Chapter 87: Visiting
Pei Yun was startled: “You think so poorly of the Crown Prince?”
Pei Qinghe’s eyes flashed with cold intent like hating iron for not becoming steel: “I write a letter to the Eastern Palace every month, urging the Crown Prince to strike first to gain the upper hand.”
“The Crown Prince dawdles, never daring to act. Indecisive, not ruthless enough, today it’s all his own fault.”
Pei Yun drew in a sharp breath.
Strike first to gain the upper hand?
Strike what?
Strike whom?
Such thoughts were too treasonous.
Pei Yun didn’t dare think deeply, her speech faltering: “You, you write a letter to the Eastern Palace every month?”
Pei Qinghe nodded frankly: “Yes, I’ve been planning for the Crown Prince to deal with Prince Wei. The Crown Prince ordered the Beiping Army to look after the Pei Clan as thanks.”
“No wonder the Beiping Army sent grain, weapons, military banners, and even cleaned up for the Pei Clan by annihilating Wolf Fang Stockade.” Pei Yun suddenly understood: “General Meng knows your capability, so he wants you to go to the Capital City together to rescue His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Pei Qinghe tugged at the corner of her mouth: “The Crown Prince wrote to General Meng, specially mentioning for me to go along, and even promised me the future position of Crown Princess!”
Pei Yun sneered: “Empty words, just wanting you to go to your death—wishful thinking.”
Wasn’t that the truth?
Pei Qinghe laughed: “Although General Meng was furious, he still let me come back.”
She didn’t know if General Meng had heeded her advice and left a son behind.
Pei Qinghe said solemnly to Pei Yun: “These secrets, only you know. Don’t tell anyone.”
Pei Yun nodded solemnly in agreement.
The Beiping Army mobilized its entire force, soon shaking Youzhou.
The Fanyang Army, Guangning Army, and Liaoxi Army temporarily held position, but all sent out secret scouts to quickly probe for news. Wherever the army passed, counties hurriedly closed their city gates; the shrewd ones proactively offered a batch of military rations, trembling as they prayed the Beiping Army would pass quickly.
Fortunately, General Meng managed the army strictly and was eager to hurry on, accepting the military rations with a smile before leaving.
County Magistrate Wang didn’t dare go to the city gate, ordering Secretary Li to send grain outside the city to “reward” the army. Secretary Li went trembling and returned trembling: “County Magistrate, the Beiping Army is a black mass of cavalry, with many infantry too. I can’t count how many people there are.”
County Magistrate Wang was also trembling: “Go, go get Sixth Sister Pei’s letter.”
Three days ago, Sixth Sister Pei sent someone to deliver a letter to the county office. County Magistrate Wang scoffed, said “absurd nonsense,” and threw the letter away. Now with the Beiping Army fully deployed, County Magistrate Wang didn’t dare disbelieve.
County Magistrate Wang opened his eyes wide, reading the contents of Sixth Sister Pei’s letter three times. Then with the most wise and decisive decision of his life, he saved his future self: “Go prepare a carriage; this county magistrate is going to Pei Family Village.”
……
“Qinghe has seen the County Magistrate.”
County Magistrate Wang was full of smiles, mild and kindly like a Pei Clan elder: “Sixth Sister, please rise quickly. This county magistrate has come today with important matters to discuss with Sixth Sister.”
Pei Qinghe smiled slightly, her pair of bright black eyes seeming to see through all of County Magistrate Wang’s calculations: “County Magistrate is Changping County’s parental official, and also the elder Qinghe respects and admires most. Whatever the matter, just give instructions.”
She didn’t move a foot.
County Magistrate Wang chuckled, bending slightly at the waist: “This matter isn’t convenient for outsiders to know; please, Sixth Sister, let’s speak alone.”
“Right, near the south of Pei Family Village, there’s also a piece of wasteland. The Pei Clan has merit in reclaiming wasteland to plant grain. Secretary Li, quickly give the deed to Sixth Sister.”
Secretary Li promptly presented the deed.
Pei Qinghe took it casually, glanced over it, tucked it into her sleeve, and smiled as she led the way ahead: “County Magistrate, this way please.”
