Chapter 32: The Dusty Road and the Barbarian Troops (Part 1)

The official road from Qin Prefecture to Longcheng County was thirty li long and four zhang wide, built along the Ji River. The thick yellow earth was compacted as hard as stone, serving as the main route connecting Qin Prefecture to Fengxiang Prefecture and directly to Guanzhong. This wide road could accommodate eight horses or four carts side by side, and it was sufficient for the annual transport of 300,000 dan of grain and fodder from the Guanzhong region to Qin Prefecture. However, now, Han Gang and his supply convoy were standing on the muddy ground beside the road, waiting for it to reopen.

Pairs of flag and plaque officials held up their flags and plaques, shouting commands, followed by hundreds of armored cavalrymen in a long procession. The cavalry was divided into two parts, guarding a central group of over 300 people with mixed attire.

The entire procession, from head to tail, was nearly a li long, with about 700 to 800 people. Just by the number of armored cavalry, there were at least as many as a battalion. Although Qin Prefecture was on the front lines, cavalry was always scarce—or rather, the entire Song Dynasty had a pitifully small number of cavalry. Even counting both the tribal and Han troops, Qin Prefecture had only about 5,000 cavalry. The procession passing before Han Gang now accounted for one-tenth of that number.

"It's Chancellor Li returning!"

"It's Governor Li of the Military Council!"

Without the identity of a military governor, how could one have hundreds of cavalry as guards? Indeed, it was Li Shizhong returning.

The governor of the Qin-Feng Circuit, to facilitate the supply of military provisions to Longgan City and Gangu City, had stayed in Longcheng County—the first stop on Han Gang's route to Gangu City—for half a month. Only now was he returning to his administrative center.

Li Shizhong, with his high rank and power, naturally had the common people keep their distance. Although he did not require the people to set up altars and kneel in homage as the emperor would, they still had to clear the way for him.

'If he had returned a few days earlier, it would have been better,' Han Gang thought with a tinge of regret.

Li Shizhong's personality and character were well-known in the prefecture. He was a man who clung to power and was known for his harshness, almost like a cruel official. If the case of the military equipment warehouse in Dexian Lane had fallen into his hands, it would surely have become a major case involving dozens or even hundreds of families, and the people of Chengji County would not have dared to speak up. Chen Ju would not have escaped either. And with Chen Ju's downfall, Han Gang should already be back home across the Ji River, with the little girl warming his bed.

'He returned too late!'

"Such a grand display..." Wang Shunmin had a different feeling as he watched Li Shizhong's procession.

"Isn't it natural? He is the governor of the Qin-Feng Circuit. There are tens of thousands of civil and military officials in the empire, but very few rank above him. If he were to enter the court, one more step would make him a high-ranking official."

Although he replied this way, standing by the roadside, Han Gang felt a mix of envy and desire as he watched the grand procession of cavalry guarding Li Shizhong. He envied his power and also desired the power Li Shizhong now possessed.

There were differences between the circuits of the Transport Commissioner and the Military Governor. The entire Song Dynasty was divided into fifteen circuits under the Transport Commissioner, later increased to eighteen, while the circuits under the Military Governor were slightly more, but did not exceed twenty-five. Whether it was the circuits of the Transport Commissioner or the Military Governor, the northern circuits always ranked before the southern ones. With the frequent wars in the northwest, the four circuits of Guanzhong and the one circuit of Hedong were particularly important. Li Shizhong's position, among the more than twenty military governors in the empire, was actually in the top five.

Watching Li Shizhong, dressed in a purple robe, riding a tall, handsome chestnut horse from Heixi, passing by with the protection of his troops, Han Gang's thoughts suddenly became hazy. When did the Han Chinese scholars become so weak that they could not even mount a horse?

In his previous life, Han Gang always thought that civil officials rode in sedan chairs while military officials rode horses, which was a common practice in ancient times. But in this era, even civil officials mostly rode horses, rarely using sedan chairs. Using people as beasts of burden was not a good reputation. Even the prime minister, unless he was old and had difficulty walking, and received a special imperial decree, would still ride a horse to the palace.

This was still the Song Dynasty, which emphasized literature over martial arts! And it was the Song Dynasty, which had lost most of its northern horse-breeding lands and had a shortage of warhorses! In the Ming and Qing dynasties, with ample land and horses, civil officials used people as beasts of burden and could not walk without a sedan chair.

This should be called one generation being inferior to the next!

Ban Chao, with only thirty-six men, dared to kill and set fire in a foreign country. Wang Xuance, it was said, led the army of a vassal state with a single horse and defeated an ancient Indian kingdom.

