"Ahhh, I remember now!"
The caravan guards slapped their thighs and shouted.
"It's Xigong Qiu!"
"Bullshit, what Xigong Qiu? His name is Gongxi Qiu!"
These caravan guards had all retired from the army. Some were simply old, while others had hidden injuries that made them unfit to keep fighting. On top of that, Shen Tang's side was reforming the military, so after much consideration, they had chosen to leave the service. Some had family back home and used their subsidies to return to their ancestral homes, marry, and have children. Others were alone, and it made no difference where they stayed, so they had chosen to work as caravan guards.
Kang had treated its veterans well.
The royal court had a dedicated agency that collected information on veterans and found suitable jobs for them. Working as caravan guards paid better, but the risks were also higher. Serving as relay-station attendants paid less, but was stable and safe.
There were other options, too.
The most popular jobs were in departments under the Ministry of Works.
These guards had seen Gongxi Chou on the battlefield—or, more accurately, they had seen his Martial Gall Totem—and remembered him.
"...I don't think his name was Qiu. Was it Chou?"
"No, no, I can't be mistaken..."
The men argued, but couldn't agree. The caravan's manager spoke up instead. "...Well, what he's called doesn't matter. What matters is that this Gongxi Qiu you're talking about really is about to play ball!"
The guards fell silent for a moment, then exchanged glances. With the understanding born of years fighting side by side, they quickly divided up their tasks. One of them summoned a warhorse on the spot. "Protect the caravan's goods. Jinli Commandery isn't far from here. I'll go and be right back!"
Gongxi Chou held the honorary