Moma Liangshan

Chapter 153 Recruitment Guidelines, Leading to Trouble with the Mongols

Upon returning to her residence, the Princess of Shu summoned Li Cangbai and his entourage at the gatehouse, asking, "What do you think of the fighting strength of the Jiaozhou soldiers?" Li Cangbai didn't answer directly, but instead said, "According to the rules of the Song court, ordinary soldiers are required to have their faces tattooed; however, almost none of the eight hundred-plus soldiers in the Jiaozhou camp have been tattooed." If Li Cangbai hadn't pointed this out, the Princess of Shu wouldn't have noticed this detail. Now, recalling it, she realized that apart from Lin Chong, who had his face tattooed, she hadn't seen anyone else with such a mark. Li Cangbai continued, "The Song army tattoos soldiers' faces to prevent desertion, but based on the rations Wang Hao provides, one soldier could probably support a family of five." The Princess of Shu frowned, saying, "So, this thousand-strong force requires almost the rations of ten thousand men?" Li Cangbai replied, "Not entirely!" He then took out a document from his robes. The Princess of Shu took the document, and saw the words "Recruitment Notice" prominently displayed at the beginning. Li Cangbai explained, "This is a notice that Wang Hao posted throughout Jiaozhou when he was recruiting soldiers. There happened to be some left over, so I asked the gatekeeper for one."

The princess of Shu, holding the document, read aloud: "All young men aged sixteen to twenty may join the army. The initial service period is two years, with the government providing all food and lodging. In the first year, all new recruits will be privates of the third rank, receiving three strings of cash per month. Privates of the third rank can take the assessment for privates of the second rank after one year, and those who pass will receive four strings of cash per month. At the end of the second year, privates of the third rank can apply to take the assessment for privates of the second rank a second time. Privates of the second rank can voluntarily take the assessment for privates of the first rank after one year, and those who pass will receive five strings of cash per month. Privates of the first rank can take the assessment for non-commissioned officers after one year, and those who pass will receive seven strings of cash per month. Non-commissioned officers who have served for one year will be selected by the court to become captains, receiving ten strings of cash per month. Privates of the third rank will automatically retire after two years of service. Privates of the second rank can automatically retire after two years of service, or apply to continue serving for another two years, but cannot apply to continue serving after four years. Privates of the first rank can apply to continue serving for another two years after four years of service, but cannot apply to continue serving after six years. Non-commissioned officers can apply to continue serving for another two years after six years of service, and can be transferred to local positions after eight years. Captains will be appointed according to the court's regulations."

After pondering for a while, the Princess of Shu asked again, "Do you know the assessment rules for soldiers of all ranks?" Li Cangbai shook his head and said, "Wang Hao has been in charge of Jiaozhou for less than a year!" The Princess of Shu understood what Li Cangbai meant; that is, all eight hundred soldiers in the Jiaozhou army camp were third-class soldiers, and none of them had participated in the second-class soldier assessment. She didn't press further, saying, "Victory and defeat are common in war. Although you have lost today, you are still honorable. You will surely be richly rewarded when you return to Liaodong!" After the Princess of Shu left, one of the soldiers complained, "If the princess wants to reward us, she should just do it now. Even a few taels of silver would be enough for us brothers to enjoy ourselves for a while." "Punch. Even if we were rewarded with a hundred or so taels of silver after returning to Liaodong, we wouldn't have anywhere to spend it!" Li Cangbai scolded, "Don't talk nonsense!" At this moment, another soldier said, "When we boarded the ship at Lushun Port, there were already many shops there, and it seems there was also a restaurant, so even if we return to Liaodong, we will still have places to spend our money!" Then he looked at Li Cangbai and said with a smile, "As long as the general gives us a day off, that would be fine!" Li Cangbai was strict in disciplining his troops, but he was also kind to his soldiers. He said, "After returning to Liaodong, you will be granted three days of leave!" Everyone was overjoyed to hear this.

The recruitment guidelines of Jiaozhou deeply moved the Shu princess. However, she also understood that the Liao Kingdom was currently powerless to implement any reforms. Wang Hao not only had Lin Chong, Yang Zhi, and others develop detailed and meticulous training plans, but also planned to vigorously promote "battlefield schools" within the army. The purpose of establishing these schools was twofold: first, to quickly improve the overall quality of the Jiaozhou army; and second, to lay a foundation for talent reserves before the Jingkang Incident. All of this depended on the soldiers being literate. When the Shu princess arrived in the inner courtyard, Wang Hao was at his desk, writing with a reference book. The princess walked to Wang Hao's side, saw the "simplified Chinese" he had written, and asked in astonishment, "Did you create all these characters?" Wang Hao smiled slightly and said, "To enlighten the people, the primary task is to make more people literate; but doesn't Your Highness think the current script is too complex?"

The princess of Shu observed for a long time and said, "These simplified characters are indeed much easier to write, but they have lost much of their original meaning and spirit!" Wang Hao did not deny it, saying, "Simplified and traditional characters each have their advantages and disadvantages, but given the current situation in Jiaozhou, these simplified characters are more suitable." The princess of Shu pondered for a moment and said, "If you promote these simplified characters, you will inevitably be attacked by scholars who will accuse you of desecrating the classics?" Wang Hao was not anxious at all and said, "The official script of the court will not change because of the appearance of my simplified characters." "Change, all I hope for is to give more ordinary people the opportunity to write. As for what others say, let them be!" The Shu princess said with deep emotion, "Sometimes I really want to know, ten years from now, will you become a capable minister like Shang Yang or Wang Anshi, or a ruthless hero like Wang Mang or Cao Cao, or perhaps like your Song Dynasty's founding emperor—who staged the Chenqiao Mutiny and donned the yellow robe?" Wang Hao shook his head slightly and said, "In this world, the winds of change are blowing. The flames of war ignited by the Jurchens will surely engulf the entire land. Whether a wise minister or a ruthless hero, only those who laugh last will be the winners!"

The princess of Shu asked unconsciously, "Is there any possibility for the Liao Dynasty to continue its rule?" Wang Hao pondered for a long time before saying, "If your father can put himself in a desperate situation and then survive, perhaps there is still a chance!" The princess of Shu tentatively asked, "How can one put oneself in a desperate situation and then survive?" Wang Hao said, "Return the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun to the Song Dynasty and make them submit, then give the Shangjing Road to the various Mongol tribes to develop as they see fit!" The princess of Shu glared at Wang Hao and said, "This is not putting yourself in a desperate situation and then surviving, it's a near-death experience!" Wang Hao remained calm and said, "Giving the Shangjing Road to the various Mongol tribes is to divert the trouble westward." "Let the Jurchens and Mongols fight like tigers and wolves; returning the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun to the Song Dynasty and making them submit is to improve Song-Liao relations and give the Liao Dynasty a chance to breathe." Princess Shu asked Wang Hao in return, "After the near-total fall of Tokyo Circuit, what will the Liao Dynasty have left if it cedes the entire Shangjing Circuit, as well as most of Nanjing Circuit and Xijing Circuit?" Wang Hao replied, "A complete Zhongjing Circuit, an opportunity to revitalize and rise again!" Princess Shu sneered, "If you had said those words in the Liao court, not only my father, but I myself would have made sure you were killed!"