Chapter 177: Congratulations
The Fanyang Army came aggressively but suffered a great defeat within a single day. This news spread through Yan Prefecture like wildfire.
The Jingguan outside Pei Family Village was chilling to the bone.
Upon hearing this, General Yang of the Guangning Army let out a long sigh: “Heroes Emerge from Youth. This is not the least bit false! Lu Xian is all talk and no action, always arrogant, and didn’t take Sixth Sister Pei seriously. Now he’s been greatly defeated by the Pei Family Army and taken captive; he’ll have to empty his family fortune to survive. This is truly losing both his wife and his troops.”
His nephew Yang Huai was right beside him. Hearing the word “captive,” Yang Huai’s mood was quite complex and subtle. There was even a trace of hidden schadenfreude and relief.
That day, he had been captured by Sixth Sister Pei, and General Yang had used dozens of warhorses to ransom him back. He had been ashamed and self-blaming, unable to hold his head up. Now, with the unlucky General Lu as a comparison, his own matter seemed like nothing.
General Yang sighed for a moment, then instructed Yang Huai: “In the future, when dealing with the Pei Family Army, be extra courteous.”
Yang Huai nodded: “I know my limits, Uncle. Rest assured.”
He wasn’t stupid either. Before, he had harbored resentment and thoughts of revenge. Now that even the Fanyang Army had been defeated by the Pei Family Army, he felt only admiration for Sixth Sister Pei.
General Yang glanced at his tall and handsome nephew, somewhat regretful: “I had intended for you to marry into the Pei Clan as a husband, but unfortunately, Sixth Sister Pei already has Steward Shi by her side.”
Yang Huai was quite disdainful of Shi Yan: “A mere merchant’s son—if he hadn’t gone to the Pei Family Army early, there wouldn’t be a place for him by Sixth Sister Pei’s side.”
“What nonsense are you spouting.” General Yang glared at him impatiently: “The Shi Family is the largest grain merchant within Youzhou. Shi Yan has keen insight; he placed a heavy bet on Sixth Sister Pei when her power was weak. Without the Shi Family’s strong support, there would be no Pei Family Army today.”
“Not to mention, Shi Yan himself is shrewd and capable. With him managing the money and grain, Sixth Sister Pei can be free from worries and single-mindedly focus on training troops.”
“For an army, having such a steward is how important. If Shi Yan were willing to come seek refuge with our Guangning Army, I would give him a high position too.”
“Sixth Sister Pei has lofty ambitions and refuses to submit to others. How far she can go in the future is still hard to say. If it were you, would you abandon everything to follow Sixth Sister Pei?”
Yang Huai instinctively shook his head.
General Yang snorted: “There you go! With such vision, boldness, and decisiveness, how could Shi Yan be an ordinary person! What right do you have to point fingers at someone like that?”
Yang Huai was scolded into hanging his head: “I didn’t use my brain and spoke too recklessly. Uncle, please calm your anger.”
General Yang sighed again: “You’re also in your twenties now, honed in the barracks for so many years; you should have matured and grown up by now.”
Yang Huai looked ashamed and responded softly: “In the future, I’ll think twice before speaking when I encounter things.”
General Yang hummed, sized up Yang Huai for a moment, and suddenly had another idea: “The Pei Clan doesn’t only have Sixth Sister Pei unmarried. I recall that Miss Pei Yan, who captured you, isn’t married either!”
Yang Huai’s body jolted, and he abruptly looked up: “Uncle!”
This idea was too terrifying!
Unexpectedly, General Yang was quite enthusiastic about the idea of a marriage alliance and completely ignored Yang Huai’s horrified expression, growing more satisfied the more he thought about it: “Pei Yan is a tiger general in the Pei Family Army and is most trusted and favored by Sixth Sister Pei. If you can’t catch Sixth Sister Pei’s eye, marrying into Pei Yan’s family is fine too.”
