"Commander Zhou, your weapon."
In the Yan army camp, Zhou Fugui spoke rudely and was expelled from the tent by Murong Bole.
As Zhou Fugui angrily walked out of the tent, Murong Tengge called out to him and handed him the leather armor and waist saber.
"Hmph!" Zhou Fugui had no choice but to take the leather armor and waist saber, letting out a cold snort.
"Hmph!"
Zhou Fugui turned and strode out of the tent, almost bumping into the woman in purple. Without even looking, he snorted again.
As the saying goes, one loves the house and its roof tiles, and one hates the house and its roof tiles. Zhou Fugui disliked everyone in the tent, including naturally the woman in purple.
Zhou Fugui's demeanor left the woman in purple bewildered, wondering who she had offended. She then asked Murong Tengge, "Uncle, what does he mean by this?"
"He's just a stubborn mule kicking up a fuss. Ignore him," Murong Tengge said with a wry smile.
The woman in purple couldn't help but break into a radiant smile upon hearing this.
"To treat one's benefactor like this, isn't he an ungrateful wretch?" the woman in purple thought with amusement.
"Tengge, you appreciate this man?" Murong Bole asked.
Zhou Fugui was expelled from the tent, yet Murong Tengge returned his leather armor and weapon to him. This indicated that Murong Tengge intended to continue employing Zhou Fugui as a general.
"Yes, precisely..." Murong Tengge nodded and replied, "Zhou Fugui's archery is superb. Although he is Han, he is loyal, brave, and fierce. In the Battle of Yue Ma He, he fought valiantly against the Southern Army and achieved remarkable merit. Such a valiant general deserves Tengge's appreciation."
"Heh heh..." Murong Bole smiled slightly and said, "You don't need to intercede for him. I am not holding it against him. Although this man spoke disrespectfully, he was in fact strategizing for our army. How could I hold it against him?"
"Father, you say Zhou Fugui was strategizing for the army, but your daughter believes otherwise," the woman in purple suddenly said.
"Hmm? Yingying, what do you mean?" Murong Bole pondered.
The woman in purple was named Murong Huiying, and Yingying was her Han name.
Murong Huiying was Murong Bole's youngest daughter and his only daughter. Besides Murong Huiying, Murong Bole had three sons, who were Murong Huiying's three elder brothers.
Murong Huiying had been intelligent and lively since childhood, and she was also cute and endearing, hence she was deeply doted on by Murong Bole, who always treated her as his most precious jewel.
As Murong Huiying grew up, she became even more adept at strategizing and planning, even becoming Murong Bole's able assistant. Thus, Murong Bole entrusted his most trusted elite troops, the Fire Flame Battalion, to her.
Ever since Murong Bole raised his army, the Fire Flame Battalion had followed him on campaigns both north and south. They were not only fierce and skilled in combat but also loyal to Murong Bole.
"Father, Zhou Fugui's words carried hidden meanings and he had other plans, but you didn't let him finish speaking," Murong Huiying said with a smile, pursing her lips.
"Oh... Murong Bole pondered, "What else did he want to say?"
"Your daughter is not sure," Murong Huiying said with a light laugh. "However, your daughter suspects it was about the army's provisions."
"Oh, I see," Murong Bole exclaimed, shaking his head. "He made such a scene in the tent over this matter? Heh heh, an unfledged eagle is always fearless. He has courage, but he is too rash."
"Mmm..." Murong Huiying nodded.
A Han from Yan who was conscripted, had a dispute with Commander Duan and was almost imprisoned by the Duan family. Then, in Youzhou city, he engaged in trickery and deception. Now, he had transformed into a company commander in the Great Yan army, praised highly by Murong Tengge, and his words in the tent were not entirely unreasonable.
However, Zhou Fugui's volubility, his armchair strategizing, and his animated gestures, were much like a pedantic scholar among the Han. This also made Murong Huiying find him somewhat amusing.
What kind of person is he? Murong Huiying suddenly felt a sliver of curiosity towards Zhou Fugui.
As father and daughter spoke, they had already exited the tent. Murong Bole suddenly turned to Murong Tengge and said, "Since Tengge appreciates this man so much, promote him to flag commander. Tengge, you will also command the three armies of the Han troops."
With a single sentence from Murong Bole, Zhou Fugui was "transformed" into a flag leader of the Yan army, and Murong Tengge became the chief commander of the conscripted Han army.
"Ah? Thank you, Commander..." Murong Tengge had initially thought it was a stroke of immense luck if Murong Bole didn't hold Zhou Fugui accountable. He never expected Zhou Fugui to be promoted. Astonished, he asked, "Zhou Fugui...? Commander, what is the meaning of this?"
"Execute the order," Murong Bole replied.
"Tengge understands." Murong Tengge responded.
Murong Bole then mounted his horse with his daughter Murong Huiying, and they rode off. The warriors of the Fire Flame Battalion mounted their horses and followed closely behind Murong Bole and his daughter.
At this moment, the continuous autumn rain had finally stopped. Several rays of sunlight pierced through the thick clouds, illuminating the vast wilderness. Dewdrops clung to the lush green grass, making everything appear vibrant and alive.
"To destroy someone, first win their heart. Father, your methods of employing people are indeed brilliant," Murong Huiying said to Murong Bole after they rode their horses up a hillside.
