"Zhou Fugui, are you determined to get involved in this dispute?" Hu Yan Sheng suddenly asked Zhou Fugui from inside the tent.
Hu Yan Sheng was extremely annoyed. He was desperately trying to pull Zhou Fugui away, while Zhou Fugui was stubbornly pushing forward. Either stay in the grasslands and never return, or return without accepting any official position from the Yan court. Hu Yan Sheng would do anything to protect Zhou Fugui's safety.
"Thank you, Great Governor..." Zhou Fugui replied after a long silence. "But do I have any other choice?"
"Yes, resign your post and return to the fields with me," Hu Yan Sheng said, looking at Zhou Fugui.
"Run away again?" Zhou Fugui shook his head upon hearing this. "Great Governor, evasion is always the worst option. A swift horse cannot leap ten paces; a tired horse pulling a cart for ten days achieves success through perseverance. Although the danger is immense now, isn't it also an opportunity for me?"
"Youngster, don't you know the principle of retreating three steps and conserving strength?" Hu Yan Sheng glared at Zhou Fugui.
"Retreat three steps and conserve strength? Until when? And until when do we conserve strength? Life is short, and I truly don't wish to waste my time."
Hu Yan Sheng stared at Zhou Fugui. After a long while, he sighed, "Perhaps I am truly old. They say a newborn calf fears no tiger. Do as you wish, but I have a word for you."
"Great Governor, I am all ears!" Zhou Fugui nodded.
"It's the same as before: as long as cattle and sheep are alive, they will always have pastures to graze." Hu Yan Sheng said, looking at Zhou Fugui.
"Thank you for your wise words, Great Governor!" Zhou Fugui, kneeling on the ground, cupped his hands over his head and thanked him sincerely.
Hu Yan Sheng's concern was evident. At this moment, Zhou Fugui felt extremely ashamed for having harbored murderous intentions towards Hu Yan Sheng.
"Take this imperial decree and claim your reward," Hu Yan Sheng nodded and pointed to the imperial decree on the low table.
"Great Governor, when do we depart? I shall see you off," Zhou Fugui said, feeling ashamed.
"No need. General Yong Wu is establishing a new army, and with myriad affairs each day, he has no time to concern himself with an old man like me," Hu Yan Sheng waved his hand.
...
Wind whips the face, yellow sand flies. West of Xiao and Han, one sheds worldly dust. The esteemed envoy comes from ancient Xuzhou, his renown shakes He, Tong, Yin, and Guan right. Ten miles along the pavilion, drums and horns sound; a river of beautiful scenery, bright flowers and willows. North, facing the soaring structure, rolling yellow waters; South, gazing at green mountains like Mount Xian. East wind blows open the brocade valley; emerald waters churn like grape wine. In the court, grass grows, wine cups are raised; travelers come like clouds, their mouths sealed tight.
In the Qin and Han dynasties, a pavilion was set up every ten li, and later a smaller pavilion every five li, for travelers. Friends and relatives often bid farewell at these places when parting.
It was still the same at this time. Outside Xue Lin City, there were also ten-li pavilions and five-li short pavilions. Generally, officials who were demoted by the court, if they passed by and stayed for a while, would have simple wine and food set out by friends, relatives, former subordinates, and disciples for a farewell.
The road of the ten-li pavilion, parting travelers' tears fly. To see you off at the ten-li pavilion, break off a branch of the Ba Bridge willow!
The so-called long or short pavilions were just ordinary pavilions built of stone or wood, with square or hexagonal hip roofs. They became places of farewell, and even places to vent dissatisfaction, melancholy, sadness, and regret.
"Great Governor, take care!"
"Great Governor, take care!"
Hu Yan Sheng had forbidden Zhou Fugui from seeing him off, but Zhou Fugui insisted on accompanying him to the ten-li pavilion. Leading five hundred personal guards, Zhou Fugui stood at the ten-li pavilion. He watched as dozens of attendants surrounded a carriage and gradually moved away. A sense of melancholy suddenly arose in his heart. He cupped his hands and stood by the roadside, respectfully sending Hu Yan Sheng off.
Pi E and Hu Jue also performed the ritual of sending off with five hundred personal guards.
Even though Hu Yan Sheng had dominated the border for decades, commanding great influence, his retirement was so desolate that it moved people to pity.
"Hey, Great Governor, you still haven't told me who you are!" After a long while, Zhou Fugui remembered that Hu Yan Sheng had never said who he was, or whose relation he was to Zhou Fugui. He then shouted towards the carriage.
But the carriage had already driven far away.
...
"Great Governor, General Zhou is still there." Hu Yan Sheng's carriage had traveled quite a distance. Tu Ti Si looked back and saw Zhou Fugui still standing at the ten-li pavilion, now a small black dot. He said to Hu Yan Sheng with some sympathy, "Alas, this child... his womanly kindness will prevent him from achieving great things."
Hu Yan Sheng, with his hands tucked into his sleeves and his eyes slightly closed, leaned back in the carriage and said, "If Zhou Fugui were a bit more ruthless, a bit more vicious, and had directly taken Hu Yan Sheng's head to claim credit, it would have been much better than taking Hu Yan Sheng's retirement decree to claim merit, and the merit would have been much greater. But Zhou Fugui could not bring himself to do it.
"Great Governor, why didn't you tell General Zhou the truth?" Tu Ti Si asked again.
