As autumn deepened and winter loomed, the biting north wind grew fiercer, and the weather turned increasingly cold.
The patter of autumn rain on the iron armor produced a rhythmic "drip, drip" sound. Amidst the autumn rain, a detachment of Xiongnu cavalry, escorting Lin Yue, the consort of Prince of the Duo Yong Jian Tribe, moved forward silently. Among the Xiongnu cavalry was Zhou Fugui.
The yellow wind swirled, and the vast, desolate expanse of the great desert stretched across the grasslands. In the distance lay a suffocating silence.
Zhou Fugui, who had recently become a proud Xiongnu soldier, reached out to feel the raindrops in the air, a sense of inexplicable emotion stirring within him.
Three years prior, Zhou Fugui had joined the army by enlisting with the Yan Dynasty court. He had subsequently campaigned in the south, fighting desperately for survival, only to find himself imprisoned and nearly meeting a fatal end. Now, he struggled on the frontier of the Great Yan Kingdom, his sole aim to one day return to Youzhou, the capital of Yan, to be enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a general, thereby improving his family's circumstances. He also intended to grandly marry Princess Murong Huiying of Ziyue, from the Great Yan Kingdom. As for whether he could bring honor to his ancestors, Zhou Fugui no longer gave it a second thought.
Even if Zhou Fugui became a great general of the Great Yan Kingdom, for a Han person, it would not be a matter of bringing honor to ancestors. For a descendant of the Wei state, which was extinguished by Yan, it was certainly not a matter of bringing honor to ancestors. As the saying goes, being a Han traitor was not an easy role to play.
He struggled for survival, for himself, for his family, and for Murong Huiying, who loved him deeply.
Thinking of Murong Huiying, Zhou Fugui's heart was filled with a wave of sweetness and warmth. But at the same time, he felt a pang of annoyance. The reason was that at this very moment, Zhou Fugui had ended up as a captain under Lin Yue, the consort of Prince of the Xiongnu Duo Yong Jian Tribe...
Although Zhou Fugui outwardly served the Xiongnu, his heart remained with Yan. Yet, how could he easily extricate himself?
For some unknown reason, Lin Yue insisted on bringing Zhou Fugui wherever she went, as if afraid he would escape or leave without a word, guarding him as if he were a thief.
As for Zhou Fugui's two hundred subordinates, they naturally became hostages in Lin Yue's hands.
"General Zhunjin, where are we going?"
With Lin Yue in front and Zhunjin leading the troops behind, escorting her, Zhou Fugui struck up a conversation with Zhunjin, the Right General of Lin Yue's Xiongnu contingent.
After a few days, Zhou Fugui had learned that Zhunjin was Lin Yue's most trusted general.
Zhou Fugui was quite interested in this taciturn general, Lin Yue's most trusted subordinate.
To know oneself and one's enemy, one could win a hundred battles. Zhou Fugui would eventually have to fight the Xiongnu army, so understanding more about the enemy could only be beneficial.
"Hmph, where the master goes, does the slave dare to question?" Zhunjin sneered at Zhou Fugui and snorted coldly.
"Hmph, slave?" Zhou Fugui was displeased upon hearing the word "slave," so he also snorted and said, "I, Zhou, am a general under the Princess Consort. What is this talk of being a slave?"
"Under the Great Chieftain, all under the Princess Consort are slaves!" For some reason, Zhunjin, who was usually taciturn and spoke very little, seemed willing to chat with Zhou Fugui more today.
"Do you barbarians like being slaves so much? Is everyone in the world a slave? What utter nonsense!" Zhou Fugui found the mindset of most people in this world incomprehensible and shook his head dismissively.
"I am Han," Zhunjin said faintly.
"Han?" Zhou Fugui's interest was immediately piqued. He pointed at himself, almost as if to say he was also Han. Of course, Zhou Fugui knew in his heart that he could at most be considered half-Han... Pointing at himself, Zhou Fugui asked, "Are there any Han people surnamed Zhun? Where are you from, General?"
In fact, there were quite a few Han people in the Xiongnu army, so Zhou Fugui was being a little too surprised.
Looking at Zhou Fugui's demeanor, Zhunjin felt utterly speechless. He wondered where this lazy fellow had crawled from.
"Ancient officials guarded the Zhun, taking their titles as their surnames." Zhunjin had not intended to answer Zhou Fugui, but he seemed interested in Zhou Fugui as well, so he replied faintly.
"Ancient officials guarded the Zhun, taking their titles as their surnames? Excellent, that's sophisticated!" Zhou Fugui exclaimed, feeling like he had met an old friend in a foreign land. He praised and then asked again, "Where is Zhun? Is there such a place name in the Nine Provinces? What prefecture and county? The surname Zhun is also rare."
"Why are you blabbering, young man? There are many things in the world you don't know." Zhunjin looked at Zhou Fugui as if he were a little annoyed.
*I don't have the surname Zhun,* Zhunjin thought to himself. *Why does this boy resemble that person so much? And he is surnamed Zhou? Are there such coincidences in the world?*
Since learning Zhou Fugui's name, Zhunjin had been continuously astonished. The moment he learned Zhou Fugui's name and saw him, the tragic scenes of that year flashed through Zhunjin's mind.
"Oh, I see. Then, I, Zhou, will seek enlightenment from General Zhunjin!" Zhou Fugui said.
