Chapter 138: Lady Yang
General Yang is forty-seven this year, right in the prime of a military general’s life.
In these chaotic times, a military general with troops in hand should be able to flex his muscles and achieve success and establish a career. However, General Yang is cautious by nature. Last year, when the Beiping Army raised its flag and went to the Capital City, the Guangning Army stayed put, avoiding the muddy waters.
Unfortunately, they later encountered Xiongnu Barbarians, and the Guangning Army suffered a disastrous defeat, with three in ten killed in battle and nearly two in ten fleeing as deserters. The Guangning Army’s troop strength has been greatly reduced, now left with only three thousand men.
Even worse, the Imperial Court has turned into a mess, with no military expenses sent for months. Military pay can be withheld for now, but the soldiers must have their bellies filled. General Yang has had to scrounge everywhere, forcing the magnates of Guangning Prefecture to “donate” a batch of military rations.
General Yang worries daily about military rations, with white hairs appearing early on his head and many more wrinkles on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes. Add to that this infuriating matter of exchanging warhorses for people, and it’s no wonder his mood is poor.
“That day when you wanted to go to the Beiping Army Camp, I warned you.” General Yang scolded irritably: “If you encountered the Pei Family Army, turn back immediately and don’t conflict with them. You promised nicely, so why did you end up in their hands?”
Yang Huai felt even more in the wrong and said in a low voice: “When we met them on the road, I did lead the men to run. But I really couldn’t swallow it. The Beiping Army had so many good things, why should all the benefits go to the Pei Family Members? Later, I followed them from afar all the way to outside the Beiping Army Camp…”
“Then, you foolishly went forward and became their captive!” Sparks flew from General Yang’s eyes: “You even wanted to fly the Guangning Army’s flag and snatch a share from Sixth Sister Pei’s bowl. You think so beautifully, why not fly up to heaven?”
Yang Huai was scolded until he was disheveled and dejected, but he still felt a trace of defiance in his heart: “I brought too few men, so it was inevitable that I couldn’t beat them.”
General Yang wished he could slap his nephew awake: “Even the Xiongnu Barbarians couldn’t get the upper hand against Sixth Sister Pei. Who do you think you are?”
“Besides, that day when they made their move, it was Pei Yan who beat you down. Sixth Sister Pei didn’t even lift a hand! You couldn’t even beat a single Pei Yan, yet you still fantasized about fighting Sixth Sister Pei—aren’t you tired of living!”
“Using fifty warhorses to exchange for more than thirty men returning safely is already Sixth Sister Pei showing mercy. Don’t even think about leading troops to Pei Family Village.”
“The Guangning Army can’t afford another defeat.”
“This matter ends here.”
Yang Huai raised his head: “So we’re just going to swallow this insult? If word of this gets out, who will take the Guangning Army seriously?”
General Yang snorted coldly: “Do you want face or life?”
Yang Huai finally shut his mouth completely.
After General Yang finished his angry scolding, his anger had subsided by more than half. Seeing his nephew looking dejected, his heart softened a bit: “Stop kneeling, get up! In the future, weigh things carefully when something happens—don’t be impulsive, and especially don’t let hot blood rush to your head. Our Guangning Army’s greatest enemy is the Xiongnu Barbarians, not Pei Family Village.”
Once Yang Huai stood up, he carefully inquired about the situation in Pei Family Village.
Yang Huai recounted everything he had seen: “…Pei Family Village is just like a barracks, with men and women all sturdy and strict discipline. Unfortunately, for several consecutive days, I was locked in a house. I didn’t see the Pei Family Army training.”
After hearing this, General Yang’s first reaction was actually envy: “Everyone is sturdy, it seems Pei Family Village doesn’t lack grain.”
“With the Shi Family, that major grain merchant, providing strong support, how could Pei Family Village lack grain.” Yang Huai picked up the thread: “I personally saw Young Master Shi following beside Sixth Sister Pei. It seems Young Master Shi being expelled from the family is true. In the future, if Pei Family Village wants grain, they’ll have to spend silver to buy it.”
