The Spirit Ginseng Pills the magistrate gave were ordinary items, not special items with game prompts. Zhou Yuan couldn't judge their exact effect, but reckoned a county magistrate wouldn't cheat a country lad. In any case he'd spent the money — and spent it in front of the conscripts. That not only spared him many petty headaches but balanced the rich-poor gap within the conscripts' little band.
"Shitou, why'd you spend all your money? Not to lecture you, but saving it would've been so good. Later, with money, you could take a wife and leave your Zhou line an heir."
"I'd actually forgotten that, if you hadn't brought it up. Didn't you just get a hundred and ten coins? Lend me some first."
"Can't. Anything but that — I've still got to save for my boy's bride-price."
Lucky Zhou Yuan had no money left, or there'd always be a few angling for it, pestering him to death. Now it was his turn to pester others; after some effort, though he borrowed little, he gained some real benefit. A few bailiffs, mindful of his valor and the two hundred coins they'd gotten for free, brought him good eats whenever they passed a town to satisfy his cravings. So though the road ahead stayed hard, it was much better than when they'd first left home.
When the party reached the fort outside Jing'an City after untold hardship, the hundred-odd conscripts had, unusually, not lost much weight; at least their spirits looked decent.
"Neighbors, even a thousand-li send-off must end in parting; once we hand you over today, we'll head back. Live well in this camp, bear with things — the three-year auxiliary term passes fast, and we'll come fetch you home then. Young master, you're not like them — you'll likely be made a regular fighting soldier. Don't endure what you needn't. While you're young and your blood runs hot, make a name, so you can stand firm in this camp for the long haul."
Perhaps it was being in a strange land, or the bond forged through days of shared wind and rain — the bailiffs' fellow-feeling suddenly surfaced, and they sincerely offered advice, hoping their countrymen wouldn't perish far from home.
"Don't worry, officer. We're all honest farmhands with wives and children waiting; we'd never make trouble."
The villagers eagerly avowed their good behavior, but Zhou Yuan gripped his battered iron spear and nodded toward the camp. A crowd without ambition can endure; one man harboring ambition must be ruthless. Since ancient times the two roads of letters and arms have been humanity's ladders upward; since the path of letters was closed, he could only make his name by arms.
"We're off, neighbors. Let us see you the last stretch of the way."
The broad fort was like a small city, save that within were no commoners, only fighting soldiers and auxiliaries. Led by the bailiffs, the conscripts formed up before the fort gate to await the inspection of the Jing'an aide-de-camp. That burly officer walked a circuit through the crowd, brows knotting, face displeased, as if dissatisfied with this batch of conscripts. The two lead bailiffs hurried up to explain in low voices, now and then pointing toward Zhou Yuan.
"If what you say is true, I'll take these men."
"How would lowly men dare deceive the general? One test and the general will know."
Surrounded by a dozen personal guards, the Jing'an aide came, at the bailiffs' guidance, before Zhou Yuan.
"I hear you're a valiant one, daring to spear bears at the risk of your life. Show me the county's certified document."
"Yes, sir."
The bailiffs had warned him: in the army one acknowledges orders with "Yes, sir"; if a general asks something, acknowledge first, then act. The Jing'an aide took the document from Zhou Yuan, glanced at Leji County's official seal, and finally nodded, satisfied.
"Dare you enter the Wuwei Camp, and join the regular soldiers' military household?"
"I obey the general's command."
"Good — a fine lad indeed. Your background's clean, you're young and strong, and prized for valor and nerve; I'll lift you into the armored camp to learn the hard bow, blade and spear. An armored soldier trains and fights only, handling no chores; he has two attendant-soldiers under him to bear his armor and arms and see to his daily needs. Pick two reliable men from your countrymen — attendant-soldiers rank above auxiliaries; their food, coin and grain are all provided, and they can benefit kin and friends."
"Many thanks for the great aide's favor."
"Wrong. The aides in camp each have their own charge; there's no greater or lesser among them. I oversee the selection and training of soldiers — I am the Vanguard-Selection Aide. I come from the Qingxi Ma clan; you may also call me Aide Ma. Remember, the army is strict — don't muddle military titles."
"Zhou Yuan understands. Thank you for the teaching, Aide Ma."
Having gained a man who dared to fight, Aide Ma was in fine spirits; he drew the Vanguard-Selection seal from a guard and stamped his endorsement on the bailiffs' service documents.
"I've taken these soldiers. Go back and report early."
The bailiffs bowed again and again, and after seeing the conscripts into the city, turned and left. Jing'an's army ran strict; the moment Zhou Yuan entered the city he was led east by soldiers, while the conscripts were split into two columns and led north. He chose Li Dazhuang and Zhao Tieniu, two fellow villagers, as his attendant-soldiers. He didn't choose Uncle Dahuang because the man was too old to manage bearing armor and arms.
"Fine fellow, this is our Jing'an army's Wuwei Camp. We train three days and rest one; in your free time you can change into plain clothes and roam Jing'an City. But you're a new recruit, and the drillmasters watch closely — best not go out without reason."
The soldier said his piece and walked toward the Wuwei Camp's armored men; once the handover was done, Zhou Yuan formally entered the city's barbican. The moment he stepped in, one word struck him: rich.
In the camp a company of soldiers was doing weighted-armor drill, all clad in fine iron, weapons in hand, advancing in steady step. Around them stood ranks of attendant-soldiers, some bearing water-skins and towels, some weapons; when the armored men halted, the attendants filed in to give them water, wipe their sweat, and change their arms.
Seeing this, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but wonder. This treatment, this provisioning, this level of training — was this what a commandery garrison should look like? Great Wei's martial vigor was perhaps a touch too abundant.
"Unbelievable, isn't it? If you can stay, you'll get used to it. Stop gawking; come with me to the dormitory. When the meal's called, go eat in the west hall yourself; your attendant-soldiers eat in the east hall. Armored soldiers wear red, attendants black — don't mix them, don't swap them, or military law won't forgive it."
"Why eat apart? Same camp, different halls — won't it breed resentment?"
"What resentment? Want the good food, become an armored soldier yourself — our camp doesn't forbid attendants turning armored. Armored training is brutal; without meat and medicine to mend the body you'll piss blood, and if you take the five strains and seven injuries, how will you fight? You're young, just the time to build your body — eat well, train well, so you're not sent back."
At the dormitory Zhou Yuan found the armored soldiers' treatment truly fine. The roomy chamber held four big beds and four bunk beds, plus cabinets, an armor-rack, a desk, chairs — nothing missing.
"Stow your gear and come with me to the quartermaster. You won't be issued armor at first, but you can draw a bow and arrows, a steel blade, and a long spear."
"Brother, may I ask you something — is our Jing'an army rich?"
"Hm? What do you mean? The clan-born find it shabby; the good-born find it grand."