Chapter 9: The Death of a Man

"Are you saying Rui Dan was frightened to death?"

"Exactly. He stole A-Ji's leather boots, a transgression that could not go unpunished. After a brief physical correction, we used some deceit to intimidate him. I never imagined that Rui Dan was such a coward; he was literally scared to death."

Inside the barracks, Pei Xiu offered a helpless explanation, while their fellow villagers waited outside for the verdict.

Hu Ban looked past Pei Xiu at Zhao Ji and Wei Xing, then asked Wei Xing, "Zi'ang, did you also strike Rui Dan?"

"Yes, but I had just begun when Squad Leader Zhao stopped me. Squad Leader Zhao only gave him ten lashes in total. After the punishment, concerned that Rui Dan might harbor a grudge and seek revenge against his younger siblings or nephew, we resorted to threats."

Wei Xing cast a sidelong glance at Rui Dan’s cold, stiff corpse on the ground. "It is truly hard to believe—a man with the audacity to steal Squad Leader Zhao’s leather boots was so easily frightened."

The death of an enlisted Huben (Tiger Guard) was a thorny matter for Hu Ban. He glanced casually at Rui Dan’s wide-eyed, terror-stricken expression, then asked Zhao Ji, "A-Ji, you only gave him ten lashes?"

"Only ten. I was afraid of drawing the attention of the sentries, so I gagged him first."

Zhao Ji remained equally indifferent. "The Military Clerk knows that my home sits at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by open, desolate land, which makes it a target for bandits. If Rui Dan acts with such lack of discipline while in camp, heaven knows what kind of trouble he might stir up back home when we are not there to watch him."

Hu Ban did not offer an opinion. He knelt before the corpse and loosened Rui Dan’s collar, revealing a distinct, bruised fist-mark on his chest. Pei Xiu looked back, saw it, and immediately turned his gaze toward the dilapidated, smoke-blackened roof. Wei Xing gritted his teeth, glancing sideways at Zhao Ji’s right fist.

Zhao Ji remained unmoved. A man who would brazenly steal a superior’s valuable property while on campaign was a liability in the army; would he not be just as much a scourge back home? Rui Dan came from a minor family in the county, their circumstances no better than those of the Zhao clan. Was the fate of Rui Dan today not a mirror of his own?

Theft could be a crime caught in the act, or it could be a fabrication. Where in this world was there a clear line between right and wrong? If being a criminal meant being marked in yellow or red, few in this world would remain white.

Hu Ban checked the lash marks on Rui Dan’s body; they were mostly on his legs, likely from him curling up to dodge the blows. He stood up slowly, his expression grave. "Enough said. I will go see Military Sima Wang. We shall say that while Rui Dan was feeding the horses, a horse was startled, reared up, and kicked him to death. That will be sufficient for the county officials."

He turned his gaze toward Pei Xiu. "Rui Dan has met an unfortunate end. As his comrades, we cannot stand by and do nothing. You know his family's situation; everyone contribute some money, and I will have it sent to them. If we achieve greatness in the future, we must not forget today's events."

"Understood, as you command, Military Clerk."

Pei Xiu agreed. He knew a bit more about the situation than the others—this recruitment plan for the Tiger Guards was of vital importance. One Rui Dan, or even ten, mattered little if they were cleared out from within. If one relied solely on killing enemies to climb the ranks, how long would it take to reach the top?

Everyone was gambling their lives. These were not common laborers or old veterans; those who could not even control their own hands were better off dead early.

Hu Ban did not delay and went immediately to see Wang Zhi. The death of a recruit had alerted Wang Zhi as well. This was no ordinary recruit; he was from the home village of the Investigating Censor, Pei Mao.

Wang Zhi wore a red robe over black lacquered leather armor, with a precious sword at his waist, green lacquered leather boots, and a pale green cloak. He was very young, fair-skinned, clean-shaven, and strikingly handsome. He performed a brief inspection of the corpse and, seeing the obvious fist-mark, nodded slowly. "This horse is quite strong. Be more careful when feeding them in the future; let us have no more such incidents."

Seeing that no one present raised any objections, Wang Zhi asked Hu Ban, "Military Clerk Hu, should he be transported back to his village, or buried nearby?"

