Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 157 Seeking refuge
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Several major events have occurred in the past six months.

After occupying Liaoxi Commandery, the Liaoxi Army continuously conscripted soldiers, doubling its strength in just six months. General Li, who proclaimed himself King of Liaoxi, increased taxes three times in those six months, causing immense suffering to the people. Wealthy households in Liaoxi Commandery wisely handed over most of their wealth, managing to barely survive. Those who were stingy and refused to contribute were "taken" by General Li's men, who also killed and exterminated their families.

The wealthy families of Liaoxi Commandery were slaughtered, their heads rolling and rivers of blood flowing. Some fled in panic, even to the territories of the Fanyang or Guangning armies, but they too met the same fate, their families wiped out.

In chaotic times, military generals held sway over their armies, and with the court already collapsed, there was no more funding for the army. Where would the money and provisions for maintaining the troops come from? Ordinary people couldn't be squeezed out much, so the only option was to levy taxes on the wealthy and powerful nearby.

Within Youzhou, only Yan County was truly secure. Wealthy households could remain safe by voluntarily providing money and grain. The Pei family army protected not only the common people but also the wealthy households who had paid their dues.

The Wang family, located in Guangning County, maintained close ties with the Pei family's army. Pei's sixth daughter personally wrote a letter to General Yang. The Wang family, understanding the situation, then provided a large amount of military provisions. While the Guangning army looted wealthy households, the Wang family remained unaffected.

The Lu family, which also maintained close ties with the Pei family army, remained relatively unscathed amidst the bloodshed. The Lu family provided wound medicine to various armies for a long time, and even when the armies were short of money and supplies, they did not target the Lu family.

The most unfortunate of the wealthy families was the Zhan family.

The Zhan family was the largest salt merchant in Youzhou, with immense wealth. They had powerful backers in the capital and several private salt smuggling teams, armed and well-equipped, unafraid of bandits and refugees. Therefore, the Zhan family was notoriously arrogant; had it not been for Shi Yan's intervention, they would have dared to raise salt prices.

After the capital was occupied by King Qiao, court officials were slaughtered in droves. The Zhan family lost their powerful backer. Two smuggling salt convoys encountered the Fanyang army and were wiped out. The Zhan family offered a large sum of money and grain, and presented their beautiful young daughter to General Lü, barely managing to save the lives of their entire family.

Then, they were driven out of Fanyang County.

The Zhan family was a large clan, with over a hundred members, young and old, plus servants and the last remaining salt smuggling gang, totaling more than four hundred people. They were thus humiliatingly driven out of their ancestral home. The old patriarch of the Zhan family died of anger.

Zhan Fei found a coffin and hastily buried his elderly father. Afterwards, he led several hundred people to Yan County to seek refuge with the Shi family.

The Shi family was the most powerful clan in Yan County and a prominent family in Youzhou. In the chaotic and turbulent times, with warlords in power, grain merchants were easy prey. Several major grain merchants in Youzhou were robbed clean, but the Shi family emerged unscathed.

This is all thanks to the shrewd foresight of the previous young master of the Shi family. He made a bet in advance, abandoning his family and business to join the Pei family army. Now, with Pei Qinghe's full protection, not only are the grain shops in Yan County safe and sound, but the Shi family's grain shops in other counties are also doing well.

Pei Qinghe declared that anyone who dared to touch the Shi family's grain shop would be making an enemy of the Pei family army.

The Guangning army, having pledged allegiance to the young emperor, is allied with, not hostile to, the Pei family army, and thus deserves some respect. The Fanyang and Liaoxi armies are each vying for territory, conscripting able-bodied men, and killing wealthy households; for the time being, they show no intention of waging war against the Pei family army.

Zhan Fei led his entire family to the old master Shi's door in a sorry state, weeping and begging him to take them in.

Old Master Shi sighed, somewhat troubled: "The Zhan family has suffered a great calamity. Our Shi family has been on good terms with the Zhan family for many years, and we cannot stand idly by. However, right now the Shi family is also in dire straits and can hardly protect itself."

