Chapter 149: Gu Lian
County Magistrate Ji acted meticulously and had already prepared lodging for the Pei Family Army, with meals also ready.
Gu Lian led the crowd to fill their stomachs first, settle down, and rest, which goes without saying.
In the County Office, County Magistrate Ji called his eldest son Ji Junze into the Study Room and carefully asked about the events of the trip to Pei Family Village. Admiration showed in Ji Junze’s eyes as he recounted everything he had seen in Pei Family Village one by one.
Seeing is believing. Everything in Pei Family Village was refreshing and eye-opening. Especially the daily training scenes of the Pei Family Army, which left a deep impression on Ji Junze.
County Magistrate Ji looked deeply at his son: “These past few days, it was always Steward Shi accompanying you?”
Ji Junze nodded matter-of-factly: “Yes. Sixth Sister Pei has to train troops every day and manage so many people in Pei Family Village; she has to worry about big and small matters and has no free time. Steward Shi is actually very busy too; he accompanies me wandering around the village during the day and has to stay up late at night to do the accounts—it’s really hard work.”
Mentioning Steward Shi, Ji Junze was full of praise: “Steward Shi is only three years older than me, but he speaks and acts much better than I do. He’s traveled all over Youzhou and knows everything about major and minor events outside.”
“Steward Shi has a high status in Pei Family Village, and Sixth Sister Pei trusts him greatly. Wherever he goes, a bunch of people rush to talk to him. His memory is also exceptionally good; he can almost call out everyone’s name.”
“It’s a pity I only stayed in Pei Family Village for three days and couldn’t get closer to him properly.”
County Magistrate Ji looked at his son, who was silly and clueless, and twitched the corner of his mouth: “You admire Steward Shi so much?”
Ji Junze’s eyes were clear, and he nodded repeatedly.
County Magistrate Ji suppressed the urge to sigh and asked in a low voice: “Didn’t you ever think to compete with Steward Shi?”
Ji Junze was baffled: “Why compete? Except for reading, I’m not as good as him in anything.”
County Magistrate Ji: “…”
County Magistrate Ji rubbed his forehead and irritably shooed his son away: “I still have matters to discuss with the Secretary; go back to your room and rest.”
Once Ji Junze left, County Magistrate Ji sighed to Secretary Shang: “It seems my little calculation won’t work.”
Secretary Shang also felt some regret: “Our Young Master is single-minded about reading and ignorant of worldly affairs. I’m afraid he didn’t grasp the lord’s intention at all.”
Even if he did grasp it, he couldn’t outfight the cunning and sly Steward Shi.
If sold by Steward Shi, he’d still have to praise Steward Shi!
Secretary Shang didn’t say these heartbreaking words. How could County Magistrate Ji not know?
County Magistrate Ji sighed deeply: “Junze has been single-minded about reading since childhood, with a simple and innocent temperament. It was fine before, but now the Imperial Court is gone, and the world is in chaos. In Youzhou territory alone, there are four armies. In my heart, I actually prefer to seek refuge with the Guangning Army and later flee to the little emperor in Bohai.”
“But the Guangning Army is far away and was badly defeated by the Xiongnu Barbarians, so now they have the fewest soldiers and the weakest combat power. The Pei Family Army, on the other hand, is close by, and Sixth Sister Pei has a prominent reputation and is exceptionally powerful. Slaughtering mountain bandits and fighting Xiongnu Barbarians—the Guangning Army won’t even face the Pei Family Army head-on and would rather exchange warhorses for captives.”
“Quanzhou County has no other way; we can only submit a pledge of allegiance to the Pei Family Army to stay safe.”
“I originally thought of sending Junze to Pei Family Village in hopes he could catch Sixth Sister Pei’s eye… never mind.”
County Magistrate Ji rallied his spirits and instructed Secretary Shang: “From today, the Pei Family Army takes over the City Gate and public security. Give them whatever they want.”
