Chapter 119: Stern Demeanor
Youzhou has seven prefectures, and Yan Prefecture is one of them, governing ten counties.
This time, the Xiongnu invasion hit Guangning Prefecture the hardest. In Yan Prefecture, Anle County suffered the most, with its county town massacred by Xiongnu Barbarians. Villages near Quanzhou County and Yongnu County also suffered, all looted by Xiongnu Barbarians, with many common people killed or injured.
Changping County resisted the Xiongnu Barbarians for over half a month, with the common people almost unscathed and the city gate never breached—a true miracle.
This was of course all thanks to Sixth Sister Pei.
County Magistrate Wang wrote eloquently in the letter, vigorously praising how Sixth Sister Pei trained troops strictly and used troops like a god, and so on, with the implications clear without being stated outright.
The county magistrates of the various counties had varied reactions upon receiving such a letter. Most stayed silent, clearly unwilling to submit to the Pei Family Army so soon, choosing to watch and wait.
Quanzhou County and Yongnu County had been badly ravaged by the Xiongnu Barbarians and reacted swiftly. No sooner had they received the letter than they sent people to Changping County, each presenting generous gifts to show goodwill to Sixth Sister Pei. What they sought was that if they faced trouble in the future, Sixth Sister Pei would righteously step in to help.
Pei Qinghe unceremoniously accepted the generous gifts.
The Xiongnu Barbarians had looted an incalculable amount of money, grain, and wealth, and abducted large numbers of strong young men and women; they would not return for a short while. The Pei Family Army was expanding at an astonishing speed. She needed to feed and train the troops, and the daily consumption of money and grain was a bottomless pit.
Those who proactively sent generous gifts were at least sensible. As for the senseless ones, she would teach them a lesson in the future.
After seeing the messenger yamen runner, Prefect Tang was first utterly enraged. But after the yamen runner described with red eyes how everyone had been brutally beaten, Prefect Tang calmed down considerably.
“You lot of over a dozen people couldn’t even hold out against the Pei Clan rebels for a stick of incense?”
“Yes.” The yamen runner looked pained, unwilling to recall it: “That Sixth Sister Pei has truly powerful martial skills; we little ones could barely last two moves against her. There was also a sturdy girl as burly as a black tower, who was extremely powerful too.”
Prefect Tang asked darkly: “You came back to report, so where are the others?”
“Replying to the Prefectural Governor, they were all thrown into the prison. Staff Officer Shao lost a finger and was kicked unconscious, then carried into the prison as well.”
“Sixth Sister Pei also said that the lord can just send troops; she will be waiting in Changping County.”
Prefect Tang’s face turned ashen, and he slammed the table hard: “Outrageous! Brazen! Arrogant! A mere daughter of a traitor, exiled to Changping County, yet instead of behaving obediently, she dares to recruit refugees and train troops—her intentions are punishable by death!”
He cursed on and on, but said nothing about sending troops.
The yamen runner listened with his head bowed for a while, discerned the flavor, then cautiously lifted his head and asked: “Does the lord intend to report this matter to the Imperial Court?”
With limited personnel at the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion, dealing with the Pei Family Army required submitting a memorial to request troops from the Imperial Court.
Prefect Tang, full of pent-up rage, immediately vented it: “There are several rebel armies outside the Capital City fighting all day; even memorials can’t get into the Imperial Court. How do you report to the Imperial Court? You’re so capable—how about this prefectural governor sends you to deliver the memorial?”
The yamen runner was sprayed until he was disheveled and dejected, not daring to make a sound, but thoroughly understood in his heart.
Prefect Tang was just a paper tiger, fierce in appearance but weak inside.
Staff Officer Shao’s finger had been broken for nothing!
“This prefectural governor will write a letter right now; you deliver it to County Magistrate Wang.” Prefect Tang instructed coldly. After the yamen runner left with the letter, Prefect Tang summoned another staff officer and gave him some quiet instructions.