"Captain Zhou, you must have a profound family heritage. I dare not accept the word 'enlightenment'," Zhunjin replied, looking at Zhou Fugui. "Where are you from?"
"I am from Luming Township, Youzhou," Zhou Fugui answered. "My family is very poor, and I am an honest and upright villager from Luming Township, Youzhou. What family heritage or profound knowledge can I speak of?"
"Who else is in your family?" Zhunjin asked again.
"My father and elder brother have passed away. There are only my mother, elder sister-in-law, younger sister, and nephew left," Zhou Fugui replied.
"What is your father's name...?" Zhunjin inquired.
"General Zhunjin, are you conducting a census? Or are you still distrustful of this junior officer? General Zhunjin, the First Prince Consort has said nothing, so why do you need to meddle?" Zhou Fugui said, feeling somewhat puzzled and displeased.
Zhou Fugui naturally knew his deceased father's name; it was written on the family's ancestral tablet.
"Hmph, what is there for me not to trust?" Zhunjin snorted. "Anyone who threatens the Princess Consort, I will not let go."
"Who exactly is the First Princess Consort to you?" Zhou Fugui asked curiously, seeing Zhunjin's exasperated demeanor.
*Is Lin Yue his illegitimate daughter, or his little lover?* Zhou Fugui wondered inwardly. She was acting like a fierce protector, but their ages didn't seem right. Of course, if Lin Yue were his illegitimate daughter, their ages would be suitable.
"Boy, if you dare to speak nonsense again, beware of losing your head!" Zhunjin said coldly.
Zhunjin was loyal to his master, but Zhou Fugui was making wild guesses. If Zhunjin knew the messy thoughts in Zhou Fugui's mind, would he draw his sword and attack on the spot?
However, if Zhunjin were to draw his sword and attack, he would certainly not be Zhou Fugui's match. Zhunjin was well aware of this.
A heavy sword was both long and heavy. Those who could wield such a weapon were by no means easy to deal with. Zhunjin was undoubtedly skilled in martial arts, but he was over fifty years old and far from his prime, whereas Zhou Fugui was in the prime of his youth.
However, if Zhunjin and Zhou Fugui were to engage in a duel, the outcome was still uncertain, because Zhunjin had decades of bloody combat experience, something Zhou Fugui could not compare to.
"Many have sought to take my head. You are just one more," Zhou Fugui said with a cold laugh, unafraid.
"Oh, really? So young, yet you have accumulated so many enemies?" Zhunjin asked faintly.
"In times of chaos, people are like blades of grass," Zhou Fugui replied. "It's not necessarily enemies; even a small unleavened cake can claim a life."
Hearing this, Zhunjin narrowed his eyes and observed Zhou Fugui. He was only in his early twenties, yet he had a look of having experienced great hardships.
Zhunjin felt a sense of surprise.
"The Princess Consort is calling you. Hurry over," Lin Yue, who was walking ahead, raised her hand. Seeing this, Zhunjin said to Zhou Fugui.
"Oh..." Zhou Fugui responded and rode forward, inwardly puzzled. *Did that formidable Xiongnu woman beckon me with just a slight raise of her hand?*
"Consort of the Great Prince..." Zhou Fugui rode to Lin Yue's side and bowed slightly on horseback.
"Are you doing this on purpose?" Lin Yue glanced at Zhou Fugui with her beautiful eyes and asked.
"I dare not. It is merely a sign of respect," Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
"Why do I feel like you're mocking me?" Lin Yue said. "You can call me Lin Yue."
"Lin Yue? That is the Princess Consort's title. I truly dare not address you so informally," Zhou Fugui shook his head.
"Why are you Han people so complicated? Our Great Xiongnu do not have so many rules," Lin Yue chuckled. "How did you know it was a title?"
"Isn't it obvious? Is there anyone in the world surnamed Lin?" Zhou Fugui also smiled. "Lin Yue, are you Princess Lin Yue? May I ask your name and surname, Princess Consort? If you are unwilling to say, then consider me as if I never asked. However, Princess Consort, where exactly are you from? I am somewhat curious about that. If you really don't want to say, then consider my words as farts... It is rare for such a refined person to emerge from the extremely harsh and cold northern lands! Princess Consort Lin Yue, there is one more thing I am puzzled about..."
Zhou Fugui's incessant chatter greatly angered and scorned the surrounding guards, while also leaving them greatly surprised.
The guards were all respectful and dared not act carelessly in front of Lin Yue. Yet, this lazy fellow was asking questions and probing Lin Yue relentlessly, truly acting as if he were one of them... The guards were naturally angry and scornful. However, Lin Yue seemed completely unbothered, which astonished them even more.
*It seems that fair-skinned men always win women's favor, and Lin Yue is no exception,* the guards thought to themselves.
Zhunjin, with a blank expression, slowly rode his horse, his hand resting on his saber.
"What else are you puzzled about?" Lin Yue asked in a low voice, suppressing a smile.
The people around Lin Yue were either timid and submissive, like wooden statues, or fierce and rough. None of them were like Zhou Fugui, who was witty and thick-skinned.
Unconsciously, Lin Yue found herself increasingly enjoying conversations with Zhou Fugui.
"It's... forget it, I won't say anymore. Someone is coming ahead," Zhou Fugui thought for a moment and then shook his head.
"What is it?" Zhou Fugui's hesitation piqued Lin Yue's curiosity. Ignoring the dozens of slave generals who were approaching to greet them, she turned to Zhou Fugui and asked.