Chapter 332: He Mu
Pei Qinghe remained composed and looked at He Mu again: “Do you want to raise horses, or do you want to fight in war?”
“Tell the truth!”
The last three words suddenly unleashed her full aura, with pressure as tangible as substance bearing down.
This was the iron-blooded, cold, and fierce killing intent that only a general who had experienced countless kills on the battlefield possessed.
He Mu was discerning, his heart suddenly tightening as he lowered his head and replied: “I want to fight in war.”
Zhan Fei: “…”
Zhan Fei instantly cursed inwardly, his face turning rather unpleasant. He was single-minded about opening a horse farm; firstly, it was indeed for the long-term consideration of the Pei Family Army, and secondly, it was also for planning for the Zhan Family.
Going outside the passes to buy horses was both arduous and dangerous. In just a few short years, quite a few of the Zhan Family’s nephews and younger generation had already perished there. If this continued, who knew how many would survive to the end.
Opening a horse farm would at least preserve some of the Zhan Family bloodline. The Pei Family Army needed warhorses for war. If the Zhan Family devoted itself to managing the horse farm, they could steadily rely on this great tree of the Pei Family Army, and reviving their family would be just around the corner.
He had taken great pains to coax He Mu and his group back, all for the sake of borrowing these Xianbei cavalry skilled in raising horses to produce truly good horses.
Who would have thought that the seemingly rough He Mu also had schemes in his heart. It was only at this moment of meeting the general that they were revealed.
Pei Qinghe said to Zhan Fei: “The horse farm will definitely open, so you need not worry.”
Zhan Fei’s furrowed brows relaxed again, and he feigned shame as he replied: “My little selfishness has made the general laugh.”
Pei Qinghe was especially patient with capable and skilled people, smiling as she said: “As long as one is human, who doesn’t have selfishness? These past few years, the Zhan Family has been traveling outside the passes, buying horses for the Pei Family Army. I keep your blood, sweat, and merits in my heart. I won’t mistreat the Zhan Family. Rest assured.”
Such a public promise was like giving Zhan Fei a reassuring pill.
Having been a traveling merchant for decades, how could Zhan Fei not understand? He was convinced by Pei Qinghe’s magnanimity and solemnly cupped his fists to express thanks.
Seeing this spectacle, He Mu grew somewhat anxious and puffed out his chest, saying loudly: “Though we are few in number, each one is a warrior, one who can fight ten.”
“When the general goes to the grassland in the future, we can lead the way. Please accept us, General.”
Pei Qinghe gave a faint glance: “Do you want to join my Pei Family Army? Or do you want to borrow the Pei Family Army to avenge your tribe?”
“In my view, he wants to borrow a knife to kill. Who knows, he might even be scheming for us to fight to mutual exhaustion with the Xiongnu barbarians so he can rise in the chaos.” Pei Yan snorted coldly, drew her knife with a clang, radiating killing intent: “Those not of our race must have differing hearts. General, no need to waste words on nonsense with him—just chop him down with one knife.”
Yang Huai and the others all drew their sharp blades. They only awaited the general’s order to mince He Mu into meat paste.
He Mu’s expression remained fairly calm: “I traveled a thousand li to see the general, yet the general doesn’t dare keep me. It seems the general’s title of God of War is just empty praise from everyone.”
These words enraged everyone.
Pei Yan roared in fury and swung her long saber out.
Pei Qinghe did not stop her, watching coldly from the side.
He Mu swiftly dodged. The long saber narrowly grazed past, slicing off a piece of his sleeve.
Pei Yan attacked like a tiger, one saber after another. He Mu, unarmed, naturally fell into a disadvantage, his form transforming, swift as the wind.
The onlookers grew more and more shocked. In terms of personal bravery, Pei Yan ranked in the top five in the Pei Family Army. Even going all out, she couldn’t take down the weaponless He Mu.
This showed that He Mu was no ordinary man.
Fang Datou’s brows also furrowed. Zhan Fei had sidled over at some point and whispered: “We’ve all been fooled by He Mu. He hid his skills daily, only revealing his true ability today.”
“Now I suspect just how much of what he told us was true and how much was false.”
Fang Datou was filled with anger too.
He was a simple-minded and honest fellow. Several years ago, when he was a big soldier under Captain Sun, being teased and pranked by colleagues was commonplace. Later, after entering Pei Family Village, he slowly learned to read and write, and his mind gradually sharpened. But he still couldn’t be called clever.
His thoughts were straightforward and honest, treating others sincerely, and he hated most being deceived.
This past year, he and He Mu had spent every day together, facing enemies side by side, teaching each other to speak. In moments of life and death, camaraderie forms easily. He regarded He Mu as half a brother.
He had never imagined that He Mu had been hiding his skills all along.
Pei Yan watched coldly for a moment, then suddenly shouted: “Pei Yan, stand down.”
Pei Yan flashed back in retreat.
Pei Qinghe punched out like the wind.
He Mu, who seemed to be dodging wretchedly but was actually composed, now looked grave and abruptly punched to block.
Pei Qinghe didn’t move, but He Mu’s right hand trembled slightly.
Pei Qinghe flipped her palm into a leg strike. He Mu instinctively dodged and punched out. Their fists collided again, emitting a muffled sound.
Bang bang bang!
He Mu’s expression finally changed, his stance unsteady as he retreated a step.
Pei Qinghe advanced, continuing to punch.
He Mu retreated unsteadily.
The crowd retreated one after another, clearing a large open space. Pei Yan watched with beaming delight, proudly saying to Yang Huai: “See how the general beats him into total defeat.”
Yang Huai had long been utterly convinced by Pei Qinghe and smoothly chimed in: “For He Mu to make our general personally act, he does have some capability.”
Meng Bing watched intently and whispered to Mao Hongling: “The general has been moved to cherish his talent.”
Personally acting was to gauge He Mu’s skills and strength, and also to make He Mu submit.
Mao Hongling chuckled lightly: “The general is unwilling to remain passive forever; there will surely come a day of campaigning on the grassland. Just don’t know how much capability He Mu truly has.”
As she spoke, Pei Qinghe flew into a kick, striking He Mu’s right leg. He Mu staggered back but held firm, not falling.
Pei Qinghe stopped her hand, looking coldly at He Mu.
He Mu took a deep breath, knelt down, his voice somewhat stiff: “General, I am indeed Xianbei. My tribe was not small; originally over thirteen hundred people. Two years ago, the Xiongnu Khan coveted my grassland and sent cavalry on a raid. Several thousand head of cattle and sheep in the tribe were all robbed, women and children taken, my warriors all killed. I escaped with over seventy men. Later, the brave soldiers around me dwindled, and now only seventeen remain.”
“I live for revenge.”
“On the grassland, everyone fears the Xiongnu Khan. Xianbei tribes would rather flee far away than make an enemy of the Xiongnu.”
“Only the general can defeat the Xiongnu barbarians.”
“It took me a long time to find a merchant caravan following the general. After a year, I finally arrived before the general.”
“Please accept me, General. I, He Mu, am willing to be the vanguard and charge into battle for the general.”
Pei Qinghe neither agreed nor refused. She looked at Fang Datou: “Go find a place for them to stay first.”
“Teach them the Pei Family Army’s military regulations one by one. Whoever violates the military regulations, no need to report to me—just deal with them directly.”
