Chapter 163: Surrender
“Will Qinghe Yatou send someone to chase us back?”
At night, with the cold sky, a group of old women crowded in the tent, wrapped in thick cotton quilts. The one whispering quietly was Madam Fang.
Madam Lu, with half-white hair, a face full of wrinkles, gaunt cheeks, and deep-set eyes, snorted coldly: “Madam Feng, Little Doggy, and Little Yu’er are all left to her. How would she care about an annoying old bag like me. Don’t worry! She won’t come!”
The words were rough, but the reasoning was not.
Madam Fang let out a long sigh: “With this departure, I won’t see Xiao Wan’er anymore.”
“Xiao Wan’er has her mother and stepfather to care for her, what are you worried about.” Madam Lu glanced over: “You’re not regretting it, are you! If you want to go back, go now. Pei Jia and the others can escort you, and conveniently all return to Pei Family Village.”
Madam Fang was somewhat annoyed: “When did I say I wanted to go back? Can’t I miss my own granddaughter? Your temper has become increasingly stubborn and eccentric. No wonder Qinghe Yatou and Yan Yatou don’t like you.”
Madam Lu kept a straight face: “Whether they like me or not, I don’t care. I am going to Bohai Commandery to seek refuge with the Emperor and become a good common person of the Jing Dynasty.”
Madam Fang’s anger came quickly and left quickly too, whispering in agreement: “Eldest sister-in-law is right. Our Pei Clan is loyal and fierce, died for the Eastern Palace. Now that His Highness the Prince sits on the Dragon Throne, we should go seek refuge. I am just worried that if the Emperor sees only us old women and not the younger generation, he might feel anger and dissatisfaction in his heart.”
Madam Li, over eighty years old, who had her eyes closed, now opened them too, her voice somewhat muffled and unclear: “General Yang of the Guangning Army did not go to Bohai Commandery personally either, only sent nephews and younger generation ahead. We old women of the Pei Clan traveling hundreds of miles to go there shows even more sincerity. How could the Emperor be dissatisfied.”
“General Zhang should also let go of his wariness toward the Pei Clan.”
The Pei Family Army’s military reputation soared, growing increasingly strong, already replacing the Beiping Army to become the fourth force in Youzhou territory. Compared to the clear stances of the other three armies, the Pei Family Army’s stance was somewhat ambiguous.
Not an official army of the Imperial Court, yet possessing strong troop strength. No uprising against the Imperial Court, yet having incorporated four county towns—Changping County, Anle County, Quanzhou County, and Yongnu County—under its command, occupying half of Yan Prefecture. The other half temporarily had no troops stationed, but was also successively handing over taxes to the Pei Family Army.
The young Emperor Jian’an, perhaps mindful of past affections, or possibly having exhausted his thoughts on dealing with King Qiao in the Capital City, did not pursue the Pei Family Army’s stance. Rather, it was General Zhang who repeatedly mentioned the Pei Family Army in front of everyone, with considerable dissatisfaction in his words.
Meng Dalang specially wrote a letter to remind her, but Pei Qinghe just smiled scornfully and ignored it. Madam Lu and the group of old women, however, were tossing and turning in worry over this.
Madam Lu thought for a long time and was determined to go to Bohai Commandery. Madam Li also supported it.
Madam Lu wanted to prove the Pei Clan’s loyalty, Madam Li wanted to use this action to dispel the suspicion and dissatisfaction of the Zhang Clan of Bohai. Regardless of the reason, they ultimately made the same decision.
Madam Lu found it somewhat harsh to the ear, pursed her lips and said: “I am going to Bohai Commandery to show that the Pei Clan still has people loyal to the Son of Heaven. Not for that girl Qinghe.”
Madam Li yawned: “No more talk of these things. Everyone sleep!”
Madam Fang closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.
Madam Lu also closed her eyes, with many bloody and terrifying scenes flashing through her mind.
