Chapter 118: Those Who Can Fight, Those Who Cannot
In the Divine Capital, Xuan Chong trained soldiers while investigating the mental state of the city’s youth. Xuan Chong: Understand their desires and needs, do not be like rotten Confucians looking down from above, thinking high-pressure education and indoctrination can solve everything.
In the Eastern characteristic civilization system, when farming civilization develops to a certain extent, “dandies” are a phenomenon that inevitably emerges. This phenomenon is actually the same type as the “wayward youths” in the countryside.
In the early era of Eastern farming civilization, “dandies” were no different from the countryside wayward youths of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in their entertainment; they all engaged in cockfighting, walking dogs, catching crickets, and gambling.
During the Qin and Han periods, Liu Bang’s father Liu Taigong’s family produced a doctor of Wei state; it can be said that in his youth he was a standard dandy. In his later years, he had Liu Bang build a market for him in the palace, requiring it to allow cockfighting and ball-kicking, which reflects his playful life in youth.
Another representative is Li Yuan, who as a youth was also a guy in the capital city walking horses and fighting dogs.
These phenomena indicate that: after the ironware era arrives, productivity surges in abundance, enabling the formation of large cities; in large cities, some youth can detach from physical labor, but after detaching, they do not engage in effective mental labor, thus forming the phenomenon of “youth wandering the streets.”
In modern terms, it is the situation of labor idleness in the capital and other developed areas under XX employment rate status.
After investigating, Xuan Chong confirmed: “The dandies are actually empty inside, just like Kong Yiji; on one hand, they are concubine’s sons in their families, unable to let go of their origins, and on the other hand, unable to abandon the class system; they want to strive but cannot find direction. They can only gather with people of the same status to engage in cockfighting and walking dogs for entertainment.”
Note: During the Tang Dynasty, there were many rebellions, precisely from such dandies of overly high birth gathering together. Coincidentally, in the era of hens crowing at dawn, the Wu Zhou Empress herself had the defect of not being able to wield a knife to kill, so it was easy to gather idea kings to start discussing changes to the status quo.
After entering the industrialization era, dandies have actually been eliminated by the system; the number of jobs provided by industrial society has greatly increased, youth boys from high-level families are all arranged for employment, only a very few weaklings with immature mental education who cannot even pass system education will continue to wander unemployed in low-level interests; however, such dandies are now individuals, and with very low ability, they no longer possess destructive power against social stability.
After understanding the specific state of this stratum in the capital city that “has collectivism, has basic education, and consists of youth,” Wu Fei’s every strategy is to motivate this stratum to achieve “my struggle.”
In the 35th year of the Shu Tian Calendar, the dandies enlisting in the army in the Divine Capital became like a pot of liquor, fierce and mellow.
All the merchants in the capital city say that if dandies are to be subdivided now, those in the East Market are the top tier.
Others drink flower wine relying on lavish spending to compete for favor and jealousy. But the logic of those young masters in the East Market is: my drinking flower wine is different from yours; you drink flower wine by paying money, I drink flower wine because my fists are hard enough.
Of course, they are not not paying money, just not being ripped off; literati use talent to coax those courtesan heads, now the young masters book in groups, and with just one or two silver money, they can get all the “pure” projects.
As for the “lewd” projects, after the third relaxation, Wu Fei issued the order: “Opening melons for pure courtesans is one hundred silver leaves, collect them at home afterward.”
Although this is not expensive either, just the cost price of the madam selling people for training. The madams acclaim this as a blood-spitting price.
But these young masters from noble families basically did not do this—just like those few-thousand-yuan dolls from Xuan Chong’s previous life; it is not that they cannot afford to buy, but “private delivery” home gets seen by mom and beaten.
Prostitutes are prostitutes; the price when displayed on the shelf unsold is the highest. This high premium is actually from a large group of “shills” with no real purchase intent—yes, ink guests who write good articles, hyping up the price.
