"My mother is the legitimate daughter of Emperor Renhui Xuanxiao," Liu shi told Zhou Fugui in the inner chamber of the Zhou family. "Many years ago, when Ye City fell, the Emperor and Empress took their own lives. In the chaos, your father risked his life to save me. He was the deputy commander of the palace guards at the time."
Emperor Renhui Xuanxiao, Liu Zhan, was the last emperor of Wei. Wei was destroyed by Yan, and Liu Zhan, along with the Empress and others, hanged themselves in the palace.
"And then, out of gratitude, you married Father? Mother, why are you telling me these past events today?" Zhou Fugui asked in surprise.
So, he was a descendant of the Wei imperial family, Zhou Fugui thought to himself. However, after the Hu tribes galloped across the Central Plains and established many states, Wei was one of them. In this light, being a descendant of the so-called Wei imperial family was not that remarkable.
"My Tugou tribe repays kindness and also repays grudges," Liu shi said, glaring at Zhou Fugui. "When benefactors arrive, we treat them to fine wine. When enemies arrive, we fight to the death. We repay grudges, even if it costs us our lives."
"Yes, Mother, you are right. I understand," Zhou Fugui nodded.
In fact, without his mother Liu shi's reminder, Zhou Fugui would never have let the Duan father and son, Qin Tianming, and others off the hook.
"But Fugui, you are the apple of my eye," Liu shi said, embracing Zhou Fugui and weeping. "How can I bear to see you... However, the revenge for your brother's death must be exacted. My child, after you have avenged him, flee far away. Do not concern yourself with us. Go north, to the north, and search for the Tugou tribe."
"Mother..." Zhou Fugui also hugged Liu shi.
"This is something passed down through generations of my family. I give it to you today," Liu shi then took out an item and handed it to Zhou Fugui.
"What is this?" Zhou Fugui asked, holding the jade-like object his mother had given him.
"Bone of the Wolf God!" Liu shi replied.
"My child, you are an adult now. According to Han customs, you should have a courtesy name. Today, I will give you one: Hancang."
Hancang? Huyan Hancang? Huyan Hancang sounds much more imposing than Zhou Fugui, Zhou Fugui thought to himself.
...
"Brother Fugui!"
"Camp Commander!"
More than twenty of Zhou Fugui's fellow villagers and close friends, including Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Pan Jianguǐ, Li Qing, Yi Jisheng, Yang Xinhong, Wu Tianqi, Hu Yuan, Wei Liang, Wei Xiazi, Chen Kunkun, and Hong Wei, Hu Tieniu, rushed into the room upon hearing the news and shouted together when they saw Zhou Fugui.
The fighting had temporarily ceased, and the Yan court had stripped Zhou Fugui of his command. Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Pan Jianguǐ, Li Qing, Yi Jisheng, and the others were also allowed to return to their hometowns to reunite with their families. Upon hearing that Zhou Fugui's family had encountered trouble, they rushed over together.
"You've arrived?" Zhou Fugui asked after wrapping a white silk cloth around his head.
Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Pan Jianguǐ, Li Qing, Yi Jisheng, and more than twenty others nodded in unison.
"Camp Commander, please accept my condolences!" Li Qing said after glancing at the simple mourning hall in the room.
"Sister-in-law, Xiao Qing, please prepare some vegetarian food and wine. I have a few words to say to my brothers," Zhou Fugui nodded and instructed his elder sister-in-law, Madam Gu, and Xiao Qing.
Madam Gu and Xiao Qing responded in unison and went to prepare.
"Follow me," Zhou Fugui then said to Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Pan Jianguǐ, Li Qing, Yi Jisheng, and the others.
Thus, Zhou Fugui led them to the courtyard of his home. They found wooden stools and stones, and the twenty-odd people sat down together.
After sitting down, Zhou Fugui silently polished the Moon Chasing Bow. The Moon Chasing Bow had been polished until it was exceptionally bright, free of any dust. Zhou Fugui continued to polish it. All his fellow villagers and friends watched him with sympathy, wishing to comfort him but not knowing where to begin.
Here was a fierce general of the battlefield. Regardless of his motives, Zhou Fugui had made great contributions to the Great Yan. Yet, he had met such an end. His elder brother was murdered, his sister was abducted, his mother fell ill, his family was forced into poverty, left destitute, and his home destroyed. Thinking of this, they couldn't help but sigh.
"Camp Commander, why not report to the authorities?" After a long silence, Li Qing spoke up.
"Report to the authorities?" Before Zhou Fugui could reply, Pan Jianguǐ sneered, "They are in cahoots, colluding together. What good will reporting to the authorities do?"
"Hmm, Old Ghost speaks the truth," Old Yi Tou Yi Jisheng nodded. "The government dare not provoke the Xianbei people."
"The government dares not provoke the Duan father and son, but what about Commander Tengge and Princess Ziyue?" Li Qing asked.
"Alas, scholarly scholar," Suo Dacheng said sullenly, "Distant water cannot quench near thirst. Don't you understand this principle?"
"If this doesn't work and that isn't suitable, then what do you suggest we do?" Li Qing asked helplessly.
"Kill those scoundrels," Xu Mancang said, waving his fists.
Everyone fell silent. Killing the Duan father and son would be blatant rebellion. Moreover, with just these twenty-odd people, they might not be able to kill the Duan father and son, Qin Tianming, and the others.
The Xianbei Duan tribe's Duan father and son had many private soldiers under their command.
