Chapter 169: Severely Injured
Bandits harassing the common people and forcibly seizing grain, about a hundred men.
Gu Lian struck more ruthlessly than Feng Chang, leading several hundred people in a fight to the death with the bandits, refusing to let even one escape. This group of bandits was entirely killed. Gu Lian’s side also suffered heavy casualties; two hundred elite soldiers she brought lost thirty percent, and four hundred common people who were recruited and trained also suffered many deaths and injuries.
Gu Lian fought fiercely against the enemy and took a knife wound to her left chest. She endured the knife wound forcefully, killed off all the bandits, then cut off all their heads and piled them outside the city gate of Quanzhou County.
“How is Gu Lian now?” Pei Qinghe asked gravely in a low voice.
The messenger was a woman who had come out of Black Bear Stockade with Gu Lian that day, named Jiang Huiniang. Having been with Gu Lian day and night for four years, their bond was deep. Her eyes red and voice hoarse, she replied, “In response to Sixth Sister, although Leader Gu was not wounded in a vital spot, she lost too much blood and remains unconscious. I hurried to deliver the message and do not know her condition afterward.”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and called for Mao Hongling: “I am going to Quanzhou County. Pei Yan will go with me; Second Sister-in-law, you stay behind to hold the fort.”
Upon learning that Gu Lian was seriously injured, Mao Hongling felt heavy-hearted and softly agreed: “Go without worry; I will certainly guard Pei Family Village well.”
Pei Family Village had three thousand elite soldiers but only a pitiful three hundred-plus warhorses, some taken away by Pei Yun, Gu Lian, and Feng Chang respectively, leaving now just two hundred warhorses.
Pei Qinghe selected two hundred men and rode fast horses all the way to Quanzhou County.
Outside Quanzhou City, a life-and-death battle had taken place, and the bloody smell had not yet dissipated. A hundred heads were piled outside the city gate, blood dripping and soaking the ground, drying to nearly black. Vultures fond of eating rotten flesh occasionally flew by.
Pei Qinghe arrived in haste; by the time County Magistrate Ji received the news, Pei Qinghe had already entered the county town and reached Gu Lian’s bedside.
Gu Lian had been unconscious for two days, her face deathly pale, almost without any human color.
The one who bandaged and treated Gu Lian’s wounds was a doctor from the pharmacy in Quanzhou County, with mediocre medical skill.
Pei Qinghe directly asked about Gu Lian’s injury, but the doctor looked troubled, unable to give good or bad news, sweat beading on his forehead. Fearing Sixth Sister Pei might draw a knife in anger, he dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing heavily: “Sixth Sister, spare my life! I have never treated such a severe external injury and truly do not know when Leader Gu will wake. Sixth Sister, spare my life!”
Pei Qinghe said coldly: “I do not want your life; get up.” The doctor on his knees wiped cold sweat with his sleeve and stood up trembling.
Pei Qinghe turned to Pei Yan and said: “Go to Lu Family and invite Imperial Physician Lu to come personally.”
Within Youzhou, Lu Family was the most renowned medical clan. Imperial Physician Lu, who had served as imperial physician in the palace for over a decade before retiring safely in old age, was the best doctor in Youzhou for medical skill. Imperial Physician Lu was advanced in years and rarely made personal house calls.
Pei Yan crisply accepted the order.
With Pei Yan’s temper, if soft words failed, she would drag Imperial Physician Lu there bound if necessary.
At this moment, County Magistrate Ji hurried over.
Pei Qinghe asked straightforwardly: “What is the situation in Quanzhou County now?”
County Magistrate Ji’s face was ashen, his eye sockets deeply sunken from exhaustion, his voice hoarse and raspy: “Pei Family Army fought fiercely with the bandits to protect the common people of Quanzhou County, suffering over sixty casualties. Leader Gu is seriously injured. The common people are grateful for Pei Family Army’s kindness.”
County Magistrate Ji made no mention of his own hard work these past days running around to comfort the common people.