The beauties in the brothels always fantasize about finding the perfect gentleman through matchmaking in the pleasure quarters; they think they are very popular, but it is impossible for these talented scholars to act impulsively for love; even if a talented scholar says in drunken excitement “I want to redeem the beauty,” the next day when seeking to implement it, he immediately speaks of other things.
For this group of “beauties” when there are few saddle horses at the door, they still hope the eldest marries as a merchant’s wife.
…The most unrealistic path, and the most difficult and down-to-earth road…
In the East Market camp, Wu Fei emphasized to these young masters about to grasp military power: “In the future, you will be the true right-hand ministers of His Majesty.” While speaking, the young master soldiers sat squarely in formation, with carbon pens and rough paper wooden plank exam papers prepared in front. After ringing the bell, the exam began.
After following Wu Fei in bold and absurd activities for a while, they gradually lost interest in those promoted “beauties”; after kneading the so-called jade futon with hands, they felt it was about the same as their own maidservants.
After the novelty of these past highly tuned “low-level interests” passed, they began to ponder life. “Who am I” “What can I do” “Why is the human world like this” “Can I change it for myself.”
During proctoring, Wu Fei’s mind wandered: “In the previous life, why did men like keyboard politics after color satisfaction? Probably because after the brain gets satisfied with lewdness, it starts becoming saintly.”
In the past, this group of dandies foolishly threw gold to drink flower wine, mainly to slap the faces of those self-proclaimed full-of-classics literary scholars.
The dandies could not stand seeing literati easily become the courtesan heads’ guests in the boudoir; when dandies spend money, the psychological language they want to vent is actually: “This young master has no talent but has wealth, and is still awesome!”
Xuan Chong self-reflects in shame: Impulse consumption in mobile games is the same; skill not enough, spend money to make up.
Nowadays, the brothels in Yao Capital have been pierced by Wu Fei’s behavior of directly using fists to “flat-price package official courtesans,” breaking the past seemingly boastful purchase limit system; these former rich fools have also begun to think, what exactly is truly awesome?
Those things once hyped by others as awesome, after being easily trampled, are obviously not worth pursuing with one’s life.
Now Wu Fei helps them bear the emperor’s punishment, allowing them to do behaviors they previously dared not, letting them know a word “power.”
Especially since Wu Fei, while they indulged, did not do these childish behaviors himself, so after the dandies went crazy, they began to draw close to Wu Fei. —The so-called idea king is the one who wakes up first from childishness.
The truth quickly realized by the non-commissioned officers in the Eastern Market Army is: A man can forgo waking drunk on a beauty’s knee, but must grasp power.
Xuan Chong comments on the mental journey of these young hotshots now in the army: Except cannot rebel, all faces that should be stepped on have been stepped on. This is the way for feudal dynasties to finally gather a wisp of remaining strength. Now the blood labor given to dandies is “able to do what self previously could not.”
…The ultimate struggle goal for men is to command freely…
In the palace, Princess Xiasheng, about to marry off, rode a white horse, galloping through the palace courtyards stepping on flowers. After dismounting, she puffed up and came to her mother. Then in her boudoir, she narrated her displeasure to her mother.
Princess Xiasheng’s displeasure came from the “pitiful” tone encountered during today’s chat with her boudoir friend at the Minister’s residence. The Minister’s residence young lady’s conclusion that the princess’s lifelong partner is not a good man came from her father and brothers.
Such public opinion was created by those Confucian scholars in Da Yao Capital who master the classics.
Now that Wu Fei has stepped on these people’s faces, he is already pitch black. In the eyes of literati, Wu Fei is a wayward youth from the border, now leading various noble disciples and enlisted family servants in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling.
It is already not just one or two censors who have submitted memorials; some veteran-level old ministers in the court also suggest: Simply demote Wu Fei back to the Southern Border, do not tarnish Da Yao’s morals.
The princess has not met Wu Fei again since seeing him once at the family banquet several months ago, but has heard no less than dozens of absurd stories of Wu Fei overnighting in flower houses. —Her impression naturally worsens day by day, even feeling herself far inferior to the marriage alliance palace maids.
