"An emperor doesn't mistreat his soldiers..." Zhou Fugui couldn't help but say, pointing to the food and fine wine on the table, "The Governor shouldn't be making people work for nothing, right?"
Zhou Fugui was already dizzy from hunger, his chest sticking to his back. Hu Yan Sheng was asking him for his thoughts on grain and provisions? With an empty stomach, Zhou Fugui's brain seemed to have stopped working...
Upon hearing this, Hu Yan Sheng gestured to the wooden table.
Zhou Fugui grabbed a wine cup and took a big gulp of the fine wine, then grabbed a piece of fatty mutton, chewed it vigorously, and mumbled, "Grain and provisions, as they say, are logistics. It's either allocated by the imperial court or supplied by the prefectures and counties. Both require transportation, and transportation relies on oxen, horses, carts, or manpower. Therefore, the key to imperial court allocation and prefecture/county supply lies in oxen, horses, carts, or manpower."
"Mmm, and roads too," Hu Yan Sheng mused. "The heavy snow blocked the roads, what can be done?"
"Bad weather affects the transport of grain and provisions," Zhou Fugui said. "This is a matter of timing. But, Great Governor, we can't change the timing, can't we change the roads? Can't we improve the oxen and horses, or modify the carts?"
"Mmm? What do you mean by that?" Hu Yan Sheng asked.
"Have you not heard of the wooden oxen and flowing horses of the Three Kingdoms?" Zhou Fugui asked. In his excitement, he sat directly on the ground instead of kneeling. Hu Yan Sheng paid him no mind.
"You know of the wooden oxen and flowing horses?" Hu Yan Sheng asked, surprised.
"This humble man has a brilliant plan!" Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
"What other insights do you have?" Hu Yan Sheng asked, glaring at Zhou Fugui before continuing.
"Besides allocations from the imperial court and supplies from the prefectures and counties, there's only self-provisioning. Self-provisioning of grain and provisions primarily involves farming and plundering, and also what you call 'righteous levies.' I suspect 'righteous levies' aren't a good thing, are they?"
"The border soldiers must eat, mustn't they?" Hu Yan Sheng nodded. "It seems you understand grain and provisions quite well. Well, I won't deceive you. The 'righteous levy' is essentially forcing the common people to contribute grain taxes. This is something the Great Yan Kingdom often does."
"I dare not say I understand, but I know a little," Zhou Fugui muttered, thinking that nomadic peoples knew only how to plunder, and even after establishing a kingdom, they couldn't change their old ways. He continued, "Plundering and 'righteous levies' are not foolproof strategies. Do people just sit there waiting to be robbed? You might not get any grain or treasure, but lose soldiers and generals instead. Or they might employ a scorched-earth policy, leaving you with nothing but loss?"
"'When one fails to catch a chicken, one loses the rice'? That's an interesting saying. Continue," Hu Yan Sheng nodded.
"The matter of 'righteous levies' is even more unacceptable," Zhou Fugui continued. "The people are like water; water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The sage said: the people are most important, the state next, and the ruler least. Thus, how can plundering and 'righteous levies' be done often?"
"What sage or other nonsense, I don't know about that," Hu Yan Sheng said dismissively. "For so many years, we've managed like this, and no boat has capsized."
"Good is rewarded with good, and evil is rewarded with evil. It's not that there's no retribution, just that the time hasn't come," Zhou Fugui continued to persuade.
"Stop with the useless talk," Hu Yan Sheng waved his hand, interrupting Zhou Fugui. "The army is short on grain. Do you have a solution, or should you withdraw?"
"The solutions are the ones mentioned above, aren't they?" Zhou Fugui thought to himself, "This fellow is truly a blockhead." He then said, "Repairing roads, improving infrastructure, farming, and your 'plundering' and 'righteous levies,' etc. If all these measures are implemented together, there will surely be results. Oh, and also opening border markets, which can also raise grain and provisions."
"You may go!" Hu Yan Sheng said, dismissing Zhou Fugui after pondering for a long time.
By now, Zhou Fugui was full and had had his fill of wine, so he withdrew.
...
"Guard Zhou, good morning!"
"Morning! Morning!"
"Guard Zhou, have you eaten?"
"Yes, hehe, I have."
"Were the food and dishes delicious?"
"Just so-so."
"I say, Old Di San, he's from the capital. The delicacies of the capital are nothing compared to the food in this harsh land."
"That's true. Compared to the cuisine of the capital, your food here is like pig slop."
"Guard Zhou, you're boasting. As if you were a noble from a prominent family, able to enjoy the delicacies of the capital."
"I'm boasting? Although I'm not a noble from a prominent family, I have tasted all the delicacies of the capital."
"Haha, your boasts are becoming more outrageous. Tell us a few dishes, and let us brothers broaden our horizons."
"Alright, listen carefully! 'Scallion and Leek Soup', 'Gourd Soup', 'Oily Fermented Beans', 'Pan-fried Seaweed', 'Steamed Wild Garlic', 'Candied Ginger', 'Braised Gourd Method', 'Braised Melon Method', 'Braised Mushroom Method', 'Braised Eggplant'... These are just the vegetarian dishes. For meat dishes, there's 'Tasteless Jerky', 'Fish Paste', 'Black Carp Jerky', 'Hu Broth', 'Shredded Fish and Water Chestnut Soup', and so on and so forth."
"Oh my heavens, Guard Zhou, is it true or false? We've never even heard of these dishes."
