Volume One, Chapter Eighteen: Turning Thoughts to the Present Moment and the Practice of Mindfulness

"Our mountain camp is limited by space; we cannot conduct the autumn reviews of weaponry and winter combat training like the Yingyang Prefecture, nor can we hold regular drills. As of now, there are no established training regulations. I have little to teach you regarding the specifics of how to drill your men; you will have to figure that out for yourself." Xu Shiji ordered Liu Hu'er to fetch a book from the inner room, handed it to Li Shandao, and continued, "However, in my view, the essence of training boils down to three things: organizing the ranks and learning the signals of drums and banners; teaching the skills of combat; and enforcing military discipline while practicing formations. Those hundred men were just assigned to you. If you intend to train them, the first step is to organize their units and ensure they know the drum and banner signals. This military treatise is one of the few I read often; it covers the organization of units and the recognition of signals in great detail. Take it and study it."

Li Shandao looked at the book—it was "The Book of Master Wei Liao." He hurriedly rose, bowed, and expressed his gratitude.

Liu Hu'er smiled and said, "Second Brother, when our Eldest Young Master first began training his personal troops, he used the methods from this very 'Book of Master Wei Liao'."

When Liu Hu'er mentioned "when he first began training his personal troops," he was referring to Xu Shiji's direct subordinates. Xu Shiji was a branch leader of Phoenix Island, and the vast majority of his direct subordinates were stationed there, not at this main Wagang stronghold on Mount Dapei. Most of the hundred or so men who had accompanied him on the recent boat raid had already returned to Phoenix Island after their return to the mountain.

Although the Wagang stronghold had strict mountain rules and a relatively complete organizational structure to handle various affairs, when it came to training, it was as Xu Shiji had said: due to the lack of space, they could not conduct formal drills like the imperial government forces. Consequently, there were no uniform regulations across the various hills and factions; training was entirely left to the discretion of each commander. Those who valued it, like Xu Shiji, might find ways to organize their troops for moderate drills, while those who did not might go a whole year without even thinking of it.

Thus, for training, Li Shandao truly had to figure out his own path.

Li Shandao said, "I have never read military books before. Eldest Brother, if there are parts I do not understand, I will have to come and trouble you again."

Xu Shiji smiled. "Second Brother, I have been on this mountain for a year or two now. In that time, the troops Zhai Gong has assigned to my command have grown to over a thousand, split into a dozen or so groups. Among all those leaders, you are the first to proactively propose training and ask how to go about it. For the sake of your initiative, I will certainly share everything I know. If you have questions, just ask."

Li Shandao said, "Oh? Has no one else sought your advice before?"

Xu Shiji looked at him, gestured for him to sit back down, and then said, with a hint of profound meaning, "Though there are many brave men and heroes on this mountain, there are few who, like you, compare our gathering in the forests to the followers of the founders of the Han dynasty."

Some things did not need to be said at length; a word or two was enough. Hearing this, Li Shandao did not press further. He thought to himself, "How many can truly see that the Sui dynasty is nearing its end? Moreover, most of those who have joined this camp are here for the same reason as I am: to survive the tyranny of the times. To be able to cling to life is already a stroke of fortune, so naturally, most do not look toward the long term... Fortunately, Eldest Brother Xu is a man of ambition. My asking him about training troops is not, after all, an act of recklessness."

It was far from reckless. Xu Shiji’s attitude clearly showed that he deeply appreciated and was pleased by Li Shandao's proactive approach.

A cold breeze blew into the room. The mountain was chilly, and with the rain, even the vigorous Xu Shiji felt a bite of cold after his sweat from training had dried. He called for his outer robe and draped it over his shoulders. Without realizing it, the rain grew heavier. Looking out, the rain fell like a curtain. The stone-paved courtyard was drenched, and the pear tree in the corner, currently in full bloom, looked like snow; occasionally, flowers would drift away in the wind and rain. The nearby green slopes and the distant, lush peaks were all shrouded in a misty haze.

"That is fine. If the rain has not stopped when my father arrives, ask him to stay at the foot of the mountain for the time being."

Liu Hu'er acknowledged the order, grabbed a straw cape, stepped out of the hall, called for three or four guards, and headed down the mountain.

***

With the book secured, the topic of training concluded. As it was raining outside, travel was difficult, and seeing that Xu Shiji had no other pressing matters and showed no intention of seeing him out, Li Shandao did not take his leave. The two continued to chat for a while about Xu Gai's impending arrival, eventually shifting the conversation to Li Mi.

Li Shandao smiled and said, "Eldest Brother, speaking of Lord Xu arriving today, what is Zhai Gong's current stance on Li Mi? It has been several days since the victory banquet where you and Shan Gong urged Zhai Gong to consider accepting Li Mi into the ranks. Has he not yet made a decision?"

"Zhai Gong has not sent me a reply."

Li Shandao suggested, "Why don't you ask Zhai Gong again, Eldest Brother?"

"It is difficult to press too hard on this matter. Second Brother, although I have no personal grievances with Li Mi, Zhai Gong has been hesitant. If I speak too much, it might be counterproductive."

