"White Tiger Camp!"
"The entire army, form ranks!"
"Brothers in arms, live together, die together!"
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Yan army camp commander Albugu, frightened by Zhou Fugui and spouting nonsense, actually managed to draw over twenty thousand elite Yan cavalry, densely packing the entire street.
Upon hearing that a Han general was actually protecting the Xia people of Guangling Commandery, the Yan cavalry became enraged, completely surrounding the White Tiger Camp, determined to seize the people from them.
For a Han general, a mere camp overseer, to dare to be so "arrogant" was unprecedented in the Great Yan Kingdom. All the Xianbei generals of the Yan army felt indignant.
If such a Han general's "arrogant might" was not suppressed today, would he not ride over the heads of the Xianbei generals in the future?
Zhou Fugui, the Yan army camp overseer and commander of the White Tiger Camp, with a face ashen, ordered all the soldiers of the White Tiger Camp to form ranks and stand ready. Both sides were at daggers drawn, and internal conflict was imminent.
"I say, Overseer Zhou, what is the point of all this?" Camp Commander Ulan Si, mounted on his horse, pointed to the trembling Xia people behind the White Tiger Camp and advised, "They are just lowly southerners. Is it worth it for you to do this?"
"Commander Ulan Si speaks wisely. If Commander Zhou simply hands over the people, we will pretend this never happened. What do you say?" Camp Commander Balhu also advised.
Ulan Si, Balhu, and Zhou Fugui were old acquaintances. Not long ago, Ulan Si and Balhu, when they were banner commanders, had a fight with Zhou Fugui and were defeated by him. People of the grassland, however, were not all like Albugu. Most grassland people admired martial prowess and heroic figures.
At this moment, Zhou Fugui, facing a superior force with a weaker one, showed no fear, thus earning the respect of many Xianbei people, including Ulan Si and Balhu, who now offered their counsel in good faith.
"It is worth it!" Zhou Fugui, fully armored and with his hand on his waist saber, said slowly. "Thank you both, camp commanders. But in all matters under heaven, it comes down to one word: righteousness! Indeed, Yan and Xia are at war, and they are enemies, not friends. However, Guangling Commandery has now been captured by our army, and the Xia army has been defeated. These are just common folk. When two nations are at war, what crime have the common people committed to suffer such undeserved misfortune? Moreover, Guangling Commandery is now in our hands, and its people are Yan subjects. As Yan subjects, they should be treated equally. Why should there be discrimination? I, Zhou, am a man of principle. If there is injustice, I will see it through to the end."
"Fellow countrymen and brothers!" Zhou Fugui then turned to face the soldiers of the White Tiger Camp and asked, "We are human, not beasts. The difference between humans and beasts is shame, guilt, and disgrace. Without shame, guilt, or disgrace, we are not fit to be called human. They are unarmed civilians. Can you bear to lay hands on them?"
"We cannot!" the soldiers of the White Tiger Camp responded loudly.
"When there is injustice on the road, we should uphold righteousness!" Zhou Fugui shouted again.
"Indeed!" the soldiers of the White Tiger Camp replied loudly.
"The chivalrous heroes of old valued their word and held life cheap; they pursued great righteousness and feared no death. Are we lesser than the ancients? I, Zhou, will see this matter through today. What is there to fear in this matter today?" Zhou Fugui raised his arms and shouted again.
"What is there to fear!" Zhou Fugui's words were highly inflammatory, causing the soldiers of the White Tiger Camp, holding their swords and spears, to loudly assent.
"Good, good, you speak with reason." Ulan Si seized the opportunity to dismount, uttering a word, and then ordered his troops to retreat. Balhu did the same.
If an internal conflict were to truly erupt within the Yan army, none would escape scrutiny when Grand Tutor Murong Bole investigated. Thus, Ulan Si took advantage of the situation to adopt a stance of observing the unfolding events.
"Zhou Fugui, you are silver-tongued! Do not listen to his foolish ramblings." Albugu, seeing the tide turning and many Yan generals showing signs of shame, shouted loudly, "The Grand Tutor has given us three days for self-governance. The White Tiger Camp merely wants to gain more benefits. We toiled to capture this city, yet we gain almost nothing. He has taken all the benefits, leaving us with nothing. Is this not like drawing water with a bamboo basket, a futile effort, and all our hard work in vain?"
"Yes, Commander Albugu speaks the truth."
"Exactly. Our Guiyuan Camp attacked Guangling Commandery, suffering more than half our casualties, yet we only captured a dozen or so people and some minor treasures."
"Commander Zhou suddenly captured thousands of people. Surely they had considerable wealth on them? You should share some of it!"
"I don't understand your grand principles. We suffered so many casualties and gained no benefits. If you don't share some today, we will not let this go!"
Albugu's enticement with material gain caused the Yan army, whose morale had slightly faltered, to become "righteously indignant" again and clamor loudly. Some Yan soldiers had already pressed their swords and spears against the White Tiger Camp soldiers.
The two sides stood in confrontation, with incessant arguments and curses. Internal conflict was on the verge of breaking out.
The White Tiger Camp, being outnumbered, was forced to retreat step by step.
"Haha, Zhou Fugui, let's see who helps you today!" Albugu, seeing his incitement proving effective, couldn't help but laugh triumphantly.
"I will!" At this moment, someone shouted. Both sides of the confrontation immediately looked up and saw General Murong Tengge arriving with two camp's worth of men.
"What do you think you are doing? Get out of the way!" Murong Tengge roared angrily. The Yan army then parted, creating a path, and Murong Tengge entered with his men, standing alongside Zhou Fugui.
