Chapter 25: Xi'an Left Guard

After they chatted a while longer, Sun Zhian came in to ask how the rooms should be arranged. Sun Chuanting pondered a moment, then said, "Brother Zhongfang and I will each take one of the main rooms, and the remaining one goes to Brothers Cui and Xie. Arrange the servants and guards you brought as you see fit—there should be enough space."

Zhuang Yuanzhou spoke up: "Brother Baigu, let's set a rule here. In private, we'll address each other as brothers, but in all other settings we must use official titles, lest outsiders think little of us!"

Cui and Xie both nodded in agreement. Sun Chuanting considered this only proper and did not decline.

Zhuang Yuanzhou continued: "Now that Brother Baigu has just arrived in Shaanxi, though you've done your homework beforehand, many things still need to be seen to be believed. I think we should split up and investigate openly and covertly, to determine where Brother Baigu's first fire should be lit!"

Sun Chuanting said, "Before I left, His Majesty instructed me to first establish authority through the military farmland and guard stations. I think we should start our investigation from there. In a moment, Sun Zhian will take my written order to the Shaanxi Embroidered Uniform Guard chiliarchy and ask the chiliarch to come see me. They may have already received instructions from the Guard Commander to cooperate with my operations in Shaanxi!"

Zhuang Yuanzhou and the others were greatly pleased—with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the court's eyes and ears, cooperating, many thorny problems would surely be resolved. Sun Zhian departed with his orders, and Sun Chuanting and the others continued discussing details.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard chiliarchy was not far from the Governor's yamen. Before long, Sun Zhian returned to the courtyard with a thin, weak-looking man of about thirty wearing a flying-fish robe. Sun Zhian gestured respectfully for him to enter. The Embroidered Uniform Guard chiliarch stepped up to the door and announced himself in a loud voice: "Li Guoliang, Chiliarch of the Shaanxi Embroidered Uniform Guard Chiliarchy, pays respects to the Governor!"

Sun Chuanting called out for him to enter. Li Guoliang strode into the room and knelt on one knee before Sun Chuanting, who wore a bright red official robe. Sun Chuanting warmly bade him rise. Zhuang Yuanzhou and the others, still commoners without rank, had already withdrawn to another room when Li Guoliang announced himself.

Sun Chuanting said, "When I left the capital, His Majesty spoke of this matter—he asked your chiliarchy to cooperate with me. May I ask whether Chiliarch Li has received the order?"

Li Guoliang bowed and replied, "This humble officer has received Commander Luo's written order. I shall obey the Governor's every command!"

Sun Chuanting smiled and said, "'Command' is too strong a word. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Son of Heaven's own army—I have no authority to command you. I have been sent by imperial decree to govern Shaanxi, and I wish to accomplish something to set His Majesty's mind at ease. But Shaanxi is in chaos and complexity, and I am not well acquainted with local conditions. So there are matters where I must rely heavily on Chiliarch Li's assistance. When the day of success comes, I will surely report your contributions to His Majesty—I will never claim your merits as my own!"

Li Guoliang was overjoyed at these words. He clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Governor. I have been in Shaanxi for five years now and know the conditions of various places quite well. You are an imperially appointed Governor, dispatched by the court, and your work is for His Majesty and the dynasty. Whatever you ask, this humble officer will tell all he knows!"

"Then I must trouble Chiliarch Li to return and compile detailed records of the principal officers of all military farmland guard stations within Shaanxi, then report them to me. The main focus is their personal assets—fields and shops must be listed in detail—along with the names of those in the court and locally who have close ties with them, the number of hereditary military households under their command, with able-bodied men, women, and children each listed separately. The key is detailed information on those with a vile reputation among the people, those whom the military households under their command dare not speak against!" Sun Chuanting said.

Li Guoliang thought to himself, this Governor clearly intends to make an example of the guard stations. Some unlucky bastard is about to become the sacrificial victim. This had nothing to do with him—the Embroidered Uniform Guard had never had dealings with other guard stations. With the Guard's overall decline and slackness in recent years, he had kept a low profile since coming to Shaanxi, taking only the money he was owed, with no extortion or blackmail among his men. In these idle years, he had thoroughly investigated the backgrounds of every principal official in the Shaanxi bureaucracy—and now this knowledge would finally prove useful.

