Chapter 365: Five Ranks, Five Grades

The cavalry horses occasionally let out a few neighs, and from the ranks of the household troops, someone could be heard sobbing.

The drumming ceased, and everyone raised their heads. Zhao Jin saw that many of the household troops below the platform had red-rimmed eyes, yet their expressions had grown somewhat more resolute. Such commemoration and recognition would let them know their deaths would not be in vain — that they would be valued and mourned.

Zhao Jin glanced at Liu Yong beside him. Liu Yong stepped forward two paces and shouted loudly, "All fallen and wounded household troops have compensation arrangements. Each bereaved family will receive five taels of silver and five dan of grain per year. The wounded will be cared for entirely by Zhao Camp, and once recovered, work will be arranged for them. The roster of fallen and wounded brothers is kept here with me. Anyone with questions may come and verify it."

Though everyone had long known this rule, upon hearing "five taels of silver, five dan of grain," the eyes of many below still lit up. The guests watching from both sides all wore expressions of astonishment, and some were even envious. Such treatment could instantly turn a poor household into one of middling means — truly a death worth dying.

A stir of murmuring rose from all around. Zhao Jin raised a hand, the drums beat urgently, and silence fell once more. Liu Yong withdrew, and Zhao Jin declared loudly, "In this campaign, everyone fought with valor. Every man is a hero of Zhao Camp, every man a hero of Xuzhou. Yet there were also a few cowards and wretches who fled the field. Two were killed in the chaos of battle, and one has been left a cripple. Bring him forward!"

This had been prepared long ago. A young man with a crooked, listing body was dragged forward by two household troops and dumped directly before the wooden platform. The young man's right shoulder was wrapped in bandages, his complexion deathly pale. Kneeling there, he trembled all over.

"The battle formations of our Zhao Camp are both a means to kill and a place to stay alive. When thousands upon thousands clash, if you stay within the formation, your strength in combat is great and your self-preservation is great. But if you flee, you send yourself to your death, and you send the brothers beside you to their deaths as well. Even if you escape with your life, Zhao Camp still has rules to punish you!" Zhao Jin said grimly.

By the time he finished, the young man below the platform had gone limp, merely weeping and wailing for his life. Zhao Jin turned his head and asked Chen Sheng, "Chen Sheng, for desertion in the face of battle, what punishment do the rules of our Zhao Camp prescribe?"

"One hundred blows of the great staff, beaten to death before the assembly!" Chen Sheng declared loudly.

Zhao Jin nodded and swept his hand downward. "Carry it out!"

Someone handed up a great staff as thick as a bowl's mouth. Two robust household troops stepped out from the ranks, raised the staff, and brought it smashing down. Zhao Jin noticed one of the household troops glance toward the platform as he struck. Zhao Jin glanced over and saw it was Ji Xiang who had signaled with his eyes.

The very first blow smashed viciously down onto the deserter's head. A few convulsions, and the man's entire body fell silent. The great staff came whistling down blow after blow with the sound of rushing wind, and the body gave no response at all.

Zhao Jin said nothing, merely watching the execution with an expressionless face. He knew this deserter was one of Ji Xiang's men. He had not expected Ji Xiang to be so soft-hearted as to have someone grant his own subordinate a quick end.

When the refugee counterattack had broken through, Zhao Camp's main unit had held, but the other two units had scattered. The vast majority, however, had regrouped and fought on. Still, four men had fled. Three died in the chaos, and one was gravely wounded and crippled. But military law is merciless — what must be dealt with must be dealt with. This execution would serve as a warning for the household troops to take to heart.

After one hundred blows of the staff, the deserter's corpse was a mangled pulp of blood and flesh, no longer resembling a human form. Many of the guests on both sides lowered their heads and refused to look; some had turned deathly pale. Zhao Jin paid no mind to their reactions. The methods various local militias and village braves used to deal with people were far more brutal, all manner of cruel tortures — it was just that when those were carried out, these lofty personages were never present.

Men brought fine sand and covered over the bloodstains left at the execution ground, which slightly eased the grim, killing atmosphere in the field.