Zhan Fei thought to himself, "You old fox, you're the big winner. What are you pretending for in front of me? You just want me to give you more benefits."

He cursed fiercely in his heart, but on the surface he was extremely grateful and said all sorts of nice things.

After much deliberation, Old Master Shi reluctantly agreed: "The Zhan family wants to stay in Yan County. My agreement is not enough; the Sixth Miss must also give her her consent."

"It just so happens that there is a happy occasion in the family. My granddaughter-in-law gave birth to twins a few days ago. In a few days, she will be a full-month baby and we will be holding a celebratory banquet. I have sent a wedding invitation to Pei Family Village. Perhaps the Sixth Miss will give us some face and come to the wedding banquet."

"Settle down for now and wait a few days. If the Sixth Miss is willing to see you, then things will be half done."

Zhan Fei thanked him repeatedly. Old Master Shi glanced at Zhan Fei and reminded him meaningfully, "Master Zhan, you'd better think carefully about how to express your sincerity to the Sixth Miss."

……

"Sixth Miss, are you really going with me?"

Inside Peijia Village, Steward Shi, dressed in a thick cotton coat, suppressed his joy and offered words of comfort: "The New Year is just a few days away. If you travel back and forth, you might not make it back in time for the New Year."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "Then I'll stay at the Shi family's house for the New Year and then go back. It's freezing cold, and even the bandits are too cold to leave their homes. No one will send troops to attack Pei Family Village at this time. It's alright if I leave for a few days."

Shi Yan was about to persuade him further when Pei Qinghe glanced over with a smile: "Both the Shi and Wang families are meritorious members of the Pei family army. Wang Mengyi giving birth to twins is a joyous occasion for both families. It's only right that I go to have a drink and celebrate. It's not entirely for you."

Shi Yan felt her heart burn with desire at that smiling gaze, so she said no more.

Wang Mengyi received good news the month after marrying into the Shi family, and was diagnosed with twins when she was four months pregnant.

Old Master Shi was overjoyed and specially paid a large sum of money to invite Physician Lu to help Wang Mengyi with her pregnancy.

Wang Mengyi gave birth to twin boys smoothly more than 20 days ago, breaking the tragic tradition of three generations of only sons in the Shi family.

There's no need to describe how happy Old Master Shi was. He personally wrote a letter inviting Pei Qinghe to the full moon celebration.

Whether it's for Shi Yan or for the Shi and Wang families, Pei Qinghe has to go to the Shi family.

Mao Hongling stayed behind, while Pei Yan went with her. Pei Xuan and Pei Feng also came out together.

On a bitterly cold day, with a biting wind blowing, Shi Yan sat in the carriage, holding a water bag filled with hot water in his arms.

The calm and experienced Dong Dalang stayed in Peijia Village, while the lively and humorous Dong Erlang went with him.

"The old master is holding two great-grandchildren all at once; he'll probably wake up laughing in his sleep," Dong Erlang grinned. "When you return, young master, the old master should give you a warm welcome."

Shi Yan clearly knew her grandfather better: "It's hard to say. It's only been a little over a year, and Grandfather is probably still angry."

Dong Erlang chimed in softly, "If it weren't for Young Master's firm foothold in the Pei family's army, the Shi family wouldn't be so peaceful now. With so many elite soldiers under Sixth Miss's command, wouldn't she follow the example of the Fanyang and Liaoxi armies, killing and robbing?"

"Sixth Miss wouldn't do something as foolish as killing the goose that lays the golden eggs," Shi Yan said. "A looting spree is a short-term gain. It's better to have a steady stream of income, with merchants continuing their business and sending half of their profits to the Pei family army. This way, the army will have a stable source of funds and supplies, and there won't be any panic among the troops."

Peace and stability are what people desire.

Wealthy families have already begun to quietly come and join Pei's army.

However, Shi Yan did not expect that even the Zhan family would come to seek refuge with him.

Zhan Fei followed beside Old Master Shi. When he saw Miss Pei riding towards him, his anxious heart calmed down a little. He rushed forward and knelt down with a thud.

(End of this chapter)