Chapter 241: Reunion
Meng Liulang supported his brother as they walked out of the city gate together.
Outside the city gate were the Pei Family Army who had come from afar.
Hundreds of sturdy warhorses were neatly lined up, the officers and soldiers on the warhorses had ruddy complexions and bright eyes, half male soldiers and half female soldiers, this was the unique style of the Pei Family Army.
The young woman at the forefront wore a set of gray cloth clothes, her gaze sharp and her heroic spirit compelling.
It was Pei Qinghe, whom they had not seen for over three years.
Pei Qinghe’s gaze swept over the faces of the Meng Brothers, then she nimbly dismounted and walked forward.
Meng Dalang laughed heartily and cupped his hands: “After several years apart, the Pei Sixth Sister of that day has now become the renowned General Pei. In this year’s battle, she greatly defeated the Xiongnu Barbarians, slaying the Xiongnu Commander Wu Yan on the battlefield, driving the Xiongnu Barbarians back to the grassland, and saving countless common people, which is truly admirable and worthy of respect.”
Meng Liulang suppressed his complex emotions and cupped his hands in welcome together with him.
Pei Qinghe smiled and returned the courtesy: “The Beiping Army fought fiercely against one hundred thousand rebel army and held Bohai Commandery. Now who in the Northern Lands does not know the great name of the Meng Brothers.”
“Right, this is General Yang Hu of the Guangning Army who came together with our Pei Family Army!”
The ignored Yang Hu immediately stepped forward and exchanged greetings and pleasantries with the Meng Brothers.
Both being descendants of military families and having been in Youzhou for many years, the Meng Brothers naturally knew Yang Hu. Their past friendship was ordinary, but now meeting outside Youzhou on the turf of Bohai Commandery, there was a bit more closeness like a reunion of old friends.
Meng Dalang smiled and said: “There are people coming and going outside the city, please have General Pei and General Yang lead the troops into the city to settle down. When we have free time, we brothers will pay a visit.”
Pei Qinghe smiled and agreed.
Yang Hu waited until Pei Qinghe nodded before smiling and agreeing.
Meng Dalang of course understood the subtle implication contained within. Meng Liulang also saw it, and inwardly complained to himself that as the commander of the Guangning Army, he was so subservient to Pei Qinghe, truly lacking any real ambition. If General Yang in the underworld knew, who knows what he would feel.
Pei Qinghe led five hundred elite soldiers into Bohai Commandery.
The Guangning Army’s two hundred elite soldiers, already accustomed to following behind the Pei Family Army, rode their horses through the city gate.
The young Pei Xuan and Pei Feng curiously looked around, softly exclaiming in admiration: “Bohai Commandery does indeed have some of the grandeur of the capital city.”
“Compared to the capital city, it’s still far behind.”
“That’s obvious. The Emperor ascended to the throne in Bohai Commandery only four years ago, how can it compare to the capital city.”
Pei Qinghe smiled and glanced over, and the two immediately shut their mouths, being extremely obedient.
Meng Dalang personally led Pei Qinghe’s group to the outside of two large houses: “These past few days, generals have been arriving one after another with their troops. The Emperor specially had people prepare more than a dozen large houses. These are close to the Imperial Palace and right next to each other. General Pei and General Yang can settle here!”
These were four-compound large houses, with dozens of empty rooms inside. For the crowd, sleeping in the wilderness at night was a common occurrence, so now having houses to live in was much better than camping in the open.
Pei Qinghe issued orders that each team of ten people share one room.
The Guangning Army side had only two hundred people, so they had much more space, with four or five people per room being fine.
They had not yet settled in properly when someone from the palace came to relay the Son of Heaven’s verbal decree.
The arrival was a fair-skinned, round-faced eunuch in his forties, smiling ingratiatingly: “This servant’s family name is Shen and has always served by the Emperor’s side. The Emperor knew the general had arrived and immediately ordered this servant to come invite the general into the palace for an audience.”
Pei Qinghe had anticipated this and was not surprised, smiling as she replied: “Good, I will go into the palace with Eunuch Shen right away.”