"Heh heh, Yingying..." Murong Bole smiled and said, "Father doesn't want to be like you, having read so many Han books. Father only knows how to use people like driving cattle and horses. If the cattle and horses aren't fed, how can they exert their full strength?"
The people of the steppe have their own reasoning. Zhou Fugui's words in the tent, if spoken in Xia, would have been treasonous. Not only would he not be reused, but he would immediately be put to death.
Yet, despite Zhou Fugui's rude speech, Murong Bole promoted him to flag commander. This way, Zhou Fugui would likely pledge his life in service.
However, this was merely speculation. Would Zhou Fugui indeed pledge his life? Perhaps only he knew.
"Yingying, how are things in the city?" Murong Bole asked afterward.
"Tomorrow, Guangling Commandery will be in mourning," Murong Huiying replied indifferently.
"Hahaha, my daughter's methods are brilliant!" Murong Bole exclaimed with great joy upon hearing this. He pointed his whip towards the city of Guangling Commandery below and roared with laughter, "Old scoundrel, you obstructed me for three months, and now you have this day?"
From the mountain, the entire city of Guangling Commandery could be faintly discerned.
The prefect of Guangling Commandery was Huang Yanlin, a scholar from Xia. Yet, this old and scholarly man, when the Yan army launched a large-scale attack on Guangling Commandery, led all the soldiers and civilians to resist the enemy to the death, refusing to surrender. They defended Guangling Commandery fiercely, engaging in fierce battles with the Yan army, and held them off for over three months, causing Murong Bole considerable distress.
Murong Bole sent a personal letter to demand surrender, but Huang Yanlin tore up the letter and beheaded the envoy, vowing to fight the Yan army to the death. Murong Bole set an ambush to lure Huang Yanlin out for a decisive battle, but the cunning Huang Yanlin, being old and experienced, completely ignored Murong Bole's bait and steadfastly defended the city. Even when Murong Bole defeated the Xia reinforcements, Huang Yanlin still held the city. This left Murong Bole with no solution for the old and stubborn Huang Yanlin. In the words of Murong Bole and his subordinates, Huang Yanlin was like an old horse on the steppe, old, stubborn, and unyielding.
Huang Yanlin knew well that Guangling Commandery had been besieged for over three months. The soldiers and civilians in the city were already without food and exhausted, barely able to defend the city. To march out would surely mean defeat. Therefore, Huang Yanlin would rather watch the three Xia reinforcements be defeated by the Yan army than step out of the city even half a step.
At this time, Murong Huiying, under orders, had sent elite assassins to infiltrate the city and assassinate Huang Yanlin. With the city leaderless, the Yan army could easily conquer it and seize Guangling Commandery and other important cities, thus taking the gateway to Xia.
"Guangling Commandery will surely fall into my hands!" Murong Bole declared loudly, pointing his whip towards Guangling Commandery.
Murong Bole then turned to look at his daughter, Murong Huiying, who seemed somewhat dejected. He asked, "Why are you unhappy? Do you think the methods were not brilliant, or do you pity the fallen assassins?"
"Father, more than ten people died, all former members of the Fire Flame Battalion," Murong Huiying said sadly.
The Fire Flame Battalion followed Murong Bole when he raised his army, and war always involved casualties. The Fire Flame Battalion suffered continuous losses, and the earliest warriors of the Fire Flame Battalion were now few in number.
"Heh heh, Yingying..." Murong Bole shook his head and chuckled, "Ten lives for such a large city, it's worth it. Father will certainly seek an imperial decree from the Great Chieftain, and they will all be granted three ranks of posthumous promotion and be honored for their descendants. As for whether the methods are brilliant... Yingying, I think you've read too many Han books. War is cruel. To achieve victory, any means can be used. As long as the goal is achieved, nothing is too extreme. Does one still need to distinguish between brilliance and baseness?"
"Father speaks wisely..." Murong Huiying's sadness slightly lessened, and she nodded. "However, even after killing him, I don't think Guangling Commandery can be captured for sure."
"Hmm, what do you mean?" Murong Bole asked.
"Father..." Murong Huiying pondered for a moment and replied, "Your daughter believes that perhaps, as that Zhou... Fugui said, constant killing may not achieve the objective. Combining grace and might is the best strategy."
"Mmm, if Yingying says so, how can your father refuse?" Murong Bole nodded. "After Guangling Commandery is captured, we shall bestow favor upon them."
Murong Huiying nodded.
Zhou Fugui's disrespectful words had angered Murong Bole and others immensely. However, due to Zhou Fugui's words, many Xia people were saved. Of course, this is a story for another time.
"Father, Murong Kang has arrived, sent with an imperial decree to lead five thousand White Wave troops to assist in the battle," Murong Huiying then said to Murong Bole.
"Assist in the battle, heh heh, assist in the battle," Murong Bole sneered.
The Yan army had split into two routes to attack Xia. The left flank was commanded by the Right Virtuous King Murong Wang, primarily attacking Yingchuan, Xiangfan, and other places. The right flank was commanded by Murong Bole, attacking Guangling, Linhuai, Yangzhou, and other areas.
The battles on the left flank were relatively smooth, reaching the north bank of the great river. However, Murong Bole on the right flank faced more difficulties.
Murong Kang, son of Murong Wang, the commander of the Yan left flank army, was now sent with troops under imperial decree. Ostensibly to assist in the battle, his true purpose was to supervise and inspect Murong Bole, and possibly even replace him.