Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The site selection for the western slope camp proceeded quickly. Backed by a gentle slope and facing a stream flowing from the depths of Black Wind Ridge, the terrain was open and flat, providing shelter from the wind and convenient access to water and grazing horses. It was only three li from the main camp of Xinghuo Fort, a short distance by fast horse. Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue, along with several soldiers and veterans knowledgeable in civil engineering, walked around the slope twice, quickly sketching out the general outline of the camp: where to erect fences, where to dig trenches, where to build stables and granaries, where to place tents and any earthen houses that might be built later—all these were marked on the ground.

However, even more important than the construction of the camp is the "covenant" that will bind the two companies' behavior for the next year or even longer.

Over the next two days, the council hall of Xinghuo Fortress became a battlefield for the strategists of both sides to engage in heated debates. Wu Xuejiu and Li Shu represented Xinghuo Fortress, while Helan Sou and another elder of the Murong clan, who was fluent in Chinese, represented the Murong tribe. They meticulously examined, debated, and revised the points that Murong Mingyue had initially proposed, word by word.

The debate mainly focuses on several aspects.

The first point concerns the specific standards and methods for supplying provisions. The Murong tribe desired a clear and stable quota, especially for the supply of fine feed for their warhorses. Xinghuo Fortress, however, emphasized the current shortage of provisions and advocated for a basic guarantee, with any shortfall recorded as a "loan" or "advance payment based on merit," to be supplemented or offset later when the fortress had a bountiful harvest or when additional spoils were obtained through joint operations. After a long negotiation, a tiered supply agreement was finally reached: 70% supply for the first month, increasing to 80% the following month if the Murong tribe performed exceptionally well in fortress work or joint defense, and so on, with a maximum of 95%. Fine feed for warhorses would be supplied according to the number of horses, but a portion would need to be offset by cattle and sheep raised by the Murong tribe or livestock captured in the future.

Secondly, there was the balance between command authority and independence in military operations. The Murong tribe insisted on the principle of independent cavalry units directly commanded by Murong Mingyue. Xinghuo Fortress acknowledged this, but Chen Xing, through Wu Xuejiu, proposed a supplement: in joint operations involving more than a hundred personnel, or in defensive battles that might jeopardize Xinghuo Fortress's fundamental security, the Murong cavalry must unconditionally accept the highest orders issued by Chen Xing. For routine small-scale patrols, reconnaissance, and harassment missions, Murong Mingyue could make her own decisions, but she needed to report her action plan and approximate area to Xinghuo Fortress in advance. Post-war merit assessment and spoils distribution would be conducted by a "Military Merit Audit Office" composed of representatives from both sides, distributing spoils according to a pre-agreed ratio of "three parts troop contribution, seven parts military merit," in accordance with the detailed rules of the "Meritorious Service Order."

Thirdly, there was the issue of the scope of application and disciplinary power of the ironclad rules of the "Military Regulations." This was Chen Xing's bottom line and the most tense part of the negotiations. He Lansou tried to secure "flexible handling rights" for Murong troops in areas not directly controlled by Xinghuo Fortress (such as when conducting reconnaissance missions or independent operations), as well as "internal disciplinary rights" for violating certain clauses. However, Wu Xuejiu, representing Chen Xing, was unusually resolute.

"Elder Helan," Wu Xuejiu's beard trembled slightly, but his tone was resolute, "The essence of the Military Regulations lies in 'uniformity.' If it varies from person to person or place to place, these regulations become mere formalities and lose all authority. The Fortress Lord once said that wherever Xinghuo Fortress's influence and actions extend, these regulations are like the blue sky above, inviolable. Since the Murong tribe has allied with our fortress to advance and retreat together, their people should be regarded as our fortress's soldiers and civilians. Anyone who violates the Military Regulations, regardless of who they are or where they are, will be punished according to the law once verified, without any leniency. As for the punishment, it will naturally be decided by the leaders and elders of both sides in accordance with the law, but there is absolutely no such thing as 'internal handling.' This is to ensure fairness and to prevent private protection."

He Lansou's expression was somewhat grim, but he knew this was a fundamental matter, and Chen Xing would never back down. He looked at Chen Xing, who sat silently listening to him and only occasionally exchanging opinions with Chen Wei in hushed tones, then at his young mistress. Murong Mingyue remained calm and shook her head slightly at He Lansou.

"Mr. Wu is right," Murong Mingyue finally spoke, her voice clear and melodious. "As allies, we should be of one mind and one heart, and the rules should naturally be followed as well. My tribe has no objection to this. Those who violate it will be punished publicly. However," she changed her tone and looked at Chen Xing, "Fortress Master, the law is not without human sentiment, and we should also consider the tribe's old customs and special circumstances. For example, in a battle between two armies, where life and death hang in the balance, some soldiers may be blinded by rage and unable to stop immediately. How should we distinguish between these situations? Or, in the wilderness, when attacked by bandits, where is the line between fighting back in self-defense and indiscriminate killing and looting? Mingyue is not trying to excuse the tribe, but only hopes that the implementation of these 'Military Regulations' will be both strict in enforcing discipline and reasonable, so as not to chill the hearts of the soldiers."

This was a pointed and practical question. Everyone in the hall looked at Chen Xing.

Chen Xing put down the black chess piece he had been playing with—the only small item he had brought from the modern world—and pondered for a moment before saying, "Miss Murong's concerns are quite valid. Strict laws must be supplemented with education and consideration of the situation. In my opinion, we can establish a distinction between 'excusable circumstances' and 'unforgivable crimes'."

