After the battle at Mayue River, Zhou Fugui, with his unwavering loyalty and dedication to the Great Yan, led the charge against the Xia army and achieved great merit. Consequently, he was promoted by Battalion Commander Murong Tengge to be the vanguard of the Courageous Battalion, holding the rank of Squad Leader, capable of commanding ten to several dozen men.
In reality, Zhou Fugui was not driven by pure loyalty or patriotism. Everything he did was for survival, to ensure the continued existence of his fellow villagers.
With blades at his throat, Zhou Fugui had no choice but to resist.
Therefore, Zhou Fugui paid no heed to this so-called Squad Leader position. After Murong Tengge issued his decree, Zhou Fugui spoke to him, "Commander, I have a humble request. May I know if it can be granted?"
"Speak freely," Murong Tengge replied, assuming Zhou Fugui sought wealth or spoils like cattle, sheep, or horses, and smiled at him.
"Can the Commander spare those people?" Zhou Fugui asked after a moment's contemplation, gesturing towards the over two hundred Xia people bound by the river.
The Xia army had retreated, and the Yan army pursued, killing many Xia soldiers and capturing quite a few. Among them were many ordinary Xia civilians, now tied by the river awaiting execution. Zhou Fugui felt a deep pang of compassion.
War was one thing, but the aftermath was another. Zhou Fugui fought on the battlefield to survive, but he could not comprehend or participate in the post-war execution of captives.
"Absolutely not!" Murong Tengge refused after a brief pause.
"Many of them are ordinary civilians, can you not see that? Even if they are part of the Xia army, they have been captured. Why must they be executed?" Zhou Fugui argued, unconvinced.
"Rebels of the Southern Dynasty, resisting the Heavenly Soldiers, shall be executed as a warning and to establish the might of our Great Yan. Do you, a mere Squad Leader, dare to speak out?" Before Murong Tengge could respond, Deputy General Magelang shouted, reprimanding him.
While Murong Tengge favored Zhou Fugui, Magelang and others held him in low regard.
Many Han people had achieved military merits, at most receiving rewards of wealth, cattle, and sheep. Yet, Murong Tengge had directly promoted Zhou Fugui to a leadership position, which displeased Magelang and other Yan generals.
Murong Tengge shook his head at Magelang, signaling him to remain silent. He then approached Zhou Fugui and said, "During a great war, one should not harbor feminine pity. If all the people of the Southern Dynasty were like these individuals resisting the Heavenly Soldiers, how could our Great Yan advance smoothly?"
"Indiscriminate slaughter will only incite the Xia populace to resist with their lives, and that will hinder our progress," Zhou Fugui retorted, still unwilling to accept and wishing to save these unfortunate souls.
"Benevolence?" Murong Tengge shook his head. "Our Great Yan has shown benevolence before, but they did not appreciate it and continued their resistance. Thus, the imperial court has decreed a swift and decisive approach to crush the Xia's will to resist."
"There is no need to say more, you may withdraw," Murong Tengge interrupted, seeing Zhou Fugui open his mouth as if to speak again.
"Execute!"
Moments later, Murong Tengge waved his hand to give the order, and the executioners of the Yan army swung their large blades.
Over two hundred heads fell, and the blood formed small streams that flowed into the Mayue River, dyeing its waters even redder.
"Let's go!"
The newly appointed Squad Leader Zhou Fugui, witnessing the grim scene, felt a profound sadness and internal conflict. Listlessly, he spoke to Xu Mancang, Pan Jianggui, and others.
More than two hundred living souls had perished before Zhou Fugui's eyes. Naturally, he was deeply pained, even unusually angered, yet he could only watch helplessly, utterly powerless.
He was but a piece of meat upon the chopping block, and they were the same. Zhou Fugui thought sadly, it was merely a matter of time.
He pondered with a heavy heart whether his previous actions of killing the enemy were right or wrong. But when the Xia army attacked, should he have simply stretched out his neck to be slaughtered? Zhou Fugui was in a state of extreme contradiction.
Zhou Fugui harbored thoughts of escape, of fleeing this hell on earth and ceasing to witness such horrors.
However, if Zhou Fugui were to flee, he would be a deserter, and the Yan's punishment for deserters was exceptionally brutal. If caught, it meant certain death, a terribly gruesome one at that, and it would implicate his family.
Zhou Fugui found himself in yet another agonizing dilemma.
Xiao Qing tugged at Zhou Fugui's sleeve, her face filled with a mournful expression, as if offering comfort.
...
"May I ask, second brother, where should we go?"
As Zhou Fugui now held a leadership position above his fellow villagers, Wei Xiazi, the physician from Luoyan Village who was adept at shifting allegiances, began addressing him with respect, no longer calling him casually by his given name.
Wei Xiazi was a physician who treated cattle and horses, essentially a veterinarian. After being conscripted, he became a military physician, treating Zhou Fugui and the others like beasts of burden...
Furthermore, Wei Xiazi's eyesight was poor, and he often mistook dying horses for living ones...
Second brother? More like Erlang Shen? If I were Erlang Shen, I'd unleash my Celestial Dog to bite to death all evildoers, Zhou Fugui muttered inwardly, glaring at Wei Shui Xing before saying, "Just wander around. When the time comes, I'll say a few words to get it over with."
Since Zhou Fugui became the vanguard, Albu Gu had ordered him to lead troops on reconnaissance, to gather intelligence on the Xia army's movements, and to find suitable resting places for the main contingent. In essence, he was the scout for the Courageous Battalion.
