"Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Zhou Fugui, astride a magnificent steed, held the reins in his left hand and swung his heavy sword with his right, cleaving a mounted barbarian soldier in two. The barbarian’s legs still clung tightly to the horse's belly, but his upper body, severed by Zhou Fugui’s sword, tumbled to the ground. Blood stained the gray earth, and viscera and torn flesh rained down in a messy splatter.
Using the momentum of his galloping horse, Zhou Fugui thrust his sword at another barbarian. The barbarian had no time to evade and was impaled by the heavy sword. The tip entered his chest and exited his back. As the two horses passed each other at extreme speed, the man was left hanging on the heavy sword.
The barbarian did not die instantly but could only struggle on the heavy sword.
Zhou Fugui forcefully flung the barbarian onto the snow-covered ground and, brandishing his heavy sword, charged towards two barbarians rushing at him.
The two barbarians attacked Zhou Fugui from the left and right. One swung a heavy saber at Zhou Fugui, while the other followed closely, thrusting his spear directly at him.
Zhou Fugui raised his sword to parry. Sword and saber clashed, emitting a shrill sound. The blades ground against each other, producing a series of "sizzling" noises and a shower of sparks.
Seizing the moment the saber and sword separated, Zhou Fugui swiftly swung his sword downwards, severing the barbarian’s arms. The barbarian cried out in pain and fell from his horse.
At this moment, the barbarian who had thrust his spear arrived. Zhou Fugui quickly dodged.
The tip of the spear passed directly through Zhou Fugui's ribs, piercing his armor.
As their horses crossed paths, Zhou Fugui stretched out his arm like a monkey and lifted the barbarian soldier in front of his saddle. With a fluid motion, Zhou Fugui severed the enemy's throat, and blood erupted like a fountain.
Zhou Fugui pushed the barbarian’s corpse away. With a "thump," the barbarian fell from his horse. However, before Zhou Fugui could catch his breath, another forty to fifty mounted barbarians charged towards him, brandishing their large sabers.
The barbarians' eyes blazed, their faces contorted in ferocity, determined to cut down this brave general of the Yan army.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Just then, the sound of neighing horses, the pounding of hooves, and loud shouts suddenly erupted from behind. Xu Mancang, Xue Wentai, Suo Dacheng, and over a hundred cavalrymen arrived at a gallop. Forming a formation of five abreast, each man was incredibly valiant and plunged into the enemy ranks, instantly felling over twenty barbarians under their swords. The barbarians were struck with great fear, their faces paling in shock and confusion. They hesitated and began to retreat.
The warriors of the Ice Bone Camp, having undergone eight months of hellish and brutal training, were now forged in body and spirit, immensely brave. Over a hundred warriors charged into nearly five hundred fierce barbarian soldiers, their blades falling like rain, felling a large number in an instant.
The barbarians, usually ferociously brave, now faced this unstoppable force, their demeanor changed. Facing such ruthless, fearless, agile, and vicious warriors, the barbarian ranks immediately fell into disarray. Before they could recover their senses, the warriors of the Ice Bone Camp had already entered their midst, engaging in a massacre.
Among them, Zhou Fugui had progressed the fastest. Not only had his combat skills improved significantly, but his resolve was iron-clad, and he showed no mercy in killing enemies.
The final lesson of the Ice Bone Camp was practical combat. Three hundred cavalrymen faced over five hundred barbarian light cavalry and remarkably, not a single man died, with only over twenty sustaining injuries.
However, these over five hundred barbarian light cavalry were merely ordinary barbarians, not elites.
Practical combat, however, was the best form of training.
Tutis, the commander of the Ice Bone Camp, watched all this from a distance with an impassive expression, though a hint of approval flickered in his heart.
...
"Captain Zhou, follow me. The Grand Commander wishes to see you," Tutis said to Zhou Fugui.
"Centurion Tutis, I am merely a bodyguard, not a captain," Zhou Fugui replied expressionlessly.
After leaving the Ice Bone Camp, Zhou Fugui, Xu Mancang, Xue Wentai, and Suo Dacheng had technically graduated, their training complete. The remaining over two hundred warriors of the Ice Bone Camp were assigned to various border garrisons, promoted to be banner generals, troop leaders, and so forth based on their individual achievements and performance. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Zhou Fugui remained a bodyguard after leaving the Ice Bone Camp...
Tutis glanced at Zhou Fugui upon hearing this, noting that he did not seem to harbor any grievances.
In reality, Zhou Fugui had been inwardly cursing, his ire directed at Grand Commander Hu Yan Sheng, Tutis, and their ancestors for eighteen generations...
Zhou Fugui believed that his performance in the Ice Bone Camp was not the absolute best, but he was certainly among the elite. He had originally thought he would finally get to lead troops, if not a whole camp, then at least a banner. But the outcome... Zhou Fugui was filled with an overwhelming sense of frustration and confusion.
After all, he had once been the lord of a camp, Zhou Fugui thought dejectedly.
However, the eight months of hellish training had long since taught Zhou Fugui one crucial lesson: military orders were like mountains.
No matter how many complaints he had, he had to suppress them.
"Grand Commander, do you have a grudge against Captain Zhou?"
"Heh heh, Eunuch, you jest. What grievance could I possibly have with that young brat?"
"If there is no grievance or enmity, then why are you treating him like this? You actually made him..."
"Made him what?"
"Zhou Fugui, a captain appointed by the imperial court, and an outstanding individual in the Ice Bone Camp. During the southern campaign, he even led a camp of several thousand troops, yet you..."
