Houqiu County in Donghai Commandery, during the Spring and Autumn period, belonged to the State of Lu. During the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu established Houqiu County. Houqiu County was a large county, originally with a large population and fertile land. However, due to prolonged warfare, its population drastically decreased, fields lay barren, and all industries withered. Currently, Houqiu County has only over five thousand households, fewer than twenty thousand people.
The city walls of Houqiu County, affected by war and years of disrepair, were in ruins. There were many gaps in the walls, allowing entry into the city without passing through the gates. Only one of the two gates of Houqiu County remained, making it a mere formality.
"Enter the city!" ordered Zhou Fugui, the Marquis of Pingliang of the Great Yan Kingdom, General Jianzhong, Grand Governor of Donghai, and Prefect of Donghai Commandery, as his army arrived at Houqiu County.
Following the rebellion in Houqiu County and surrounding areas, Zhou Fugui led his troops to Houqiu County. Together with Suo Dacheng's forces, they launched a pincer attack, swiftly defeating the rebelling soldiers. These were not true soldiers, but rather the populace. The weapons they wielded were varied, with most being unarmed, making them no match for the army. A single charge from the Snow Bear Army's cavalry dispersed the mob.
As the army arrived, the rebels in Houqiu County scattered like startled birds, with many killed and captured.
With the clang of armor and the thundering of hooves, the Snow Bear Army, escorting Zhou Fugui, marched into the city.
"Execute!" A general of the Snow Bear Army, mounted on his horse, coldly ordered the beheading of over a hundred rebels, their hands bound behind their backs and kneeling by the moat.
Over a hundred gleaming sabers were raised high and then brought down with force. The sounds of blades slicing through flesh and necks snapping echoed continuously, blood splattering to create a mist of crimson. Over a hundred heads fell, rolling into the moat with dull thuds, creating small ripples. In moments, the moat's water was stained red, its gentle waves resembling a river of blood from purgatory.
Many soldiers of the Snow Bear Army used nets to retrieve the heads from the water, intending to display them on the city gate as a deterrent to further rebellions.
Alas! Zhou Fugui, leading his army into the city, cast a glance and sighed inwardly, his heart aching, or rather, his wallet feeling the pain.
The industries of Donghai Commandery were waiting to be revived, and the most crucial, or primary, aspect of this revival was its people. Due to war and plague, the population of Houqiu County had already drastically declined. Now, with the rebellion, many more had perished. How could Zhou Fugui not feel heartbroken?
Yet, Zhou Fugui had no choice but to act, to issue such an order as Grand Governor.
These over a hundred rebels had taken advantage of the chaos to loot, extort, and menace the populace, and commit heinous acts against women. Zhou Fugui had personally witnessed some of their villainies. They might have been ordinary citizens before, but now they had become bandits in a chaotic world. Therefore, Zhou Fugui had no choice but to execute them as a warning.
People change, and human nature changes. Suppressed desires or evil thoughts, once unleashed, can spread like a flood. In times of chaos, government and laws become mere formalities, with some officials even colluding with the bandits, forming a wicked alliance.
How to restore order and peace to Donghai Commandery was another difficult problem before Zhou Fugui.
"You... why are you so cruel?" After the heads of over a hundred people fell and their headless bodies lay scattered by the moat, Miss Huang Daimai, the eldest daughter of the Huang family, who rode alongside Zhou Fugui into the city, covered her face, too frightened to look, yet exclaimed loudly in protest.
Before arriving, she had boasted of her worldly experience and fearlessness, but the bloody scene had terrified her to her core, her face pale. Her heart ached, and she strongly disapproved of Zhou Fugui's actions.
"You dare question my orders?" Zhou Fugui, already annoyed and depressed, glared at Huang Daimai and retorted angrily.
"I... I..." Zhou Fugui's scowl and the imposing demeanor of the Grand Governor of Donghai instantly silenced Huang Daimai. She felt wronged, her eyes welling up with tears, on the verge of weeping, "I..."
"If you have something to say, say it quietly or ask later. Speaking so loudly embarrasses me..." Seeing her distress, Zhou Fugui softened his tone and said quietly to Huang Daimai.
Upon hearing this, Huang Daimai immediately switched from tears to a smile. She leaned closer to Zhou Fugui and whispered in his ear, "I understand. This humble maiden has offended the Grand Governor's authority. Please forgive me... Do those people also need to be killed?"
The two horses drew close, nudging each other. They spoke intimately for a long time, whispering. Those who knew understood, but those who didn't might have thought Zhou Fugui was infatuated and Huang Daimai his kept boy...
Zhou Fugui glanced back at the thousands of rebels being led into the city bound and replied coldly, "Do you believe I will boil them alive?"
"I believe it! I believe it!" Huang Daimai's voice immediately rose with indignation, her eyebrows knitting. "Such barbarity! Are you not afraid of shortening your lifespan?"
Legend had it that Zhou Fugui was a benevolent and compassionate man. But seeing him in person, he was a fierce and cruel individual. Although these thousands of rebels were guilty, did they all deserve to die? How many people did he intend to kill in Houqiu County?