She seemed enveloped in a field of blood red, struggling desperately, yet unable to escape no matter what. Her chest felt like it was densely pricked by fine needles, waves of stinging pain, her breathing alternating fast and slow, chest heaving unevenly, extremely uncomfortable.
Even breathing sounds steadily rose one after another by her ears, everyone had fallen asleep. Madam Lu did not move, not knowing how long she let her thoughts wander chaotically before finally falling asleep with difficulty.
It seemed she had not slept long before being woken again.
Madam Lu forced herself to rally her spirits and continue on the road.
Mao Hongling was very meticulous, specially preparing several carriages for them. The carriage compartments had thick cotton padding, blocking out the biting cold wind of early spring. There were dry biscuits, and the military rations commonly eaten by the Pei Family Army—coarse grains fried and ground, mixed with sesame, soaked in hot water to make a bowl, fragrant, satiating hunger and craving.
Pei Jia and the others escorting along the way also brought much dry rations, as well as much dried meat and dried vegetables. Well-prepared, they did not go hungry or suffer on the journey.
Jizhou and Youzhou were adjacent, Madam Lu’s group traveled eight or nine days, left Youzhou, and had just entered Jizhou when they encountered a group of refugees.
Pei Jia expressionlessly drew his long saber, hacking down several refugees who rushed forward to seize grain. The remaining refugees scattered in panic.
Back in the day, he too had been one of those dazed refugees.
Meeting Sixth Sister Pei, changing name and identity, was the most important page in Pei Jia’s life. He had eaten his fill for over three years, practiced martial arts daily, his skills fierce and brave, able to lead a hundred men, completely transformed.
All this was given by Sixth Sister Pei. He was willing to give his life for Sixth Sister.
When Mao Hongling sent him to escort along the way, she had said to him: “Pei Jia, this trip to Bohai Commandery is dangerous. After arriving in Bohai Commandery, you must stay to protect Grandmother and the others.”
Pei Jia said nothing, accepting the heavy responsibility.
In the next few days, they successively encountered several groups of bandits. These bandits were sallow-faced and emaciated, staggering with weak limbs. Pei Jia’s group, however, were tall and strong, each with sharp weapons and bows and arrows. The bandits often fled in fright from a volley of arrows before even getting close.
Inevitably there were dangerous moments. This day, they encountered a large group of refugees. The refugees were weak, but there were too many people, over a thousand refugees raiding and seizing grain in a chaotic and terrifying scene. There were men, women, old and young among the refugees.
Pei Jia hardened his heart, killing clean all the refugees who rushed forward to seize grain.
After the refugees retreated, leaving over a hundred bloody corpses. One of them not yet dead, struggled to crawl to the side of the carriage, grabbed the grain bag, tremblingly took a handful and stuffed it into his mouth, dying contentedly.
Not knowing who, turned and vomited.
Some people’s eyes reddened. Probably thinking of their own miserable past as refugees, living precariously day to day in hunger.
Pei Jia shouted loudly: “Two more days to Bohai Commandery. Everyone hold on.”
The crowd rallied their spirits and responded.
Traveling and killing all along the way, by the time they reached Bohai Commandery, one camp of a hundred men had thirteen dead, a few injured, eighty-two still intact.
In war, there are no undying. The crowd was already accustomed; when digging pits to bury their companions, they wiped a tear, and upon standing straightened their chests, continuing forward.
The city gate of Bohai Commandery had been repeatedly rebuilt and heightened over the past year or so, elite soldiers guarding the city gate, looking from afar, it also had some semblance of the Capital City.
Madam Lu’s eyes were somewhat red, she looked for a while, then turned to Pei Jia and said: “You go see the city gate officer, say the Pei Clan has come to surrender.”
Bohai Commandery was the new Capital City, Emperor Jian’an was the legitimate heir from the Eastern Palace, the orthodox inheritor of the Empire. Every day there were people coming to surrender.
Pei Jia announced his name, and soon someone came to welcome them.
