"Commander Zhou, look! What is that?"
Zhou Fugui and his party of six intended to enter the Dragon Roar Holy Land, then cross Xianmiao Mountain to reach the seaside and finally obtain salt.
As Zhou Fugui and his group approached the vicinity of the Dragon Roar Holy Land, the biting north wind grew increasingly fierce, almost forcing them to lower their heads. Within the strong north wind, a faint sound of dragon roars could be heard.
Everyone was terrified and strained their eyes to look around. They saw a shadow on a snow-capped peak. They couldn't tell if the shadow was a person or a wild beast, a deity or a mortal. In any case, the shadow was very indistinct, almost blending into the snow peak. However, they were certain that the shadow was silently watching Zhou Fugui and his companions. The situation was exceptionally eerie, sending shivers down their spines.
Zhou Fugui waved for Xue Wentai and the others to remain vigilant and scan their surroundings. He then urged his horse forward, riding to the foot of the snow peak. Astride his horse, he bowed slightly, cupped his hands, and said loudly, "Esteemed immortal, please forgive this humble mortal, Zhou Fugui, for intruding upon your domain. Forgive me, forgive me! Esteemed immortal..."
Zhou Fugui, not knowing if it was a person or a beast, decided to treat it as a person. Not knowing if it was a deity or a mortal, he decided to treat it as a deity.
"Rumble!"
Before Zhou Fugui finished speaking, his loud shout seemed to trigger an avalanche. Ten thousand feet of snow mist rose from the snow peak, vast and covering the sky. Mixed with rocks and branches, it rushed down from the peak, with the momentum of galloping horses, sweeping towards Zhou Fugui and his companions.
"Quick, retreat! Retreat!" In terror, Zhou Fugui pulled his horse back, grabbed Xiao Dingdang with one hand, and threw her onto the horse's saddle in front of him. Then, he spurred his horse forward like a flying arrow, rushing out of the valley.
Xiao Dingdang was already scared senseless, standing frozen in place, unable to ride her horse.
Xue Wentai, Yelihu, and the others, equally terrified, followed closely behind Zhou Fugui as they rushed out of the valley.
"Rumble!" With a deafening roar, the snow mist, mixed with rocks and branches, completely filled the valley entrance. If Zhou Fugui and his companions had hesitated for a moment longer, they would have been buried within.
"My horse, my horse!" Xiao Dingdang, held by Zhou Fugui on the saddle, struggled desperately and shouted.
"It's just a poor horse! I'll compensate you later. Behave yourself, or if you fall off, you'll be eaten by the beasts on the snow peak, leaving no trace. No one can save you," Zhou Fugui reprimanded her while whipping his horse to gallop away.
"Bah, what beasts? It's an immortal sister," Xiao Dingdang retorted.
"Immortal sister? Which eye did you see her with?" Zhou Fugui asked, surprised.
Up to this point, Zhou Fugui still hadn't figured out whether the shadow on the snow peak was a person or a beast, a deity or a mortal, let alone whether it was male or female.
"Both eyes saw her," Xiao Dingdang replied, turning her head towards the direction of the snow peak. "Her hair is so long, and she's wearing white clothes. If she's not an immortal sister, then what is she? Brother Zhou, you've angered the immortal sister, and you'll be in trouble."
"Nonsense!" Zhou Fugui scolded, but he couldn't help but glance back at the snow peak. The shadow had long since vanished.
Long hair and white clothes didn't necessarily mean a woman. And something entirely white, with fur reaching over its head, might not be a person either; it could be a beast, like a snow man, Zhou Fugui thought to himself.
This path is blocked. It seems we have to find another way, Zhou Fugui thought helplessly.
......
"Who goes there? Stop advancing, or we'll shoot!"
"Hold your arrows! I am General Tuoba Hai of Yan, here to seek General Zhou!"
At Xianmiao Mountain, before a steep cliff, on a rugged mountain path, two people arrived. The White Tiger Battalion soldiers guarding the strategic pass brought these two to Zhou Fugui.
General Tuoba Hai of Yan, formerly a soldier of the White Tiger Battalion, had been seen by Zhou Fugui when they departed from Xuelin City. They confirmed their identities with a secret code, and they were indeed from the Yan army.
"Brother Tuoba, why have you come here?" Zhou Fugui rushed over upon hearing the news, grabbing Tuoba Hai's hand and speaking warmly.
In reality, Zhou Fugui and Tuoba Hai's relationship was ordinary. They had even engaged in rivalry and harbored some minor grudges. However, at this moment, seeing Tuoba Hai actually appear at Xianmiao Mountain, Zhou Fugui was overjoyed.
It is said that meeting an old friend in a foreign land is like finding sweet rain after a long drought. Zhou Fugui's encountering Tuoba Hai here could be described as an unexpected delight. Tuoba Hai, like Zhou Fugui, was one of the several parties dispatched by Hu Yan Sheng. Tuoba Hai's arrival here naturally meant he was still alive, and it was not difficult to imagine that Tuoba Hai and his subordinates had also endured considerable hardships, having narrowly escaped death. At this moment, Zhou Fugui felt a sense of shared suffering with him.
How could Zhou Fugui not be happy?
"Alas, General Zhou, it's a long story," Tuoba Hai replied, appearing somewhat ashamed.
"Hmm, Brother Tuoba, sit down and tell me slowly." After inviting Tuoba Hai to sit, Zhou Fugui ordered those around him, "Bring some food and drink."
