Chapter 186: Deterrence
After returning to the military tent, General Yang dismissed everyone, leaving only Yang Huai behind.
General Yang let out a long sigh: “Pei Qinghe gave me face today. In this bout, I lost. If it were on the battlefield, I wouldn’t last fifty moves.”
Yang Huai was also somewhat shocked: “Not even fifty moves?”
General Yang’s face was dark, and he let out another long sigh: “I’ve never dared to underestimate her. Only today do I realize that I still underestimated her.”
“Yang Huai, our marriage alliance with the Pei Family Army was the right move. With such a powerful Pei Family Army, we can only be allies, never their enemies.”
As for turning hostile and fighting, General Yang never even considered it. As a garrison military general, his real enemies were the Xiongnu barbarians. He had always been recruiting and training soldiers to guard against another Xiongnu barbarian invasion.
Even stepping back ten thousand steps, even if they did fight, the Guangning Army might rely on geographical advantage and total strength to win a victory. Next, they would face the Pei Family Army’s furious counterattack. And Pei Yun, Gu Lian, Feng Chang stationed in various county towns… Just thinking about it made one’s heart chill with fear.
Yang Huai said in a low voice: “Uncle is right. The Pei Family Army has strict military discipline, everyone can read and write, and their military formations are extremely powerful. Forming an alliance with them is the best strategy.”
As for what happens in the future, don’t worry about it now. Just get through these next few years first!
In the military tent on the other side, Pei Qinghe was whispering with Pei Yan and Mao Hongling: “General Yang is not exceptionally capable, but he is extremely loyal and righteous. He hasn’t thought of going independent, nor has he joined the Jiangnan Rebel Army. What he has in mind is garrisoning the border and resisting the Xiongnu barbarians. Now that we’ve formed an alliance with the Guangning Army, we must prepare for them to send troops to assist us in the future.”
Mao Hongling softly continued: “General Meng’s loyalty is to the Eastern Palace. General Yang is the true military general, fighting for the peace of the empire and its people.”
Pei Qinghe let out a soft sigh: “Exactly. I greatly admire General Yang’s character and conduct. So, I don’t want to become enemies with him. Becoming allies now is perfect.”
“It’s just that Pei Yan is wronged.”
Pei Yan was suddenly named, scratched her head: “Where am I wronged? Yang Huai is barely worthy of me.”
Pei Qinghe chuckled and patted Pei Yan’s head, saying softly: “As long as you’re not wronged, that’s good.”
Walking down this path of no return, romantic love must be put aside. Even for herself, recruiting Shi Yan as a son-in-law in the future wasn’t entirely for love. The Shi Family and Wang Family behind Shi Yan, and Shi Yan’s own shrewd capability, were all important reasons.
Mao Hongling chuckled softly: “I see that Yang Hu is quite interested in Pei Zhi.”
Pei Qinghe said indifferently: “The engagement between Pei Yan and Yang Huai is already enough to show the sincerity of the alliance. Unless Pei Zhi herself takes a liking to Yang Hu.”
……
Pei Zhi was somewhat irritated.
Every day wandering around the Guangning Barracks, having her future brother-in-law Yang Huai accompany her was fine, but that Yang Hu who kept staring at her followed along every day, striking up conversations whenever he got the chance—it was truly annoying.
She wasn’t someone with a good temper either. With a taut pretty face, she went to find Pei Qinghe: “Cousin Sister Qinghe! If I beat Yang Hu up, it won’t affect the alliance between the Pei Family Army and the Guangning Army, right!”
Pei Qinghe smiled: “Of course not.”
That’s good then.
Pei Zhi used sparring as an excuse to challenge Yang Hu to a fight. No weapons, just fist and foot combat. Then, she beat Yang Hu into a pig head.
She showed no mercy at all, most of her fists aimed at Yang Hu’s head and face.
Yang Hu was beaten until his face was bruised and swollen, but no one sympathized; only his cousins mocked and ridiculed him mercilessly.
