Chapter Thirty-Three: The Refugees

Li Wenyuan left the barracks and instructed Zhang Juntai to go ahead and contact their former comrades, selecting soldiers for their ranks. He himself first went to the place where the refugees were being held.

Within the military camp, an area was enclosed by earthen and stone walls, designated for imprisoning war captives. It was called the Earth Fortress. Soldiers patrolled along the walls. Such a structure could hold two thousand people, and there were ten of these within Jincheng’s jurisdiction, barely accommodating twenty thousand. Including some local bandits who had previously been captured, the most crowded fortress now held nearly three thousand prisoners.

Upon presenting Xue Ju’s official document, Li Wenyuan was escorted into the fortress by several guards. No sooner had he entered than the stench assaulted his senses. Li Wenyuan frowned but did not cover his nose or mouth, unwilling to deepen the divide between himself and the future people under his rule.

Soon, the guards led the prisoners out in squads to an open space within the fortress.

Surveying the three thousand before him, Li Wenyuan ascended the platform, cleared his throat, and spoke: “Whatever you were before—bandits, refugees, highwaymen, exiled criminals—I do not care. I only wish to ask: If you had a full meal each day, would you still turn to robbery?”

He continued, “You gathered in the hills, robbed travelers, split the spoils, drank deeply, and feasted lustily—how exhilarating! But have you considered the cycle of fate, the certainty of retribution? Today you plunder the wealthy, pillage villages, but those you drive to desperation may in turn become outlaws, and your own families might suffer at their hands.”

Some lowered their heads, most remained silent, a few seemed indifferent. Li Wenyuan noted this, amused; some would only be persuaded by benefit. He pressed on:

“Brave men, is life in this fortress comfortable? Have you grown used to this foul existence?”

With that, Li Wenyuan sat cross-legged at the edge of the platform, regarding the captives. “I have not come to judge you. I am here to offer you a way out of this misery, perhaps even a chance to reunite with your families. Will you follow me to the Western Regions, to seek your fortune? Or do you shrink from facing the barbarians?”

At this, the crowd stirred at last; the ranks grew restless, whispers spread. Li Wenyuan raised his hand to restrain the guards about to intervene and continued, “You may choose now. But I assure you, this opportunity comes but once. Those willing to follow me, stand beneath the left wall. Those who refuse, return to your quarters—none will stop you.”

At this moment, one man summoned the courage to ask, “No matter the crime, can we leave?”

Li Wenyuan smiled, “Unless you’ve torn a hole in the heavens, I can take you with me.”

Another asked, “Is your promise true? How can you wield such authority?”

A guard barked, “Insolence! This lord is the Imperial-appointed Governor of the Eight Western Provinces. His word is gold. You—”

Li Wenyuan cut him off, saying, “If you follow me, your past offenses will be forgiven, and you may even regain your freedom.” He stood, addressing the crowd:

“Of course, if you become troublemakers again in the West, I shall punish you doubly. But if you repent and live as honest folk, I guarantee you will not suffer hunger or cold.”

“I swear, if it weren’t for my barren fields failing to pay the taxes, I’d never have turned outlaw,” one man said bitterly, moving to the right wall and sitting down. “Since you’ve spoken thus, I’ll take my chances—better to die outside than rot in this stinking sty.”

Li Wenyuan nodded and entrusted the matter to his guards, instructing them to treat the captives kindly, whether they chose to go or stay, and never resort to violence.

Leaving the fortress, Li Wenyuan took the bowl of water offered by a nearby guard and drank it dry, then mounted his horse. Guided by the guards, he visited another fortress; he would repeat this process nine more times before he was done.

Ah, the hardships of founding a new venture, he mused.

After a long, grueling day, he had visited every fortress. As the sun set behind the western hills, Zhang Juntai had finished selecting the troops bound for the Western Regions. Xue Ju had thoughtfully prepared a camp for ten thousand for Li Wenyuan’s use.

Li Wenyuan then ordered Zhang Juntai to collect people from each fortress, totaling twenty thousand—mostly refugees, with only a handful of former bandits among them. They were assigned to new encampments, a bit more crowded than those of regular soldiers, but far better than the fortresses.

It must be said, Zhang Juntai was exceptionally skilled at commanding troops. The three thousand newly formed soldiers were organized with remarkable order; the nighttime patrols were arranged flawlessly. Li Wenyuan then sent Zhang Juntai to the Jincheng treasury to fetch linen robes for the soldiers, had them bleached white overnight at a dye house, so refugees could be distinguished from regular troops.

Li Wenyuan used his official position to approach Hao Ai, the Prefect of Jincheng, borrowing five thousand bushels of grain, promising to repay it in full after the autumn harvest. This grain was meant to provide the refugees with a hearty meal that night. He also instructed Zhang Juntai to ensure every one of them bathed, cleansing themselves of filth before entering the tents for rest, and if any refused, to send them straight back to the fortress.

After all this, Li Wenyuan finally left the barracks, riding swiftly to the training ground. As he entered, he saw Wudelu knock a man from his horse, the crowd erupting in cheers. Amused, Li Wenyuan spurred his horse forward and raised his lance, calling out, “Face me!”

Wudelu had just thrown his opponent and was exhausted when he sensed a rush of wind behind him. He quickly used the stirrup crouch technique to evade Li Wenyuan’s sweeping strike. He then raised his own lance and thrust at Li Wenyuan, who dodged deftly, hooked his lance back onto his saddle, and grabbed Wudelu’s lance.

“Wudelu, your skills have improved greatly,” Li Wenyuan remarked.

The first time they met, Li Wenyuan had knocked Wudelu from his horse with a lance from behind. Seeing Li Wenyuan now, Wudelu was elated. “Wenyuan brother, you made it back alive from Liaodong! I heard what happened there…”

Wudelu tried to pull his lance back to chat, but after a couple of tugs, it would not budge. Glancing at Li Wenyuan, who smiled at him, he realized Li Wenyuan sought to test his strength. Wudelu threw all his might into retrieving the lance.

Failing to pull it free, Wudelu found himself dragged two steps closer instead. Li Wenyuan said, “I’m about to venture into the Western Regions and need capable men. How about it—will you join me in battle?”

Wudelu’s face flushed. Unable to pull back the lance and nearly toppled, he knew Li Wenyuan’s strength exceeded his own. He let go, allowing Li Wenyuan to take the lance, and upon hearing the offer to fight at his side in the Western Regions, he declared, “Go? Why wouldn’t I?”