"Zhuo Yue Bow for a treasure bow?" Yi Jisheng spoke of the Zhuo Yue Bow in Zhou Fugui's hands. This bow was gifted by Murong Tengge, considered a fine bow in this world, but far from Zhou Fugui's ideal of a treasure bow.
So Zhou Fugui weighed the Zhuo Yue Bow in his hands and chuckled, "This is considered a treasure bow? You haven't seen a true treasure bow."
"Oh? Banner Lord, this Zhuo Yue Bow of yours isn't even a treasure bow? Then what kind of bows are? Old Yi, though a mere blacksmith from the countryside, knows of the world's treasure bows like the Sunset Bow, Xuanyuan Bow, Shocking Heaven Bow, and Spirit Treasure Bow, all renowned throughout the ages. When strung and loosed, they can shoot incredibly far." Yi Jisheng, having chatted with Zhou Fugui for a while, no longer had to endure training, a task that was killing him. Thus, Yi Jisheng expounded at length, "Old Yi has also heard that in the far north, there is a Tongtian Mountain, and atop it rests a world- trấn giữ divine bow named 'Hui Bing Bow', said to be the number one divine bow under heaven. It can shoot the nine heavens above and all things in the mortal world below. However, Old Yi always thought this was just a legend..."
"Hui Bing Bow? A legend?" Zhou Fugui glared at Yi Jisheng upon hearing this and said, "If it's a legend, then it's nothing but fabricated tales. As for other famous bows... I've never even heard their names. Do you think I can get my hands on them?"
Legends, essentially, were rumors passed down, where a single chopstick could be transmuted into a golden cudgel... Therefore, Zhou Fugui only listened.
"Fugui, you mean... you're not satisfied with the Zhuo Yue Bow and wish to find another good bow?" Yi Jisheng asked.
"Well said, Old Yi, old as you are, you're becoming even more astute!" Zhou Fugui praised, "I not only want to find a good bow for myself, but I also want to improve the gear for my brothers."
"Making bows? Alas, Fugui, re-forging bows and arrows requires materials like ox horns, sinews, bamboo, wood, glue, and lacquer. Putting those aside for now, a top-quality bow cannot be crafted in a short time," Yi Jisheng said.
He was only in his early forties, already considered old? Yi Jisheng grumbled internally. Though his stamina might not match that of the youngsters, he still possessed considerable strength. At the very least, when it came to swinging hammers and anvils, they couldn't compete with him.
"I called you astute, so why are you being foolish again?" Zhou Fugui shook his head and said, "Do I not know that crafting bows and arrows consumes time, effort, and money? I mean to improve the existing bows and arrows. You can do that, can't you?"
"Give me the materials and some men, and it should be possible," Yi Jisheng nodded. "But how would you improve them?"
"Good!" Zhou Fugui decisively dismounted and squatted on the ground, sketching with a twig. "The improvements would be roughly like this. I'll draw you a diagram later."
Even if Zhou Fugui understood the principles, he couldn't create modern compound or competition bows without the right materials, much like a beautiful bride cannot cook without rice. However, he could improve existing bows and arrows, such as by adding sights and rangefinders. Zhou Fugui believed these would far surpass the inferior bows they currently had.
It wasn't just bows and arrows, but also swords, spears, shields, and armor. Especially iron armor, which he certainly wouldn't have time to forge from scratch. Zhou Fugui would have to shamelessly pester the Yan Army's Commander before the Military Affairs Department, or even go to the Supreme Commander Murong Tengge.
"Banner Lord Fugui is indeed an extraordinary person, truly one cannot judge a person by their appearance, nor a sea by a single ladle," Yi Jisheng praised effusively.
Yi Jisheng's flattery was partly due to Zhou Fugui's brilliant ideas and partly a bid to avoid the torture of training.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Fugui laughed heartily, remounted his horse, and said, "Old Yi, let's continue practicing. A little hardship now might save your life on the battlefield."
Yi Jisheng cursed Zhou Fugui in his heart.
...
"Cease spears, block! Prepare!"
"Thrust, thrust!"
"Kill!"
"Advance and thrust!"
"Kill!"
"Defend left, thrust!"
"Defend right, thrust!"
"Defend down, thrust!"
"Defend left, sidestep, damn it! Don't look around, focus on the opponent."
"Kill, kill, kill!"
One-on-one combat is entirely different from a brawl. Solo duels and fighting in formation are also completely different. Therefore, Zhou Fugui taught them a set of combat techniques. These techniques, honed through countless battles, appeared simple yet were extremely practical, seemingly crude yet exceptionally fierce.
Some people were dismissive, but as the banner lord commanded, they had no choice but to obey.
"Banner General Zhou!"
Just as everyone was sweating profusely and training diligently, Murong Tengge, the commander of the Han army, who had been observing for a long time, finally called out to Zhou Fugui.
"Commander?" Zhou Fugui turned his head and saw Murong Tengge and his retinue of personal guards. He then discarded his training weapon, donned a single garment, and galloped his horse towards Murong Tengge.
