"To leave the ranks, to jostle forward, to speak loudly, and to disobey orders, this is to disrupt the army. Those who violate this will be beheaded."
Murong Tengge, the commander of the Yan army's Brave Camp, said with a ashen face to Zhou Fugui and Dian Meng.
"Yes, yes, Commander Murong is mighty. I request permission to execute these rascals, especially Zhou Fugui, and display his head at the camp gate 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 shot a cold glance at Albugu, ignoring him.
As the leader of a banner and its main general, to have chaos erupt within his banner, fail to stop it promptly, and instead become flustered, was the height of incompetence. Did he have the nerve to clamor for the enforcement of military law? Murong Tengge thought to himself.
"Commander, Zhou and Brother Dian Meng of Jizhou merely had a misunderstanding and a slight quarrel. How can this be considered disrupting the army? As the saying goes, heroes come from all walks of life, and it's not uncommon to become friends after a dispute!" Zhou Fugui said, raising an eyebrow at Dian Meng. "Isn't that right, Brother Dian...?"
To be executed for a fight in the army? The military law was too harsh! Zhou Fugui was startled to hear that he was to be beheaded and displayed. If that happened, wouldn't he have died before even setting out?
What Zhou Fugui didn't know was that the Yan army, in its battles with the Xia army, had more victories than defeats, and a crucial reason for this was the Yan's stringent, almost brutal, military law.
It seemed this old turtle was determined to confront him, or perhaps this old turtle harbored a grudge against him over the matter of court rewards. Zhou Fugui thought to himself after glancing at Albugu, did he want his life solely for that reason? It seemed he would have to guard against this old turtle in the future.
"Indeed, whatever you say goes." With military law about to be enforced, Dian Meng was still heartbroken over his new pants. He responded dully, "Mmm."
"Quibbling, Han slaves are good at quibbling!" Albugu exclaimed loudly upon hearing this. "Commander, such a rascal..."
"Silence!" Murong Tengge interrupted Albugu before he could finish speaking and reprimanded him, "What rascal? They are already the soldiers of our Great Yan, so what 'common people' are you talking about?"
In the early days of the Yan dynasty, the Xianbei were respected and the Han were looked down upon. The distinction between Xianbei and Han was clear. However, as Yan conquered more and more Han territories, they gradually came to realize the need to appease the Han population under their rule. Otherwise, with the Han outnumbering the Xianbei by tens of times, and still practicing a policy of respecting Xianbei and despising Han, it would inevitably incite fierce resistance from the Han, making it impossible for Yan to establish a foothold in the Central Plains. At the very least, they could no longer openly practice the policy of respecting Xianbei and despising Han.
To ask them to fight, to die, and to be trampled underfoot – anyone would harbor resentment, even hatred.
However, some Xianbei, like Albugu and the noble lords in the court, still clung to their old ways of thinking and acting. Yet, there were many in the entire Great Yan who had a clear understanding of the situation, such as Murong Tengge.
"Considering you have just joined the army and are still unfamiliar with military law, your lives will be spared, but you cannot escape punishment." Murong Tengge pondered for a moment before ordering, "Come, give them one hundred lashes each."
"Banner leader Albugu, use ordinary whips." Murong Tengge added, looking at Zhou Fugui with some unease, reminding Albugu.
If whips with iron spikes were used, it would not take a hundred lashes; ten or so would be enough to end the lives of Zhou Fugui and the others.
"Flag soldier Zhou Fugui, Dian Meng, take off your clothes." The Yan army's disciplinary officer, holding a whip, said coldly to Zhou Fugui and Dian Meng.
Zhou Fugui complied reluctantly, taking off his clothes to reveal a well-muscled, fair physique, while Dian Meng was dark-skinned.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
A moment later, Zhou Fugui and Dian Meng were tied to execution posts. The disciplinary officer swung his whip, lashing Zhou Fugui and Dian Meng. Immediately, streaks of blood appeared on Zhou Fugui's strong, fair flesh, crisscrossing each other, a shocking sight.
Zhou Fugui gritted his teeth, enduring the pain that almost made him faint, making not a sound.
With every lash from the Xianbei, a new layer of hatred was etched into Zhou Fugui's heart, until it was boundless.
...
"You... Young Master Zhou, why aren't you crying out? Cry out, it will feel better." Xiao Qing applied herbs to Zhou Fugui's wounds. Although Zhou Fugui was sweating profusely from the pain and his face was pale, he still gritted his teeth and remained silent. Xiao Qing, however, couldn't help but shed tears.
Zhou Fugui had been whipped a hundred times and was severely injured. However, as the Yan army marched south, Zhou Fugui had to follow the army and could not stay behind to recuperate. Fortunately, Murong Tengge provided Zhou Fugui with a donkey cart, which allowed him to move forward.
The army was currently near Ye City, and Zhou Fugui found a civilian residence to rest for a while.
Due to years of war, the land was desolate and the people were displaced. Thus, this so-called civilian residence was actually left behind by the local residents who had fled south. It was in ruins, with gaps in the walls that let the wind whistle through.
