"How are your injuries?" After the fierce battle, Zhou Fugui, also covered in blood, dismounted and walked to the dying slave strongman, holding his Heaven-Shaking Dragon Halberd, and asked.
War is brutal. In the end, war is about killing and being killed to achieve a certain purpose.
In the battle of the Maple Woods, Zhou Fugui led the newly formed White Tiger Camp to a great victory, defeating the Xiongnu's Left Great Khan, the Great Chieftain's brother-in-law, and his more than five thousand troops with fewer men. They captured Qi Wu Han, killed dozens of Xiongnu generals, and captured countless horses, weapons, and provisions. It was a great victory, and before long, this thrilling battle would spread throughout the entire grassland, even the whole world.
But wars always cost lives, always have a price. To kill three thousand enemies, one injures eight hundred. This is an eternal truth.
Therefore, the newly formed White Tiger Camp under Zhou Fugui also suffered significant losses, especially among those who had just been freed from slavery. The slave strongman who took the lead in this battle, luring the enemy into the ambush, was now on his last breath.
The soldiers of the White Tiger Camp were all exhausted, lying or sitting, looking blankly at Zhou Fugui, Li Qing, Ye Guantting, and the others as they approached. No one spoke. The scene was silent.
Not far away lay countless corpses of men and horses, scattered everywhere, a gruesome sight. Wisps of smoke rose like beacon fires into the sky, visible from dozens of miles away. Thus, Zhou Fugui and the White Tiger Camp had little time to rest before facing new battles and more brutal struggles.
The blind fortuneteller, Wei, who was examining the slave strongman's injuries, shook his head.
In this world, the level of healing was extremely low. Being injured on the battlefield was almost equivalent to death. Thus, the number of people who actually died in battle was not the majority; most died from lack of or inability to receive medical treatment.
After this battle, Zhou Fugui resolved to establish a real medical team. Of course, this is a story for another time.
"What is your name and where are you from?" Zhou Fugui asked, feeling distressed, as he knelt on one knee and looked at the slave strongman lying on the ground.
The slave strongman was about to die, yet Zhou Fugui did not even know his name.
"Sir..." The slave strongman smiled weakly and replied, "This humble one has no name. They all call me Ma Nu. Ma Nu is from Guizi. I have been a lowly slave since birth and have drifted to this place. Sir, you don't need to be sad. Ma Nu has never lived a happy day since birth. Only these past few days, Ma Nu has felt incredibly happy..."
"Do you... have any last wishes?" Zhou Fugui asked, his voice choked with emotion.
"I have a daughter. Her name is Nisu, but I don't know where she is..." Ma Nu's face was pale, his eyes already unfocused. Suddenly, a spark of light appeared in his eyes, and his face turned flushed.
"Rest assured..." Zhou Fugui gently placed his hand on Ma Nu's shoulder, his voice soft yet firm. "Zhou will spend his entire life trying to find your daughter for you. Not only that, after you die, Zhou will arrange for your memorial tablet to be enshrined in the ancestral temple according to Han customs, to be revered and sacrificed to by future generations forever! Of course, not now. Zhou is utterly powerless at this moment, but in the future, Zhou will surely fulfill this wish!"
Everyone present was choked with emotion and deeply moved, especially those slaves who had just joined the White Tiger Camp.
As Zhou Fugui spoke, Ma Nu passed away peacefully, with a smile on his face.
"Soldiers, soldiers of my White Tiger Camp!" Zhou Fugui stood up slowly after gazing at the deceased Ma Nu for a long time, and said loudly to the soldiers of the White Tiger Camp, "Not only Ma Nu, but all soldiers of my White Tiger Camp will be treated the same. Fallen heroes will have their families cared for, their souls will return to the ancestral temple, and they will be revered and sacrificed to by future generations forever!"
"Your will be done!" The soldiers of the White Tiger Camp shouted loudly, brandishing their weapons. Many were already in tears.
In the past, their lives were cheaper than dogs, and who cared about their lives or deaths? Even if they died in battle, no one cared, treating them as if some cattle and horses had died, or some property had been lost.
In this world, some people do not fear death. What they fear is becoming a masterless ghost after death, unable to reincarnate, unable to ascend to heaven, and forever sinking in hell.
Now that Zhou Fugui had solemnly made this promise, they had no worries about their afterlife. What was there to fear?
Zhou Fugui's words had won the hearts of the army and the sincere support of all the soldiers.
Loyalty. This was what Zhou Fugui wanted. The Xiongnu ruled the grassland only through power and force. The various tribes under them had no sense of belonging. From this day forward, Zhou Fugui intended to give them a sense of belonging, to make them identify with the White Tiger Camp, and with himself.
Of course, this was only the beginning. Whether it would succeed was yet unknown, and it would require crossing the river by feeling the stones, step by step.
The foundation of a wise ruler of the world begins here! Ye Guantting, who had been listening intently, was filled with emotion.
As a wise or ambitious ruler, one must first possess the ability to win over people's hearts.
"Soldiers of the White Tiger Camp!" Zhou Fugui then clenched his fist and shouted loudly, "We do not want to die. We want to live well and enjoy happiness with our families. But there are people who do not let us live and want us to die. What do you say we should do?"
At this moment, the fate of Zhou Fugui and the Yan army was inextricably bound with that of the slaves.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" everyone shouted loudly, brandishing their weapons.
