Chapter 86: Different
General Meng stared coldly at Pei Qinghe and said slowly: “Over the past year or so, the Crown Prince has sent several letters instructing this general to look after the Pei Clan. Without the Beiping Army’s support and protection, how could the Pei Clan have reached its current state? How does Sixth Sister Pei intend to repay this kindness?”
Pei Qinghe met General Meng’s gaze: “What I wrote in the letters I send to the Eastern Palace every month, General Meng surely can guess.”
“I scheme for the Crown Prince against Prince Wei, and the Crown Prince orders the Beiping Army to look after the Pei Clan. We owe each other nothing. What kindness is there to speak of?”
“Moreover, at the time of imperial throne transition, the Imperial Court is in turmoil, a bloody storm. I am merely a daughter of a traitor; even if I followed General Meng to the Capital City, it would be nothing more than delivering my head on a platter.”
“General Meng wishes to show loyalty, leading five thousand men to death generously. Why drag along a girl in her teens?”
“As for the Crown Prince, the officials under him are all a bunch of greedy parasites. With the flood at hand, they do not think of how to save the starving common people, but embezzle large amounts of money and grain, causing the disaster relief to fail. Hundreds of thousands of common people starved to death alive, and countless more died from the plague. Does the Crown Prince truly know nothing?”
“Either he knows full well but allows the Eastern Palace faction officials to fight for power and profit. Or he is too stupid and deceived by the officials. Either way, the Emperor has ample reason to depose the Crown Prince.”
General Meng was a general who fought on the battlefield and was not skilled in verbal disputes; he soon fell silent.
Pei Qinghe continued: “Our paths differ, so we shall not scheme together. General Meng is setting out with troops, so I shall not disturb you. Finally, I advise General Meng once more: leave one son in the barracks. He can preserve the Meng Family lineage and endure hardship for revenge for his father and brothers.”
With that, she cupped her hands and turned to leave.
Fury flashed in General Meng’s eyes: “Pei Qinghe! If this general insists on taking you along, what then?”
Pei Qinghe turned back smoothly: “If General Meng insists on taking me, then I will go. Please, General, show mercy and spare the women, children, elderly, and weak of the Pei Clan.”
General Meng was choked again.
He took several deep breaths and said gravely: “The Crown Prince is the dynasty’s heir apparent, the choice of the people’s hearts. The Son of Heaven is muddled and tyrannical; with a single imperial decree he would depose the dynasty’s orthodoxy. Loyal and righteous armies everywhere will, like this general, lead troops to the Capital City to remove the treacherous officials from the king’s side and set things right.”
“If you go with us, when the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, you will be a founding merit subject, marry Prince Zhangwu, and become the Eastern Palace Crown Princess.”
Pei Qinghe’s expression was indifferent: “Only by surviving is there a future.”
“Pei Qinghe, I hope you do not regret today’s choice in the future.”
“The same words, I give to General Meng.”
Pei Qinghe strode away.
General Meng took several deep breaths again, suppressing his anger, and coldly called several sons into the military tent. General Meng had six sons in total; the third died young, the fourth died in battle. The eldest, Meng Dalang, was twenty-eight; the second was twenty-six; the fifth was twenty. The youngest, Meng Liulang, was only seventeen.
Meng Dalang had one daughter; Meng Erlang had no children; the fifth and sixth had not yet married. Though Pei Qinghe’s words stung, General Meng took them to heart.
“Today I will set out with the troops. Liulang, you stay in the barracks.”
Meng Liulang was startled and looked up abruptly: “Father! I will go with you!”
General Meng, full of pent-up rage, unleashed it like a sudden storm: “Shut your mouth! If I tell you to stay, you stay. Keep talking nonsense, and I will personally beat you with the military cudgel.”
Meng Liulang’s body trembled. The military cudgel beating three months ago had left him bedridden for over half a month; it was etched in his memory.
General Meng looked at his eldest son: “Immediately convey this general’s order: in two hours, the whole army sets out.”
……
Clop clop! Clop clop!
Pei Qinghe had already spurred her horse out of the barracks. Pei Yan and the others followed on horseback. They galloped dozens of li before resting briefly when both people and horses were exhausted.
Pei Yan asked softly: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, what exactly did General Meng want you for?”
Mao Hongling was also full of doubts. Coming and going in such haste surely meant something major had happened. But Pei Qinghe was unwilling to say more: “I’ll tell you all when we get back.”
Two days on fast horses back to Pei Family Village.
Pei Qinghe summoned everyone. The eldest by age, Madam Li; Wu Xiuniang who managed money and grain; Madam Fang who managed the kitchen; Zhao Hai in charge of the stables; Doctor Bao who managed the medicine hall. Those who could lead troops and fight: Mao Hongling, Pei Yun, Pei Yan; the slightly younger Pei Xuan and Pei Feng; and also Pei Jia, Pei Yi, Fang Datou, Feng Chang, Gu Lian.
The core figures of Pei Family Village were all here.
Pei Qinghe’s face showed no expression as she recounted the matter of the Crown Prince being deposed and General Meng sending troops to remove the treacherous officials from the king’s side.
Pei Jia and the others were all dumbfounded, clearly unable to understand how such a national dynasty matter related to them.
Deaf and blind Madam Li reacted the fastest: “Trouble from within the family, the Jing Dynasty Imperial Court is about to be thoroughly thrown into chaos.”
Wu Xiuniang from a great clan had considerable insight: “The Emperor deposing the Crown Prince means establishing Prince Wei. But the Crown Prince has been heir apparent for many years, with many loyal civil officials and military generals under him. Those rushing to the Capital City with troops upon hearing the news will number far more than just General Meng. Perhaps some ambitious influential families and wealthy households will take advantage of the chaos to declare independence, with bandits stirring up trouble.”
Pei Yun furrowed her delicate brows and continued softly: “Once internal strife begins, I’m afraid the northern border will not remain peaceful either. The Xiongnu and eastern Xianbei both eye our Jing Dynasty covetously. Once the border becomes chaotic…”
The rest needed no saying; everyone’s minds conjured images of the dynasty in chaos with the people suffering.
Feng Chang, who had experienced war, looked extremely grim and muttered: “Changping County is six or seven hundred li from the border, so it should be fine. If worst comes to worst, we take the grain and hide in the mountain forest.”
Pei Qinghe said: “That is the last and worst plan. We are not at that point yet. Everyone, do not fear; the sky will not fall. Even if it does, I will hold it up first.”
Yes!
Even if the sky collapsed and the earth split, Pei Qinghe would lead them to fight and kill a bloody path.
Everyone looked at Pei Qinghe together.
“So what exactly are we doing now?” Pei Yan, carefree and blunt: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, just give the instructions; we all listen to you.”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and arranged softly.
Continue recruiting refugees and intensify training into soldiers. Chaotic times are coming; strong troop strength is the greatest capital for self-preservation.
Scout the mountain forest for hidden places, stockpile grain and weapons there as a retreat.
In addition, send a letter to the Shi Family, reminding Young Master Shi to stockpile large amounts of grain for the chaotic times. Also send a message to the Changping County Office, reminding County Magistrate Wang to guard against rioting refugees and bandits.
Everyone dispersed after receiving orders; Pei Yun deliberately stayed. She looked at Pei Qinghe’s clear and heroic face: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, you still haven’t said what General Meng wanted you for. Surely he doesn’t want you to go to the Capital City with him to save the Crown Prince!”
Pei Yun was indeed clever; she had guessed it.
Pei Qinghe nodded: “Indeed. But I already refused. The Pei Clan’s men have all died for the Crown Prince; we should not accompany the Eastern Palace in burial.”
