Chapter 27: Military Justice

"Military Magistrate."
"Captain."

Wu Yi had not expected Liu Zhang to extend such an invitation. He felt a bit dizzy, overwhelmed by the rank offered; after all, he was the elder brother-in-law of Liu Mao.

After Liu Zhang had taken office as the Governor of Yizhou, Wu Yi had originally prepared himself to spend his days reading and practicing martial arts, planning to remain hidden for twenty years, waiting for the political tides of Yizhou to shift.

Suddenly, Wu Yi’s eyes brightened. He recalled the moment earlier in the hall when Liu Zhang and Wu Xian had exchanged smiles. A decision formed in his heart. He straightened his expression, stood up, walked directly in front of Liu Zhang, and knelt in submission.

"I am honored by your trust, Governor," he replied. "I accept this appointment and shall strive to prove my worth."

The process had been far too smooth. Liu Zhang wore a smile, having feared that Wu Yi might decline. He held Wu Yi in high regard. A native of Chenliu in Yanzhou, Wu Yi was the nephew of Wu Kuang. Although Wu Kuang was not widely known in historical records, he had played a pivotal role in the power struggles of the late Eastern Han dynasty.

In the first year of the Guangxi era, following the death of Emperor Ling, the Ten Eunuchs intervened in state affairs. General-in-Chief He Jin plotted to eliminate them but was betrayed and killed. As a subordinate general under He Jin, Wu Kuang had joined forces with Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and others to slaughter the eunuchs and attack and kill the General of Chariots and Cavalry, He Miao.

Because of this, Wu Yi, as Wu Kuang’s nephew, commanded great respect among the Dongzhou people. Furthermore, as an outsider from Yanzhou himself, he was the perfect choice to enforce military discipline among the Dongzhou troops; they would not feel resentment toward him, as they were all, in a sense, fellow outsiders.

Liu Zhang had considered the marital ties between Wu Yi and Liu Mao, but given Liu Mao’s current reputation and the way Wu Yi had referred to him as a "petty, despicable man," it was clear that little affection remained between the two.

At present, talent in his administration was scarce. His civil officials barely surpassed Wang Shang, Huang Quan, and Dong He, and his military officers were limited to Gan Ning, Yang Huai, and Gao Pei. This excluded the Sima Zhao Wei and his two captains, Pang Le and Li Yi, and certainly did not include Zhang Lu, the Supervisor of Justice stationed in Hanzhong.

Counting them up, the men at his disposal could be tallied on his fingers. He had no choice but to scour the region for the famous figures of the era currently residing in Yizhou.

Even if there were some friction in his relationship with someone like Wu Yi, he had to bring such men into his fold and utilize their talents to the best of his ability. If he lacked the magnanimity to accommodate them, how could he ever hope to claim the world, overturn the heavens, and realize his grand ambitions?

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Zhang stood up, walked over to Wu Yi, and personally helped him up. Grasping his hands, he affirmed, "With you as Military Magistrate, Ziyuan, I shall no longer worry about the discipline of the Dongzhou troops."

They looked at each other and laughed heartily.

"Ziyuan, please."

"Governor, please."

Liu Zhang and Wu Yi began to drink together.

Wine was truly a marvelous thing. Liu Zhang recalled a story from the end of the Western Han dynasty: Ma Yuan had been sent by Wei Xiao to Luoyang to meet Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu, to gauge the Emperor's character.

Upon returning to Longyou after meeting Liu Xiu, Ma Yuan told Wei Xiao, "Liu Xiu’s talent and martial prowess are unrivaled, and he is frank, sincere, and hides nothing. His magnanimity and commitment to principle are much like those of Emperor Gaozu, Liu Bang. Yet, his profound knowledge of the classics and his skill in handling state affairs and rhetoric are unmatched by any in the past."

Wei Xiao could not help but ask, "How does Liu Xiu compare to Liu Bang?"

Ma Yuan’s reply was quite intriguing: "Liu Xiu is not quite Liu Bang. Liu Bang acted with effortless ease, while Liu Xiu enjoys managing affairs personally, acts according to strict rules, and does not care for wine."

Liu Xiu, who disliked wine, naturally could not compare to Liu Bang, who loved to drink and curse. The Eastern Han was, in the same vein, less grand and awe-inspiring than the Western Han.

