On the great road from Danyang to Guangling Commandery, a troop of Xia soldiers and a group of imposters disguised as Xia soldiers were traveling quietly. What was truly astonishing was that both sides had seen through each other's identities, yet they coexisted peacefully. The generals of both sides rode side-by-side, chatting and laughing, appearing quite amicable.
It must be said that this was a marvel, or rather, a beautiful scene within this cruel war.
"Why did you save me?"
Min Wuyan, a Xia army commander, rode his white horse alongside Zhou Fugui, the Yan army's White Tiger Camp commander. Min Wuyan glanced at Zhou Fugui and suddenly asked.
"Because you're handsome!" Zhou Fugui laughed.
Min Wuyan's handsome face instantly darkened.
Does he have a penchant for men? Min Wuyan thought disdainfully.
"I was merely jesting, General. Why the long face?" Zhou Fugui quickly said, "General, you are a man of exceptional talent. It would be a pity for you to die in the wilderness."
"Do you truly mean that?" Min Wuyan asked.
Zhou Fugui nodded.
This was indeed Zhou Fugui's genuine thought at the time, with no ulterior motives.
"You shouldn't have saved me," Min Wuyan sighed after a moment of silence.
Min Wuyan's troops were pursuing the defeated Yan army when they happened upon a group of Xia soldiers abandoned in a mountain hollow. Upon learning that the leader of the Yan ambush was an old acquaintance, Zhou Fugui, he was at a loss.
During the Battle of Yueshe River outside Xiapi, Min Wuyan was severely wounded after fierce fighting, but he was saved by Zhou Fugui and recuperated at Longtan Temple. During his recovery, Min Wuyan learned the truth of the matter.
Min Wuyan was a Xia general, and Zhou Fugui was a Yan general. They should have been sworn enemies, seeing each other as mortal foes. Yet, Zhou Fugui had saved Min Wuyan. Min Wuyan was unsure whether to be grateful to him or to continue being his enemy.
From the perspective of national righteousness, Min Wuyan should have set aside personal favors for the greater cause. However, at this very moment, Min Wuyan could not bring himself to hate Zhou Fugui, let alone fight him.
What moved Min Wuyan the most was that he had previously cursed Zhou Fugui relentlessly, yet Zhou Fugui not only bore no ill will but had also come to his rescue.
"I saved you, and that's that. What is there to say about whether I should have or not?" Zhou Fugui shook his head.
"Mm..." Min Wuyan nodded. "A drop of water given in kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring, let alone the kindness of saving a life! However, I am unable to repay you. Not only that, but the barbarians are cruel, invading our homeland, killing our people, and destroying our ancestral temples. Every man of our Xia nation is filled with righteous indignation. Therefore, I must continue to be your enemy from now on, fighting you to the death, without end!"
"Fight you to the death, without end?" Zhou Fugui was stunned. "Do I look like a barbarian to you?"
"Hmph, what do you say?" Min Wuyan snorted. "Those who serve as Han traitors are even more detestable!"
"This is like kicking the matchmaker away after the bride is married; it is ungrateful!" Zhou Fugui was enraged. "Do you think I want to be this so-called Han traitor? I was forced into it! When one is under another's roof, one must bow their head. What choice do we have?"
"Stone can be broken, but its hardness cannot be taken away; cinnabar can be ground, but its redness cannot be taken away!" Min Wuyan coldly snorted. "A resolute scholar or a benevolent person would not kill themselves to harm benevolence, but would die to achieve it. You are merely afraid of death and have bowed to the enemy."
"Go to hell with your dying to achieve benevolence and bowing to the enemy..." Zhou Fugui cursed and said, "If we don't bow to the enemy, what then? Should we all die for these so-called ideals of dying to achieve benevolence?"
"Death is death, what is there to fear? Death leads to eternal fame in history, isn't that glorious?" Min Wuyan again coldly snorted.
"Good, good, you are right. We should all die and have our names recorded in history?" Zhou Fugui said exasperatedly. "But after we die, what will become of our families? We may find release in death, but our families will suffer endless pain and hardship."
"You have a family?" Min Wuyan asked.
"Nonsense, I wasn't born from a rock. I have an elderly mother, an elder brother, an elder sister-in-law, and a younger sister. Alas, General Min, if I don't bow to the enemy, my family will be implicated. This is a matter of utmost helplessness!" Zhou Fugui sighed.
"Mm, Zhou Fugui, is it? Zhou Fugui, why don't you abandon the darkness and embrace the light today?" Min Wuyan felt that Zhou Fugui was not beyond redemption and persuaded him to surrender. "If you can abandon the darkness and embrace the light, and uphold righteousness to resist the barbarians, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? All the people in the world will admire you greatly, and your name, Zhou Fugui, will spread far and wide."
"Aren't you spouting nonsense again?" Zhou Fugui glared at Min Wuyan. "Can you guarantee the safety of myself, my brothers, and our families? If so, I will lead my troops to surrender. Do you have that capability? If not, then let's not talk about it."
"I am merely a mere captain, I do not have such great authority!" Min Wuyan also glared at Zhou Fugui. "It seems I am destined to be your enemy."
