Chapter 246: Come Fight
Emperor Jian’an recovered from his shock and indescribable joy, standing up: “General Pei won this match!”
It was he, the Son of Heaven, who had pushed against opposition and insisted on appointing Pei Qinghe as General.
Pei Qinghe’s victory was his victory!
Pei Qinghe slowly sheathed her long saber and cupped her hands toward Emperor Jian’an. Before she could speak, Pei Yan shouted: “Watch out!”
General Xie, lying on the ground, suddenly sprang up, clenching his iron-bowl-like fist and smashing viciously toward Pei Qinghe’s right leg, which had once been injured.
Pei Qinghe was prepared, dodging swiftly aside and following up with a flying kick from her left leg, striking General Xie’s right wrist.
Crack!
The sound of the wrist bone breaking was drowned out by General Xie’s earth-shattering cry of agony.
General Xie’s personal soldiers rushed over like arrows, clumsily helping their general to his feet. One of them, harboring resentment, snuck an attack on Pei Qinghe.
Pei Yan leaped over, sneering as she threw a punch that knocked the sneaking personal soldier to the ground. Still unsatisfied, she stomped heavily on him twice more: “Pah! Losing a fair martial arts competition and resorting to such despicable tricks! What a disgrace!”
“Cowardly soldiers, cowardly general!”
That personal soldier clutched his stomach, rolling and wailing in pain.
Pei Yan glared fiercely at the other personal soldiers. They all lifted General Xie and retreated a step.
Pei Qinghe smiled coldly: “Pei Yan, stop!”
Pei Yan acknowledged with a sound, spat heavily, and then stood behind Pei Qinghe.
In full view of everyone, General Xie had failed in his sneak attack and been severely injured instead. The military generals had no face to plead for him. General Zhang stood and came over to smooth things over: “General Xie has already lost. In this martial arts competition, General Pei is the victor. The fine horse and precious saber both belong to General Pei.”
“Let General Xie go treat his wounds first! We all serve in the same court as officials of the Jing Dynasty, the pillars of the state. It’s not wise to form grudges. What does General Pei think?”
Pei Qinghe looked up, meeting General Zhang’s gaze: “Since General Zhang is pleading, we’ll let it go today.”
In her previous life, General Zhang had bribed her confidant subordinate to shoot a fatal dark arrow at her back.
She had died by General Zhang’s hand! Unfortunately, before closing her eyes, she hadn’t even seen the true face of her enemy. Today, she finally had.
In that moment of eye contact, a chill ran down General Zhang’s back.
A general who had led troops in battle and experienced a hundred wars was most sensitive to killing intent.
This wisp of killing intent came fast and vanished even faster. In an instant, it was gone. As if it had only been his illusion.
Emperor Jian’an also came over, frowning as he ordered an imperial physician to be summoned. The imperial physician waiting at the edge of the training ground hurried in carrying the medicine box and treated General Xie on the spot.
Meng Liulang and the other military generals also came over.
“After several years apart, General Pei’s skills are even more formidable than before.” Meng Liulang’s gaze was complex as he said in front of all the generals: “Back then, I was defeated by the General. Now, I’m afraid I wouldn’t last a hundred moves against her.”
Meng Liulang had led ten thousand Beiping Army soldiers to resist the fierce assault of one hundred thousand rebel army soldiers, defending Bohai Commandery. After the great battle, the Beiping Army was hailed as the Northern Lands’ number one elite soldiers. Even General Zhang was much more courteous to Meng Liulang than before.
With Meng Liulang’s pride, he was this humble and convinced toward Pei Qinghe!
After their shock, the generals’ gazes toward Pei Qinghe grew even more complex.
Pei Qinghe was amiable toward Meng Liulang, smiling as she replied: “Young General Meng is too modest. Individual bravery has little use on the battlefield; what decides victory or defeat is the combat power of the entire army. The Beiping Army is the Northern Lands’ number one elite soldiers. The Pei Family Army still has much to learn from them.”
Meng Liulang chuckled: “General Pei saying that is making me lose face. No matter how powerful the Beiping Army is, they can only hold off Xiongnu barbarians. But General Pei led troops to greatly defeat the Xiongnu barbarians and beheaded their great general on the battlefield. The Pei Family Army is the true Northern Lands’ number one elite soldiers! I, Meng Liulang, have eyes on top of my head and submit to no one but General Pei!”
General Zhang’s face was almost black.
With these two young generals praising each other, where did that leave the Bohai Navy?
Helplessly, the Beiping Army’s military reputation had soared, and the Pei Family Army’s military merits were solidly real without any fakery. Pei Qinghe had held off the Xiongnu barbarians, and Meng Liulang had resisted the rebel army.
Whether he was happy or not, he had to admit that Pei Qinghe and Meng Liulang were propping up half the sky in the Northern Lands.
A military general around fifty coughed and smiled: “Both young generals are pillars of the state. General Zhang is an old general with over twenty years of leading troops, an even greater pillar of the Imperial Court.”
The other military generals chimed in one after another, praising General Zhang.
Emperor Jian’an reacted, smiling as he said: “Today’s battle has greatly broadened Our horizons. We have ordered a banquet prepared. Today, all beloved officials shall dine together.”
Having shown her hand today was enough to deter everyone. Overdoing it would be excessive and not wise to overly stimulate General Zhang.
Pei Qinghe smiled, cupped her hands, and agreed.
The military generals escorted the young Son of Heaven away.
Only General Xie, wailing in the cold wind, was left, shedding tears of regret.
He truly shouldn’t have listened to Zhang Yun’s provocation and spoken out against Pei Qinghe today. As a result, he was beaten badly in public, his wrist bone kicked broken, his reputation ruined and face lost. How could he ever hold his head up in front of others again?
Unfortunately, no one cared about his regret.
At the palace banquet, the Son of Heaven sat at the head, with General Zhang right below him. Next should have been Meng Liulang. But Meng Liulang refused to sit, insisting that Pei Qinghe take the seat.
Pei Qinghe declined a few times, then frankly sat down.
The military generals each pinched their noses and accepted it. Even Young General Meng was willing to yield; what couldn’t they endure? The one who had jumped around the most was still lying in the training ground!
Fine wine and delicacies were served up like flowing water.
Emperor Jian’an was in excellent spirits, proactively raising his cup to the officials. General Zhang sat as usual, while the other military generals all stood to toast the Son of Heaven.
Pei Qinghe drank only three cups before setting down her cup: “My drinking capacity is poor; I can only drink three cups.”
One military general, used to coarseness, joked casually: “What if you drink one more cup?”
He immediately regretted it.
The one before him was the true God of Slaughter. How dare he joke casually?
Pei Qinghe glanced over: “My drunken behavior is poor; if I drink too much, I start hitting people. Does General Song want to try?”
General Song wished he could slap his own mouth, laughing awkwardly: “I was just joking; General Pei, pretend you didn’t hear it.”
Having seen General Song hit a hard snag, the other military generals were more sensible, each finding drinking partners. They didn’t dare to provoke her.
Pei Qinghe didn’t drink alcohol but ate plenty of food.
Emperor Jian’an noticed a few dishes Pei Qinghe liked and glanced at Eunuch Shen. Eunuch Shen immediately understood and soon brought over several more plates.
General Zhang glanced at Emperor Jian’an and sneered coldly in his heart.
Men understand men best.
Emperor Jian’an’s little scheme couldn’t escape General Zhang’s sharp eyes. Empress Zhang had just given birth to the prince not long ago and was still in confinement. Emperor Jian’an was already scheming a “win-win” plan.
Hmph!
