Chapter 309: Shattered
Lu Feng endured the pain and gathered all the usable warhorses from the Fanyang Army, exactly five hundred—not too many, not too few—all taken away by Lu Erlang.
Before leaving, Lu Feng solemnly instructed: “When you arrive in Liaoxi and see General Pei, be sure to be respectful. Pei Yun, Pei Yan, and Pei Zhi in the Pei Family Army are all tough opponents; don’t provoke them. The younger Pei Xuan and Pei Feng are also very powerful. Behave yourself.”
“However, don’t be too soft and easy to bully either. Although we’ve all switched to the Pei character flag, the Fanyang Army, Guangning Army, and Liaoxi Army still need to compete to see who’s superior. In the past, the Fanyang Army had the lowest combat power, but now the Liaoxi Army has been beaten to pieces, and the Guangning Army also suffered heavy casualties in this battle. We’ve preserved our strength. No need to fear them.”
Lu Erlang pricked up his long ears and nodded repeatedly.
Lu Feng thought for a moment, then lowered his voice: “After you go, quickly integrate into the Pei Family Army and watch carefully how General Pei leads troops and trains them.”
“Big Brother wants me to steal their techniques… Ow!”
“Steal what techniques!” Lu Feng glared: “The Fanyang Army has already surrendered and switched to the Pei Family Army’s military banner. Seeking advice from General Pei is perfectly justified. Pull yourself together, keep your eyes wide open, and learn diligently. If you don’t learn well, I’ll beat you to death!”
Lu Erlang, who had been beaten since childhood, shrank his neck.
Lu Erlang led five hundred cavalry and set off in high spirits, heading all the way to Liaoxi.
……
In Bohai Commandery, Meng Liulang, who received a letter from his brother Meng Bing, stared in shock with wide eyes, reading the several full pages of letter paper back and forth four or five times. Then, he called over the personal soldier who delivered the letter and questioned him carefully.
“How many injuries did Big Brother sustain exactly? Did he injure his brain?”
Otherwise, how could he suddenly abandon him and stay with the Pei Family Army?
The personal soldier knew his young master’s temper and held back a laugh as he explained: “The eldest young master has injuries on his body, but his mind is calm and clear, perfectly fine.”
Meng Liulang snorted coldly through his nose: “Which decent person would suddenly abandon his brother and take cavalry to marry into another family?”
This personal soldier had followed Meng Bing for many years and had watched Meng Liulang grow up, so he spoke bluntly without much respect: “The sixth young master is long since an adult; he’s not a weaned child who still needs his brother to take care of him.”
Meng Liulang: “……”
Ignoring Meng Liulang’s sullen face, the personal soldier continued: “The eldest young master was gravely wounded on the battlefield back then and can no longer have sons. Soon after, he lost his wife and daughter; he has to lead troops and train them, deal with General Zhang, and worry about the sixth young master. In just a few short years, the eldest young master has gotten white hair.”
“Now, the eldest young master has decided to marry, and with someone by his side, he’s no longer lonely. Isn’t the sixth young master happy for him?”
Meng Liulang came back to his senses, twitched the corner of his mouth: “If you put it that way, how could I dare have any opinion? I’d be too much of a jerk!”
The personal soldier coughed a few times and softened his tone: “The eldest young master staying with the Pei Family Army is also finding a fallback for the Beiping Army. However, this matter has benefits and drawbacks. The sixth young master will have to deal with the doubts and dissatisfaction from General Zhang and the Emperor. For the Imperial Court side, it will depend on the sixth young master.”
With Big Brother gone, the heavy burden of the Beiping Army would all fall on his shoulders.
Meng Liulang suddenly felt his shoulders grow much heavier.
He opened the letter and read it twice more, then said in a low voice: “For now, don’t spread the news about Big Brother marrying into the Pei Clan. Use recovering from injuries as an excuse first, and let it drag on for a year or so. After a long time, even if the Emperor is angry, he’ll have to accept it.”
