"But I, Zhou, am not a Hu, but a Han from Yan and Yun, a descendant of the Marquis of Jiang of the Grand Ancestor's reign," Zhou Fugui said, standing up and cupping his hands to the indignant Dongye Han in the council hall of the Grand Governor's Mansion in Donghai Prefecture. "I am not a man of my word, but I implore you, Young Master Dongye, to remain in Donghai Prefecture for the sake of its suffering populace. For the sake of the suffering people of Donghai Prefecture, I hope you will not refuse. Young Master Dongye, once the bandit suppression is over, I will personally escort you across the river. How about that?"
"This..." Zhou Fugui's mention of the people of Donghai Prefecture made Dongye Han hesitate.
Furthermore, Zhou Fugui's earnest desire for talent deeply moved Dongye Han. A scholar dies for his confidant; if Zhou Fugui were a general of Xia, Dongye Han would immediately pledge allegiance to him. But Zhou Fugui was a minister of Yan of the Xianbei...
However, his claim to be a descendant of the Han Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, proved that he had not forgotten his ancestors, nor that he was Han. Therefore, Dongye Han was extremely hesitant.
He did not fear being a Han bandit, but he feared forgetting his ancestors.
Most crucially, Zhou Fugui had introduced himself and invoked the people of Donghai Prefecture. If Dongye Han insisted on leaving, he would surely anger Zhou Fugui, who might detain Dongye Han and his men in Donghai Prefecture, or even resort to foul play...
Dongye Han, with his martial arts and strategic prowess, intended to join the army and serve his country. He did not wish to die so soon. Thus, it was not against his father's dying wishes to temporarily remain in Donghai Prefecture, suppress the sea bandits, save the people, and then travel south to join the Xia Dynasty.
After Dongye Han figured out this crucial point, or rather, found a good excuse for himself, he nodded hesitantly.
But Dongye Han overlooked one thing: once a bandit, always a bandit!
Dongye Han's temporary stay in the Snow Bear Army was to suppress sea bandits and save the people. But in the eyes of the world, he became a Han bandit, just like Zhou Fugui. If this were the case, let alone whether he could leave Donghai Prefecture in the end, even if he managed to cross the river and join the Xia army, would the Xia court accept him? Even if they accepted him, they would certainly be suspicious of him and would never employ him in a significant capacity.
Dongye Han had fallen into Zhou Fugui's trap again...
"Having you is like having the Marquis of Wuyang..." Zhou Fugui was overjoyed to see this, praised him greatly, then felt he had spoken out of turn. He hastily said to Dongye Han, "Young Master Dongye, how about you temporarily take command of my naval forces?"
"Governor Zhou, since I am willing to stay, I will follow your arrangements..." Dongye Han nodded and said, "How many men and warships does the navy have currently?"
Zhou Fugui held up a finger and laughed, "The ships are no more than a few dozen, some of which are civilian or merchant ships... As for the naval soldiers... not a single one..."
What? Dongye Han was speechless upon hearing this, wishing he could smash the lacquered ear cup in his hand onto Zhou Fugui's head.
This was no way to play games! Dongye Han sighed in his heart.
No matter how skilled Dongye Han was in naval warfare, he could not conjure resources out of thin air. Dozens of dilapidated ships, some of which were civilian or merchant vessels, and not a single naval soldier – how could he suppress sea bandits? It was more likely that the sea bandits would suppress him...
"Haha!" Zhou Fugui, seeing Dongye Han's distressed and bewildered expression, burst into laughter. "Bread will be had, milk will be had, everything will be had... Young Master Dongye, warships can be built, and naval soldiers can be recruited."
"Mmm..." Dongye Han nodded helplessly. "This matter should be done sooner rather than later. We need to recruit shipbuilding craftsmen, boatmen, and so on. Governor, please allocate the funds and provisions."
"Can we not talk about money and provisions?" Zhou Fugui retorted indignantly.
Now it was Zhou Fugui's turn to be distressed and bewildered...
.........
"Yongshou, you've come at just the right time. This is the Ten Strategies for Pacifying the Sea presented by Dongye of Langya. Take a look first," Li Qing hurried to see Zhou Fugui, who handed a piece of paper to Li Qing.
"Ten Strategies for Pacifying the Sea?" Li Qing had come to see Zhou Fugui for other matters. Hearing this, he had no choice but to take the paper and read it carefully.
After Li Qing finished reading, he gently placed the paper on the table, constantly pressing it flat with his hand, as if contemplating something.
"Yongshou, what do you think?" Zhou Fugui asked in surprise.
"Fugui..." Li Qing stroked the paper and looked at Zhou Fugui, replying, "If these Ten Strategies for Pacifying the Sea were presented to the court and accepted, they would indeed be the best strategy, and with their implementation, there would be hope of suppressing the bandits. However..."
Li Qing lowered his voice and continued, "For you, apart from one or two of them, they are of little use."
"You know me well, Yongshou!" Zhou Fugui smiled.
"Fugui, there is a more dire matter," Li Qing said, nodding.
"What is it? A dire matter? Yongshou, you exaggerate..." Zhou Fugui laughed. "Over the years, every matter I have encountered has been perilous, every situation dangerous. Yongshou, speak quickly if you have something to say."
"Mmm..." Li Qing nodded and said, "The Yan army has breached Runan. King of Runan, Murong Ba, was greatly defeated and committed suicide by immolation with his entire family."
