Chapter 295: Response
The old women of the Pei clan, led by Madam Li, the eldest among them, usually stayed deeply secluded and acted very low-key. They were not well-informed about outside news either.
The news brought by Meng Liulang shocked everyone greatly.
Even Madam Lu, who prided herself on loyalty and righteousness, was furious and shocked: “Has the Emperor lost his mind?”
Xiongnu barbarians invaded Youzhou. Pei Qinghe led soldiers in fierce battle, and her elite soldiers suffered heavy casualties. Pei Qinghe herself was also injured and had been recuperating. As the Son of Heaven, instead of thinking about how to reward the army and heavily reward the commander, he sent an imperial decree of marriage!
Was his brain kicked by a donkey?
Madam Lu’s anger surged, her face flushed red, and she immediately wanted to rush out.
Madam Fang and the others hurriedly stopped her: “Eldest sister-in-law, don’t get agitated.”
“Don’t worry, Qinghe is not a soft persimmon to be pinched by anyone; she will definitely handle it.”
Madam Lu said angrily: “How can she handle it? Either accept the decree and enter the palace as Imperial Consort, or defy the decree. You all know that girl’s temper. With this fuss, all her previous military merits will be wasted! What will happen to the Pei Family Army afterward? What will happen to Qinghe?”
“No way! I must enter the palace to see the Emperor and beg him to withdraw the imperial decree. Assistant Minister Han just left not long ago; send a fast horse to chase him back. This matter still has room for maneuver.”
Madam Lu’s mind was rarely this clear, and her words were reasonable and well-founded.
Madam Fang and the others exchanged glances, and the arms blocking her unknowingly loosened a bit. Madam Lu was like a fierce beast about to break out of the pen, seemingly ready to charge out.
Helplessly, Madam Li called out to Pei Jia.
Pei Jia nodded and closed the gate of the Pei Residence. Over a dozen sturdy elite soldiers stood in neat rows, blocking the gate airtight.
Madam Lu was furious and yelled at Madam Li: “Why are you stopping me? Do you really want to watch Qinghe be forced into becoming a traitorous minister?”
Madam Li had graying hair and was almost toothless, speaking slowly: “The Zhang father and son couldn’t stop the Emperor. You, an old woman with no soldiers or power, how do you plan to stop him?”
Madam Lu gritted her teeth: “I’ll remonstrate to the death! I’ll crash my head and die in front of the Emperor to beg him to withdraw the imperial decree!”
Madam Li thought for a moment: “That is indeed a method. Pei Jia, open the gate and let her go.”
Madam Lu: “…”
Pei Jia actually opened the gate and stepped aside.
Everyone stood still, watching Madam Lu together.
Madam Lu was caught in a dilemma and turned away angrily.
Only then did Madam Li sigh: “General Meng specially came to deliver the message; we should first thank him.”
The group of old women curtseyed and thanked him in unison.
Meng Liulang, who had watched an exciting drama, came back to his senses and hurriedly dodged: “Please rise, everyone. To my shame, I asked Chancellor Pang to step in, but he refused. I won’t stand idly by on this matter. I’ll enter the palace to see the Son of Heaven right now and persuade him to withdraw the order.”
Madam Li sighed again: “General Meng’s kind intentions, I thank you on Qinghe’s behalf as an old woman. However, this is Qinghe’s matter and the trouble the Pei Family Army must face; we cannot drag the Beiping Army into it.”
“General Meng is not alone; he has many soldiers under him. Don’t act impulsively in times of trouble; think more for the Beiping Army. Don’t cause trouble—the imperial court has people watching the general closely. If someone catches a handle and makes an issue of it, it will be very bad.”
In the past, Meng Liulang would have blurted out, “I’m not afraid of the Zhang father and son.”
Now, after years of honing and much dealings with the Zhang father and son, Meng Liulang felt some apprehension in his heart. He knew Madam Li was right and fell silent.
Madam Li said warmly: “The General led cavalry to rescue the Pei Family Army; we all remember this favor in our hearts. Young General, go back first! We old bones need to discuss properly how to handle what comes next.”
Meng Liulang could only nod.
After stepping out of the Pei Residence and walking a long way, Meng Liulang couldn’t help but look back.
The gate of the Pei Residence was closed again. The heavy gate separated the Pei elders from the outside world.
For Pei Qinghe, for the Pei Family Army, more than twenty elderly old women willingly came to Bohai Commandery and had stayed here for over three years.
This endurance, this perseverance, was truly admirable.
…
“Send people to watch the old women of the Pei clan.” General Zhang secretly ordered: “Report immediately if there is any unusual movement.”
As long as they made any move, the Zhang family could find fault with them and pin them with the crime of disrespecting the Son of Heaven.
However, after waiting and waiting, the old women of the Pei clan showed no movement at all. The gate of the Pei Residence remained tightly closed, as if cut off from the world.
Zhang Yun couldn’t help but frown: “Father, are we doing nothing and just waiting like this?”
General Zhang said coldly: “What do you want to do?”
Zhang Yun’s mouth moved, then closed again.
“You are not as patient as a group of old women.” General Zhang said angrily: “At a time like this, anything said is wrong, anything done is wrong. The ones suffering grievance are the Empress and the Zhang family; we hold the moral high ground.”
“Wait until Pei Qinghe defies the decree and falls out with the Son of Heaven; then we step forward. At that time, no one can find fault with the Zhang family.”
“To accomplish great things, you need sufficient patience. If you can’t even endure this small matter, you can’t achieve great things!”
Zhang Yun was sprayed disheveled and dejected by his own father and didn’t dare make a sound.
General Zhang exhaled a stifled breath and instructed in a low voice: “Keep watching the Pei Residence. Also keep a close eye on Meng Liulang.”
“With Meng Dalang away, Meng Liulang is just a reckless man with bravery but no strategy. We must seize this opportunity to swallow the Beiping Army.”
…
Dark currents surged in Bohai Commandery.
Liaoxi City, however, was a different scene.
Nearly two months after the great battle, those with fatal injuries had been buried, and those with minor injuries had mostly recovered. Grass had grown on the graves of General Li and his son; the common people in Liaoxi City all supported the Pei Family Army and had completely forgotten General Li and his son.
The injuries on Pei Qinghe had mostly healed, and she personally raised the Pei Family Army’s military banner to recruit new soldiers.
On the first day of recruitment, common people flocked to sign up, including quite a few women.
The female soldiers in the Pei Family Army patrolled the city on vigilance every day, receiving military pay and rations just like ordinary soldiers. Those messy rumors couldn’t harm them a little bit.
The common people in Liaoxi City found the female soldiers very novel. After repeated inquiries, they mustered their courage and sent their daughters and granddaughters.
Pei Qinghe had recuperated in the military tent for two months; her skin had become a bit fairer, her cheeks a bit fuller, and the pale weakness from her injury was long gone. Appearing before the common people was General Pei, spirited and outstanding in demeanor.
Pei Qinghe didn’t need to say anything; just standing by the Pei character flag drew an endless stream of people coming to enlist.
Yang Hu, Lu Feng, and the others watched with utmost envy.
Recruiting soldiers had always been the most headache-inducing task. For the Pei Family Army, it was effortless.
