Chapter 296: Volunteer
Li Chi had a face full of joy.
General Pei was recruiting soldiers on the spot, so the new recruits naturally all became Pei Family Army. The Liaoxi Army had now all been incorporated into the Pei Family Army too—they were all one family!
The Pei Family Army’s recruitment process also opened Li Chi’s eyes.
First they asked for name, origin, family background, then inquired whether they could read and practiced martial arts. Those who were literate were given priority. Of course, literate people were few and far between; most were illiterate common people. But that was fine—once they entered the Pei Family Army barracks, they had to learn to read and memorize military regulations right from the start, and only then did the daily training begin.
“Being a soldier just needs strength, so why also read and write?” Li Chi couldn’t hold back and asked softly.
Li Chi humbly sought instruction, and Pei Qinghe didn’t hesitate to explain: “Reading enlightens the mind and teaches reason; literacy allows one to understand maps and battle reports.”
“Descendants of military families all read and practiced martial arts from a young age. You should know well the benefits of that.”
Therefore, the Pei Family Army had strict military discipline, produced talents in abundance, and had cohesive morale. The recruited new recruits, led by veteran soldiers, quickly became elite soldiers.
Li Chi sighed sincerely: “General, you have far-reaching vision. Li Chi has been instructed.”
Pei Qinghe said indifferently: “These recruited new recruits, I will personally train for half a year. After they are trained, you will lead the troops.”
Li Chi’s heart, which had been quietly suspended, finally settled, and he solemnly cupped his hands to accept the order: “Please rest assured, General. Since I, Li Chi, have joined the Pei Family Army, I will forever be the General’s man. If I betray the General, let heaven send down thunder and lightning to strike me dead.”
Pei Qinghe’s bright and sharp gaze turned to him: “Since I dare to use you, I dare to trust you. Li Chi, in the future, hold Liaoxi City and don’t let me down.”
Li Chi’s emotions surged, and he cupped his hands again in acknowledgment.
Song Dalang watched the fun from the side.
Lu Feng watched enviously, itching to blurt out “General, take me in too!” He only hated that his own father was muddleheaded—after receiving his letter, he was still hesitating and unwilling to just join the Pei Family Army like that.
Yang Hu felt a bit jealous too and coughed once before saying: “We’ve followed the General on campaigns east and west; the General can’t show favoritism.”
Pei Qinghe smiled and glanced at Yang Hu: “You want new recruits? Wait until we return to Guangning Prefecture. This is Liaoxi City—do you intend to recruit here?”
Of course, recruiting on the spot was best. The soldiers would have a greater sense of belonging and would fight more fiercely and desperately for their families and hometown common people.
Yang Hu had been in the barracks for many years and certainly understood this principle; he was just brushing up his presence and vying for favor.
“General!” Pei Xuan hurried over and stuffed a letter into Pei Qinghe’s hand: “A letter came from Bohai Commandery.”
Pei Qinghe hummed, casually opened the letter, glanced at it, and suddenly tugged up the corner of her mouth, her gaze cold.
Everyone felt a sense of foreboding.
Pei Yun asked softly: “What happened?”
Pei Qinghe said lightly: “Nothing big. The Emperor just issued an imperial decree telling me to enter the palace as Imperial Consort, that’s all.”
Everyone: “…”
A bolt of thunder from a clear sky! It crashed down with a rumble! Blasting everyone into dizziness!
Clang!
Pei Yan was the first to draw her long saber, furious: “I’ll go chop the dog Emperor!”
Pei Zhi, Pei Xuan, and Pei Feng also drew their weapons one after another, brimming with killing intent: “We’ll go together!”
Gu Lian, Feng Changsun Cheng, Tao Feng, and the other leaders also had faces full of anger. The General led them in fighting to the death, and the Son of Heaven stabbed the General in the back. Bah! That dog thing!
