Chapter 103: Stay Or Go
More than half a month later.
Pei Qinghe returned with a great victory. The refugees joyfully welcomed her, and the soldiers also eagerly stepped forward to help transport the captured money and grain.
A bunch of listless mountain bandits were tied together with ropes, like dumplings.
The previous two hundred captives from White Tiger Stockade were given only half a steamed bun and a bowl of water each day. After being starved for half a month, they were driven to move bricks to build the wall. Those who escaped privately were caught and had their hands and feet chopped off, then hung from trees. Those who harbored resentment and refused to obey were treated the same. Now, nearly half had died, and the rest were all very obedient.
Seeing another bunch of unfortunates arrive, the mountain bandits felt no sympathy at all; instead, they were delighted: “Clear Wind Stockade has also been wiped out.”
“We came first, so it’s their turn to suffer hard days.”
“Six stockades, and Sixth Sister has wiped out four, with only two left. Just wait and see; within a year, Sixth Sister will clean them all up.”
There were more and more people in Pei Family Village. Fortunately, Pei Yun, Pei Yan, and Mao Hongling had all toughened up and could take charge of a sector. Pei Qinghe handed over all the captive mountain bandits to Pei Yan. Pei Yan grinned with killing intent: “Rest assured, within a month, I’ll make them obedient and compliant.”
Mao Hongling stepped forward and whispered to Pei Qinghe with a smile: “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Five soldiers from the Beiping Army are willing to marry into Pei Family Village as sons-in-law.”
Pei Qinghe paused and looked at Mao Hongling.
Mao Hongling said softly: “I figured soldiers are stronger than refugees. With General Meng’s fate unknown and the Beiping Army’s morale in dispersal, recruiting them into Pei Family Village is much better than them becoming soldier-bandits later.”
Within less than a month, five soldiers voluntarily stayed on as sons-in-law.
On one side was the Beiping Army with no assurance of survival and a bleak future; on the other was the thriving Pei Family Village with plenty of food, warm clothes, and many women. The other soldiers saw it with their own eyes—how could they not be tempted?
Second Sister-in-law’s heart had also turned ruthless. This was a plan to swallow up five hundred Beiping Army soldiers.
Pei Qinghe smiled and said softly: “With General Meng’s fate unknown, we can’t make it too obvious. Wait a bit first.”
Leave a line in everything, so there’s a chance to meet again in the future! If General Meng came back alive and kicking, and the Beiping Army was left as an empty shell, it would be somewhat awkward.
Mao Hongling understood and nodded with a smile.
War inevitably brings casualties. This time, eight hundred entered the mountains, with over thirty dead or wounded. Clear Wind Stockade was killed until blood flowed like rivers, with nearly a hundred casualties. The remaining mountain bandits all became captives. In addition, they captured three boxes of gold and silver jewelry, over two hundred weapons, several thousand catties of grain, and over a dozen bags of cured meat and dried meat.
Wu Xiuniang looked at the rich spoils, grinning from ear to ear, and loudly directed everyone to move the money and grain and weapons into the storeroom.
Pei Xuan rushed up to Pei Qinghe, her face full of eagerness: “Cousin Sister, I’m ten years old already—I’ve grown up. Take me with you next time we go into the mountains!”
Pei Qinghe touched Pei Xuan’s tender little face: “Alright, I’ll take you next time.”
Pei Feng immediately crowded over: “I’ll go too.”
“You’re not even ten yet.” Pei Xuan immediately objected: “Exterminating mountain bandits isn’t child’s play; you’d only hold us back.”
Pei Feng’s handsome face flushed red with anger, and he looked at Pei Qinghe all aggrieved: “Pei Xuan is only a few months older than me. I’m even a bit taller than her. If she can go, I want to go too.”
Pei Xuan was clever and quick-witted, excelling at reading and practicing martial arts, and her tongue was sharp too— she outdid Pei Feng in everything. Pei Feng was also extremely competitive, always comparing himself to Pei Xuan in everything.
