The Council of State, Western Jin capital.

The King of Jin sat at the head of the table, discussing with his ministers the redeployment of the state’s troops to various garrisons.

The Minister of War reported, “Since the beginning of this year, the garrison at Hanyang Pass has been repeatedly redeployed, and its ranks have never been fully replenished. Hanyang Pass is a strategic chokepoint in the western regions; its military preparedness should not be taken lightly. I believe we should redeploy troops from neighboring regions and conscript the private troops and household guards from local wealthy families to bolster the garrison.”

The Left Counselor replied, “Virtually all of the court’s combat-ready troops have been deployed to the north. The regions near the western regions are now garrisoned only by the elderly and infirm, and military discipline is lax. Sending them to Hanyang Pass would be futile and would merely waste provisions and rations. Therefore, we should primarily conscript private troops from neighboring regions and household guards from local wealthy families.”

Xu Gong, the new Minister of Revenue, stepped forward and said, “The state treasury is currently depleted. To conscript local private troops, we must provide appropriate compensation—but where will this silver come from? Furthermore, Hanyang Pass is currently defended by Lord Wei Yuan, the Military Commissioner of Western Pacification, who serves as the first line of defense of the western regions. The strategic...