Chapter 157: Seek Refuge
In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.
In this half year, several major events occurred.
After the Liaoxi Army occupied Liaoxi Commandery, they continuously conscripted soldiers, and in just half a year, their troop strength doubled. General Li, who proclaimed himself King of Liaoxi, raised taxes three times in half a year, leaving the common people enduring unspeakable suffering. The magnates in Liaoxi Commandery wisely offered up most of their family wealth and could barely survive. Those stingy with their money and unwilling to contribute had General Li send men to “take” it, and along the way, kill and exterminate their households.
The magnates of Liaoxi Commandery were killed until heads rolled and blood flowed like rivers. Some magnates fled in panic to the territory of the Fanyang Army or Guangning Army, but they did not fare any better. Their families were still broken and exterminated.
In these chaotic times, military generals hoarded troops and acted independently, the Imperial Court had already collapsed, and there were no more military expenses. Where did the money and grain to raise soldiers come from? Ordinary common people could not be squeezed for much oil and water, so they could only collect taxes nearby and rob the magnates.
Within Youzhou, only Yan Prefecture was the most stable. Magnates proactively sent money and grain, and could live in peace. The Pei Family Army protected the common people and also sheltered the magnates who handed over money and grain.
The Wang Family, located in Guangning Prefecture, had close dealings with the Pei Family Army. Sixth Sister Pei personally wrote a letter to General Yang. The Wang Family wisely offered up a large amount of military rations, and when the Guangning Army robbed the magnates, the Wang Family was not affected.
Madam Lu, who also had close dealings with the Pei Family Army, remained relatively stable amid this bloody storm. Lu Family Medicine had long supplied all the armies, and even when the armies lacked money, grain, and military expenses, they did not target the Lu Family.
The most miserable magnates were the Zhan Family.
The Zhan Family was the number one salt merchant in Youzhou, with immense wealth beyond count. The Zhan Family had backers in the Capital City, as well as several illicit salt teams with weapons and horses, and they were not the least bit afraid of mountain bandits or refugees. Because of this, the Zhan Family had always been arrogant; if not for Shi Yan stepping in, the Zhan Family would have dared to raise salt prices.
After King Qiao occupied the Capital City, Imperial Court officials were killed until blood flowed like rivers. The Zhan Family’s great backer was gone. Two illicit salt teams encountered the Fanyang Army and were killed to the last man. The Zhan Family offered up a large amount of money and grain, and also presented a tender and beautiful young daughter to General Lu, barely preserving the lives of their entire family, old and young.
Then, they were driven out of Fanyang Commandery.
The Zhan Family was a great clan with over a hundred old and young, plus family retainers, servants, and the one remaining illicit salt team, totaling more than four hundred people. They were driven out in such a sorry state from the ancestral mansion where generations had lived. Old Master Zhan was so angry that he died on the spot.
Zhan Fei found a coffin and hastily buried his old father. Then he led several hundred people to Yan Prefecture to seek refuge with the Shi Family.
The Shi Family was the number one great clan in Yan Prefecture and also one of the foremost magnates in Youzhou. In these chaotic and turbulent times, with martial men dominating, grain merchants were fat meat in the eyes of those martial men. Several great grain merchants in Youzhou had been robbed clean, yet the Shi Family remained unscathed.
This was thanks to the shrewd foresight of the previous Young Master Shi. He had bet early, abandoning home and business to join the Pei Family Army. Now with Pei Qinghe fully providing protection, not only were the grain stores in Yan Prefecture safe and sound, but the Shi Family Grain Stores in the other prefectures and commanderies were also fine.
Pei Qinghe had put out the word: anyone who dared to touch a Shi Family Grain Store would be making an enemy of the Pei Family Army.
The Guangning Army had sought refuge with the Young Son of Heaven and was friendly rather than hostile with the Pei Family Army, so they had to give some face. The Fanyang Army and Liaoxi Army were each seizing territory, grabbing able-bodied men, and killing magnates, but for now, they had no intention of going to war with the Pei Family Army.
Zhan Fei led his entire fallen family to the door, weeping bitterly before Old Master Shi and begging him for shelter.
Old Master Shi sighed, somewhat troubled: “The Zhan Family has suffered a great disaster, and our Shi Family has had dealings with them for many years, so we cannot stand idly by. However, the Shi Family is currently in precarious straits ourselves, barely able to protect our own.”