“Once the Pei and Yang families form a marriage alliance, we can provide mutual assistance in the future and stand firm in Youzhou. The Fanyang Army is finished, and even the Liaoxi Army, with its many troops and vast territory, won’t dare to act rashly.”
The Guangning Army’s greatest enemy was not the Fanyang Army, nor the Pei Family Army, but the covetous Liaoxi Army.
General Li originally had some old grudge with General Yang and didn’t get along. Now that the Liaoxi Army has declared independence, General Li has proclaimed himself King of Liaoxi, slaughtered the prefectural governor’s mansion, robbed and killed magnates, and conscripted able-bodied men. Total strength has nearly reached twenty thousand.
General Li was still not satisfied and was itching to seize territory. It’s just that the Liaoxi Army’s position is remote, so they couldn’t reach for the time being.
The Pei Family Army fought a clean and decisive great victory, routing the Fanyang Army. It was a powerful warning to the Liaoxi Army.
“Our Guangning Army is loyal to the Son of Heaven, and the Pei Family Army has also surrendered to the Son of Heaven; we are originally an alliance.” General Yang stroked his beard, full of self-satisfaction: “In the future, with a marriage alliance, we can advance and retreat together.”
It’s over!
Yang Huai, who knew his uncle’s temper well, wailed inwardly and wanted to cry but had no tears.
Sure enough, the next moment, General Yang began writing a letter, then ordered Yang Huai to deliver it to Pei Family Village: “Sixth Sister Pei has achieved a great victory and must be celebrated. Go prepare a generous gift, bring this letter, and make a trip to the Pei Family Army.”
Yang Huai tearfully cupped his hands and accepted the order.
……
Five days later, Yang Huai led a team of personnel on fast horses to outside Pei Family Village.
By coincidence, they ran into the Fanyang Army delivering a large batch of warhorses and gold and silver.
Yang Huai tactfully fell back a bit. Turning his head, he saw the soldiers eyeing them greedily. Yang Huai put on a stern face and warned sternly: “All of you, put away that disgraceful look! If anyone embarrasses us, I won’t spare him.”
The soldiers nodded with difficulty.
In truth, Yang Huai was also very tempted.
Five hundred sturdy warhorses passed by one after another. For soldiers who loved horses like their lives, they were more captivating than a beauty stripping off her clothes.
The warhorses were loaded with heavy wooden chests. They must be the gold and silver the Fanyang Army was using to exchange for the “captive.”
Yang Huai swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Pei Qinghe watched the warhorses enter the village in a good mood, then turned to instruct Zhao Hai: “These warhorses are very precious. You lead people to take good care of them.”
Zhao Hai gladly accepted the order: “Sixth Sister, rest assured. These five hundred warhorses are entrusted to me.”
“The stables lack personnel; just speak up.” Pei Qinghe smiled.
Zhao Hai grinned: “I was just planning to discuss it with Sixth Sister! The stables do need more personnel. I’ll go pick some careful and steady ones.”
Pei Family Village had taken in many refugees: the clever and bold ones were picked for training troops, the diligent and hardworking for farming; the stables lacked people, so they could just pick directly.
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly, then turned to Shi Yan: “The wooden chests on the warhorses are full of silver. You personally go count and store them.”
Shi Yan toyed with his usual red gold abacus in his right hand and smiled: “Leave this matter to me.”
Only then did Pei Qinghe have time to greet the Guangning Army visitors: “Young General Yang has personally come today; may I ask what it’s for?”
Beside her, Pei Yan chuckled: “Could it be that he heard we defeated the Fanyang Army and came specially to give us gifts!”
Her voice was loud, her tone rough, her build sturdy, her height tall, her face dark. No matter how you looked, she had nothing to do with a graceful lady.
Yang Huai felt as if scalded by boiling water and quickly looked away, respectfully presenting General Yang’s handwritten letter: “The Pei Family Army displayed divine might and greatly defeated the Fanyang Army. This is a congratulatory letter personally written by our general. Please have a look, Sixth Sister.”
