Chapter 210: New Recruit
Two months after the new recruits entered the barracks, they were finally given their first leave.
The barracks were dozens of li from Beiping Commandery, so a round trip on the road took a full day, allowing them to stay at home for two nights.
Pei Qinghe was very generous and had the kitchen prepare three days’ military rations.
Zhao Hehua and Wang Cuier joyfully tied the two slender bags of military rations around their waists: “These military rations smell so good. We’ll eat less on the road and bring more back for Mom and Dad and the siblings to taste.”
There were many new recruits going home on the same road, with people from their own side both ahead and behind on the official road, so there was no need to fear at all.
There were also male soldiers who took the initiative to chat and show attentiveness.
In the Pei Family Army, if male soldiers and female soldiers took a liking to each other, they could report it upward, and with the general’s approval, they could get married. Most of those who came to enlist were from families too poor to survive, in other words, the male soldiers were originally just a group of poor bachelors who couldn’t marry wives.
Now, upon seeing female soldiers as fresh and beautiful as flowers, they thickened their faces and came over.
Zhao Hehua had been in the barracks for two months and already had the proud confidence of the female soldiers, so she ignored them. Wang Cuier was the same. The two sisters didn’t slow their pace at all and after walking most of the day, they arrived under the city gate.
Beiping Commandery’s city gates were now all managed by the Pei Family Army. The veteran soldiers saw the new recruits and felt a familial closeness, smiling as they let the new recruits into the city.
Zhao Hehua hurried home.
Mom and Dad were both at home and were startled when they saw their daughter.
The originally thin Zhao Hehua now had rapidly plumped cheeks, had grown a bit taller, and her gaze was bright. It was as if she had been reborn, transformed into a different person.
Zhao Father’s voice was much softer than before, and Zhao Mother quietly asked her daughter how life was in the barracks and if she had been bullied.
Zhao Hehua answered loudly: “Three meals a day, all filling. During the day we practice martial arts, at night we read and write, and I’m always the fastest learner. We often get to eat meat.”
Zhao Father and Zhao Mother were both stunned.
Enlisting and practicing martial arts made sense, but actually reading and writing too? Eating until full every meal, with meat?!
“Mom and Dad, don’t worry, no one in the barracks dares to bully me.” Zhao Hehua raised her brows, full of confidence between them: “Even in hands-on sparring, I’m not afraid of anyone.”
For Zhao Father and Zhao Mother, sending their daughter to the barracks was truly a last resort. The Zhao family was too poor, with five children in total that they simply couldn’t support. Rather than starving to death at home, it was better to go to the barracks to scrape by for food. When they received the three taels of silver settlement fee, they had already prepared mentally for the worst.
They never imagined their daughter would live so well in the barracks.
Zhao Mother was immediately moved and quietly asked: “How about having your fourth sister sign up to be a female soldier too.”
Recruitment for male soldiers had strict conditions, with at least half of those signing up every day being rejected. For female soldiers, it was much more lenient. Families too poor to raise daughters simply sold their daughters to the Pei Family Army.
Zhao Hehua frowned and said: “Fourth sister is only twelve this year, too young. Wait another two years. After New Year, third brother will be fifteen; let him sign up. Enlisting in the Pei Family Army means food and clothing, and he can learn a set of skills.”
After discussing, Zhao Father and Zhao Mother agreed.
Two days later, Zhao Hehua and Wang Cuier returned to the barracks together.
The two sisters walked and talked: “This time going back, Mom and Dad were especially kind to me.”
“Weren’t they? Before, beatings and scoldings were routine, no good expression when speaking, always complaining that I ate the family’s food. Now going back, they’re so gentle to me. They even quietly told me to bring military pay home when I get it.”
“The veteran soldiers say it’s issued once every three months at first, then monthly after a year. When I get military pay, I’ll keep half. The other half for Mom and Dad.”
“I plan to keep most of it and give only a little. Mom and Dad dote on big brother and fourth brother; they don’t care about me as a daughter. I have to plan for myself.”
……
“Your method still works.”
Pei Yun smiled lightly: “You let the new recruits go home for two days, letting everyone know how good life is enlisting in the Pei Family Army. Recruitment is no trouble at all now; these past few days, female soldiers already make up twenty percent of those signing up.”
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly: “Female soldiers are naturally not as strong as male soldiers physically. However, female soldiers are often more enduring, more diligent in reading and writing, and more loyal.”
Only the Pei Family Army has female soldiers.
In the Pei Family Army, women can hold their heads high and live with dignity. After living such days, no woman is willing to go back to her previous life.
They are loyal, unwavering, won’t be deserters; they are loyal to her this general. With one order from her, they will charge and kill the enemy without hesitation.
Those who are truly too weak to wield blades and spears can learn medical care and bandaging, learn accounting and storeroom management, work in the kitchen as cooks, or do laundry, sewing, and such tasks in the army. There is always a suitable position and errand.
“You’ve already been in Beiping Commandery for over three months. It’s now the twelfth lunar month, freezing cold, and travel is inconvenient.” Pei Yun smiled and asked: “How about staying until after New Year before going back?”
Pei Qinghe smiled: “Things here in Beiping Commandery are initially sorted out. I plan to head back in two days, just in time to return to Pei Family Village for New Year.”
“From now on, Beiping Commandery is yours.”
Pei Yun didn’t like to boast or talk big, just nodded: “Rest assured, in less than two years, I can train up an elite soldier force.”
The Pei Family Army doesn’t need to interfere too much in civil affairs; training an elite soldier force that can win victories is the primary task. Only with a hard fist and sharp blade can they protect the common people in peace.
Two days later, Pei Qinghe led two hundred cavalry on the journey.
Pei Yun, Gu Lian, Wang Erhe, and others rode horses to see them off for ten li, waving farewell reluctantly.
The Pei character flag fluttered fiercely in the wind.
Pei Yan was elated: “Stuck in the barracks all day, finally able to ride a horse and run to my heart’s content.”
Pei Qinghe teased with a smile: “Riding fast horses all the way back to Pei Family Village. Not just to your heart’s content—you might even ride until you puke.”
Everyone burst out laughing.
On the way here, they brought a pile of grain and weapons and had to accommodate infantry, so the speed was slow. The return trip was different: two hundred all cavalry, every one superb at horse riding, galloping all the way.
Horses run for two hours, rest for half an hour.
Pei Qinghe fed her warhorse water and fodder, while fondly stroking its sleek back.
Pei Yan was also feeding her beloved horse, while looking forward: “If the Zhan Family buys back a large batch of warhorses, then everyone in the Pei Family Army will have a horse. Coming and going like the wind—who could be our Pei Family Army’s match!”
“The Zhan Family went outside the passes after New Year, gone nearly a year.” Pei Qinghe sighed lightly: “These past months, no news at all. Who knows how many will come back alive.”
Pei Yan was very optimistic and confident: “Maybe by the time we get back to Pei Family Village, Pei Yifang, Fang Datou, and the others will have returned too.”
Pei Qinghe smiled: “I hope it’s as you say.”
Fast horses ran for seven days, and Pei Family Village was faintly visible in the distance.
Mao Hongling, Shi Yan, and others came to welcome them. Pei Qinghe was travel-worn but still radiant.
Before they could even exchange greetings, the ground trembled slightly, and the steady thuds of horse hooves accompanied rolling dust from afar.
