The lands of Yan and Yun were lost, and the Han people of the Central Plains bowed under the might of the Hu. Their status was low, almost akin to slaves.
Zhou Fugui, young and impetuous, could not tolerate humiliation. He had a dispute with Duan Mian, his son, from the Xianbei Duan tribe. Consequently, Duan Mian and his son sought to capture Zhou Fugui and torment him at their leisure.
How could Zhou Fugui yield so easily? He wished to resist, but one man's fists are no match for many. Even a fierce tiger fears a pack of wolves. As the Duan family's retainers closed in on Zhou Fugui, his situation grew desperate. Just then, a troop of riders, escorting a carriage, galloped towards them.
Unsure of the identity of these fierce riders, everyone paused their actions and watched them.
"Stop!" a burly man with a thick beard, riding a horse, slowly approached and asked, "My master inquires what has happened here?"
"Your master? And who is this master of yours?" The man's rudeness infuriated Duan Tianjuan. "Get lost! What kind of nobody dares to delay me..."
The Duan family had connections within the Yan court, even in the palace. Having influential patrons made the Duan father and son increasingly arrogant and overbearing. Thus, even though Duan Tianjuan had no idea who these newcomers were, he couldn't help but curse them.
"Slap!" Before Duan Tianjuan could finish his foul-mouthed tirade, the man swung his horsewhip, lashing out at Duan Tianjuan's head. As he struck, he coldly reprimanded, "What dog dared to disrespect my master?"
Duan Tianjuan staggered backward, finally collapsing onto the ground.
Upon seeing this, Duan Mian became enraged. He was about to order his retainers to fight, but suddenly he noticed the flame embroidery on the men's arms. He was immediately struck with terror, scrambling off his horse and rushing to the carriage. Stammering, he asked, "Is... is it Miss Murong... the Great... Aunt in the carriage?"
The flame embroidery on their arms signified that these men belonged to the "Fire Blaze Camp."
Not only was the owner of the "Fire Blaze Camp" of incomparably noble status, but every member of the "Fire Blaze Camp" was highly skilled in martial arts and renowned for their bravery in battle. Duan Mian's ragtag subordinates were no match for them. The "Fire Blaze Camp" had rendered meritorious service during the founding of the Great Yan. The founding emperor of Great Yan himself had personally inscribed "The Foremost Camp Under Heaven" as a gift to the "Fire Blaze Camp."
Furthermore, the "Fire Blaze Camp" and its master were known for their ruthlessness. Falling into their hands was worse than death. How could Duan Mian not be terrified?
"Are you perhaps Wanhu Duan Wan of the Loufan Duan tribe?" a woman's voice emanated from the carriage, its silken curtains still drawn. Her voice was soft, yet as pleasing as a warbler's song.
"Indeed, I am, old man!" Duan Mian bowed subserviently and stood with his hands clasped before the carriage.
"Hmm, it is a time when the court is engaged in war to the south of the Yangtze. We must not dampen the soldiers' morale," the woman said.
"How could I dare disobey your command, Great Aunt?" Duan Mian hastily replied.
If the master of the "Fire Blaze Camp" decided to intervene forcefully, the Duan father and son were utterly powerless.
"Send that person over," the woman commanded from within the carriage.
Thus, Zhou Fugui, having been saved from peril, was brought forward.
"What is your name and origin?" the woman asked from the carriage once Zhou Fugui stood before it.
"Replying to Great Aunt, this humble one is from Luoyan Village, Luming Township, You Province. My surname is Zhou and my given name is Fugui." Zhou Fugui, naturally unaware of the great personage inside the carriage, addressed her as "Great Aunt" as Duan Mian did.
Duan Mian was over fifty years old, yet he called the woman "Great Aunt"? Was this woman his elder? Zhou Fugui was filled with curiosity.
But why did her voice sound so youthful? Clear and melodious. Zhou Fugui then reconsidered, thinking that perhaps some women's voices do not age, and it was impossible to accurately determine a person's age solely by their voice.
Such things had happened before; a voice like a young girl's, only to meet a withered old woman with skin like a dried tangerine peel...
"Hmm, this woman must be of that sort," Zhou Fugui mused to himself.
Someone who could strike such fear into Duan Mian and his ilk must be a prominent figure. And prominent figures are generally not very young.
"Zhou Fugui?" the woman murmured from within the carriage. "That is indeed a propitious name. However, glory and riches are like grasping for dates from a fire; one must risk their life."
"Great Aunt, why do you say that?" Zhou Fugui couldn't help but speak with a touch of self-pity. "My name was given by my parents; it was not my intention."
"Do you not wish for glory and riches?" the woman asked.
"I do, why would I not?" Zhou Fugui answered frankly. "Glory and riches, who among mortals does not desire them? But the premise is to have a life to enjoy them. We common folk are like ants, and the fate of ants is pitiable. Even if ants harbor ambitions like those of a swan, their lives are as fragile as paper. In such circumstances, how can one speak of wealth and status?"
"You need not be so disheartened," the woman said gently after a long silence. "Before his success, Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang of our Han was also like an ant, yet he founded the great Han empire. Were the people of our Yan not like ants before we vied for the Central Plains?"
After speaking, the woman paid Zhou Fugui no further mind. She and her retinue then rode off towards Youzhou city.