"How have I treated you, my fellows?" After a long pause, Zhou Fugui asked his fellow villagers and friends.
Zhou Fugui had also considered reporting to the authorities, but as Pan Jianguǐ had said, the government was in cahoots and colluding with the Duan father and son. Even if they weren't, ordinary Yan officials would not dare to provoke the Xianbei people.
Furthermore, the Duan father and son, Qin Tianming, and the others were ruthless. Zhou Fugui had been ambushed by them on his way back home. If he reported to the authorities, they might strike again.
Zhou Fugui had been fortunate to evade this ambush, but he might not be so lucky next time. If an arrowhead struck Zhou Fugui's head or throat, he would die just the same.
Moreover, even if Zhou Fugui could evade the ambush, what if they attacked his mother, elder sister-in-law, nephew, Xiao Qing, and Xiao Yu Nu? They were all women and children, how could they evade? Zhou Fugui shivered at the thought.
Therefore, reporting to the authorities or evading were not good solutions.
If it's fate, it cannot be avoided. If it's misfortune, it cannot be dodged!
Moreover, Zhou Fugui's own sister, Little Sister Zhou, was still in their hands. The urgent task was to rescue her.
As for seeking help from Murong Bole, Murong Huiying, and Murong Tengge, it was as Suo Dacheng said, distant water cannot quench near thirst. Besides, even if they sought help, it might not be effective. The reason was that Albugu and others had committed crimes such as killing ordinary Xia people and fleeing from battle, causing the deaths of over a thousand brothers in the White Tiger Battalion. Yet, they had not been punished. It was heard that Albugu and others had even been promoted. In such circumstances, Zhou Fugui's seeking help from Murong Bole, Murong Huiying, and Murong Tengge would be almost useless.
In this world, fairness and justice were merely a pie drawn by those in power, a fantasy of the common people.
"Honorable and righteous!"
"Benevolent as mountains!"
"Camp Commander, tell us what to do, and we will obey without question!"
His fellow villagers and friends responded in unison.
Without Zhou Fugui, many of them might have perished in the south long ago, becoming ghosts in a foreign land. Without Zhou Fugui, would they have dreamed of promotion, wealth, returning home in glory? Or returning home safely to reunite with their families? It was almost impossible.
"Good, thank you all for your kindness!" Zhou Fugui clasped his hands and bowed. "My family has suffered misfortune and encountered such a great disaster. I only ask for two things from you, and I hope you will agree."
"Brother Fugui, just say it. What if I, Xu Mancang, were to shed this flesh?"
"And me! Damn it, they've really gone too far!"
"Hmm, Camp Commander, just give us your orders. We will obey without question."
His fellow villagers and friends spoke up one after another.
"Well, thank you all," Zhou Fugui said, holding up two fingers. "Liu Changshun and other fellow villagers died in a foreign land, but what they are owed should be sent to their families. I have always thought about this, but due to the sudden turn of events at home, I am truly unable to go in person. Therefore, I entrust this matter to you. Li Qing, you are eloquent. Take some men and make sure this is handled properly."
"Camp Commander..."
His fellow villagers and friends were all choked with emotion and could not speak.
Zhou Fugui's family was destroyed, but he still thought of those brothers who died in the south. Such a person of loyalty and righteousness was rare in this world.
"Camp Commander, you..." Li Qing nodded.
Li Qing hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something, but seeing Zhou Fugui's grim expression, he swallowed his words.
"The second matter is..." Zhou Fugui nodded and continued. "Pan Jianguǐ, take men to escort my mother, elder sister-in-law, and the others to Youzhou. Find Commander Tengge and hand them over to him."
Although Murong Tengge could not do anything to Albugu and the others, he might still be able to protect Zhou Fugui's family.
As for Murong Huiying's household, the royal mansion of Yan's Left Virtuous King Murong Bole, Zhou Fugui did not intend to send his mother and the others there. The reason was that Murong Huiying was not at the royal mansion, and the mansion would not pay attention to these insignificant people.
"I... I will obey your orders. But Camp Commander, what... what do you plan to do?" Zhou Fugui was clearly making arrangements for his aftermath, which made Pan Jianguǐ and the others extremely worried.
"Go! All of you, go! Leave tonight, or you are not my brothers," Zhou Fugui roared without allowing any argument.
...
Sleeve crossbows, the Moon Chasing Bow, arrowheads, sharp waist knives, and so on. Zhou Fugui laid out these deadly weapons one by one on the wooden table, stroking them as if he were caressing his own children.
The world was unjust, and Zhou Fugui could only use these weapons to seek justice. The world was unjust, and only these weapons could avenge his deceased elder brother.
If a scholar is enraged, two bodies will fall, blood will flow five steps, and the world will mourn in white. Today is that day!
Zhou Fugui then silently, first, hung the waist knife at his waist, then slung the bow and arrows and quiver on his back. He then hid two sleeve crossbows in his sleeves, inserted a short blade into his boot, put on a black robe, and tidied his attire.
With a creak, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a person walked in.
"Xiao Qing? Why are you here?" Zhou Fugui exclaimed, turning to Xiao Qing and angrily saying, "Quick, go! Go!"
"Brother Fugui, I'm not leaving. I'll stay with you," Xiao Qing said, shaking her head.
"This is outrageous! What use is it for you to stay with me? You'll only be a hindrance," Zhou Fugui said angrily.