"Lord of You Prefecture, Zhou Clan, courageous and resolute, he led the charge when the city fell, his merits extraordinary. I humbly request the Emperor's decree to promote him to Tingzhang and General of the Brave Yan Army. Grant him three hundred gold, five hundred silver, twenty thousand cash, and numerous cattle and sheep. All his subordinates shall be rewarded..."
A messenger from Murong Boli loudly recited Murong Boli's military order, shaking his head as he read.
While Murong Boli claimed to be requesting the Emperor's decree, it was in fact he who promoted Zhou Fugui to Tingzhang and camp general. A Tingzhang was a minor military official in Yan.
"Tingzhang Zhou, what? Are you unhappy?" Murong Huiying, who had come with the messenger, asked when she saw Zhou Fugui looking dejected.
Although a Tingzhang was a minor military official in Yan, it was still an official post, which came with a salary. The salary was twenty dan of grain. Coupled with Zhou Fugui's military rank bonus, it was quite substantial. Moreover, Murong Boli's generous rewards were extremely rare for a Han person. Therefore, Zhou Fugui should have been happy and overjoyed, yet he wore a look of deep sorrow and suffering.
"Thank you, Commander, thank you, Princess," Zhou Fugui said with a forced smile.
"Hmph, walk with me," Murong Huiying snorted.
Zhou Fugui glanced at Murong Huiying, then instructed Li Qing and the others, "Distribute the rewards. Give more to the deceased and the wounded."
"Alright, but Commander, won't you keep some for yourself?" Li Qing responded and asked.
Zhou Fugui shook his head, waved his hand, mounted his horse, and galloped after Murong Huiying.
...
"Tingzhang Zhou, most people in the world are greedy. There are countless insatiable and avaricious individuals, yet you... you don't love wealth?"
As Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying rode slowly, they arrived at a beautiful and serene place. Murong Huiying turned to Zhou Fugui and asked.
"Not at all..." Zhou Fugui shook his head. "I, Zhou, also love wealth. How can one survive in this world without money? One would starve to death. But the fallen brothers still appear before my eyes, incessantly asking me, 'Why? Why?' My heart is truly uneasy. Only by giving more to the injured and the families of the fallen brothers can I slightly alleviate the melancholy in my heart."
"How can there be no casualties in war? Tingzhang Zhou, why are you so troubled?" Murong Huiying said, "The success of a general is built on the bones of countless soldiers. Don't you know this saying?"
"That depends on why they died!" Zhou Fugui's voice suddenly rose significantly. "To die for one's country and people is to die for a worthy cause, and one's name can be praised for eternity! But why did they die?"
"You... actually say such things in front of me? Zhou Fugui, you have never considered yourself a subject of Yan," Murong Huiying said angrily.
"If the country cares about me, then I care about the country. You command us to engage in acts of burning, killing, and looting, and that is not my country," Zhou Fugui said indignantly.
"Zhou Fugui!" Murong Huiying directly called Zhou Fugui by name. "Burning, killing, and looting? When two nations are at war, such acts of slaughter are common. Xia killed our Yan people, and I believe you haven't seen it; they are just as fierce. Why are you so indecisive, more so than I, a woman?"
'Didn't you people march south and attack Jiangzuo?' Zhou Fugui grumbled inwardly, then fell silent. Any further words might truly bring disaster. He flicked his whip against his mount, and the horse galloped forward.
"You..." Murong Huiying, seeing this, truly wanted to lash him with her horse whip.
Murong Huiying had never suffered such humiliation since she was born.
Uncle Teng Ge was so right. This fellow is a stubborn mule, and a fussy, woman-like stubborn mule, Murong Huiying grumbled inwardly, then urged her horse to catch up with Zhou Fugui.
"Are you... angry?" For some reason, Murong Huiying began to tread carefully with Zhou Fugui, asking him cautiously.
From the day she was born, Murong Huiying's status was noble, and she was also beautiful and charming. Murong Boli doted on her immensely. Murong Huiying grew up under the care of her parents, aunts, servants, and maids, like a star surrounded by the moon, until now, until Zhou Fugui suddenly appeared.
"Your subordinate dares not!" Zhou Fugui cupped his hands and said. Despite his words, his face showed an expression of disdain and indifference.
"Tingzhang Zhou..." Murong Huiying pretended not to see and said to Zhou Fugui, "I know you... you are heartbroken over the deaths of your fellow villagers."
"Princess..." Murong Huiying's words struck Zhou Fugui's sore spot, and he choked out, "They were all people, ordinary people with families. Their parents, wives, and children were all eagerly awaiting their safe return. But now... If I survive and return, I don't know how I will face them. When two nations go to war, what crime have the common people committed? Are power, land, and wealth truly that important? To the extent of sacrificing the lives of all people under heaven."
"Tingzhang Zhou..." Murong Huiying sighed, "If everyone in the world thought as you do, would the world never have war? Would the world not always be a time of peace and prosperity? But... is that possible?"
"Impossible..." Zhou Fugui said dejectedly, "Power, land, wealth, like delicious minced meat, one becomes addicted once one tastes it. It's like opium, making one unable to stop."
