"Clang!"
As dawn broke, Zhou Fugui had just left the Yan Palace. The moment he glanced at the sky showing streaks of sunlight, a sharp blade descended upon him.
"Vile slave, take this blade!" Murong Kang, the Right Worthy King of Yan, roared, swinging his saber towards Zhou Fugui's head.
Zhou Fugui was startled. He then grabbed Murong Kang's saber-wielding wrist with his left hand and his neck with his right, exerting force and, with a "crack," pushed him into a nearby water pool.
In terms of grappling, close combat, and hand-to-hand fighting, three Murong Kangs were no match for Zhou Fugui.
"Why do you attempt assassination?" Zhou Fugui demanded angrily, pinning Murong Kang.
"You lowly Han slave, how dare you defile the palace!" Murong Kang's face contorted as he struggled and bellowed.
"Go to hell!" Zhou Fugui retorted, feeling both helpless and furious. "As for whether I defiled the palace, ask your own sister."
After saying this, Zhou Fugui threw Murong Kang into the water pool and strode away.
Looking like he had drunk eight bottles of vinegar? Zhou Fugui felt a bit perplexed as he left the palace.
...
"Clop! Clop! Clop!"
"Giddy... giddy... giddy..."
After leaving Youzhou city, Zhou Fugui whipped his steed furiously, urging it forward as if fleeing for his life. Li Qing, Suo Dacheng, Xu Mancang, and other generals of the Snow Bear Army, along with over ten thousand soldiers, desperately pursued their commander, Zhou Fugui.
"Commander, Commander..." Li Qing, spurring his horse to catch up with Zhou Fugui, gasped and asked, "Why the haste in this expedition?"
In September of the first year of Jianhe of Yan, Murong Chi, son of Murong Bo Lie, the Left Worthy King of Yan, was defeated. Changshan Commandery was breached by the Yan army, and Murong Chi, along with hundreds of his clansmen and family members, were beheaded and displayed as a warning. The Changshan army was annihilated.
The Yan army then laid siege to the stronghold of King Qi, Murong Sheng, in Donglai Commandery. King Qi, Murong Sheng, was greatly terrified and surrendered with his entire family to the imperial court, disbanding all his forces and relocating his family to Youzhou.
The Yan court issued a decree, relocating Murong Sheng to the title of King Tu Xi, to reside permanently in the capital. In essence, this was a house arrest for Murong Sheng and his entire family in the capital. Thus, of the three main rebel armies, only the one led by King Donghai, Murong Hong, remained.
The court appointed Zhou Fugui as the Prefect of Donghai, leading his original troops to march south to Donghai Commandery. Furthermore, Zhou Fugui was ordered to command the other three armies suppressing the rebellion, jointly eliminating King Donghai, Murong Hong.
Upon receiving the decree, Zhou Fugui led his army out of Youzhou city the very next day.
"Whoa..." Zhou Fugui reined in his horse, looked back at the imposing Youzhou city, and retorted to Li Qing, "Don't you feel like I am a bird out of its cage, a fish out of the net?"
"A bird out of its cage, a fish out of the net?" Li Qing chuckled upon hearing this. "Commander, I see you are like a monk who can escape but his temple cannot..."
"Damn it... I... I... alas..." Zhou Fugui stared at Li Qing for a long moment, but finding no words, he could only sigh deeply.
It was widely known that Zhou Fugui valued loyalty and righteousness and cared deeply for his family. For their sake, he had done many things against his will. Some people had exploited this, causing trouble by detaining Zhou Fugui's entire family in the capital. His concubines and courtesans could be taken and enjoyed as one pleased, but his mother, elder sister-in-law, sister, and nephew had to remain in the capital to "enjoy prosperity."
This was likely one of the reasons the Yan court felt at ease appointing Zhou Fugui to lead the suppression of the rebellion and granting him the title of a frontier official.
In truth, Zhou Fugui had already harbored thoughts of rebellion, but because of his family, he dared not act rashly. He knew full well that the Yan court was using his family as a hostage, yet he could find no solution.