This Advisor Fang was not as good at flattery as Staff Officer Shao on ordinary days and spoke much more plainly: “The Liaoxi Army is too far away, the Guangning Army suffered a major defeat, and the Fanyang Army is somewhat closer. However, the Fanyang Army’s combat power is lackluster. Even without considering whether we can enlist the Fanyang Army, even if they came, they might not be able to defeat the Pei Family Army.”
Prefect Tang said angrily: “Does this prefectural governor have to watch a woman’s face to speak and act?”
Advisor Fang quietly soothed his impotent and furious master: “The Prefectural Governor is an Imperial Court official, the parental official of hundreds of thousands of common people in Yan Prefecture. Sixth Sister Pei is from Changping County and thus naturally one of the Prefectural Governor’s common people.”
“This time, Sixth Sister Pei has merit in defending the county town. Being young, her spirit is high and proud; the Prefectural Governor has magnanimity—why quibble with a young girl?”
“With Pei Family Village there, the Yan Mountains are free of mountain bandits, and bandits have to go around. Even the Xiongnu Barbarians, if they enter the pass again to raid for grain, will have to think twice. Perhaps they won’t come to Yan Prefecture anymore.”
“Why doesn’t the Prefectural Governor show mercy and pardon her this once for her offense of disrespect?”
After being persuaded several times, Prefect Tang’s anger subsided, and he snorted coldly: “Since you’re interceding for Pei Family Village, this prefectural governor will spare her for now. Go to Changping County and bring the people back.”
Advisor Fang cupped his hands and accepted the order.
In these worldly affairs, even people from the government office needed to bring extra personnel when traveling. Advisor Fang selected ten yamen runners to accompany him, took a four-day carriage ride, and arrived at Changping County.
The people guarding the city gate had already been replaced with a new batch, each sharp and fierce.
Once inside the city gate, he saw that even the common people had unfriendly eyes, whispering: “Sixth Sister saved our lives, yet the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion sent people to demand punishment. Bah! When the Xiongnu Barbarians were outside the city, why didn’t they come?”
“These thousand-knife villains—Sixth Sister should just lock them all in the prison.”
Advisor Fang was secretly alarmed.
After one battle defending the city, Sixth Sister Pei had completely won over the people’s hearts. Now Changping County had thoroughly become Sixth Sister Pei’s territory.
Half a shichen later, Advisor Fang met the rumored Sixth Sister Pei.
Sixth Sister Pei was openly sitting at the head of the public hall, while County Magistrate Wang sat calmly at the lower seat.
Advisor Fang was shocked in his heart by Sixth Sister Pei’s youth, but did not show it on his face, speaking in an even more respectful tone. He lavished praise like “heroes emerge from youth” and “generosity and righteousness for the common people,” his mouth flipping like a tide of good words.
Sixth Sister Pei smiled ambiguously: “No need for nonsense. I’m very busy—speak plainly! What did the Prefectural Governor send you to do?”
Advisor Fang replied most deferentially: “Staff Officer Shao spoke rudely, and Sixth Sister Pei gave them a small lesson, which was only right. He’s now been in the prison for eight or nine days and has learned his lesson fully. Please, Sixth Sister, show mercy and release them.”
Advisor Fang’s attitude was naturally Prefect Tang’s attitude.
Since Prefect Tang was willing to back down, Pei Qinghe magnanimously agreed: “I’ve been annoyed by them wasting grain anyway—Advisor Fang, take them away today!”
Advisor Fang was overjoyed and repeatedly cupped his hands in thanks.
County Magistrate Wang personally led Advisor Fang to the prison.
The two knew each other and had dealt privately before. Advisor Fang said quietly: “County Magistrate Wang, you’ve set your heart on following Sixth Sister Pei?”
County Magistrate Wang naturally denied it: “Sixth Sister Pei defended Changping County Town and protected the common people of the entire city; this county magistrate’s official hat and life were also preserved. For this county magistrate to treat Sixth Sister Pei with courtesy is only proper. Where does ‘following’ come from?”
“One can eat rice carelessly, but words must not be spoken carelessly.”
Advisor Fang cursed him inwardly as an old fox.