Although the martial spirit of the Song Dynasty was far inferior to that of the Han and Tang dynasties, scholars could still ride horses and shoot arrows. Han Gang's own archery skills were quite good, and he had several experiences of shooting willow branches with his classmates in early spring during his studies under Zhang Zai. Chen Yaozi, the top scholar of the Zhenzong era, was famous for his archery skills and left a story of becoming skilled through practice. But by the Ming and Qing dynasties, many scholars seemed to only be able to hold fans and play with rabbits.

Li Shizhong's procession had already moved far away, leaving only a rolling dust trail heading west. The conscript laborers, forced to the roadside, began to drive their mule carts onto the official road. Wang Shunmin came to Han Gang's side, "Scholar Han, it's time to go!"

Han Gang snapped back to reality and gave Wang Shunmin an apologetic smile.

He turned back and looked at the rolling dust. This was the power of a military governor. In terms of intelligence, he did not think he would lose to anyone. In terms of diligence, both he and his predecessor were capable of studying hard. In terms of vision and knowledge, Han Gang was confident. As long as he had the opportunity, whether it was to take the imperial exams or to be recommended, how could he not make a name for himself in the Northern Song Dynasty?

Although he had come to this era by chance, how could Han Gang be content to live a life of mediocrity? Whether it was called ambition or aspiration, his vision was now very high!

One day, he would stand in a position higher than Li Shizhong.

One day...

Han Gang led his convoy back on the road. In just two hours, they arrived in Longcheng County. According to custom, they were arranged to rest in an old military camp outside the county. Although Wang Shunmin was not part of Han Gang's supply convoy, Dong Chao and the camp guards argued for a while, trying to prevent Wang Shunmin from entering. But Wang Shunmin, holding the pass issued by Wu Yan, and more importantly, his horsewhip, entered the camp with a swagger.

It was not yet the hour of Shen, but the winter sky darkened early, and the sun was already setting, casting a blood-red hue over half the sky.

After arranging for a meal, the forty people occupied two barracks, with twenty people each on two large communal beds. Han Gang, under the pretext of supervising the conscript laborers, separated Xue Ershiba and Dong Chao, placing them in different rooms. He and Wang Shunmin slept in the officers' quarters outside the barracks.

"Remember, this is a military camp, not a private brothel behind the Huimin Bridge. No one is allowed to leave the room at night without orders. If I catch you, I'll beat you with a big stick, don't think I won't break your legs!"

Wang Shunmin stood in the barracks, sternly lecturing the conscript laborers. Thirty people stood in two rows, heads bowed, listening obediently. In theory, the leader of the supply convoy was Han Gang, and Wang Shunmin was just a passerby. Even if he were to lecture, it should have been Han Gang. But Han Gang stood by, watching, while Dong Chao and Xue Ershiba were forced to stand with the laborers, faces cold, saying nothing.

Han Gang noticed their expressions, half of which seemed to be due to Wang Shunmin's hands gripping his horsewhip behind his back, but more likely, they were thinking of getting even later and enduring the temporary humiliation.

Wang Shunmin's rules were not privately made. Leaving the military tent or barracks at night was punishable by military flogging. Even going outside to breathe or to relieve oneself required an order; otherwise, one would have to relieve themselves in their pants.

Han Gang was not very familiar with these military regulations, but he had no objections to using them to confine Xue and Dong. If Xue Ershiba and Dong Chao dared to violate the military rules, he would definitely take the opportunity to cripple them. Moreover, these rules were not meant to bind him. He first checked the vehicles and the water for the animals, instructing the conscript laborers to take good care of them. Then, Han Gang went outside the camp.

The nearby residents were accustomed to doing business. Relying on the mountains, they lived off the mountains; relying on the water, they lived off the water. Relying on the military camp, they did business with the passing troops. To thank Wang Shunmin for his help, Han Gang bought wine and meat outside and brought it back to eat, chat, and build relationships. Fortunately, Han Qianliu had given him a bit more than one guan of money before they set out, otherwise, he would not have had the funds for this.

Wang Shunmin's room was in a separate compartment within the barracks, to keep the officers close to the soldiers and to monitor their movements. Han Gang brought the wine and meat over, and Wang Shunmin was pleased. Without further ado, the two sat down at the table and began to eat and drink.

After a few rounds of drinks, Han Gang wiped the grease from his mouth and formally thanked Wang Shunmin, "I really appreciate your help today, Commander Wang."

Han Gang was truly grateful to Wang Shunmin. If not for him, he might have had to take action first tonight, and who knew what trouble might have arisen on the mountain road tomorrow. Wu Jiepan's actions were also appropriate. He would not have let Han Gang take the lead directly, but he asked for a trustworthy officer, and the one he found, Wang Shunmin, was not only trustworthy but also reliable.