"Who dares approach the gate at night? Halt your advance!"
A pass, a fortress, a fortified pass. Naturally, there would be a curfew. In Snow Ledge City, the curfew generally began with the beating of the evening drum at the third watch, forbidding all travel. Only after the morning bell at the fifth watch would passage be permitted. Yet, it was not yet the fifth watch, and a rider was approaching the gate. The guard at the gate shouted out a challenge.
Simultaneously, countless archers had drawn their bows, ready to loose a volley of arrows should the situation turn hostile.
With the Xiongnu army having just retreated, Snow Ledge City's defenses dared not be lowered.
"Clink!" Zhou Fugui, his arm around Murong Huiying's slender waist, tossed a small gold ingot to the guard and declared, "This general is on official business. Open the city gates quickly."
A general? Official business? The guard, startled, caught the gold, tucked it into his bosom, and then raised his torch to illuminate the approaching figure. Only then did he clearly see that it was indeed the newly promoted Valiant General Zhou Fugui.
"So it is General Zhou..." Upon recognizing Zhou Fugui, the guard's attitude shifted dramatically, becoming exceedingly respectful. He asked, with deep deference, "So early, General Zhou, what business takes you out of the pass?"
Zhou Fugui was now renowned throughout Snow Ledge City and its two sister passes. Every soldier there knew him. He was also a newly appointed Fourth-Rank Valiant General, a Cavalry Commandant, and a Border Garrison Commander, holding the noble title of Baron. He was no longer the "shitty general" of old, hence the guard's immediate change to profound respect, even bordering on sycophancy.
Zhou Fugui had also tossed him a gold ingot, which alone would have ensured the guard wouldn't make things difficult for him.
"This general is acting under the orders of the Grand Commander. As for the specifics, it is not convenient to disclose," Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
"As it should be, as it should be," the guard stammered, bowing and scraping, before loudly ordering his subordinates to open the city gate.
The heavy gate creaked open, and a cool breeze swept in. Zhou Fugui, with Murong Huiying cradled in his arms, rode his horse slowly through the gate.
"Hmph, faking orders..." After Zhou Fugui had departed, the guard spat a glob of phlegm towards his retreating figure...
What Grand Commander's orders? What official business? Clearly, it was a pair of adulterous lovers sneaking out for a rendezvous, perhaps even an outdoor tryst? And he had the audacity to fake the orders of Grand Commander Hu Yan Sheng? The Yan soldiers near the gate all thought this to themselves with disdain.
However, in this bitter cold, why would they choose to be intimate outdoors instead of in a warm bed? Everyone was utterly baffled...
A vivid image even flashed through their minds...
...
About twenty li southwest of the South Gate of Snow Ledge City stood a temple known as the 'Temple of the Earth Mother'. The principal deity enshrined within was, of course, the Earth Mother, a goddess who governed the Yin and Yang, fertility, the beauty of all things, and the very earth and mountains. According to the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas', the Earth Mother was a descendant of Emperor Yan.
In the past, the Temple of the Earth Mother had enjoyed immense popularity, with streams of devout believers coming daily to offer incense and seek blessings. However, due to the ravages of war, the temple had gradually fallen into decline. Now, only a few Taoist priests remained, guarding the temple and awaiting the rare pilgrim, hoping for wealthy patrons who could offer substantial donations.
"Swish... swish..."
At this moment, two young Taoist priests were listlessly sweeping the accumulated snow from the temple entrance.
"Senior Brother Lu, you sweep ahead. I'll rest for a bit," said a thin, emaciated Taoist to a stouter priest surnamed Lu.
"Tired already after such a short while? Go ahead and rest, heh heh, rest," the Lu-surnamed priest chuckled in response.
"Senior Brother Lu, it's not that I'm tired, it's that I'm hungry," the emaciated Taoist said, sitting down. "Senior Brother Lu, why are you looking so rosy-cheeked? Is Master playing favorites?"
"Master is also so hungry he's about to eat people; how could he play favorites? Little Bodhi, let me tell you, cultivating here, the key is discernment." The Lu-surnamed priest whispered.
"Discernment?" the emaciated Taoist asked, utterly perplexed. "What sort of discernment?"
"Discernment of the pilgrims," the Lu-surnamed priest smiled. "Why do pilgrims come here?"
"We haven't seen a single soul in over half a month. Where would any pilgrims come from?" the emaciated Taoist scoffed. "Even if there were pilgrims, they'd come to burn incense and pray for blessings, what else?"
"Burning incense and praying for blessings is not wrong, but you must observe *why* they are burning incense," the Lu-surnamed priest smiled. "For example, lovers eloping... As long as you serve the woman well, won't the man be eager to offer incense money? The man, wanting to appear generous and affluent before his companion, will shower incense money like a flowing stream..."
"Aha, so you're... eloping..." the emaciated Taoist exclaimed, suddenly enlightened.
"Shh..." The Lu-surnamed priest clamped a hand over the emaciated Taoist's mouth and said, "Eloping what? Master is solely focused on cultivating the Tao and has no time for worldly affairs. He cultivates his Tao, he achieves his immortality, but we can't starve to death, can we?"