Indeed, she was an extraordinary individual, her conversation refined and her knowledge profound. Zhou Fugui was greatly astonished, staring blankly at the carriage until after a long while, he finally picked up his bow and arrows, led his old horse, and proceeded towards Youzhou city with Xu Mancang and others.
It was not unusual for Hu women to ride horses, hunt, or shoot arrows. However, for the master of the "Fire Blaze Camp" to be so elegant in her speech and able to quote classics was extremely rare.
...
The lands of Yan and Yun were vast and fertile, bordered by mountains to the north. Within the complex mountain ranges were five passes: Juyong Pass, through which large carts could travel to transport supplies; Songting, Jinting, and Gubeikou Passes, which were only passable for men and horses; and eighteen smaller routes beyond, all narrow and perilous, passable only for men, not horses.
North of Yanmen, within Youzhou's jurisdiction, lay sixteen prefectures. To the northeast was Lushui Pass, and to the northwest was Juyong Pass. China relied on these to define the boundary with the northern barbarians.
With the loss of Yan and Yun, the Han had lost their natural barrier against Hu and Di incursions. The Xianbei rejoiced at their acquisition of Yan and Yun, as if finding a rare treasure, and stationed heavy troops there, even making it their capital.
Although the front lines of the war between Yan and Xia were primarily concentrated along the Huai River and the Yangtze River, Yan also maintained a strong presence in Yan and Yun. At this time, with the ongoing conflict between Yan and Xia, Yan's reinforcements were largely drawn from Yan and Yun.
"Collect your weapons, receive your bounty, and rest for three days. In three days, we march south," said Albugu, a Yan army banner leader, to Zhou Fugui, Xu Mancang, Pan Jiugui, and others within Youzhou city.
Upon their arrival in Youzhou, Zhou Fugui and the others were immediately incorporated into the "Valiant Camp." The Valiant Camp comprised twenty banners, each with fifty to one hundred men. Albugu, a Xianbei, was the banner leader for the banner to which Zhou Fugui and his companions belonged.
Hu armies, naturally, were primarily led by Hu generals, who commanded various divisions. There were Han generals in the Yan army as well, but they generally served as deputy commanders, assisting the main generals. Only if a Han general repeatedly distinguished himself with meritorious service and displayed unwavering loyalty to Yan would they potentially rise higher. Even then, Hu officers would often serve as supervisors, jointly leading the troops and monitoring the Han generals.
"Banner leader Albugu? Why do I only have one hundred coins?" The Yan court had promised new recruits two hundred coins and two pounds of fatty meat each. However, when the bounty reached Zhou Fugui, Xu Mancang, and the others, they only received one hundred coins and a little over a pound of fly-ridden, questionable meat. Li Hu, a fellow villager of Zhou Fugui, loudly questioned this.
The others also grumbled, filled with indignation.
Zhou Fugui, Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Li Hu, Wu Changshuan, Gu Gounu, and Pan Jiugui, all from Luoyan Village, were assigned to the same banner.
The Hu had been far too greedy in withholding the Han soldiers' pay; they had cut it by half right from the start, and everyone felt resentful.
"Why are you making such a commotion?" Bogecang, a Xianbei escort, drew his saber and approached them. "The court gave two hundred coins per person. But you are traveling a thousand li to the south. Will you not eat, drink, or need money?"
"Hmph! Our Emperor is benevolent, and he has given you this meager bounty. Are you still not satisfied?" Albugu also snorted coldly.
The reality was indeed as Bogecang stated. In the past, the conscripted Han soldiers received no pay, and being able to eat their fill was considered fortunate.
Perhaps the Yan court's unprecedented generosity this time was to boost morale and encourage the Han soldiers to fight valiantly.
But with half of this paltry sum already withheld, they expected Zhou Fugui and the others to risk their lives? That was wishful thinking indeed.
Zhou Fugui let out a cold laugh, weighed the strung-together one hundred coins in his hand, and then tossed them into Albugu's arms. "Banner leader A... what was your name again? You speak with reason. It is indeed a long journey to the south, and the expenses will be considerable. In that case, I will not take this hundred coins either; it is all yours. Not only that, but we should go to the imperial palace to thank His Majesty for his 'generous bounty'..."
"I don't want it either..." Xu Mancang also threw his copper coins on the ground.
"Yes, yes, I don't want it either. You can have it all."
"Go to the palace to express our gratitude, go to the palace to express our gratitude."
"Where is the palace?"
"Ask around, and we'll find out!"
"At worst, we'll ask the commander!"
Zhou Fugui's fellow villagers, having come to their senses, began throwing their coins and stinking meat, a cacophony of noise and chaos.
"I... you..." Albugu and Bogecang exchanged bewildered glances, at a loss for what to do.
In their efforts to make the conscripted Han soldiers fight valiantly, the Yan court had indeed spared no expense this time, strictly forbidding the withholding of even a single coin of bounty. Albugu and the others' actions were illicit. Once the Han soldiers were thoroughly disgruntled, or worse, if a mutiny broke out, Albugu and his cohorts would face severe consequences. Zhou Fugui, with his sharp insight, had immediately identified the critical issue, striking at the soft underbelly of Albugu and his men, leaving them flustered and panicked.
"Make up the full bounty, both money and meat," Albugu said, defeated, glaring fiercely at Zhou Fugui.
In the past, the Han soldiers were meek and obedient, never daring to disobey their superiors. However, Zhou Fugui's actions had now incurred the resentment of Albugu and the others.