“Young man, unauthorized transactions are a serious crime. Think carefully before you act. Military merit is a valuable asset of the state and cannot be treated lightly. You distributing military merit to your fallen comrades—that’s a virtue, and no one will come forward to criticize it. After all, they died in battle, so no amount of commendation is excessive. But for you to take military merit out to sell like this—if this matter comes to light, you’ll certainly be condemned by everyone.”
Liu Fang appeared beside Yun Ye with a worried expression. As a veteran general in the army, he understood better than anyone the harm this could cause. It would lead to a decline in the prestige and credibility of military merit—in other words, by doing this, Yun Ye was selling out the interests of everyone in the military. The consequences were extremely frightening.
“Master Liu, you’re right. Doing this indeed brings me no benefit at all, and might even invite great disaster. But think about it—if I don’t act so recklessly, they’ll think the Lingnan Navy is very useful. Then they’ll have me attack fortified positions, serve as death troops, send me wherever it’s dangerous. Tell me, how can such days be endured? This time, one thousand five hundred sixty-three people died in battle. I already feel like I can’t go on. What about next time? Will two thousand die in battle? And after that, will three thousand die? After a few years, when I see that all my subordinates have been completely replaced, will I still lead them to continue the cycle? No, I can’t bear it.”
“Rather than watch them fall on the battlefield one by one, I’d rather peacefully lead them to transport provisions, catch fish, and get through this lifetime in peace and safety.”
Hearing Yun Ye’s words, Liu Fang’s face filled with sorrow. He waved his hands chaotically and said: “Being a soldier means bravely killing enemies, means sacrificing oneself for the country. ‘Wrapped in horse hide’ isn’t just empty words. You have sufficient wisdom to respond to the changing winds and clouds of the battlefield—why don’t you think about leading even more troops? Only under the most excellent commanders do soldiers have greater assurance of survival. The Lingnan Navy is indeed a rare elite force—attacking like wildfire spreading across a plain, retreating like the ocean’s returning waves. Even in adversity, they can fight bravely. Facing Daewang Fortress, ordinary armies would have long felt cold fear, but in the Lingnan Navy, I haven’t discovered such sentiment. These already meet the standards of fierce troops. Young man, don’t connect noble soldiers with filthy merchants—that’s an insult to them, and also the greatest harm.”
“Master Liu, the soldiers’ confidence comes from their excellent equipment, harsh peacetime training, and having absolutely no worries about what’s behind them. Only then will they be fearless of death. Tell me, which of these can be separated from the support of money?”
“Young man, my understanding differs from yours. I believe that having soldiers embrace lofty beliefs while wearing crude battle gear to fight and struggle on the battlefield—that’s what’s inhumane. Having them abandon their wives without caring for their livelihoods while they fight on the battlefield—that’s the greatest shame. So please, don’t try to persuade me anymore. When you get to the Academy, you’ll have plenty of disciples who need teaching. Among them will surely emerge generals you hope for. As for me, forget it. I only think about the people around me—living through this life happily, joyfully, and prosperously is what I want. I hate when my subordinates die. I hate watching those kind elders around me grow old—that includes you too. You’re a tactical master. Your talents shouldn’t be buried in the dust of history. There are many students at the Academy eager to display their talents on the battlefield. You’ll like them.”
Seeing Liu Fang still looking worried, he smiled and continued: “You needn’t worry about me. I’m very clear about matters at court. These years I’ve done nothing else but match wits with those people all day long. On the battlefield I’m no good, but when it comes to self-preservation skills at court, old man, you probably can’t match me. Just from how you faked your death to go into hiding back then, it was very inappropriate. It’s not that I’m criticizing you, but you…”
“Shut up!” Liu Fang’s face turned red from what Yun Ye said. He completely forgot the original purpose of coming to talk with him. Hearing Yun Ye continuously dig up his old scandals, he couldn’t help but fly into an embarrassed rage. After an angry shout, he swept his sleeves and left.
Seeing old man Liu Fang enter the cabin, Yun Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Turning back, he smiled at those merchants and said: “I still have a skilled archer here. I wonder if anyone’s interested? He’s alive, mind you…” The Lingnan Navy was now very accustomed to measuring their worth with money. This time, from cooks to generals, everyone top to bottom had military merit. Bisha City burned to death at least five thousand enemies, Changam Fortress also killed quite a few, and as for Daewang Fortress, there was no need to mention it. The army marshal very straightforwardly wrote the figure “killed over ten thousand enemies.” Yun Ye had quietly asked the marshal whether writing so irresponsibly would invite trouble. Who knew that the army marshal, who wasn’t under Yun Ye’s jurisdiction, would laugh heartily and say—who would believe it if he wrote less? Many military achievements in the army were written this way. He claimed to have written countless military merits, and this time was the most truthful of all. If anyone dared to question it, they could come find him for a confrontation at court. If he didn’t curse those gossiping fellows until they were utterly humiliated, then all his years as marshal would have been wasted.
So when even cooks had the merit of personally braving arrows and stones to deliver food to the front lines, the entire Lingnan Navy was full of joyful laughter. As long as they returned to the big ships, the commander would announce everyone’s rewards. Military merit was a matter for after returning to Chang’an, but money—they’d have it as soon as they went ashore. Look at those merchants who didn’t have a single copper coin on them, working urgently to calculate goods and valuations to scrape together passage money. These people were all the best accountants.
