Chapter 218: Bad News
Yang Huai, who came to deliver the news of death, was dressed in white mourning clothes, his eyes bloodshot, his face deathly pale, almost without any color.
General Yang had only one daughter under his knee, no son. Among the nephews and younger generation, General Yang liked Yang Huai the most. Yang Huai’s martial arts were all personally taught by General Yang.
General Yang died miserably on the battlefield, not even leaving a complete corpse. Such a tragic end left the entire Guangning Army grieving uncontrollably. Yang Huai was especially heartbroken.
Pei Qinghe felt a heavy weight in her heart and comforted him in a low voice: “Although General Yang died in battle, he dealt a heavy blow to the rebel army. Tao Wudi also took a knife wound and was seriously injured.”
“The rebel army may withdraw troops soon.”
Tao Wudi was slashed by General Yang before his death, and his injury was not light. The rebel army relied entirely on Tao Wudi’s cruel and bloody methods to suppress them. Once Tao Wudi fell, morale would quickly disperse.
Although these words were heavy and harsh, from the overall perspective, the Guangning Army had made a great contribution, and General Yang died a worthy death.
Yang Huai wiped his eyes heavily with his sleeve and said in a low voice: “General, rest assured, the Guangning Army will not sink like this. One thousand men escaped back from the battlefield, plus the soldiers left behind. The Guangning Army now still has five thousand men. Great Uncle Father is dead, but there are still a crowd of Yang Family members. Morale has not dispersed, and the Guangning Army’s military banner has not fallen.”
“Before Great Uncle Father passed, he instructed that if he died in battle, I do not need to observe mourning and should quickly marry into the Pei family as a son-in-law. Please approve, General!”
Pei Yan was startled, her eyebrows shooting up.
Pei Qinghe glanced over, and Pei Yan had to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
“Marriage is not urgent.” Pei Qinghe said warmly: “General Yang wrote me a letter, and I understand his intention. Since the Pei Family Army has allied with the Guangning Army, if the Guangning Army encounters danger, the Pei Family Army will never stand by.”
“You focus on observing mourning for General Yang. The matter of marriage can be discussed again in a year.”
For a consanguineous nephew, observing mourning for one year for his uncle is sufficient.
Yang Huai, immersed in grief, indeed had no intention for marriage. He only came because of Great Uncle Father’s instruction. With Pei Qinghe saying this, the giant stone in Yang Huai’s chest loosened, and he cupped his hands in a deep bow: “Thank you, General.”
Pei Yan also let out a long sigh of relief.
That’s right, what’s the rush for marriage? Wait another year!
Pei Qinghe gave Pei Yan a look. Pei Yan unusually softened once and said to Yang Huai: “You rarely come here, stay a few days before going back!”
Yang Huai sighed: “No need, I must go back immediately. Cousin Brother Yang Hu is still too young, and I’m afraid he can’t hold down the entire army alone.”
In terms of bloodline, both Yang Huai and Yang Hu are General Yang’s consanguineous nephews, and they have been in the barracks for ten years with the highest official positions. Now that General Yang is dead, someone needs to take over to command the Guangning Army.
Yang Huai will marry into the Pei family as a son-in-law in the future, so he is not suitable to be the commander. For the commander position, Yang Hu is the most appropriate choice.
However, there are two veteran military generals in the army who are not convinced by Yang Hu.
Pei Qinghe understood in her heart and said to Yang Huai: “In that case, go back early. Pei Yan, go to the Guangning Army on my behalf and stay in the barracks for a month.”
With Pei Qinghe expressing her attitude in support of the Yang brothers Yang Huai and Yang Hu, the panicked morale of the Guangning Army could stabilize more quickly.
Pei Yan knew the importance and cupped her hands to accept the order.
Pei Qinghe then called Shi Yan and asked how much grain was stored in Pei Family Village.
Shi Yan immediately understood and worked the abacus to tally the accounts, squeezing out one thousand shi of military rations.