"You are right, your thinking is as meticulous as ever," Li Shandao agreed. "It is indeed difficult to say much. However, in my view, the points you made that day were correct. Accepting Li Mi into the fold would be quite beneficial for our future development."

"Whether it is beneficial or not, it is up to Zhai Gong to decide whether Li Mi enters the camp."

Li Shandao laughed. "Among the camp leaders in Shandong and Hebei, Li Mi has already sought refuge with almost everyone, and except for Wang Bodang, no one is willing to take him in. There is no rush; let Zhai Gong deliberate at his leisure."

"Zhai Gong knows my father is coming to the camp. He told me that when my father arrives, he intends to personally host a 'soft-foot banquet' for him. At that time, Second Brother, you and Chounu should come along."

The "soft-foot banquet" was a welcome feast for someone who had traveled a long distance and whose legs were weary from the road. Li Shandao agreed.

On a rainy day, it was inconvenient to go out. Shan Xiongxin usually visited Xu Shiji nearly every day, but he had not come today. Xu Shiji, beyond being the branch leader of Phoenix Island, held other responsibilities within the main camp, including overseeing some internal affairs and the raiding operations in Xingyang Commandery, yet no one had come to report to him today; it was a rare moment of leisure.

With the rhythmic sound of the rain, the two chatted idly, sometimes about camp affairs, sometimes about their past days in the county. By noon, they were both hungry. Just as Li Shandao was about to take his leave, Xu Shiji insisted he stay.

Just as they ordered food to be prepared, someone braved the rain and arrived at the hall entrance. The visitor bowed with folded hands and said, "Young Master, Zhai Gong requests your presence."

Xu Shiji recognized one of Zhai Gong's personal attendants and asked, "Does Zhai Gong have a matter for me?"

"Replying to the Young Master, a Daoist named Li Xuanying has arrived at the mountain. Zhai Gong invites you to come and meet him."

"Li Xuanying?" Xu Shiji repeated.

"Yes, Young Master."

The name sounded unfamiliar. Xu Shiji asked, "Who is he? And why has he come to our camp?"

"The old Daoist claims to have come from the Eastern Capital, saying he is looking for Li Mi."

Xu Shiji glanced at Li Shandao and said with a smile, "Li Mi is not even in our camp. Why would he come here to look for him?"

"That, this subordinate does not know."

Li Shandao had never heard the name Li Xuanying either, and he did not know why this Daoist had run to Wagang to find Li Mi. He said, "Eldest Brother, since Zhai Gong has summoned you, why not go and see? You will know the truth once you meet him."

"Very well, I shall go and see," Xu Shiji said.

His men brought out two sets of oil-cloth hats and raincoats. Xu Shiji and Li Shandao donned them and left the courtyard with the attendant.

Outside the courtyard, Li Shandao bowed and took his leave. After watching Xu Shiji depart, surrounded by his guards, he headed back to his own valley.

***

On the way back, he stopped after only a short distance. He could not wait to open "The Book of Master Wei Liao," shielding it with his sleeve to keep it from the rain, and read the first few lines. It was a military treatise from the Warring States period, with archaic and plain language, but fortunately, he could understand it.

Afraid of the rain damaging the book, he did not read further. Seeing that he could grasp the contents, he carefully tucked it into his robes.

He continued back to the valley, pondering as he walked: "I already have a rough understanding of the temperaments and capabilities of Wang Xuda, Chen Jing'er, Luo Zhong, and their men. I can begin the training in earnest. However, there are two problems I must resolve first. The first is that, having observed them over the past few days, I find their behavior quite crude and undisciplined. They are used to freedom. If I suddenly impose military law and demand rigorous training, they will likely find it unbearable. It might work for a short time, but if it lasts, they will surely grow resentful. I must avoid a situation where the training fails and I end up 'forsaken by all,' with them switching to other leaders, leaving me with nothing. I must find a way to make them willing to train of their own accord.

"The second problem is the specifics of the training itself. Eldest Brother Xu gave me an answer and a book, and he was right—the 'essentials of training are but three.' The book is useful, but as he said, it focuses on organization and signals, not on combat formations or martial arts. I know nothing of formations, nor am I an expert in battlefield combat skills. How am I to handle the instruction and practice of these two areas?"

The second problem was relatively easier to solve. While talking to Xu Shiji, Li Shandao had already realized that when the time came to train in martial arts and formations, he could trouble Xu Shiji again to see if he had any talented subordinates he could lend as instructors.

The crux was the first problem. If the second was an objective challenge, the first was a subjective one. And subjective shifts and changes were often harder to achieve than objective ones.

By the time he reached the valley entrance, Li Shandao still had not thought of a suitable solution. A man wearing a conical bamboo hat and a straw cape was squatting at the valley entrance, staring blankly. Seeing Li Shandao return, he jumped up to greet him.

"It is raining; why are you not in the shed avoiding the rain?"

The man replied, "Second Brother, the men who were supposed to be on guard duty today all went to the shed to avoid the rain, so I came to take their place."