So he's just a captain? To make such a grand show, I thought you were a real general, Zhou Fugui muttered inwardly. "I do not wish to be your enemy, but you insist on coming to my doorstep, so I can only meet force with force and block the water with earth."
As they spoke, they arrived at a fork in the road.
"Will we be enemies today?" Zhou Fugui asked Min Wuyan.
"As for today's events, I will pretend I saw nothing. We will settle our differences on the battlefield in the future," Min Wuyan replied.
"Very well, a journey of a thousand miles must end. I bid you farewell," Zhou Fugui cupped his fists. "I shall take my leave. General Min need not see me off."
Min Wuyan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly dismounted and knelt on one knee before Zhou Fugui.
"Ah? General Min, what are you doing?" Zhou Fugui hastily dismounted and helped Min Wuyan up.
"This is to thank you for saving my life. Your life-saving grace can only be repaid in the next life," Min Wuyan said coldly after standing up. "In this life, if we meet on the battlefield, I will show no mercy."
"It's easy to say, easy to say," Zhou Fugui cupped his fists and smiled. "It is yet unknown who will emerge victorious! General Min, take care. I bid you farewell."
"You too, take care!" Min Wuyan also cupped his fists.
The two "reluctantly parted," and an observer would have thought them to be close friends saying goodbye.
"Brother Fugui, take care!" Min Wuyan thought to himself as he watched Zhou Fugui's troops gradually depart.
This was the first time Min Wuyan had not engaged in combat with barbarians and their lackeys. Another important reason why Min Wuyan did not wish to fight Zhou Fugui at this moment was that Zhou Fugui treated the captured Xia soldiers kindly. Apart from killing those who resisted, the rest were allowed to live. This was extremely rare in the fierce warfare between the Yan and Xia forces.
It was fortunate that Hong Wuji was not nearby. Given his animosity towards Zhou Fugui, a fight to the death would have ensued.
Hong Wuji had his own matters to attend to and was not with Min Wuyan.
Could such a person be the murderer who massacred Danyang Village? Min Wuyan was filled with confusion.
.......
Good rain knows its season,
It springs forth when spring arrives.
With the wind it infiltrates the night,
Moistening things silently.
The country path is dark with clouds,
By the river, a boat's lamp shines alone.
At dawn, look where it's red and wet,
Flowers are heavy in the Brocade City.
The spring rain was like silk, drizzling, fine and dense, nourishing all things on earth. The spring rain washed away the remnants of winter. All things gradually awakened under the caress of the spring wind and rain. Spring rain is as precious as oil, nourishing the crops and foretelling a bountiful harvest in autumn.
But while the spring rain is precious oil to the farmer, travelers detest its mud. In the fifth year of Yan Yongping, the third year of Xia Yuanjia, this spring rain was also incredibly bleak for Yan.
The Battle of Niuzhu ended in a great defeat for the Yan army, a rout for a thousand li. Of the over six hundred thousand troops, only a little over a hundred thousand escaped back. The rest either died, surrendered, fled into the deep mountains, or scattered and disappeared. The hundred thousand who escaped were almost all disarmed, dispirited, and walked in the spring rain, on muddy roads. Due to lack of food and clothing, many collapsed by the roadside and died, unnoticed. The survivors walked on, their faces numb, like walking corpses, the scene along the way like a living hell.
This was also the most crushing defeat the Great Yan had suffered since its founding. The army was lost, routed for a thousand li, fleeing north, abandoning countless territories. The losses in food, military supplies, and horses were even greater, immeasurable.
"Yunu, don't look. Look at your brother."
Zhou Fugui's White Tiger Camp was one of the most intact Yan army formations. Three thousand soldiers had almost all escaped, but the march was extremely arduous. The White Tiger Camp was also lacking in food and clothing.
The daily food and supply needs for three thousand men were astronomical. The food and supplies carried by Zhou Fugui and his men were almost depleted, and with no replenishment, the journey was exceptionally difficult. Seeing many Yan soldiers starving and freezing to death by the roadside, they could only remain indifferent.
Years of war had created a severe shortage of food, affecting both the army and ordinary citizens.
As horses or people walked through the muddy roads, a step might land in soft mud, perhaps on the body of a fallen Yan soldier.
Such terrifying scenes caused Zhou Fugui to press Yunu's small face into his embrace, so she could not see the hellish sights.
In Guangling Commandery, Zhou Fugui had handed over the thousands of Xia people he had rescued to Tang Qingsi. However, Little Yunu remained by his side. The reason was that Zhou Fugui did not know the ultimate fate of those Xia people. And Yunu, being so young, would have had a slim chance of survival among the surrendered Xia people, extremely slim indeed. Leaving her with other Xia people would have yielded the same result.
Therefore, Zhou Fugui was determined to protect her himself and even raise her.
"Mm, Big Brother," Little Yunu, though young, was exceptionally sensible and obedient. She hid her small face in Zhou Fugui's embrace, feeling that the safest place in the world was Zhou Fugui's arms, and he was the most trustworthy person.