Chapter 148: Gu Lian
Pei Qinghe looked indifferent, her emotions unreadable: “Good, I will keep watching you. If you betray me, I will personally take your life.”
Gu Lian kowtowed heavily three times.
She rose and walked out of the house, the chilly night wind pouring into her collar, yet unable to extinguish the flame in Gu Lian’s heart.
Gu Lian hurried back to her own house. Over a dozen women who had come out of the Black Bear Stockade with her were all waiting outside the house.
“Gu Lian, you’re going to Quanzhou County, and we’ll go with you too.”
“That’s right, we’ll go together. If we live, we live together; if we die, we die together.”
There were over ten thousand people in Pei Family Village, with origins far too complex. The true Pei Family Members numbered only a little over two hundred. The rest had trickled into Pei Family Village over the past two-plus years. Gu Lian and the others who came out of the Black Bear Stockade were the first wave, while Feng Chang and the refugees from the mountains were the second batch. Large numbers of refugees continued to pour in, each with different identities and backgrounds.
The crowd’s faith and loyalty were all to Sixth Sister Pei, so it was inevitable that they formed small cliques in private. With the mountain strongholds being annihilated one after another, more and more women joined, almost all led by Gu Lian.
Among the later refugees, a few capable and powerful ones also stood out. Yet none could match Feng Chang. Gu Lian and Feng Chang fought the fiercest.
Pei Qinghe saw it all in her eyes but did not suppress it excessively. Only when Gu Lian and Feng Chang clashed most intensely would Pei Qinghe speak a warning to balance both sides.
Now that Gu Lian was to lead two hundred people to Quanzhou County, all these women came, voicing their intent to advance and retreat together with Gu Lian.
Gu Lian’s face turned cold. She opened the door, lit a candle, and said to the women with a stern face: “The matter of selecting troops must be decided by Sixth Sister. You all go back and wait first. It would be good if you can go together, but if Sixth Sister asks you to stay, then stay peacefully in Pei Family Village.”
The women immediately replied: “Of course! You don’t think we’d go against Sixth Sister’s intention and follow you regardless, do you?”
“How could that be.”
Hearing such words, Gu Lian felt no anger at all; instead, she breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: “Good that your heads are clear. Our lives were given by Sixth Sister; we absolutely cannot have any disloyalty.”
She paused, then lowered her voice: “Do you know why Sixth Sister favors me more than Feng Chang?”
Pei Qinghe treated everyone equally on the surface, but in reality quietly promoted Gu Lian. Everyone knew it in their hearts but didn’t say it aloud. At this moment, Gu Lian suddenly brought it up, surprising the crowd, who all looked up together.
Under the candlelight, the knife scar on Gu Lian’s face stood out especially clear and ferocious: “Because I am a woman.”
“Without Sixth Sister, I am nothing. Only by loyally following Sixth Sister can I, Gu Lian, hold my head high as a person and lead troops to Quanzhou County. In the future, there will be even greater prospects.”
“In this world, men are esteemed and women belittled. In times of constant war, chaos, and turmoil everywhere, women’s status is even lower, always at risk of being abandoned, humiliated, and killed. Only in the Pei Family Army do women hold higher status than men.”
“I am loyal to Sixth Sister and will never betray her. Because without the Pei Family Army, I have no path to walk.”
“So, Sixth Sister trusts and values me more. No matter how much Feng Chang envies that, there’s no way around it.”
Gu Lian suddenly smiled, the knife scar on her face twitching along: “With the world in great chaos, our Pei Family Army is about to shine brightly. I’ll go to Quanzhou County first to scout the way. Perhaps one day, everyone will get to lead troops independently.”
……
“Qinghe, do you trust Gu Lian?”
As soon as Gu Lian left, Mao Hongling came, asking in a low voice with some worry: “Gu Lian is ruthless and ruthless in action, clever-minded too. Once she goes to Quanzhou County, might she develop disloyalty?”
“Otherwise, why don’t I lead the troops to Quanzhou County!”
Pei Qinghe smiled at Mao Hongling: “Gu Lian volunteered, and I approved it. How can I go back on my word? What would people think?”
“In the Pei Family Army, the true Pei Clan direct lineage numbers only around two hundred. The rest are all from other families. If I don’t even dare to heavily use Gu Lian, then what about Feng Chang—should I use him or not?”
Mao Hongling was speechless for a moment, then sighed: “I was too timid.”
Pei Qinghe smilingly took Mao Hongling’s hand: “Second Sister-in-law isn’t timid; you’re worrying and fretting for me. Rest assured! I have it all figured out with every step.”
“Human hearts are hidden in the belly; no one can guarantee what they’ll become later. I heavily use Gu Lian, but I’ll always keep watching her. If she has disloyalty, I’ll personally take her life.”
Mao Hongling nodded: “As long as you have a plan in mind.”
“By the way, Gu Lian is taking two hundred people. For the matter of selecting troops, what do you plan to do?”
Pei Qinghe said: “I’ll do the selecting.”
Pei Yun could select her own troops, but Gu Lian did not have that privilege.
The next day, Pei Qinghe brought the roster and selected two hundred people. After Gu Lian took the list, she eagerly looked it over.
A dozen familiar names caught her eye first.
Besides these women from the Black Bear Stockade, half were also female soldiers.
Gu Lian’s heart warmed, and she looked up at Pei Qinghe: “Thank you, Sixth Sister, for your trust.”
Pei Qinghe smiled: “Quanzhou County is a bit smaller than Changping County but still has tens of thousands of common people. You bringing two hundred people to garrison means these two hundred must be of one heart with you, obeying your orders. Even so, controlling Quanzhou County won’t be easy.”
“Gu Lian, go lead the troops! Let everyone see your capability and prowess.”
Gu Lian suppressed her excited and fervent emotions, stood solemnly, and cupped her hands: “I absolutely will not disappoint Sixth Sister.”
Three days later, Gu Lian led the two hundred on their journey.
Warhorses were scarce in the Pei Family Army, with only a little over three hundred in total. When Pei Yun went to Changping County, she took fifty. For Gu Lian, Pei Qinghe gave twenty warhorses. Weapons, money and grain were all fully provided.
Young Master Ji also set off together back to Quanzhou County.
Pei Qinghe personally led the crowd to see them off.
Young Master Ji had stayed a few days in Pei Family Village, with Steward Shi accompanying him each day. Toward this renowned Sixth Sister Pei, Young Master Ji felt considerable awe and had no chance to get close.
Pei Qinghe smiled as she bade farewell: “When I have some free time later, I’ll pay a visit to County Magistrate Ji and Young Master Ji in Quanzhou County.”
Young Master Ji cupped his hands in salute: “My father and I will await Sixth Sister’s visit.”
Shi Yan was much more familiar with Young Master Ji, smiling as he saw him onto the carriage, whispering something that made Young Master Ji grin.
Pei Qinghe smiled and glanced at Shi Yan, tutting inwardly.
The pure-as-a-white-rabbit Young Master Ji rode in the carriage for a day and returned to Quanzhou County.
County Magistrate Ji led the common people to welcome the Pei Family Army. The Pei character flag fluttered at the county town city gate, and County Magistrate Ji’s heart settled.
The Pei Family Army marched for two days, orderly and spirited, everyone full of spirit. The group of female soldiers was especially eye-catching.
Among the common people come to watch the fun, some exclaimed in amazement, some chatted animatedly about the Pei Family Army’s glorious deeds. Occasionally, some sour remarks were made.
Gu Lian ignored them all, leading her two hundred imposingly into Quanzhou County town.
