Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 150 Visit
Quanzhou County and Changping County are adjacent, and a fast horse can reach them in half a day. Even if Quanzhou County is suddenly attacked by a large army, with Gu Lian leading men to guard the city gates, Pei Qinghe will soon be able to lead troops to its aid.

Only after receiving Pei Qinghe's personal promise did Magistrate Ji feel truly at ease.

At noon that day, Magistrate Ji hosted a banquet to welcome Pei Qinghe. Those eligible to attend, besides the county magistrate and registrar, included two of the wealthiest families in Quanzhou County. One was surnamed Pu, who started his business making sauces and owned sauce shops in various counties of Yan Prefecture. The other was surnamed Yu, whose family owned two carriage and horse trading companies.

Park Dong-ga offered a toast and said he would send 1,000 kilograms of sauce to Bae's army every year. The sauce, with its strong flavor, is an indispensable seasoning for the chefs.

Pei Qinghe smiled and drank a cup: "Master Park is very righteous."

This put the Yu family in a difficult position. Their carriage and horse trading business relied on traveling travelers; if they sent out the large animals to pull the carriages, they'd only have carriages left. But since Miss Pei had come to Quanzhou County in person, and as one of only two wealthy families in the county, the Yu family had to offer something in return.

The landlord then asked to send 20,000 catties of fodder to Pei's army. This number sounded astonishing, but in reality, a cow, mule, or donkey only needs a few catties of fodder per day, and warhorses, being precious, also need to eat bean cakes in addition to fodder. 20,000 catties of fodder would barely be enough to last a month.

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "I appreciate your kind offer, Master Yu."

Even a small mosquito is still meat; let's eat it first.

As for tasks like handing over goods, sometimes the steward is present, so Miss Pei doesn't need to worry about it.

Magistrate Ji coughed and winked at his son, who was sitting there dumbfounded. Only then did Ji Junze stand up and respectfully toast Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe replied, "Drinking too much can lead to trouble. I have a low alcohol tolerance and never drink alcohol normally. I have already made an exception and drunk three cups today, so I should not drink any more. Steward Shi, please drink a cup on my behalf and Young Master Ji's behalf."

Shi Yan smiled and agreed, raising his glass to clink with Ji Junze's, and said warmly, "Last time you came to Peijia Village, I accompanied you. This time I'm coming to Quanzhou County, you have to show me around the county town."

Ji Junze grinned and said, "Of course."

Magistrate Ji and his advisor Shang exchanged a glance and sighed inwardly. Forget it! Those thoughts can finally be put to rest.

Pei Qinghe toured the entire Quanzhou County, drawing up terrain and city defense maps. He was satisfied with Gu Lian's progress after more than half a month of training: "Training soldiers is not something that can be accomplished in a day or two. You've been here for less than a month, and you've achieved quite a bit."

"Once the formation is neat and the people can understand simple commands, then we will give them wooden guns and swords and teach them some simple moves."

The Pei family army was also short of weapons, with only enough to equip the elite soldiers. The rest could only be given wooden spears and swords.

Gu Lian couldn't help but mutter, "If only we could get another batch of weapons or warhorses from somewhere."

Unfortunately, the bandit stronghold was completely looted.

Pei Qinghe's eyes flickered slightly, and she said meaningfully, "Perhaps, such an opportunity will come soon."

Gu Lianxin's mind raced: "Does Sixth Miss mean that war is about to break out in our Youzhou territory?"

"It's too early to say," Pei Qinghe said calmly. "Our Pei family army is content as long as we have our own territory to stay in; we won't take the initiative to attack. However, if anyone dares to make a move on us and comes knocking on our door, I'll just have to accept it with a smile."

It was described casually, yet it exuded confidence and pride.

Gu Lian was filled with fervor, wishing the enemy would come and fight her immediately.

Pei Qinghe glanced at Gu Lian, who was itching to act, and warned her sternly: "Remember, our Pei family army is not a rebel army, nor is it the Liaoxi army. We have not raised a flag to establish ourselves. Everything we do is for self-preservation."

When Gu Lianxin was thinking about eliminating the bandit stronghold, Sixth Miss Pei hadn't said anything like that. Of course, the situation is indeed different now. Eradicating the bandits would benefit both the court and the people, and everyone would praise Sixth Miss Pei for her righteousness. Fighting and seizing territory was another matter. The Pei family army would not provoke trouble or go out to fight for territory; they would first manage Pei Family Village and Changping County and Quanzhou County well.

Anyone who dares to reach out will be chopped off. We can wait patiently for the easy prey to be delivered to our mouths, while still firmly maintaining the moral high ground.

As for whether someone will come knocking on our door... that depends on which of the Fanyang Army, Guangning Army, or Liaoxi Army can't hold back first.

Pei Qinghe stayed in Quanzhou County for five or six days, and then went to Changping County.

The people of Changping County fervently supported Pei Liu Guniang (Sixth Miss Pei) far more than those of Quanzhou County. If it weren't for Pei Liu Guniang that day, the city gates of Changping County would have been breached by the Xiongnu barbarians, and countless lives would have been lost. From that time on, the people of Changping County knew nothing of the emperor but Pei Liu Guniang.

Magistrate Wang's ability to govern the county town was inferior to Magistrate Ji's, but his skill in flattery was first-rate. He said with a fawning smile, "It's been a few months since I last saw you, Sixth Miss, you've become even more sharp and heroic."

Pei Qinghe smiled and replied, "Since the magistrate gave up drinking, he has become even more heroic and spirited."

Magistrate Wang was originally a heavy drinker who couldn't live without wine every day. Last year, when the Xiongnu barbarians were outside the city, Pei Qinghe led his men in a bloody battle to defend the city. Magistrate Wang was busy and hardworking every day, and didn't drink a drop of wine for a whole month.

That's how I completely quit drinking.

Now that Magistrate Wang is no longer drunk, he actually has the ability to be a good local official. With Pei Qinghe's strong support, Changping County is now very safe and the people live in peace.

Amidst the chaos of the imperial court and the changing of dynasties, all the turmoil was kept at bay. Changping County was like a paradise on earth.

Pei Qinghe also drew a topographical and defensive map of Changping County.

After reading it, Pei Yun chuckled softly, "Right now we only have Changping County and Quanzhou County. In a few years, the entire Yan Prefecture will be ours."

Pei Qinghe finished the last stroke, examined it carefully, and then looked up and said, "One must eat one bite at a time, and one cannot rush to seize territory. Let's manage these two counties well first. After we win one or two major battles, counties will naturally rush to join us."

Pei Yun was clearly not too confident in Gu Lian either, and whispered a reminder: "We need to send some people to keep an eye on Quanzhou County."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly: "Don't worry, I've already made arrangements."

Gu Lian's every move could not be hidden from her.

Pei Yun didn't say anything more.

Within the Pei family army, there are only a handful of true direct descendants of the Pei clan. Gu Lian was one of the first to arrive in Pei Family Village; she is both capable and loyal. If they don't even dare to use Gu Lian, who else can they trust and use? This step must be taken eventually.

On the third day in Changping County, Pei Jia hurriedly delivered a message: "Sixth Miss, Commandant Sun has brought men to join us."

Lieutenant Sun?
Pei Qinghe was also somewhat surprised: "Are you talking about Commandant Sun Cheng, who escorted us to Youzhou that day?"

Pei Jia nodded repeatedly: "It is him. Even if I might mistake him, Fang Datou would never mistake someone else. Captain Sun was injured before and has a limp in one leg. He also brought more than twenty men with him."

Pei Qinghe said, "I'll go back to Pei Family Village now."

(End of this chapter)