Once the servant had gone, Jia Heng changed into a short martial outfit, took up a Precious Sword, and went into the courtyard to practice. In his previous life, while borrowing the Daoist canon to read at a temple, he had studied martial arts under a friend of his grandfather's who had befriended him despite their difference in age. The man had taught him unarmed combat and weapon techniques, including the 108 forms of the Heavenly Dipper Sword and the Six Harmonies Saber. Later, after joining the army, he had learned military combat and grappling as well. Seven or eight ordinary men could not have gotten near him.
Longsword in hand, Jia Heng settled into his stance and warmed up.
He had to admit that this body had been well tempered, saving him a good deal of effort.
Shing...
The longsword left its sheath in a flash of cold light. Its ringing rose clear and stirring, like the cry of a water dragon, and the wind whipped up by the blade sent leaves swirling through the courtyard.
Light as a swallow, he turned and thrust, piercing a stalk of bamboo as thick as an infant's arm. The sword sank in to the hilt, quivering and humming.
"Fine swordsmanship!"
Applause sounded, accompanied by a deep, rough voice.
Jia Heng paused and looked up at the newcomer. The speaker was a young man with a square face, a beard beneath his chin, and a black cap on his head. A faint saber scar marked his face. Jia Heng smiled. "Ah, Brother Cai."
Two men had arrived. The one on the left, around sixteen, was Jia Heng's older cousin, Dong Qian, a junior officer in the Five-City Military Command. The other was Cai Quan, the nephew of his wet nurse, Cai, and currently a junior officer in the Capital Camp of the imperial guard.
At its founding, Chen Han had followed the institutions of the Tang and Song dynasties. Under Emperor Taizong, it had also adopted the Ming system, establishing twelve division camps in the Great Han Divine Capital, with military authority divided among the twelve marquises of the Four Princes and Eight Dukes and the twelve marquises.
Regional military commissions had also been established at the provincial level to oversee the garrison troops on behalf of the Ministry of War. At the dynasty's founding, the aim had been to quell the turmoil following Zhu Ming's destruction as quickly as possible, so some institutions from that dynasty had been retained. To resolve the problem of conflicting commands, the Tang office of military commissioner had also been incorporated into the army.
As a result, local garrison commands and military commissioners existed side by side, while the nominal commander of the Capital Camp was likewise a military commissioner.
Cai Quan smiled. "Young master, even in the army, your martial skills would rank among the very best."
At this, Cai said, "Away with you! Day after day, all you do is talk nonsense. The young master is going to study, pass the imperial examinations, and become an official. What would he want with being a common soldier?"
"Come now, Aunt, what's wrong with being a soldier? We eat the emperor's grain and serve the court just the same." Cai Quan chuckled and spoke in a ringing voice.
Cai glared at her nephew. "Before Miss Dong passed away, she said the young master was to earn a metropolitan graduate's degree. If you keep fanning the flames behind my back, I won't stand for it."
Jia Heng led Cai Quan and Dong Qian inside to talk. The maid Gui Xiang poured tea, and Jia Heng smiled. "Brothers, how did you find the time to visit me today?"
"I heard from your cousin that you'd been hurt, so I came to see you. Have you fully recovered? Judging by what I just saw, you certainly have," Cai Quan said with concern.
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Cai," Jia Heng said. "They were only superficial injuries. A few days of rest, and I'll be fine."
Dong Qian smiled. "Not that I mean to lecture you, but instead of spending every day fooling around with Jia Rong, you'd be better off finding a post in the army. At least that wouldn't squander your martial skills."
Cai Quan agreed. "Exactly, brother. Life gets harder by the day these days. You need to find a livelihood. The Nine Frontiers are in need of men right now. With your courage and ability, you could secure a post, rise above the crowd, then take a wife and win honors for her and hereditary privileges for your sons. Wouldn't that be splendid?"
He had a selfish reason for urging Jia Heng to enlist. If a son of the Jia family served under him as a junior officer, it would surely draw the attention of the family's remaining old followers in the army. Even the smallest trickle of their resources would benefit his career enormously.
Jia Heng sighed. "Joining the army as a common soldier, fighting with spear and blade, and restoring the glory of the former Dukes of Rongguo and Ningguo has always been my wish. However..."
From reading the dynastic histories, he knew that the Nine Frontiers had also been established in imitation of the former Ming dynasty. Through two reigns of military vigor and might, Emperors Taizu and Taizong had barely managed to keep the threat from the steppe beyond the nine frontier garrisons.