Pei Qinghe chuckled and pinched Pei Feng’s handsome cheek: “Fine, you go too.”
Pei Feng’s handsome face lit up, and he raised his head proudly, like a proud little rooster.
“That Meng Liulang has been locked up for many days. At first he cursed every day, but these two have quieted down a lot. Do you want to go see him?”
Pei Qinghe said casually: “No rush. I’ll go when I have time.”
The fallen in battle needed burial, the wounded needed treatment, and the crowd exhausted for days needed baths, changes of clothes, food, and settling. Pei Qinghe had to oversee every single matter.
It was not until evening that she had some free time.
Pei Qinghe pushed open the door.
Meng Liulang, now plump and sleek, sat with a sullen handsome face, coldly staring at Pei Qinghe without a word.
Xiao Mo, the personal soldier who had endured many days, had dark circles under his eyes and came over yawning to salute.
Pei Qinghe asked: “After all these days, has your young master thought it through?”
Meng Liulang sneered: “Sixth Sister Pei, such great authority! If you have questions, just ask me directly—why trouble my young master’s personal soldier!”
Xiao Mo hurriedly cut in: “Our young master is young and hot-tempered, speaking rashly. Sixth Sister is magnanimous; please don’t take it to heart.”
Pei Qinghe didn’t look at Meng Liulang and said to Xiao Mo: “News is slow in wartime, so wait patiently. Perhaps in a few days, General Meng will return safe and sound.”
“Pei Qinghe, let me out!” Meng Liulang shouted angrily: “I need to go to the Capital City to save my father and my brother. If time is delayed and it’s too late to save them, you will be my enemy, Meng Ling’s enemy.”
Xiao Mo wished he could stuff a rag into his young master’s foul mouth.
Pei Qinghe didn’t get angry and still didn’t look at Meng Liulang, saying to Xiao Mo: “I’ve been busy lately and don’t have time to come every day. Take good care of your young master.”
With that, she turned and left.
“Pei Qinghe, let me go quickly!”
“Forcing me to stay in Pei Family Village like this—what exactly are you planning? I absolutely won’t yield, and I certainly won’t become your son-in-law…”
Pei Qinghe paused, turned around, her gaze slightly cold.
Xiao Mo’s scalp nearly exploded. Ignoring everything else, he rushed to the bed, grabbed a cloth, wadded it up, and stuffed it into the young master’s mouth. Then he bowed deeply in apology: “Sixth Sister, please don’t be angry. My young master has had this foul temper since childhood and speaks harshly. Please, Sixth Sister, for the general’s face, don’t hold it against young master.”
Pei Qinghe walked to the bedside and looked at that handsome face twisted red with anger: “Meng Liulang, do you know why General Meng left you a letter, telling you to come to Pei Family Village in a crisis?”
With his mouth gagged, Meng Liulang couldn’t speak, so he could only express his anger with his eyes.
Just like a fish far from the lake, fallen into a fishing net, struggling desperately.
Pei Qinghe continued faintly: “General Meng knew very well that going to the Capital City meant nine deaths to one life. He went anyway. He is loyal to the Crown Prince and willing to go through fire and water for him.”
“I was unwilling to go. All the men of the Pei Clan died for the Eastern Palace. Now only women, children, and the elderly remain; I want to lead them to survive. I won’t fight to the death for anyone.”
“Our paths differ, so we won’t scheme together. General Meng didn’t force me to go with him. It was I who suggested he leave one son behind, so the Meng Family wouldn’t be wiped out and could seek revenge another day.”
“General Meng left you five hundred men as your strong foundation. If you marry into the Pei family, those five hundred men will belong to me, Pei Qinghe. For the sake of those five hundred soldiers, I will certainly treat you well and make good use of you.”
“If you’re unwilling to be a son-in-law, I absolutely won’t force you.”
Somehow, a dagger appeared in Pei Qinghe’s hand. With a flash of cold light from the dagger, the hemp ropes on Meng Liulang’s hands and feet fell to the ground.
“Whether to leave or stay, you choose yourself.”
