29 The First Gathering of Scholars

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“How many men in your hundred-household command can actually fight?”

Wu Zhankui asked Wei Meng in a low voice. Clearly, that was what concerned him most.

Wei Meng fell silent for a moment, calculating inwardly before replying, “If we judge them by the standards required of proper combat troops, I have a dozen or so. There are another twenty or thirty who are strong, quick, and just about capable of putting up a fight.

“As for the remaining several dozen, they can make a show of things, but put them in a real battle and they are useless. All they know now is how to farm.”

“Thirty or forty? That is already considered good.”

Wu Zhankui gave a slight nod at Wei Meng’s answer, looking quite satisfied.

To Wei Meng, that expression and gesture only served to lower the already pitiful standard of the garrison troops even further.

“Brother-in-law, will they really make use of us if fighting breaks out in the north? There are plenty of border troops up there already.”

Wei Meng knew that the Jiujiang Garrison was little more than an empty shell, but he was not especially worried. As long as he had men under his command, that was enough.

Yet even if he did have a few capable men, sending them north would be no different from delivering sheep into a tiger’s den. He had no desire to fight in the north. It was a deadly assignment.

“Huguang and Jiangxi may be ordered to transport military grain, perhaps escorting it all the way to the front,” Wu Zhankui replied. He saw the deep concern spread across Wei Meng’s face and hastened to reassure him. “It is only a possibility. Nothing has been decided.

“Besides, even if the border troops can fight, they rely on fortified cities. From what I have heard, their ability to fight in the open field is poor as well. Once outside the walls, they are little better than food laid out for the enemy.

“My guess is that all these preparations are merely for the Emperor’s benefit. The chances of an actual campaign are very small.”

“That is good, that is good. If we can avoid fighting, then we should.”

The latter part of Wu Zhankui’s words eased most of Wei Meng’s fears.

By ordinary reasoning, if an army was not fit for battle, it should remain on the defensive.

The great men in the capital would surely be unwilling to send troops out to suffer defeat. If the matter were investigated afterward, they would hardly escape blame themselves.

By now, the Ming army had long since lost any desire to fight. It was content to remain stationed in the provinces, making money, and had long since abandoned the bold spirit of conquering new lands and earning noble titles through military glory.

Only the military households in the northern frontier garrisons were still willing to fight the Tartars—to protect themselves and their families, and, of course, for the rewards. The fighting strength of the inland garrisons had already decayed beyond recognition.

And because those in command knew their own men’s true condition, they were even less willing to entertain the thought of sending them into battle.

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“Tomorrow I will invite Captain Liu over for a drink. You know him as well, so we can sound him out while he is here.”

At the mention of his eldest son’s marriage, Wei Meng immediately brightened. This was the principal matter he had come out to attend to.

“I have tested the waters a few times before. Old Liu says your boy is quite decent, and I think there may be a chance.”

“That would be wonderful. I shall be entirely in your hands, brother-in-law.”

Wei Meng’s heart filled with delight at those words.

In these times, it was genuinely difficult for an ordinary military household to find a suitable marriage.

Whenever they had the opportunity, the daughters of military households married out. Even if life outside was poorer, they would rather leave the army than remain within it.

Thus, most common soldiers married among themselves.

Of course, that was the polite way of putting it. In reality, they were simply exchanging wives.

Things were somewhat better for the daughters of officers. A hundred-household commander was, after all, an officially appointed military officer recognized by the imperial court.

Unless a girl from such a family was exceptionally outstanding and strikingly beautiful, she might have a chance of marrying into the civilian population—but the intended family would generally be one of scholars or local gentry, never an ordinary commoner household.

“Once the marriage is settled, we will go to the prefectural city in a few days. My father-in-law has something else to discuss.”

“What instructions does Lord Zhang have? You need only pass them on to me directly.”

Wei Meng frowned slightly when he heard that they would have to go to Jiujiang Prefecture as well, puzzled by the matter.

“We must make every possible preparation. My father-in-law has connections with the Metropolitan Commandery in the capital, and the news coming from there is that, whether the northern expedition succeeds in the end or not, we must prepare as if it were certain to happen.

“If my father-in-law is drafted, I will have no choice but to follow him. Without enough men at my disposal, I cannot put my mind at ease.

“Spend the next couple of days considering what equipment you need. When the time comes, I will first have a supply transferred to you from the garrison storehouse.”

The slight calm that had just returned to Wei Meng’s heart vanished again. Though Wu Zhankui spoke only of preparation, the words were still alarming.

At a time like this, however, he certainly could not refuse.

If the order to select troops truly came down, he would not be able to escape. All he could do was think about what equipment to request.

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The Ming dynasty spent a considerable sum on military expenditure every year, yet little of it ever reached its intended destination.

The weapons and equipment produced annually by the Directorate of Armaments could never meet the army’s needs. The only solution was to manufacture large quantities of shoddy equipment simply to fill the numbers.

Everyone in official circles knew this perfectly well. No one, however, was willing to lift the lid and expose it.

Even so, every garrison kept at least some usable weapons and equipment in reserve. They were not distributed under ordinary circumstances, but saved for crucial moments, when they could be issued to trusted troops.

On the battlefield, having one’s own men whose fighting strength could be relied upon was the only true capital for staying alive.

In the adjoining room, Wei Guangde, Wu Dong, and Wei Wencai were also discussing essays and scholarly matters.

Although Wei Wencai no longer studied, he had once read books himself. In an age like this, who among those who had received an education did not harbor the dream of “riding beneath the spring breeze with flying hooves, seeing all the flowers of Chang’an in a single day”?

In truth, Wu Dong and Wei Guangde were the ones genuinely interested in the discussion. Wei Wencai merely cracked jokes and bantered because he did not want to sit there doing nothing.

“By the way, the day after tomorrow I have arranged to drink with Zeng Yuanshu, Ma Xiang, and the others. They were all my classmates who passed the examinations in the same year, and several were schoolmates as well. You should come along.

“You, little cousin, intend to pursue the civil examinations. Who knows? Before long, you may become classmates in the examination halls with some of my old schoolmates.”

Wu Dong sipped his tea, suddenly remembering the arrangements for the coming days, and brought it up.

“A gathering of scholars? Excellent, excellent.”

Wei Guangde was overjoyed. He had always known that scholars in ancient times frequently gathered together, but in the half year since arriving in this world, he had remained stuck in a remote and impoverished place and had never attended one.

“It hardly counts as a gathering of scholars. It is merely a few local friends having drinks and listening to music.”

Wu Dong smiled. He could see that his young cousin was very interested in such social occasions, so he continued, “Why not move here to live from now on? There are teachers in the county town, so your studies would not suffer, and it would also be more convenient when you sit the county and prefectural examinations.

“Most importantly, every year, before and after the county examinations, scholars from the surrounding areas gather here. Naturally, there are all kinds of social events.”

“I see.”

Wei Guangde lowered his head and thought for a moment, then shook it. “No, I think I will pass. I am not used to being away from home for too long. Besides, home is not far from the county town. I can come here when the county examinations approach.

“Cousin, tell me more about this gathering. I do not want to arrive knowing nothing and embarrass you.”

“This gathering is actually being hosted by Zeng Yuanshu. One of his distant relatives has returned to make an ancestral offering. He is from Chengtian in Huguang and passed the examination for licentiate this year. His name is Zeng Shengwu...”

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