"Cengzong, filial impiety has three counts, and the greatest is to leave no heir!" Pavilion Min had selected a marriage for Min Wuyan, but Min Wuyan refused, citing "The Xiongnu are not yet destroyed, how can one speak of family?" Thus, Pavilion Min, somewhat exasperated, said to him, "If I recall correctly, you are nearing thirty years of age, yet you remain unmarried and without offspring. How can you face my deceased elder brother and sister-in-law? You may not care, but I do. My elder brother entrusted you to my care before his death, and I, your uncle, have sworn a solemn oath. Therefore, this marriage proposal, you must accept, whether you wish to or not."
Beneath a large tree, one finds welcome shade. Merchants, without exception, seek the patronage of the powerful and wealthy to ensure their businesses prosper and their fortunes flow. Pavilion Min, hailing from a merchant family, found that noble houses and imperial relatives would not even glance at those from merchant backgrounds. Min Wuyan, however, was the Grand Governor and Great General of Xia Xiangfan, a powerful regional official and a formidable general of the court. Therefore, Pavilion Min had meticulously arranged a marriage for Min Wuyan with a woman from a prominent aristocratic family.
In reality, Pavilion Min was a merchant, while Min Wuyan's parents were simple farmers. When they resided in Hedong Commandery, Pavilion Min held them in low regard, and the two families rarely associated.
"Whose family is the maiden from?" Min Wuyan, leveraging Pavilion Min's mention of his parents, felt compelled to yield and inquired.
At his age, well into his twenties, he was long past the point of marriage. Min Wuyan did not necessarily refuse to marry or have heirs; he simply found himself with no time and no inclination for such matters.
Min Wuyan was fond of Chun Niang. As they spent more time together, their affection deepened, but Min Wuyan knew that due to her status, marriage between them was impossible. At best, she could be taken as a concubine or a lady-in-waiting.
Min Wuyan was not like Zhou Fugui; deeply ingrained beliefs were not easily altered.
"The Huo family of Wuzhong." Pavilion Min exclaimed joyfully, "Your uncle knows you dislike associating with the powerful, but I have heard that the legitimate daughter of the Huo family is gentle, virtuous, and beau—"
"The Huo family of Wuzhong?" Min Wuyan interrupted before Pavilion Min could finish, "Do they not disdain northerners for being boorish?"
Min Wuyan's ancestral home was Hedong Commandery, and he was a returnee from the north.
"Heh heh, times change!" Pavilion Min said with a touch of pride, glancing around before lowering his voice, "Has the court not issued an edict for selections?"
"Uncle!" Min Wuyan understood immediately and said displeased, "This is taking advantage of a dire situation. Yan is determined not to consent!"
...
Donghai Commandery, also known as Tancheng Commandery and Donghui Commandery, is an ancient name for a commandery. It was first established during the Qin Dynasty, with its administrative seat in Tan County. During the Western Han Dynasty, it belonged to the Prefectural Governor of Xuzhou. The Eastern Han Dynasty and the Wei of the Three Kingdoms established Donghai State. It has now been re-established as a commandery, administering over ten counties, namely, Haixi, Longju, Xinle, Quyang, Shuyang, Houqiu, Licheng, Hairen, and Ku County, among others.
Donghai Commandery faces the sea to the east, borders Xuzhou to the west, and the Huai River to the south, making it a contested territory between the north and the south.
During the Han Dynasty and later, Donghai Commandery had a population of approximately 200,000 households, totaling over a million people. Following the Han Dynasty, frequent wars led to a drastic decrease in Donghai Commandery's population. However, at this time, it still boasted a population of five to six hundred thousand, making it one of the more populous commanderies in the Great Yan Kingdom. Furthermore, due to its proximity to the sea, it was also one of the wealthier commanderies in the Great Yan Kingdom.
Foreign trade during the Han Dynasty and afterwards was primarily conducted via land routes, such as the Silk Road in the northwest, the road from Shu to India in the southwest, and the northern grassland Silk Road. However, maritime trade also existed, such as trade with Japan and Goryeo.
"Dong... dong... dong..."
"Woo... woo... woo..."
Murong Hong, the King of Yan in Donghai, rebelled and marched on the capital. After his defeat, he fled by sea to his stronghold, Donghai Commandery. How could the Yan court let Murong Hong off lightly? How could they easily forgive Murong Hong? Thus, four armies, totaling fifty thousand troops, converged on Donghai Commandery. Under the court's authority, the fifty thousand troops were commanded by Marquis Pingliang, General Jianzhong, Zhou Fugui. Zhou Fugui was also enfeoffed as the Prefect of Donghai and the Grand Governor of Donghai, overseeing the troops of Donghai Commandery and its surrounding prefectures.
Zhou Fugui, leading his own Snow Bear Army and other contingents, arrived beneath the walls of Donghai Commandery. He neither attacked nor retreated. Every day, he conducted "armed parades" beneath the city walls... that is, numerous cavalry units galloped back and forth beneath the city, displaying their might, waving banners, and beating gongs and drums, giving the impression of an impending attack. Yet, Zhou Fugui delayed issuing the order to storm the city.
Thus, the commander of the Xianbei army, Mo Hubaba, asked Zhou Fugui, "Grand Governor Zhou, why are you encamped beneath the city and not attacking? Humph, if the rebel Murong Hong escapes, how will you account for yourself to the Empress Dowager?"
The court appointed a Han general to command the three armies, which greatly displeased many of the Xianbei generals. Coupled with Zhou Fugui's persistent delay in issuing the attack order, they assumed he was cowardly. Consequently, the Xianbei generals, both in their expressions and words, showed him little respect, behaving with great insolence.
