"Bring the child here for me to see," said Zhou Fugui, at a loss in the Sui Ning County yamen, unable to determine whose child it was. He spoke to the brothers Bi Shichang and Bi Shi'en.
In this world, without the means for paternity tests, and with only appearances to go by, accurate judgment was impossible.
Thus, the brothers Bi Shichang and Bi Shi'en acted simultaneously, four hands lifting a plump, three-year-old child before Zhou Fugui.
Whether it was Bi Shichang's or Bi Shi'en's son, the child was indeed fair-skinned and tender, exceptionally cute. Being held by four hands at once, he felt somewhat uncomfortable. His chubby little face turned red, and he pouted, about to cry.
Seeing this, Zhou Fugui had a sudden inspiration, as if he had found a method of judgment. He rose, stepped down from the stairs, and reached out his large hand to take the child.
"Step back!" The brothers Bi Shichang and Bi Shi'en refused to let go. Now, it became six hands on the child...
After dismissing the brothers, Zhou Fugui, holding the child, gently tapped the little one's tender nose with his finger and chuckled, "Little fellow, who are your parents?"
The child felt a tickle on his nose and giggled.
"It is us, the couple," responded Bi Shichang, Bi Shi'en, and their wives in unison.
"Whether it is or it isn't, it's not for you to say," Zhou Fugui reprimanded, his face stern. He then ordered, "Someone, fetch a bamboo mat."
Moments later, a bamboo mat was brought and placed in the hall.
After placing the child on the mat, Zhou Fugui asked the brothers Bi Shichang and Bi Shi'en, "Where are your wives?"
"Your humble servants, Bi He Shi and Bi Zhang Shi, are here!" replied He Shi, Bi Shichang's wife, and Zhang Shi, Bi Shi'en's wife, simultaneously. Both women looked at the child on the mat. He Shi's eyes were filled with greed, while Zhang Shi appeared concerned, as if afraid the child might catch a chill.
Zhou Fugui observed their expressions and already had an answer in his heart, but looks alone were not sufficient grounds for judgment. Thus, Zhou Fugui said with a smile to He Shi and Zhang Shi, "Each of you claims your reason is just, and I cannot make a clear judgment. The child is here. You two fight for him. Whoever gets him is his parent. The one who secures the child will return happily, while the one who fails will be deemed to have attempted to steal another's child, and I will punish you severely as thieves!"
What? Everyone in the hall of the Sui Ning County yamen was stunned.
Was there truly such a way of judging cases? Whoever grabbed him got him? And who would be responsible if the child was hurt?
The soldiers of the White Tiger Camp all looked around, as if they didn't recognize Zhou Fugui...
"I will count to three, and you two will move at the same time. If you're late, the child might be lost," Zhou Fugui said to He Shi and Zhang Shi, ignoring their surprised and astonished gazes.
He Shi and Zhang Shi tensed, ready to spring. As soon as Zhou Fugui uttered "three," they both lunged. He Shi immediately grabbed the child's tender leg, while Zhang Shi held his arm.
Zhou Fugui and the others were all Hu soldiers, and Hu soldiers did not abide by the laws of the Great Xia. Therefore, Zhou Fugui's "severe punishment" might mean execution on the spot. This involved lives, causing He Shi and Zhang Shi to exert their full strength. Their actions were both swift and fierce.
"Wah!" As He Shi and Zhang Shi pulled the child simultaneously, the child cried out in pain.
"Lin'er..." The mother's heart ached for her child, instantly overcoming her own safety. Zhang Shi dared not continue to pull the child, so she let go, looking at her crying son.
He Shi, meanwhile, held the child in her arms and looked triumphantly at the Bi Shi'en couple.
"Audacious venomous woman!" With the outcome decided, Zhou Fugui walked up to He Shi and coldly reprimanded her.
"Your... Your Honor, what... what do you mean?" He Shi was startled and stammered, asking.
"What do I mean?" Zhou Fugui glanced at He Shi, then pointed to the child struggling in her arms, and said to the crowd, "Even a tiger does not eat its cubs; a human venom is worse than a beast. Is the venomous woman He Shi more venomous than a tiger? There are two possibilities: first, this child is not He Shi's, but the Zhang Shi couple's child; second, the venomous woman He Shi is indeed more venomous and ruthless than a tiger. In either case, it is an offense against heaven! Bi Shichang, He Shi, confess your crimes!"
"Damn!"
"Mighty..."
Everyone in the hall heard this and suddenly understood. They were filled with admiration for Zhou Fugui. They had not expected him, so young, to forcefully secure the position of county magistrate and, upon presiding over cases, devise such a clever strategy, resolving a case that had lingered for three years.
The soldiers of the White Tiger Camp half-drew their swords, growling "Mighty," their previous contemptuous expressions completely vanished... All that remained was admiration for their camp commander.
"Venomous woman, I've called you elder sister-in-law for so many years." With the outcome clear, Bi Shi'en was overjoyed. He snatched the child, carefully handed him to Zhang Shi, and then knelt with Zhang Shi before Zhou Fugui, weeping, "Your humble servant and his wife thank you, Lord, for your wise judgment."