Ye City was a vital northern stronghold. In times of peace, it was densely populated and commercially prosperous. House prices in Ye City were sky-high, making every inch of land worth its weight in gold. 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 to his wounds, a cool sensation spread, and the pain somewhat subsided. As the pain lessened, his lustful thoughts stirred. Lying on the bed, he looked at the demure Xiao Qing and smiled, "Firstly, I am not some young master, but a farmer from the countryside. You can just call me by my name. Secondly, have you heard the saying that a man bleeds but does not shed tears? I, Zhou Fugui, am not particularly talented, so why should I fear mere pain?"
Xiao Qing's appearance was not that of a fairy or a beauty of legendary proportions, but rather plain yet dignified and beautiful. She wasn't strikingly stunning at first glance but was very pleasant to look at.
Dignified and beautiful, with fair skin, like a lotus emerging from water, gentle and timid, like a young lady from a humble family. At the same time, her demeanor was elegant, serene like a delicate flower reflecting in the water, and graceful in her movements, like a slender willow swaying in the wind.
Her background must be extraordinary. Was she from a prominent family? Zhou Fugui secretly speculated.
Zhou Fugui had endured the whipping, feeling as if he had been beaten to death. Along the way, he had no leisure to admire Xiao Qing's appearance and figure. Moreover, Xiao Qing had been wearing thick clothes and mixed with the soldiers, making her appear plump. Now, although Xiao Qing was still dressed in men's clothing, she wore two thin garments, which accentuated her graceful figure.
Xiao Qing was a woman, disguised as a man in the army. Only Zhou Fugui and a few of his close fellow villagers knew. Albugu, the green-haired turtle, and others had not noticed.
As long as one disguised themselves well, they could deceive the heavens and cross the sea. Hua Mulan, who joined the army in place of her father in ancient times, was also discovered only after a long time.
"Bleeding but not shedding tears?" Xiao Qing chuckled slightly upon hearing this. She knelt in the room, fanning the stove with a palm-leaf fan. As she fanned, she said, "I am not some seven-foot-tall man. I am terrified of blood."
"And I cry easily..." Zhou Fugui chuckled upon hearing this. "Xiao Qing, you... What exactly happened to you? Why do you say you are homeless?"
"I..." Xiao Qing was a smart person and knew she couldn't just follow Zhou Fugui without explaining. So, she lowered her head and said sadly, "Xiao Qing was from the palace..."
"Palace... maid? Oh my, you... you... you... you're 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 speaking, he stammered repeatedly.
If Xiao Qing were of ordinary status, or even a daughter of a wealthy family who eloped here, Zhou Fugui wouldn't be afraid. But a palace maid... If a palace maid went missing, wouldn't they investigate thoroughly? The palace eunuchs, imperial guards, and others would surely trace her. At that time, even the King of Heaven himself couldn't save Zhou Fugui.
The best course of action was to flee. However, if Zhou Fugui fled, it would implicate his family.
Zhou Fugui pondered, his face a picture of worry.
"Yes, Xiao Qing was from the palace..." Xiao Qing saw Zhou Fugui's shocked expression and felt perplexed. She said in a low voice, "I used to be, but not anymore. After Luoyang fell, the Empress Dowager, His Majesty, and the Empress were captured by the barbarians and taken to the north. Xiao Qing was also taken there. I was less than twelve years old then..."
"Oh..." Zhou Fugui suddenly realized and felt much relieved. Since she wasn't a palace maid from Yan, Zhou Fugui was no longer afraid. He let out a long sigh and said, "So... it was the Song... was it the Song court? Hmm, no, I occasionally have spells. Xiao Qing, please continue."
Song was similar to Xia. After the country fell, the incompetent and unlucky Emperor Huizong and his son were captured by the Jin people and taken north. However, the capital of Song was in Kaifeng, while the capital of Xia was in Luoyang. These two locations were hundreds of miles apart and unrelated.
"Pfft..." Xiao Qing was heartbroken, but Zhou Fugui's words amused her. She chuckled and quickly raised her sleeve to cover her mouth. After a pause, she continued, "The barbarians were brutal, and Xiao Qing was terrified. At that time, I just wanted to die. Fortunately, there was Old Man Huang..."
Although Xia was not Song, its fate was similar to Song. Luoyang fell, and the Xia ruler and his officials were captured, along with many of the harem. They were moved to the north. The fate of the fallen ruler was as one could imagine – bitter beyond words. A ruler of a nation was worse off than a beggar. The fate of the women in the harem was even more tragic, being humiliated and violated as if it were commonplace. This 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. At the same time, a palace eunuch named Huang protected Xiao Qing with all his might, and Xiao Qing narrowly escaped death.
"Pitiful, her destiny is so harsh, 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?"
"My father was seriously ill and needed a doctor to prescribe medicine. Xiao Qing has no relatives in Youzhou, so I had to sell myself to the tavern to perform and earn money to treat my father's illness." Xiao Qing wept.
"Pitiful, truly pitiful!" Zhou Fugui sighed again.