Chapter Twenty-Five: Subordinates

Xu Kang realized that trying to reason with this group of rough soldiers was pointless—it was like playing music to a cow. Instead, he decided to use the approach his drill instructor had employed during military training. The results were immediate and effective.

After being yelled at, Zhao Hong returned to his subordinates and unleashed a torrent of shouts at the team leaders under his command. The team leaders, in turn, bellowed at the rank-and-file soldiers. Thus, efficiency was achieved. A task Xu Kang had estimated would take an hour was completed in less than half that time.

Seeing the soldiers had finished tidying up, Xu Kang didn’t bother with any speech. He boarded the carriage, waved to Zhao Hong, and signaled for them to set out.

Catching his gesture, Zhao Hong immediately vaulted onto his horse and brandished his spear.

“A man sets his ambition beyond his homeland; he vows not to return until the Yellow Turban rebels are broken. Why care where one’s bones are buried? Every green mountain is a resting place. Mount up! Move out!”

“Yes, sir!”

At his words, the dozen or so team leaders beside him responded in unison, mounted their horses, and led their men forward.

Once the troops were on the move, Zhao Hong rode over to Xu Kang’s carriage, flashing a sheepish grin.

“Heh, my lord, I thought the poem you recited yesterday was excellent, so I borrowed it to use myself. I hope you’ll forgive me!”

Xu Kang: “……”

Forgive you? You’ve already used it, what’s the point of asking now?

The lines he’d borrowed from a great figure had now been pilfered by Zhao Hong. Though a bit disgruntled, Xu Kang could only wave him off with a look of annoyance.

“All right, enough with the flattery—get in the carriage. Tell me about this detachment: numbers, officers, everything.”

“Yes, my lord!”

At Xu Kang’s words, Zhao Hong promptly agreed and climbed into the carriage to explain.

“It’s like this: including myself, there are two company commanders and twenty team leaders…”

As Zhao Hong spoke, Xu Kang gradually came to understand the structure of his force.

In the Han dynasty, the smallest military unit was the team, with fifty soldiers led by a team leader. Above that was the company, each comprised of ten teams and commanded by a company commander.

Above the company was the battalion adjutant, also called a military adjutant. The number of companies under an adjutant varied—sometimes eight or nine, sometimes only one or two.

Xu Kang was clearly in the latter situation.

His force numbered just over a thousand men. Excluding the laborers assigned to grain transport, there were at most two full companies.

As he already knew the situation, Xu Kang wasn’t disappointed after Zhao Hong’s explanation. After some thought, he spoke again.

“It’s hard for one team leader to manage fifty men. Tell your team leaders to each choose five men to serve as squad leaders, with each squad leader responsible for ten men. After we set up camp tonight, bring all the squad leaders to my tent. Understood?”

“Uh… squad leader?”

Zhao Hong was momentarily taken aback, but recalling the earlier shouting match, he straightened up and replied loudly.

“Yes, sir! Understood!”

Satisfied by Zhao Hong’s energetic response, Xu Kang nodded.

“Good. That’s more like it. Go carry out my orders—and inform the other company commander. What’s his name again?”

“My lord, his name is Zhang Cheng. I’ll pass on your instructions.”

“Excellent. Go.”

“Yes, sir!”

With Xu Kang’s order, Zhao Hong immediately disembarked to carry out the command.

Once Zhao Hong left, Xu Kang drew the curtains on both sides of the carriage and settled in to rest. Perhaps he was too focused; before long, he drifted off to sleep. When he awoke, it was already evening.

By then, the soldiers had begun to make camp. Some were pitching tents, while others were lighting fires and boiling water to prepare the evening rice porridge.

As Xu Kang emerged from the carriage, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him, their eyes a mix of curiosity, apprehension, and a trace of excitement.

Seeing their expressions, Xu Kang was puzzled.

“I haven’t done anything to these soldiers, have I? Why are they all looking at me like that?”

While he wondered, Zhao Hong approached and saluted him with clasped fists.

“My lord, the main tent is ready. Company Commander Zhang and the twenty team leaders, as well as those… squad leaders, are all assembled, awaiting your orders!”

“Oh… good!”

Snapping out of his thoughts, Xu Kang nodded. He motioned to the soldiers to resume their work and headed toward the main tent.