Even a mass murderer wouldn't be this extreme. His previous actions were merely a facade, a pretense of loving his people, but in reality, he was a cold-blooded butcher. Huang Daimai even thought so.
However, his previous acts of saving people did not seem feigned. Then was this current act also a pretense? At this moment, Huang Daimai's mind was in utter confusion, her heart in turmoil...
"Heh heh, will these few people shorten my lifespan?" Zhou Fugui grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. However, his face was covered by a cloth, so only the outline of his white teeth could be seen... He chuckled at Huang Daimai, "I have killed countless people in the past. According to you, wouldn't my lifespan have been exhausted long ago?"
After speaking, Zhou Fugui ignored Huang Daimai, flicked his horsewhip, and galloped into Houqiu County. Pi E, Hu Jue, and others followed closely on horseback, leaving Huang Daimai alone at the city gate.
Although Zhou Fugui's face was covered, his exposed eyes and eyebrows, his sharp sword-like brows and piercing eyes, were striking. But in Huang Daimai's eyes now, they appeared ferocious and terrifying.
Huang Daimai wanted to leave and return to her brother. But after some thought, she gritted her teeth and also rode into the city.
...
"Boom... Boom... Boom..."
"Wuuu... Wuuu... Wuuu..."
Outside the county office in Houqiu County, a large open space was filled with the sound of the killing drum and the blare of the killing horn. The remaining residents of Houqiu County were driven to this area.
In the open space stood a three-tiered platform. Yan Pinglianghou, General Jianzhong, Grand Governor of Donghai, Prefect of Donghai Commandery, Zhou Fugui, fully armored, stood on the platform, his hand resting on a heavy sword. To his sides were Pi E, Hu Jue, and other personal guards, their helmets and armor in place. To the left of the platform were over a hundred large cauldrons, with dry firewood burning fiercely beneath them, heating the cauldrons to a bubbling simmer. The cauldrons were filled with clear water.
To the left of the platform knelt over three thousand captured rebels. To the right were the wealthy households and gentry of Houqiu County, who had been "invited," as well as many spectators. Almost everyone remaining in Houqiu County had been driven to this location.
It seemed Zhou Fugui's words of boiling people alive were not mere jest, but were about to be realized. The over three thousand rebels kneeling below were the ones to be boiled alive, a prospect that filled everyone with dread. Huang Daimai stood to the side, heartbroken, her sorrow stemming from the realization that she had misjudged the man.
Such a large-scale execution was unprecedented in Houqiu County's history.
However, what puzzled the people of Houqiu County immensely was that everyone present, including Zhou Fugui and his five thousand cavalry, was forced to wear a white cloth over their faces.
"Do you know your crimes?" As the drum and horn music ceased, Zhou Fugui walked to the edge of the platform, his hand on his sword, and coldly asked the rebels.
"Grand Governor, we are innocent!" Most of the rebels looked ashen-faced, their heads bowed, not daring to respond. Only one elderly rebel dared to ask.
"Rebelling, looting, ravishing women, and you dare claim innocence?" Zhou Fugui said coldly.
"Grand Governor, we had no food, no water, no medicine. We were merely seeking a mouthful to eat and medicine for our ailments!" the old man said, his voice growing louder and angrier.
"Hmph, by taking advantage of the chaos to rebel and riot, you expect to have food and medicine?" Zhou Fugui snorted upon hearing this.
"Grand Governor, if not for this, how could we common people survive?" the old man retorted.
"Hmph!" Zhou Fugui seemed to have no reply. He then pointed his sword at the wealthy households and gentry of Houqiu County and asked, "Do you know your crimes?"
"Grand Governor, what crime have we committed?" a wealthy man asked in astonishment.
"Closing your doors, refusing food to the desperate, even shooting them, and you dare claim innocence?" Zhou Fugui asked coldly.
When the plague broke out and the rebellion occurred, the wealthy households and gentry of Houqiu County had all shut their doors, refusing entry to anyone begging for food or medicine. This alone was bad enough, but they fortified their estates or villages, attacking or injuring citizens who came begging for food or medicine. Zhou Fugui was naturally furious upon learning of this.
However, was it appropriate to boil them alive solely for this?
"Grand Governor, we did not kill any innocent citizens. We merely drove them away and frightened them. We did not harm anyone. Furthermore, if we had let them in, our entire families would have been endangered!" the wealthy man argued defiantly.
So, this Grand Governor of Hu origin, this Han traitor, intended to eliminate everyone at once? They were not invited to watch a spectacle... Many wealthy households and gentry suddenly realized the truth.
"Heh heh, if you don't want anyone to know, don't do it!" Zhou Fugui sneered, "Good and evil will eventually be repaid. Today's consequences are the result of your actions yesterday."
"Guards!" Zhou Fugui then ignored them and ordered loudly.
At Zhou Fugui's command, countless armored soldiers of the Snow Bear Army swarmed forward, heading towards the simmering large iron cauldrons.