Chapter 162: Blind Loyalty
Little Yu’er and Little Doggy guarded outside the door, glaring fiercely and not letting any unrelated people get close.
Even Pei Yan, when she came over, was driven several meters away. Pei Yan laughed in anger: “Fine, fine, fine, you two only recognize Aunt Qinghe and not Aunt Yan, right!”
Little Yu’er spoke crisply: “Aunt Qinghe is talking with Grandmother! Aunt Yan, don’t go disturb her.”
Little Doggy nodded in agreement: “Aunt Yan, don’t be naughty.”
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng nearby were both stealing laughs.
Pei Yan rubbed her fists and stepped forward: “Since we’re idle, come on, I’ll take you to the training ground.”
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng weren’t afraid at all: “Let’s go then. But let’s agree first, no competing in brute strength. We’ll compete in horse riding and archery!”
Inside the room, Madam Feng held Pei Qinghe’s hand and sighed: “These past six months, news of the Fanyang Army, Guangning Army, and Liaoxi Army forcibly conscripting able-bodied men and robbing and killing magnates hasn’t stopped. Your grandmother has often been anxious and worried, tossing and turning at night unable to sleep.”
“She fears the Fanyang Army and Liaoxi Army will attack, fears that Bohai Commandery will issue an order for the Guangning Army to subdue the Pei Family Army. She fears the Pei Clan will face another catastrophic disaster.”
“Doctor Bao prescribed medicine several times, but she never got better from drinking it. She doesn’t sleep well or eat well, her temper getting more irritable day by day.”
“You’re busy every day managing the Pei Family Army, training troops, and dealing with a bunch of county magistrates, prefects, and magnates. I couldn’t bear to trouble you with these trivial matters, so I never told you in detail.”
“I didn’t expect that while you were at the Shi Family these days, your grandmother would convince all the elders to go to Bohai Commandery.”
“Luckily, she didn’t force us to go.”
The “us” Madam Feng referred to included not only her and Little Doggy and Little Yu’er, but also Wu Xiuniang and others under sixty.
That day they had split the family in a big fuss, now Madam Lu, Madam Fang, Madam Li, and the others had left, and the remaining dozen or so people had all come back.
Pei Qinghe gripped Madam Feng’s hand tightly and said softly: “Grandmother knows that if she took you away, I would definitely lead people to chase you back.”
Madam Feng reached out her other hand and affectionately touched her daughter’s face: “Qinghe, I know you’re definitely very angry inside. Don’t be angry with your grandmother. She’s old, has been the Pei Clan matriarch for half her life, her mind full of loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country.”
“The Capital City was taken by King Qiao, Bohai Commandery has a new imperial court with a young Son of Heaven. She has always hoped you would lead troops to Bohai Commandery and surrender to the young Son of Heaven.”
“You refuse to go, keep training troops, and have successively taken Changping County, Quanzhou County, and Yongnu County. Your grandmother is terrified and afraid inside.”
Madam Lu, who had been foolishly loyal for decades, simply couldn’t accept the fact that the Pei Family Army had become a genuine rebel army!
Unable to persuade Pei Qinghe, she went to Bohai Commandery herself.
Pei Qinghe was silent for a moment, then said: “If she wants to go, let her go! With the Pei Family Army here, Madam Zhang in Bohai Commandery will have to show some restraint and won’t mistreat them. I’ll write two letters, one to the Son of Heaven, and one asking Meng Dalang and Meng Liulang brothers to look after the Pei Clan female dependents more.”
Madam Feng nodded, then suddenly lowered her voice: “Actually, your grandmother going to Bohai Commandery isn’t entirely bad. Outsiders don’t know about the Pei Clan family division; in everyone’s eyes, them going to Bohai Commandery means the Pei Family Army is surrendering to the Son of Heaven.”
“This way, the Pei Family Army can bide its time and build strength without being too conspicuous. In the short term, the Guangning Army won’t come to invade the Pei Family Army.”