"Oh..." The emaciated Taoist pried the Lu-surnamed priest's hand away. "But how do you know if a pilgrim has money or not? Some pilgrims are so poor they jingle, poorer than us."
"That's where discernment comes in. Some pilgrims..." The Lu-surnamed priest suddenly spotted a man and a woman leading a horse up the mountain towards the Temple of the Earth Mother, and excitedly exclaimed, "They're here, they're here! The suckers have arrived."
Seeing the two approaching "suckers," meaning fools or big spenders, the emaciated Taoist also huddled close to the Lu-surnamed priest, whispering, "That tall sucker doesn't look like he has money. Senior Brother, look at the rust on his armor..."
"He wears armor, so he's a military officer. Have you ever seen a penniless military officer? And his female companion, look closely. Her attire is quite luxurious. Stop talking now, lest they hear us and our meal flies away..." The Lu-surnamed priest shot the emaciated Taoist a stern look and whispered.
The emaciated Taoist nodded.
From their appearance, it seemed to be a pair of eloping lovers. The two young Taoist priests simultaneously thought that a formidable officer from the Yan army must have hooked up with a wealthy young lady and come here to fool around. Perhaps the rich young lady had even been brought here by force by this tall Yan general...
If that were the case, the two young priests would hold leverage over them. What need would they have for incense money? If they refused to pay, they could report them to the authorities.
However, both young priests had forgotten one thing: a fierce Xiongnu officer might, in a fit of rage, resort to murder to silence them...
"What are you two Daoist priests doing?"
Zhou Fugui, the "big sucker," approached, somewhat surprised to see the two young priests staring blankly at him and Murong Huiying.
"P-patron... Are you here to burn incense or worship? Burning incense and worshiping requires going to the main hall. Patron... please follow... this humble Taoist," the emaciated Taoist, thinking of the flowing incense money, stammered excitedly.
The Lu-surnamed priest stealthily kicked the emaciated Taoist and then fawned over Zhou Fugui, "The temple has upper rooms where patrons can rest temporarily, bathe, change clothes, and enjoy tea and the scenery before burning incense and worshiping."
They were clearly illicit lovers who had eloped and come here for recreation. Why would he send them to the crowded main hall? Although there were no other pilgrims in the hall at the moment, what if business was exceptionally good today and more arrived? By offering them an upper room, they could do whatever they pleased inside, and the temple would simply collect the payment.
"Tea and scenery? Excellent, excellent. I would trouble the Daoist priest to lead the way," Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying had come to the Temple of the Earth Mother not for incense or worship, but to avoid the crowds, to find a secluded spot, a beautiful place to express their longing for each other.
In this regard, his intentions coincided with those of the Lu-surnamed priest.
Another intention behind Zhou Fugui's visit that day was to dispel the gloom in his heart.
"Lead the way! Why aren't you moving?" Zhou Fugui, seeing the two young Taoist priests engaged in animated conversation but hesitating to move, asked in surprise.
"Patron..." the Lu-surnamed priest replied, "Our humble temple is small and does not have tea, sandalwood incense, or other such items prepared. We would need to go to the market five li away to procure them..."
"Clink!" Zhou Fugui immediately understood the situation. He casually tossed a small gold ingot to the priest, "Go and get it. Be quick and return with the finest quality."
Sandalwood incense and the like were one thing, but tea was a rarity in this border region. How could Zhou Fugui not know this?
"Many thanks, patron, many thanks..." The Lu-surnamed priest was overjoyed. Indeed, a big spender! Throwing gold with such abandon... The Lu-surnamed priest clasped the gold in his hand and thanked him, "No wonder this humble Taoist saw a streak of purple energy in the sky this morning. This signifies the arrival of a blue ox and purple energy from the east. Patron, your good fortune arrives with your wishes, and your troubles flow away with the water."
One must remember that in this era of turmoil, gold was a hard currency. This small ingot might represent the lives of many.
"Pfft!" Murong Huiying couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Her eyes, like flowing water, glanced sideways at Zhou Fugui as she laughed, "This blue ox is truly wealthy."
Murong Huiying merely found it amusing; she felt no regret.
A young lady from a prominent family like Murong Huiying might lack affection, but she had no concept of money.
"This humble person, how can he be considered wealthy? However, for you, I would pour out my entire fortune. A mere bit of wealth cannot compare to a single strand of your hair," Zhou Fugui replied with a smile.
Murong Huiying smiled and remained silent, her heart filled with a sweetness like honey.
The Lu-surnamed priest, with a triumphant glint in his eye, gave the emaciated Taoist a look that said, "See? I was right, wasn't I? My judgment was also good, wasn't it?"
"The patron waves the whisk of Buddha, sweeping away all troubles to the west. Embracing the Tai Chi, drawing in boundless purple energy from the east. With a benevolent heart, heaven grants wishes. With kindness, diligence, and frugality, blessings and longevity will stretch endlessly..." The emaciated Taoist finally recovered and began to recite auspicious phrases, but they were entirely mismatched and comically absurd. Zhou Fugui was rendered speechless, Murong Huiying laughed until her sides hurt, and the Lu-surnamed priest glared furiously.
Benevolence, kindness, diligence, and frugality seemed to have no connection whatsoever with Zhou Fugui.