"Yet what? You didn't promote him and kept him as a bodyguard? Officer Hou, I will tell you the truth today. I think it is inappropriate for him to be a bodyguard. As my bodyguard, he underwent the rigorous training in the Ice Bone Camp, yet he kept two beautiful female slaves outside, daring to harbor them in secret? And he raised pets. What is this called? This is letting personal indulgence lead to the loss of one's ambition. This is a violation of military discipline. I would be justified in executing him and displaying his head at the city gate. As a bodyguard? It is already lenient for him to continue as one."
"You... Hmph!"
As Tutis and Zhou Fugui approached the residence of the border commander Hu Yan Sheng, fierce arguments between Hu Yan Sheng and Hou Luo Qi could be heard from within. Following this, Hou Luo Qi stormed out and encountered Zhou Fugui.
Hou Luo Qi didn't say a word, merely giving Zhou Fugui an apologetic glance.
The two beautiful Western women had been a gift from Hou Luo Qi, but they had now become Zhou Fugui's crime. Hou Luo Qi's plan had thus failed due to Hu Yan Sheng's objection.
Zhou Fugui nodded in acknowledgment, expressing his gratitude, and put on an indifferent expression.
"Let him in!" Hu Yan Sheng said after a long pause.
Tutis heard this, opened the door, gestured for Zhou Fugui to enter, and then closed the door.
"Your humble servant Zhou Fugui pays his respects to the Grand Commander!" Upon entering, Zhou Fugui bowed respectfully, without subservience or arrogance, and stood by his sword.
"You heard it all?" Hu Yan Sheng asked, leaning against a cushion, looking at Zhou Fugui.
Zhou Fugui nodded.
"Do you have any complaints?" Hu Yan Sheng asked again.
"I dare not!" Zhou Fugui replied calmly.
"If you dare not, then stand there," Hu Yan Sheng instructed, and then picked up a book to read.
Thus, Zhou Fugui, full of grievances and wanting to vent, was silenced by Hu Yan Sheng's words and could only stand inside, sulking.
"By observing oneself, one can understand others; by observing the present, one can understand the past." After a long, long silence, Hu Yan Sheng murmured, holding the book, "Han books are indeed profound and insightful. They hold some meaning."
What are you, a Xiongnu, pretending to be so learned? As if you could read all these books... Can you even recognize all the Chinese characters? Zhou Fugui thought disdainfully.
"What do you want to say?" Hu Yan Sheng then looked up and saw Zhou Fugui’s hesitant expression. He asked, "What do you want to say?"
"The Grand Commander praises Han books for their profundity..." Zhou Fugui, who had been holding back for a long time, finally spoke. "Does the Grand Commander wish to hear an anecdote from a Han book?"
"Oh? What anecdote do you have? Feel free to tell me," Hu Yan Sheng said with a smile.
"The Humiliation of Crawling Under the Crotch!" Zhou Fugui replied.
"Mm, proceed," Hu Yan Sheng nodded.
"Han Xin, who planned strategies within his tent and achieved victory a thousand miles away, was a renowned general of the Han Dynasty..." Zhou Fugui recounted. "Han Xin's command of troops was unrivaled, his achievements unprecedented. Yet, when Han Xin was in Huaiyin County, a ruffian named Tu insulted Han Xin, saying, 'Although you are tall and like to carry a sword, you are actually a coward.' He then publicly insulted him further, saying, 'If you are not afraid of death, then stab me with your sword. If you are afraid of death, then crawl under my crotch.' Han Xin then carefully examined him, lowered himself to the ground, and crawled between his legs. Everyone in the street laughed at Han Xin, thinking him a coward. In reality, Han Xin harbored great ambitions and bore the humiliation stoically."
"Mm, the humiliation of crawling under the crotch, harboring great ambitions, bearing humiliation stoically. Continue," Hu Yan Sheng nodded.
"Han Xin then defected to Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, but was not given important positions. He was merely a bodyguard, a 'zhí jǐ láng zhōng' under Xiang Yu," Zhou Fugui continued.
"Before Han Xin became famous, he was an unknown figure. Being a zhí jǐ láng zhōng was already quite good," Hu Yan Sheng said.
Hu Yan Sheng inwardly found it amusing, thinking to himself, Isn't he talking about me?
"Yes, the Grand Commander speaks wisely..." Zhou Fugui nodded sheepishly. "However, this zhí jǐ láng zhōng repeatedly offered counsel to Xiang Yu, all of which were excellent strategies, such as quickly capturing Xianyang and pacifying the twenty thousand surrendered Qin soldiers. Yet, Xiang Yu ignored them. Angered, Han Xin then defected to Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty, ultimately achieving great success and becoming a renowned general."
"Haha..." Hu Yan Sheng burst into laughter. "But what was his end? Speak, why don't you continue?"
"His... end... was being killed by Emperor Liu Bang of the Han... captured in Chen County, his family ruined, his clan exterminated by Liu Bang... Truly, 'when the birds are gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbits are dead, the hunting dogs are cooked!'" Zhou Fugui stammered.
"Haha, 'when the birds are gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbits are dead, the hunting dogs are cooked?'" Hu Yan Sheng laughed again. "In my opinion, this was Han Xin's own doing, seeking his own demise! Guard Zhou, let me ask you, why did the Han strategists and generals like Xiao He, Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, Zhou Bo, Fan Kuai, Cao Shen, etc., not die? They all had good endings. Do you think Han Xin was very brilliant? I, however, believe Han Xin was not even fit to carry their shoes."
Zhou Fugui was stunned, staring blankly at Hu Yan Sheng.