Chapter Forty-One: Wei Qing Inspects the Camp

When Wei Qing arrived at Qiansang City, after reciting Emperor Liu Che’s decree of rewards at the Prefect’s compound, he requested to visit the military camp, eager to see for himself the Han army that had so decisively defeated the Xiongnu. Li Guang naturally had no objection and led Wei Qing there. Of course, Li Guang was not so dull as to arrange any welcoming ceremony or some collective drill to impress Wei Qing upon his inspection.

Wei Qing entered the camp with the enthusiasm of a novice wandering into forbidden territory, instantly forgetting Li Guang and the others. He began to scrutinize everything seriously, examining each item with meticulous care, without bothering to ask the generals accompanying him, entirely absorbed in his own observations. His earnest demeanor suggested he intended to commit to memory every sword and spear in the camp. Whether he could glean any insight from this, neither Qin Cheng nor Li Guang, who followed, cared much. Later, Wei Qing spoke at length with the ordinary soldiers, touching on all sorts of matters—though only those the soldiers could easily answer, never making things difficult for them.

After his tour and greetings to the troops, Wei Qing inspected the armory. Even the most commonplace weapons were examined with the utmost attention, his hands tracing their surfaces, sometimes lifting them to smell the steel. Qin Cheng watched Wei Qing’s furrowed brow and focused air with quiet amusement; if Wei Qing hoped to find clues to Qiansang’s triumph over the Xiongnu among these arms, Qin Cheng could only admire his thoroughness.

Wei Qing wandered about the camp barely speaking to Li Guang. As a professional, he knew that to understand a camp's realities, direct observation yielded more truth than any report. Li Guang followed silently, puzzled but guessing Wei Qing’s intent, and so refrained from comment. Wei Qing’s tour stretched past the afternoon meal, but he seemed oblivious, unconcerned with the idle followers trailing behind, utterly content in his own world.

After most of the day had passed, Wei Qing finished his inspection, glanced at the sky and realized the hour had grown late. Turning back, he saw a crowd behind him and paused, apologizing to Li Guang, “Forgive me, I lost track of time and have delayed you generals far too long. There’s really no need for you to accompany me—I can continue my inspection alone.”

Hearing Wei Qing intended to go on, Li Guang could not help but say, “General Wei, there’s no need to rush your inspection. After a meal, you may continue without any loss. Our camp isn’t going anywhere, is it?”

The irritation in Li Guang’s voice was clear, but Wei Qing, showing no reaction, maintained his composure and finally saluted Li Guang, saying, “Since you insist, I’ll join the generals for a meal, to thank you for today’s hospitality. Please, General Li, lead the way.”

“General Wei, after you.”

The chief steward had prepared a banquet to welcome Wei Qing and the envoys from Chang’an, but had never been able to announce it, blocked by Wei Qing’s insistence on dining wherever he found himself. Wherever he went, he ate.

After dinner, the sky darkened. Wei Qing, though indifferent to the generals' mood, could not ignore the falling night and so ceased his inspection. As he departed, his expression remained unchanged, impossible to read.

When Wei Qing was gone, Li Guang turned to his generals and said, “I don’t know what Wei Qing is up to, spending the whole day fussing about the camp. His manner is hardly that of someone honoring meritorious officers; it’s as if he’s searching for traitors. I don’t see what he finds so fascinating about the armory—he spent an entire afternoon there, and what could he possibly have to discuss with common soldiers for half the day? This fellow has gotten arrogant these past years; back in Chang’an, he used to be meek before me, but now he acts all proper and important—has really gotten above himself! In the end, he’s just someone who climbed the ranks through a woman’s favor. If I weren’t in a good mood today, and for the emperor’s sake, I’d have shown him his place!”

Li Guang, stifling his annoyance all day, now vented loudly, even mocking Wei Qing’s rise thanks to Lady Wei Zifu’s relationship with the emperor.

The generals echoed his sentiments, none inclined to speak kindly of Wei Qing after today’s display. Qin Cheng took note of their reactions, and compared them to Wei Qing’s behavior, finding nothing surprising. He withheld judgment on Wei Qing’s character, but from a modern perspective, Qin Cheng found Wei Qing’s approach admirable. In later times, officials visiting local districts would always be led by local dignitaries through staged displays, never glimpsing real problems. Wei Qing’s only fault today lay in his manner and method.