Then a hundred years had slipped by. As the dynasty enjoyed a prolonged peace, civil officials grew complacent and military officers idle, while the steppe tribes beyond the Nine Frontiers gradually recovered their strength. As one side waned and the other waxed, territory beyond the passes was steadily lost. Several decades earlier, the Jurchens had risen in Liaodong and founded Great Jin. Every autumn, when the skies were high and their horses well fed, they would lead troops to raid the frontier.
"To be frank, Brother Cai, I intend to enter official service through the imperial examinations."
After so many years of peace, the civil bureaucracy had swollen and was already showing signs of bringing the military under its control. The present emperor, in particular, had harbored grand ambitions ever since taking the throne, hoping to quell the frontier threats and roaming rebel bands. He had replaced the Grand Secretariat twice, yet his reliance on civil officials had not diminished in the slightest.
Jia Yucun, too, had begun as a scholar. With the Jia family's help, he had ultimately been appointed Grand Minister of War-the minister himself-all thanks to the gilded prestige of having passed both levels of the imperial examinations.
Cai Quan said in surprise, "The examinations are certainly the proper path. I hadn't expected you truly to have such ambitions, Brother Jia."
Dong Qian's expression shifted as well. "Cousin, haven't you always hated studying? How have you suddenly seen the light today?"
He had already felt that his cousin had changed more and more, becoming much calmer in bearing.
Jia Heng smiled faintly. "To tell the truth, that blow from Vice Minister Liang's son the other day knocked some sense into me. For a man to make his way in the world, he must read more. Books teach us reason. Otherwise, in the eyes of those pampered young masters, stalwart fighting men like us are merely nobodies unworthy of a second glance."
"There's truth in that, Brother Jia. Guan Yunchang, for instance, never let the Spring and Autumn Annals leave his hand and had a grasp of the greater principles. I may dislike those sour, pretentious, penniless scholars, but I do enjoy listening to storytellers recount old tales," Cai Quan said with a smile and a nod, a flicker of surprise stirring in his eyes.
I thought this eldest lad of the Jia Family had nothing but brute strength. Who knew he had such insight?
As they talked, Jia Heng asked, "There's something else I'd like to ask you, Brother Cai. Where can I buy a good horse?"
Even if he pursued his studies and the examinations, he could not neglect his martial training.
"There are horses at the horse market," Cai Quan said, "but they're all poor stock. Finding a fine steed would take some effort. Why, brother, are you planning to learn mounted archery?"
Dong Qian smiled. "If you want to learn mounted archery, I have a teacher who's something of an expert. He could teach you."
Jia Heng nodded. "I have indeed been planning to learn lately. Cousin, where is this expert now? And how much should I prepare as a tuition gift if I wish to become his student?"
Dong Qian smiled. "His name is Xie Zaiyi. He used to be a company commander in the army, but he mishandled his duties while drunk and offended his superior. Now he's only a gate officer. If you want to learn, just bring plenty of wine and meat."
This so-called gate officer was really an ordinary soldier. He had been stripped of his rank all the way to the bottom.
Jia Heng nodded. "Then there's no time to lose. Let's go see him now. I can buy a few books along the way."
As they spoke, Jia Heng informed Cai, then went out with Dong Qian and Cai Quan.
The Great Han's sacred capital was densely populated, its streets clamorous. Jia Heng first bought some wine and dishes, then crossed Ningrong Street and headed toward the city gate.
In the Divine Capital, near noon, Jia Heng finally met Captain Xie, whom Dong Qian had mentioned, in a dilapidated courtyard house beside Anhua Gate.
Captain Xie sat hunched on a stone block in the courtyard, wiping a saber with a rag. His broad-brimmed helmet lay carelessly to one side. He gave Dong Qian a sidelong glance, then turned his gaze to Cai Quan and Jia Heng. A military man, and a little youngster. He frowned. "What's all this fuss? You want something?"
"Brother Xie, we came to see you," Dong Qian said.
"It's neither New Year nor a holiday. What's there to see about me?" Xie Zaiyi snorted. Looking up at the gift boxes, wine, and food in their hands, he said, "When someone brings gifts, they're bound to want something. Out with it. What is it?"
Dong Qian chuckled. "There is indeed a matter we're sorry to trouble you with, Brother Xie."
Jia Heng took up the conversation, stepping forward and cupping his fist. "I've heard that you excel at mounted archery, Brother Xie. I am Jia Heng, a descendant of the Duke of Ningguo, and I would like to study the art under you."
Captain Xie gave a cold laugh. "A descendant of the Duke of Ningguo? I wouldn't have guessed. What sort of martial instructor couldn't your Jia family find? Why come to me of all people to make sport of me?"
As he spoke, he looked Jia Heng over. Seeing his plain clothing, he had already guessed most of the reason.
He was probably from a distant branch of Ningguo Mansion.
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