"To act beyond one's rank, to advance or fall behind, to speak loudly, and to disobey orders, this is to disrupt the army. Those who violate this shall be executed."
Murong Tengge, the commander of the Yan army's Dare-to-Die Battalion, said with a dark face to Zhou Fugui and Dian Meng.
"Yes, yes, General Murong is superior. I request permission to execute these scoundrels, especially Zhou Fugui, and hang his head at the辕门 to demonstrate military discipline and warn the entire army." Albugu, the banner leader, finally seized an opportunity to speak, glaring fiercely at Zhou Fugui.
Murong Tengge cast a cold glance at Albugu, ignoring him.
As the leader of a banner, and its commander, he had failed to stop the chaos within his own ranks and had instead been flustered. How dare he clamor to enforce military law? Murong Tengge thought to himself.
"General, Zhou has only had a misunderstanding and a verbal dispute with Dian Meng of Jizhou. What constitutes disrupting the army? As the saying goes, heroes come from all walks of life, and sometimes friendship begins with a fight!" Zhou Fugui said, raising an eyebrow at Dian Meng. "Is that right, Brother Dian..."
To be beheaded for a fight in the army? This military law was too harsh! Zhou Fugui was startled to hear he might be beheaded, thinking that if this were to happen, he would die before his mission even began.
What Zhou Fugui didn't know was that the Yan army's victories against the Xia army were largely due to the Yan army's harsh, almost brutal, military laws.
It seems this old turtle is set against me, or perhaps he still resents me over the court's rewards, Zhou Fugui thought to himself, glancing at Albugu. Is it just for this that he wants my life? I must guard against this old turtle in the future.
"Mm, whatever you say." The military law was about to be enforced, yet Dian Meng was still lamenting his new pants. He replied listlessly, "Okay."
"Quibbling, Han slaves are good at quibbling!" Albugu shouted, "General, such a scoundrel..."
"Silence!" Murong Tengge interrupted Albugu before he could finish and reprimanded him, "What scoundrel? They are now soldiers of our Great Yan. What 'common folk' are you talking about?"
In the early days of the Yan state, it respected the Hu and looked down upon the Han. However, as Yan conquered more Han territories, it gradually realized the need to appease the Han population. If they continued to treat the Han with contempt, given that the Han outnumbered the Hu by tens of times, it would inevitably lead to fierce resistance, making it impossible for Yan to establish a foothold in the Central Plains. At the very least, they could no longer openly favor the Hu over the Han.
To ask people to fight and die, and yet to still trample them underfoot, who wouldn't harbor resentment, even hatred?
However, some Xianbei, like Albugu, and even the nobles in court, still clung to their old ways of thinking and acting. Yet, there were many in the entire Great Yan with a clear understanding of the situation, like Murong Tengge.
"Considering you have just joined the army and are still unfamiliar with military law, your lives shall be spared, but you shall not escape punishment." Murong Tengge pondered for a moment before ordering, "Guards, give them one hundred lashes each."
"Banner Officer Albugu, use ordinary whips," Murong Tengge added, looking at Zhou Fugui with some unease, reminding Albugu.
If barbed whips were used, not one hundred lashes, but just over ten, would be enough to take Zhou Fugui's life.
"Soldier Zhou Fugui, Dian Meng, take off your clothes." The Yan army's military law officer, holding a whip, said coldly to Zhou Fugui and Dian Meng.
Zhou Fugui reluctantly took off his clothes, revealing a strong, fair physique, while Dian Meng's was dark.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Soon, Zhou Fugui and Dian Meng were tied to execution posts. The military law officer swung his whip, lashing them one by one. Zhou Fugui's strong, fair flesh was instantly crisscrossed with bloody welts, a shocking sight.
Zhou Fugui felt as though he would faint from the pain, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.
With every lash from the Xianbei, a trace of hatred was etched into Zhou Fugui's heart, until his hatred reached the heavens.
...
"You... Young Master Zhou, why aren't you crying? Cry out, and you'll feel better." Xiao Qing applied herbs to Zhou Fugui's wounds. Although Zhou Fugui was sweating profusely and pale from the pain, he still gritted his teeth and remained silent. Xiao Qing, however, was weeping.
Zhou Fugui was severely injured after receiving one hundred lashes, but as the Yan army marched south, he was forced to follow. He couldn't stay behind to recover. Fortunately, Murong Tengge had provided him with a donkey cart, allowing him to move forward.
The army was now near Ye City, and Zhou Fugui found a civilian residence to rest for a while.
Due to years of war, the land was barren, and the people were displaced. Thus, this so-called civilian residence was left behind by the locals who had fled south. It was dilapidated, with holes in the walls, and wind whistling through.
Ye City, a vital northern stronghold, had been populous and prosperous during peacetime, with housing prices soaring to astronomical levels. However, with the outbreak of war, this residence became worthless, even less than a steamed bun...
