Chapter 9

After the conscription notice was posted, the young and strong men responded enthusiastically.

Life in the countryside was hard, with too many people and too little land, leaving many idle and unable to find work. The generous military pay offered by the Gongyi Camp attracted almost all the young and strong men in Hengshi Village. Within a day, nearly a hundred people had signed up, and more young men from the surrounding villages were still coming in a steady stream.

In the afternoon, the sun was bright, and the village square in Hengshi Village was bustling with people, as lively as a grand opera.

In the center of the square stood an exceptionally thick bamboo pole, with a square banner hanging from the top, bearing the two large characters “Recruitment.”

Under the banner, a row of long tables was set up. On the table at the far end were two large trays filled with dazzling silver coins, and a pile of Hankou cloth stacked like a small mountain, which caught the eyes of the onlookers.

The young men eager to join the army were even more excited, asking questions and forming an increasingly long queue to sign up.

"Villagers, villagers, five taels of silver and two bolts of cloth, all yours as soon as you join the camp! You'll also receive one and a half taels of silver per month, more than enough to support your family. Work for two years, and you can afford a wife..." Several small soldiers from the Gongyi Camp shouted loudly, working hard in front of Wang Kefan and being very enthusiastic towards the villagers of Hengshi, but inwardly they looked down on these country bumpkins with disdain and a sense of superiority. They thought these villagers, who had never seen the world, were eager to sign up just for a bit of silver. If it were in Wuchang, the old soldiers wouldn't care about the five taels of silver; they would be much more calculating about where to go and where not to go.

If one wanted to join the army, it was best to be a personal guard or servant to a commander, with much better pay and benefits than a regular soldier. The next best option was to serve under General Zuo, where there were the most opportunities for promotion and wealth. As long as one was smart and observant, chopping off a few heads and reporting them could earn a large reward.

Regular soldiers in the Gongyi Camp had the least prospects. Besides their pay, they had no extra income, and if the pay was delayed, they would have nowhere to cry.

However, looking at these farmers who were still a bit afraid of the officials, each one more timid and honest than the last, Captain Wang would definitely use them to fill the numbers. To send these farmers into battle, to wield weapons and kill, was simply out of the question.

"Yuntai, the soldiers you're recruiting are all good!"

At the other end of the long table, Wang Sheng looked at the young men queuing up to sign up and said excitedly, "According to the recruitment standards of the famous general Qi Jiguang, we should not recruit slick city dwellers, old soldiers, or those accustomed to the government. We should avoid those with pale, delicate skin. We should only recruit those who are dark, strong, and a bit timid in front of officials. Farmers and miners are the best. The soldiers you've chosen all meet Qi's criteria!"

Wang Kefan smiled and said, "I didn't expect Third Brother to be so well-versed in military books, quoting classics and making a strong case."

"I read 'The Practical Records of Training Troops' all night last night and found it very enlightening. Battle formations are ever-changing, and training troops is a complex science. I used to underestimate military men!" Wang Sheng sighed. "Just take your recruitment standards, for example. You specifically choose honest and strong farmers, all from Hengshi Village. In battle, they will naturally fight together and protect each other. In this regard, even General Qi might not match you."

Wang Kefan smiled slightly. "Brothers fight together, and fathers and sons go to war together. Using kinship and hometown ties to control the army is the most efficient way to build an army in feudal times. Most of these new recruits are tenant farmers of the Wang family, loyal and reliable."

"Building an army based on kinship and hometown ties has many advantages. For example, communication among soldiers is smoother, coordination is more默契, and it helps to isolate the army from various bad influences in the Ming army, ensuring orders are followed and commands are effective..."

In ancient Chinese military history, there are many records of camps being attacked at night. This is not so much related to the military competence of the commanders but to the organizational structure of the old-style armies, which had a loose management style and did not emphasize tactics and drill details.

Wang Kefan couldn't manufacture cement rifles, nor did he have the guiding principle of "building party cells in companies." It was impossible to create a modern army out of thin air. He could only use clan and kinship ties to maximize the combat effectiveness of the old-style army.

"I never thought there was so much to learn from recruitment. It's truly eye-opening!"

Wang Sheng pondered for a moment and then pointed to the long queue of sign-ups. "It seems we can recruit 200 soldiers in two days. How should we select the officers in the camp?"

