Chapter 202: Iron And Blood
Pei Qinghe did not dismount, looking down disdainfully as she said indifferently: “Prefect Shen, no need for formalities. Everyone, no need for formalities.”
Prefect Shen bowed again to express gratitude, his expression extremely respectful: “Please, General Pei, enter the city first. This official has already vacated the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion for the general to reside in.”
So sensible. It seemed the prefect did not need to be replaced.
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly, urging her horse through the city gate. Behind her, more than a thousand Pei Family Army soldiers brimming with killing intent followed into Beiping Commandery.
Inside the city gate, there were actually bold common people who came to watch the fun. Blocked by the gate soldiers from approaching, they stayed dozens of meters away, craning their necks to look from afar.
“Is this the Pei Family Army?”
“They look majestic and awe-inspiring. I wonder how powerful they are in battle.”
“Even the Xiongnu barbarians are no match for the Pei Family Army. How could they not be powerful?”
That day, when Pei Qinghe defended Changping County Town and launched a night raid to set fire to the Xiongnu barracks, the story spread far and wide, growing more exaggerated with each telling. Some even said Pei Qinghe was a god of war sent from heaven to save the people. Moreover, the Pei Family Army never harmed the common people, enjoying an excellent reputation far surpassing the Guangning Army, Fanyang Army, and Liaoxi Army.
The common people of Beiping Commandery had no dissatisfaction with the arrival of the Pei Family Army; they were even filled with eager anticipation.
Pei Yan had sharp ears and heard the crowd of common people praising the Pei Family Army, grinning from ear to ear with delight.
Pei Qinghe smiled and nodded to the common people in greeting.
As they passed a three-story restaurant, Pei Qinghe suddenly felt a chill on her back.
This was the sharp intuition honed from long years of fighting to the death on the battlefield.
Whoosh!
An arrow shot out from the window.
Pei Qinghe swiftly drew a knife, a flash of light, and the arrow was knocked flying.
“Assassins!” Pei Qinghe ordered sharply: “Everyone, draw knives and stay vigilant.”
Pei Yun drew her knife with a grave expression, Pei Yan snorted coldly, leaped off her horse, and led people straight to charge the restaurant.
The assassin hiding on the third floor fired a second arrow.
Pei Qinghe blocked it expressionlessly with a wave of her long saber. Several more arrows flew out afterward. The Pei Family Army was out in the open, so inevitably some were hit. Those hit were tough, swallowing their cries of pain through gritted teeth.
Those stunned by the sudden assassination were not just the distant common people. Prefect Shen was utterly terrified, his legs going weak.
The sky had fallen!
They had clearly checked repeatedly before. How did this group of assassins appear on this road?
If Pei Qinghe was wounded by an arrow, or an important figure in the Pei Family Army was shot dead, how was he to explain as prefect? The Pei Family Army was not to be trifled with; his head would be the first to roll!
One arrow killed a commoner. The watching common people cried out in alarm, restless and agitated.
Pei Qinghe dismounted, using her warhorse for cover, took a bow and arrow from her back, swiftly pulled the bow and shot. The assassin hiding on the third floor was hit by an arrow, cried out miserably, and fell to the ground.
Pei Yun and the others also quickly dismounted and shot arrows, providing cover for Pei Yan.
Pei Yan had already led people to rush up to the third floor. There were six assassins in total, dressed as shopkeepers and clerks. Now that the assassination had failed, they scattered in escape. Unfortunately, as soon as they showed their heads, they were shot down. The remaining few were led by Pei Yan and hacked to death in a few clashes.
Pei Yan searched the restaurant and found six corpses in the cellar. These were the restaurant’s original owner and clerks, all killed by the assassins.
Confirming no more danger in the restaurant, Pei Yan quickly came before Pei Qinghe: “General! All the original people in the restaurant were killed. These six assassins are now all dead too.”
Pei Qinghe’s gaze was icy cold: “Have everyone rest in place. I am going into the restaurant to find the mastermind behind the assassins.”
The common people were driven away. More than a thousand Pei Family Army soldiers rested in place, their hearts filled with anger, killing intent permeating the air.
The Pei Family Army was greatly loved in Yan Prefecture, welcomed by common people lining the streets wherever they went. Who would have thought that just entering Beiping Commandery, they would encounter an assassination?
The casualties were limited, but this pent-up anger was impossible to swallow.
Pei Qinghe led the way into the restaurant’s main hall and casually sat on a chair.
Prefect Shen, whose limbs were weak, was supported by the pale-faced Advisor Zheng and came over trembling: “Please, General Pei, calm your anger! It is this official’s incompetence! To let assassins slip in!”
Pei Qinghe said coldly: “You are indeed incompetent enough! If this general had not been alert today, she would have died here.”
Glanced at by Pei Qinghe’s gaze full of killing intent, Prefect Shen felt chills in his heart, his knees buckled, and he knelt down. The other officials also knelt.
The magnates had varied expressions, but no one dared stand; they knelt everywhere. The restaurant space was limited, so many knelt in the open space outside.
Pei Qinghe’s voice reached everyone’s ears: “Who owns this restaurant?”
Opening such a large restaurant on the most prosperous street in Beiping Commandery was certainly not an ordinary person. The restaurant’s owner happened to be kneeling among the magnates.
The restaurant owner, pale as earth, spoke up: “It, it is mine.”
Before Pei Qinghe could coldly question him, the restaurant owner hurriedly defended: “I have always admired the general. Hearing that the general was leading troops here, I was only happy in my heart, with not the slightest dissatisfaction. These assassins today killed everyone in the restaurant and assassinated the general in public. It must be someone deliberately framing me! Please, general, see clearly!”
Pei Qinghe sneered: “Easy words. There are other restaurants and teahouses on this road. Why were there assassins precisely in your restaurant?”
The other magnates kept their heads down, no one daring to meet Pei Qinghe’s gaze, let alone foolishly plead for the restaurant owner.
The restaurant owner was so anxious that cold sweat beaded on his forehead, bitterly pleading with Prefect Shen: “Prefectural Governor, our Lou family has always been honest and law-abiding. How could we dare assassinate the general? Please, Prefectural Governor, put in a good word with the general!”
Prefect Shen could hardly save himself, with no mood to speak for the restaurant owner, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead repeatedly without saying a word.
Pei Qinghe’s icy voice rang out again: “I won’t investigate cases, nor am I skilled at interrogation. I only know how to kill.”
“Pei Yan, send the restaurant owner on his way first.”
Pei Yan sneered coldly as she accepted the order, dragged the restaurant owner out, and with one slash of her knife, his head fell, blood splattering onto Prefect Shen’s face.
Prefect Shen’s face turned white, nearly fainting.
It was over! His life was not guaranteed today!
Pei Qinghe’s gaze drifted toward the crowd of magnates.
Pei Yan strode over and dragged another one forward. Roughly questioning his identity and background.
The magnate was scared out of his wits and under the gleaming blade edge, hurriedly spoke: “To the general, I am surnamed Li. My family has some meager fields and a few grain stores. I am usually honest and peaceable, never bullying the common people.”
“I have an ordinary relationship with the Lou family. I knew nothing at all about what happened in the restaurant today! Please, general, see clearly!”
Pei Qinghe spoke: “What is the background of these assassins today?”
This magnate trembled all over, wetting himself: “General! I know nothing! I really know nothing!”
Pei Qinghe said coldly: “Kill him!”
Pei Yan swung her long saber, another head fell. Immediately after, she went to drag the third one.