Liu Zhang, however, was fond of wine. In this era, even two total strangers could become close after a few cups.

In this harmonious atmosphere, with both host and guest enjoying themselves, a young man standing behind Wu Yi could no longer contain himself. He bowed toward Liu Zhang, who sat in the main seat, and spoke in a clear, crisp voice: "Governor, could you grant me a military post? I, too, wish to serve you."

Before Liu Zhang could react, Wu Yi spoke up first, reprimanding him: "Yuanxiong, do not be impudent."

Wu Yi then explained to Liu Zhang: "This is my clansman, Wu Ban, courtesy name Yuanxiong. He has practiced martial arts diligently since his youth. Seeing you today, he could not help but hope for a chance to serve, leading to his outburst. I beg for your forgiveness, Governor."

Wu Yi’s words sounded like an apology, but in reality, he was promoting Wu Ban to Liu Zhang.

Wu Ban—hearing this name, Liu Zhang was overjoyed.

Wu Ban was the son of Wu Kuang, and he had accompanied Wu Yi when he first entered the Shu region. Under Liu Zhang’s rule, Wu Ban had remained relatively quiet. After Liu Bei entered Shu, Wu Ban had served as a commander, participating in the campaign against Wu. Later, he followed the Shu Han Chancellor, Zhuge Liang, into the Northern Expeditions against Cao Wei. In the ninth year of the Jianxing era, he had dealt a crushing defeat to Sima Yi, claiming three thousand enemy heads, five thousand sets of iron armor, and over three thousand crossbows, forcing that old scoundrel Sima Yi to retreat to his camp and play the coward.

Eventually, Wu Ban would rise to the rank of General of the Agile Cavalry and be enfeoffed as the Marquis of Mianzhu.

Liu Zhang could not help but wonder what kind of auspicious day it was, that he had encountered both a future General of Chariots and Cavalry and a General of the Agile Cavalry of the late Shu Han, and it seemed he had the chance to secure them both.

He understood perfectly well what Wu Yi was doing. He waved his hand and said, "It is no matter. A youth should be full of spirit and ambition; to speak one's heart is the very definition of youth."

Taking an interest, he joked with Wu Ban, "Since you have recommended yourself, Yuanxiong, you must display your skills. Otherwise, how am I to know what rank or post to grant you?"

Hearing this, Wu Ban knew his request for a commission had a chance of success.

The youth’s emotions were written plainly on his face. With a smile, Wu Ban walked to the center of the hall and bowed to Liu Zhang. "Reporting to the Governor: although I am young, I am skilled with the blade and shield, and I am an expert archer. Within seventy paces, I never miss."

His skill with the blade and shield was genuine; Wu Ban had trained bitterly since childhood, braving both cold and heat. But his claim of never missing at seventy paces was a bit of an exaggeration. He had been practicing archery, and he could hit the mark about seven out of ten times. However, to win Liu Zhang’s favor, he had pushed himself onto the stage and mustered all his courage.

"Oh?" Liu Zhang was genuinely surprised. Skill with the blade and shield was common enough, but to never miss at seventy paces—for someone of Wu Ban’s age—was truly remarkable.

According to the *Book of Han*, six feet made one pace. Archaeological findings from the Han and Three Kingdoms periods suggest that a foot was roughly twenty-three to twenty-four centimeters. Thus, a Han "pace" was about 1.4 meters, making seventy paces approximately ninety-eight meters.

To hit the target every time at nearly a hundred meters was no small feat for a young man.

Intrigued, Liu Zhang said, "In that case, I must witness your archery skills."

To be safe—fearing that Wu Ban was merely posturing and that failing to hit the target would cause embarrassment for everyone—Liu Zhang cast a questioning look at Wu Yi, wanting to hear what the older brother had to say.

Wu Yi could not contradict Wu Ban on the spot. He bowed to Liu Zhang and said, "Yuanxiong indeed possesses such skill; he can hit the bullseye within seventy paces."

He added a disclaimer: "Though, 'never missing' is perhaps an exaggeration. Yuanxiong is young and full of vigor, and he spoke boldly to build his confidence. If he fails to hit the mark, I beg the Governor not to take offense."

Knowing Wu Ban’s true level, Wu Yi had added this insurance. After speaking, he shot a sideways glance at his boastful clansman. He truly was not modest at all, not even leaving himself a way out.