Yang Huai applied medicine for him, and Yang Hu was moved to tears: “Cousin still treats me well.”
Yang Huai didn’t even look up: “I think you’re pitiful. You want to be a son-in-law, but they don’t want you at all. When Pei Yan beats me, she never hits my face.”
Yang Hu: “…”
This minor episode was not worth mentioning.
General Yang didn’t take it to heart at all. He didn’t even mention it in front of Pei Qinghe. Instead, Pei Qinghe took the initiative to apologize on Pei Zhi’s behalf: “Pei Zhi is young and hot-tempered, and didn’t control her strength. Please don’t take offense, General Yang.”
General Yang smiled: “When one is no match for skill, getting beaten is what he asked for. Sixth Sister Pei needn’t take it to heart.”
Pei Qinghe glanced at Shi Yan, who understood and took the initiative to offer to buy a batch of military rations for the Guangning Army. At eighty percent of the current market price.
General Yang was overjoyed, wishing he could send Yang Hu over to get beaten again.
Pei Qinghe stayed with the Guangning Army for seven or eight days, showing ample sincerity, before bidding farewell. General Yang personally saw her off, escorting her five li before turning back.
Yang Huai wore the mandarin duck jade pendant of their engagement on his waist all day. Yang Hu, whose bruises had faded from his face, looked on with envy and jealousy, always targeting the jade pendant during training. Annoyed, Yang Huai gave Yang Hu a thorough beating.
He had the best martial skills among the Yang clan juniors; he couldn’t beat Pei Yan, but beating Yang Hu was more than enough.
……
News of the marriage alliance between the Pei Clan and the Yang clan spread quickly.
Magnates of Yan Prefecture came one after another with gifts.
The Shi Family’s gifts were the most generous.
After Shi Yan checked the gift list, he recorded the gifts and stored them.
Shi Li tactfully stood a few meters away, approaching only after Shi Yan was done to whisper: “Big Brother, Pei Yan and Yang Huai’s engagement was settled so quickly. You’ve been waiting two years! Grandfather doesn’t mention it, but he’s anxious inside.”
Shi Yan smiled: “No need to rush, just wait patiently.”
Shi Li glanced at the insincere Shi Yan: “If you’re not anxious, I have a wife and son—what do I have to be anxious about.”
What Shi Yan was really thinking, no one knew. In any case, he appeared utterly calm on the surface, without the slightest bit of irritated embarrassment.
A few days later, Prefect Tang of Tang Prefecture came personally.
Prefect Tang knew the times. After the Pei Family Army was formed, he proactively sent annual gifts.
After the Pei Family Army greatly defeated the Fanyang Army, Prefect Tang’s attitude became even more humble. This time, not only did he bring gifts, but also several Tang clan juniors. All were proper-looking teenage boys.
The son-in-law position for Sixth Sister Pei was out of reach. But the Pei Clan had many young ladies not yet engaged! As long as Pei Qinghe nodded, Prefect Tang would be eager to send all his worthless nephews into the Pei Clan as sons-in-law.
Of course, Prefect Tang was a man of face, so he put it openly like this: “The Pei Family Army protects the peace of Yan Prefecture; this prefect is endlessly grateful. These few are Tang clan juniors. Please accept them, Sixth Sister, and let them do some rough chores. It can be considered this prefect doing his part for the Pei Family Army.”
Pei Qinghe did not decline and gladly accepted.
The Pei Family Army lacked horses, weapons, grain, and men. The Tang clan’s boys had been reading since young and had some learning. They couldn’t fight, but with a little training and guidance, they were very suitable for logistics and clerical work.
A month or so later, Emperor Jian’an of Bohai Commandery sent someone to proclaim the imperial decree.
The imperial envoy was none other than Guard Gao, who had escorted the Pei Clan female dependents all the way to Youzhou that day—now the Commander of the Son of Heaven’s Guards, Gao Yong.
