Chapter 107: Changping
The dire news of the approaching Xiongnu cavalry had already spread. The common people of Changping County Town fell into panic. Magnates with connections quietly packed their luggage to seek refuge with relatives and friends. Most were ordinary common people with nowhere to go, who could only pray that the fairly tall city gate could hold off the Xiongnu cavalry.
Hearing that Sixth Sister Pei had led people into Changping County Town, the common people mustered their courage and left their homes, crowding at the city gate.
“This Sixth Sister Pei is the daughter of famed general Pei Zhongde. It’s said she stands eight chi tall, with eyes like copper bells, astonishing strength, and can tear a tiger apart with her bare hands.”
“I heard Sixth Sister Pei wiped out the bandits in the Yan Mountains completely. The refugees in the mountains all sought refuge in Pei Family Village. Now there are several thousand refugees in Pei Family Village.”
“With Sixth Sister Pei here, she can definitely hold off the Xiongnu cavalry.”
The common people whispered heatedly, unconsciously exaggerating the rumors they had heard even further. As if that could bolster their own confidence.
Some sighed dejectedly: “Sixth Sister Pei is only fifteen years old. She can handle fighting mountain bandits, but how can she hold off Xiongnu cavalry? Even the Guangning Army was defeated. Anle County’s city gate was sturdier than ours in Changping County, yet it couldn’t stop the Xiongnu people. One Sixth Sister Pei coming here is just sending herself to die.”
“We should still go back, dig a cellar to hide in. Hiding for half a month might let us dodge death.”
Such negative and gloomy talk left the slightly cheered and excited common people utterly dejected.
At that moment, the sound of horse hooves clattered chaotically, and a black fine horse led the way into Changping County Town.
The common people held their breath and looked up one after another.
The moment Sixth Sister Pei’s clear and heroic face came into view, the common people sighed in unison, not knowing if it was shock or disappointment.
If Sixth Sister Pei really stood eight chi tall with eyes like copper bells, broad shoulders and a bear-like waist, that would be one thing. But she had this slender and delicate appearance. She was good-looking, sure. But what use was good looks when defending the county town and fighting a war?
Could such a good-looking little miss really defend Changping County Town and protect all the common people?
Wait!
They must have misidentified her just now. The one riding the dappled horse into the city behind was the real Sixth Sister Pei! Dark and sturdy, powerfully built, with excited and fervent light shining in her eyes. She looked just like a female warlord!
“Sixth Sister Pei!” Some bold common people waved and shouted at the female warlord. Soon, more common people joined in shouting, the cheers shaking the sky.
“Huh? Why are they all waving and shouting at me?” Pei Yan was a bit dazed and turned to ask Pei Qinghe.
Pei Qinghe chuckled lightly: “They’ve probably mistaken you for me.”
Pei Yan laughed too: “Sure enough, my appearance looks more majestic and domineering! I’ll shout back to them—I’m Pei Yan, the real Sixth Sister Pei is here.”
“No need. The common people are terrified and uneasy. Mistaking you for me gives them peace of mind.” Pei Qinghe didn’t care about such details and said casually with a smile: “Let them shout.”
After over a hundred Pei Clan women spurred their horses in, what followed into the city was over six hundred refugees… but “refugees” no longer fit. These people used to be refugees, trained for half a year to a year, fought several tough battles up in the mountains, and had all killed and seen blood. Eating their fill every day, their formerly scrawny bodies quickly grew robust. They marched in neat formation, eyes sharp and alert, looking very much like elite soldiers.
At this point, calling them Pei Family Army was not at all excessive.
The Pei Family Army had both men and women. In terms of numbers, there were more men. But the female soldiers had even more imposing presence and swagger, heads held high, chests out, striding forward, carrying spears or long sabers on their backs, every one with sharp gazes.
Among the watching common people were quite a few women who, upon seeing the Pei Family female soldiers, suddenly felt a yearning arise.
“Women can ride horses into battle, wielding blades and spears to kill.” A teenage girl murmured: “If I had a blade in my hand too, could I kill Xiongnu people?”
Another girl jumped in fright at her words and covered her mouth with a hand: “Little Ying, what nonsense are you saying? Don’t let anyone hear.”
Little Ying pushed away the girl’s hand: “So what if they hear? I’m not afraid! I want to follow them to the county office and ask if Sixth Sister Pei will take me in.”
The common people were crowded and quite noisy.
Pei Qinghe had sharp ears and caught fragments of the words, her gaze precisely lingering on Little Ying’s face for a moment.
Little Ying held her breath, and only after Pei Qinghe rode off on her horse did she shout in delight: “Sixth Sister Pei saw me! She really saw me!”
……
County Magistrate Wang welcomed Pei Qinghe into the Changping County Office with utmost humility, even bringing out the official seal.
“Please take this official seal, Miss. From today on, the county office is yours.”
Pei Qinghe didn’t rush to take the official seal and asked flatly: “The Crown Prince is dead, the Son of Heaven has passed away, Prince Wei has ascended to the throne, and the Jiangnan Rebel Army has already surrounded the Capital City.”
“The realm is in chaos. County Magistrate Wang doesn’t want to be an imperial court official anymore and wants to dump these tens of thousands of common people on me, then leave unburdened with the seal. Isn’t that wishful thinking?”
County Magistrate Wang was a habitual drinker, always reeking of alcohol. His smallish eyes flashed with a bitter smile: “The Pei Family Army is formed, and Changping County is a place you must take, Miss. I now offer it with both hands—please give me a way to survive.”
When the Jiangnan Rebel Army takes a county town, the first thing they do is kill the officials. A rough count of county magistrates who died under rebel blades numbered over a dozen.
If he didn’t offer up the official seal, was he supposed to wait for Sixth Sister Pei to come take it with her blade?
Pei Qinghe looked at the humble, worldly-wise County Magistrate Wang who single-mindedly sought survival, and smiled: “County Magistrate Wang is a smart man. I won’t beat around the bush. I don’t want this official seal right now, and you can’t leave now either.”
“In just a few days, the Xiongnu cavalry will arrive. Changping County can’t fall into chaos, and the people’s hearts must be steadied. County Magistrate Wang must sit in the county office to reassure the common people.”
“I, Pei Qinghe, am here entrusted by the county magistrate to help the common people defend the county town. Not as bandits seizing territory.”
County Magistrate Wang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and smiled obsequiously: “Yes, yes, yes. The Pei Family Army is a true rebel army, different from those troublemaking bandits in the south.”
In his heart, though, he bitterly lamented. Even offering the official seal and the county office, he still couldn’t leave—truly, heaven wanted him dead!
Pei Qinghe’s bright and sharp gaze illuminated County Magistrate Wang’s dejection like a torch: “The Guangning Army was utterly defeated, Anle County has fallen, and Youzhou’s various counties and prefectures are in dire peril. At such a time, if County Magistrate Wang leaves Changping County and sets out alone, where can he go? The road ahead has not only Xiongnu people but also bandits, and perhaps even army bandits. No matter who you encounter, it’s a dead end for you.”
“Staying in Changping County is the real way to survive.”
County Magistrate Wang wasn’t so easily fooled and sighed wistfully: “If I leave now, after Sixth Sister Pei takes Changping, I’ll lose my official position but can still preserve my life.”
“If I stay, and the imperial court holds me accountable later, what am I then?”
Pei Qinghe smiled calmly: “An accomplice. If the imperial court sends troops later and I lose, you’ll die with me.”
County Magistrate Wang: “……”