"With his intelligence, couldn't he guess?" Hu Yan Sheng retorted.
Tu Ti Si fell silent. After walking for a while, he asked, "Great Governor, where are we going?"
"Ling Feng Fortress," Hu Yan Sheng replied.
In fact, Hu Yan Sheng was not as desolate as Zhou Fugui imagined. He had operated in Yanbei for many years, so how could he not have his own territory? Ling Feng Fortress was Hu Yan Sheng's territory, or rather, his base, where he had loyal household soldiers and fierce warriors.
...
"Haha, the old fellow left on his own? He's quite sensible, saving us the trouble of taking action," Hou Zhong Luo said, taking the retirement decree from Hu Yan Sheng that Zhou Fugui handed over. He threw it aside without even looking at it, patted Zhou Fugui's shoulder, and laughed, "I already knew about this matter. General Yong Wu, you've worked hard for this, but it was all in vain."
"Eunuch official, what you say is very true," Zhou Fugui nodded and smiled. "I was just worrying about how to end his life, but I never expected..."
Since he had an agenda, he had to maintain an appearance of loyalty. Otherwise, his plans would fall through.
"Hmm..." Hou Zhong Luo also nodded and handed Zhou Fugui another imperial decree. "General Yong Wu, take a look."
Zhou Fugui took the imperial decree, examined it carefully, and immediately put on an expression of surprise and great joy. He cupped his hands and said, "In charge of the Three Passes? Congratulations, Eunuch official Hou! Eunuch official Hou, I must shamelessly ask for a cup of celebratory wine today."
The imperial decree ordered Hou Zhong Luo to take overall command of all the troops in the Three Passes.
"With Xue Lin City and the other two passes falling into the hands of you, this eunuch who is neither male nor female, treacherous and incompetent, they will sooner or later fall into the hands of others," Zhou Fugui said, smiling subserviently on the surface, but cursing inwardly.
However, the more chaotic the Great Yan Kingdom became, the better it was for Zhou Fugui. The greater the chaos, the more he could fish in troubled waters and achieve his own ambitions.
Therefore, Zhou Fugui aided and abetted the evil, fawning over Hou Zhong Luo.
"Haha..." Hou Zhong Luo was overjoyed and laughed heartily. "How could I possibly withhold a cup of celebratory wine from you? However, Fugui, I told you that if you killed that old fellow, you would be the master of the border. But as for matters of the court... I have no control over that. Alas, the division between the northern and Han people, I also detest it. I have broken my word, I have broken my word."
"What are you talking about, Eunuch official?" Zhou Fugui said with full sincerity and a serious expression. "As the saying goes, it is good to shelter under a big tree. Relying on you, this big tree, Eunuch official, allows me to live a carefree life. The master of the Three Passes? I... I am too young for that. Only someone as talented, strategically brilliant, and steady as you, Eunuch official, can bear the responsibility of the Three Passes."
"What utter nonsense!" Zhou Fugui cursed inwardly, while maintaining a sincere facade. "You must have planned this long ago, right? Whether I could kill Hu Yan Sheng or not, the master of the Three Passes would never be mine. Even if I were to barely sit on the throne of the commander of the Three Passes, I would surely be a puppet. I would get no credit for good deeds, and only infamy would fall upon me. Since that's the case, it's better to stay in my own small plot of land and live a carefree life."
"Hahahaha..." Hou Zhong Luo laughed heartily again. "I have heard that you, Zhou Fugui, are eloquent. Your tongue is more agile and sweeter than a parrot's. Fugui, you've said one thing wrong. This big tree is not me, but Her Highness the Empress. Her Highness the Empress values you, so you will still lead troops, still train troops, and must train elite and strong soldiers for me to meet any future needs."
"What future needs?" Zhou Fugui asked, feigning confusion.
"Return to the capital!" Hou Zhong Luo replied.
"Return to the capital?" Zhou Fugui asked in surprise.
"Yes, return to the capital," Hou Zhong Luo nodded.
The Empress of the Great Yan, Murong Qing, could not control the troops in the capital, or rather, could not fully control them. So, she found an alternative: seize the military power of the Great Governor of the border, Hu Yan Sheng, have it controlled by her confidants, and then enter the capital to "reinforce the king."
One must know that the border troops of Xue Lin City and the other two passes were the most elite forces of the Great Yan. With frequent border incidents, the border armies were brave and skilled in battle, far superior to the pampered young soldiers in the capital.
If Zhou Fugui led the troops back to the capital to "reinforce the king," or rather, to contend for the throne, if he won, it would be Hou Zhong Luo's merit. If he lost, Hou Zhong Luo could still use the troops of Xue Lin City and the other two passes as a base, with great room for maneuver. If pushed, he could even declare himself king.
It must be said that Hou Zhong Luo's plan was brilliant! He was treating Zhou Fugui as a fool once again. However, Zhou Fugui was not someone who could be easily manipulated.
At this moment, although Murong Qing of the Great Yan could control everything, such a major event on the border could not be concealed for long. Once Murong Xi learned of the change of command at the border, he would naturally understand that Murong Qing and others had made their move.
"Fugui..." Hou Zhong Luo, in order to win over Zhou Fugui, struck while the iron was hot and said, "You see, I am an incomplete man... I lack someone to serve me..."
What? Zhou Fugui was stunned.
Pretending to be loyal and fawning was just a temporary measure. But becoming a slave to three masters would ruin his reputation.