"Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in war!"
"All of you run! Have you not eaten enough? If you slack off again, there will be no dinner tonight."
"Split into two teams, two against two, begin!"
"Attack your opponent with any move you can think of. Defeat them, and you'll have lamb for dinner tonight. Otherwise, it's coarse grains for you!"
"Have the enemy already attacked, and you're still waiting for orders? Ambush, do you understand ambush?"
"Oh, a brave lad, you dare to ambush me? Well done, a roasted lamb leg for you!"
The next morning, Zhou Fugui roused all three thousand of his men, urging them to train relentlessly.
Zhou Fugui knew very well that a great battle was imminent, one that would be incredibly bloody, brutal, and a matter of life and death. Sharpening your spear at the last moment might not be entirely useless, but training was better than no training at all; it might save a few more lives in the upcoming conflict.
Zhou Fugui was no immortal, but an ordinary mortal. He couldn't guarantee that every single one of them would survive. All he could do was his best. As for the outcome, it would be left to fate, including his own.
Whenever he thought of this, Zhou Fugui's heart would ache, and he would become restless.
The training continued until dusk. Just as Zhou Fugui was about to recall his troops to set up camp and cook dinner, Li Qing arrived and said, "Camp Commander, someone wishes to see you."
"Who is it? I'm not seeing anyone," Zhou Fugui replied irritably.
He had spent the entire day supervising the soldiers' training and had trained alongside them. He was utterly exhausted and just wanted to eat something quickly and then collapse. He had no energy to entertain any guests.
"Oh, that won't do at all," Li Qing whispered a few words in Zhou Fugui's ear.
"Is it just that the Princess sent someone? Why are you acting like a thief?" Zhou Fugui said loudly after giving Li Qing a sideways glance.
*We're not afraid of being thieves, but you yourself are the one with a guilty conscience,* Li Qing grumbled inwardly, feeling wronged.
"Dian Meng, Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Pan Jianguo, you four take some men back. Those who sweated a lot today, reward them with more meat, and they can even have some wine, but no getting drunk," Zhou Fugui ordered, then walked out.
If Murong Bole and the others intended to use Zhou Fugui's White Tiger Camp as a suicide squad, then Zhou Fugui had made an outrageous demand, asking for everything the camp lacked. Murong Bole and his ilk had agreed to everything, so now Zhou Fugui's White Tiger Camp was piled high with supplies.
*What else does she want her people to do? Invite me out for entertainment again?* Zhou Fugui muttered as he walked.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Deputy General Zhou! Su Heba, Banner General of the Fire Phoenix Camp, has been dispatched by the Eldest Aunt." As Zhou Fugui arrived outside the camp, over a dozen men from the Fire Phoenix Camp stood at the entrance. A sturdy Hu man in his thirties, upon seeing Zhou Fugui, placed his hand on his chest, bowed, and then said with a smile, "I am Su Heba, here by the Princess's order."
Even a common soldier from the Fire Phoenix Camp was considered superior. They were typically arrogant in front of other Xianbei people, let alone Han Chinese like Zhou Fugui. Yet, Su Heba was now fawning over him, treating him as if he were family, which puzzled Zhou Fugui.
"So it's Banner Lord Su Heba. Forgive my discourtesy, forgive my discourtesy," Zhou Fugui replied with a smile. "May I know what the Princess wishes to convey to this humble subordinate?"
"The Eldest Aunt said that Deputy General Zhou dedicates himself to our Great Yan, training the soldiers diligently. Thus, she has ordered me to come and reward you all," Su Heba replied with a smile.
"Bring them all over," Su Heba then instructed his subordinates.
Su Heba's men then led over a large group of cattle and sheep, along with delicacies and fine wine.
*Reward for what Great Yan? This is all for survival...* Zhou Fugui cursed inwardly but then smiled and said, "Thank you, Princess, thank you, Su... what is it... Banner Lord?"
"Your subordinate is Su Heba!" Su Heba said with a smile.
"Ah, yes, yes, Banner Lord Su Heba, thank you very much. However, please take a message back to the Princess for me: as a general of Great Yan, is it not my duty to be loyal to the King and the country? Xiao Qing? Why are you here?" Zhou Fugui asked in surprise as he suddenly spotted Xiao Qing in the crowd while he was spouting pleasantries.
He hadn't seen Xiao Qing for two days and had actually been missing her.
"Brother Zhou, the Princess has sent me to serve you," Xiao Qing said with a smile, holding a food box.
*One moment she tells me not to marry her, the next she sends her to serve me?* Zhou Fugui was utterly bewildered by Murong Huiying's intentions.
*A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea,* he thought, *this saying is too true.*
"In that case, Banner Lord Su Heba, I shall not keep you any longer," Zhou Fugui said to Su Heba. "Someone, attend to Banner Lord Su... Heba and his men with drinks and meat, and send them off with full satisfaction!"
