Chapter 283: Distributing Grain
Opening the granaries to distribute grain is the best and fastest method to win popular support.
Pei Qinghe ordered the gates of the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion opened, and sturdy soldiers carried bag after bag of grain out of the mansion.
“Line up properly. Each household may receive five jin of grain.” Pei Qinghe’s voice clearly reached the ears of the common people: “Once every five days.”
“Each household can only send one person to receive grain. If anyone is found claiming double portions, all grain will be confiscated, and they will be beaten with thirty strokes!”
The first batch of common people who mustered the courage to receive grain were so excited they were nearly in tears. After the Liaoxi Army entered the city, they conscripted able-bodied men, robbed grain, and oppressed the common people with countless atrocities. As soon as General Pei arrived, the first thing he did was distribute grain to them. General Li died at just the right time—died perfectly well. He should have died long ago!
The three accountants in charge of distributing grain used five-jin grain measures to fill with grain, filling them flat and even shaking some out when lifting.
Pei Qinghe’s expression turned cold: “You three, step down. Pei Yan, Pei Xuan, Pei Feng, you three go distribute the grain.”
Pei Yan, Pei Xuan, and Pei Feng responded in unison, each stepping forward and unceremoniously shoving aside the black-hearted, shaky-handed accountants. Holding the grain measure in their right hand, they scooped vigorously from the grain bags, piling the grain high in the measures—supposedly five jin, but actually more than six jin.
For a family of several, adding extra water to make porridge would at least prevent them from starving to death.
The common people received the grain with tears in their eyes, knelt before Pei Qinghe, and kowtowed three resounding heads: “General, you saved our entire family. Thank you, General!”
Pei Qinghe sighed softly, walked forward, helped up an elderly woman with white hair, and said warmly: “Since I have come, I will protect all the common people in Liaoxi City and fight the Xiongnu barbarians to the end.”
The old woman returned home hugging the grain bag, tears streaming down her face. Once home, she immediately lit a fire to cook porridge. The family, too starved to speak, drank two bowls of hot porridge. Then they devoutly knelt toward the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion, respectfully kowtowing and muttering: “Heaven bless us and send General Pei to Liaoxi City. We are saved!”
More and more common people came to receive grain upon hearing the news.
Inevitably, some tried to cut in line or claim double portions, but they were spotted by the vigilant Pei Family Army on patrol and immediately dragged out for a public beating.
One hand giving grain, one hand wielding the rod, quickly established the prestige of the Pei Family Army.
Pei Qinghe’s prestige reached its peak in a single day.
Li Chi saw it all in his eyes and could not help but feel secret admiration.
While grain distribution was lively in Liaoxi City, Changli County Town presented an entirely different scene.
Returning after a great defeat, with heavy losses of cavalry and warhorses, and confidant generals dying tragic deaths, all made General Pu Nu seething with anger. He directly slaughtered innocent common people in the county town to vent his rage. Elderly people of sixty or seventy and young children of a few years old all became souls under the blade. Desperate cries of women being abused echoed everywhere.
Pu Nu killed people all day before finally venting the surging anger in his heart.
Too many dead and wounded, morale depressed—it was necessary to rest and recuperate, and they could not lightly attack the city again. Pu Nu forcibly suppressed his fury and issued a military order, commanding the brave soldiers to recover from injuries and rest.
Pu Nu summoned the military generals into the military tent to discuss subsequent tactics.
Some military generals who had escaped death on the battlefield had their courage broken by the killing and opened their mouths to propose withdrawing troops. This proposal unexpectedly gained the support of most military generals.
Flames of anger burned in Pu Nu’s eyes as he suddenly slammed his curved saber on the table: “We still have more than ten thousand warriors. Rest for a few days and attack the city again. We cannot slink away in defeat like this.”
The military general was the leader of a large Xiongnu tribe, named Luan Ti. Facing Pu Nu’s stern rebuke, Luan Ti showed no fear and responded with a grim face: “We have been here for over a month and have already robbed much money and grain and slaves. Once back, it is enough for us to get through the winter.”
“That Pei Qinghe is in Liaoxi City. With her there, we do not know how many people will die to take Liaoxi City.”
“General Pu Nu, you do not cherish the lives of the brave soldiers, but I cannot bear to see the brave soldiers sent to their deaths. I have decided to withdraw troops.”
Pu Nu abruptly stood up, his eyes shooting out murderous light: “I am the general! You dare disobey my orders! Once back, the Khan will surely punish you!”
Luan Ti also stood up and said coldly: “That is my business, General Pu Nu need not worry. Three thousand warriors under my command have already died nearly half. I must bring the remaining warriors back to the grassland.”
“Luan Ti is right.” Another tribal leader stood up: “Our brave soldiers cannot die in vain. I also want to withdraw troops!”
The third, the fourth—soon half the military generals stood up.
In his towering rage, Pu Nu did not flip out; instead, he softened his tone: “Everyone, do not get agitated. Return to your military tents and rest first. Even if withdrawing troops, we must rest a few days before leaving. The Pei Family Army is not like those cowards of the Liaoxi Army. If we withdraw hastily, the Pei Family Army will surely pursue. We must plan the withdrawal route and arrange properly before leaving.”
Luan Ti and the others exchanged glances, saluted, and departed.
The forced mildness Pu Nu had maintained vanished completely after Luan Ti and the others left, his face darkening ominously.
“General Pu Nu, Luan Ti and they want to withdraw troops. What should we do?” Pu Nu’s confidant asked in a low voice.
Pu Nu sneered repeatedly: “So many warriors under my command have died. I want to attack into Liaoxi City and personally kill Pei Qinghe to avenge the warriors. As for Luan Ti and them wanting to withdraw troops, hmph!”
The final hum carried thick killing intent.
The several confidants immediately understood. General Pu Nu was merely placating them for now; next, he would surely strike ruthlessly, eliminating Luan Ti and the others and taking over their cavalry.
Unfortunately, Luan Ti and the others were not fools at all and clearly knew Pu Nu’s ruthlessness. That night, large numbers of warriors patrolled and guarded outside their tents, making secret assassination impossible. Directly flipping out and fighting would not only cause heavy casualties among the brave soldiers but also scatter morale.
Over the next two days, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
On the morning of the third day, Luan Ti and the others each led their cavalry to withdraw troops and depart.
This departure took more than six thousand cavalry. In other words, the Xiongnu warriors still able to fight had decreased by four tenths.
Pu Nu could certainly flip out and kill them. But doing so would only lead to losses without gain, cheaply benefiting Pei Qinghe in Liaoxi City.
In the end, Pu Nu swallowed this stifled anger.
“General! The Xiongnu have withdrawn troops!” Captain Sun, responsible for scouting news, came personally to report with a face full of joy.
Pei Qinghe’s eyes flashed: “All withdrawn, or just a portion?”
“About six or seven thousand left.” Captain Sun said in a low voice: “There are still quite a few in Changli County Town. It seems the Xiongnu barbarians have fallen into internal strife.”
“General, should we pursue?”
Pei Qinghe glanced at the excited Captain Sun: “What do we use to pursue?”
The Pei Family Army’s cavalry, arduously trained for several years, had been nearly wiped out—this was Pei Qinghe’s bone-chilling pain. It was not that she did not want to pursue, but simply that pursuit was impossible!
