Chapter 120: Harboring Resentment
Staff Officer Shao, who had been imprisoned for nearly ten days, excitedly grabbed Advisor Fang’s hand, almost bursting into tears.
Advisor Fang quickly glanced over and confirmed that, aside from Staff Officer Shao missing a finger, being thinner, and looking haggard and miserable, there was no serious harm, then breathed a sigh of relief.
Nothing should be said in the prison. After leaving the county office, getting into the carriage, and passing through Changping County’s city gate, Staff Officer Shao’s anger surged like a spring.
“The Pei Clan committed treason and was executed, but this Pei Qinghe, though a woman, recruits refugees to form her own army with great ambition—she’s no good sort. After returning, I will definitely report to the Prefectural Governor and ask him to send troops to exterminate the Pei Clan.”
Advisor Fang sighed: “I know you’ve suffered a lot of grievances. But still, don’t say things you shouldn’t. Lest the Prefectural Governor be put in a difficult position.”
Staff Officer Shao was choked up for a moment.
Of course, Staff Officer Shao was no fool. After this ordeal, he had seen Pei Qinghe’s power and audacity. Even if Prefect Tang petitioned the Imperial Court for troops, how many could the court send?
“With Xiongnu Barbarians coming to raid for grain, the Imperial Court can’t even manage that.” Advisor Fang let out another long sigh: “The Capital City is about to be smashed by the Rebel Army—who still cares about the Pei Clan.”
“In my view, we shouldn’t make an enemy of the Pei Clan. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll have to beg Sixth Sister Pei to send troops!”
Staff Officer Shao scowled: “So I lose a finger for nothing?”
What else?
Advisor Fang looked deeply at Staff Officer Shao.
Staff Officer Shao’s heart was filled with unquelled fury. After returning to the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion, he threw himself to the ground and wailed bitterly. He cursed the entire Pei Clan as rebels and tearfully begged Prefect Tang to avenge his severed finger.
Several days passed, and Prefect Tang had completely calmed down, responding lightly: “This prefect has already written a memorial and sent it to the Capital City, waiting for a reply from the Capital City.”
Staff Officer Shao was grateful and teary-eyed, but his heart sank by more than half.
The Capital City had been at war for a long time, and news had been slow for ages. Whether a flimsy memorial could even reach the Capital City was uncertain.
Prefect Tang had not written to the Fanyang Army, nor sought help from the Liaoxi Army. This meant he had already chickened out…
After returning to his room, Staff Officer Shao’s face darkened, and he muttered through gritted teeth: “This humiliation—I will surely avenge it.”
Then, he picked up his brush and wrote a letter briskly, called over his confidant attendant, and whispered a few words: “…Remember, this letter must be delivered into General Lu’s hands.”
The attendant accepted the order, quietly left the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion, rode a fast horse for six or seven days, and arrived at the Fanyang Army.
The Fanyang Army had a total of four thousand men, the smallest troop strength among the four garrisons in Youzhou, with average combat power. The commander, General Lu, came from a military family and had risen to a fifth-rank general by the grace of his ancestors.
After the news of the Guangning Army’s great defeat arrived, General Lu blockaded the barracks and strictly ordered all officers and soldiers not to leave without permission. Even when Xiongnu Cavalry raided county towns in Fanyang Commandery, General Lu pretended not to know.
After more than a month of fear and trepidation, they finally endured until the Xiongnu Barbarians left.
Only then did General Lu breathe a sigh of relief and order the barracks opened. He gave the entire army a few days of leave.
The soldiers were no good at fighting wars but were experts at bullying ordinary common people. They ate and drank at restaurants without paying silver, and whored at brothels without spending a dime.
Every time soldiers from the Fanyang Army appeared, the common people in Fanyang Commandery trembled in fear, with every household closing their doors. Especially those with daughters or granddaughters had to watch them closely, lest they be seen by the soldiers.
After reading Staff Officer Shao’s letter, General Lu cursed a string of obscenities: “…Without an order from the Ministry of War or military expenses provided, what troops to send? What rebels to suppress?”
“Go back and tell that blind, muddleheaded master of yours to get lost. I’m not full and idle with nothing to do.”
Once the attendant rolled out of the barracks, the general’s several confidants whispered: “General, the Pei Clan is a piece of fat meat.”