Hu Ban bowed his hands. "Sima, the young men of this county left home with grand ambitions. Few will return. It is better to bury him nearby."

"Very well. There is a burial ground five or six miles south of the camp. Inter him there." Wang Zhi handed a bamboo tally to Hu Ban. "Take five men and leave the camp to see it done."

"Yes."

Hu Ban accepted the exit permit with both hands and bowed deeply. Wang Zhi swept his gaze over the thirty-odd men standing nearby, his eyes lingering on Pei Xiu, who stood still without joining Hu Ban’s salute. For a heartbeat, the gazes of Wang Zhi’s men and the Tiger Guards in the camp collided.

"Heh!" Wang Zhi shook his head, adjusted the corner of his cloak with his right hand, and turned to leave.

Pei Xiu also smiled. He was a squad leader only because Hu Ban could only offer him that position for now. Once more recruits arrived and the reorganization into battalions and companies took place, Pei Xiu could be a battalion commander. When larger units were formed, he could be a colonel. These were merely temporary arrangements for the march; true official titles would only be bestowed upon arrival in Henei Commandery.

Pei Xiu could never be a mid-level military official; even the rank of Military Sima was an insult to the Pei clan. What was Wang Zhi? What was Hu Ban? That Hu Ban could restrain himself from calling him "Seventh Brother" was already the height of his professional composure.

Seeing Wang Zhi’s party move away, Hu Ban handed the tally to Zhao Ji. "Rui Dan was one of your men, A-Ji. Take some men and bury him."

"Yes."

Zhao Ji took the tally with both hands and turned to his unit, his eyes settling on Yang Ji and Lü Chun. "Yang Ji, select three men to accompany me. Lü Chun, stay behind and assist the Military Clerk."

Lü Chun looked dejected and bowed in silent acknowledgement, while Yang Ji immediately chose three of his close companions. Though it was only to bury a corpse, the chance to leave the camp was a welcome respite.

They quickly loaded Rui Dan onto a horse. Zhao Ji led his own mount and guided the group out of the small camp. Only five soldiers were on duty at the gate, seconded from the Jiangyi garrison; they cast suspicious glances at the corpse on the horse. At night, they guarded against horse thieves, and these local troops were exactly the type they feared.

The guards let them pass. Once outside, Zhao Ji mounted his horse, and Yang Ji, who also had one, followed suit. The three other guards had to walk, one leading the horse carrying the body and the other two carrying tools.

Zhao Ji adjusted his posture, his left hand holding the reins and his right hand gripping an iron halberd, scanning the surroundings. The camp was located ten miles southeast of the outskirts of Jiangyi, close to the Zijin Mountains. It was a temporary reserve camp with no patrolling cavalry on the perimeter, not even a sentry post.

Yang Ji, pretending to look around, spurred his horse to catch up with Zhao Ji and whispered, "A-Ji, I heard that Rui Dan stole the boots because someone goaded him during a wrestling match..."

"I guessed as much. He was incited by others to steal my boots?" Zhao Ji’s tone was indifferent. "Rui Dan lost his father young, and his mother spoiled him. As he grew older, he sought attention by acting out, living recklessly, and boasting. He thought I wouldn't mind the theft, which is why he took them without asking."

He turned to look at Yang Ji. "I don't care about the boots, nor do I care about Rui Dan’s life. A thousand miles from home, some of us seek fame, some seek righteousness, and others seek profit. Many are destined to die out here. If we want to minimize those deaths, we must adhere to military law. For Rui Dan, it was merely a matter of dying sooner or later. No one cares about the truth, and you should stop talking about it."

"Yes," Yang Ji replied. After a moment of silence, he added, "You have changed quite a bit, A-Ji."

"Experiencing death changes a man." Zhao Ji looked toward the gentle slopes of the mountains ahead. "Haven't you noticed? With Rui Dan dead, the atmosphere in the camp has changed. They look more like soldiers now."

"Yes, it is different," Yang Ji nodded. He wanted to say more, but felt it was pointless. It was like the familiar companions in the camp; they used to have endless things to talk about—arguments, debates, endless energy for disputes. Now, they all seemed as withered as if struck by frost.