"Director Hou, if you have any instructions, please give them. I will not disobey."
At the banquet hosted by the supervising official of the Yan border army, Hou Zhongluo, to welcome and celebrate Zhou Fugui's achievements, Zhou Fugui stood up, extricated himself from the embrace of four Parthian maidens, and said to Hou Zhongluo with clasped fists.
The four beautiful Parthian maidens sat around Zhou Fugui, pouring wine and serving him dishes. Their bodies occasionally brushed against his, making him blush and feel uncomfortable.
If this were in a private room... But in public, Zhou Fugui, fearing he would make a fool of himself, simply asked directly.
"Good, I like the straightforward nature of General Yongwu," Hou Zhongluo said, waving his hand for everyone to leave. Only Hou Zhongluo and Zhou Fugui remained in the room.
"General Yongwu, how have I treated you?" Hou Zhongluo asked Zhou Fugui.
"The kindness of patronage is as heavy as a mountain," Zhou Fugui replied insincerely.
"Hmm, I am quite pleased that General Yongwu speaks so," Hou Zhongluo said, staring intently at Zhou Fugui. "However, it was not I who truly promoted you."
"You mean...?" Zhou Fugui pointed to the sky upon hearing this.
"No! It is the Empress of our Great Yan!" Hou Zhongluo shook his head.
"It was Her Highness the Empress?" Zhou Fugui asked with some surprise.
The imperial decree that Hou Zhongluo held earlier was an imperial edict, not an imperial consort's decree. An imperial edict, of course, represented the will of Emperor Murong Xi of Great Yan, not Empress Murong Qing, unless Empress Murong Qing had already taken control of the Yan court or Emperor Murong Xi.
"The Emperor neglects state affairs and the Empress holds the primary position," Hou Zhongluo whispered to Zhou Fugui about the current situation in the Yan court.
The reality was indeed so. Emperor Yan Murong Xi neglected state affairs, and Empress Murong Qing controlled them. Her faction was spread throughout the court and the country, and all political matters of Great Yan originated from the inner chambers, except for one thing: military power. The military power of Great Yan was still held by Emperor Yan Murong Xi and King Zuo Xian Murong Bole. In other words, the majority of Great Yan's troops were still under the control of Murong Xi and Murong Bole.
Military power is the empire itself. How could Murong Xi not know this? If he didn't, he wouldn't have been able to hold onto his empire for so long.
"General Yongwu should understand my meaning now, shouldn't he?" Hou Zhongluo asked again.
I don't understand, but I finally understand that you are Empress Murong Qing's person, Zhou Fugui muttered to himself. Then, looking up at the sky, he bowed: "Your subject, from a thousand miles away, thanks Her Highness the Empress for her heavenly grace!"
Regardless of the reason, if Empress Murong Qing had saved Zhou Fugui's life, how could Zhou Fugui forget it?
"Good, very good, it was not in vain that Her Highness the Empress valued you," Hou Zhongluo nodded and then asked, "Her Highness the Empress asks, has Zhou Fugui forgotten his words from that day?"
"Your subject dares not!" Zhou Fugui replied.
"Her Highness the Empress also asks, in times of urgency, is Zhou Fugui willing to go?" Hou Zhongluo asked again.
"I will go through fire and water without hesitation!" Zhou Fugui replied without hesitation.
On the surface, Zhou Fugui's expression remained calm and his heart steady, but inwardly, it was churning like boiling water.
What Hou Zhongluo relayed from Empress Murong Qing, meaning Murong Qing's intentions, was very clear: she was about to take a risky gamble or was cornered.
What kind of situation is this? Zhou Fugui sighed inwardly again. He had just returned and was already being drawn into such a vortex, unable to escape.
Empress Murong Qing's words also implied another meaning: Zhou Fugui had to make a choice, or what she had given him would be taken back, with interest, endangering the lives of Zhou Fugui, his entire family, and his clan.
Being the General Yongwu, the wandering man, the cavalry captain, the border general, was not easy. It required Zhou Fugui to risk his life.
If he got involved in this conflict, any slight mistake could lead to the eternal damnation of Zhou Fugui, his family, his clan, and his neighbors.
However, risk and reward went hand in hand. Most things in the world were like this. Coupled with Empress Murong Qing's life-saving grace, Zhou Fugui decided to work for her. While working for her, he would take the opportunity to expand his own influence. Therefore, Zhou Fugui agreed to the matter without hesitation, at least on the surface.
"General Yongwu..." Hou Zhongluo was overjoyed and stood up. He affectionately squeezed Zhou Fugui's body, giving him goosebumps, and then asked, "How do you plan to proceed?"
"As ordered by the heavens, your subordinate obeys. However, your subordinate has less than a thousand men. What can be done?" Zhou Fugui replied.
"You are the General Yongwu and a key border general, of course you can lead troops..." Hou Zhongluo looked at Zhou Fugui, trying to discern his true thoughts, and then said calmly, "If you lack manpower, I will grant you permission to expand your army."
"Expand the army?" Zhou Fugui asked with surprise and joy. "But what about the Grand Commandant... will he allow it?"
Expanding his troops, refining soldiers, and building a formidable force to establish himself was Zhou Fugui's long-held wish. Now that it might be realized, how could he not be ecstatic? However, the commander of the border was Hu Yan Sheng, not Hou Zhongluo. Hou Zhongluo was merely a supervising official. No matter how great a supervising official's power, it could not surpass that of the commander, at least not when it came to commanding troops. Hence Zhou Fugui's question.