The empire is in chaos, King Qiao’s regime occupies half the realm. General Situ took people and occupied the southwest. The northern influences are much more complex, but most outwardly surrender and pledge loyalty to Emperor Jianning in Bohai Commandery.
The Guangning Army and Pei Family Army have always kept a friendly distance, with some mutual assistance. It’s also because their stances align in the short term.
Pei Qinghe looked at Madam Feng: “Mother doesn’t need to worry about me, I’ve thought of all this. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let Grandmother and the others go to Bohai Commandery.”
Madam Feng never meddles in Pei Family Army affairs, doesn’t understand and doesn’t interfere, after finishing about Madam Lu, she said softly: “Rest well, I’ll go make you a bowl of noodles.”
Pei Qinghe curved her eyebrows and eyes, agreeing with a good.
……
The matter of Madam Lu and the others leaving did have some impact on the Pei Family Army, with morale fluctuating these past few days. With Pei Qinghe’s return, morale immediately stabilized.
Pei Qinghe called Pei Yi and Fang Datou over, solemnly instructing: “You two each lead your own camp of people, and go outside the passes to buy horses together with the Zhan Family.”
“I don’t trust others, so I can only send you. Along the way, keep an eye on the Zhan Fei brothers, record everything they say and do, and report back when you return. Also, if they show any suspicious movements or harbor ill intentions, you can kill them.”
“This trip is quite dangerous, so be extra careful.”
Pei Jia escorted Madam Lu and the others to Bohai Commandery and will stay there to protect their safety. Pei Yun, Gu Lian, and Feng Chang are each stationed in county towns; now the reliable and usable people who can be sent out by her side are just Pei Yi and Fang Datou in front of her.
Pei Yi stood solemnly and accepted the order.
Fang Datou also lost his usual playful and lazy demeanor, responding seriously: “Sixth Sister Pei, rest assured, I will definitely bring back the warhorses.”
But Pei Qinghe said: “If you encounter danger, abandon the warhorses, you must come back. In my heart, you are more important.”
Pei Yi felt warmth in his heart: “I will definitely return intact to report.”
Fang Datou’s eyes reddened, he forcefully wiped his eyes with his left hand, and loudly agreed: “Me too.”
Pei Qinghe then called the Zhan Fei brothers over and carefully instructed them.
Pei Yi traveled with Third Master Zhan, Fang Datou with Zhan Fei. Everyone packed their luggage, brought a large amount of goods, and two days later left Pei Family Village.
Pei Qinghe personally saw off the two merchant caravans.
Zhan Fei, with a determination to not return, had a stern expression: “Sixth Sister Pei, please go back! If all goes smoothly, within half a year, I will return with a large batch of warhorses.”
Pei Qinghe smiled: “Good, then I will personally come to welcome Shopkeeper Zhan.”
Zhan Fei clasped his fists and bowed, then took his leave.
Fang Datou rode on horseback, twisting his head back to look from time to time. Only until he could no longer see Sixth Sister Pei’s figure did he reluctantly withdraw his gaze.
Zhan Fei saw it in his eyes but didn’t mock the deluded Fang Datou.
For a heroic figure like Sixth Sister Pei, it was too normal for her followers to develop feelings of admiration.
This Fang Datou had lost his right arm, trained left-hand saber, and led a camp of elite soldiers. Being sent to accompany to outside the passes showed he was truly Sixth Sister Pei’s confidant. For the Zhan Family to establish a foothold in Pei Family Village in the future, it was most practical to build a good relationship with Fang Datou during this journey together.
Zhan Fei, with the intention of making friends, flattered and respected Fang Datou everywhere.
Fang Datou wasn’t very clever, had no roundabout thoughts, and said straightforwardly to Zhan Fei: “The Pei Family Army lacks warhorses. Let’s not delay on the road, buy the horses early and go back.”
Zhan Fei’s flattery hit a wall, he smiled awkwardly: “Leader Fang is right.”