"These are the four squad leaders I've chosen. Please review them, Third Brother." Wang Kefan handed over a list.

"These four are well-chosen. Selecting them as squad leaders will ensure that the entire company follows your commands like an arm and a finger." Wang Sheng flipped through the list and nodded in agreement. "For example, Shi A Da, whose family is the only blacksmith in Hengshi Village, has always been respected in the village. He is tall and strong, making him a good choice for a squad leader..."

Wang Sheng turned the list over, looked through it, and his face showed a puzzled expression. "There are only four squad leaders. Where is the list of section leaders?"

The Gongyi Camp used a 4-4 structure, with four squad leaders overseeing sixteen section leaders, similar to modern platoon leaders, who are the most basic officers in the military, bridging the gap between higher and lower ranks, and are very important.

"The section leaders will be chosen by the squad leaders."

"What? Aren't they all under your command? Don't you want to choose them personally?" Wang Sheng was very surprised.

"Yes, selection should be done step by step, without overstepping. Squad leaders are chosen by the company commander, section leaders by the squad leaders, and soldiers by the section leaders." Wang Kefan pointed to the young men who had been selected. "I have done the initial screening. Whether they can join the Gongyi Camp will depend on the section leaders' approval."

"Why? Aren't you afraid they will choose their own cronies and form cliques?" Wang Sheng was puzzled.

"I have a set of selection criteria. As long as they don't deviate from these criteria, I will allow them to choose their own people."

Seeing Wang Sheng still puzzled, Wang Kefan explained further, "If I only wanted to be a company commander, I could choose these section leaders myself and be confident in leading this company. However, for the long term, it's better to follow the principle of step-by-step control..."

Han Xin could command a vast army, but such military geniuses are rare. Commanding a few thousand soldiers is already a sign of a capable general, and on the battlefield, they often collapse for no apparent reason. This is related to the organizational structure of ancient armies.

A commander's energy is limited, and doing everything personally can lead to confusion in responsibilities. An army built on the principle of step-by-step control can form an organic whole, enhancing cohesion and combat effectiveness.

As for the negative effects of this selection method, Wang Kefan had considered them, but he couldn't afford to worry about them now.

"Step-by-step control... I understand!" Wang Sheng seemed to have a sudden realization and said excitedly, "There is a passage in General Qi's 'The Practical Records of Training Troops' that I couldn't understand no matter how much I thought about it. Seeing how Fourth Brother selects his officers has made everything clear!"

In his excitement, he recited, "Like the joints of a bamboo, each joint controls the next, so even with a large army, a million soldiers can be commanded as one. This will surely achieve the effect of a united army, a formidable and invincible force, winning every battle!"

...

That night, a fierce argument erupted in the main room of the Wang family. There was a loud crash, as if something heavy had been thrown to the ground.

Wang Sheng knelt in front of the desk, while his father, Wang Min, trembled with anger, scolding him bitterly.

"Rogue! Unfilial rogue! How can you go and become a soldier, after all these years of study?" Although Wang Min was greedy and opportunistic, he had high hopes for his son. Wang Sheng had studied for ten years and was already a scholar in the county. His sudden decision to join the army infuriated Wang Min.

"I am dull-witted and have failed in my studies. To avoid disgracing the family, I have decided to abandon my studies and join the army. Please, Father, grant me your permission!" Wang Sheng bowed his head, but his tone was firm.

"Still trying to justify yourself! Was it that little Wang Kefan who incited you? I'll beat you to death!"

Wang Min, in a rage, grabbed the inkstone from the desk and threw it. Wang Sheng quickly dodged, and the heavy inkstone flew past his ear, splattering him with ink.

Wang Sheng bowed deeply and said, "I have made up my mind to join the army, and there is no turning back. Today, Father's anger has made you lose control. I will take my leave now and apologize to you later."

He bowed three more times and stood up to leave.

According to Confucian tradition, when children are punished by their parents, they should accept minor punishments quietly and flee if the punishment becomes severe, to avoid making their parents appear unkind.

Filial piety is the foremost virtue. Wang Sheng had always been dissatisfied with his low-character father but had endured it. Stimulated by Wang Kefan's decision to sell his land and join the army, the suppressed rebelliousness of over twenty years finally erupted, and he resolutely left home.