"That's because you are all ignorant, haha!"
"..."
In just a few days, Zhou Fugui had gradually adapted to his identity as a guard, and even felt a sense of pride and contentment...
As the saying goes, a minor official in front of the prime minister is like a seventh-rank official, and a subordinate under the Great Governor is like an eighth-rank general. Everyone in Xue Lin City, from top to bottom, showed him respect, not daring to slight this mere guard. Moreover, Zhou Fugui was a relatively easy-going person, so he quickly became familiar with many people in Xue Lin City.
When Zhou Fugui was off duty, he would stroll around Xue Lin City with his saber, chatting and bantering with acquaintances.
After Zhou Fugui finished speaking, he burst into laughter, leaving behind a group of people with saliva dripping from their mouths, and strode away.
"Roar... Roar... Roar..."
"Army on the march, all idlers keep clear!"
As Zhou Fugui was wandering aimlessly in the city, a group of Yan border soldiers suddenly appeared, running at a slow trot with various weapons in hand, growling.
The surrounding pedestrians quickly made way, and Zhou Fugui, with his saber, also flashed to the side, watching these border soldiers.
"You... You guys?" Zhou Fugui was shocked to discover Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Xue Wentai, and others among these border soldiers.
Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Xue Wentai, and the others also spotted Zhou Fugui, dressed in guard attire, and showed expressions of surprise. However, they dared not speak or make noise, only winking and gesturing to him.
The Flying Bear Army, the elite border troops, maintained strict, almost ruthless, discipline. No one could save them if they violated military law.
Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Xue Wentai, and the other border soldiers headed towards the lookout tower of Xue Lin City. With nothing else to do, Zhou Fugui followed, wanting to see what they were doing.
"Divide into two teams, engage in combat!" After a group of Yan border soldiers reached the lookout tower, a burly border general, mounted on his horse, loudly commanded.
The Yan border soldiers then split into two teams: one team consisted of the newly recruited auxiliary troops of the Flying Bear Army, and the other was the regular Flying Bear Army. After finding their opponents, they either raised their swords or spears and fought each other. The clash of blades and spears was incessant, and the shouts of battle shook the heavens.
So it was training, Zhou Fugui stood with his saber, watching it all with great interest.
As border soldiers, military training was not uncommon. However, such realistic training, close to actual combat, was something Zhou Fugui had never witnessed before.
In his former White Tiger Battalion, Zhou Fugui believed the training was quite rigorous, but compared to the Flying Bear Army, it seemed like a mere child's play.
However, the White Tiger Battalion at that time was hastily assembled, with soldiers of varying quality, and some were even ordinary civilians. They were simply given some swords and spears before battle. It was understandable that they couldn't compare to the Flying Bear Army, which had long guarded the frontier.
"Thump!"
Just then, Xu Mancang was struck in the ribs by the shaft of a long spear wielded by a Flying Bear Army soldier. Xu Mancang was immediately sent flying, falling into the muddy water mixed with melted snow, and rolled all over, looking extremely disheveled.
Xu Mancang was also a valiant general in the White Tiger Battalion, considered among the best of the three thousand soldiers. Yet, he was defeated by an ordinary Flying Bear Army soldier. This made Zhou Fugui's jaw drop in astonishment.
"You treacherous dog! Grandpa Xu will fight you to the death!" Xu Mancang was also fierce. Although he was dazed from the fall, he quickly got up, cursed loudly, and swung his saber towards the opponent's head.
Having lost so much face in front of Zhou Fugui and his brothers, Xu Mancang was determined to regain his honor.
The Flying Bear Army soldier snorted coldly. Seeing Xu Mancang rush forward, he didn't dodge. He bent down and swung his spear, striking Xu Mancang's shin with incredible speed. Xu Mancang immediately lost his balance and fell into the muddy water with a "plop" again.
Xu Mancang took a hard blow this time, feeling as if his shinbone might have broken. He lay in the muddy water, groaning, unable to get up for a long time.
"Mancang! Get up and fight again!" At this moment, Zhou Fugui couldn't bear it any longer and roared in exasperation, "You've disgraced the White Tiger Battalion!"
"Splat!"
"Plop!"
Xu Mancang's face turned red with shame from Zhou Fugui's scolding. He desperately tried to get up to fight again, but was knocked down again. This time, no matter how hard Xu Mancang tried, he couldn't get up.
"Hoo!"
"I will cut you into eight pieces!"
Xue Wentai's situation was much better. He had knocked down two Flying Bear Army soldiers in succession. However, another short but extremely agile Flying Bear Army soldier appeared. The two of them fought for a long time, and eventually, Xue Wentai was defeated. He was knocked down three times in a row and finally lay on the ground, only able to curse loudly. With a sword pointed at his nose, he finally ceased his struggle.
"Xue Wentai, I thought you were quite capable normally, why are you chickening out now?" Zhou Fugui yelled again, furious. "Suo Dacheng, where's your Rolling Hall Axe? Did it roll into the latrine? Li Qing, you pretentious scholar, why are you joining the fun? Pan Guijian, you damn fool, if you don't give it your all now, you'll truly meet the ghost!"
"Why don't you try?" At this moment, Xu Mancang, Xue Wentai, Suo Dacheng, Pan Guijian, Li Qing, and a group of fellow townsmen and friends, all angered by Zhou Fugui's scolding, turned to look at him and retorted furiously.