Chapter 164: Surrender
The one who came was none other than a very familiar youthful face.
Pei Jia was both surprised and delighted: “Young General Meng! How is it you!”
The one guarding the city gate was none other than Meng Ling, Meng Liulang.
The now nineteen-year-old Meng Liulang was somewhat taller and darker than before, still strikingly handsome, with a hint of arrogance in his expression.
“Why can’t it be me.” Meng Liulang’s bad temper was the same as ever, still with that slightly impatient look on his face: “Bohai Commandery is the Jing Dynasty’s new capital city, with people constantly coming and going every day. The Emperor has me guarding the city gate because he trusts me.”
Yes, yes, right, right. You weren’t squeezed out by the Zhang father and son; you really like guarding the city gate.
Pei Jia internally complained, but squeezed out a smile on his face: “Seeing Young General Meng is truly wonderful. Please, Young General Meng, open the city gate and let us enter Bohai Commandery.”
Meng Liulang appeared calm but was actually nervous, his gaze unable to help drifting toward the carriage outside the city gate: “Has Sixth Sister come?”
Pei Jia replied: “The ones who came are the various old madams. Sixth Sister went to the Shi Family before the New Year and spent it in the Shi Family Fortified Village.”
Meng Liulang suddenly fell silent.
Pei Jia waited calmly, continuing to internally complain in his heart.
You refused to stay with the Pei Family Army back then, and now you deserve to guard the city gate. Later, when Sixth Sister summons Steward Shi to be her son-in-law, you’ll have plenty to envy, resent, and grieve over.
Meng Liulang quickly regained his composure, carefully inspected the carriages and horses, confirmed there were no dangerous items carried, and also confirmed that Sixth Sister Pei was not disguised and mixed in among them, before letting everyone enter the city.
“Those who come to surrender must first settle down in Bohai Commandery, go to Zhang Mansion to deliver calling cards, and wait for General Zhang to summon you. Only with General Zhang’s approval can you enter the palace for an audience.”
Meng Liulang kept a straight face as he instructed: “General Zhang has some grievances against the Pei Family Army. If you go directly to his door, General Zhang may not agree to see you. Remember to prepare a generous gift to smooth things over.”
Madam Lu in the carriage couldn’t help but poke her head out: “We have come to surrender and pledge loyalty to the Emperor. Why must we first go fawn over the Zhang Family?”
A mocking glint flashed in Meng Liulang’s eyes, unsure if he was mocking Madam Lu’s ignorance and shallowness, or laughing at himself for also having to tuck in his tail and bow his head: “I’ve already pointed out the way. Whether to follow it or not is up to the old madams.”
Madam Lu was quite angry, lowered the carriage curtain, and after the carriage had traveled some distance, muttered indignantly: “Back then I still thought this Meng Liulang was decent. Fortunately he left early; otherwise, with such a foul temper, how could he be Qinghe Yatou’s son-in-law.”
Madam Fang whispered in agreement: “Shi Yan is still more suitable, shrewd and capable, smooth and thorough; everyone likes him.”
When Shi Yan entered the Pei Family Army, the Pei Clan had already undergone family division. However, Madam Lu and Madam Fang were both very familiar with Shi Yan. Shi Yan managed money and grain accounts and often sent things to the Pei Clan Old Village. Each time he came smiling, chatting with the elders and talking with the children.
The ill-tempered Madam Lu picked at him a few times, but Shi Yan never got angry, always patiently smiling in response. You don’t hit a smiling face. Madam Lu reluctantly admitted that Shi Yan was still pretty good.
After everyone had settled in, Pei Jia brought generous gifts and calling cards to the Zhang Family. He was left waiting for several days before finally getting summoned by General Zhang.
Madam Lu privately cursed General Zhang’s arrogance countless times behind his back and pinched her nose to prepare for going to Zhang Mansion to be questioned and humiliated.
Madam Li suddenly said: “I am the oldest in age and seniority, so it’s more appropriate for me to see General Zhang. I’ll go tomorrow.”
Madam Lu’s status was actually more suitable. However, Madam Lu had a bad temper and had been especially irritable and quick to anger lately, which really made one uneasy.