General Yang sighed: “Young Master Shi is shrewd and capable, skilled at managing business, and a good hand at handling money and grain. That’s exactly what our Guangning Army lacks.”
Raising funds for money and grain is such a headache-inducing trouble that wears one out. General Yang’s envy at this moment was genuine, not the least bit fake.
Yang Huai couldn’t help but say in a low voice: “Uncle, with a new imperial court in Jizhou, which side do we rely on in the future?”
General Yang said: “Whichever side is willing to send money, grain, and military expenses, we rely on that side.”
The fact is, both the Imperial Court and Jizhou are too busy with their own affairs to care about the Guangning Army.
General Yang rubbed his temples and waved his hand: “Go back to your military tent first. You’re not allowed to leave the camp without permission again.”
Yang Huai answered softly in acknowledgment and returned to his military tent in a sullen mood. The personal soldiers redeemed back with him said in a low voice: “Are we just going to swallow this humiliation for nothing? We should lead troops to fight back!”
Yang Huai glared angrily: “Uncle won’t send troops, what can I do! Shut your dog mouth!”
……
The matter of the Guangning Army using warhorses to redeem more than thirty captives quietly spread.
The fastest reaction came from the Wang Family.
Wang Xun and his daughter personally came to Pei Family Village, bringing a large quantity of coarse cloth and cotton.
Pei Qinghe personally welcomed them, expressing respect and courtesy toward the magnate.
Shi Yan calmly followed beside Pei Qinghe.
Wang Xun looked at his nephew with a complicated expression, then quickly composed himself and smiled at Pei Qinghe: “With so many people in Pei Family Village, they will need winter clothes to keep out the cold come winter. This batch of coarse cloth and cotton is a token of the Wang Family’s intention—please accept it with a smile, Sixth Sister.”
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly: “Then I won’t stand on ceremony and will take it all.”
Without waiting for Pei Qinghe’s instruction, Shi Yan led Dong Dalang, Dong Erlang, and others to receive the gifts, handling all the trivial matters like inventorying, recording, and storing.
Wang Mengyi, who had been silent, suddenly said softly: “I also prepared a gift for Sixth Sister.”
The maid beside her brought forward a brocade box.
Opening the brocade box, it turned out to be a flag. Black as the base, with red and gold threads interwoven, embroidered with a large Pei character. A knife was embroidered in the lower left corner, and a bow and arrow in the upper right corner.
“This is the Pei character flag I embroidered myself.” Wang Mengyi said: “I hope Sixth Sister likes it.”
Pei Qinghe looked deeply at Wang Mengyi: “This gift suits my heart perfectly. Miss Wang has put thought into it. However, the time to raise the flag hasn’t come yet, so the flag should stay in the brocade box for now.”
Wang Mengyi smiled faintly: “I believe that day won’t be too far off.”
Pei Qinghe took Wang Xun and his daughter on a tour around the village.
Wang Xun watched in amazement: “In just over two years, Pei Family Village has achieved this scene—all thanks to Sixth Sister.”
The Wang Family is a great clan of Youzhou, and Wang Xun has traveled widely with considerable experience. In terms of scale and population, Pei Family Village is not yet as large as Shi Family Fortified Village.
But in Pei Family Village, everyone carries a knife and can fight, with true elite soldiers capable of mounting warhorses for riding and shooting, and the invincible God of Slaughter Sixth Sister Pei. Even the Guangning Army doesn’t want to clash directly with Pei Family Village.
As a Youzhou magnate, the Wang Family naturally wants to befriend such powerful figures.
Pei Qinghe invited Wang Xun and his daughter to stay in the village for two days, and they gladly agreed.
Busy during the day, it was only in the evening that Shi Yan found some free time to see Wang Xun.