Li Guoliang nodded in agreement, said he would compile the materials and report to the Governor, then bowed and took his leave.

After Li Guoliang left, Zhuang Yuanzhou and the others emerged from the adjoining room. They discussed the matter and decided to split into two groups to investigate among the people personally.

Sun Chuanting and Zhuang Yuanzhou formed one group, heading for the Xi'an Left Guard; Cui Shisheng and Xie Renxing went to the Xi'an Forward Guard. Both groups disguised themselves as traveling merchants, with several servants Zhuang Yuanzhou had brought from home acting as shop hands pushing carts of goods. Once the plan was settled, Sun Chuanting sent Sun Zhian to the Provincial Administration Commission to inform Zhu Yongyou that the Governor was unwell and not receiving visitors, and that the yamen's daily affairs would be handled by Zhu Yongyou for the time being.

The Xi'an Left Guard was situated northwest of Xi'an prefectural city, bordering Xianyang County.

Sun Chuanting and Zhuang Yuanzhou were both dressed as merchants. Sun Zhian and Sun Fugui drove carts loaded with iron pots, iron shovels, cloth, thread, and other sundries as they followed. The party arrived within the territory of the Xi'an Left Guard.

It was the ninth month, harvest season, and the fields by the roadside were full of busy people gathering crops.

Sun Chuanting observed carefully and found that the able-bodied men working in the fields, though generally tall of stature, were gaunt and weak. Some worked bare-chested, their bodies nothing but skin and bone.

An old man who looked quite aged, around fifty, was resting by the field ridge drinking water. Sun Chuanting walked over to him, using the excuse of being thirsty from the road, and asked for a bowl of water. The two fell into conversation.

Sun Chuanting asked, "Elder, greetings to you. What is your surname? The harvest looks good this year, doesn't it?"

The old man's eyes fixed on the several able-bodied young men working in the fields nearby. He replied, "This old man's surname is Li. Heaven has shown mercy—we had several thorough rains here this summer, so the autumn harvest is considerably better than in past years."

Sun Chuanting continued, "How many in your household, elder? How many mu of allotted land? With this year's harvest, your family should be able to have a good year, shouldn't they?"

The old man gave him a sidelong look and said, "This old man has three sons—see, those lads working over there—and they're at the age where they eat like horses. The harvest is good this year, but it'll be enough if the boys can get a few full meals. What allotted land? All the land here belongs to the Guard Commander!"

Sun Chuanting laughed and said, "Elder, don't make sport of me. I'm a traveling merchant, I've roamed north and south all year round and met all sorts of people—I'm a man of some experience. I know that when the Founding Emperor first established the guard stations, he set aside sufficient allotted land for every military household. Don't try to deceive me, elder!"

Just then, the old man's sons working in the field saw their father chatting with a stranger and set down their tools to gather around. One young man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and large hands and feet picked up a big bowl and gulped it down in one go, wiped his mouth, and said, "The Hongwu Emperor's original plan was fine, but these black-hearted officials of today have long treated his words as so much wind! My father and us brothers work hard all year and can't even eat our fill! It's not just our family—go ask around, how many families in the Xi'an Left Guard get one full meal a year? I'm twenty-three already and can't even afford a wife, while these dog officials each have bellies round as drums. Pah! I'm half hoping those bandits come and butcher these dog officials!"

Old Man Li raised his hand to strike him, cursing, "You son of a bitch, tired of living? How dare you say such things! I'll beat you to death right now, to save our family from disaster!"

The large-handed young man dodged behind Sun Chuanting, muttering, "You call me son of a bitch—aren't you cursing yourself? Besides, everything I said was the truth. This customer isn't from the government, so what's wrong with a few complaints? Are you saying I can't even speak my mind!"

Old Man Li was truly angry now. He looked around left and right for something to throw, but there was nothing handy in the field but dirt. So he pulled off a straw sandal and hopped about chasing his son.