Therefore, Zhou Fugui asked Li Qing, "Military Advisor, what is your plan?"
Li Qing glanced back at the distant troops and said in a low voice, "No plan!"
At this time, not only Zhou Fugui's family was held hostage in the capital, but so were the families of Li Qing, Suo Dacheng, Xu Mancang, and others. What good plan could Li Qing possibly have? Unless he abandoned all sentiment and disregarded the safety of his kin.
"I appointed you as Military Advisor, yet you offer no counsel. What use are you to me?" Zhou Fugui exclaimed in fury.
Following the incident in the capital, Zhou Fugui had become increasingly impatient and irritable, which was also related to his growing official rank and reputation.
"Alas, Fugui..." Li Qing glanced around again, seeing that only Zhou Fugui and he were nearby, then lowered his voice. "The *Records of the Warring States* says: 'To eat late is to feast on meat; to walk slowly is to ride in a carriage; to have no guilt is to be noble; to be tranquil and upright is to find contentment.' This matter cannot be rushed; it must proceed step by step, seeking a suitable solution. Fugui, the crux of this matter lies in whether you are willing? Whether you are truly resolute?"
Many new faces had appeared among the ten thousand Snow Bear troops behind Zhou Fugui and Li Qing. Most of them were informants for the Yan court, such as the supervising official, the eunuch Xu Shiduo.
"I have harbored this intention for a long time!" Li Qing, a fellow townsman of Zhou Fugui and someone who had followed him for many years, was someone Zhou Fugui trusted above all else. Thus, he simply admitted, "But I lack a good plan for the moment. Scholarly fellow, anyone who starts an undertaking needs their own territory, their root of power. Otherwise, they are merely bandits and rebels, incapable of achieving great things." Zhou Fugui's use of his old jocular nickname indicated he was not truly angry.
Since joining the army, Zhou Fugui had campaigned far and wide, east, west, south, and north, always on the move. He had never settled down. Therefore, let alone having his own territory, he barely had a place to call home.
"You are the Prefect of Donghai; isn't that a gift from heaven?" Li Qing asked with a slight smile.
"Haha, scholarly fellow, you truly are something! How did I not think of that?" Zhou Fugui exclaimed with great joy, waving his whip and laughing heartily. By conquering Murong Hong, seizing his wealth, his people, and his territory, he could claim them as his own. Then, he could develop slowly in this place, accumulating strength, and perhaps even contend with Yan.
However, things were not that simple!
"Alas, my great commander, keep your voice down..." Li Qing, seeing this, looked around in alarm and said, "The land of Donghai is a gift from heaven, but do you not think it is too perilous? Furthermore, Donghai and its surrounding commanderies have long suffered from war and are now devastated. Industries have collapsed, and there are few inhabitants. In such a situation... alas, that is why I previously said I had no plan!"
"Success is won through subtlety; fortune is sought in danger!" Li Qing's words were very reasonable. After considering for a moment, Zhou Fugui sighed and remarked, "My name, Zhou, contains the word 'Fugui' (wealth and honor). It seems my life is destined to be accompanied by danger."
Li Qing nodded and said no more.
...
In the first year of Jianhe of Yan, the third year of Xiayongjia, in the Xia capital of Jiankang.
"Your Majesty!" At the Xia court assembly, Zheng Yixin, the Libationer of the Eastern Study, stepped forward and memorialized, "Formerly, our High Ancestor, Emperor Wu, received the Mandate of Heaven and founded the Central Xia. He pacified internal rebellions and settled external chaos. His divine might was vast, like thunder and lightning, his victory resounding, his reputation soaring like clouds and the north. Thus, the Central Plains were pacified, and songs of praise were universally offered. The imperial law and the emperor's principles shone brightly; the harmony of the Great Harmony flowed and permeated."
Zheng Yixin first greatly praised the merits and virtues of Emperor Taizu of Xia. After "pacifying the Central Plains," he continued, "The Sacred Emperor ascended the throne, renewing the brilliance and broadening the outlook. He was wise and benevolent towards distant lands, ushering in a new era of prosperity. Remote tribes admired righteousness and surged like clouds and waves. They were about to follow virtue and uphold trust, spread civilization and inherit culture, improve the lineage, and establish precedents for posterity. Their diligence and grace permeated the Three Directions, and their benevolence harmonized the Northern Barbarians..."
