Chapter 145: Garrison
County Magistrate Wang personally led a crowd of bailiffs and common people to welcome them at the city gate.
The common people, full of eager anticipation, saw the slender young woman leading them and felt quite disappointed.
Why wasn’t it Sixth Sister Pei who came?
County Magistrate Wang, however, knew very well how powerful Pei Yun was. She was the second-in-command in the Pei Family Army, second only to Pei Qinghe. Pei Qinghe sending her to garrison Changping County showed her trust in Pei Yun.
County Magistrate Wang was all smiles, welcoming her warmly.
Seeing the county magistrate so enthusiastic, the common people felt a bit relieved. Then, spotting the familiar faces of Zhao Da, Zheng Xiaoying, and dozens of others, their moods lifted again with excitement, waving their arms and shouting.
They were still shouting for Sixth Sister Pei.
Pei Yun didn’t mind. She took out a flag and had someone hang it on the city wall.
The ink-colored flag was lifted by the wind, with the Pei character fluttering on the city wall, the long saber and bow and arrow on the flag flying along.
County Magistrate Wang’s eyes lit up, and he greatly flattered: “Good, good, good. With the Pei character flag, the Pei Family Army lives up to its name. No one will dare to invade Changping County again.”
Pei Yun smiled faintly: “County Magistrate, mind your words. Cousin Sister Qinghe said the Pei Clan is loyal and will not declare independence. Raising the flag is only for self-defense.”
County Magistrate Wang immediately changed his tune: “Yes, yes, yes. The Pei Family Army is different from the Liaoxi Army and cannot be mentioned in the same breath.”
County Magistrate Wang indeed knew what was appropriate, no wonder Cousin Sister Qinghe kept him as a figurehead.
Pei Yun quickly took over the city gate defenses and county-wide security arrangements. Zhao Da and the other ruffians, who used to roam the streets bullying common people, had now transformed into Pei Family Army soldiers, wearing unified clothes with long sabers at their waists, looking quite proper.
The common people watched anxiously for a few days, confirming they were only patrolling for security and not robbing things or harassing young ladies everywhere, before secretly breathing a sigh of relief. Privately, they couldn’t help but joke a bit.
“The biggest harm in the county town was Zhao Da and his gang. Now that they’re behaving themselves, our days are stable.”
“Sixth Sister really has capability and means. In just over half a year, she trained Zhao Da and them into soldier-like figures.”
“And that girl from the Zheng family, the one called Xiaoying. She was already fierce and capable before, and now as a Pei Family female soldier, she wields a blade with a menacing aura.”
The common people in the county town who had been to Yan Prefecture were considered experienced. Such dynastic changes did make them uneasy. But once Sixth Sister Pei’s people arrived, their hearts settled.
Even the Xiongnu barbarians couldn’t do anything to Sixth Sister Pei. With the Pei Family Army here, Changping County would be safe and sound.
As for how chaotic things were outside, they hadn’t seen it anyway. The panicked hearts of the people stabilized in just a few short days.
Pei Yun posted a proclamation recruiting young and strong common people for training. If enemies came, these trained common people could man the city gate.
The matter didn’t go smoothly; very few signed up.
Pei Yun sent Zhao Da, Zheng Xiaoying, and others to preach everywhere: “This isn’t conscription; it’s only half a day of training each day, not delaying farm work.”
“Only if we’re really short on people will you go to the city gate. If it really comes to that, you die if you don’t fight to the death. Those who have trained have a better chance of surviving.”
They talked until their mouths were dry, but the effect was minimal. Still only a handful signed up.
Pei Yun sent a letter back to Pei Family Village. Half a day later, Pei Qinghe’s reply arrived: “Your idea is good; give it a try first.”
With Pei Qinghe’s approval and support, Pei Yun was greatly encouraged and immediately issued a new proclamation in the county town.
Those who participated in training each day could receive half a jin of grain, to be taken home the same day.
The Shi Family didn’t hoard grain to make a killing on black-hearted silver, but over these two years, with the imperial court fighting wars everywhere and unstable trade routes, grain prices had been rising. Compared to the year before last, prices had risen by about thirty percent.
Half a day of training for half a jin of grain—what difference was that from pie falling from the sky?
Two hundred jin of grain per day meant recruiting only four hundred people.
In an instant, common people flocked upon hearing the news. Pei Yun personally tested them. The old, weak, sick, and young were all rejected; priority to those with healthy bodies and good character.
……
“Cousin Sister Yun is quick-witted; this move is indeed quite effective.”
A few days later, Pei Yun sent another letter back. Pei Qinghe smilingly handed the letter to Pei Yan.
Pei Yan glanced at it a few times, yawned, and casually passed it to Mao Hongling.
Mao Hongling read it carefully twice, then smiled and praised: “Pei Yun does have lots of ideas. But training like this will consume too much grain.”
Wasn’t that the truth?
Grain, grain—with over ten thousand mouths, it was like a bottomless pit; the daily consumption was astonishing. Pei Family Village had reclaimed over ten thousand mu of good fields, but the grain produced was far from enough. They still needed to buy and stockpile large quantities of grain.
In her previous life, she worried and ached over military rations every day. Now, fortunately, Shi Yan was handling the money and grain.
Pei Qinghe smiled and turned to ask Shi Yan: “From now on, allocate an extra two hundred jin of grain to Pei Yun every day.”
Shi Yan took out his abacus and rattled it: “Two hundred jin a day, two thousand jin in ten days, six thousand jin a month. At least half a year of training, that’s a total of eighteen thousand jin…”
Pei Qinghe got a headache listening and quickly interrupted Shi Yan: “Don’t calculate. Just tell me if the storeroom can allocate the grain.”
Shi Yan nodded.
Pei Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief: “Good. You handle this; I’m very reassured.”
Being entrusted with heavy responsibility and trust was a good thing. But Pei Qinghe trusted him too much. Money, grain, accounts, storeroom—all under his management.
Shi Yan half-jokingly, half-seriously: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll cook the books and empty Pei Family Village’s family fortune?”
Pei Qinghe smiled leisurely: “The Pei Clan had nothing when we arrived in Youzhou, only over two hundred people. Everything now was fought for with knives and guns by me leading the clan.”
“Pei Family Village’s family fortune isn’t grain. Nor weapons and warhorses, but me, Pei Qinghe, and my elite soldiers.”
“With me here, no one can empty Pei Family Village.”
Pei Qinghe wasn’t boasting; her tone was ordinary. Yet she seemed to glow.
Shi Yan looked at her, his heart blooming like a brilliant flower.
Pei Qinghe blinked and smiled again: “Besides, everyone in Pei Family Village is my confidant. You alone, at most plus Dong Dalang and Dong Erlang, you three—how much could you carry off?”
“Whatever you want, just say it, and it’s yours.”
Sweet-talking words came effortlessly from Pei Qinghe.
Yet the shrewd and capable Steward Shi ate it up, his eyes and brows relaxing: “Sixth Sister indulges me so much; aren’t you afraid I’ll get spoiled?”
Pei Qinghe laughed: “That would still be worth it.”
Mao Hongling smiled with pursed lips.
Pei Yan felt jealous inside: “Cousin Sister Qinghe is really good to Shi Yan.”
Mao Hongling thought this silly girl was all height and strength but no wits, so she simply dragged Pei Yan away.
Pei Yan was reluctant: “We were talking fine; why drag me out, Second Sister-in-law?”
Mao Hongling smiled: “I’m going to lead a team into the mountains for hunting; are you coming?”
Pei Yan perked up at once, immediately forgetting the previous matter: “Haven’t had meat for days; I’m craving it. Let’s go, let’s go now.”