How could Pei Qinghe not know? Her expression immediately softened considerably: “County Magistrate Ji has worked hard.”
County Magistrate Ji replied solemnly: “Without Pei Family Army, this group of bandits would have seized the grain and rushed into Quanzhou County to burn, kill, and plunder. Pei Family Army bore the hardship; what I did is nothing.”
Pausing, he sighed lowly again: “That day the bandits seized grain outside the city and killed over a dozen ordinary common people. Leader Gu flew into a rage and immediately led people to charge out. She even shouted for them to close the city gate.”
“Even if defeated, they could hold the city gate for a few days, waiting for Sixth Sister to lead reinforcements.”
“The common people are not muddled fools who cannot distinguish right from wrong; they feel only gratitude toward Pei Family Army, no resentment. For the dozens who died in the warfare, this official personally visited each home to offer condolences and sent some money and grain. It is but a modest effort.”
County Magistrate Ji was indeed a good official who cherished the common people, thinking thoroughly and acting comprehensively.
Pei Qinghe said warmly: “Go rest well. I will handle everything from here.”
County Magistrate Ji had not slept for days and nights, already at his limit; hearing this, his mind relaxed, and his body swayed. Pei Qinghe quickly steadied him with sharp eyes and swift hands.
Ji Junze was a step too slow and, together with Secretary Shang, supported County Magistrate Ji back to the county office, one on each side.
Pei Qinghe had no time to linger tearfully at Gu Lian’s bedside. She first went to comfort and inspect the wounded soldiers, then led people on a patrol through the streets of Quanzhou County town.
The warfare, deaths, and killings a few days prior had filled Quanzhou County’s common people with fear and panic. Many households in the city had hung white banners.
County Magistrate Ji had worn out his mouth but barely managed to calm the crowd of common people.
Pei Qinghe patrolled on horseback with an icy expression, elite soldiers behind her urging their horses forward with knives in hand, radiating killing intent. Over two days, stability returned to the county town.
With Sixth Sister Pei here and Pei Family Army here, Quanzhou County would be safe.
In war, there are no undying soldiers. Pei Family Army suffered heavy casualties for Quanzhou County’s common people—does that mean the people of Quanzhou County cannot die?
Whose life is not a life?
Pei Qinghe had notices posted throughout the city to continue recruiting common people into Pei Family Army to replenish troop strength. This time, the number of applicants was two or three times more than before.
Pei Qinghe selected two hundred sturdy ones from among them and personally led their training.
The good news was that after days of coma, Gu Lian finally opened her eyes and woke.
The bad news was that after waking, Gu Lian drank half a bowl of porridge, spoke no more than two sentences, and fell unconscious again.
Imperial Physician Lu, advanced in years, had jolted all the way in a carriage. A youth carefully supported him.
Lu Family was prosperous in descendants; this was Imperial Physician Lu’s eleventh grandson, the same age as Pei Qinghe. Since last year, Lu Family had sent Lu Dongqing to deliver medicine to Pei Family Army.
“Sixth Sister,” Lu Dongqing had fair skin and delicate features, his voice soft and pleasant: “I will now support Grandfather to examine Leader Gu.”
Pei Qinghe nodded: “Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Lu.”
The trembling Imperial Physician Lu sat at the bedside to take Gu Lian’s pulse, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with clear gaze and recited a string of medicine names.
Lu Dongqing took notes to write down the prescription, then went to decoct the medicine.
“Leader Gu lost too much blood and needs slow recuperation,” Imperial Physician Lu said leisurely: “Her life is not in great danger.”
Pei Qinghe’s heart settled, and she sincerely gave thanks: “Many thanks to Imperial Physician Lu.”
Imperial Physician Lu said: “I cannot stay long; let Dongqing remain in Quanzhou for a time.”
Lu Dongqing had deep family learning and had studied medicine since childhood; among Lu Family’s younger generation, he was outstanding. Pei Qinghe had no reason to refuse and agreed directly.
Before leaving, Imperial Physician Lu specially instructed privately: “Take this time to get closer to Sixth Sister.”
……