"I... I..." Bi Shichang was speechless. Visible beads of sweat, as large as soybeans, appeared on his forehead. With a "plop," he also fell before Zhou Fugui and said, "Lord, spare my life! All this was her doing. I truly knew nothing. I will divorce this venomous woman when I return."
He Shi also knelt before Zhou Fugui, trembling, unable to speak.
"Oh? Is that so?" Zhou Fugui said coldly to Bi Shichang. "Even if you knew nothing of this, of the three unfilial acts, none is greater than the lack of offspring. Do you truly have no part in this?"
Bi Shichang was speechless and could only kowtow repeatedly.
"All of you, rise!" Zhou Fugui called the four people up and said kindly to Bi Shichang, "Bi Shi'en is your own brother. What is a brother? Of the same root and source. The elder is the brother, the younger is the弟. Brothers are born of the same root, why must you torment each other so? This child is Bi Shichang's son, but also your blood nephew. Why must you fight over him? To turn against each other for this child? Brothers... once gone, all is too late. No matter how much you regret it and beat your chest, it will be of no use."
As Zhou Fugui spoke, his voice choked up.
The brothers Bi Shichang and Bi Shi'en looked at each other. The first part of Zhou Fugui's speech was very sensible and filled them with regret, but the latter part left them utterly confused...
"Elder brother, the child... the child's surname is also Bi, so... take him. My wife and I are still young, we can have more," Bi Shi'en then said to Bi Shichang.
"Brother..." The brothers Bi Shichang and Bi Shi'en hugged each other and wept.
"Bi Shichang, you may all return. I will not pursue your case. Also, it takes a hundred years to share a boat, and a thousand years to sleep in the same bed. Bi Shichang, you need not be too harsh on her," Zhou Fugui then said to Bi Shichang.
"Thank you, benevolent Lord!" All four bowed in unison.
Zhou Fugui's magnanimity and enlightenment won the hearts and minds of everyone, earning their deep admiration. Even the old clerks and yamen runners of the Sui Ning County yamen secretly praised Zhou Fugui.
Though Zhou Fugui was young, he was in no way inferior to some experienced officials who were skilled in judging cases, and at least much better than Wu Tiangui.
"How was this case I judged today?" After Bi Shichang and the other four left, Zhou Fugui asked a soldier of the White Tiger Camp proudly.
"Our commander is a benevolent Lord, with brilliant methods!" the soldier flattered loudly.
"Haha, I haven't had enough of being this benevolent Lord today. Come, present any other cases!" Zhou Fugui laughed heartily.
"Whoosh!"
The soldiers of the White Tiger Camp all fell over.
...
"Li Qing, how is the matter progressing?"
Zhou Fugui, the commander of the White Tiger Camp of the Yan Army in the Great Yan Kingdom, and the Tingzhang of the Yan Kingdom Gate, asked Li Qing while riding his horse.
"All is handled!" Li Qing replied loudly.
"Good!" Zhou Fugui nodded, glanced back at the more than twenty large carts, and ordered, "Command the Dian Meng unit to be the vanguard and march towards Xuzhou City!"
The more than twenty large carts were filled with grain, provisions, gold, silver, and jewels. Zhou Fugui and his men had returned laden with spoils from their raid on Sui Ning County. However, Zhou Fugui had not plundered the ordinary citizens of Sui Ning County. Instead, he had thoroughly ransacked the homes of the county magistrate Wu Tiangui and the wealthy families connected to him. The vast amounts of grain, gold, silver, and jewels obtained were even distributed among the common people of Sui Ning County.
Zhou Fugui also kept his promise not to harm Wu Tiangui and his family.
At Zhou Fugui's command, the three thousand soldiers of the White Tiger Camp formed ranks and marched towards Xuzhou.
At this moment, with plenty of grain and provisions, the immediate food needs of the White Tiger Camp were resolved. Therefore, the White Tiger Camp marched at a leisurely pace, unhurried and relaxed.
The White Tiger Camp not only had food and drink but also slept soundly last night, which was the best and most peaceful night's sleep they had had since the "Battle of Niuzhu."
"Let's go, Yu Nu!"
Zhou Fugui was still riding with Little Yu Nu. He carefully placed Little Yu Nu on the horse's saddle before mounting the horse himself and sitting behind her.
Little Yu Nu tightly gripped the saddle with her small hands, looking around curiously.
After eating their fill, drinking their fill, and sleeping their fill, Little Yu Nu was naturally full of energy.
"Commander, look quickly!"
After the army had marched some distance towards Xuzhou City, Li Qing suddenly pointed to Sui Ning County behind them.
Zhou Fugui turned his head to look. He saw that on a dirt slope in front of the Sui Ning County city, many people had suddenly appeared. They were a dense mass, and it was impossible to tell how many there were. They silently watched the White Tiger Camp gradually move away.
"The people have their own scales in their hearts!" Zhou Fugui sighed and then spurred his horse onward.
In the fifth year of Yan Yongping, the third year of Xia Yuanjia, the Yan Army's White Tiger Camp plundered Xia's Sui Ning County. As they departed, the Xia people of Sui Ning County silently saw them off.
It must be said that this event was truly astonishing. Among the Yan generals who led armies to plunder Xia's cities, the commander of the White Tiger Camp, Zhou Fugui, was unique. His reputation gradually spread throughout Yan and Xia.