Chapter 86

Pan Hong stepped forward two paces and coldly said, "Wu Baizhang, I Pan Hong may have offended Wang Zhen—but are you even worthy of Wang Zhen? Trying to crush me to curry favor with him? Dream on! Trying to extort money from me? Even more of a dream!"

"I, Pan Hong, have overturned Wang Zhen's cases twice right here in Jingcheng—do you think I'm afraid of you, a lowly baizhang in Datong? Come at me if you dare; next time, see whether it's me who falls or you get reassigned to the outskirts for field labor!" Pan Hong said coldly, "I did it once—I can do it again!"

Wu Bei's heart trembled; he stumbled back two steps. When he realized he'd been frightened by Pan Hong, his face darkened further.

But Pan Hong remained calm, merely gave him a heavy snort, then walked past him and left.

When Pan Hong returned home, Pan Yue was forcing Pan Yu to drink medicine.

Whether or not the talismans had taken effect, Pan Yu's complexion had improved considerably compared to the past few days.

Of the eight men that day, another had suffered internal organ damage and died yesterday from his wounds.

So Pan Yue was now watching Pan Yu closely, giving him two doses of medicine daily, never letting the talismans for safety and health leave his person.

If their father hadn't been so strict, he would have burned the remaining health talismans and fed them to him.

Turning to see Pan Hong return, Pan Yue hurriedly asked, "Father, what did the village head want with you?"

"I've become baizhang."

Pan Yue and Pan Yu's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Seeing them pleased, Pan Hong couldn't help smiling and nodded. "True. You two brothers have one head's merit—this time, Father is basking in your glory."

He told Pan Yue, "Both Captain Qin and Captain Hu have taken notice of you two and want you to join the military."

Pan Yue was astonished. "Both captains personally named us?"

Pan Hong nodded.

After a moment's thought, Pan Yue said, "Captain Qin having chosen us makes some sense—we were there the day we returned, and it was because of him that the Datong army let us take the armor and greatswords; otherwise, we wouldn't have kept even that much loot. But why does Captain Hu want us too?"

Pan Hong: "This time, when the Tartars invaded south, Captain Hu and the Western Third Garrison marched out together—and they only took nine heads total, with three dead. Your group of eight, plus the deceased Zong Silang, took three heads. Combined, it's barely enough to make the report to the imperial court look acceptable."

Pan Yue asked, "Father, who do you think we should follow?"

"Captain Qin," Pan Hong said. "I've inquired—he's an upright man, broad-minded. Captain Hu is capable, but narrow-minded, obsessed with glory. So I've chosen Captain Qin for you."

Pan Hong paused, then continued, "I've declined on your brother's behalf due to his condition. Once he recovers, we'll find a way to get him into the military. You go first, pave the way, and see whether the army suits you two."

Pan Yue: "We're exiles—joining the military and becoming registered soldiers is already a great path. Does Father have another option?"

Pan Hong: "Wait for the right moment. Perhaps someday I'll be rehabilitated—then other paths will open. So even if you enter the army, don't abandon your studies. The true path is still the imperial examinations."

Pan Yu's face was full of bitterness.

Both Pan Hong and Pan Yue pretended not to notice. Pan Yue thought his father's rehabilitation unlikely—unless Wang Zhen in the palace lost favor or died, they'd be stuck here forever.

Better to seek glory in the military than wait for rehabilitation.

So Pan Yue cared deeply about military matters: "If we refuse Captain Hu like this, won't we offend him?"

"Yes," Pan Hong said. "But it's a necessary choice."

"If you chose Captain Hu and rejected Captain Qin, you wouldn't offend Qin—but under Hu, today you won't offend him, tomorrow you will for some reason or another," Pan Hong said. "To avoid offending him, you must become his claw, his echo—obey him in everything."

"Then are you still yourself? Your dreams and desires will never be reached," Pan Hong patted his shoulder. "So don't fear offending petty men. A gentleman is open and upright—there's no need to fear or dread it."

Pan Yue clenched his lips. He admitted his father was right—but he didn't want to offend Captain Hu either. Of course, he wanted even less to serve under him.

As his father said, as long as he had his own thoughts, he'd inevitably offend Captain Hu.

But how could he avoid offending Captain Hu and still serve under Captain Qin?

Pan Yue stole a glance at his father, thinking his father must not know—otherwise, his father wouldn't have been exiled here.

Seeing they'd finished their serious talk, Pan Yu quickly interjected: "Father, when can I get out of bed?"

Pan Hong stroked his head. "Don't rush. The physician says your internal organs are still injured—you've still been passing blood these past two days, though little. Be extra careful. Stay in bed, don't move. Need anything? Tell me or your elder brother."

Pan Yu: "But Brother is leaving for the army tomorrow."

Pan Hong: "Aren't I still here?"

Pan Yu sank into gloom. "I want to go to the army with Brother."

"No rush. Wait until you're healed—we'll go together."

