The arrival of the Great Yan's top general, the commander of the Yan army, made Murong Tengge dare not sit. He stood respectfully in the large tent.
As the newcomer was so imposing, Zhou Fugui also stood up, remaining in the tent, but still with his chest out and head held high, looking indignant.
Ten golden-armored guards lined the sides of the tent, their hands on their swords, watching Murong Tengge and Zhou Fugui with hawk-like gazes.
Each of the ten golden-armored guards was broad-shouldered and burly, with sharp eyes. A single glance from them would send a chill down one's spine, making it clear that these ten were seasoned warriors who were also ruthless.
"Who is this man?" Murong Bole asked casually after taking his seat and glancing at Zhou Fugui again.
"Replying to the Grand Governor," Murong Tengge bowed and answered, "This man's surname is Zhou and his given name is Fugui, hailing from Luoyan Village, Luming Township, You Prefecture. At Xiapi Yue Ma River, Tengge's forces were ambushed by the Southern army. The banner Zhou Fugui was in fell into chaos, on the verge of collapse. It was this man who led his troops to counter-attack the Southern army on the south bank, turning defeat into victory. Therefore, Tengge promoted him to squadron leader."
Speaking of this matter, regret appeared on Zhou Fugui's face.
If he had known this would happen, why would Zhou Fugui have fought in the first place? If the Xia army had attacked, perhaps Albugu would have been killed, and there would have been no Danyang Village massacre. The more than two hundred souls of Danyang Village could be said to have died indirectly by Zhou Fugui's hand.
However, if Albugu had died unjustly, Zhou Fugui's small life would have been lost too.
"Tengge, you may sit," Murong Bole said to Murong Tengge after nodding.
Murong Tengge was the son of the brother of Emperor Taizu of Yan, a clansman of Murong Bole. Furthermore, the Xianbei people did not have so many elaborate protocols. In the northern frontier, whether they were rulers or subjects, tribal leaders or tribesmen, they mostly sat on the ground to discuss matters.
It was only after the Xianbei entered the passes, especially after they took control of the Central Plains, that they gradually learned some Han etiquette.
"Tengge, I have come today to inquire about this matter," Murong Bole said after Murong Tengge sat down.
"Yes, should we have him leave the tent?" Murong Tengge asked, gesturing towards Zhou Fugui.
"There is no need. Zhou Fugui? Is that correct?" Murong Bole said, looking at Zhou Fugui. "To be able to fight the enemy on the battlefield, was it to save your own life or out of loyalty to my Great Yan? Even if you are loyal to Great Yan, you are a meritorious official. What harm is there in letting him listen?"
"Yes, Squadron Leader Zhou, why don't you thank him?" Murong Tengge nodded.
"Thank you, Governor!" Zhou Fugui said, making a perfunctory bow with extreme impatience.
Murong Tengge was speechless and amused, yet also so angry that he didn't know what to say.
What kind of person was Murong Bole? In the Great Yan, apart from the Emperor, the Great Chanyu Murong Xi, he was the foremost person in the realm. Ordinary people found it extremely difficult to get an audience with him, and those who did were invariably respectful, with many even performing the kowtow. Yet Zhou Fugui appeared nonchalant and indifferent.
Perhaps it was due to ignorance of the consequences, Murong Tengge thought to himself.
The ten golden-armored guards showed no expression, but in their hearts, they already wished to chop Zhou Fugui into meat paste and drag him out to feed the dogs.
Murong Bole paid no mind to Zhou Fugui and inquired in detail from Murong Tengge about the time and place of the ambush, the scale and composition of the Xia army, the battlefield situation, and so on.
"Defend the city to the death, divide your forces to raid our supply lines, hoping to force our army to retreat due to lack of provisions. The Southern general Zhang Huchen's tactics are no better than this," Murong Bole said calmly after Murong Tengge finished speaking.
"Grand Governor..." Murong Tengge shook his head upon hearing this. "Zhang Huchen's use of troops, though seemingly simple, makes it impossible for us to guard against. Unimpeded supply lines will affect the morale of the army."
"En, it is indeed troublesome," Murong Bole nodded. "What is the morale of your army? Especially the Han troops, what is their situation?"
"Tengge has ordered them to forage locally, so the army's morale is still acceptable," Murong Tengge replied.
So it was you, old man, who gave that order? Zhou Fugui was furious upon hearing this and snorted coldly at Murong Tengge.
"Squadron Leader Zhou Fugui..." Zhou Fugui, time and again, seemed to have angered Murong Bole. He turned to Zhou Fugui and asked, "Is this what you call a sign of defeat?"
"Yes..." Zhou Fugui replied frankly.
"Silence!" Murong Tengge reprimanded loudly. "Squadron Leader Zhou, you are becoming more and more audacious. Do you truly consider our military law to be nothing?"
No matter how much Murong Tengge appreciated Zhou Fugui, Zhou Fugui's treasonous words in front of Murong Bole made him unable to remain calm.
"Tengge, let him speak," Murong Bole suddenly became calm and composed, smiling as he said to Murong Tengge.
"Governor, you are so... I will speak now?" Regardless, Zhou Fugui wanted to vindicate the more than two hundred people who died in Danyang Village and seek revenge. Without waiting for Murong Bole and Murong Tengge to agree, he loudly declared, "When supply lines are blocked, you resort to looting? This is not a long-term plan, nor the way to victory!"