Outside the tent, he found a large crowd—over a hundred men by rough count. Most wore the armor of ordinary soldiers and bowed respectfully when Xu Kang arrived, clearly uncomfortable.

Xu Kang knew at once that these must be the squad leaders he’d requested.

He broke into a smile.

“Haha, forgive my tardiness and making you all wait. The tent is cramped—let’s all sit on the ground.”

He led by example, sitting cross-legged.

The others glanced at each other, hesitant, until Zhao Hong and another company commander sat down. Then, the rest followed suit, all eyes turning to Xu Kang.

Thanks to his experience with public speaking at school, Xu Kang had a strong heart. Faced with a hundred pairs of eyes, he felt no fear and instead smiled again.

“There’s no need to be nervous. I’ve called you here so we can get to know each other. In the months ahead, perhaps even longer, we’ll be trusting our lives to one another. How can there be trust without acquaintance? Let’s introduce ourselves. I’ll start, since I’m your leader.”

He patted his chest.

“My name is Xu Kang, courtesy name Yide, from Changshe in Yingchuan. I’m the newly appointed magistrate of Changshe County and currently acting as the military adjutant. My goal is to serve the nation and drive the Yellow Turban rebels out of Changshe. That’s me. Zhao Hong, you’re next.”

“Uh… yes!”

Zhao Hong, caught off guard, quickly nodded and introduced himself in the same style.

“I’m Zhao Hong, with no courtesy name yet, from Zhen Ding in Changshan. I serve as a company commander. My goal is to serve the nation and help my lord drive out the Yellow Turban rebels. I’m done.”

“Good.”

Pleased with his imitation, Xu Kang nodded and turned to the next, “You’re next, Zhang Cheng.”

“Yes, sir!”

The other company commander, Zhang Cheng, began his introduction.

“My name is Zhang Cheng, from Chenliu in Yingchuan, also a company commander. My goal is to serve the nation and expel the traitors…”

With the example set by Xu Kang and the two company commanders, the others quickly became less reserved and began introducing themselves one by one.

While they spoke, Xu Kang listened intently, doing his best to remember each face and name.

When the last introduction was finished, he spoke again.

“Well, now that we’ve all introduced ourselves, we’re at least acquainted. The next step is trust, and for that, we need honesty. As your leader, I’ll go first. You can ask me anything at all—no question is off limits.”

“Uh…”

At this, everyone hesitated, glancing at each other, unsure who should speak.

Seeing this, Xu Kang had no choice but to call on someone directly.

“Zhao Hong, Zhang Cheng, you two company commanders will begin. You must ask me something—no shirking. A good question gets a reward, a bad one gets no punishment. Zhao Hong, you first.”

“Uh… yes!”

Though reluctant, Zhao Hong stood up and saluted.

“Then, forgive my impertinence, my lord. I once heard at your home that you are a disciple of Advisor Cai. Is that true?”

At this, Zhang Cheng and the others looked at Xu Kang with curiosity, clearly interested in the answer.

Xu Kang smiled and nodded.

“It’s true, though not entirely so. Here’s what happened…”

He recounted the story he’d previously made up for Xu Fu.

“When I met my teacher, I was still a child and didn’t know his identity. Only when he was exiled by treacherous ministers and eunuchs at court did I learn he was the renowned Advisor Cai!”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd—clearly, many had heard of Cai Yong.

Especially Zhang Cheng, who immediately stood and saluted.

“No wonder you are so extraordinary at such a young age, my lord. But with the Ten Attendants holding power at court, aren’t you afraid of eunuch retaliation by publicly acknowledging your connection to Advisor Cai?”

“Heh, of course I’m afraid—anyone would value their life. But to deny my teacher out of fear? That I cannot do. To avoid the eunuchs’ wrath, I must deal with them for now, keep myself useful, and wait for the day my teacher returns, so I can aid him as his right hand. To do that, I must win this battle!”

With that, he stood and bowed to those present.

“Gentlemen, only if we win this battle do we and the Han have a future. So, I ask for your help—let us defeat the Yellow Turban rebels together!”

“Yes, sir!”

Everyone stood, saluting with clasped fists.

“We are willing to give our lives for you, my lord, and together drive out the Yellow Turban rebels!”