Binghu, Shijia, Junhu, Yinghu, Zhenhu, and Fuhu were families whose descendants served in the military, distinguishing them from ordinary civilian households in Yan.
This was the so-called "Binghu system."
The Binghu system, where sons succeeded fathers and served in the military for generations, began in the Eastern Han Dynasty, flourished in the Three Kingdoms period, and continued to the present day.
When Yan conquered the Central Plains and gradually adopted Han customs, its tribal military system transformed into the Binghu system, thus solving Yan's military strength deficiency.
Yan, Zhao, and Xia engaged in constant warfare, leading to a depletion of population. Therefore, for all these nations, solving the military shortage was a top priority. However, this also created a serious problem: a decrease in the farming population. Moreover, the inheritance of military service from father to son and service for generations caused widespread public resentment and hardship.
It was extremely difficult for ordinary civilian households to become Binghu, Shijia, Junhu, Yinghu, Zhenhu, or Fuhu, unless by imperial decree.
When Zhou Fugui and others committed heinous crimes and narrowly escaped death, they were exiled to Xuelin City. Their families consequently transitioned from ordinary civilian households to military households. This meant that Zhou Fugui's sons, grandsons, and all their descendants, from the day they were born, were destined to serve in the military and be soldiers for eternity.
Zhou Fugui and his companions were sent to Xuelin City for border defense. This was known as the "convict soldier system."
Conscripting convicts was a severe punishment, second only to the death penalty. Generally, it was decreed by the emperor to send convicts to the army to fight and garrison border fortifications, serving in lieu of punishment for their crimes.
Among them, death row inmates received the harshest sentences. Zhou Fugui and his group were death row inmates, required to guard the border for life unless granted amnesty. They could never expect to return to their home prefectures.
However, convicts like Zhou Fugui were exempt from wearing shackles. They were allowed to bring horses and were equipped with weapons such as sabers, spears, bows, and crossbows. After all, how could they serve as soldiers without horses, sabers, spears, bows, and crossbows?
In the past, many convicts were captured or killed by horse bandits, mountain bandits, and rogue elements on their way to serve on the border.
The Great Yan, though proclaiming "peace throughout the four seas," was actually rife with horse bandits, mountain bandits, rogue elements, and other criminals, making it extremely chaotic.
Furthermore, convict soldiers received a small stipend and could be promoted and rewarded for meritorious service, much like other soldiers, with the only restriction being that they could not return to their home prefectures. Convicts could even bring their families, meaning their wives and children could accompany them to the border and reside in the garrisons, though they too would likely never return to their home prefectures.
Of course, Zhou Fugui did not want to put his family at risk. He would bear all the dangers and hardships of going to Xuelin City for border defense alone, and there was no need to involve them.
Thus, Zhou Fugui held Xiao Qing's cold little hand and comforted her tearfully, "Qing'er, don't worry. Your husband is blessed with good fortune and will be fine. Take care of your mother at home, and I'll return."
On a certain day in August of the sixth year of Yan Yuanjia, as Zhou Fugui and other convicts were about to head north to Xuelin City for border defense, they gathered outside the North Gate of Youzhou. Their families had come to see them off, some tearfully reluctant, others offering reminders and advice, creating a scene of sorrow and heartbreak.
There were over five hundred convicts assigned to Xuelin City for border defense this time. Among them were Zhou Fugui and his "accomplices and subordinates," numbering over twenty. The rest were prisoners from various prefectures and counties of Yan.
"Master..." Xiao Qing clutched Zhou Fugui's sleeve, weeping. "Don't worry about home. It's just... it's just that I can't bear to part with you..."
Xiao Qing had become Zhou Fugui's woman. They had just married, and after only a few days, they were to be separated. How could Xiao Qing not be sad and heartbroken? How could she not be deeply reluctant to part?
Xiao Qing insisted on going to Xuelin City to accompany Zhou Fugui, but he firmly refused.
"Alright, stop crying," Zhou Fugui's mother, Liu Shi, still held the same belief that a good man should fight on the battlefield and achieve great things. She said to Zhou Fugui, "I've always believed Fugui is no ordinary person."
Liu Shi then squeezed Zhou Fugui's arm.
Besides wishing for Zhou Fugui to achieve success, Liu Shi harbored another desire: the restoration of their kingdom.
As members of the Wei royal family, Liu Shi naturally hated Yan for its conquest of Wei and longed for revenge. Thus, she placed her hopes on Zhou Fugui, but this was a faint, ethereal dream, almost impossible to achieve.
"Mother, my dear mother, I am merely a convict now," Zhou Fugui said with a wry smile.
Zhou Fugui understood his mother Liu Shi's thoughts but knew it was a distant dream. The countless elite soldiers and generals of the Great Wei had been utterly defeated by Yan. Their country was ruined. He now had only a few dozen close brothers. How could he achieve great things? Such thoughts could only be entertained in dreams late at night, without speaking them aloud. These aspirations had to be buried deep in his heart until they vanished without a trace.
"Fugui..." Liu Shi said, pulling Zhou Fugui closer and whispering in his ear, "Your great-grandfather was also a convict."
"Oh, oh, alright, alright. Mother, take care of yourself!" Zhou Fugui replied dismissively.
Liu Shi glared at Zhou Fugui.