Zhan Fei thought to himself, you old fox are the big winner, pretending otherwise in front of me. You’re just trying to squeeze more benefits out of me.
He cursed viciously in his heart, but on the surface, he was overcome with gratitude, saying all sorts of good words.
Old Master Shi thought it over for a long time before reluctantly agreeing: “If the Zhan Family wants to stay in Yan Prefecture, my agreement alone isn’t enough; Sixth Sister must nod.”
“Conveniently, the Shi Family has a happy event: the granddaughter-in-law gave birth a few days ago to a pair of twins. In a few days, there will be a full moon banquet with a wedding banquet. I sent an invitation to Pei Family Village, and Sixth Sister might give some face and come to drink the celebratory wine.”
“You settle down temporarily for now and wait a few days to see. If Sixth Sister is willing to meet you, then half the matter is settled.”
Zhan Fei repeatedly gave thanks.
Old Master Shi glanced at Zhan Fei with deep meaning and reminded him: “Shopkeeper Zhan must think carefully about how to show sincerity to Sixth Sister.”
……
“Sixth Sister is really going with me?”
In Pei Family Village, Steward Shi, dressed in thick cotton clothes, suppressed his joy and advised: “There are only a few days until New Year. A round trip will delay things, and you might not make it back in time for New Year.”
Pei Qinghe smiled: “Then I’ll spend New Year at the Shi Family and return afterward. It’s freezing cold, and the bandits are all frozen in their lairs unable to come out. No one will launch an attack on Pei Family Village at a time like this. It doesn’t matter if I’m gone for a while.”
Shi Yan was about to advise further, but Pei Qinghe smiled and glanced at him: “Both the Shi Family and Wang Family are meritorious retainers of the Pei Family Army. Wang Mengyi giving birth to twins is a great joyful event for both families. It’s only right for me to go drink a cup of celebratory wine. It’s not entirely for you.”
That smiling glance made Shi Yan’s heart burn hot, so he said no more.
Wang Mengyi had joyful news a month after marrying into the Shi Family, and twins were diagnosed at four months pregnant.
Old Master Shi was overjoyed and specially spent a fortune to invite Imperial Physician Lu to ensure Wang Mengyi’s pregnancy went smoothly.
Wang Mengyi gave birth more than twenty days ago, smoothly delivering two baby boys. This broke the Shi Family’s three generations of single heirs at a stroke.
How delighted Old Master Shi was goes without saying. He personally wrote a letter inviting Pei Qinghe to the full moon banquet.
Whether for Shi Yan or for the Shi and Wang Clans, Pei Qinghe had to make a trip to the Shi Family.
Mao Hongling stayed behind to guard, Pei Yan accompanied, and Pei Xuan and Pei Feng also came along.
On this bitterly cold day with biting winds, Shi Yan sat in the carriage, holding a water pouch filled with hot water in his arms.
The steady and experienced Dong Dalang stayed in Pei Family Village, while the lively and humorous Dong Erlang accompanied them.
“Old Master suddenly has two great-grandsons; he might even wake up laughing from his dreams.” Dong Erlang grinned: “Young Master, this time when you go back, Old Master should give you a good look.”
Shi Yan clearly understood his grandfather better: “That’s hard to say. It’s only been a little over a year; Grandfather probably hasn’t cooled off yet.”
Dong Erlang lowered his voice and continued: “If not for Young Master standing firm in the Pei Family Army, how could the Shi Family be so stable now? With so many elite soldiers under Sixth Sister, wouldn’t she learn from the Fanyang Army and Liaoxi Army to kill and rob for grain?”
“Sixth Sister wouldn’t do something stupid like killing the chicken for the eggs.” Shi Yan said: “A round of killing and robbing is just a one-time deal. Better to have a steady stream, with merchants continuing their business, sending half their silver earnings. The Pei Family Army gets stable money, grain, and military expenses. And it won’t cause panic.”
Stability and peace are what the people desire.
Magnates had already begun quietly coming in droves to seek refuge with the Pei Family Army.
However, Shi Yan hadn’t expected that even the Zhan Family would come seeking refuge.
Zhan Fei followed beside Old Master Shi, and upon seeing Sixth Sister Pei arriving on horseback, his uneasy heart settled a bit. He strode forward and knelt with a thud.