Zhou Fugui adopted a strategy of indirect salvation. First, he would make Murong Bole and Murong Tengge bow their heads and admit their mistakes, then he could bring up the Danyang Village massacre and punish Albugu and others.
But would Zhou Fugui's plan work?
"Oh? In your opinion, what should be done?" Murong Bole waved for Murong Tengge to stop speaking and said, "If the army has no food, should the army starve to death?"
"Freeze to death without tearing down houses, starve to death without plundering. This is the ancient... the way of renowned generals in warfare." Zhou Fugui replied, "Unrestrained looting and slaughter of civilians will only provoke their desperate resistance. Can an army have a chance of victory in this way? I believe not only is there no chance of victory, but perhaps our small contingent will not even be able to return to the north."
Zhou Fugui had thrown caution to the wind today, all for the sake of avenging the more than two hundred people who died in Danyang Village.
Zhou Fugui spoke with great animation, completely unaware that a woman in purple had entered the tent. However, the woman in purple had entered the tent silently and stood behind Zhou Fugui, looking at him in astonishment and listening to him speak in surprise. It was understandable that Zhou Fugui did not notice the person behind him.
Upon seeing the purple-clad woman enter the tent, Murong Bole's stern expression instantly softened, becoming amiable and even doting. He nodded and smiled at the purple-clad woman behind Zhou Fugui. This led Zhou Fugui to believe that his words had moved Murong Bole, so he spoke even louder, his voice becoming increasingly resonant.
"Squadron Leader Zhou..." Zhou Fugui's incessant speech prompted Murong Bole to interrupt him. He wanted to slam his hand on the table but remembered that Zhou Fugui was only about twenty years old. Perhaps youth or immaturity meant speaking without restraint. Moreover, Murong Bole believed that Zhou Fugui was offering advice for the Yan army, so he patiently said to him, "Freeze to death without tearing down houses, starve to death without plundering? According to your words, my Xianbei people would have long since frozen and starved to death, and how would there be a Great Yan? When my Great Yan cavalry entered the passes, we carried less than three days' worth of provisions. If we didn't forage locally, how could our army have traveled thousands of miles and routed the Xia army, causing them to flee in disarray for a thousand li? Your view is that of a child, unworthy of mention. Your words are like those of the pedantic Southerners."
"Pedantic words?" Zhou Fugui's anger surged upon hearing this. He disregarded Murong Bole's imposing demeanor and the vast difference in their status. He retorted loudly, "You gained the throne on horseback, and now you wish to rule the world on horseback? Before the Great Yan was established, you could plunder everywhere, snatch and run, and do as you pleased. But now that the Great Yan has been established for many years, can you still pillage, rape, and murder indiscriminately? To pacify the world, one must first pacify the hearts of the people. If the hearts are not subdued, how can the world be pacified? Hmph, and there is one more unpleasant remark. I don't know if I should say it."
"If it's unpleasant, you don't need to say it," Murong Tengge's face grew darker with each word. With a dark expression, he reprimanded.
"Haha..." Murong Bole waved his hand, signaling Murong Tengge not to interfere. He leaned back in his chair, and instead of getting angry, he smiled and looked at the purple-clad woman behind Zhou Fugui. "Squadron Leader Zhou, today I really want to hear what else you have to say. Just say it, I won't blame you."
"Before the establishment of the nation, you were merely bandits and rebels. After the establishment of the nation, if you still pillage, rape, and murder indiscriminately, you are still bandits and rebels, incapable of great deeds!" Zhou Fugui declared loudly.
"Bang!" Murong Bole finally became enraged. He slammed his palm heavily on the desk, almost shattering the thick wooden surface. Pointing at Zhou Fugui, he roared, "How dare you, you brat, be so arrogant!"
The purple-clad woman was both amused and exasperated, staring fixedly at Zhou Fugui.
Murong Bole had not been so furious in many years. Even when military affairs were not going well, he had never been like this.
The ten golden-armored guards had their hands on their sword hilts, waiting for Murong Bole's signal to chop Zhou Fugui into meat paste. Murong Tengge turned pale with shock, his dark face turning white.
"You said you wouldn't blame me, Grand Governor, you can't go back on your word..." Zhou Fugui, seeing the unfavorable situation, quickly said to Murong Bole.
Zhou Fugui's words were also a sign of him admitting defeat and backing down.
This is what is meant by a wise man does not fight a losing battle.
"Haha, it was I who said it..." Murong Bole's beard fluttered with anger. He laughed heartily out of sheer exasperation, then his expression turned stern, and pointing at Zhou Fugui, he bellowed, "Get out!"
"Hmph, fine, I'm going!" Zhou Fugui turned and walked out of the tent upon hearing this.
The saying "a lowly person's words carry little weight" probably describes Zhou Fugui at this moment.
Zhou Fugui still had many things to say, and had not yet avenged the innocent people of Danyang Village, but he was driven out of the tent.
Ultimately, it all came down to the word "power." Zhou Fugui was a miniscule general in the Yan army, with command over only a dozen or so men. If Zhou Fugui had commanded a large army and held power, would they have dared to silence him?
At this very moment, Zhou Fugui felt a strong desire for power for the first time.
Zhou Fugui was not unaware that his words carried little weight, but at this moment, he was so blinded by rage over the Danyang Village massacre that he had become somewhat reckless.