"Cry? Cry about what? Cry about pain?" After the medicine was applied, Zhou Fugui felt a cool sensation, and his pain slightly subsided. As his pain lessened, his desires stirred. Lying on the bed, he looked at the delicate Xiao Qing and smiled, "Firstly, I am not a young master, but a simple farmer. You can just call me by my name; secondly, have you heard that a man sheds blood but not tears? I am not talented, so what fear do I have of mere pain?"
Xiao Qing's appearance was not that of a celestial beauty or a captivating siren, but rather a bit plain, yet graceful and refined. She was not stunning at first glance, but very pleasing to the eye.
Graceful and refined, with fair skin, like a lotus emerging from water, gentle and demure, like a well-bred young lady from a good family, and at the same time, elegant in her demeanor, tranquil like a delicate flower by the water, and moving like a slender willow in the wind.
Her background must be extraordinary. Could she be a lady from a noble family? Zhou Fugui wondered secretly.
Zhou Fugui had endured the flogging, almost beaten to death. Along the way, he had no leisure to appreciate Xiao Qing's beauty and figure. Moreover, Xiao Qing had been wrapped in thick clothes and mixed with the army, making her appear plump. Now, although Xiao Qing was still in men's clothing, she wore two thin layers, which accentuated her graceful figure.
Xiao Qing was a woman and had managed to blend into the army. Only Zhou Fugui and a few of his close fellow villagers knew this. Albugu, the green-haired turtle, and others had not noticed.
As long as one disguised themselves well, they could deceive heaven and earth. Hua Mulan, who went to war in her father's place in ancient times, was only discovered much later.
"Shed blood and not tears?" Xiao Qing chuckled softly at his words. She knelt by the stove, fanning the embers with a palm-leaf fan. As she fanned, she said, "This humble girl is not a man of seven feet. I am terrified of blood."
"And I cry at the slightest thing..." Zhou Fugui chuckled, "Xiao Qing, you... what exactly happened? Why do you say you have no home?"
"I... " Xiao Qing was a smart person and knew she couldn't follow Zhou Fugui without explaining herself. So, she lowered her head sadly and said, "Xiao Qing was someone from the palace..."
"A... maid? Oh my, you... you... you... are actually a palace maid? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Zhou Fugui exclaimed in shock, his face turning pale. Before Xiao Qing could finish, he stammered.
If Xiao Qing were of ordinary status, or even the daughter of a wealthy family who had eloped here, Zhou Fugui wouldn't have been so fearful. But a palace maid from the palace... If a palace maid went missing, wouldn't there be a thorough investigation? The eunuchs and imperial guards would surely track her down, and then even the King of Heaven himself wouldn't be able to save Zhou Fugui.
The only course of action now was to flee, but if Zhou Fugui left, his family would be implicated.
Zhou Fugui pondered and fretted, his face a picture of worry.
"Yes, Xiao Qing was someone from the palace..." Xiao Qing saw Zhou Fugui's shocked expression and felt puzzled. She said softly, "I was, but not anymore. After Luoyang fell, the Empress Dowager, His Majesty, the Empress, and others were captured by the barbarians and taken north. Xiao Qing was also captured and brought here. Back then, Xiao Qing was not yet twelve years old..."
"Oh..." Zhou Fugui suddenly realized and felt much relieved. Since she wasn't a Yan palace maid, Zhou Fugui was no longer afraid. He exhaled a long breath and said, "So it was... the Song... was it the Song court? Hmm, no, I have spells of confusion from time to time. Xiao Qing, please continue."
The Song was similar to the Xia. After the fall of their nation, the incompetent and unlucky father and son, Emperor Huizong and his son, were captured by the Jin people and taken north. But the Song capital was in Kaifeng, while the Xia capital was in Luoyang. One was in the east and the other in the west, completely unrelated.
"Pfft..." Xiao Qing was extremely sad in her heart, but Zhou Fugui's words amused her. She let out a laugh, then hastily covered her mouth with her sleeve. After a pause, she continued, "The barbarians were ferocious, and Xiao Qing was terrified. At that time, I only wanted to die. Fortunately, there was Old Father Huang..."
Although Xia was not Song, its fate was similar to that of Song. Luoyang fell, and the Xia ruler and his officials were captured, along with many members of the imperial harem. They were moved north. The fate of the fallen ruler was unimaginable; he suffered immensely, a dignified ruler worse off than a beggar. The fate of the women in the harem was even more tragic; humiliation and rape were commonplace, and that was considered mild. Some were even eaten by the barbarians.
Fortunately, Xiao Qing was young at the time and did not attract the attention of the Xianbei. Moreover, an imperial eunuch surnamed Huang protected Xiao Qing with all his might, and Xiao Qing narrowly escaped.
"Poor thing, her fate is so tragic, how pitiful!" After Xiao Qing finished speaking, Zhou Fugui couldn't help but sigh and asked, "Xiao Qing, you... why did you appear at Chunfeng Tower to perform?"
"Father was seriously ill and needed a doctor to prescribe medicine. Xiao Qing had no relatives in Youzhou, so she could only sell herself to the tavern to perform and earn some money to treat her father," Xiao Qing sobbed.
"Pitiful, truly pitiful!" Zhou Fugui sighed again.