Zhou Fugui, Ye Guantting, and Li Qing had orchestrated a victory against the Xiongnu's Left Great Khan's forces with fewer men, which greatly boosted their confidence in defeating the enemy. This was crucial.
"Everyone must die once, but to die for resistance, to die fighting for one's destiny, is a death well deserved!" Zhou Fugui shouted again.
"Indeed!" The army roared in unison.
...
"Do you surrender?" Zhou Fugui asked, sitting astride his horse with his hands tied behind his back, in front of the Xiongnu's Left Great Khan, Qi Wu Han.
"I am a noble person of my Great Xiongnu, and have been so for generations. How can I surrender to a lowly slave like you?" Qi Wu Han retorted, kneeling on the ground and smiling bitterly.
Pi'e heard this and was furious. He grabbed Qi Wu Han with his massive hand, and with a little more force, could have crushed him to death.
"Let him go!" Zhou Fugui glared at Pi'e, then gave Qi Wu Han a thumbs-up and said with a light smile, "You have backbone! You truly are a noble of the Xiongnu! If you were like a cowardly, flabby hound, I would look down on you. However, I hope you can remain this tough. The city where your contingent is located... what is its name?"
Zhou Fugui looked up at Ye Guantting.
"Bai Lang Shi Cheng!" Ye Guantting replied.
"Oh, Bai Lang Shi Cheng." Zhou Fugui nodded, then stared at Qi Wu Han and smiled, "Your stronghold is in Bai Lang Shi Cheng, isn't it? When I break through the city, your sheep and cattle, your wealth, will all turn to ash! Oh, and your cosmetics, your daughters, and many other beautiful women among them, I suppose? To be frank, I haven't tasted Xiongnu women yet. Perhaps I should start with you and break the fast, what do you think, Guantting?"
"My Lord, the victor may take and use what they wish," Ye Guantting nodded and said to Qi Wu Han, "and although you are a noble person, you are now my Lord's captive. Why not lead your entire contingent in surrender, to avoid bloodshed and preserve your family?"
Ye Guantting knew that Zhou Fugui was threatening Qi Wu Han with his women. Zhou Fugui was unwilling to even touch the young and beautiful A Bisi who was by his side, so why would he covet other women?
In fact, one woman was nothing, it wouldn't be a big deal to take her. But why was Zhou Fugui unwilling to touch her? This greatly puzzled Ye Guantting and the others.
Could he have physical problems, or problems with his orientation? They all had this thought in their minds...
"In my Great Xiongnu..." Zhou Fugui and Ye Guantting used threats and inducements, but Qi Wu Han still refused to yield. He shook his head and said, "The victor indeed gains all. If they fall into your hands, it is their fate, and the will of the gods. However, you think you can capture Bai Lang Shi Cheng? You must be dreaming. Qi Du Xu Bu Liang is leading a large army towards here. You will probably have to get past him first, hehe, lowly slave, Qi Wu Han is not a coward who fears death, how can he be threatened by you? Even if I die, when the Great Chieftain's army returns, they will surely avenge me!"
After speaking, Qi Wu Han stretched out his neck, as if offering it for slaughter.
"Take him down. Do not harm his life. Have Wei the blind man treat his injuries," Zhou Fugui stared at Qi Wu Han for a long time, then sighed and ordered Pi'e and the others to take him down and imprison him.
Pi'e picked up the relatively well-built Qi Wu Han with one hand and carried him down. Because of Zhou Fugui's order, Pi'e dared not harm his life, although Pi'e harbored great hatred for these Xiongnu nobles.
"Alas, Guantting..." After Qi Wu Han was carried away by Pi'e, Zhou Fugui looked at Ye Guantting and sighed, "I didn't expect this man to be so tough. If he refuses to yield, what can we do?"
Zhou Fugui planned to use the same trick again to deal with the Xiongnu Qi Du and his troops. This was the only feasible strategy for defeating a stronger enemy with a weaker one. However, Qi Wu Han adamantly refused to yield, which troubled Zhou Fugui.
To ambush the Xiongnu army again, someone was needed to lure them into the ambush site.
"My Lord, do not worry. If he refuses to yield, are all his subordinates as tough as him?" Ye Guantting thought for a moment and replied, "We can use his personal belongings and send someone to lure them into the trap."
In the Battle of the Maple Woods, Zhou Fugui and the soldiers of the White Tiger Camp had captured quite a few Xiongnu.
"Who should be sent?" Zhou Fugui asked. "What if they betray us at that time... wouldn't that be a disaster?"
"Betray us?" Ye Guantting asked in surprise.
"Uh..." Zhou Fugui quickly explained, "I mean, if they betray us and tell that Qi Du truthfully... wouldn't our plan be ruined?"
"Hasn't my Lord noticed that among the Xiongnu, father and son, or brothers, are common?" Ye Guantting replied with a smile.
"You mean...?" Zhou Fugui was beginning to understand.
"Detain the father and send the son, detain the elder brother and send the younger brother. We are not afraid they will not yield," Ye Guantting nodded.
"What if that Qi Du fellow already knows the news..." Zhou Fugui asked, initially delighted, then frowning with worry.
Perhaps someone, like the escaping Xiongnu, had already informed Xu Bu Liang of the defeat of Qi Wu Han's contingent. This plan might not succeed, and the possibility was very high.
"Send several groups of people to create a diversion. Whether it succeeds or not depends on fate," Ye Guantting replied.