The over-eighty-year-old Madam Li, supported by Madam Fang, shakily entered General Zhang’s mansion.
General Zhang was forty-four this year, in the prime of manhood, tall and robust, with slightly dark skin, bright eyes, majestic and imposing.
Madam Li performed the kneeling ceremony, and General Zhang calmly accepted it, sneering: “Back then, Palace Secretary Pei was a loyal minister of the Eastern Palace, and General Pei was an even more renowned guard general. Those brothers were unwaveringly loyal to the Eastern Palace. Who would have thought the Pei Clan descendants would be disloyal and unrighteous. Sixth Sister Pei’s resounding reputation is known to all!”
Madam Li knelt and responded: “General, you overstate it. The Pei Clan is a family of loyal martyrs, and the Pei Clan descendants are also loyal to the Imperial Court and the Emperor.”
“Sounds good, but if loyal, why not come earlier?” General Zhang sneered repeatedly, pressing aggressively.
The eighty-four-year-old Madam Li, with white hair and a frail figure, only a few sparse teeth left in her mouth. Though kneeling, her back was ramrod straight: “After the Beiping Army left, Youzhou’s border defenses had gaps. Last year the Xiongnu barbarians invaded, the Guangning Army was defeated, the barbarians burned, killed, and looted everywhere, Anle County Town was massacred, and it was the Pei Family Army that defended Changping County Town without loss.”
“Qinghe trained troops to deal with the Xiongnu barbarians and also to protect the people of Yan Prefecture. This old woman is eighty-four this year, traveled for a month, unafraid of the dangers on the road, unafraid of dying midway and being buried in the wilderness, and came to Bohai Commandery. And a crowd of sixty- and seventy-year-old women of the Pei Clan have also come.”
“With twenty-three lives of the Pei Clan, doesn’t that prove the Pei Clan’s loyalty to the Emperor?”
General Zhang was speechless.
Madam Li’s resounding voice softened again as she kowtowed three times: “This old woman’s unwavering loyalty can be vouched for by heaven and earth. I beg the General to allow this old woman to enter the palace for an audience.”
General Zhang pinched his nose and agreed, then instructed his eldest son Zhang Yun: “Have someone keep an eye on these old women of the Pei Clan. As soon as they make any unusual moves or get caught with any leverage, I can openly punish them.”
Zhang Yun snorted: “Pei Qinghe is wildly ambitious, recruited many refugees to train troops, and occupied Yan Prefecture. Now the old women of the Pei Clan have delivered themselves to our door; why be polite with them. Just kill them directly.”
General Zhang glared at him: “Nonsense! We are Imperial Court troops, not bandits; how can we kill arbitrarily. Aren’t you afraid of directly forcing the Pei Family Army to rebel?”
Zhang Yun didn’t think much of it: “A mere Pei Qinghe, how big a wave can she make. Perhaps the Liaoxi Army and Fanyang Army will soon send troops to wipe out the Pei Family Army.”
General Zhang said indifferently: “Then we’ll wait and see. In any case, we cannot act against the old women of the Pei Clan now. Let them enter the palace to see the Emperor.”
……
The nineteen-year-old young Son of Heaven sat on the Dragon Throne every day, but was in reality just a puppet in the hands of the Zhang Family. On Imperial Court matters, General Zhang had the final say.
With Emperor Jian’an’s banner, armies from the Northern Lands surrendered one after another, and loyal ministers came to seek refuge in an endless stream.
The Zhang Family’s influence rapidly expanded, with the Bohai Navy alone having sixty thousand in troop strength. If including several armies like the Guangning Army that nominally obeyed orders, the total strength was over a hundred thousand.
Emperor Jian’an learned of the Pei Clan’s surrender and was quite joyful in his heart, smiling to Commander Gao: “It’s a pity Sixth Sister didn’t come.”
Commander Gao heard Sixth Sister Pei’s name and also sighed a little: “Your subordinate hasn’t seen Sixth Sister Pei for several years either.”
Eunuch Shen led the people in.
Madam Li in the lead, Madams Lu and Fang and the others knelt down in a group: “These criminal women pay respects to the Emperor.”