“As for the Zhang father and son, ignore them.” Meng Liulang sneered, radiating killing intent: “Our Beiping Army is loyal to the Son of Heaven, not the running dogs of the Zhang father and son. If they make a move, I’ll handle it.”
The personal soldier breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled softly: “Please have the sixth young master write a reply to the eldest young master. Once the marriage is settled sooner, the eldest young master will feel more secure in Liaoxi City.”
“Is the old house on fire or something?” Meng Liulang mocked mercilessly and quickly wrote a reply.
A woman with an elegant demeanor and beautiful appearance entered the study room carrying a cup of clear tea. This woman was none other than his newlywed wife of two months, Pang Wenniang.
Meng Liulang sent the personal soldier to deliver the letter, then smilingly took the clear tea and gulped it down.
The young husband and wife were in the heat of their new marriage, deeply in love.
Pang Wenniang smiled with pursed lips and took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of Meng Liulang’s mouth. Meng Liulang took the opportunity to hold Pang Wenniang’s hand, his voice much gentler than usual: “I’m free today; I’ll have dinner with you.”
……
The two brothers exchanging letters was perfectly normal.
The spies who had been watching Meng Liulang reported the news to Zhang Yun, but Zhang Yun didn’t take it seriously. A few days later, he only mentioned it to General Zhang.
General Zhang was much sharper and immediately grew alert: “What are the Meng Brothers up to?”
Zhang Yun curled his lip disdainfully: “The Meng Brothers are always boasting about how powerful the Beiping Army is. This time, Meng Bing led two thousand cavalry to reinforce and fought against Xiongnu cavalry, resulting in a major defeat. Meng Bing nearly lost his life. He was already a cripple; it’s hard to say if he’ll even be able to get out of bed and walk in the future.”
“What waves can he stir up?”
General Zhang’s face darkened as he coldly glanced at the boastful Zhang Yun: “Easy for you to say. Why don’t you lead cavalry to fight the Xiongnu Barbarians and drive the Xiongnu Barbarians back to the Grassland.”
Zhang Yun’s face fell awkwardly, and he was speechless.
“Meng Bing excels at training and leading troops, and Meng Ling is brave and matchless. The two brothers are outstanding individuals among the military generals of the Northern Lands.” General Zhang said coldly: “Especially Meng Bing; his schemes and strategies are top-notch and not to be underestimated. If you weren’t the legitimate eldest son of the Zhang Family, with your capability, you wouldn’t even qualify as Meng Bing’s personal soldier.”
Zhang Yun was scolded until he was disheveled and dejected, and he completely shut his mouth.
After cursing his son thoroughly, General Zhang vented some of his pent-up frustration, thought carefully for a moment, and instructed: “Send more personnel to Liaoxi City to gather news.”
Zhang Yun nodded in agreement, then couldn’t help but say in a low voice: “Chancellor Pang and Commander Gao have already traveled most of the way; they’ll reach the Capital City in a few days. Should we leak a hint first to let the Emperor know that Pei Qinghe has already taken in a son-in-law?”
News of Pei Qinghe’s marriage had long reached the ears of the Zhang father and son. The puppet Son of Heaven in the Palace was still in the dark, dreaming his absurd dreams!
General Zhang sneered: “This kind of good news naturally waits for Chancellor Pang to return and report it personally to the Son of Heaven. We’d better not get involved.”
Six days later, Chancellor Pang and his group returned to Bohai Commandery.
Chancellor Pang, battered by the carriage ride all the way despite his advanced age, didn’t even return home and immediately entered the Palace to pay respects to the Son of Heaven.
Gao Yong was quite loyal and accompanied Chancellor Pang to see Emperor Jian’an.
Emperor Jian’an, who had been immersed in his beautiful dream, couldn’t even sit still on the Dragon Throne; he stood up and hurried over, personally helping up the elderly Chancellor Pang.
Light shone in Emperor Jian’an’s eyes, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: “Chancellor, has General Pei accepted the Imperial Decree?”
