Chapter 240: Bohai
Pei Qinghe led five hundred elite soldiers, spurring their horses to gallop swiftly.
On the third day, the Guangning Army caught up. The one leading the troops was none other than Yang Hu.
Pei Qinghe dismounted with a smile, and Yang Hu strode forward, bowing and folding his hands: “Yang Hu has seen the General.”
Pei Qinghe smiled and said: “General Yang, please rise quickly.”
As Yang Hu raised his head, he quickly scanned around, but unfortunately did not see Pei Zhi. Instead, Pei Xuan and Pei Feng both made faces at him together.
Pei Qinghe calmly glanced over. Pei Xuan and Pei Feng immediately resumed their serious expressions.
The Guangning Army had suffered heavy casualties and was recruiting new recruits. Yang Hu had only brought two hundred elite soldiers this time, just right to travel together with the Pei Family Army, so they could look out for each other.
Of course, this also meant bowing their heads and following Pei Qinghe’s lead.
“Please have the Pei Family Army go first,” Yang Hu was very perceptive: “The Guangning Army will follow closely behind.”
Pei Qinghe did not stand on ceremony, nodded, and led her troops ahead.
When they camped for the night, the well-trained Pei Family Army quickly set up sturdy and spacious tents. The kitchen lit fires to boil hot water, and everyone got a bowl.
Every Pei Family Army soldier carried a bamboo bowl, grabbed a handful of fried noodles, and soaked it in scalding hot water. Soon, a bowl of noodle paste with cured meat and vegetables was ready, steaming hot with a fragrant aroma.
On the Guangning Army side, the soldiers gnawed on rough dry biscuits, sniffing the aroma drifting from the neighboring tents, extremely envious.
Yang Hu could not help swallowing. The Guangning Army was learning from the Pei Family Army in every way, but unfortunately, some things could not be learned in a short time.
Relying on aid from the Pei Family Army, the Guangning Army barely managed to fill the soldiers’ stomachs. The cooks in the kitchen not only had mediocre skills but also lacked oil, salt, sugar, and meat!
Speaking of which, the Pei Family Army’s meals were truly enviable. During the day they ate fried noodles, at night hot water-soaked noodle paste, and they even gave everyone half a cleaned radish.
Damn it, which army travels with such abundant supplies?
Pei Feng came over, with several soldiers behind him carrying heavy large bamboo baskets: “General Yang, this is what the General asked me to deliver. Please let the Guangning Army brothers have a taste of something fresh.”
The large bamboo baskets were full of fresh green-skinned radishes, similarly washed and cut.
Yang Hu thanked him profusely. He even completely forgot about Pei Feng’s earlier mischievous face.
After Pei Feng left, Yang Hu had the drooling soldiers line up to receive radishes: “This is from General Pei. Everyone, after eating, must remember the General’s kindness.”
Did that even need saying?
The brand-new military uniforms on their bodies, the new shoes and socks they wore, the grain they ate, and now the radishes—every single one was given by General Pei. They all remembered it well!
The radishes were crisp and refreshing, and after eating half, their hearts were filled with delight.
The next evening, the Pei Family Army grilled cured meat, sizzling with oil, the aroma wafting ten li. The Guangning Army also got to share a meal.
Another day later, somehow the Pei Family Army produced several baskets of dried fruit. Everyone got only a small handful, but after a dull and long day of marching, what happiness it was to eat such a sweet, soft, and chewy dried fruit?
Whoever does not remember the General’s kindness deserves to be struck by lightning!
Several days later, the Pei Family Army and Guangning Army left Youzhou territory and entered Jizhou.
As soon as they entered Jizhou, the local customs were suddenly different.
“Cousin Sister Qinghe, the common people here in Jizhou fear armies like tigers.” Even the most carefree Pei Yan frowned: “We haven’t done anything, yet they run away from afar.”
Pei Qinghe sighed lightly: “They have been bullied and terrified by the Bohai Navy. Previously, the rebel army rampaged through Jizhou, with countless innocent common people dying tragic deaths. No wonder they fear military banners.”
“Pass down my military order: raise the Pei Family Army banner, do not enter villages, and do not approach county towns.”
At Pei Qinghe’s command, the Pei Family Army raised the Pei character flag, with Captain Sun holding the flag and leading the way. The Pei Family Army indeed committed no offenses against the common people.
The Guangning Army followed suit. Occasionally, someone wanted to sneak into nearby villages for food and drink, or to have some fun. Yang Hu coldly executed two, and the Guangning Army’s unstable morale immediately stabilized.
After two days of marching, they encountered three groups of bandits.
The first two groups of bandits were not numerous and scattered upon charge. The third group had over a thousand people, some even holding sharp weapons.
Pei Qinghe pulled a bow and shot arrows, swooshing three down. Pei Yan and the others also pulled bows and shot arrows together, killing many bandits, while more charged forward howling.
Pei Qinghe coldly ordered: “Kill them!”
Gu Lian and Feng Chang each led troops to charge forward. Especially Feng Chang, who had been garrisoning the county town for two years and missed out on expeditions. This time he finally had a chance to show off in front of the General, fighting exceptionally bravely and valiantly.
Feng Chang was lucky and found the bandit leader, chopping off his head with one knife, then hoisting the head on his blade tip and roaring: “Drop your weapons, kneel, and you won’t be killed!”
The bandits finally panicked and retreated, many killed, and more knelt begging for mercy.
Pei Qinghe wanted to continue hurrying on and had no interest in absorbing these bandits, so she destroyed their weapons and drove them all away.
“In Jizhou here, bandits run rampant, far worse than our Youzhou.” Pei Yan puffed out her chest, her tone full of pride: “Within Youzhou, there are almost no bandits. In our Yan Prefecture, the common people live in peace.”
Pei Qinghe showed no smile on her face and said faintly: “The Son of Heaven ascended to the throne in Bohai Commandery, yet he hasn’t even governed Jizhou well.”
Such a wooden puppet, how could he unify the land and stabilize the world?
However, Emperor Jian’an had the most legitimate bloodline and received support from many civil officials and military generals. A single imperial decree summoned numerous garrison generals.
General Zhang wanted to use Emperor Jian’an’s banner to recruit personnel and win popular support, so he would not strike decisively until the last moment.
It was unknown how many years and months Emperor Jian’an could live this life.
On the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, the Pei Family Army and Guangning Army finally arrived at Bohai Commandery.
The gates of Bohai Commandery City were wide open, and below the city, an army was already waiting to enter. Guarding the city gate was the Beiping Army.
The Beiping Army constantly lost men in battle, recruiting batch after batch of new recruits, with few veteran soldiers surviving. Today, among those guarding the city gate, there were a few veterans who, upon seeing the Pei character flag, immediately became excited.
The veterans had all followed Meng Liulang to Pei Family Village back then. Tao Feng and a few others stayed behind, while they followed Meng Liulang on campaigns east and west. Of the five hundred men from that day, fewer than a hundred were still alive.
They ran to report to Meng Liulang.
“General, General Pei has led troops to below the city.”
General Pei?
Meng Liulang’s gaze was complex; no one knew what he was thinking at that moment.
Meng Dalang hurried over upon hearing the news. His limp was severe, and walking fast made him unsteady. Meng Liulang immediately came back to his senses and supported his brother.
Meng Dalang’s face was full of joy, his eyes shining: “General Pei greatly defeated the Xiongnu barbarians, enhancing Great Jing’s prestige. She is our model.”
“Let’s go! Come with me to welcome General Pei!”