"As expected," Zhou Fugui mused. "King of Runan Murong Ba was greatly defeated at the gates of Youzhou. Although he claimed to be fighting for the imperial court, his ambitions were known to all. When he fled after defeat, would they let go of such an opportunity to attack a fallen foe?"
"Fugui is right..." Li Qing nodded. "King of Runan, Sima Ba, committed suicide with his family, yet that person did not relent, because tens of thousands of people were implicated, either killed or demoted, a truly pitiable sight. Among them were more than a dozen regional kings. Fugui, do you know what that person intends?"
"'A petty mind is not that of a gentleman; a ruthless man is not a true husband!'" Zhou Fugui said with a cold laugh, fiddling with a paperweight. "Although this person is a woman, her venom far surpasses that of a venomous husband!"
"Mmm, Fugui, that person intends to abolish the feudal lords and has already begun to implement it. They are making a big fuss about the rebellion of regional kings like Murong Hong, and are bringing the feudal territories back under the control of the imperial court," Li Qing said.
"The issue of feudal lords is indeed a grave threat. If it were me, I would do the same. What is so strange about that?" Zhou Fugui asked.
"Fugui, regional kings are feudal lords, and are you, Grand Governor Zhou, not also a feudal lord? You hold the military, political, and civilian power of Donghai Prefecture, and you have an army that obeys only you. You have, unknowingly, become a grave threat!" Li Qing sighed.
"Heh heh, Han people commanding troops has long been a source of concern for the Xianbei. Previously, they were merely used. Once their use is over, it is like birds are gone, the good bow is put away; it is like the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked!" Zhou Fugui snorted coldly.
"Fugui, you are an intelligent person," Li Qing nodded. "Since that is the case, we must prepare early."
"Prepare for what?" Zhou Fugui mused.
"Fugui, it must be like this, like this..." Li Qing said in a low voice.
"Is this feasible?" Zhou Fugui asked hesitantly.
"Do you have any other options?" Li Qing retorted.
Zhou Fugui fell silent, and after a long while, he said, "It seems I need to submit a memorial to the imperial court."
"A memorial?" Li Qing asked in surprise.
.........
"Sister Daimei, this way, please!" In the inner hall of the Grand Governor's Mansion of Donghai Prefecture, Xiao Qing said to Huang Daimei.
On this day, Zhou Fugui invited Huang Daimei to his residence for a chat, and of course, Zhou Fugui had ulterior motives... At this time, Zhou Fugui could not invite Huang Daimei, not because of the distinction between men and women, but because Zhou Fugui had said some harsh words to Huang Daimei. However, Zhou Fugui never expected that a few days later, he would need Huang Daimei's help... It was retribution, coming swiftly, and it served Zhou Fugui right for speaking so resolutely.
Zhou Fugui expected that Huang Daimei would refuse his invitation, so he sent Xiao Qing to invite Huang Daimei to his residence to "enjoy flowers and tea."
Zhou Fugui was unmarried, so his concubine Xiao Qing naturally assumed the role of the Madam of the Grand Governor's Mansion. With the Madam of the Grand Governor's Mansion extending an invitation, Huang Daimei found it difficult to refuse. Most importantly, Huang Daimei's feet seemed to have a will of their own...
"Madam, are you from Qiantang in Jiangnan?" Huang Daimei asked as they walked.
"Xiao Qing is not a Madam," Xiao Qing replied, shaking her head. "Xiao Qing is a few years older than you, so you can call me sister. Sister Daimei, Xiao Qing is from Qiantang."
"Oh, what esteemed family are you from, Sister Qing?" Huang Daimei asked again. "Sister Qing, what is your surname?"
"Xiao Qing's surname is Wu. I am not from an esteemed family. I was sent to the palace from a humble background when I was young. After the country was broken, I was captured and taken to the northern lands. Due to difficult circumstances, I even fell into prostitution," Xiao Qing replied softly.
"Sister Qing..." Huang Daimei looked at Xiao Qing in surprise. "So, Sister Qing has such a pitiable background... But... Sister Qing, why doesn't he marry you in a proper ceremony? Hmph, can't women from the pleasure quarters be wives? So he was that kind of person too."
For some reason, Huang Daimei felt indignant on Xiao Qing's behalf.
"What kind of person is he?" Xiao Qing laughed. "Sister Daimei, there are some things you don't know... Brother Fugui... has always cared about that person... He doesn't say it, but Xiao Qing knows in her heart that Brother Fugui has always been thinking of that person. Many things happened between them before, which you don't understand."
"Hmph, I think he has his cake and eats it too... With such a loving person as Sister Qing, he is still not satisfied? And he still thinks of others? What's so good about that person? An old monk... I really don't know what she sees in him? Sister Qing, since we are fated to meet today, let's be sworn sisters, shall we? Sister Qing, if you dare not say it, I will say it for you." Huang Daimei said.
They were not talking about the same person, but they were unaware of it.
"What old monk?" Xiao Qing asked, looking at Huang Daimei in surprise. "What do you want to say? Sister Daimei, this matter cannot even be mentioned. If this matter is brought up, Brother Fugui will be sad. Xiao Qing only hopes that with the passage of time, Brother Fugui can forget about it. As for Xiao Qing..."
At this moment, Xiao Qing's expression was both content and happy.