Sun Chuanting hastily reached out to stop him, saying with a smile, "Elder Li, calm your anger. This young man is right—I'm only a merchant, not a government man. In business, one values treating others well. Besides, I'm a commoner myself and have been harassed by officials more than once. Surely you don't fear I'd go to the authorities to inform on you? This young man was only speaking a few idle words. Don't be angry anymore, elder!"

Old Man Li stopped, panting, and put his sandal back on. He sighed and said, "This old man's wife died early. There's no woman in the house to manage things, and I haven't saved much money. My eldest is past twenty and still can't afford a wife—it's all because this old man has no ability! At this rate, the Li family will die out. When I die, how will I face my ancestors in the underworld? When will these bitter days end? I've failed their mother!" As he spoke, his eyes reddened and a few murky tears rolled down.

Old Man Li's sons felt a pang of sorrow too and hung their heads.

Sun Chuanting sighed inwardly and said, "I just came from Xi'an city. I heard that the newly arrived Governor Sun is recruiting soldiers to suppress the bandits, with pay issued monthly. People at the Governor's yamen said Governor Sun has declared that military households of the guard stations will have priority in this recruitment. He said the guard station people are loyal to the court. Elder Li, I can see your sons are all tall, honest fellows. Why not keep one at home to support the family and send the other two to join the army? Their monthly pay can be sent home for you to save, and you'll also save on their rations. Wouldn't your family's circumstances improve greatly that way?"

Old Man Li was tempted by this and said, "That sounds like a good thing, but I fear the government talks fine and then doesn't pay much. I may be a farmer, but I know that skimming soldiers' pay is routine in the official army. Besides, soldiers have to fight, and these Shaanxi bandits are truly fierce—so many official troops can't defeat them. If steel and spear have no eyes and a life is lost, how would I explain it to their mother in the underworld!"

Sun Chuanting smiled and said, "I heard this time the Governor brought full pay from the capital. The Governor's yamen secretary also said Governor Sun is fair and strict, with clear rewards and punishments, and the commanding officers are sent by the Emperor's own army—they would never skim soldiers' pay. If you'll forgive my bluntness, Elder Li, given your family's situation, rather than staying in such poverty forever, why not let your sons go out and take a gamble? If they earn military merit, then never mind a wife—even a houseful of wives and concubines isn't out of the question!"

Old Man Li was still hesitating when Li the Eldest spoke up loudly: "Father, this customer is right! Rather than us brothers living out our lives in vain like this, we should go out and take a chance! Me and Second will join the army, and the youngest will stay to serve you. If me and Second die in battle, the youngest will support you in your old age and keep the Li family line going. We'll send our pay home by trusted hands! Father, this time I'm making my own decision no matter what! At the very least, once me and Second are gone, you and the youngest can eat a few more full meals!"

Old Man Li's expression darkened. He knew his son's heart had been swayed by this merchant's words, and keeping him would no longer be possible. He knew the eldest's stubborn temper all too well—he would never turn back until he'd slammed into a wall.

Making up his mind, he hardened his heart and said, "Once the crops in the field are harvested, you and Second go to the prefectural city. If things are truly as this customer says, then the two of you enlist! Your father's already buried up to his neck—not many days left. You two remember: obey your superiors, and when you take the field, fight the enemy bravely. Don't shame the Li family name. Your father hopes you'll both come back whole, but what happens on the battlefield is up to Heaven! The youngest stays. If you two have money, send some back. I'll find the youngest a wife to bear children, so the Li family line isn't broken. Then I can face our ancestors!"

Li the Eldest and Li the Second were overjoyed that their father had agreed to let them enlist. The youngest, hearing he was to stay home, was very unhappy and muttered under his breath. Old Man Li glared at him, and the youngest dared not grumble further. Seeing the Li family matter settled, Sun Chuanting took his leave of Old Man Li and his family.

After traveling another dozen or so li, around the hour of wei, the party arrived at the garrison town of the Xi'an Left Guard.