Zhou Fugui, seated in the central army tent, did not take offense. He looked at Mo Hubaba and the other Xianbei generals and smiled, "Since General Mo Hubaba has volunteered, you shall lead your contingent to attack the city first, and I shall lead the main force to support you, how about that?"
"Ah? Grand Governor Zhou, my troops are all cavalry. Is there any reason in the world for cavalry to attack a city?" Mo Hubaba exclaimed, both angered and flustered.
Everyone knew that the first to attack a city, while potentially earning the greatest merit, was far more likely to suffer heavy losses, even annihilation, and then have the credit for capturing Donghai Commandery and suppressing the rebel taken by others.
Mo Hubaba's intention was obvious: he wished to preserve his strength and let Zhou Fugui's Snow Bear Army attack first, so that they could reap the benefits of the fisherman.
Zhou Fugui naturally understood the logic behind this and would not fall into his trap. Even if the Snow Bear Army could capture Donghai Commandery with minimal losses, Zhou Fugui would not easily order an attack.
The reason was that Zhou Fugui now considered Donghai Commandery his personal possession. What use would it be if Donghai Commandery was utterly destroyed?
Therefore, Zhou Fugui not only wanted to preserve Donghai Commandery but also protect its citizens and everything within it, minimizing any harm. His strategy was to surround the city without attacking, to incite internal strife, and to achieve a self-defeating outcome.
King Murong Hong of Donghai, defeated and like a stray dog, had retreated to Donghai Commandery. This possibility was not nonexistent; in fact, it was highly probable.
"You dare not go? If you dare not, then state it clearly. Why make so many excuses?" Zhou Fugui sneered, "Are all the troops of our Great Yan not primarily cavalry? Are we not to attack cities? General Mo Hubaba, I have been ordered by the Empress Dowager to suppress the rebels. Before I departed, the Empress Dowager said that on military matters, I, the Grand Governor, have the final say. She also said that recently there have been frequent wars, and too many people have died. Therefore, in this campaign to suppress the rebels, if lives can be spared, they should be spared. If fewer lives can be lost, then fewer should be lost. Do you dare defy the Empress Dowager's imperial decree?"
This was Zhou Fugui leveraging the Empress Dowager's authority, or perhaps misrepresenting her wishes. By invoking her name, he caused the Xianbei generals to exchange glances, unsure whether it was true or false. However, regardless of its truth, none dared risk defying an imperial decree.
"Thus, the superior stratagem is to attack plans, the next is to attack alliances, the next is to attack armies, and the worst is to attack cities. The method of attacking cities is a last resort." Grand Governor of Donghai, Commander of the Three Armies of Yan, Zhou Fugui, then cast a cold glance at the assembled Xianbei generals and said, "Do you understand? The rebel Murong Hong is already a turtle in a jar, a dried-up bone in a tomb. He will fall into my hands sooner or later. Why the haste? You were all born of mothers; why send your soldiers to their deaths in vain?"
With Zhou Fugui's words, even some of the more seasoned and cautious Xianbei generals secretly nodded in agreement.
War always involved casualties, but no one was willing to face meaningless death.
"Pan Jian Gui, Ye Li Hu, you two will lead your troops to monitor every movement within the city. Report any activity immediately," Zhou Fugui then ordered.
"Your subordinate obeys the Grand Governor's command!" Generals Pan Jian Gui and Ye Li Hu, casting disdainful glances at the Xianbei generals, loudly accepted the order.
Perhaps the Xianbei generals were brave and ferocious in battle, but when it came to courage combined with strategy, it was still their Lord Zhou, the Grand Governor. The generals of the Snow Bear Army silently thought this in unison.
"Mo Hubaba!" Zhou Fugui then called out to Mo Hubaba.
"Your subordinate is here!" Mo Hubaba, still unconvinced, but not daring to disobey the Grand Governor's command, stepped forward to respond.
"Did you not volunteer yourself? Were you not boasting? I order you to attempt to persuade them to surrender beneath the city. Declare that four classes of people will be spared: those who surrender will not be killed; those who descend from the city will not be killed; those who remain in their homes will not be killed; and those who joined the rebels but have since had a change of heart will not be killed. Furthermore, there are triple rewards: heavy rewards for those who present the city; heavy rewards for those who capture the rebel leader; and heavy rewards for those who comply with the heavenly soldiers. Otherwise, once the city is breached, all will perish together!" Zhou Fugui commanded.
"Your subordinate will obey the order," Mo Hubaba sullenly accepted.
"Military law is established to awe the masses and punish evil to prevent wickedness," Zhou Fugui then stated coldly. "My military law is not a mere decoration. I urge everyone to adhere to it diligently. If you violate military law, I, the Grand Governor, may show leniency, but military law will show no mercy."
Imperial decrees, military laws, and other such means were abundant for Zhou Fugui to employ. If anyone dared to resist and disobey, Zhou Fugui would not hesitate to execute a few to establish his authority.
"Yes!" all the generals responded solemnly.
The generals, especially the Xianbei generals, suddenly felt a chill down their spines. They had almost forgotten that Grand Governor Zhou was a fierce warrior on the battlefield, a demon who killed without mercy.
"You may all withdraw. Go and do what you need to do," Zhou Fugui then waved his hand.
"Yes!"
Thus, the generals left the central army tent, leaving only Zhou Fugui and Li Qing within.
"The Grand Governor's intention is...?" Li Qing asked after the generals had departed, "To wait for someone to offer the city?"
"Mm, do you think it is possible?" Zhou Fugui nodded and retorted.
"Sharing fortune is something most people can do, but sharing hardship... is far rarer," Li Qing said with a slight smile. "Monkeys, they say, live by clinging to trees; when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter."
"When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter? Yong Shou, you speak wisely indeed." Zhou Fugui nodded, "Those scenes from that year are still vivid in my mind."
Yong Shou was Li Qing's courtesy name.