"This is the second task Her Highness the Empress wants you to do," Hou Zhongluo said to Zhou Fugui, slowly and ominously. "Kill him, and you will be the commander of the border army."
Anyone can make grand statements. What matters is actual action, that is, a pledge of allegiance. Killing the border commander Hu Yan Sheng was Zhou Fugui's pledge of allegiance.
Zhou Fugui was stunned, a chill pervading his body as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
........
"The Great General returns to the manor!"
Zhou Fugui was enfeoffed as a fourth-rank official of the court, and naturally, he would have a residence. However, the residence of a fourth-rank official or general could not be called a "manor." The term "manor" was reserved for the residences of the Three Dukes or Prince of the Commandery. Nevertheless, the doorkeepers, servants, and maids, in order to flatter their masters, would call their residences manors, and this would not attract much attention. The court would turn a blind eye to it. If this was the case in You Prefecture, it was even more so on the border.
With a residence, there came doorkeepers, servants, and maids. As Zhou Fugui, lost in thought and feeling dejected, was being led to his own residence, the doorkeeper outside loudly announced.
"Who are you people?" Zhou Fugui, preoccupied with his thoughts, was startled by the shout and asked absentmindedly and somewhat irritably.
"The Great General is back? May the Great General be blessed with eternal peace!" Bu San and Bu Si rushed out upon hearing this and bowed and smiled obsequiously at Zhou Fugui.
"The Great General's might shakes the northern desert, his fame spreads far and wide!" Bu San said with a nervous glance at Pi E and Hu Jue, who stood behind Zhou Fugui, and then flattered him with a smile.
"The Great General wields his saber and leaps onto his horse, striking fear into the hearts of the weak. The barbarians tremble at the mere mention of his name!" Bu Si also said with a surprised glance at Pi E and Hu Jue, flattering him with a smile.
As the dignified General Yongwu of Great Yan, he naturally had personal guards and attendants. Pi E and Hu Jue had become the leaders of these personal guards.
The two stood with their swords at their sides, standing behind Zhou Fugui like two guardian deities, drawing everyone's curious glances.
"Alright, alright..." Zhou Fugui interrupted their effusive flattery and asked, "You... you two? Why are you here?"
"Oh, Great General, didn't you entrust my brothers to look after them before you left?" Bu San replied.
"The Great General has been rewarded by the court and has a manor. My brothers have taken it upon themselves to be the stewards and deputy stewards of the General's Manor..." Bu Si replied.
"Steward? Deputy Steward?" Zhou Fugui said with a wry smile. "Forget it, whatever you want to call yourselves, so be it. Liu Xia, Fei Yun... and that unreliable young Taoist priest?"
Bu San and Bu Si were overjoyed. Zhou Fugui's words meant he agreed to his brothers being the stewards of the General's Manor. Following such a young general meant that they would prosper. How could Bu San and Bu Si not be happy?
"Great General, rest assured, everything at home is fine. The Second Madam, the Third Madam, they are all doing well. Elder Immortal Ge locks himself in his room every day, saying he's tinkering with... what was it?"
"Second Madam, Third Madam, the Great General has returned! Come out and welcome the guest!" Bu Si then shouted into the residence.
What welcome guests? These two common folk are treating my place like what? Zhou Fugui muttered to himself, then suddenly remembered something. He turned and grabbed Bu Si by the collar and asked, "What second madam, third madam? What do you mean?"
"Oh, Great General, the Second Madam, the Third Madam, of course, they are... Fourth... Madam, Fifth... Madam, Sixth... Madam, Seventh... Madam? Oh my, this humble servant congratulates the Great General! The Great General's vigor is still strong... You have four more?" Bu Si was suddenly speechless and astonished upon seeing four beautiful exotic girls descend from the carriage.
"The Great General is majestic and indeed formidable!" Bu San also praised heartily.
Bu San and Bu Si, the two brothers, smacked their lips in envy.
Hou Zhongluo had also given Zhou Fugui four Parthian girls, including Elisa. Zhou Fugui had no choice but to accept them and could only take them home for now.
Hou Zhongluo also said that these four exotic girls had the ability to "charm the bed." But at this moment, did Zhou Fugui have the mood for such things?
The matters weighed on Zhou Fugui like dark clouds, making him breathless.
"Damn it, what second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh madam? And who is the first madam? If you dare to talk nonsense again, you two will have to go and be stewards somewhere else..." Zhou Fugui threw off Bu Si and said angrily.
"Your subordinate obeys!" Bu San said, bowing and scraping, and then asked, "Who are these four young ladies to you?"
"No matter who they are, let's settle them down first," Zhou Fugui said after glancing at Elisa and the other three Parthian girls.
"Great General, what about them?" Bu Si asked, "But what about Miss Liu Xia and Miss Fei Yun?"
"Hmm, that's right, you still know they are young ladies..." Zhou Fugui glared at Bu Si and said, "I haven't done anything to them, how can you call them by such names so casually?"
"General, don't you want Liu Xia and Fei Yun anymore?" At this moment, Liu Xia and Fei Yun came out, their eyes welling up with tears, and asked.