Albu Gu harbored ill intentions towards Zhou Fugui, and thus assigned the most arduous and dangerous tasks to him and his men.
A few days later, the Courageous Battalion continued its march south, with Zhou Fugui leading a scout squad ahead.
"Where shall we wander?" Xu Mancang inquired. "The scenery to the south is quite pleasant, but not as good as our northern lands."
"That's because you haven't seen the true beauty of Jiangnan, you are ignorant," Pan Jianggui countered.
"Oh? Old Ghost, have you been to Jiangnan?" Zhou Fugui asked.
"Heh heh, I haven't. I heard my father talk about it," Pan Jianggui replied with a smile.
Talent is recognized wherever it goes. Pan Jianggui, who was usually sarcastic and mocking towards others, his鬼脸 (ghostly face) always bearing a sardonic grin, was now smiling warmly at Zhou Fugui.
Winning bets, making money, killing the Hu people, preemptively detecting Xia ambushes, fighting bravely – these deeds commanded respect. At the same time, everyone vaguely felt that Zhou Fugui was truly a fortunate person, and the closer they were to him, the safer they seemed to be. For instance, Corporal Shuan preferred to follow Li Hu, only to meet a tragic end.
"Oh, I've heard, but I've actually seen it myself," Zhou Fugui nodded upon hearing this.
"Seen it yourself? Tell us quickly, what does Jiangnan look like?" Suo Dacheng asked.
Xu Mancang and the others, who had grown up playing with Zhou Fugui, were utterly perplexed. When had Zhou Fugui from Luoyan Village, Lu Ming Township, You Province, ever been to Jiangnan?
"As for Jiangnan..." Zhou Fugui turned and saw Xiao Qing attentively listening to their conversation. He then smiled, "I almost forgot. Although I've been to Jiangnan, I'm not a southerner, but a pure northerner. We have a true resident of the water towns of Jiangnan here, don't we, Xiao Qing?"
Xiao Qing was from Qiantang, Jiangnan.
"I... I... I don't... I don't know." Under everyone's gaze, Xiao Qing did not wish to be as outspoken as Zhou Fugui.
"The so-called scenery of Jiangnan..." Xiao Qing was shy and hesitant to speak, so Zhou Fugui did not press her. He smiled and said, "Never mind, if you have the chance in the future, you can go see for yourselves, can't you?"
"Alas, Fugui," said the blacksmith Yi Jisheng with a sigh, "will we even live to see Jiangnan?"
The battle at Yuema River alone had claimed the lives of many fellow villagers. This meant that many of them would neither see Jiangnan nor return to You Province.
Tragically, they had perished in a foreign land, becoming ghosts in a strange place.
Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, their spirits becoming somber and their hearts heavy.
"Moreover, whether the army... whether the army can cross the river is still uncertain!" Li Qing added.
"What is wrong with all of you?" Zhou Fugui said irritably, "You've ruined my good mood that I finally managed to find. Why speak such disheartening words? Listen carefully to me, I don't care about others, but in my squad, there is no loyalty to the emperor, nor is there a Great Yan. My only wish is to preserve our lives and return to our homeland. That would be victory."
Zhou Fugui's words were treasonous, but at this moment, surrounded by his fellow villagers and close friends, he dared to speak his mind.
"Second brother is right." Zhou Fugui's heartfelt words caused everyone to nod in agreement.
"Flutter!"
At this very moment, a flock of birds suddenly took flight from a dense thicket not far ahead. The birds flew out of the bushes and soared into the distance.
"Someone's there!" Feng Cheng, a hunter from Jizhou, immediately became alert.
Upon hearing this, Dian Meng raised a large shield, placing himself in front of everyone.
The flag commander of the Jizhou Banner had died, and most of the banner soldiers were wounded or killed. The Jizhou Banner was essentially in disarray, so its remaining troops were distributed among the various flags of the Courageous Battalion. Zhou Fugui had seized the opportunity to request Dian Meng and his fellow villager and friend, Feng Cheng.
"How could there be anyone in this desolate wilderness? It might be wild beasts," Xu Mancang muttered.
"I've been hunting and fishing with my father since I was young. Can't I distinguish between humans and beasts?" Feng Cheng retorted angrily, turning to Xu Mancang.
"Why are you glaring at me? Am I wrong?" Xu Mancang, seeing this, also put his hands on his hips and glared back at Feng Cheng with his bull-like eyes.
"Stop your chatter, raise your shields, and be wary of arrows!" Zhou Fugui said, tapping Xu Mancang on the forehead.
After being promoted to vanguard, Zhou Fugui had requisitioned some armaments, including shields, bows, spears, and sabers.
Zhou Fugui then pulled Xiao Qing behind him.
As the Squad Leader had given the order, everyone raised their shields, held their sabers and spears, drew their bows, and fixed their gaze on the thicket ahead.
They stood like men facing a great enemy. After waiting for a long time, there was no movement from the thicket, nor did any arrows fly. Zhou Fugui then signaled the loud-mouthed Xu Mancang to call out.
Xu Mancang nodded, took two steps forward, and with empty hands on his hips, shouted, "Who are the demons and monsters in the woods? Or which birdsong man are you? Your Grandpa Xu is here! Come out quickly and fight Grandpa Xu for three hundred rounds."
"Pffft!" Zhou Fugui and the others were rendered speechless with amusement, but Xiao Qing couldn't help but let out a laugh.