As they spoke, a knock came at the door.

Pan Yue went to open it—it was the Jin brothers.

Jin Zhangli immediately bowed to Pan Hong. "Baizhang." Pan Hong smiled and returned the gesture. "Ah, the Jin brothers—come in, sit."

Jin Zhangli entered, glanced at Pan Yu, then explained his purpose: "Both Captain Qin and Captain Hu want to transfer us into the army. Baizhang, who do you think we should serve under?"

Pan Hong smiled. "That's up to you brothers. My son Yue chose Captain Qin."

Jin Zhangli understood. "Then we'll choose Captain Qin too. Pan brother, please look out for us."

Pan Yue quickly bowed. "Brother Jin, you're too kind—I'm the one who needs your and Brother Jin's guidance."

"I'm not being polite—I'm serious. That day, if you hadn't led us into the woods and fought the Tartars, where would we be now?"

Jin Zhangli sighed. "Father, you know our family—we were exiled here during the Yongle reign. Our father was tainted by our grandfather's crimes and spent his life as military register; we brothers are the same."

"But we're military register and yet never fight, never train in the army—we're stuck here in this exile village doing menial labor. We're called soldiers, but we're slaves. Frankly, Brother and I have long wanted to fight on the battlefield—not even for glory, just to get our family out of this exile village."

Pan Hong understood.

Even among military register, there was a hierarchy.

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The lowest of all were the exiled convicts and their families sent here.

Those with fixed terms of exile were better off—sometimes, if the Emperor issued a general pardon, they might return home. But those without fixed terms, like Pan Hong, or the Jin ancestors, were doomed to stay here generation after generation.

They were bound here forever.

Their low status meant their descendants were low too.

People always thought soldiers on the battlefield suffered—but they didn't know how desperately men like Jin Zhangli longed to fight.

Going to battle meant death was possible—but also a chance to rise, and to bring honor to one's family.

Without battle, they spent their lives farming for the army, working as laborers, tilling fields and serving every general and captain;

A lifetime bent in the mud, open to abuse by anyone.

The gloom and torment of a life where neither you nor your descendants will ever see a future.

Those numb enough can live numbly, but those who refuse to be numb, those who want to live better, cannot endure even a single day.

Yet they are bound here, bending their backs for ten thousand days—far more unbearable than death.

From the moment the village head arrived, Jin Zhangli and Jin Zhongwu decided they would follow Pan Yue.

He is their star of fortune.

After years of effort with not a shred of hope, this time they not only saw it—they caught it.

Both decided to follow Pan Yue to Qin Baohu.

After seeing off the Jin brothers, Pan Hong said to Pan Yue: "Allied with these brothers, you'll have allies on the battlefield, but don't grow complacent. Starting tomorrow, you'll run and practice horse stance—build your lower body and strength. From now on, you are a true soldier. Remember: only if a martial minister does not fear death can he protect the border and safeguard the nation."

Pan Yue agreed. Once his father left, he turned to Pan Yu on the bed and said: "Don't listen to Dad. When you recover, come running and practicing horse stance with me. Learn to climb trees, ride horses. When you're on the battlefield and can't win, just run—if you run fast enough, the enemy won't catch you."

Pan Yu opened his mouth wide. "Aren't you describing a deserter?"

"What deserter? Didn't we run this time? Only by preserving your life can you find a way to strike back," Pan Yue said. "Didn't we just run into the forest and then find a way to kill the Tartars?"

Pan Yu nodded, then halfway through stopped, objecting: "But back then we were conscripts—no weapons, no armor, our mission was just to harvest rice. On the battlefield, our purpose is to fight. How can we run?"

Pan Yue: "Wherever you are, the goal is the same—to win battles, kill enemies, isn't it?"

Pan Yu couldn't find fault, and nodded hesitantly.

"If you don't live, how can you kill enemies or win battles?" Pan Yue said. "Remember: all's fair in war. Martial ministers differ from civil ministers. Civil ministers don't need scheming; martial ministers must be cunning, deceitful."

Pan Yu widened his eyes. "Brother, you've got it backwards."

"No, I haven't," Pan Yue said. "Martial ministers face outward—so the wiser, smarter, more deceitful, the better. Civil ministers face inward—toward the people, toward colleagues—so honesty and openness are best."

"Think: if civil ministers didn't scheme, and devoted themselves entirely to governing the realm, could Dad have been wrongfully exiled?"

Pan Yu: "Brother, though I think you're right, the civil and martial ministers of this realm aren't your puppets—you can't make them act however you want."

"Ruzike Sect," Pan Yue patted his head. "You understand this, yet Dad doesn't."

It took Pan Yu a moment to catch on. "So you're saying Dad's not even as smart as a child!"

See you at 8 a. m. Oh, today's lucky numbers are all those ending in 8—any screenshot of a chapter you've followed can be submitted to the Great Ming group to claim a reward.

(End of chapter)