growl and jabbed backward at Zhou Chen with his bound hands. Zhou Chen immediately struck back. The two men fought fiercely, back to back, and the surrounding mosquitoes scattered in a swarm.

But after fighting for only a short while, neither had managed to land a solid blow on the other. Instead, they had exhausted themselves half to death, each collapsing sideways, gasping for breath, and for the moment, neither had the energy to argue.

As the commotion died down, the mosquitoes around them swarmed back, and that maddening buzzing rose again. Zhou Chen felt many mosquitoes landing on him, but his whole body itched and ached, and he was nearly drained of strength. He could no longer muster the slightest effort to drive them away, so he simply lay there, letting the mosquitoes bite as they pleased.

Their hands were tied together behind their backs. With Zhou Chen not moving on his side, Lu Xiaoma struggled on the other but couldn't get up either.

On the dark riverbank, after panting for a moment, Lu Xiaoma's voice said, "Zhou, I've got a way to hide from the mosquitoes."

Zhou Chen closed his eyes and said weakly, "What way."

"Go soak in the water."

Zhou Chen's eyes slowly opened. Over on his side, Lu Xiaoma said, "Let's get up first, then walk down together. Once we're soaking in the river water, we won't have to be afraid anymore."

This was the northern boundary of the Martial Academy. Half its length still had no brickwork, and below it lay the river channel of the Wan River.

Zhou Chen gave an answering grunt. The two of them slowly rose together, then in the darkness edged sideways and gradually shuffled toward the river channel.

They tested each step repeatedly with their feet before taking it. Tied together, they could not move fast. After quite a while, their feet gradually brushed against grass, and then they felt water underfoot — below was all soft, squelchy mud.

They took a few cautious steps into the river. The water level slowly reached their knees. Zhou Chen was from Shandong and still could not swim; the moment the water got a little deeper, he grew nervous. Seeing Lu Xiaoma about to keep going, he hurriedly stopped and said, "This is far enough."

Lu Xiaoma did not say much. Zhou Chen sat down together with him. A bone-piercing, bitter cold struck them, and it took a long while to adjust. Their bodies were basically submerged below the water's surface; they only had to defend their faces, which was far easier. The places where they had been bitten no longer seemed to hurt or itch so much. Just now, the river water had stimulated the nerves along his back, and Zhou Chen's mental spirit had fully recovered.

In the darkness, the Wan River gave off a soft sound of flowing water. The droning buzz of those mosquitoes seemed to have vanished entirely.

Lu Xiaoma let out a breath. "That dog-fucking Wu Dacai — there's not a single decent person in this Anqing Battalion."

"It's the Infantry Firearms Battalion that has no decent people. I was saved by Lord Pang — Lord Pang is a decent man." Zhou Chen suddenly stirred. "When the night patrol comes by later and sees we're gone, what do we do?"

"I've already figured it out. The night patrol comes once every hour. We time it to go back up, and once they've left, we come back down." Lu Xiaoma tilted his head back and looked at the night sky, where the moon was bright and stars were sparse. "I don't want to stay in this lousy Infantry Firearms Battalion. I didn't cross the river to be a soldier. I originally learned the bricklaying trade. I was saving up silver to go back to Chizhou and get married, to build myself a big house — a big one."

Zhou Chen also gazed at the night sky, lost in thought. "Then later I'll go back to my old home in Shandong too, and build myself a big house."

Having said that, he looked toward the riverbank. "Good thing this stretch hasn't had a wall built yet. Otherwise, the mosquitoes by this river really would have sucked all the blood and qi out of us."

Lu Xiaoma turned his head. "Do you know why Wu Dacai hasn't built the wall?"

"Why?"

"Because he can't find that many brick masons."

Zhou Chen stared blankly for a moment, and then the two of them burst out laughing together.

……

A sliver of fish-belly white appeared at the edge of the sky, and a little light began to spread around them.

The two of them had basically soaked in the water the entire night. Naturally, there was no way to sleep, but at least they were spared the torment of the mosquitoes and insects. Once in the middle of the night they were nearly caught by the night patrol, but in the end they managed to endure through the night.

A thin mist rose along the Wan River. The mosquitoes and the like had all vanished without a trace. The two of them returned to the riverbank utterly exhausted. Even Lu Xiaoma had no strength left to curse Wu Dacai.

The night patrol would come a little later to release them. According to the Academy Director Wu's orders the day before, they got no time to make up for lost sleep and still had to drill as usual.

The sky gradually brightened, but it was not yet time to beat the morning drum. Still tied together, the two simply stood where they were and waited for the night patrol to come and release them.

Around this time, a military unit of roughly a hundred men — about one company — emerged from the barracks area, passed in front of them, and headed toward the drill ground. Among them were infantry, cavalry, and artillery alike.

Zhou Chen glanced at them casually, then stared at those men in astonishment, his gaze fixed.

This squad quickly passed by in front of them. Only then did the two exchange a look. Lu Xiaoma said in a daze, "Red Hair Barbarians."