Little does she know, Wu Fei has always strictly guarded the precepts, dead set on staring at the Body Fixing Technique that constantly approaches but always misses by a tiny bit, the “subtlety realm.”
…Men: How many divisions is the princess worth; Women: Sisters can exchange for 100,000 troops…
“Daughter does not seek to marry into a marquis’s gate, only hopes future husband does not betray me!”
In the palace, the Imperial Consort heard the hidden plea in her daughter’s tone and frowned. But she could only comfort her well: “Another day, have your father emperor issue a decree to discipline the Imperial Son-in-Law.” Of course, this obviously cannot satisfy the princess.
Princess: “So many ministers have submitted memorials to Father King, yet that person does not restrain; Mother, you help persuade him.”
Imperial Consort Yu silently said nothing; she loves this daughter very much, but in this rear palace competition “second half,” she is no longer a main player; preserving her current position is the most important, a slight misstep and she will fall.
In the rear palace, the “opening” is when the new emperor first ascends the throne; at that time, palace women rise and fall normally; even a low-ranking consort has a chance to turn over. —The emperor young, passionate, and valuing loyalty; young concubines serving will be remembered. Even if pillow talk displeases the emperor, as long as she stops in time, His Majesty throws it behind after one round.
But now it is the second half; positions to be conferred have been conferred, Emperor Shu’s fondness for the rear palace has greatly decreased. Monthly meetings with concubines are mere formalities. Moreover, in recent years, Emperor Shu has gone out of the palace frequently. The rear consorts all understand tacitly.
If during this strictly businesslike meeting, Imperial Consort Yu still said something wrong, then her consort position would only decline and not rise.
The two princes born to Imperial Consort Yu would not inherit the throne, and her former ally, the Chan Empress, died early; the Chan Empress’s son was Prince Bo, who had already fled to the Western Rong. Currently, she was part of the faction that had lost power in the rear palace.
Now in favor was Consort Shuang, that is, Prince Zhou’s birth mother. This Prince Zhou was adequate in civil administration but lacking in military prowess. In recent years, the northern route’s multiple armies had been routed, and anyone with eyes knew this reflected Prince Zhou’s lack of ability.
Imperial Consort Yu knew that the foremost “dandy” her daughter had married was His Majesty pulling in the military family’s generals from the Border Army. — This was not something the rear palace could casually discuss.
…Wu Fei had already used the money for marrying the princess on the officers and soldiers…
At the main camp, Wu Fei was teaching these young officers in the army on the blackboard how to dispatch scouts, then measure the high and low points of various mountain tops using the “camp construction water level instrument,” then through recorded observed scales, compile statistics, and draw terrain contour maps.
Since the last time they were told to wrap their corpses in horse leather, another ten people had successively left due to illness, but after leaving and continuing to cause trouble in the city, they were caught by the censors and reported to His Majesty, who showed no mercy. — Now, those remaining here were all forced onto Liang Mountain.
Everyone was destined to face the battlefield once; if they fled now, they would fall as miserably as they had once been arrogant.
Thus at this moment, in this army, these “brains” who were “happy” for a time had to think about how to survive in the future.
Just as Wu Fei was teaching, Emperor Shu walked in, and everyone stood and prostrated.
This main camp was entered using the token, and the token bore a copy of one-third of the tiger tally’s pattern. Thus, seeing the tiger tally at the camp gate would also allow entry.
“Your Majesty!”
The officers in the camp, upon seeing Emperor Shu arrive, stopped the lesson and prostrated one after another.
Emperor Shu smiled: “I came to take a look; do not panic.”
Emperor Shu looked at the measurement diagram on the blackboard, flipped through everyone’s books, asked a few questions, and found they were all formulas for “carrying food and grass” in marching and fighting, of course including elements like “winter cotton uniforms.” He understood; this was preparation for a “long journey.”
