"Scoundrels, daring to kill officials and rebel? Aren't you afraid of losing your heads?"
Outside the city of Guangling Commandery, in front of the City God Temple, dozens of monks cornered Zhou Fugui, Xu Mancang, Dian Meng, Pan Jianguī, and four others, intending to do them harm. Zhou Fugui, hand on his saber, shouted this, while simultaneously signaling to Xu Mancang, Dian Meng, and the others.
Outnumbered, Zhou Fugui and his men might have been able to fight their way out, but they certainly couldn't have escaped unscathed. Someone on their side would have been lost, so Zhou Fugui, weighing the pros and cons, dared not act rashly, intending to use his official authority to force them back.
"Heh heh, killing officials and rebelling?" A tall monk, holding a saber, sneered. "Your kind of dog official, I've killed countless. If you're talking about losing heads, mine would have been lost seventeen or eighteen times already."
"Dog official, surrender quickly, or I'll cut you down today!" another monk, brandishing his saber, yelled.
The middle-aged monk was "chanting scriptures." In truth, some of them had already left, but these monks suspected Zhou Fugui and his men were spies for the Yan army, and thus wanted to capture them for further questioning.
"Oh, so you brave heroes are this mighty? But we're not made of dough either. On the battlefield, I've killed countless scoundrels like you. Do you believe me? Come and try if you don't!" At this moment, showing weakness was absolutely out of the question, so Zhou Fugui continued to intimidate them while looking around for an opportunity.
How could he capture this person alive and use him as a hostage to break through the encirclement? Zhou Fugui was confident he could draw his saber and strike down the tall monk before him, but capturing him alive would be no easy feat.
"In Dacheng, the dog official is stalling for time." A monk, seeing through Zhou Fugui's intentions, said this to the tall monk.
The tall monk nodded and slightly raised his right hand.
Zhou Fugui gripped his saber hilt tightly, signaling Dian Meng and Xu Mancang, and stared intently at the opposing side.
"Hold, lest you act!" Just as the two sides were on the verge of drawing their weapons, the atmosphere extremely tense, a young novice monk stumbled over and said, "The Holy Master has a decree, inviting them in."
*Pah, despicable lowlifes, daring to call it a 'decree'?* Zhou Fugui cursed inwardly before being "invited" into the City God Temple.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"Zhou Fugui, Commander Zhou..." In a dilapidated room of the City God Temple, the middle-aged monk looked at Zhou Fugui and said, "A native of Luoyan Village, Lu Ming Township, You Province?"
The middle-aged monk's hair was disheveled, parted from his forehead to reveal a wrinkled, emaciated face with an aquiline nose and hawk-like eyes. He was of medium height and looked rather fierce.
Seeing this, Zhou Fugui was deeply disappointed. This appearance had absolutely nothing to do with the immortal bearing he had imagined. The man was a complete hybrid of Wu Song and Shi Qian...
"That is indeed me. May I ask the master's monastic name?" Zhou Fugui asked, cupping his hands.
"My monastic name is Mi Shi..." Mi Shi replied. "Zhou Fugui, you are a pure Han Chinese, aren't you?"
Zhou Fugui nodded.
"Since you are Han, why do you aid the barbarians?" Mi Shi, who had his eyes slightly closed, suddenly opened them, emitting two sharp glints as he stared at Zhou Fugui and asked, "To assist the wicked and serve the tyrannical, are you not forgetting your ancestors?"
*Go to hell! You're the one assisting the wicked and serving the tyrannical, forgetting your ancestors! Your whole family are those who assist the wicked and serve the tyrannical, forget their ancestors!* Zhou Fugui was furious and cursed inwardly a few times. With a calm expression, he said, "I am but a humble man from the countryside, forced to enlist. My actions are beyond my control. How can I be accused of forgetting my ancestors?"
Seeing that Zhou Fugui answered fluently and spoke appropriately, Mi Shi was secretly delighted.
To achieve great things, one cannot rely solely on his subordinates, who are uncouth and can barely read. Zhou Fugui, appearing to be both cultured and martial, would be a great asset.
Mi Shi wished to stir up trouble within the Han army, and winning over these middle and lower-ranking generals in the Han army would undoubtedly yield twice the result with half the effort.
"Commander Zhou, do you have a courtesy name?" Mi Shi asked, wishing to use a courtesy name to address Zhou Fugui, thus making him feel more intimate.
"I have not yet reached adulthood, so how can I have a courtesy name?" Zhou Fugui replied, shaking his head.
In this world, men generally received a courtesy name after reaching twenty years of age, that is, after coming of age. However, children from poor families might never have a courtesy name.
"Hm? Commander Zhou has not yet reached adulthood?" Mi Shi was greatly surprised by this.
Zhou Fugui was tall and strong, and a banner officer in the Yan army, yet he had not reached adulthood? This astonished Mi Shi, and the women behind him also looked surprised, their gazes fixed on Zhou Fugui.
Everyone then noticed that although Zhou Fugui's handsome face had some stubble, the childishness had not completely disappeared.
"Since ancient times, the young have been heroes. Commander Zhou is indeed like this!" Mi Shi praised him afterward.
*This little fellow hasn't even grown proper hair, and he's already so capable. As long as I recruit him and instill some ideas in him, I'm not afraid he won't be loyal.* Mi Shi thought gleefully.
Little did Mi Shi know that inside Zhou Fugui's body was a much larger heart...
"Commander Zhou is about to come of age, isn't he?" Mi Shi asked with a smile. "I have a courtesy name to bestow upon you. Would you be willing to accept it?"
"My father passed away early, but I have an elder brother. An elder brother is like a father. Therefore, I thank the master for his kind intentions!" Zhou Fugui, not accepting the offer, politely refused.