"Brothers all, Zhao Camp was previously divided into veterans and new recruits, and the unit organization varied in size. Now, every one of you has fought in bloody battle on the field — you are all veterans!" Zhao Jin declared loudly.

At these words, every single household trooper of Zhao Camp straightened his back.

"A few days ago, Zhao Camp recruited over two thousand three hundred new men. With more men, the organization must be re-established. I, Zhao, shall now announce it!" Zhao Jin paused here. The scene had fallen utterly silent; every person waited for Zhao Jin to speak.

"... Our Zhao Camp shall be divided into five ranks. The first rank is Camp Soldier, the second rank is Camp Man-at-Arms, the third rank is Camp Lieutenant, the fourth rank is Camp Colonel, and the fifth rank is Camp General..."

"... New recruits first entering Zhao Camp shall be Camp Soldiers, with a monthly allowance of thirty wen. Camp Men-at-Arms shall receive two hundred wen per month. Camp Lieutenants shall receive two taels of silver per month. Camp Colonels shall receive ten taels of silver per month..."

"... All existing units are to be disbanded and reorganized. After reorganization, ten men shall form one squad. Each squad shall have one Squad Leader, and the Squad Leader shall be held by a Camp Man-at-Arms. Every ten squads shall form one company. The Company Commander shall be held by a Camp Lieutenant. Every ten companies shall form one regiment. The Regiment Commander shall be held by a Camp Colonel. Additionally, four elite companies and one archer squad shall be selected to form the Personal Guard Unit. The Archer Squad Leader shall be equivalent to a Company Commander and held by a Camp Lieutenant. The Personal Guard Unit Commander shall be equivalent to a Regiment Commander and held by a Camp Colonel. The cavalry shall form a single unit. The cavalry unit shall be divided into four sub-units, each sub-unit comprising thirty men. The Sub-unit Commander shall be equivalent to a Company Commander and held by a Camp Lieutenant. The Cavalry Unit Commander shall be equivalent to a Regiment Commander and held by a Camp Colonel. There shall be one Internal Guard Unit, its Commander a Camp Colonel, with no fixed number of men..."

"... All regiments and units together form Zhao Camp. I, Zhao, shall be the Camp Commander, with the rank of Camp General, commanding Zhao Camp..."

Zhao Jin proclaimed loudly from the platform. His companions beside him, the household troops below the platform, and even the guests on both sides all listened with rapt attention. Some even took out portable paper and brush from wooden cases and began recording it on the spot. Military organization was a secret, yet Zhao Jin concealed nothing from them, for these people were already his allies.

"... Each Regiment Commander shall have four guards. Each regiment shall have one Deputy Regiment Commander, with the rank of Camp Lieutenant. There shall be one drummer, one bugler, and one standard-bearer. The drummer and bugler shall be held by Camp Men-at-Arms; the standard-bearer shall be a Camp Lieutenant. There shall be five Camp Provosts, with the rank of Camp Man-at-Arms. When on duty, the Camp Provosts shall be under the Regiment Commander's command; when off duty, they shall be subordinate to the Internal Guard Unit Commander..."

"... The Camp Commander shall directly command the Personal Guard Unit, the Cavalry Unit, and the Internal Guard Unit. There shall be one Chief Steward, one Chief Clerk, and one Chief Accountant. The Chief Steward, Chief Clerk, and Chief Accountant shall report directly to the Camp Commander and fall outside the rank system of Zhao Camp..."

Silence reigned all around. Camp Soldier, Camp Man-at-Arms, Camp Lieutenant, Camp Colonel, Camp General — these five grades corresponded to every post within Zhao Camp. The household troops of Zhao Camp each wore expressions of excitement and anxious anticipation. They knew they would be assigned positions within these five grades, but what position they would get was uncertain. Everyone else felt deeply impressed. This Zhao Camp was indeed extraordinary — its regulations were so meticulously wrought that merely hearing them inspired solemn respect. Pondering them more deeply, the intricacies within were even greater. Some faces were full of confusion; others pretended to be full of confusion. Better not to think too deeply on it.