Servants then brought some game and fresh water. The game could be considered delicacies, but the taste was somewhat difficult to swallow, primarily due to the lack of various seasonings, especially salt.
"Brother Tuoba, look at this... I've embarrassed myself," Zhou Fugui said with a wry smile.
Due to the lack of salt, many soldiers of the White Tiger Battalion were already weak, let alone able to fight; even walking was extremely difficult. Zhou Fugui was almost driven to despair. If this problem was not resolved immediately, the entire White Tiger Battalion would perish in Xianmiao Mountain before the Xiongnu even invaded.
"Tuoba Hai dares not mock General Zhou..." Tuoba Hai shook his head and said, "I am actually extremely impressed with you, General Zhou, for leading your troops deep into the Xiongnu royal court, remaining loyal to your lord and country, and refusing to yield even in the face of death. Tuoba Hai is far inferior to you."
Loyal to his lord and country, refusing to yield even in the face of death? Zhou Fugui felt a hidden amusement at this.
He had never felt a sense of belonging to the Great Yan. He certainly didn't feel loyal to his lord or country. Zhou Fugui and the White Tiger Battalion had merely fled into Xianmiao Mountain to survive. The reason they hadn't surrendered to the Xiongnu was for the sake of their families. If Zhou Fugui surrendered, his family and his subordinates' families would surely be executed by the Yan court.
"Brother Tuoba, what have you experienced during this time?" Zhou Fugui asked, sensing that Tuoba Hai had something more to say.
"Alas, after fighting all the way here, yet..." Tuoba Hai sighed. "I cannot speak of it; it is truly too embarrassing."
"Hehe..." Zhou Fugui chuckled. "We were both ordered to march, and we have fought our way here, and fought our way until today. Is there anything else embarrassing? Brother Tuoba, if you have something to say, please do. I, Zhou, am all ears."
In this world, amidst these vast mountains and rivers, finding someone was exceptionally difficult. How did Tuoba Hai know that Zhou Fugui and his men were in Xianmiao Mountain? Even if Tuoba Hai had inquired by chance, how could he have found them?
After all, outside Xianmiao Mountain lay the heavy encirclement of the Xiongnu. For Tuoba Hai to have reached this place smoothly, there was only one possibility: Tuoba Hai had already surrendered to the Xiongnu, and he was here to persuade Zhou Fugui to surrender as well.
At this moment, in this situation, surrendering to the Xiongnu was not entirely unacceptable. The crucial point was finding a way to protect the safety of his family first.
He had no sense of belonging, no loyalty to his lord and country, and certainly no unwavering loyalty or refusal to yield even in the face of death. If that was the case, surrendering to the Xiongnu would carry no psychological burden.
Moreover, Zhou Fugui himself was half Han and half Xiongnu...
"General... Zhou..." Tuoba Hai hesitated for a long time before steeling his resolve and saying loudly to Zhou Fugui, "Alas, so be it. For the lives of my dozens of brothers, I will discard my pride. General Zhou, to be frank, I have come today to persuade you to surrender. Give me a clear answer, whether you will surrender or not."
With a sudden "whoosh," Zhou Fugui leaped to his feet. He looked at Tuoba Hai, who was kneeling on the ground, and paced back and forth, making Tuoba Hai feel uncomfortable and deeply ashamed.
However, Zhou Fugui's face was flushed with excitement, not anger, but exhilaration...
"Surrender? Surrender to whom?" After a long while, when Tuoba Hai was so ashamed that he almost wanted to kill himself, Zhou Fugui looked at him and asked, "What are the conditions? Without benefits, I won't surrender. And if the benefits are too few, I still won't surrender..."
As expected, just as he had guessed, Zhou Fugui thought to himself.
"Hoo..." Tuoba Hai let out a sigh of relief as if a great burden had been lifted and replied, "It is the Xiongnu Prince Consort. Zhou Fugui, the Prince Consort has a message for you. If you are willing to lead your troops out of the mountain and surrender to her, she will let bygones be bygones and treat you all as before, with respect."
Before arriving, Tuoba Hai had truly believed that Zhou Fugui was a person loyal to his lord and country, refusing to yield even in the face of death, possessing chivalry and sincerity. To his surprise, he was also a person who feared death...
And he was still talking about conditions? This meant that if the conditions were not good enough, he wouldn't surrender; he was waiting to be bought. If the conditions were sufficient, he would surrender immediately...
Therefore, Tuoba Hai didn't even bother to address him as "General Zhou" anymore, but directly called him by his name.
"Haha, the Prince Consort, it's Lin Yue, isn't it?" Zhou Fugui asked with a loud laugh.
Tuoba Hai nodded.
"Lin Yue... this person..." Zhou Fugui placed a hand on Tuoba Hai's shoulder and pondered, "Surrendering to her is not impossible. Everything being as before would naturally be the best. However, I, Zhou, have conditions."
Surrendering to Lin Yue, given the current situation, was naturally the best option. After surrendering, Lin Yue wouldn't kill them. Zhou Fugui thought to himself, at least not immediately. Then, he could use his eloquent tongue to persuade her, and they would be temporarily safe.
However, it was the same old story; he had to find a way to ensure the safety of his family. If he couldn't think of a solution, he would find an opportunity to escape, Zhou Fugui mused.
"What are your conditions? Come out of the mountain and discuss them with her in person," Tuoba Hai said dismissively.
"Hmm..." Zhou Fugui nodded and then loudly ordered, "Come, everyone! Pack up and prepare to descend the mountain!"
Zhou Fugui seemed almost impatient...