Except for some polite conversation at the Prefect’s compound, Wei Qing had not paid Qin Cheng much attention; Qin Cheng understood that central officials rarely regarded local officers highly. Wei Qing had come bearing the emperor’s orders, seeking the true cause behind the Han army’s victory over the Xiongnu, but it would not be easily discovered. Not only Wei Qing, but even within the camp, few besides Li Guang truly understood the reasons for the victory.

That evening, the generals dispersed, their faces grim, the joy from the morning’s promotions much diminished. Each returned to their quarters in silence, the atmosphere somber.

Le Yi, whose tally of enemy heads placed him among the foremost in the army, had been present at the award ceremony and had spent the day trailing Wei Qing. Now, he was equally frustrated.

“This General Wei, what is he thinking? You were the key to our victory; without you, we might not have prevailed. Yet today, he neither consulted you nor sought your advice, just wandered about the camp. Does he think our success against the Xiongnu was due to the strength of our weapons?” Le Yi complained as he and Qin Cheng walked back to their quarters.

Qin Cheng merely smiled, knowing Le Yi was speaking up for him, and replied, “Don’t imagine our victory depended solely on me—I know my own worth. General Wei’s inspection is reasonable; to understand why an army wins, one must first know the army itself, and that requires understanding its soldiers and their equipment. General Wei’s actions were not wrong. If I’m not mistaken, he will remain in Qiansang City for some time, and focus his attention on the camp.”

Le Yi pondered a moment, then asked, “If he wants to know about the soldiers and their arms, why doesn’t he just ask the generals? You’re the commander, you know these things best. Isn’t this piecemeal approach rather roundabout? And if he does manage to fully understand our camp, wouldn’t he just return to Chang’an? That doesn’t seem to benefit us at all!”

“Ah...” Qin Cheng was struck by Le Yi’s last remark. What was said in passing, he took to heart: if Wei Qing learned all the secrets of Qiansang City’s camp and left without bringing benefit, their plans to develop cavalry would collapse, for they depended on support from Chang’an. That would be disastrous for both the camp and for Qin Cheng. Judging by Wei Qing’s attitude, Qin Cheng sensed he was not regarded highly; perhaps Liu Che did not consider him suited to lead cavalry, and if so, Qin Cheng’s hopes of reaching Chang’an would remain distant.

Considering this, Qin Cheng began to ponder how he might draw Wei Qing’s notice and earn a recommendation to the emperor.

“Qin Cheng, what are you thinking?” Le Yi saw Qin Cheng deep in thought and asked.

Qin Cheng smiled faintly; though his musings had only just begun, he already had a preliminary answer. He replied lightly, “It’s nothing. General Wei has his reasons for acting as he does; we need not dwell on it. We should focus on our own duties, and not worry about his methods.”

...

For the next two days, Wei Qing continued his inspection of the camp. Unlike the first day, he now sought Li Guang’s advice on various matters—training and tactics among the troops. Though Li Guang harbored some dissatisfaction, he answered truthfully.

After these two days, Wei Qing put forth a request, said to be an imperial order from Liu Che—a military exercise.

Military exercises were not unique to modern times; even in antiquity they were conducted. The last Qiansang City exercise was only interrupted by the Xiongnu invasion. Besides actual combat, exercises were the best way to gauge an army’s capabilities on a broad scale.

“General Wei, does His Majesty have any special instructions for this exercise?” Li Guang, upon hearing Wei Qing’s request, showed not a hint of surprise, but asked calmly.

“The emperor’s instructions are to reenact the tactics you used against the Xiongnu,” Wei Qing replied.

Li Guang’s expression remained unchanged. He responded slowly, “General Wei, I have a suggestion.”

“Oh? Please, share it,” Wei Qing invited.

“When our army struck the Xiongnu last time, we benefited greatly from the terrain. Moreover, the Xiongnu cavalry attacked us differently than before. Thus, the reasons for our victory lay mostly in special circumstances—such things are rare indeed, perhaps once in a century. Relying on that battle for exercises would not prepare us for the future. If His Majesty and General Wei wish to understand our camp’s true strength, and foresee future battles between Han and Xiongnu, the exercise should not imitate the last engagement, but instead be a new kind of drill.”

As expected, Wei Qing fell silent at Li Guang’s words, pondering for a long while before tentatively asking, “What kind of new exercise do you propose, General Li?”

“Cavalry against cavalry,” Li Guang replied coolly.

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Another chapter will be posted around midnight.