"Heh heh, Deputy General Zhou, you go ahead with your business," Su Heba said to Zhou Fugui with a knowing glance and a smile.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Brother Fugui..." Inside the tent, Xiao Qing opened the food box, placed the dishes out, and said to Zhou Fugui, "Many of these were cooked by the Princess herself. Brother Fugui, the Princess... she truly treats you differently."
Most of the delicacies were fish, far more than the two small fish Zhou Fugui had caught.
"Don't talk about her for now, tell me about yourself. How are you doing under the Princess?" Zhou Fugui asked, leaning back in his military tent, watching the busy Xiao Qing.
*The daughters of the prairie are indeed different from those of Han China,* Zhou Fugui thought. *Prairie daughters dare to love and hate. If they like you, they won't hide it; they express it directly.*
*Could the Princess have feelings for me?* Zhou Fugui secretly speculated.
*Impossible, absolutely impossible!* Zhou Fugui immediately dismissed the thought. At most, Murong Huiying had some slight affection for him, or perhaps...?
In any case, Zhou Fugui couldn't quite explain it himself, but he was sure it wasn't love.
*Who is Murong Huiying? She is the beloved daughter of Murong Bole, the Left Virtuous King of Great Yan, and has been bestowed the title of Princess Ziyue by the imperial court. Zhou Fugui, on the other hand, is Han Chinese, from a poor family in Yan Yun. The two of them are separated by a deep chasm, a distance of more than miles.*
*In this world, it's not just Xia where aristocratic families and noble clans rule everything; Yan is much the same. How could a daughter from an aristocratic or noble family marry into a commoner's household? Moreover, Murong Huiying is of royal blood.*
*Putting all that aside for now, would Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying fall in love after meeting only a few times?*
*Love at first sight, falling for each other at the second, and deciding to spend their lives together at the third – these things do happen in this world, but they are extremely rare.*
*In any case, Zhou Fugui would never believe it.*
"The Princess treats me well, so I am living quite comfortably," Xiao Qing replied softly.
"Oh, that's good, that's good," Zhou Fugui nodded.
Murong Huiying's kindness to Xiao Qing earned her another point in Zhou Fugui's estimation.
"But..." Xiao Qing suddenly turned to look at Zhou Fugui, her eyes welling up with tears, and said, "But Xiao Qing still wants to serve Brother Fugui."
"Alas, Xiao Qing..." Zhou Fugui said with a gentle smile, shaking his head. "This... this cannot last. This military camp cannot accommodate you. Moreover, I will soon be going into battle, and weapons have no eyes. No one can predict the outcome. You must already know all of this, right?"
Xiao Qing nodded tearfully.
For those who were servants, the best outcome was to find a good master. And Murong Huiying was a master who treated her subordinates well, or so Zhou Fugui believed.
"Brother Fugui, you are a good person..." Xiao Qing stepped forward, took something from her neck, and said, "This is a longevity lock. Xiao Qing has worn it since childhood. It has accompanied Xiao Qing for over ten years. Now I give it to you. It will surely protect Brother Fugui from harm and ensure your safety."
It was a jade longevity lock, intricately carved with a golden carp leaping from the water. Zhou Fugui held it in his hand, feeling its warmth and smoothness, still carrying Xiao Qing's body heat and fragrance.
"Thank you, Miss Xiao Qing. Please help me put it on," Zhou Fugui had intended to refuse, but his heart ached at the thought of rejecting Xiao Qing's kindness, so he said with a smile.
"Mmm..." Seeing that Zhou Fugui had accepted, Xiao Qing felt relieved. She took the longevity lock, knelt behind Zhou Fugui, and carefully and meticulously hung it around his neck.
"Brother Fugui..." After Xiao Qing had fastened the longevity lock, she suddenly leaned behind Zhou Fugui and began to cry.
Zhou Fugui and Xiao Qing had been strangers before, yet Zhou Fugui had intervened without hesitation, risking his life to save her. In the days that followed, it was Zhou Fugui's protection that had kept Xiao Qing safe. Naturally, Xiao Qing was exceptionally grateful to him.
And here was Zhou Fugui, such a young and handsome man, about to go into battle, his fate uncertain. Thinking of this, Xiao Qing's sorrow overflowed, and she couldn't help but sob quietly.
There were, of course, other reasons for this.
"Xiao Qing..." Zhou Fugui felt the tears from Xiao Qing on the back of his neck and comforted her, "Life and death are decreed by fate, and fortune by heaven. I am blessed and will surely be protected. You don't need to worry too much."
"Mmm, Brother Fugui, you must be careful. Xiao Qing will pray to the heavens for you every day," Xiao Qing whispered.
"Heh heh, thank you, Miss Xiao Qing..." Zhou Fugui chuckled. "Alright, let's not talk about these things anymore. Quickly bring the Princess's meal. I want to taste her cooking and see how it compares to yours!"
"Pfft!" Xiao Qing couldn't help but giggle. "I am a servant, how can I compare to the Princess's cooking?"
After saying this, Xiao Qing went to get the food. However, by the time she returned, Zhou Fugui had already fallen asleep, leaning against the tent.
Seeing this, Xiao Qing sighed softly and gently covered Zhou Fugui with a piece of felt.