"Why have you honored us with your presence?" Zhou Fugui greeted him with a smile.
Zhou Fugui was not foolish; he was well aware of Murong Tengge's kindness towards him.
Zhou Fugui, calling himself an old man, had inadvertently offended Murong Tengge, who's face immediately darkened. "What? Can't this general come?"
The entire Han army is yours, you can go wherever you please, who would dare stop you? Zhou Fugui muttered internally and then smiled, "Commander, your words humble me. If you wished to pluck stars from the sky, I would not only dare not obstruct you, but I would gladly be your ladder."
Shameless little flatterer, at Zhou Fugui's words, everyone around Murong Tengge inwardly cursed.
Arbogu, standing silently beside them, seemed to have an epiphany.
The Han people's tongues are truly formidable, Arbogu thought to himself. To be so young and yet know how to curry favor with a superior! No wonder he had earned Murong Tengge's affection.
Arbogu completely forgot, or perhaps willfully ignored, the events of the Battle of Yuema River.
"You little colt..." Murong Tengge said, his dark face finally showing a hint of a smile. He pointed his whip at the White Tiger Banner and asked with a laugh, "What are they doing?"
"Can't the Commander see?" Zhou Fugui replied, "We are drilling them for formation combat."
"Nonsense, am I blind? Can't I see?" Murong Tengge glared at Zhou Fugui and then asked, "What formation is this, and what techniques are they using? The shouting is shaking the heavens..."
"Commander..." Zhou Fugui spread his hands, "Are you asking about those three? There's no formation. It's just one person's timidity, two become wolves, three become tigers. More people embolden the weak... As for the techniques? They're just things I've fiddled with."
Zhou Fugui didn't want to elaborate to Murong Tengge. In truth, his three-man formation had its own considerations: one person wields a long spear, a halberd, or a hook-and-sickle spear, another holds a shield, and the third is armed with a bow and arrow or short blades. This way, it possesses both offense and defense. Furthermore, two three-man formations, with an additional person, could evolve into the "Seven Stars Dipper Formation," thereby gaining even greater offensive and defensive power.
"Three people become tigers? Well said!" Murong Tengge praised, then looked at Zhou Fugui with suspicion, "Fiddling with it? Little brat, I see them attacking and defending, with considerable order. Are you just fiddling with it?"
"Heh, Commander, I am but a humble man from the countryside. How would I know any formations?" Zhou Fugui still wished to say little.
"Hmm..." Murong Tengge remained half-doubting. "You little brat never speaks the truth. But even if you fiddled with it, to come up with such a marvelous method, you are indeed quite capable, little colt."
"Heh, thank you, Commander!" Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
"Why thank me? I still have to punish you." Murong Tengge said sternly, looking at Zhou Fugui.
"Punish me? Commander, on what grounds? For drilling the soldiers?" Zhou Fugui asked in surprise.
"Hmph, who is this imbecile who spoke of me amending military laws? Utter nonsense!" Zhou Fugui cried out indignously.
Arbogu's face immediately shifted from smugness to shame and indignation...
"Never mind who said it, is it true?" Murong Tengge suppressed a smile and asked Zhou Fugui.
"No!" Zhou Fugui replied loudly and decisively. "How would we dare disobey the army's laws? I merely made some additions and refinements to the existing military laws. Commander, I haven't touched a single word of the army's laws. Besides, a nation has its laws, a family has its rules, the nation has its great laws, and the family has its small laws. Small laws must be subordinate to great laws. Is this also wrong?"
"Indeed! Your tongue is quite sharp, hmph, glib-tongued." Zhou Fugui's explanation was so reasonable that Murong Tengge nodded with a degree of satisfaction. "Regarding the military laws, consider this little colt pardoned. However, I still have a question."
Murong Tengge was quite pleased with Zhou Fugui's diligent training of the soldiers.
What were the enlisted soldiers of the Han army? They were a rabble, an army meant for sending to death, or for building bridges, paving roads, and escorting supplies. As the commander of the Han army, Murong Tengge was not happy at all, leading nothing but a pack of misfits. There was nothing to be proud of.
If every banner in the army was like Zhou Fugui's, perhaps they could achieve something and bring glory to Murong Tengge.
"What other questions does the Commander have?" Zhou Fugui asked.
"An army trained for a thousand days is used for a single moment. To be frank, the army will set off soon. Will what you're doing be of any use?" Murong Tengge asked.
"Alas, I believe in the principle that even sharpening a spear at the last moment is better than nothing!" Zhou Fugui sighed.
"Haha..." Murong Tengge burst into laughter. "To save your life? You are still too young. Such words should not be spoken aloud!"
"Alas, Commander, it is true that I am young and ignorant of state affairs. However, Commander, I also understand a principle: only the living can kill enemies; the dead cannot." Zhou Fugui sighed again.
"Haha..." Murong Tengge burst into laughter once more.
"Commander, my banner is short of money, grain, horses, and weapons. In short, we lack everything. Would you perhaps..." Zhou Fugui then asked, pushing his luck.
"...Murong Tengge."