"Your subordinate greets the Military Lord!" Upon Murong Tengge's arrival, Zhou Fugui let out a sigh of relief and bowed with gratitude, cupping his fist.
"Lay down your weapons!" Murong Tengge said, his face darkening.
Hearing this, Zhou Fugui waved his hand.
"Clatter!" Following the order, the White Tiger Camp soldiers uniformly placed their swords and spears on the ground.
Murong Tengge nodded with satisfaction at Zhou Fugui's effective leadership, then addressed the Yan army: "The Grand Tutor has decreed a three-day period for self-governance. Since that is the case, the people and treasures obtained by Overseer Zhou are his, and he decides how to dispose of them. Why are you here to seize them? If you have the ability, go and seize them yourselves. If you provoke internal strife, what crime will you incur?"
"Military Lord Tengge, others may fear you, but I do not." Under Murong Tengge's reprimand, all the Yan army showed a look of fear and began to withdraw. However, Shenrui Army General Mo Ergu shouted loudly, "Military Lord Tengge, we are not convinced by your favoritism! The Grand Tutor has indeed decreed three days for self-governance, but if he has already seized all the people and treasures, what are we supposed to seize?"
The remaining Xia survivors in Guangling Commandery continued to flock to Zhou Fugui's side, now numbering four to five thousand. After the fall of Guangling Commandery city, the Xia people had either died or fled, leaving very few behind.
"Haha, Military Lord Mo Ergu, your words make no sense," Murong Tengge laughed heartily. "If you can't get it, you go and snatch it from others. Wouldn't that cause chaos?"
"I don't care. You are all full, but you can't let my subordinates starve to death, can you? Come, seize it!" Mo Ergu's face flushed red, and he ordered in anger.
Thus, the two sides crowded together again, facing each other in confrontation. Murong Tengge and Zhou Fugui had fewer men, while Mo Ergu commanded the elite Yan cavalry. Consequently, they were forced to retreat step by step, and the situation was about to spiral out of control.
"Haha, Zhou Fugui, I see who will help you now!" Albugu laughed triumphantly again.
"I will!"
At this moment, Dun Woqi arrived with two thousand cavalry from the Blazing Fire Camp, shouting loudly.
Upon seeing this, the Yan army immediately restrained themselves, their faces showing expressions of shock and fear.
What was the Blazing Fire Camp? It was Murong Bole's personal guard, having followed him on countless campaigns for over twenty years. They were his most trusted confidantes, and each of them was fierce and skilled in battle. How could the Yan army not fear them?
With the arrival of the Blazing Fire Camp, it was clear that the situation was escalating.
"Dun Woqi, why are you joining in the fun?" Upon Dun Woqi's arrival with his troops, Mo Ergu dared not order his subordinates to seize people anymore and could only point at Dun Woqi and ask angrily.
"Dun Woqi has been ordered by the Grand Princess to assist Overseer Zhou." Dun Woqi replied coldly, then said no more, merely ordering his troops to surround Zhou Fugui and the others.
Thus, the two sides stood in a standoff, neither daring to make a move. The scene became quiet, with hardly anyone speaking.
The Princess? Princess Ziyue... Upon hearing that Murong Huiying had sent Dun Woqi and others to assist, Zhou Fugui recalled the beautiful appearance of Murong Huiying and felt a wave of warmth in his heart.
Where is she? Zhou Fugui thought to himself.
"The Grand Tutor has ordered everyone to return to their posts, fulfill their duties, and the three-day period of self-governance ends now! Violators will be executed!" As the Guangling Commandery affair escalated, it finally alarmed the command tent. Murong Bole's advisor, Tang Qingsi, rushed over, panting, and loudly announced the Grand Tutor's order.
"Overseer Zhou, hand over the people to this official." Tang Qingsi then said to Zhou Fugui.
"Your subordinate obeys the order!" Zhou Fugui glanced at the Xia people and accepted the command.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Overseer Zhou, come here for a moment. I have something to say." After the Yan army dispersed, Tang Qingsi said to Zhou Fugui.
"Master Tang, what instructions do you have?" Zhou Fugui walked over and cupped his fist in greeting.
Seeing Tang Qingsi, Zhou Fugui suddenly remembered Tang Yao.
Could there be a connection between them? Zhou Fugui pondered.
"Instructions? With your great capabilities, Overseer Zhou, you have even alarmed the Grand Tutor. What instructions could I possibly give?" Tang Qingsi said with a smile, looking at Zhou Fugui.
"Master Tang is joking." Zhou Fugui's face flushed slightly upon hearing this.
"Overseer Zhou, why did you save those people? Was it merely out of kindness?" Tang Qingsi asked.
"Only that." Zhou Fugui nodded. "They were all pitiable civilians, and I, Zhou, could not bear it."
"Hmph, I don't think so." Tang Qingsi snorted. "Among the Xia people you rescued, there were also some Xia soldiers disguised as civilians. They simply took off their uniforms."
"Oh, is that so?" In fact, Zhou Fugui already knew about this. He nodded and said, "Even if there were Xia soldiers, after the city fell and the army was defeated, they are now captives of the Great Yan. Why must they be killed?"
"There are some things you do not understand." Tang Qingsi shook his head. "Overseer Zhou, do you know the consequences of your actions?"
"Your subordinate does not know. Please enlighten me, Master Tang!" Zhou Fugui asked.
"You have offended most of the people in the army. Are you afraid?" Tang Qingsi asked.
"I am not afraid!" Zhou Fugui replied.
"Even the Grand Tutor is extremely enraged!" Tang Qingsi added.
"I am not afraid!" Zhou Fugui said calmly.