General Yan Bi, Zhou Fugui, led his isolated troops deep into the enemy territory, venturing directly into the vast encampment of the Xiongnu army. However, he was recognized by Princess Consort Lin Yue of the Xiongnu.
Zhou Fugui had spared Lin Yue's life, but he hadn't known her before their chance encounter on the snowfield. He was unfamiliar with her character or disposition. What if she were someone who upheld righteousness? Wouldn't they all be doomed?
Therefore, Zhou Fugui engaged Lin Yue in lengthy, aimless conversation, attempting to buy time. He then formulated his plea and spoke to her, "The Grand Commander Huyan at the border drove us out into the wilderness, where we endured hunger and the harshness of the elements. You must already be aware of these matters, right?"
"Mm, and then?" Lin Yue nodded, hearing his words.
Lin Yue was indeed aware. A group of Yan soldiers were making a fire for warmth in the wilderness and had killed many wolves. Her Xiongnu soldiers had planned to capture some alive to scout the conditions of the three passes.
At that time, Lin Yue had thought these Yan soldiers would be easily captured. She never expected them to be so formidable, and she herself had nearly died on the snowfield outside Xuelin City, nearly perished at the hands of the man before her, and almost been...
Thinking of this, Lin Yue's face flushed slightly.
Why did she appear so shy? Zhou Fugui glanced at Lin Yue in surprise and continued, "We are criminals, Han Chinese criminals at that, exiled to guard the border and subjected to such bullying. How can we not harbor resentment? Our anger is sky-high. Therefore, taking advantage of the Xiongnu army attacking the three passes, I led my men to escape and intended... intended to defect to you Xiongnu. Would Your Highness Princess Consort be willing to take us in?"
So her blushing was due to the incident on the snowfield? Zhou Fugui suddenly realized, finding it amusing and gazing at her a few more times.
"What a shame," Zhou Fugui thought to himself, "she was covered in blood and filth back then, and I didn't get a good look. Otherwise... like the swan meat that flew away from Feilong Mountain, it's gone again..."
"What are you looking at me for?" Zhou Fugui's shifty gaze made Lin Yue feel secretly angry and ashamed. She shot him a glare and said coldly, "You claim to be Han Chinese and lead your men to defect to our great Xiongnu? Utter nonsense! You fought desperately against our army outside Xuelin City, appearing loyal to Yan, and now you wish to defect to me? Do you take me for a three-year-old child?"
If Lin Yue were that easily deceived, she wouldn't be Lin Yue.
Before coming to this northern frontier, perhaps Lin Yue had been an innocent girl. But after experiencing so much, dancing with wolves every day, Lin Yue's disposition had long since changed.
However, such a brave general, if he were to truly defect, and so young, wouldn't he be a great asset to me? Lin Yue mused.
"Alas..." Zhou Fugui, hearing this, put on an extremely wronged expression. He sighed deeply and explained, "At that time, how could we have known who you were? Would we just stretch out our necks to be axed? We could only fight back desperately. Loyal to Yan? Great Xiongnu Queen..."
"Princess Consort!" Lin Yue interrupted Zhou Fugui, coldly correcting him.
Zhou Fugui's rambling words had touched a sore spot in Lin Yue's heart.
"Oh, Your Highness Princess Consort..." Zhou Fugui dared not speak nonsense anymore. He could only nod and continue, "It is true that I am a Yan general, but that was in the past. Do you know why I was banished to the border?"
"How would I know?" Lin Yue truly wished she could whip this garrulous man to death. Couldn't he just say what he had to say in one go? Hearing his words, she scolded, "Are you going to speak or not? If not, I'll have you fed to the dogs!"
"Again?" Zhou Fugui, enraged, suddenly stood up and glared at Lin Yue, saying, "Since I, Zhou, have come here, my head has already been tied to my belt. What fear do I have of death? Stop trying to threaten me; I won't fall for it. Listen or not; if not, then forget it."
Zhou Fugui's sudden outburst, and the imposing aura he exuded, made Lin Yue step back repeatedly, stunned.
Was he in my hands, or was I in his? Lin Yue thought, inwardly annoyed. Should I just kill him?
But he had indeed shown me mercy on the snowfield. Killing him now would be improper, Lin Yue thought again.
At the same time, Lin Yue felt a sense of familiarity with Zhou Fugui, much like he felt towards her. Moreover, Zhou Fugui claimed to be Han, but his appearance didn't quite match that of a typical Han. These doubts compelled Lin Yue to swallow her anger and say, "Speak, I'm listening."
"My surname is Zhou, my given name is Fugui," Zhou Fugui said, sitting down smugly. "Because I killed over two hundred Xianbei enemies, I was banished to guard the border. Would I, therefore, be loyal to Yan or the Xiongnu? I wish to destroy Yan and kill all the Xianbei people in the world."
What Zhou Fugui said was not entirely false.
Zhou Fugui harbored no loyalty to the Great Yan Kingdom. Everything he had done up until now was out of desperation. However, the claim to destroy Yan was somewhat an exaggeration, bordering on overestimation of his own strength.
As for killing all the Xianbei people in the world, that was naturally to gain Lin Yue's trust and flatter her.