Man is the knife, and I am the fish. Zhou Fugui's fate as fish could not be changed to this day. Perhaps Zhou Fugui would never be able to change it in his entire life.
"Opium? What is that?" Murong Huiying asked in surprise.
"Uh..." Zhou Fugui thought for a moment and said, "It can be said to be a poison. Knowing it is deadly, but once you taste it, you become like a moth flying into a flame."
Poison? Who would knowingly taste a deadly poison? Murong Huiying found it utterly incomprehensible.
"Tingzhang Zhou..." Murong Huiying then said to Zhou Fugui, "Those who accomplish great deeds are all ruthless, yet you..."
"Yet what?" Zhou Fugui retorted. "Are you saying I'm soft-hearted?"
Murong Huiying nodded.
Zhou Fugui spread his hands and gave a bitter smile. "These hands of mine are already stained with blood; they can never be washed clean in this life. Moreover, Princess, I truly have no ambition to achieve great things. I only wish to survive, to return home safely, reunite with my family, then farm the land, find a good wife, get married, have children, and live a life surrounded by grandchildren."
"Pfft!" Murong Huiying couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Zhou Fugui asked with a dark expression.
"I heard that you were jilted before you joined the army," Murong Huiying said with a radiant smile.
Murong Huiying brought up something that made Zhou Fugui quite embarrassed. "That was because they were blind and didn't recognize me, Zhou Fugui!"
The daughters of the grassland are truly forthright, saying whatever comes to mind without regard for others' displeasure, Zhou Fugui thought to himself.
"What's wrong with you, Zhou Fugui?" Murong Huiying laughed even harder. "You're soft-hearted, like a little lady, not as good as me."
"How would your subordinate dare compare himself to the Princess?" Zhou Fugui shook his head. "The Princess says I am soft-hearted, and I have strong objections to that. Soft-heartedness depends on who it's directed at. If it's directed at my enemy, I will not only be unmerciful but also extremely ruthless."
"I know..." Murong Huiying nodded. "You are like the people described in ancient books."
"What kind of people?" Zhou Fugui asked.
"A chivalrous hero, yes, a chivalrous hero, who draws his sword to help those in need, but... what is it?" Murong Huiying couldn't recall the phrase for a moment.
"Chivalrous bone and tender heart? Thank you for the compliment, Princess!" Zhou Fugui said gratefully.
"Pah, who said you have a chivalrous bone and tender heart? You have thick skin indeed," Murong Huiying scoffed.
"Haha, a thick-skinned little lamb." Talking and laughing with the straightforward Murong Huiying, Zhou Fugui's heavy heart finally felt a little lighter, and a smile appeared on his face.
"You have a chivalrous bone, but your intestines..." Murong Huiying actually poked Zhou Fugui's chest with her jade finger and asked with a laugh, "I don't know what kind of schemes are brewing inside you."
They had dismounted and were talking by the river, their horses leisurely grazing on the tender spring grass nearby.
Zhou Fugui had been "dragged into service" and followed the Yan army south to fight. It was now the spring of the following year.
Murong Huiying even reached out her small hand and touched Zhou Fugui's chest.
"Fugui, would you like to hear me play the zither?" Murong Huiying suddenly asked in a soft voice.
"Play... the zither?" Zhou Fugui was greatly surprised.
"What? Do we children of the Northern Desert only know how to ride horses and shoot eagles?" Seeing Zhou Fugui's disbelief, Murong Huiying glared at him and chided.
"Hehe, in that case, I shall eagerly listen," Zhou Fugui said with a smile.
"In the sixth month, on Xiangshan Road, by the banks of the Samsung Han River. Phoenix's call should not be far, the departing horse leaving only its whip. A lonely inn in the rain, cicadas in dreams in the riverside city. Xiangyang holds many stories, visit the ancient sages for me. Where famous flowers bloom, the mountains are vibrant; when hospitable guests arrive, the seats are full of spring. Spring flowers, spring moon, spring scenery, famous wine, famous poems, and famous scholars' demeanor. Willows darken, flowers brighten, spring is half-passed; peach blossoms red, plum blossoms white, friends are gathered. Smiling faces bloom along with peach blossoms, joyous laughter echoes as wine cups are raised. A hall full of candlelight welcomes the virtuous lady, a scene of spring light illuminates the curtain. The phoenix sings among green willows, a newly painted scroll; the phoenix lands on a tall phoenix tree, bringing joyous news of spring. On a warm spring morning, colorful phoenixes pair up; with a gentle breeze and bright moon, red apricots adorn the makeup."
A moment later, a melodious tune of "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" echoed by the river. The Purple Moon Princess of Yan played the zither and sang.
Zhou Fugui listened blankly to the melodious zither music and singing, and gazed blankly at Murong Huiying.
"Fugui, you..." After the song ended, Murong Huiying looked at Zhou Fugui with a flushed face.
"Princess, it's getting late. We march south again tomorrow, let's return to camp," Zhou Fugui said indifferently, trying to calm his surging emotions.
At this point, how could Zhou Fugui not understand the affection Princess Murong Huiying of Yan had for him?
But Zhou Fugui dared not accept, nor could he bear it.