Li Chi cupped his hands to request orders: “Please give the order, General. I’ll lead troops to Bohai Commandery right now.”
Yang Hu was a step slow: “We absolutely can’t swallow this insult. General, let me go!”
Seeing everyone seething with rage and faces full of killing intent, Pei Qinghe laughed: “Put your weapons away. Why get so worked up? The person delivering the imperial decree hasn’t arrived yet—maybe they ran into bandits on the road and got killed clean.”
If the imperial decree didn’t reach her, it was as good as nonexistent.
Everyone’s spirits lifted.
This time, the one who spoke first was surprisingly Lu Feng: “General, we’ve stayed here for two months; it’s time to return to Fanyang Commandery.”
On the return journey, they could conveniently disguise themselves as bandits, kill, and rob silver.
This was originally the Fanyang Army’s specialty.
Pei Qinghe turned her head, looked at Lu Feng, and asked with a double entendre smile: “Young General Lu, you’d better think it through. Are you really planning to go back now?”
Lu Feng nodded heavily: “I’ve thought it through. We’ll set off tomorrow.”
His father might hesitate, but Lu Feng had no such qualms. He had already decided on General Pei and secretly vowed to follow her to the end.
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly: “Very well. Young General Lu, go to Steward Shi and take sufficient military rations. Also, we’ve won a victory and seized quite a few things—Young General Lu, take some as well.”
Joy showed on Lu Feng’s face, and he cupped his hands to accept the order.
Song Dalang felt a bit envious and rubbed his hands, wanting to speak too.
Pei Qinghe looked over with a smile: “Young General Song has several hundred warhorses; once mobilized, it would be too obvious. For killing, arson, looting, and such matters, the Fanyang Army is more adept.”
Everyone grinned.
Lu Feng’s dark face flushed a bit: “That’s all in the past. From now on, our Fanyang Army will reform thoroughly and restore military discipline.”
Pei Qinghe teased half-jokingly: “Everyone heard what you said today.”
Lu Feng puffed out his chest and said loudly: “A real man, one spit one nail. I, Lu Feng, mean what I say. Once the Fanyang Army is reorganized properly, we’ll come to seek refuge with the General. At that time, General, don’t shut us out.”
Pei Qinghe laughed: “It’s too early to say that now. You go back first, discuss it properly with General Lu, and then decide—it’s not too late.”
Lu Feng acknowledged solemnly. In his heart, he resolved firmly: no matter what method, he would convince his father.
…
The next day, Lu Feng led two thousand Fanyang Army out of Liaoxi City.
The soldiers had received three months’ military pay, and their grain bags around their waists were bulging. Did this need more thinking? They absolutely had to resolve the General’s worries.
Lu Feng called over his confidant subordinates and said to everyone: “Dare you kill imperial court officials?”
The military generals bared their teeth with fierce gazes: “What’s there to fear about that? We’ve long stopped recognizing the imperial court.”
“Exactly, General Lu defected to King Qiao several years ago. The dog officials sent by the court—we’ll kill them without fail.”
“Do we even need to disguise ourselves as bandits?”
At these words, everyone burst into laughter.
They weren’t great at fighting wars—the Guangning Army and Liaoxi Army were both stronger. But killing and robbing silver? They were experts. General Pei sending them to be bandits was truly knowing how to use people well.
Lu Feng grinned too.
He dispatched the vanguard camp, riding the remaining hundred-odd horses to scout Assistant Minister Han’s route, and set up an ambush one day in advance beside the official road that Assistant Minister Han’s group must pass.
Assistant Minister Han, completely unaware, carried the imperial decree and proceeded under the protection of a hundred elite soldiers.
Assistant Minister Han was already cautious enough, yet he hadn’t anticipated that two thousand “bandits” were waiting for him ahead.
The bandits surged forward darkly, like locusts pouncing fiercely.
Assistant Minister Han hadn’t even managed to cry out a few times before his head was chopped off with one saber stroke.