“It’s said that Pei Family Village has plenty of money and grain, and even more women.”
General Lu sneered: “They wiped out six bands of mountain bandits and even held Changping County against Xiongnu Barbarians. The Pei Clan isn’t fat meat—it’s a tough bone. Aren’t you afraid of chipping your teeth?”
“The Capital City is fighting fiercely now—who knows when there might be a change of dynasty. With our limited personnel, we should save it for self-preservation later.”
No sooner had the words fallen than a personal soldier rushed in to report: “General, the Bohai Navy in Jizhou has raised their flag in rebellion, proclaiming Prince Zhangwu as the new Son of Heaven.”
…
Pei Qinghe in Changping County also received this shocking major news.
County Magistrate Wang was full of joy, rubbing his hands repeatedly: “This is truly heartening good news.”
“Prince Wei ascended the throne illegitimately. Prince Zhangwu of the Eastern Palace is the legitimate heir to Great Jing’s empire.”
“The Bohai Navy has enthroned Prince Zhangwu as the new Son of Heaven and established a new court. Those loyal to the Eastern Palace will surely flock to seek refuge.”
“When does Sixth Sister plan to go to Jizhou?”
Pei Qinghe’s eyes flickered slightly, and she said calmly: “The Pei Clan was exiled here by imperial law and cannot leave Youzhou territory. I will have someone prepare a generous gift to congratulate the new Son of Heaven on his ascension to the throne.”
County Magistrate Wang’s smile froze, and he looked deeply at Sixth Sister Pei.
That day, Eastern Palace Guards personally escorted the old and young of the Pei Clan. The Pei Clan’s rapid establishment also relied on the momentum of the Eastern Palace and protection from the Beiping Army.
Now that Prince Zhangwu had escaped the Capital City and ascended the throne in Bohai Commandery, Pei Qinghe should go pay homage and pledge loyalty, both emotionally and rationally…
Pei Qinghe’s current reaction was truly subtle.
“Does County Magistrate Wang plan to go to Bohai Commandery?” Pei Qinghe asked unhurriedly.
County Magistrate Wang looked regretful: “As the parental official of Changping County, this official cannot leave his post without authorization. When Sixth Sister sends the gift, please convey this official’s intentions as well.”
Pei Qinghe smiled: “It’s a trivial matter—County Magistrate, rest assured.”
After a pause, she added: “I’ll leave half the men to guard Changping County, take the rest back to Pei Family Village, and bring the newly recruited ones back for training as well.”
Pei Family Village was the root of the Pei Clan.
Having stayed in Changping County for over two months, it was time to return.
The next day, Pei Qinghe led several hundred people back to Pei Family Village.
The young people newly joined to the Pei Family Army totaled around fifty. Half were from common people backgrounds, simple and honest in nature. Even ruffians like Zhao Da, Pei Qinghe took in. These days they trained formations daily and now had some semblance of it.
Zheng Xiaoying opened her bright big eyes and peeked around quietly, her heart full of excitement and joy.
Is this Pei Family Village?
It was clearly the Pei Family Army barracks!
Zheng Xiaoying looked admiringly at the figure riding horseback ahead, and her weary legs suddenly found strength.
Pei Qinghe occasionally turned back and, seeing Zheng Xiaoying’s sparkling big eyes, couldn’t help but smile.
Pei Yan also turned her head, somewhat dissatisfied: “That Zheng Xiaoying looks at you with adoring eyes every day. Good thing she’s not a young man, or she’d be your son-in-law.”
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly: “Having someone admire and follow me is a good thing. Are you going to fuss over something so small?”
A wall stretching for several li came into view.
Pei Qinghe was in an extremely pleasant mood. This was Pei Family Village, which she had built with her own hands—here was her root.
Bronze “Leading the Vermilion Luan”: In the third year after Princess Yongjia died a tragic death, people in the Capital City suddenly began dying one after another.
At the same time, the top scholar busy marrying a nobleman’s daughter welcomed another “wife from his poor days” he had never seen before.
Yan Bei, to gossip, held his child and condescended to attend the marquis’s birthday banquet, only to spot at first glance that this country top scholar’s wife was precisely his wife who had gone missing three years ago!
Well then!
The top scholar had become her childhood sweetheart husband—what did that make him, Yan Bei? A mistress?!
