Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 119 Boldness
Youzhou consisted of seven commanderies, one of which was Yan Commandery, which comprised ten counties.

The Guangning Commandery suffered the most from this Xiongnu invasion. In the Yan Commandery, Anle County was the worst hit, with the entire city being massacred by the Xiongnu barbarians. Villages near Quanzhou County and Yongnu County also suffered, with the Xiongnu barbarians looting them and causing numerous deaths and injuries.

Changping County withstood the Xiongnu barbarians for more than half a month, with the people almost unharmed and the city gates remaining unbroken, which can be described as a miracle.

This is all thanks to Miss Pei.

Magistrate Wang, with his eloquent pen, praised Pei Liu's strict military discipline and brilliant troop management in the letter, the implications of which were self-evident.

The magistrates of the various counties reacted differently upon receiving this letter. Most remained silent, clearly unwilling to submit to Pei's army so soon, and chose to wait and see.

Quanzhou County and Yongnu County, having suffered greatly at the hands of the Xiongnu barbarians, reacted swiftly. No sooner had they received the letter than they sent messengers to Changping County, each presenting generous gifts to express their goodwill towards Miss Pei. Their request was that Miss Pei lend a helping hand should they ever encounter trouble again.

Pei Qinghe accepted the generous gift without any hesitation.

The Xiongnu barbarians plundered countless amounts of money, grain, and valuables, and abducted a large number of young men and women; they are unlikely to return anytime soon. The Pei family army is expanding at an alarming rate. The money and provisions she consumes daily to support and train her troops are a bottomless pit.

Those who offer generous gifts are at least sensible. As for those who are sensible, she will teach them a lesson in life later.

When Prefect Tang of Yan Commandery met the messenger, he was initially furious. However, after the messenger, with red eyes, described how everyone had been severely beaten, Prefect Tang calmed down considerably.

"You dozen or so people couldn't even last an incense stick's time against the Pei clan rebels?"

"Yes." The constable looked pained, as if he didn't want to recall the past: "That Miss Pei was really skilled. We could hardly last two moves against her. There was also a strong girl who was as tall as a black tower, and she was also very powerful."

With a grim face, Prefect Tang pressed on, "You came back with the news, but where are the others?"

"Reporting to the Prefect, they have all been arrested and thrown into prison. Shao, the advisor, lost a finger and was kicked unconscious; he was also carried into prison."

"Sixth Miss Pei also said that the lord should just send troops, and she would wait in Changping County."

Prefect Tang's face turned ashen. He slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Outrageous! How dare you! How arrogant! The daughter of a disgraced official, exiled to Changping County, is not only not behaving properly, but dares to recruit refugees to train soldiers. Her heart is deserving of death!"

They kept arguing and cursing, but never mentioned sending troops.

The constable listened intently for a while, discerning something from the conversation, then looked up and cautiously asked, "Sir, should we report this matter to the imperial court?"

With limited manpower, the prefectural governor's office had no choice but to petition the imperial court for troops to deal with the Pei family army.

Prefect Tang, seething with anger and resentment, immediately unleashed his fury: "There are several rebel armies outside the capital, fighting every day, and their memorials can't even get into the court. How are we supposed to report to the court? You're so capable, how about I let you deliver the memorials?"

The constables, covered in soot and grime, dared not utter a sound, but they finally understood what had happened.

Prefect Tang was nothing but a paper tiger, all bark and no bite.

Shao's finger was broken for nothing!

"I will write a letter now, and you can send it to Magistrate Wang," Prefect Tang ordered in a cold voice. After the yamen runner left with the letter, Prefect Tang called over another advisor and whispered some instructions to him.

This advisor, Fang, was not as good at flattery as Shao, and spoke much more frankly: "The Liaoxi Army is too far away, the Guangning Army suffered a great defeat, and the Fanyang Army is closer. However, the Fanyang Army is weak. Let alone whether we can mobilize the Fanyang Army, even if they come, I'm afraid they may not be able to defeat the Pei family army."

Prefect Tang angrily retorted, "Does this prefect have to consider a woman's feelings when speaking and acting?"

Fang's advisor whispered to his impotent and furious master, "The Prefect is an official appointed by the court, the parent official of hundreds of thousands of people in Yan County. Miss Pei is from Changping County, so naturally she is also one of the Prefect's people." "Miss Pei has done a good job in defending the county this time. Young people are proud and arrogant, but the Prefect is magnanimous. Why bother arguing with a young girl?"

"With Pei Family Village here, there are no more bandits in the Yanshan Mountains, and even outlaws have to go around them. Even the Xiongnu barbarians will have to think twice before coming into the pass to raid for grain. They might not even come to Yan County anymore."

"Why don't you, Your Excellency, show mercy and forgive her for this offense of disrespect?"

After being persuaded several times, Prefect Tang calmed down and snorted coldly, "Since you pleaded for Pei Family Village, I will spare her for now. Go to Changping County and bring everyone back."

Fang's advisor bowed and accepted the order.

In this world, even officials traveling from government offices need to bring extra people with them. Fang's advisor selected ten yamen runners to accompany him, and after a four-day carriage journey, they arrived in Changping County.

The guards at the city gate had long been replaced, and each one was sharp and ruthless.

Once inside the city gates, they saw that the people also looked at them with hostility, whispering among themselves: "Sixth Miss saved our lives, and the Prefectural Governor's Office has sent people to interrogate us. Bah! Why didn't they come when the Xiongnu barbarians were outside the city?"

“These damned bastards, Sixth Miss should lock them all up in jail.”

Fang's advisors were secretly alarmed.

After a successful defense of the city, Miss Pei Liu has completely won over the hearts of the people. Changping County is now entirely Miss Pei Liu's territory.

Half an hour later, Fang's advisor met the legendary Miss Pei.

Miss Pei sat openly at the head of the courtroom, while Magistrate Wang sat calmly at the foot of the courtroom.

Fang's advisor was shocked by Pei Liu's youth, but dared not show it on his face, and spoke with utmost respect. He uttered a torrent of flattering words, such as "heroes emerge from among the young" and "generous and righteous for the people."

Miss Pei smiled enigmatically: "No need for pleasantries. I'm very busy, so just get to the point! What did the Prefect send you here for?"

Fang's advisor replied respectfully, "Advisor Shao's words were insolent, and it is only right that Miss Pei punishes him slightly. He has spent eight or nine days in prison and has learned his lesson. Please, Miss Pei, be lenient and release him."

Fang's advisors' attitude naturally mirrored that of Prefect Tang.

Since Prefect Tang was willing to back down, Pei Qinghe generously agreed: "I was just annoyed by their waste of food, so Advisor Fang, please take them away today!"

Fang's advisors were overjoyed and repeatedly bowed to express their gratitude.

Magistrate Wang personally led Fang's staff to the prison.

The two knew each other and had interacted privately. Fang's advisor whispered, "Is Lord Wang truly determined to follow Miss Pei?"

Magistrate Wang naturally disagreed: "Sixth Miss Pei protected Changping County and its people, thus saving my official hat and my life. It is only right that I treat Sixth Miss Pei with courtesy. Where does the word 'follow' come from?"

"You can eat randomly, but you can't talk nonsense."

Fang's advisor cursed the old fox in his heart.

(End of this chapter)