A courtesy name was generally bestowed by a father or a teacher.
*What kind of person are you to dare give me a courtesy name?* Zhou Fugui thought dismissively. But what kind of courtesy name was this fellow planning to give him?
"Oh... Heh heh..." Mi Shi had thought of a wonderful courtesy name, but Zhou Fugui had forcefully pushed it back, leaving him feeling as uncomfortable as a chicken bone stuck in his throat. With a look of extreme awkwardness, he smiled and asked, "You were invited by me today, Commander Zhou. Do you know what this is about?"
"Could it be that the master wishes to recruit me?" Zhou Fugui knew his intentions even if he used his backside to think.
"Heh heh, Commander Zhou, though young, is exceptionally intelligent!" Mi Shi nodded. "What are your thoughts on this, Commander Zhou?"
"I refuse..." Zhou Fugui refused again. "What would be the consequences if I don't?"
In Zhou Fugui's heart, he absolutely refused to join this unknown organization. However, the current situation did not allow him to outright refuse. He could only feign compliance and, once out of danger, he would fly as high as he pleased and swim as far as the ocean allowed.
Several women behind Mi Shi couldn't help but chuckle. One woman even let out a laugh.
Mi Shi turned and glared fiercely at the woman. The formerly amiable expression on his face finally revealed a cruel glint. He let out a wild laugh and said coldly to Zhou Fugui, "Hahahaha, refuse? Do you think you can walk out of this City God Temple?"
"Hahahaha!" Zhou Fugui also let out a laugh and said, "A cunning rabbit has three burrows. Do you think I became a banner officer for nothing?"
"What do you mean by that?" Mi Shi frowned and asked.
"You thought I only had seven men? Wrong, you are all wrong. I came to the City God Temple with seven men. Including myself, that makes eight." Zhou Fugui said with a cold smile.
*Whether it's useful or not, let's try to bluff him once,* Zhou Fugui thought inwardly.
"There's one more person? Where is he?" His subordinates had reported that Zhou Fugui's group numbered only a few people, not specifying the exact number, so Mi Shi asked with a hint of doubt.
"This person is called Shen Xing Tu Xing Sun, who can travel eight hundred li a day and can burrow through the earth. If I am not seen for a long time, he will surely lead the great army here." Zhou Fugui replied proudly.
"Oh, is that so?" Zhou Fugui's embellishments were so fantastical that Mi Shi instead became incredulous. He said calmly to Zhou Fugui, "An army? Even a thousand armies and ten thousand horses cannot save you now."
"The lives of Zhou and my companions exchanged for your large group doesn't seem like a loss, but..." Zhou Fugui also felt he had bragged too much, his momentum flagging. He said in a low voice, "Actually, if master wants me to join your... what is it? It's not impossible to negotiate."
"Heh heh, a teachable child!" Now it was Mi Shi's turn to say triumphantly, "The barbarians are brutal. Our Han families are separated from their wives and children, their homes destroyed. Those Han people who survive are all suffering. Instead of living like this, why not stand up and uphold the Han dynasty, and resist the tyrannical barbarians? This way, even if this worthless body is lost, you will not have failed your ancestors!"
"Master, why didn't you say so earlier..." Zhou Fugui was suddenly deeply moved. He tried hard to squeeze his eyes, but no tears came out. He put on a show of being touched and clenched his fist, saying, "Zhou has suffered under the barbarians for a long time. My family has hated the barbarians for a long time. I was forced to enlist by the barbarians, leaving my homeland and coming here. I have long hated them to the bone! What master said today is like a sudden enlightenment, and Zhou has now awakened!"
"Bravo..." Mi Shi was overjoyed at this, exclaimed "Bravo," and then looked at Zhou Fugui with suspicion.
The sudden shift from arrogance to humility was too great. It couldn't help but make Mi Shi suspicious. However, what Zhou Fugui said was indeed the truth, and it reflected the feelings of most of the enlisted Han soldiers. Therefore, Mi Shi was somewhat convinced of Zhou Fugui's sincerity.
"Good..." Mi Shi struck while the iron was hot and said to Zhou Fugui, "In the barbarian army, you are merely a minor banner officer. I now bestow upon you the title of Dharma Protector Vajra. Little Brother Zhou, this is a position second to none, above ten thousand people."
*Dharma Protector Vajra? What is that thing?* Zhou Fugui thought inwardly.
"Many... thanks... Master... to be appointed Dharma Protector Vajra, what should I be called?" Zhou Fugui cupped his hands and shouted loudly.
"Our Holy Master is known as 'Zongtong Gongyuan Buddha'!" the large monk said with envy and jealousy.
"Many thanks, Da... Zongtong... Buddha?" Zhou Fugui shouted loudly again. "Great Zongtong Buddha, I have nearly two hundred brothers under my command. I will go back now and order them to join Great Zongtong Buddha's banner."
"Good, Feiyue, Jianhua, the two of you will accompany Dharma Protector Zhou." Mi Shi said to Zhou Fugui with a smile.
Ever since Zhou Fugui had entered the room, he had been "sneaky" and staring at the beautiful young girls behind Mi Shi. Mi Shi assumed Zhou Fugui was a lecher.
Therefore, Mi Shi was pleased rather than angry. Mi Shi would have been worried if Zhou Fugui were not a lecher. At this moment, he generously offered Feiyue and Jianhua to Zhou Fugui. This was to show his magnanimity, and secondly, to monitor Zhou Fugui.
"Many thanks, Great Zongtong Buddha!" Zhou Fugui accepted the two young girls without hesitation and shouted loudly.