Eunuch Shen smiled obsequiously: “General Pei has come from afar and can bathe and change clothes first. This servant will wait here.”
Pei Qinghe’s smile faded, and she said indifferently: “This general has only been in the city for a little over an hour, was busy settling in, and Eunuch Shen came urging this general to enter the palace for an audience. Now it’s suddenly not urgent. How about this general rests for the night and enters the palace tomorrow morning for an audience.”
Eunuch Shen was rebuffed and quickly changed his tune: “The general is fine like this, no need to bathe or change clothes.”
Pei Qinghe coldly glanced at Eunuch Shen.
The intangible killing intent and pressure were like a mountain pressing down.
The person before his eyes was the God of Slaughter who had exterminated many mountain bandits, fought the Fanyang Army, and killed Xiongnu Barbarians. Even the Xiongnu Commander had been slain by her blade. How had he dared to speak out of turn just now? To make a general who killed like flies dress up to please the Son of Heaven?
Sweat beaded on Eunuch Shen’s forehead, and he bowed even lower: “This servant spoke out of turn, please do not take offense, general.”
Pei Qinghe did not speak.
Eunuch Shen did not dare to raise his head, maintaining his posture of apologizing.
Pei Yan sneered from the side and said: “This eunuch spouts nonsense and disrespects the general. I will behead him with one stroke of my blade. If the Emperor blames us, I will take his head to plead guilty!”
Pei Qinghe said indifferently: “Do not be rude. This is the person the Emperor trusts and relies on most. Even if his words are rude and presumptuous, it is not your place to punish him.”
Pei Yan curled her lip, sheathing the long saber she had drawn: “I’ll let it go this time. If you dare wag your tongue again next time, my Pei Yan’s blade does not recognize people.”
Eunuch Shen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and lightly slapped his own face: “This servant spoke out of turn! I will never dare again.”
Only then did Pei Qinghe slowly say: “Please have Eunuch Shen lead the way ahead. This general will now enter the palace to have an audience with the Emperor.”
After this show of authority, Eunuch Shen became much more obedient.
According to palace rules, military generals having an audience must not bring weapons, and the attendants by their side must not exceed five people.
Pei Qinghe kept her blade at her side and ignored this convention. She selected Pei Yan, Pei Xuan, Pei Feng, Gu Lian, and Feng Chang to accompany her, deliberately leaving Sun Cheng behind: “You guard here. If there is any unusual movement, no need to wait for my return—you can make the decisions.”
This was entrusting all five hundred elite soldiers to Sun Cheng. Even if Sun Cheng suddenly led the troops to attack the Imperial Palace or the Zhang Family, Pei Qinghe would not blame him.
Suspect people not, and those employed do not suspect. This was Pei Qinghe’s consistent principle. Sun Cheng had joined the Pei Family Army for over two years and was already a key figure in the Pei Family Army.
Sun Cheng never spoke nonsense and crisply accepted the order.
The carriage clattered toward the Imperial Palace.
Next door, Yang Hu retracted his probing head.
His personal soldier muttered: “The Emperor is showing too much favoritism. The Pei Family Army and Guangning Army entered the city together, so why summon only General Pei and ignore our general?”
Yang Hu glared at him: “What nonsense! How can I compare to General Pei?”
His great uncle had led troops to rescue the Son of Heaven and died on the battlefield. His position as commander was inherited through grace and favor.
Pei Qinghe’s position as general, however, was truly earned through one blade and one spear in battle. Ten of him would not be Pei Qinghe’s match—how could they be mentioned in the same breath?
The personal soldier awkwardly fell silent.
The Imperial Palace was still the original Prefectural Governor’s Mansion. Over these years, it had been continuously renovated and was much more grand.
The Son of Heaven’s personal soldier commander Gao Yong personally came out to welcome them: “The Emperor is in the Imperial Study. This way, General Pei.”
Pei Qinghe smiled slightly: “Should I remove this blade of mine?”
Gao Yong laughed: “With the general’s skills, you can kill without a long saber. No need to remove the weapon.”
Eunuch Shen: “……”
