Chapter 322: New Year
Heavy snow fell from the sky.
White snow covered the city walls, rooftops, and streets, freezing into thick ice.
In such weather, forget training; even going out for a walk would cause frostbite.
Pei Qinghe trained troops strictly but cherished soldiers greatly. From the first day of snowfall, she issued a military order for all soldiers to stay in their military tents. The military tents had stoves for warming by the fire and boiling hot water to cook porridge.
Stealing a few idle days from life, Pei Qinghe and Shi Yan lay in warm bedding, heads touching as they talked.
“How long can the grain last?”
Shi Yan calculated in his mind and smiled softly, “Until the second month of spring, no problem.”
When coming to Liaoxi, the Pei Family Army brought a large amount of military rations. Countless soldiers died on the battlefield, followed by constant recruitment of new recruits. Now the troop strength was nearly twenty thousand, with plenty of stored grain remaining.
Pei Qinghe was silent for a moment, then said softly, “Next year, I still need to continue recruiting soldiers. Youzhou total military strength must reach at least fifty thousand.”
Beiping, Liaoxi, Guangning, and Fanyang’s four barracks, each needing eight thousand troop strength. Pei Family Village needed to support twenty thousand elite soldiers.
This number was also the limit of what Youzhou’s power could sustain. Without excessively squeezing the common people’s livelihood, seven to eight hundred thousand common people farming could barely support fifty thousand soldiers. That was about a dozen people supporting one soldier.
Shi Yan lowered his head and kissed Pei Qinghe’s furrowed brow. “It’s rare to rest and relax for a few days. Don’t worry about these things. Military rations are my concern. You just focus on recruiting and training soldiers.”
Pei Qinghe chuckled, her furrowed brow smoothing out. “With heavy responsibility on my shoulders, how can I relax!”
The greater the power, the heavier the responsibility.
Now she commanded Youzhou, with hundreds of thousands of common people under her rule and vast territory. The heavy responsibility of dealing with Xiongnu barbarians weighed on her.
In the eyes of all soldiers, their General Pei was invincible and omnipotent. As long as they saw her figure, the soldiers felt the sky above brighten and their hearts especially secure.
Only Shi Yan knew her exhaustion, fear, and occasional vulnerability and unease.
Pei Qinghe rested her head against Shi Yan’s, full of affection. “Shi Yan, it’s good to have you with me.”
Shi Yan rubbed his waist and gritted his teeth. “I’ll serve the general one more time.”
Pei Qinghe burst out laughing and pinched him hard.
The room was full of romance.
Exhausted, they fell asleep.
They woke up starving, bellies rumbling.
A sweet, soft, glutinous aroma wafted into their noses.
Pei Qinghe took a deep breath, got dressed and off the bed, and walked to the stove. Shi Yan used tongs to pull out the roasted sweet potatoes, carefully tore off the black, charred, fragrant skin, revealing the soft flesh. He scooped a spoonful and brought it to Pei Qinghe’s mouth.
The freshly roasted sweet potato was hot, sweet, and fragrant. Pei Qinghe ate bite after bite, and in no time, she finished the entire sweet potato clean.
Shi Yan handed her a cup of hot tea.
As soon as the tea entered her mouth, Pei Qinghe exclaimed, “Why does this tea have a milky aroma? And it’s sweet?”
Shi Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled. “When boiling the tea, I added some milk and some brown sugar. Drinking it in cold weather—isn’t it especially good?”
“Indeed good.” Pei Qinghe praised endlessly. “Is there more milk and brown sugar in the barracks? Distribute some to every camp so everyone can have a cup.”
Always keeping the soldiers’ food, clothing, housing, and transport in mind at every moment. How could such a general not be respected and loved by the soldiers?
He too respected and loved his general.
Shi Yan smiled softly and agreed. “I’ll go to the storeroom later and distribute all the milk and brown sugar.”
Pei Qinghe cupped Shi Yan’s handsome face with both hands and planted a heavy kiss on his lips. “I can’t go a day without my Steward Shi.”
Steward Shi hugged General Pei’s waist and replied seriously, “I’m the general’s man for life. The general must not betray me.”
Amid intimate laughter and play, a familiar loud voice rang out. “I’m here!”
No sooner had the words fallen than a dark, sturdy female warrior entered.
Even this was only after Yang Huai repeatedly urged her that Pei Yan barely developed the habit of announcing herself before entering. Before, she always entered without notice.
Now that she was married, the men were in the way.
Pei Yan ignored Shi Yan being there and muttered, “From the day I learned to walk, I’ve followed Cousin Sister Qinghe every day. After ten years or so, now I have to report first.”
Shi Yan knew Pei Yan’s temper and was not annoyed. He wrapped himself in a thick fur coat and went out.
Pei Yan had a keen nose and sniffed the aroma as she approached. “What are you drinking?”
Shi Yan had boiled a whole iron kettle of tea. Pei Qinghe picked up the iron kettle and poured a cup for Pei Yan. “Tea boiled with milk and brown sugar—try it.”
One taste led to most of the pot.
Pei Qinghe looked at Pei Yan belching and laughed helplessly. “Drinking so much, will you still eat lunch?”
Burp!
Pei Yan let out another loud satisfied belch. “Won’t delay it.”
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly.
Pei Yan’s fluffy head leaned over and happily rubbed against Cousin Sister Qinghe’s shoulder. “It’s still best being with you.”
Pei Qinghe couldn’t help laughing and reached out to rub Pei Yan’s head. “What’s this? Did you fight with Yang Huai?”
Pei Yan replied boldly, “He wouldn’t dare! I beat him until he was searching for his teeth on the ground. I just dislike how clingy he is. These past few days, with the cold weather and no training ground, he’s practicing on the bed every day…”
Pei Qinghe coughed hard. “New Year is just a few days away. You and I are both a year older.”
Pei Yan’s attention shifted, and she grinned. “New Year— Cousin Sister Qinghe, you have to give me New Year’s money.”
Pei Qinghe laughed. “Good, this year I’ll give you New Year’s money too.”
Pei Yan pushed her luck. “Next year and the year after too.”
Pei Qinghe smiled with pursed lips. “Alright, every year.”
……
A brand new year arrived amid everyone’s eager anticipation.
It was the new recruits’ first New Year in the barracks, and they found it quite novel. There was meat, steamed buns, and even dumplings. The biggest surprise was receiving a share of New Year’s silver.
After the fifth day of New Year, Shi Yan set off first back to Pei Family Village. They needed to prepare seeds and ensure all common people timely farmed and sowed. This year’s spring plowing pressure was especially great; the territory had expanded several times, and the number of common people to care for had multiplied too.
“You go back to the Shi Family first.” Pei Qinghe instructed softly. “Discuss preparing seeds with Grandfather.”
Shi Yan nodded and hugged Pei Qinghe tightly.
“Liaoxi City here still needs a few more months of training. After March, I’ll set off to return.”
The young couple was at the peak of their affection; Shi Yan was reluctant to part, and so was Pei Qinghe. They snuggled together, urging each other to take care of their health.
Youzhou was considered peaceful in the Northern Lands, with the fewest bandits. Still, for safety, Pei Qinghe specially sent Pei Xuan and Pei Feng to accompany and protect Steward Shi.
When Lu Erlang came to see them off, Pei Xuan crisply called out Second Brother Lu. Lu Erlang’s eyes immediately reddened.
This reluctance to part was even stickier than between General Pei and Steward Shi!
