Chapter 331: He Mu
These past two years, Zhan Fei has been traveling back and forth outside the Passes to buy horses. The hardships he experienced need not be detailed; just look at that face like a sun-dried wrinkled orange to know.
The once pampered and arrogant salt merchant of the past is now lean and dark-skinned with wrinkles covering his face, though his eyes have become even more spirited.
“I dare not accept the general’s high praise.” Zhan Fei cupped his hands and smiled: “The one who worked hard is the general, leading the army to greatly defeat the Xiongnu Barbarians and boost the prestige and morale of our Great Jing.”
“In the past, when traveling and hurrying across the Grassland, we often encountered arrogant herders. Ever since the Xiongnu Barbarians suffered a great defeat and retreated, our group of Jing Dynasty merchants has found the herders much more polite wherever we go.”
The Pei Family Army’s sudden rise has become a thorn in the side of the Xiongnu Khan. It has also greatly elevated the status of Jing Dynasty merchants. When traveling outside, they now have much more confidence.
Zhan Fei not only led the merchant caravan and warhorses back safely, but also brought back over a dozen men with high noses, deep-set eyes, and curly hair.
“General, these are Xianbei people. Their tribe borders the Xiongnu Barbarians. They were robbed and killed by the Xiongnu Barbarians, who took their cattle and sheep and women, leaving only these dozen or so men who rode warhorses to escape and have been wandering the Grassland.”
Zhan Fei spoke in a low voice about these men’s origins: “After we entered the Grassland, to avoid the Xiongnu’s large tribes and the Khan’s military tent, we kept heading north and happened to encounter them. Before we could fight, we ran into a wolf pack.”
Encountering a wolf pack on the Grassland is extremely dangerous. One misstep, and you’d end up in the wolves’ bellies. The two groups set aside their mutual hostility and had to join forces against the wolf pack.
After paying the price of several lives, the wolf pack was driven back.
Seeing their exceptional riding and shooting skills, Zhan Fei was moved to recruit them and invited them to travel together. He guaranteed grain and fodder supplies along the way and promised extremely high commissions.
These wandering Xianbei herders had nowhere to go and were swayed by the generous offers, so they accepted the employment and traveled with us.
This group was very familiar with the Grassland terrain. Leading the merchant caravan on detours to exchange horses, they got mostly top-quality mares and stallions that hadn’t been used for breeding. Sure enough, on the several months’ return journey, thirty percent of the mares were carrying foals.
Zhan Fei also promised them hefty sums of gold, coaxing them all… ahem, inviting them back.
“Our Pei Family Army has people managing the stables, but when it truly comes to raising and training horses, it’s still the Grassland herders.” Zhan Fei had long calculated this perfectly and now spoke with gleaming eyes: “Constantly buying horses outside the Passes isn’t a long-term solution. The Xiongnu Khan is furious over his cavalry’s great defeat and has issued strict orders banning any tribe from selling horses. Once we entered the Grassland, we could only exchange with remote small tribes and had to avoid Xiongnu Cavalry and horse bandits. The warhorses we could bring back were far from enough.”
“For the long term, we should set up a horse farm and raise our own horses.”
Pei Qinghe’s eyes lit up: “Go on.”
Zhan Fei had thought this through for a long time and had been waiting for this day. He continued gravely: “Youzhou borders outside the Passes, where the Grassland can raise horses. We can also select suitable climate and terrain in Youzhou for a horse farm.”
“The horses I brought back this time are all good ones exchanged from the Xianbei. We can use these as breeding stock and slowly train and breed them. In the future, even without going outside the Passes, our own horse farm can provide a steady supply of good horses.”
“Running a horse farm is much harder than raising horses in stables, so I specially invited them back. In the future, let them raise horses for us at the horse farm.”
Shopkeeper Zhan’s abacus was clacking loudly.
General Pei’s brows relaxed, and the corners of his mouth turned up: “This idea of yours is excellent!”
“Both the people and horses were brought back by you. Selecting the location for the horse farm and how to set it up will all be handled by you. Once the horse farm is established, you will be a great contributor to the Pei Family Army.”
Zhan Fei’s spirits lifted, and he cupped his hands to accept the order: “Thank you for the general’s trust and favor. I will not fail the general’s high expectations.”
Pei Qinghe then asked about the situation of that group of Xianbei Cavalry.
Zhan Fei smiled: “You’ll have to ask Leader Fang about that.”
Shopkeeper Zhan was a smart man. After taking the spotlight himself, he didn’t forget to push Fang Datou forward.
Pei Qinghe smiled and looked at Fang Datou. Fang Datou hadn’t seen his own general for over a year and felt uncontainable excitement in his heart. He stepped forward two paces and reported: “Reporting to the general, the Xianbei Cavalry originally numbered twenty-two. Three died fighting the wolf pack. Later, traveling with us, we encountered horse bandits twice, and two more died. Now there are seventeen in total.”
“They are all skilled in riding and shooting, living and sleeping on horseback—they’re born warriors. They’re also top-notch at raising horses.”
“Their leader is called He Mu.”
Pei Qinghe’s gaze sharpened: “Bring He Mu over. I want to meet him.”
Fang Datou acknowledged and personally went to fetch He Mu.
Fang Datou had traveled with He Mu for nearly a year, facing each other day and night and sharing life-and-death moments several times, so they had developed some camaraderie.
He Mu was tall and sturdy, with a high nose, deep-set eyes, and curly hair—a clear foreigner.
Fang Datou had learned a few phrases of Xianbei language and now wanted to show off, chattering away. He Mu immediately bowed respectfully, greeting the strong and majestic General Pei in Xianbei fashion.
Who knew that just as he bowed, laughter rang in his ears.
“You bowed to the wrong person!” Fang Datou anxiously tugged He Mu and gestured while saying: “This isn’t the general. She is the general’s cousin sister—this is the real General Pei!”
He Mu was stunned. His gaze passed over the dark-skinned female warrior and landed on another fair and heroic face. He couldn’t help muttering to himself.
This was the famed female God of War General Pei who shook the Grassland?!
Completely different from what he had imagined. That female warrior still looked more like a general.
Urged by Fang Datou, He Mu bowed again: “He Mu has seen General Pei.”
Over the past year, He Mu had been learning to speak Jing Dynasty language. Though his accent was odd, he spoke fluently, showing he had put in considerable effort in secret.
Pei Qinghe focused her gaze: “You are Xianbei. Why are you willing to leave your hometown and come to Youzhou?”
Pei Qinghe deliberately slowed her speech, and He Mu understood. He thought for a moment and replied in his strange accent: “My tribe is gone. Our cattle and sheep were robbed, and our women and children were taken too.”
“I can’t go back. I want to survive, and I want revenge.”
“Only the general can defeat the Xiongnu.”
“I want to seek refuge with the general and follow the general into battle.”
Zhan Fei was startled to hear this, but he didn’t dare speak out of turn. Pei Qinghe didn’t respond to He Mu right away and first looked at Zhan Fei: “Did you know about He Mu’s intentions?”
Zhan Fei felt somewhat ashamed: “Reporting to the general, I invited He Mu to raise horses, and he hesitated for a long time before agreeing. He never mentioned to me wanting to follow the general into battle.”
So, never underestimate anyone.
Zhan Fei’s abacus was perfectly calculated, but He Mu was no fool either.