Pei Yan brought one thousand shi of military rations and grandly escorted Yang Huai back to the Guangning Army. Yang Hu was overjoyed and personally welcomed her with a crowd of generals.
Pei Yan, as the number four figure in the Pei Family Army and Yang Huai’s fiancée, came at this time with a large amount of military rations to support Yang Hu. The unfavorable voices saying Yang Hu was too young to be commander soon weakened.
Yang Huai was full of gratitude and privately said to Pei Yan: “Thank you for coming this time.”
Pei Yan spoke bluntly: “Why thank me? Cousin Sister Qinghe told me to come, that’s why I came. If you want to thank someone, thank her.”
Still that straightforward manner, with dark skin, tall and sturdy, fierce-looking, speaking without mincing words, straight to the heart.
Yang Huai was both amused and exasperated, a thread of tenderness quietly surging in his heart. He reached out and held Pei Yan’s hand, which was not soft at all: “General Pei is giving aid to us Yang brothers on your account. Of course I must thank you.”
Pei Yan was utterly clueless about romance, pulled her hand back, and glared warningly: “Not married yet, no touching.”
Yang Huai: “…”
In adversity, a person’s growth speed is astonishing.
During this period, Yang Hu quickly became steady. Pei Zhi came with Pei Yan to the Guangning Barracks, and Yang Hu actually restrained his previous pervert behavior, no longer pestering her, and kept a distant distance.
Pei Zhi breathed a sigh of relief but was also a bit curious, muttering a few words to Pei Yan privately.
Pei Yan grinned: “What’s there not to understand? Before, when General Yang was still alive, Yang Hu never thought about the distant future. Now that General Yang died in battle and Yang Hu became commander, it’s impossible for him to abandon the Guangning Army and marry into the Pei family as a son-in-law. Since there’s no possibility of being husband and wife, naturally he shouldn’t pester anymore.”
Pei Zhi exclaimed in amazement: “You usually seem so rough like a tiger, turns out you’re not a blockhead.”
Pei Yan laughed and spat: “You’re the blockhead. Before, you couldn’t stand Yang Hu and beat him until his face was black and blue. Now that he keeps his distance, you’re not happy again.”
Among the Pei Clan girls, there were no lack of outstanding beauties. Pei Qinghe was clear and heroic, Pei Yun had a beautiful appearance, Pei Xuan was sweet and soft. Pei Zhi had almond eyes and peach cheeks, charming and lively, especially eye-catching. There were quite a few men in the Pei Family Army who admired Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi was used to being pampered by everyone, and suddenly being distanced by Yang Hu made her feel uncomfortable.
Pei Zhi, having her thoughts exposed, was a bit annoyed and embarrassed, glaring at Pei Yan. Pei Yan dragged her to the training ground for a “sparring” session.
Pei Yan had immense strength, her fists and feet fierce and ruthless. Pei Zhi struggled on both sides and soon fell into a disadvantage.
Yang Hu watched from afar and sent someone to call Yang Huai to come save the day.
After Yang Huai arrived, he said irritably: “If you want to play the hero saving the beauty, go yourself. Why call me?”
Yang Hu’s gaze darkened: “Pei Zhi is a good miss, but I can’t be a son-in-law, so I shouldn’t pester her anymore.”
Without waiting for Yang Huai to speak, Yang Hu turned and left.
His back figure was somewhat lonely, quite pitiful.
Yang Huai couldn’t help sighing, then turned his head to look. In the field, Pei Zhi was beaten staggering back, Pei Yan like a tiger, not holding back at all!
Yang Huai braced himself and told the two to stop.
Pei Yan had been repeatedly instructed by Pei Qinghe and finally remembered to save some face for her fiancé in public, quickly stopping: “Your future brother-in-law Zhang Kou has spoken, so it ends here today.”
Pei Zhi awkwardly wiped the sweat beads from her forehead and teased: “Thank you, brother-in-law.”
Pei Yan was thick-skinned and didn’t care, but Yang Huai blushed furiously.