Secretary Shang cupped his hands in acknowledgment.
After the Pei Family Army rested for one night, the next day half went to the City Gate, and the other half, equipped with long sabers, patrolled everywhere.
The common people looked at the fierce and majestic Pei Family Army with trepidation in their hearts. Especially the merchants, who dodged far away.
For several days in a row, all was peaceful. A few thugs who robbed things were caught and thrown into the Prison. Public security was much better than before. At the City Gate, the fierce-looking Pei Family Army didn’t demand money.
After a few days, a notice was posted at the Quanzhou County City Gate, recruiting four hundred people; half a day of training would earn half a jin of grain.
The common people of Quanzhou County immediately boiled over and scrambled to sign up.
The woman with the knife scar on her face viciously drew her long saber: “All of you, go line up.”
The chaotic crowd quickly quieted down.
With the precedent of Changping County, Gu Lian followed suit, and recruiting the common people went fairly smoothly. Unfortunately, too few women in Quanzhou County came to sign up; they took every one that came, but the recruited women still fell short of one tenth. And most were middle-aged widows.
Gu Lian didn’t mind and took them all: “They’re all here for the half jin of grain each day. Take them in and give them a way to survive. Also let all the women of Quanzhou County see. Our Pei Family Army wants men, but even more, we want female soldiers.”
The recruited common people started with the simplest queue training: following commands to turn left, turn right, and march in formation. Even this led to endless blunders, and it took many days of practice to make some progress.
After the queues were drilled neatly, several hundred people jogged slowly along the county town streets early in the morning. Though it wasn’t clear what good this training did, it was novel and lively. Some nosy common people followed behind to watch the fun, and Gu Lian didn’t drive them away, letting the common people follow along.
Half a month later, Pei Qinghe arrived in Quanzhou County.
County Magistrate Ji was overjoyed and specially brought his eldest son to welcome her.
The legendary Sixth Sister Pei appeared in Quanzhou County for the first time. The common people craned their necks to look and whispered: “This is Sixth Sister Pei? She doesn’t look that fierce.”
“Exactly! The knife-scar face is much fiercer.”
“See that? The knife-scar face is respectful in front of Sixth Sister Pei. This Sixth Sister Pei must be even more powerful.”
Sixth Sister Pei had sharp ears and looked over following the sound. Her clear and piercing gaze was like a sharp blade.
A few gossipy men were startled and quickly turned their heads to evade.
This Sixth Sister Pei had torn a Black Bear bare-handed, shot the mountain bandits’ Boss dead with one arrow, wiped out six mountain bandit stockades in a row—even Xiongnu Barbarians were no match for her.
They were just talking big; how could they dare provoke such a Female God of Slaughter.
……
It wasn’t Pei Qinghe’s first time meeting County Magistrate Ji.
In her previous life, when the world was in chaos, County Magistrate Ji used all his family’s money and grain to relieve the common people. When she established the Pei Family Army, it took her years to take Yan Prefecture. Naturally, she had dealt with County Magistrate Ji.
Pei Qinghe respected and was polite to County Magistrate Ji: “County Magistrate Ji cherishes the common people and is a true Parental Official.”
Compared to County Magistrate Wang, who abandoned Changping County and fled in his previous life, County Magistrate Ji was a truly good official.
There was some bitterness in County Magistrate Ji’s smile: “In peaceful times, this official could barely govern one county and let the common people live some peaceful days. But now the worldly affairs are in chaos, and this official truly lacks the capability to protect the common people. I can only beg Sixth Sister to provide Protection to the common people of my Quanzhou County.”
With that, he cupped his fists and bowed deeply.
Pei Qinghe didn’t evade and frankly accepted the bow: “Since I’ve sent troops, I’ll take over the safety of Quanzhou County.”
“I won’t interfere in civil affairs; County Magistrate Ji will still manage them. Raising troops requires money and grain; all of Quanzhou County’s taxes will be used to raise troops.”