He slowly explained: "'Do not kill surrendered soldiers' and 'Do not mistreat prisoners' are ironclad rules, and any violation will be severely punished, regardless of the circumstances. This is because surrendered prisoners pose no threat; killing or mistreating them only increases violence, harms the harmony of the world, and cuts off any future path for them. 'Do not rob civilians' and 'Do not commit adultery' are also ironclad rules. However, if enemy troops disguise themselves as civilians to launch a surprise attack, or if the battlefield is chaotic and it is difficult to distinguish them immediately, resulting in accidental injury, then the facts must be thoroughly investigated. If it is indeed a misjudgment, and efforts are made to make amends afterward, the punishment may be reduced accordingly, but the responsible officer will not be exempt from the responsibility for insufficient training and lax discipline."

"As for self-defense and counterattack, it is a matter of course. However, counterattacks should be measured and aimed at eliminating threats, dispersing and capturing the enemy. If the enemy has already fled or lost the ability to resist, continuing to pursue and kill them is indiscriminate killing. The balance between these two aspects is of utmost importance to the commanding officer in battle and in peacetime training. Therefore, the effectiveness of the Military Regulations lies not only in post-event punishment, but also in pre-event education and in-event discipline."

He looked at Murong Mingyue with a calm gaze: "Specific cases should be discussed jointly by both parties, carefully examining the circumstances, ensuring that no one is wrongly accused or let off lightly. I can promise that all cases handled according to the 'Military Regulations' will be subject to public trials, allowing the parties involved to present their arguments, and judgments will be based on evidence. Perhaps this will alleviate your concerns, young lady?"

Murong Mingyue carefully considered Chen Xing's words, nodding inwardly. This explanation, while upholding principles, also considered the flexibility and humanity in practical implementation, making it more sophisticated and easier to accept than simply emphasizing harsh laws and punishments. She cupped her hands and said, "The Fortress Master's considerations are thorough; Mingyue has no further objections."

With the biggest obstacle removed, the subsequent terms went much more smoothly. Agreements were quickly reached on personnel movement, dispute resolution, and mutual training. Both parties agreed to hold a joint meeting every ten days, co-chaired by Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue, to report on the situation and discuss important matters.

On the afternoon of the third day, all the debates and deliberations finally came to an end. A parchment contract with precise wording and clear terms, along with a bamboo slip copy of the same content, were placed on the wooden table in the center of the council chamber.

The covenant begins with the words "Covenant between Xinghuo Fortress and Murong Tribe" written neatly at the top.

The main text details all the terms and conditions agreed upon by both parties, from the names and locations of the garrisons, the supply of provisions, military cooperation, and compliance with laws, to the handling of disputes, the agreed time limits, and even some minor details such as the etiquette of messenger exchanges and the contact methods in case of emergencies.

Finally, the rights and obligations of both parties are summarized, which can also be called the true "three-point agreement":

I. Pact of Unity: Xinghuo Fortress and Murong Tribe form an alliance of offense and defense, acting as each other's lips and teeth to jointly defend against external enemies, and shall not betray each other.

II. Agreement to Abide by the Law: During the period of the alliance and within the area of ​​joint action, the Murong tribe and its followers must strictly abide by the "Spark Camp Military Regulations" and the relevant laws and regulations of Spark Fortress. Violators will be punished in accordance with the law.

III. Agreement on Reorganization: The Murong tribe will retain its independent cavalry organization and internal governance, but will be subject to unified command by Xinghuo Fort during joint operations, and will gradually promote personnel exchanges and skill learning to create conditions for deeper integration in the future.

Wu Xuejiu used his beautiful clerical script to copy the final draft. Li Shu had already prepared the cinnabar inkpad.

Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue stepped forward separately. Chen Xing took out the rough but heavy wooden seal of "Lord of Xinghuo Fortress", while Murong Mingyue took out a small bronze seal with a wolf head that she always carried with her - it was a relic of her father, the former leader of the Murong tribe.

The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously pressed their seals firmly into the blank spaces reserved at the ends of the parchment and bamboo slips.

The bright red mark fell, as if to solemnly mark the disputes of the past two days and the expectations for the future.

Everyone in the hall, whether it was Chen Wei, Zhao Tiezhu, Wu Xuejiu, and Li Shu from Xinghuo Fortress, or He Lansou and Amur from the Murong tribe, all breathed a sigh of relief and showed smiles of varying degrees on their faces.

"Now that the alliance is established, let us work together to carve out a new world in this chaotic era!" Chen Xing raised the copied bamboo slips and said loudly.

"Working together, sharing life and death!" Murong Mingyue also raised the original parchment, her voice firm.

The crowd responded with a resounding roar.

The next half day was dedicated to implementing specific tasks. Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue immediately led a detachment of garrison soldiers and the able-bodied men of the Murong tribe to the western slope to begin logging and clearing the grounds in preparation for construction. Zhou Dashan allocated a batch of tools and a small amount of stored grain to be sent ahead. Zhao Tiezhu began planning how to incorporate the elderly, weak, women, and children of the Murong tribe who were skilled in weaving and tanning into the fortress's production schedule. Li Shu, meanwhile, began to work on formulating more detailed rules for calculating merit and exchanging supplies.

Standing on the fortress wall, Chen Xing gazed at the wisps of smoke rising from the western slope. The Murong tribe had already begun cooking, and he saw their busy figures. He felt a surge of emotion.

The "Three Rules" were not merely provisions to restrain the Murong tribe, but also an important attempt by Xinghuo Fortress to expand outwards and integrate its forces. With the rules established, there would be a set of guidelines to follow in the future, whether it was to absorb refugees or to incorporate other forces.

In this chaotic world, military force is the foundation, but how far one can go ultimately depends on the hearts of the people and the system.

He tightened his robe around his neck. The early spring wind still carried a chill, but he felt a warm power slowly gathering and spreading in his chest.

The spark that ignited the prairie fire seemed to have been fueled by a handful of dry and resilient new firewood.