Lying on the wooden rafts sunbathing, people couldn’t help but discuss their earnings from this trip.
“Big Brother, this little brother still lost out big this time. When fighting Goguryeo cavalry blade to blade, I wasn’t selected. If I’d been selected like Big Brother, maybe I could have sold a few more heads too. Now I’ve only sold one.”
“Be content! This time you got three promotions of military merit. When you return to your hometown, you might even become a constable at the county office. By the way, you dog—you didn’t just focus on selling heads and forget to distribute merit to the fallen brothers, did you?”
“In our Lingnan Navy, the dead always come first. Little brother wouldn’t do such a thing. Two extra heads—one was credited to Shuanzi, the other I sold for forty strings. That merchant still wanted to buy the one I gave to Shuanzi, but I didn’t give it. Otherwise, without a head to his name, how could Shuanzi have a glorious grand burial?”
Hearing this, the big brother who had been about to jump up and beat him lay back down, pillowing his hands behind his head and saying: “Dead brothers either have no military merit or receive meager rewards. The court’s pension for fallen soldiers is worth one donkey. The commander knows it’s not appropriate and is finding ways to compensate the fallen brothers. Those who died in battle with merit to their names—their families’ taxes will be waived, and corvée labor will also be exempted. Plus our navy will supplement their families a bit, and the family can make it until the children grow up. Remember, don’t spread this matter around. The commander has taken on responsibility for this.”
Hearing the veteran’s words, the young soldier nodded and swore to keep this matter in his belly, telling no one. This undercurrent of secrecy quietly spread throughout the entire camp.
Old man Zhangsun sat in the cabin with a beaming smile, inspecting the silk and hemp in his hands. He pulled out a strand, twisted it into rope, found some weights, and hung them on it. Only after hanging three weights did he record the silk hemp’s quality grade and quantity in the account book before him. Seeing the old steward beating his lower back, a young worker said: “Old Master, you haven’t touched these things for over ten years. Let us do it. You should rest more. Look, your hands are peeling from the friction.”
Old man Zhangsun laughed heartily. Looking at his hands, he said to his trusted worker: “I’m doing this because I’m happy. Li’er, Huang’er, and Yan’er now have prospects for their futures. Don’t you think I should be happy? Third Branch’s Jie’er—didn’t he get a ninth-rank petty official position? His father never stopped showing off in front of me, making my wife constantly complain that I don’t know how to visit the main family. Now it’s good—the three boys were all by my side and caught this heaven-sent fortune. Our family has one hundred sixty-five enemy kills. The three boys will at least all be Carriage Inspectors, closest to the imperial clan. Third Branch’s little civil clerk really doesn’t compare.” After finishing, he laughed heartily again.
“Old steward, this is only because Her Majesty issued strict orders not allowing us to use her connections. Otherwise, with our three young masters’ character and talent, they would have entered service long ago. Would we need to be in debt up to our ears now, helping with work?” The worker had long since become a senior employee these years. He hadn’t done this rough work for many years and was quite unhappy to suddenly be doing it again.
“You don’t understand a damn thing! Is it because Her Majesty spoke that the three young masters can have military merit? Marquis Yun handled this matter beautifully—unlike others who withhold soldiers’ military merit to pocket money themselves. Here, we all negotiated face-to-face with those meritorious soldiers—money in one hand, military merit in the other, neither owing the other. The soldiers themselves went to the supervising marshal to make the changes. No one has grievances, so there are no loose ends. Even if one or two people are bought off and want to expose this matter, before anything happens, they’ll probably be killed by other soldiers. This is called ‘arousing public anger.’ Moreover, our Yan’er did personally kill two Goguryeo people, so this military merit is definitely ours. What’s wrong with doing a bit of work now? When we get home, you’ll have your time to take advantage.”
Master and servant laughed heartily together and continued busying themselves with their work.
Wu She flipped through the book in his hands. After reading a few lines, he’d pick up some beans from the bowl and pop a few in his mouth, crunching loudly. Across from him, Liu Fang grew impatient. Several times he wanted to say something to Wu She but ultimately held back forcefully. He picked up his own book and flipped through it with rustling sounds.
“Brother Liu, your heart isn’t calm. In the past, when this old man munched beans, you weren’t this impatient. Still worrying about Marquis Yun’s affairs?”
Liu Fang heavily put down his book and said to Wu She: “How can things continue like this? You’ve also spent a lifetime in the imperial palace. Tell me, have you ever seen someone so audaciously reckless?”
“I have!” Wu She’s answer was firm and decisive.
One sentence left Liu Fang choking with nothing to say. After catching his breath, he asked again: “Who?”
“That one outside. Old Liu, you were in Hebei and don’t know about Chang’an affairs. Marquis Yun’s expedition this time—there was a reason for it. He was forced out by the entire capital’s nobility. This time he was lucky and won the battle, completed the mission. When he returns from this trip, just watch—he won’t let anyone have it easy. Do you know why he erected that monument? You think he’s displaying military merit? Wrong! From the very beginning, he never took this bit of military merit seriously. He’s deliberately vexing all the civil and military officials, making them explain to the Goguryeo. You see, at first he still knew to hide his tracks, but later, after over a thousand of his men died, his heart immediately became uncomfortable. If he’s uncomfortable, why should others be comfortable? Everyone suffering together—that’s the proper principle.”