Chapter Seventeen: The Selection of Soldiers

Xu Family Stronghold lay forty li southwest of Qiao County; in Han times, a li was about four hundred and twenty meters, so forty li amounted to little more than sixteen kilometers. Riding at a swift gallop, it would not take long to reach; the two men had not even ridden half an hour from the county seat before the Xu stronghold came into view. It was a stockade built of massive timber logs, and judging by the width of the wooden walls, the compound covered a vast area—no less than ten thousand square meters. The stronghold was built against the mountain, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. Yet, in Cao Hong's eyes, such wooden walls would be no match for a battering ram or even a concerted assault by ten siege ladders.

A sudden thought struck Cao Hong, and he turned to Shi Huan beside him. "Gongliu, may I ask from whom you learned your martial skills?" This question had long weighed on his heart. In later ages, to achieve mastery in internal arts required the guidance of a renowned teacher or a correct method of cultivation. Yet men like Shi Huan could not possibly have inherited family martial traditions as Cao Hong had. How, then, did they attain such prowess? Cao Hong searched his memories but found no answer.

Shi Huan smiled. "From the founding of our dynasty, there have been countless wandering knights. The Grand Historian himself said, 'Knights err, relying on arms and breaking taboos.' Such men, naturally, possess martial skill. These knights journey the world, their arts spreading as they go. Add to them the alchemists, the Daoists, even the Buddhists from the West—many martial arts circulate among the common people. With luck, one may encounter a skilled fighter and learn from him; there is little talk of formal lineage. I have also heard that in our border regions, frequent dealings with the steppe tribes have blended Han and nomad martial arts to great heights. Their achievements may rival the Three Friends of Dongting, the Twin Phantoms of Yin and Yang, and the Immortal of Runan—though these six are famous in the Central Plains, the others are no less formidable."

At these words, enlightenment dawned on Cao Hong. No wonder that in the era of the Three Kingdoms, renowned generals sprang up like wild grass, wave after wave—chaotic times gave many heroes the chance to show their skills. The borderlands—those were the north. Suddenly, he recalled that many of the great warriors of the Three Kingdoms were indeed from the north: Lü Bu, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Zhang Liao, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu—perhaps it was their frequent contact with the nomads, each learning from the other. Strange, he thought, that he knew nothing of such matters—could it be simply because he was born in the south?

Cao Hong asked carelessly, "Where did Buddhism first take root in the Central Plains?" Watching too many television dramas had led him to believe that Buddhism entered China with the thirteen monks who aided Li Shimin; he had not thought it existed in Han times.

Shi Huan replied in surprise, "Has the young master never heard of White Horse Temple in Luoyang?"

Of course I know! Cao Hong thought to himself; he simply hadn’t realized it was built in the Han. Clearly, his grasp of history left much to be desired. Laughing to cover his embarrassment, he said, "I was merely jesting. May I ask, then, which knight inspired your own martial path?"

Shi Huan answered, "I practice the 'Five Animal Frolics' created by the famed local physician, Master Hua."

Cao Hong knew both Master Hua and the 'Five Animal Frolics'—Master Hua was Hua Tuo, and the art he had created was, even in Cao Hong's own era, a respectable internal style. In all his travels, Cao Hong had only ever met two people who practiced it.

"So Hua Tuo, too, was from Peiguo! What a land of talent," Cao Hong sighed inwardly. By this time, the two had come close to the Xu stronghold. The Xu family guards, having recognized Shi Huan, allowed the two men inside. Within, the stronghold was in truth a great manor, with fields of crops and vast workshops—a processing site for raw materials, and one of Qiao County’s economic lifelines. There were many such places in Peiguo, a unique economic model of the Han, and the masters of these strongholds were the local gentry.

The two rode to the center of the stronghold, where a wide open space was crowded with men—robust and sturdy fellows. Cao Ren, Xu Ding, and Xu Chu stood atop a wooden platform before them. Upon seeing Shi Huan and Cao Hong, Cao Ren signaled for them to ascend.

Once on the platform, Cao Ren turned to Cao Hong and said with a smile, "Zilian, these are my retainers and village braves chosen from all over—three thousand men in total, all willing to follow us to Chenliu. Would you help your elder brother select them?"

Cao Hong was taken aback. "Why should I be the one to choose? Surely you know your own men best."

Cao Ren smiled, leaned closer, and said in a low voice, "To be frank, I know them well enough—at least, I know who could make good cavalry. But this time, as we rise in arms, we must keep our foundation secure. The elder brother is forging weapons, and with time so short, how could we afford to buy so many fine horses? You, dear brother, are different. With a single glance you discerned Zhongkang’s level. As for selecting infantry, you are far better than I."

Realization dawned on Cao Hong. "So you wish to keep the men fit for cavalry, to preserve your foundation?"

"Exactly!" Cao Ren grinned. "Those who lack sturdy legs, whose stance is unstable, are no use as cavalry. I have no idea how to pick them out."

"How many do you need, brother?"

"A thousand will suffice."

Cao Hong nodded with a smile. "I understand." He looked out over the sea of heads below the platform, pondered a moment, then crouched and performed a push-up. Cao Ren, Xu Ding, Xu Chu, and Shi Huan all stared at him in astonishment. Cao Hong laughed and said to Cao Ren, "Have them do as I did—the ones who drop first, send them home."

Cao Ren hesitated, unsure of the purpose.

Cao Hong explained, "Those who can do more clearly have greater strength and stamina—ideal for infantry."

Cao Ren mulled over the movement, then nodded with sudden comprehension. "Indeed!" He turned to the men below and shouted, "Do as my cousin just did—keep going until you can’t continue!"

At the order, the crowd erupted into a buzz of confusion.

"Young master, I didn’t see clearly!"

"Yes, young master, do it again!"

Cao Hong could only smile bitterly; with three thousand men, who could see clearly? He barked, "Watch carefully!" This time, he used inner strength, his voice resounding across the field, and the men instantly fell silent. He performed several more push-ups, and only then did the crowd begin to imitate him.

The sight of three thousand men doing push-ups together was indeed impressive. Yet, soon enough, the weaker ones collapsed onto the ground. In short order, Cao Ren had picked out the thousand who endured to the end. When the task was done, Xu Ding said, "Honored guests, my father has already prepared a feast in our humble home and earnestly hopes you will not refuse."

Cao Ren nodded, "Since Elder Xu invites us, we should certainly go. It will be a good opportunity to converse with my father-in-law as well." For Cao Ren’s wife, Lady Xu, was the daughter of one of the Xu family’s leading figures.

Shi Huan said, "I will join you once I have settled the village braves."

Cao Ren nodded, and he and Cao Hong followed the Xu brothers first.