"Second Uncle, write to us when you reach Xuelin City," his elder sister-in-law, Gu Shi, instructed.
Zhou Fugui nodded.
"Second Brother, be careful on the road," Zhou Fugui's younger sister, Zhou Xiaomei, said, tugging at his sleeve.
"Hmm..." Zhou Fugui nodded, placing his hands on Zhou Xiaomei's thin shoulders. "You are the one I worry about the most, second brother."
"Yes, Second Brother, don't worry. I... I already..." Zhou Xiaomei said, looking at Zhou Fugui.
"Second Uncle, Hu Tou is waiting for you to return on a tall horse," Zhou Fugui's nephew, Zhou Hu Tou, said, looking up at him.
"Heh heh, little rascal," Zhou Fugui said, patting Hu Tou's head. "After your second uncle leaves, you'll be the only man left at home. Your second uncle also hopes you grow up quickly and take on the responsibilities of a man soon."
"Hu Tou can take on responsibilities now," Zhou Hu Tou said, puffing out his thin chest.
"Little rascal..." Zhou Fugui could only smile at this.
"I say, Zhou Fugui, and all of you, you're dawdling. When will you depart?" At this moment, an Yan army deputy general named Ji Duor, responsible for escorting the convicts north to Xuelin City, approached with his saber at his waist, a potbelly, and several attendants. He bellowed at Zhou Fugui, "You, Zhou Fugui, are so verbose! The others are ready to go. Hurry up. If we're late, I'll be held accountable. If I'm punished, none of you will escape. Humph! Hurry up and go. You families of prisoners, step aside quickly! Don't delay the gentlemen on duty."
If Zhou Fugui had been a Yan army general before, Ji Duor might have treated him with some courtesy. But now, Zhou Fugui was nothing. Ji Duor saw no need for politeness.
It was said that Ji Duor was quite jealous of Zhou Fugui's great reputation earned at such a young age.
"Oh, we are departing now," Zhou Fugui replied blandly.
Damn it, is this another Albugu? How many Xianbei are there like Albugu! Zhou Fugui thought to himself, should I find an opportunity to kill him on the way?
But Li Qing had already advised him: impatience can ruin great plans. To seek an opportunity to kill him over a few rude words would be too impulsive. Zhou Fugui reconsidered.
Moreover, at this moment, if he committed another grave offense of murder, even a deity could not save him.
However, if Ji Duor truly intended to kill him, he would have to fight back.
This was called when tolerance reached its limit, and there was no need to tolerate any further.
The character for "endurance" has a knife on top, and enduring humiliation and carrying heavy burdens was not easy.
"Giddy up... giddy up... giddy up..."
At this moment, over a dozen riders galloped up. The leader was Zong Jiuling, an imperial eunuch attendant from the Yan inner court. Besides Zong Jiuling, two others surprised and ashamed Zhou Fugui: the Yan Grand Princess and Murong Huiying, the daughter of the Left Virtuous King Murong Bole.
Murong Huiying's expression was a complex mix of joy, shyness, and sadness. Her eyes darted away, as if she had something on her mind.
"General Zhou, receive the imperial decree..." Zong Jiuling arrived and gave Zhou Fugui a look. However, Zhou Fugui's gaze was fixed on Murong Huiying. Zong Jiuling then pushed Zhou Fugui and said.
Upon seeing Murong Huiying, Zhou Fugui was filled with remorse and shame. He felt he could not face her.
"Oh, oh, criminal Zhou Fugui receives the decree!" Zhou Fugui hastily knelt on one knee.
"By the grace of Heaven, with strength and majesty, the Emperor's decree... reinstated Zhou Fugui as a deputy general, bestowing upon him a set of armor." Zong Jiuling then read the imperial edict.
"This humble minister thanks His Majesty for his boundless grace. Long live His Majesty!" Zhou Fugui accepted the imperial edict, but he was not particularly surprised.
Emperor Murong Xi of Yan had reinstated Zhou Fugui's official position as a deputy general of Great Yan. This surprised Zhou Fugui, but upon further reflection, he understood the reason.
This matter was undoubtedly the result of Empress Murong Qing's mediation, and also the result of Zhou Fugui's enduring humiliation. There was nothing strange about it.
"General Zhou, congratulations," Zong Jiuling said, looking at Zhou Fugui with bewilderment as if he were a monster. He handed Zhou Fugui an ivory waist token and said, "This is a gift from the Empress."
Although this man was as handsome as Pan An, he shouldn't have garnered such favor from the Empress, Zong Jiuling mused.
"Her Highness the Empress?" Zhou Fugui took the ivory waist token and saw the characters "Yu Wei" inscribed on it.
Yu Wei were the Emperor's personal guards. This almost indicated that Zhou Fugui was a member of the Emperor's personal guards. His journey to Xuelin City was not to serve a sentence, but to undergo "training" on the border...
Everyone around cast envious glances at Zhou Fugui.
"Eunuch, may I speak with Deputy General Zhou privately?" At this moment, Murong Xiaoxiao suddenly spoke.
"Oh my, Your Highness, you flatter this lowly servant. Please proceed, Your Highness. Deputy General Zhou will accompany the Princess." Zong Jiuling said hastily.
As Zong Jiuling and the others spoke, they completely ignored Ji Duor.