Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 162 Blind Loyalty
Little Yu'er and Little Dog stood guard outside the door, watching intently and preventing any unauthorized personnel from approaching.

Even Pei Yan, who came closer, was chased several meters away. Pei Yan laughed in exasperation: "Fine, fine, so you two only recognize Aunt Qinghe and not Aunt Yan, is that it!"

Xiaoyuer spoke fluently: "Aunt Qinghe is talking to Grandmother! Aunt Yan, don't disturb them."

The puppy nodded in agreement: "Aunt Yan, stop being naughty."

Pei Xuan and Pei Feng, who were standing to the side, were both secretly laughing.

Pei Yan stepped forward, eager to get started: "Since you've got nothing better to do, come on, I'll take you to the training ground."

Pei Xuan and Pei Feng weren't intimidated at all: "Fine, let's go. But let's make it clear first, we're not competing in brute strength. We're competing in horseback riding and archery!"

Inside the house, Madam Feng held Pei Qinghe's hand and sighed, "For the past six months, there have been constant reports of the Fanyang Army, Guangning Army, and Liaoxi Army forcibly conscripting men and robbing and killing wealthy families. Your grandmother is often anxious and worried, and tosses and turns at night, unable to sleep."

"She was afraid that the Fanyang Army and the Liaoxi Army would attack, and that the Bohai Prefecture would issue an edict ordering the Guangning Army to subdue the Pei family's army. She was afraid that the Pei family would face annihilation again."

"Dr. Bao prescribed medicine several times, but it didn't seem to work for her. She couldn't sleep or eat well, and her temper became more and more irritable every day."

“You are busy managing the Pei family army every day, training soldiers, and dealing with a group of county magistrates, prefects, and wealthy families. I couldn’t bear to bother you with these trivial matters, so I haven’t told you in detail.”

“I never expected that your grandmother would take advantage of your time at the Shi family to persuade all the elders to go to Bohai County.”

"Fortunately, she didn't force us to go."

The "we" that Ms. Feng mentioned included not only herself and her dog Xiaoyuer, but also Wu Xiuniang and others who were under sixty years old.

The family split up after that fight, and now that the Lu, Fang, and Li families have all left, the remaining ten or so people have all returned.

Pei Qinghe gripped Madam Feng's hand tightly and whispered, "Grandmother knows that if she takes you away, I will definitely bring people back to bring you back."

Madam Feng reached out her other hand and lovingly stroked her daughter's face: "Qinghe, I know you must be very angry. Don't hold a grudge against your grandmother. She's quite old, and has been the mistress of the Pei family for half her life. Her mind is full of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country."

"The capital has been occupied by King Qiao, and there is a new court and a young emperor in Bohai County. She has always hoped that you would lead your troops to Bohai County and surrender to the young emperor."

“You refused to go, kept training troops, and successively occupied Changping County, Quanzhou County, and Yongnu County. Your grandmother was terrified.”

The Lu family, who had been blindly loyal for decades, simply could not accept the fact that the Pei family army had become a genuine rebel army!

Unable to persuade Pei Qinghe, she went to Bohai County on her own.

Pei Qinghe was silent for a moment, then said, "Let her go if she wants to. With the Pei family army here, the Zhang family of Bohai County will have to be more restrained and won't mistreat them. I will write two more letters, one to the Emperor and one to ask Meng Dalang and Meng Liulang to take good care of the Pei family women."

Madam Feng nodded, then suddenly lowered her voice and said, "Actually, it wasn't all bad that your grandmother went to Bohai County. Outsiders don't know about the Pei family's division of the family. In everyone's eyes, their going to Bohai County means that the Pei family army is surrendering to the emperor."

"In this way, the Pei family army can keep a low profile and not be too conspicuous. In the short term, the Guangning army will not come to harass the Pei family army."

The world was in chaos, and King Qiao's Celestial Empire occupied half of the country. General Situ's men took control of the southwest. The situation in the north was much more complicated, but most of them outwardly pledged allegiance to Emperor Jianning of Bohai Commandery.

The Guangning Army and the Pei Family Army maintained a friendly distance, with a sense of mutual support and assistance. This was also due to their shared stance in the short term.

Pei Qinghe looked at Madam Feng and said, "Mother, you don't need to worry about me. I've thought about all of this. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let Grandmother and the others go to Bohai County."

Madam Feng never interfered in the affairs of the Pei family army. She neither understood nor gave orders. After finishing talking about Madam Lu, Madam Feng said softly, "You should rest well. I'll make you a bowl of noodles." Pei Qinghe smiled and agreed.

……

The departure of the Lu family did indeed have some impact on the Pei family army, causing unrest among the troops in recent days. However, with Pei Qinghe's return, morale immediately stabilized.

Pei Qinghe summoned Pei Yi and Fang Datou and solemnly instructed them: "Each of you lead your own battalion and go with the Zhan family to buy horses outside the pass."

“I don’t trust anyone else, so I can only send you. Keep an eye on Zhan Fei and his brother along the way. Write down everything they say and do, and report back. Also, if they make any unusual moves or have any ill intentions, you can kill them.”

"This journey is quite dangerous, so please be extra careful."

Pei Jia escorted the Lu family and others to Bohai County, and will remain there to protect their safety. Pei Yun, Gu Lian, and Feng Chang are each stationed in their respective county towns. The only trustworthy and capable people they have at hand are Pei Yi and Fang Datou.

Pei Yi solemnly accepted the order.

Fang Datou, no longer displaying his usual carefree and playful demeanor, replied solemnly, "Don't worry, Sixth Miss, I will definitely bring the warhorse back."

Pei Qinghe replied, "If you encounter danger, abandon your warhorses and come back. You are more important to me."

Pei Yi felt a surge of warmth in his heart: "I will definitely return unharmed to report back."

Fang Datou's eyes were red. He wiped his eyes hard with his left hand and loudly echoed, "Me too."

Pei Qinghe then called Zhan Fei and his brother over and gave them some detailed instructions.

Pei Yi accompanied Master Zhan all the way, while Fang Datou followed Zhan Fei. The group packed their belongings, took a large amount of goods, and left Pei Family Village two days later.

Pei Qinghe personally saw off the two caravans.

With a resolute determination to never return, Zhan Fei said with a stern expression, "Sixth Miss, please go back! If all goes well, I will return with a large number of warhorses in less than half a year."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "Okay, I will personally come to welcome Master Zhan then."

Zhan Fei clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, bidding farewell before departing.

Fang Datou rode his horse, glancing back every now and then. Only when he could no longer see Miss Pei Liu's figure did he reluctantly turn his gaze away.

Zhan Fei saw this but didn't laugh at Fang Datou's wishful thinking.

It's perfectly normal for followers to feel admiration and love for a heroic figure like Miss Pei.

This Fang Datou, having lost his right arm, mastered the left-handed sword technique and leads a battalion of elite soldiers. He was even sent to accompany Pei Liu's group beyond the Great Wall and is a true confidant of Pei Liu. If the Zhan family wants to establish themselves in Pei Family Village in the future, it's most practical to build a good relationship with Fang Datou, taking advantage of the bond forged during their journey.

Zhan Fei harbored the intention of befriending Fang Datou, and treated him with utmost respect and deference.

Fang Datou wasn't a clever man, nor did he have many ulterior motives. He said directly to Zhan Fei, "The Pei family army is short of warhorses. Let's not waste time on the road and buy some horses as soon as possible."

Zhan Fei, annoyed by his own indifference, chuckled sheepishly and said, "Chief Fang is right."

(End of this chapter)