The muscular men nearby trembled. Some geese retracted their necks, while a few more enthusiastic ones approached to chat: “Where are you from, young sir? Heading to the capital?” Xiao Qun, always attending to this master, tensed, ready to hang anyone who heard a “scram” command.
Unexpectedly, the usually unsociable gentleman responded cordially: “From Yanzhou City in the north, heading to the capital to seek medical treatment.”
Since they wore ordinary clothes, carried no weapons, and their carriage was unremarkable, the merchants guessed they were perhaps from a wealthy family in Yanzhou, a military stronghold where it was normal for military household members to travel together.
Unable to directly inquire about his health, the merchant instead brought up another topic: “Coming from the north, have you heard about General Fu, the Jining Marquis, returning to the capital? His homecoming must be quite a spectacle!”
These two established a northern border defense line for the Great Zhou. The border troops led by the Fu family were known as the Northern Yan Iron Cavalry. From the sixth year of Yuantai to the eighteenth year of Yuantai, during these ten years, no border conflicts arose under the deterrence of the Northern Yan Iron Cavalry.
Until the nineteenth year of Yuantai, Fu Tingzhong was assassinated by the Eastern Tartars, who then formed an alliance with the Northern Zhe tribe and invaded Great Zhou again. Fu Tingxin led a lone army deep into the encirclement and ultimately died in battle.
The previous scene of enemy troops approaching the city was almost repeated, but this time there were no longer abundant elite troops and generals available, and Emperor Yuantai was no longer as ambitious as in his early years. After several heated morning court debates, they made a decision that was both confused and wise.
They pushed out Fu Tingzhong’s eldest son, the not-yet-mature Fu Shen, and sent him to the battlefield. They chose a member of the Fu family because the Eastern Tartars had a deep hatred for those with the surname Fu, and this invasion was specifically for revenge. Fu Shen had also been training in the military with his father and uncles from an early age and could be considered a “military talent”. But throughout history, when have government officials who live in comfort ever hidden in the rear while sending a young man to face wolves and tigers?