Pei Family Village’s newly built brick and tile houses were bright and spacious.
County Magistrate Wang today wouldn’t even sit in the seat of honor, insisting on sitting opposite Pei Qinghe. With a wave of his hand, Secretary Li retreated outside the door.
County Magistrate Wang made an unexpected move, clasping his hands in a fist and bowing deeply: “Youzhou is about to descend into chaos; please, Sixth Sister, save Changping County’s common people.”
Pei Qinghe seemed to see again the County Magistrate Wang from her previous life who decisively handed over the county office and slipped away quickly.
This time, County Magistrate Wang knelt even earlier and more nimbly.
“The Son of Heaven has deposed the heir; the Capital City will be in chaos.” Pei Qinghe spoke unhurriedly: “General Meng is leading troops to the Capital City; Youzhou still has three garrisons—the Fanyang Army with four thousand, Guangning Army with six thousand elite soldiers, Liaoxi Army with ample troop strength and eight thousand officers and soldiers. How could Youzhou be in chaos?”
County Magistrate Wang gave a bitter laugh: “Sixth Sister needn’t say these high-sounding words. The Fanyang Army has low combat power, the Guangning Army can only fight mountain bandits and refugees a bit. The Liaoxi Army is rife with eating empty pay. The real elite soldiers are the Beiping Army.”
“With General Meng gone, Youzhou’s border defense has a gap. If I were Xiongnu people, I’d definitely take advantage of Youzhou’s troop shortage to attack. Even if the Xiongnu don’t come, if mountain bandits and refugees take the chance to cause chaos, it’s no small matter.”
“Changping County Town is closest to the Yan Mountains. When mountain bandits come down the mountain, Changping County will be the first to suffer. The county town only has over a hundred city gate soldiers; they can use spears to scare common people for entry fees, but they can’t stop mountain bandits at all.”
County Magistrate Wang hadn’t drunk today, his words unusually clear, flattery pouring like a tide: “Sixth Sister killed Black Bear and beheaded Scarred Wolf; she’s exactly the nemesis of mountain bandits.”
“I’ve come today to beg Sixth Sister to take action and annihilate all the mountain bandits. Changping County’s common people will surely be grateful to Sixth Sister.”
Pei Qinghe smiled ambiguously: “County Magistrate gives a piece of wasteland, says a few nice words, and wants me, Pei Qinghe, to lead the Pei Family old and young to fight to the death—this abacus is clacking too loudly.”
County Magistrate Wang could bend and stretch, continuing to smile obsequiously: “Sixth Sister has been in Youzhou just over a year, yet has already recruited over a thousand refugees, training them daily. It shows ambition of a swan.”
“Annihilating mountain bandits allows combat training, seizing large amounts of money and grain and weapons, drawing large numbers of refugees to seek refuge, rapidly expanding influence. With Sixth Sister’s great ambition, protecting Changping County’s good common people—isn’t it killing several birds with one stone?”
Pei Qinghe tugged at the corner of her mouth: “And conveniently preserving County Magistrate’s official hat and life, right?”
County Magistrate Wang had skin thick as a city wall: “This bit of selfishness can’t fool Sixth Sister.” Then, he sighed long: “I was an imperial exam jinshi back then, with no backers in court, sent to Youzhou, serving as Changping County Magistrate for seven or eight years.”
“These years, though without prominent achievements, I’ve never exploited or bullied the common people, no bullying men and dominating women, no occupying good fields, and never increased taxes. My only hobby is drinking some fine wine—barely a good official. Sixth Sister protecting my life and position is protecting Changping’s common people!”
It was impressive how County Magistrate Wang made holding office without doing anything sound so fresh and refined.
More ironically, County Magistrate Wang truly qualified as a good official. Changping County’s common people were poor but could barely get by.
Pei Qinghe looked at County Magistrate Wang: “Black Bear and Scarred Wolf came to Pei Family Village to kill and rob grain; I had to act in self-defense. Proactively entering the mountains to suppress bandits is too dangerous. I won’t go.”
“County Magistrate Wang, please go back!”