After Zhao Jin finished speaking, he raised a hand. The drums sounded, and everyone now knew this meant silence was required. Zhao Jin unstrapped the silver flask at his waist and drank a mouthful of water to moisten his throat — he had truly spoken far too much in one breath.

Silence fell all around. Amid the expectant gazes of the crowd, Zhao Jin once more declared loudly, "I, Zhao, shall now begin the appointments!"

The moment these words were spoken, the already silent grounds seemed to grow quieter still. Zhao Jin looked left and right and said with a smile, "First Regiment Commander — Chen Sheng!"

Chen Sheng stepped forward one pace, raised his arm level with his chest, then stepped back and returned to the ranks, standing in the row behind Zhao Jin. The household troops below were full of excitement, and the guests on both sides nodded as well, each murmuring in low voices — this position could only be Chen Sheng's to fill.

"Second Regiment Commander — Shi Manqiang!"

This appointment caught many by some surprise, though no one found it truly unexpected. Shi Manqiang was very suited to this position. Matching the crowd's surprise, Shi Manqiang was also brimming with excitement as he stepped forward and saluted with great vigor.

"Personal Guard Unit Commander — Ji Xiang!"

When the name for Second Regiment Commander had been announced moments before, Ji Xiang's expression had flickered. This change in demeanor was caught by a few sharp-eyed individuals, who all wondered inwardly — surely assignments like these would have been settled in advance within Zhao Camp? This did not look like it. But when the appointment for Personal Guard Unit Commander was announced, a smile finally appeared on Ji Xiang's face, and he stepped out with meticulous precision to salute.

This man was also very suitable. Those with a mind to know in Xuzhou had long since made a thorough study of the companions around Zhao Jin. As everyone savored the significance of these arrangements, they all felt Ji Xiang was exactly right for the position of Personal Guard Unit Commander.

"Cavalry Unit Commander — Dong Bingfeng!"

Dong Bingfeng's face was flushed with excitement. He strode forward in a great step and performed a solemn salute. Everyone nodded while murmuring in low voices: "... This is the son of a Chiliarch, you know..." "What damn use is a Chiliarch? Better to follow the Zhao family and make something of yourself — just look at this scene..."

"Internal Guard Unit Commander — Liu Yong!"

Liu Yong stepped out amiably and saluted the assembly. The murmuring voices below pressed even lower: "... From now on, this man will be the head of the rivers and lakes and the market streets..." "... This Zhao Jin's skill at shaping men is truly remarkable — what background did Liu Yong come from, and look at him now..." "... Isn't this just like the agents of the Depot and the Guard..." This last sentence was cut off halfway as someone clapped a hand over the speaker's mouth: "... Do you want to get yourself killed?"

"Chief Steward and Chief Clerk — Mister Cao!"

At this, Cao Ruhui below, dressed in a long gown and wearing a square scholar's cap, walked briskly onto the platform with a face full of smiles. He cupped his hands before Zhao Jin and made a deep bow. Zhao Jin nodded with a smile. Ruhui straightened up but did not descend. Instead, he raised his voice of his own accord and said, "Everyone, this position of Chief Steward that I hold is only provisional. Chief Clerk is my proper post. Please do not get them confused!"

Many of those watching below were utterly dumbstruck. The Chief Steward and Chief Clerk business was one thing, but had this returned-to-laity monk lost his mind? Zhao Jin had given you an assignment, and you dared to publicly contradict him right back? This was a complete disregard for protocol, a complete disregard for whether you lived or died. And everyone could see Zhao Jin furrow his brow.

To everyone's surprise, after furrowing his brow, Zhao Jin merely sighed and then shook his head. The look he gave Ruhui seemed utterly helpless. At that moment, everyone was watching Zhao Jin's reaction. Had anyone paid attention to the few beside him, they would have noticed that the gazes Chen Sheng and the others directed at Ruhui had grown considerably warmer.

Ruhui, for his part, showed not the slightest trace of fear or dread. He descended the wooden platform at a leisurely pace and stood off to one side as before. Zhao Jin raised a hand to signal the drums. The drumming drowned out the surrounding murmurs. Once silence was restored, Zhao Jin raised his voice and declared, "Chief Accountant — Zhou Xuezhi!"