The highest officer of the Xi'an Left Guard was the Guard Commander, who oversaw ten chiliarchies, with more than thirty thousand hereditary military households in total. The registered garrison troops should have numbered eight thousand, but the actual number was now impossible to know. The Guard Commander position was hereditary, a third-rank military post. The current Left Guard Commander, Liu Fuguo, was the seventh generation to hold the title and had served for over a decade.

The garrison town was a small settlement with one horizontal and one vertical street and no city walls. Most of the houses in town belonged to military households—mostly shabby, decrepit mud huts, with brick-and-tile dwellings rarely seen. At the center of town stood a very large building: green brick, red tiles, surrounded by a brick-and-stone wall. From outside one couldn't tell how many courtyards lay within, but its footprint was extremely extensive.

The four of them saw this mansion as soon as they entered town. Without needing to ask, they knew it was the residence of Guard Commander Liu Fuguo.

They found the town's only inn. The innkeeper, seeing guests arrive, came forward with eager hospitality. Noticing Sun Zhian and the other driving carts piled with goods, he called for a shop hand to lead the carts to the back courtyard, where the horses were unharnessed and fed.

They took three guest rooms—one each for Sun and Zhuang, and one shared by the two guards. Inside, the rooms were simply furnished but clean and tidy. Sun Chuanting nodded in satisfaction. Zhuang Yuanzhou asked the innkeeper to prepare two tubs of bathwater. The innkeeper hurriedly agreed and ordered a servant to heat water and deliver it to the two rooms.

The reason no bathwater was ordered for Sun Zhian and the other was that traveling merchants were frugal—if cart-pushing servants received the same treatment as their masters, it would inevitably invite comment. Sun Zhian and the other understood this well and had no objections.

After bathing, the two felt refreshed. They left their rooms and came to the front of the inn to dine. The inn's frontage was very small—the so-called main hall held only three small square tables. Darkness had fallen, and aside from the innkeeper, the place was empty. After all, this was no bustling market town, nor a necessary stop for merchants. Today, Sun Chuanting's party of four counted as major customers.

The innkeeper came forward to seat them and asked what they'd like to eat. Both Sun and Zhuang came from wealthy families and were particular about food, but both had easygoing temperaments and knew such a small place would have no signature dishes.

Zhuang Yuanzhou told the innkeeper to prepare a few dishes and a jug of wine as he saw fit, then instructed that food be sent to the cart-pushing servants in the back courtyard. The innkeeper agreed and went to the kitchen.

Before long, one cold dish, three hot dishes, a jug of spirits, and two cups were brought out.

Zhuang Yuanzhou picked up the jug and filled Sun Chuanting's cup, then poured his own. Seeing no one else about, he raised his cup and said with a smile, "Brother Sun, in all our years of countless banquets together—always in fine settings, surrounded by servants, gatherings of scholars and heroes—I never imagined I'd one day drink with you in such a desolate place. How marvelous are life's twists of fate! Come, I toast you!"

Sun Chuanting also smiled and raised his cup: "This place must be quite a trial for a brother who delights in luxury! When we've achieved fame and success, I'll make it up to you with a grand feast. Come—cheers!"

They both drained their cups. The wine was no fine vintage, but it went down like a thread of fire from throat to belly, and both exhaled in unison. Zhuang Yuanzhou laughed: "This wine's aftertaste lacks smoothness and length, but it cuts into the belly like a blade—quite bracing, all the same. Brother Sun, with backgrounds like ours, all wealth and pleasure is but passing clouds. Only leaving one's name in history is what we should seek in this life. I don't fear hardship—I only hope to follow you in building achievements, purifying the realm, and fulfilling the ambitions of a lifetime!"

Sun Chuanting picked up the jug and refilled both cups, then said gravely, "What you say, brother, is exactly what I think! We who study the sages' books do not crave luxury. The famous words of Zhang Zihou of the previous dynasty are our shared aspiration: 'To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to carry on the lost learning of past sages, to open peace for ten thousand generations!' To realize the unfulfilled dreams of our predecessors, what is this body of mine worth sparing!"

Zhuang Yuanzhou raised his cup, his expression stirred, eyes shining, and said, "I am willing to follow at your heels, brother, and spare nothing of this body!" With that, he drained his cup.