…After reassuring these disciples and giving guarantees of inevitable heavy employment for meritorious service, he left Wu Fei behind…
Emperor Shu: “You train troops well; you are a man who does real work with sincerity.”
Wu Fei: “This minister can accomplish things entirely due to Your Majesty’s trust.”
Emperor Shu was amused: “You’ve been in the capital city for a year, yet you still don’t know how to speak.”
Wu Fei lowered his head and said nothing.
Emperor Shu: “This year False Hao shows signs of advancing south; how is the new army you lead?”
Wu Fei: “Currently the entire army is at full strength with 2092 troops; field battle techniques have been drilled to completion, and we are preparing for the trivial matters on the campaign path.”
Emperor Shu: “You said that on this expedition, four in ten will wrap their corpses in horse leather; was this mere jest?”
Wu Fei: “Away games, all sorts of accidents are possible; exceeding four in ten wrapping in horse leather is also possible.”
Emperor Shu frowned: “I had you train troops; do you want to expend them all at once?”
Wu Fei: “Your Majesty, even if only four in ten survive, returning to the capital city in one year allows rebuilding the army. An army is not judged by how many people it has, but by whether the surviving soldiers have soul.”
Emperor Shu seemed to understand, then puzzled again, and asked: “Four in ten troop losses is acceptable, but what if the entire army is annihilated?”
Wu Fei: “This minister has nine-tenths confidence that total annihilation is impossible.”
Emperor Shu became interested: “Oh, you don’t conceal troop losses and general casualties. Yet in preserving the army on the battlefield, you are quite confident? What reasoning is this.”
Wu Fei: “Weapons are instruments of war; those who kill will always be killed by men. The army this minister trained for Your Majesty is for battle, hence there must be deaths and injuries. However—as a general before battle must calculate the enemy, calculate ourselves, calculate the path; this minister entered camp at ten, led troops at fourteen, and somewhat understands the battlefield. On ‘whether retreat with whole body is possible’ before battle, this minister has a few points of confidence.”
Emperor Shu: “Explain: what is feasible, what is not.”
Wu Fei took a deep breath: “Before two armies clash, first send out scouts, just as in a duel between two men, first sizing up the opponent with the eyes. Is the opponent burly? Or steady-footed? Intent on desperate fighting or seeking self-preservation? All this can be seen. Meeting a strong army, naturally avoid its sharp edge; meeting a weak army, seek the opportunity to strike. This is the way to preserve on the battlefield.”
Emperor Shu nodded.
Wu Fei continued: “Strength and weakness before battle can be seen from three places.”
First is the number of soldiers; in soldier battles, strike few with many, just like a strong man beating a thin one.
Yet a lean leopard can also hunt a sturdy horse; military affairs are not without examples of few defeating many, so numbers are not completely absolute.
The second is strict discipline. An army where orders are followed without fail is like a short man with taut muscle, capable of defeating a lax, negligent tall and mighty foe.
And the third is looking at food and supplies. In the southern mountains, bear and tiger fight, confronting for over several days; the tiger full of energy, tracks the bear’s traces for days without sleep, ultimately wearing out the bear; and when the bear grows frantic and tries to flee, the tiger locks its throat in one move. This is just like two armies clashing—those short on food and grass will be impatient, make few calculations and chaotic moves, exhausting their momentum. While the side with ample food and grass can dismantle moves to the end, and at the end conquer the enemy.
This minister relies on these three to decide “attack, defend, advance, retreat, survive.”
…Candlelight brightly illuminated…
Emperor Shu left the main camp, murmuring: “In times of crisis governing the country, such talent should be nurtured!”
The eunuch beside him understood; clearly Emperor Shu was still resentful about Prince Zhou leading the army in recent years causing the situation to deteriorate.
But little did they know, Emperor Shu had another thought in his heart: “Pity, born too late. If born ten years earlier, with more tempering, he could be sheathed.”
Now Wu Fei’s blade was too sharp; Emperor Shu did not believe Prince Zhou could control him.