Could Murong Huiying be killed? Could Murong Tengge be killed? Could their relatives be killed? Zhou Fugui was not a person who indiscriminately killed the innocent. Not all Xianbei people in the world were as detestable as Aerbugu and others.
"Killed over two hundred Xianbei people?" Lin Yue was shocked and walked up to Zhou Fugui, asking suspiciously, "You killed over two hundred Xianbei people and are still alive? You're lying to me again. How could I fall for your trick?"
"What do you mean 'again'?" Zhou Fugui looked at Lin Yue and said frankly, "Every word I speak is true, with no falsehood. The world knows this. Believe it or not. Furthermore, I sincerely lead my troops to defect to you Xiongnu, yet you question me so... interrogating me back and forth. Wouldn't this chill the hearts of loyal and righteous individuals like us?"
"Oh, is that really so?" Lin Yue couldn't help but find it amusing. Such a person, full of lies, had the nerve to call himself loyal and righteous?
Lin Yue coldly appraised Zhou Fugui from head to toe, then walked behind him. While gently stroking his broad shoulders, she asked, "If it's true, then why are you disguised as one of our great Xiongnu people? Wouldn't coming to defect in Yan attire show more sincerity?"
Zhou Fugui felt a faint fragrance wafting towards him, making him feel somewhat weak. He stood up, turned to face Lin Yue, and skillfully removed her hands from his shoulders, smiling as he said, "Great Princess Consort of the Xiongnu, what you're saying is rather unreasonable. We are in conflict, and yet I lead my troops to defect to you. If I were still in Yan attire, could I have even reached this place?"
At this point, Zhou Fugui could only continue his prevarication. Whether Lin Yue believed him or not was up to fate.
Most likely, she wouldn't believe him, Zhou Fugui thought inwardly. Perhaps he should capture her now and use her as a hostage to see if he could escape the Xiongnu army.
"Alas, Zhou... Fugui, is that right?" After a long while, Lin Yue looked at Zhou Fugui and sighed lightly, saying, "Whether you are telling the truth or not, you showed me mercy before. You treated my wounds and could be considered my savior. How could I, Lin Yue, be someone who repays kindness with enmity? How about this: if you wish to stay, then stay. Serve under me."
"You are called Lin Yue?" Zhou Fugui asked, stunned.
"Yes, what? You don't want to?" Lin Yue retorted.
"Since I have come to defect, how dare I be picky?" Zhou Fugui smiled upon hearing this, knelt before Lin Yue on one knee, placed his hand over his chest, performed a Xiongnu salute, and said loudly, "A Yan person, this Yan person is from Yan Yun, not from the Yan Kingdom... Yan person Zhou Fugui is willing to serve Your Highness Great Princess Consort of the Xiongnu with all his might!"
Under these circumstances, Zhou Fugui had no choice but to commit to this path. He would temporarily humble himself under Lin Yue's command and then seek an opportunity to escape.
In reality, if Zhou Fugui didn't have so many attachments in Youzhou, what difference would it make whether he was a Yan soldier or a Xiongnu soldier?
If Zhou Fugui were alone, with no attachments, he could act as he pleased. Even charging into battle for Lin Yue would not be out of the question.
Lin Yue, Zhou Fugui felt a degree of good feeling towards her. Moreover, the Xiongnu Tu Ge tribe was related to his mother's kin.
"General Zhou, please rise. There's no need for such formality," Lin Yue said, patting Zhou's shoulder, and then added, "You have traveled a great distance. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Please stay and taste the delicacies of our great Xiongnu."
Lin Yue subdued people in three ways: first, by her appearance, demeanor, personal charm, and temperament; second, by wealth, power, and status; third, by coercion and inducement. If none of these worked, then she would kill them...
In this regard, Lin Yue was quite confident.
"Thank you, Great Princess Consort of the Xiongnu..." Zhou Fugui rose, shaking his head, and said, "I am a lowly person. How dare I dine with the noble Great Princess Consort of the Xiongnu? Moreover, I have already eaten."
Lin Yue was the Princess Consort of the Xiongnu Duoyong Department. She was a married woman, and staying too long in her tent would attract gossip and perhaps even unnecessary disaster.
Therefore, Zhou Fugui planned to take his leave and depart from this place of troubles as soon as possible.
"Grumble... grumble..." At this moment, Zhou Fugui's rumbling stomach betrayed him.
"Pfft!" Lin Yue, who had been speaking with a stern face, couldn't help but laugh. She looked at Zhou Fugui and chuckled, "Now I believe that General Zhou is a Han person."
"Why so?" Zhou Fugui asked, surprised.
"Only you Han people have so many superfluous rituals," Lin Yue replied. "We Xiongnu are not like that. It's just a meal, why bother with so much fuss? You Han people place too much emphasis on the rites of superiority and inferiority, and also... the distinction between men and women..."
"Oh? So, the Great Princess Consort of the Xiongnu is well-versed in our Han customs?" Zhou Fugui asked curiously. "May I ask where the Great Princess Consort learned them from?"
"A Princess Consort is a Princess Consort. What 'Great Princess Consort of the Xiongnu' is strange..." Lin Yue did not answer, but merely shot Zhou Fugui a glare and clapped her hands, ordering the female slaves to serve the food.
"And also, you are glib-tongued," Lin Yue then said, smiling at Zhou Fugui.