Chapter 151: Seek Refuge
Is this still Pei Family Village?
The middle-aged man who had bathed, shaved his beard, and changed into clean clothes followed behind Fang Datou, who had lost one arm, slowly strolling through Pei Family Village. The more he looked, the more shocked he became, his mouth gaping wide open.
Fang Datou saw his stunned, dumbfounded look and grinned smugly: “Boss, what do you think of our Pei Family Village?”
Captain Sun finally closed his mouth and let out a long sigh: “In just three short years, Sixth Sister Pei has built such a foundation.”
Outside the village, there were ten thousand mu of fertile fields, with men and women laboring diligently, sweat beading on their foreheads, yet without the misery of exploitation; everyone had rosy cheeks and calm expressions.
Captain Sun, who had fled all the way here, knew exactly what this meant. Pei Family Village was abundant in grain, with no one going hungry. In these chaotic times, this was incredibly rare.
Inside the wall, Pei Family Village had row after row of neat brick houses and thatched huts, with wide roads and solid surfaces.
From the house at the village head came the clear voices of children reading aloud. The one teaching the children to read was a graceful woman with delicate beauty.
“This teacher is called Jiao Niang; she was originally a pitiable person in White Tiger Stockade. After the mountain stronghold was destroyed, she came to Pei Family Village and became a teacher.”
Captain Sun hummed in acknowledgment, unable to resist glancing at her again.
“Pei Family Village has many women but even more men.” Fang Datou laughed loudly: “Everyone in the Pei Family Army can read and write. The children read all day, while we train during the day and read at night.”
Captain Sun was shocked: “You can read too?!”
Has the sun risen from the west?
Even a sow could climb a tree?
Fang Datou had actually become literate!
Fang Datou was full of self-satisfaction, his mouth nearly splitting to his ears: “I’ve been reading for two years now. I recognize all the simple characters and can understand letters. I just don’t write well.”
“Boss, I remember you were literate before. From now on, you should read more military books. Don’t let me outdo you.”
Captain Sun reflexively kicked Fang Datou.
Fang Datou didn’t dodge, chuckling: “Once Sixth Sister returns, you won’t be able to kick me anymore.”
Captain Sun reacted and immediately cupped his hands in apology: “Sorry, I have a quick temper. Brother, don’t hold it against me.”
Things were different now. In the past, Fang Datou was his subordinate, and kicking him or cursing him was commonplace. But now, Fang Datou was Sixth Sister Pei’s confidant, leading a Hundred Men. He had come disheveled and dejected to seek refuge; how could he presume to act superior in front of Fang Datou?
Fang Datou scratched his head with his left hand: “I was planning to show off and gloat a bit. With your compensation gift like this, I feel oddly unsatisfied.”
“Boss, get up quickly. From now on, we’ll eat from the same pot; we’re all Sixth Sister’s people. No need to fuss over who’s above whom.”
Captain Sun smiled with a hint of bitterness: “I don’t know if Sixth Sister will be willing to keep me.”
Fang Datou was full of confidence: “Sixth Sister has taken in so many refugees; even a fifty-year-old woman who came was kept and given food. You’re a proper imperial general who knows how to lead troops and fight, and you share a friendship of shared life and death with Sixth Sister. How could she not keep you?”
Captain Sun had been thinking the same, which was why he had fled a thousand li to seek refuge. Still, without seeing Pei Qinghe, his heart remained uneasy.
As the two were chatting idly, the sound of bamboo whistles rang out one after another.
Fang Datou’s eyes lit up at the sound: “Sixth Sister is back! Come on, let’s go welcome her.”
Captain Sun suppressed his excited unease, steadied his mind, and went with Fang Datou to the village head.
Dozens of fast horses galloped in.
The young woman leading the way had bright eyes and a spirited vigor. It was Pei Qinghe, absent for three years.
Reunion of old friends; each felt a surge of emotion in their hearts.
Captain Sun stepped forward first to bow in salute.
“After we parted three years ago, I thought we’d never meet again in this lifetime. I never expected Captain Sun to come here on his own.” Pei Qinghe nimbly dismounted and smilingly reached out to help Captain Sun up: “I got the good news and hurried back without a moment’s delay.”
Captain Sun had only been in Pei Family Village for half a day, and Pei Qinghe had rushed back from Changping County Town. It showed how much she valued him.
A weight lifted from Captain Sun’s heart.
Pei Qinghe led Captain Sun into the council hall and called together the important leaders of the Pei Family Army. Everyone came except Pei Yun and Gu Lian.
Pei Qinghe smiled: “That day when our Pei Clan was exiled, Captain Sun escorted us all the way to Youzhou, providing much care along the way. I, Pei Qinghe, will never forget this kindness.”
“Now that Captain Sun has come to the Pei Family Army of his own accord, everyone come meet him.”
Captain Sun hurriedly smiled and cupped his hands to the crowd: “The Imperial Court is gone; what kind of captain am I? Just call me Sun Cheng.”
Pei Jia and Pei Yi went without saying; the Pei Clan female dependents were also acquainted. Newcomers like Feng Chang exchanged warm greetings while subtly sizing up Sun Cheng’s caliber.
Sun Cheng, having been an imperial general for over a decade, was not intimidated by these refugee-origin leaders and smiled as he chatted with Feng Chang and the others.
Pei Qinghe smilingly called for Bian Shulan and instructed her to prepare a few good dishes.
This was the treatment only given when General Meng had come that day.
Feng Chang understood. It seemed Sixth Sister was certainly going to put Sun Cheng to good use.
A few felt sour inside and muttered privately to Feng Chang: “There should be some seniority order. This Sun Cheng has a lame leg and only twenty-odd men under him. Why should he outrank us right away?”
Feng Chang frowned, quickly glanced at Pei Qinghe not far away, and said in a low voice: “Shut your mouth. Sixth Sister has her reasons for doing this; it’s not your place to speak out.”
Pei Qinghe happened to glance over just then.
The one grumbling sourly immediately shut up.
That evening, the kitchen prepared several meat and vegetable dishes. They weren’t particularly elaborate, but there was plenty of stewed meat to fill up.
Sun Cheng ate with restraint. His twenty-plus subordinates devoured it like hungry wolves, sweeping it clean and even licking the bowls.
Sun Cheng felt a bit embarrassed: “They followed me in the escape and haven’t had a full meal the whole way. Sixth Sister, you’ve seen us to shame.”
Pei Qinghe said warmly: “Rest assured, now that you’re in the Pei Family Army, no one will go hungry.”
Sun Cheng let out an “ah,” his eyes suddenly heating up. After a moment, he said softly: “That day the capital fell; King Qiao set the Imperial Palace ablaze. The Emperor and Empress were both burned to death.”
“Most of the Imperial Guard died, and the survivors nearly all fled with General Situ to Qinzhou.”
“Sixth Sister, I’ll be frank with you. Actually, I originally planned to seek refuge with the Bohai Navy. As long as His Highness the Prince lives, Great Jing’s empire hasn’t fallen. I’m an imperial general at heart, always hoping to continue serving.”
“When we reached near Jizhou, we ran into the Bohai Navy forcibly conscripting…”
At this point, Sun Cheng let out a long sigh: “I hadn’t even revealed my identity when they shot arrows at us. I originally had over fifty men, and nearly half were killed by the random arrows. Such behavior is no different from rebels.”
“With nowhere else to go, I could only come to seek refuge in Pei Family Village.”