Zheng Yixin then greatly praised the great achievements of the current Xia Emperor, Yang Yuan, causing Emperor Yang Yuan, who sat regally in the court, to show a hint of a smile.
"The former kings laid the foundation, the profound sages resided in their hearts, delineating the Nine Provinces and establishing the Nine Directions. They valued the Central Plains and included the Xia territories, precisely because the sun and moon were esteemed, the dew and frost were evenly distributed, and countless nations bowed their heads in tribute, converging on the Four Seas. Since the strong barbarians ascended and ravaged, China was overturned, and we were in disarray, fleeing south of the Yangtze. We endured in obscurity, awaiting the auspicious time for the dragon's ascent and the opportune moment for the wind and clouds. This was due to the trials and tribulations, not the victory of reason." Zheng Yixin stated that China, meaning Henan, south of the Yellow River, was the center. He argued that the Great Xia should not be confined to a corner of Jiangdong but should march north, reclaim Henan, reclaim the Central Plains.
"Can Yan be attacked?" Yang Yuan finally understood Zheng Yixin's intent and asked.
Reclaiming Luoyang, reclaiming Henan, reclaiming the Central Plains, reclaiming the ancestral land, becoming famous in the world, leaving a name in history, and creating a great enterprise for ten thousand generations was certainly what Yang Yuan desired. However, the peace treaty between Xia and Yan had not lasted for many years, the Jiangdong region still had rebels, and Xia was also in the process of recovery. After only a few years of stability, was it time to launch a northern expedition? If successful, everything would be fine. But if they failed, would it not be a futile effort, even provoking a large-scale invasion by the Yan army? In that case, the situation would be dire. Therefore, Yang Yuan was extremely hesitant.
"Your Majesty..." Zheng Yixin replied, "The barbarian ruler Xi has died, and a new ruler has just ascended the throne. The hearts of the people are unstable. The new ruler is tyrannical, leading to the killing of siblings, facing difficulties both internally and externally, and the people do not submit. Guanzhong is in chaos, and the Central Plains are in turmoil. This is a golden opportunity that our Great Xia has not encountered in a thousand years. We should raise the royal army and march north to reclaim the Central Plains. The people of the Central Plains have long suffered from the barbarity of the Hu and Di, yearning for the royal army, like waiting for clouds and rain in a severe drought! They will surely bring food and wine to welcome the royal army, and then Luojing can be pacified, the Central Plains can be pacified, and the world can be pacified!"
"Zheng Yixin, you, a mere Libationer, dare to discuss state affairs, speak lightly of war, and initiate conflict?" Before Emperor Yang Yuan could speak, Hong Wuji, the Minister of Personnel of Xia, stepped forward and rebuked, "Have you not heard of the defeat at Tielí?"
At this time, Hong Wuji was the Minister of Personnel of Xia, a powerful official of Xia, only one step away from becoming the "Duke Lu," meaning Minister of State, and thus one step away from wielding absolute power.
After the peace treaty between Xia and Yan, Xia had not given up on its ambitions towards the Central Plains. Two years prior, due to border disputes, Liu Zhongde, the General of Anbei of Xia, and Han Yun, the Prefect of Lujiang, had led an army of 100,000 north to Geyang. In a place called Tielí in Geyang Commandery, they were defeated by the Yan army's cavalry of over 10,000.
After the defeat at Tielí, the Yan court sent an envoy to demand an explanation, furiously denouncing Xia for breaking the treaty. The Xia court offered numerous explanations and concessions, even compensating a large amount of wealth, before the matter was resolved.
The defeat at Tielí was actually due to Xia's improper use of personnel. If the famous Xia general Min Wuyan had led the army, the situation would have been vastly different.
The defeat at Tielí thus became a painful memory for the Xia emperor and his subjects, a painful memory that dared not be touched, and they no longer dared to speak lightly of war.