Chapter 254: Marriage Alliance
In chaotic times, marriage alliances are a kind of political means. For example, the marriage between Yang Huai and Pei Yan was a political marriage alliance from the start.
After the engagement was set, the two often met and spent time together, gradually developing feelings.
Yang Huai and Pei Zhi also had mutual interest, which was why Pei Qinghe agreed.
Pei Qinghe has never forced anyone into an engagement.
Pei Feng knew his cousin sister’s temperament and temper, so he never took the initiative to pay attention to Song Xue. In his view, Song Xue would soon leave after making a fool of herself.
Unexpectedly, Song Xue lived very comfortably in Pei Family Village, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed, with every sign of staying long-term.
Pei Feng couldn’t help complaining to Pei Xuan: “Why is Song Xue still lingering and not leaving?”
Pei Xuan smiled and teased: “She is a year older than you, so you should call her Sister Song Xue.”
Pei Feng’s handsome face turned extremely sullen.
Pei Xuan laughed so hard she giggled nonstop.
Pei Feng was quite angry: “Such a big trouble, and instead of helping me solve it, you come to mock me.”
Pei Xuan giggled a few more times, and only restrained her smile when she saw Pei Feng was really annoyed, then said seriously: “Pei Feng, you’re not young anymore. Back then, when Cousin Sister Qinghe was your age, she had already become the Pei Clan Leader, leading us to settle in Changping County, Yan Prefecture.”
“Now, it’s also time for you and me to devote ourselves to the Pei Family.”
Pei Feng replied sullenly: “Leading troops into battle to fight to the death, I have no objections. I just don’t want to marry a wife.”
Pei Xuan glanced at him with a smile: “Do you dislike Song Xue, or do you simply not want to get married.”
Pei Feng told the truth: “I just don’t want to get married.”
“As long as you don’t dislike her, that’s good.” Pei Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and comforted him in a low voice: “The cousin sisters haven’t married yet, so how would it be your turn to marry a wife. Even if the engagement is set, the marriage won’t happen for who knows how many years. Just think of it as an alliance between two armies, and consider more the benefits of the Pei Family Army and Pingyang Army providing mutual assistance.”
Pei Feng fell silent.
He naturally understood the benefits involved.
First form an alliance, then gradually co-opt and assimilate. Just like the Guangning Army, which was step by step brought under the Pei Family Army. They expanded territory without bloodshed and also expanded the influence of the Pei Family Army.
The Pingyang Army is stationed in Bingzhou and can be considered elite soldiers of the Northern Lands. Now General Song is taking the initiative to show goodwill by sending his daughter to the Pei Family Army, which shows full sincerity. Rejecting it outright would really be a pity.
“Think it over yourself.” Pei Xuan said softly: “Don’t worry, if you really don’t want to, Cousin Sister Qinghe absolutely won’t force you to marry a wife.”
Pei Feng was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: “If another military general sends a son or nephew, would you be willing to marry a man into the family?”
“As long as it brings enough benefits to the Pei Family Army, why not?” Pei Xuan looked completely open: “Being able to meet and spend time together, and pick one, is already much better than a blind marriage!”
Pei Feng was choked again.
Pei Xuan said: “Miss Song is fair-skinned and beautiful, with a good personality, always smiling, never throwing tantrums or losing her temper. What’s not good about such a wife? I really don’t know why you’re so awkward. If it were me, I would have agreed long ago and gone to Cousin Sister Qinghe to ask to marry Miss Song.”
Pei Feng didn’t want to pay attention to Pei Xuan and turned his head to the side.
Pei Xuan rolled her eyes and walked away straightforwardly.
After all, they were siblings who grew up together day and night, so Pei Xuan’s words still got through to Pei Feng. The next day, when he saw the smiling Song Xue again, Pei Feng unusually greeted her proactively: “Sister Song Xue.”
Song Xue was startled and blinked her big eyes: “Is the sun rising from the west today? You’re actually willing to talk to me proactively?”
Pei Feng felt a bit awkward.
Song Xue indeed had a very good temper, neither annoyed nor putting on airs, and spoke to Pei Feng with a smile: “Where do the weapons you use daily come from?”
This wasn’t any secret. Pei Feng glanced at Pei Qinghe, who nodded slightly, so Pei Feng answered in detail: “Most of the weapons are captured from the battlefield, and some are forged by the blacksmiths.”
In war, the things consumed most are first military rations, second weapons. Armor requires too much iron material and is especially complex to forge, so the Pei Family Army currently doesn’t have the strength to equip everyone with armor. Those with armor are mostly the battalion commanders.
Repairing damaged weapons and continuing to use them is common in the barracks.
Song Xue said with a smile: “You can take the weapons my father sent to the training ground to try them out.”
Pei Qinghe was moved and looked at Song Xue: “What makes the Pingyang Army’s weapons different from other armies?”
The several boxes of new weapons sent by General Song had been moved to the storeroom and untouched!
Song Xue’s eyes curved, her smile utterly adorable: “The general can try them personally, and you’ll see.”
Pei Qinghe signaled with her eyes, Pei Feng nodded, and immediately led people to fetch a box of weapons. Opening the wooden box revealed dozens of shiny long sabers.
Pei Qinghe reached out and picked up one; as soon as she held the saber, she noticed the difference: “The blade back is a bit thinner, and the blade is much lighter.”
With one swing of the long saber, she easily cut a section off the training wooden stake.
Pei Qinghe’s eyes lit up: “What a sharp saber!”
“This is the unique long saber of our Pingyang Army.” Song Xue had no intention of showing off, just stating the facts: “Thick-backed long sabers require more material and are heavy. The soldiers of the Pingyang Army often couldn’t eat their fill for years, lacking stamina and unable to wield thick-backed long sabers.”
“The Pingyang Army’s long saber was modified again and again until it became the current form. It’s both light and sharp, and uses thirty percent less material than ordinary thick-backed long sabers.”
As soon as she said this, everyone’s eyes lit up.
Pei Feng blurted out: “Is there a forging blueprint for this long saber?”
Pei Qinghe also looked over, weighing in her mind what to exchange for the Pingyang Army’s long saber blueprint. How about sending Pei Feng to the Song family as a son-in-law?
Song Xue’s eyebrows and eyes curved into crescent moons with her smile: “I didn’t bring the blueprint. If you want it, I can draw one now.”
Pei Feng: “…”
“You mean, the Pingyang Army’s long saber was modified into its current form by you?” Pei Qinghe looked at Song Xue as if she were a rare treasure, eager and focused.
Song Xue smiled with pursed lips: “Yes. The Pingyang Army also has a batch of new bow and arrows, lighter than ordinary military styles, all made according to the blueprints I drew.”
Pei Qinghe was amazed, held Song Xue’s hand, and said with a smile: “So Miss Song has such capability; I almost missed a treasure.”
Song Xue smiled happily and a bit shyly, saying softly: “If the general is interested, I can go draw them now.”
“Should we ask General Song first?”
“No need. My father sent me here with the intention of giving the new type of weapons to the general.”
Pei Qinghe grasped Song Xue’s hand: “This is great. Tonight, I’ll have Sister-in-law Shulan cook a good meal for you.”
Song Xue fluttered away happily like a butterfly, following Pei Qinghe.
Pei Xuan grinned and nudged the stunned Pei Feng: “See, Miss Song is here for Cousin Sister Qinghe.”
