Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 163 Surrender (Part 1)

"Will Qinghe send someone to chase us back?"

The night was cold, and a group of elderly women huddled together in a tent, wrapped in thick quilts. Fang was whispering among them.

With her half-white hair, wrinkled face, gaunt features, and sunken eyes, Madam Lu snorted coldly: "Feng Shi and Xiao Gou'er and Xiao Yu'er are all left to her. Why would she care about this annoying old hag like me? Don't worry! She won't come!"

Rough words are not rough.

Madam Fang sighed deeply, "Once I leave, I will never see Xiao Wan'er again."

“Xiao Wan’er has her biological mother and stepfather to take care of her, what are you worried about?” Madam Lu glanced over and said, “You’re not having second thoughts, are you? If you want to go back, leave now. Pei Jia and the others can take you back to Pei Family Village.”

Madam Fang was a little annoyed: "When did I say I was going back? Can't I even think about my own granddaughter? Your temper is getting more and more stubborn and strange. No wonder Qinghe and Yan don't like you."

Madam Lu said with a stern face, "Whether they like me or not, I don't care. I'm going to Bohai County to serve the Emperor and become a respectful and law-abiding citizen."

Fang's anger came and went quickly, and she echoed in a low voice, "Sister-in-law is right. Our Pei family is a family of loyal martyrs who died for the Eastern Palace. Now that His Highness the Prince has ascended the throne, we should go and join him. I'm just worried that the Emperor might be angry and dissatisfied if he only sees us old women and not the younger generation."

The eighty-year-old Li, who had been keeping her eyes closed, opened them now, her voice somewhat muffled: "General Yang of Guangning Army didn't go to Bohai County in person, but only sent his nephews and younger relatives. We old women of the Pei family traveled hundreds of miles to go, which shows our sincerity. How could His Majesty be dissatisfied?"

"Even General Zhang should put aside his fear of the Pei family."

The Pei family army rose to prominence and grew stronger day by day, eventually replacing the Beiping army as the fourth major force in Youzhou. Compared to the clear stances of the other three armies, the Pei family army's stance was somewhat ambiguous.

Although not a regular army of the imperial court, they possessed a formidable military force. While they did not rebel against the court, they brought four counties—Changping, Anle, Quanzhou, and Yongnu—under their control, occupying half of Yan Commandery. The other half, though temporarily unoccupied, was gradually having its taxes transferred to the Pei family army.

The young Emperor Jian'an, perhaps out of consideration for past relationships, or perhaps because he had exhausted his efforts dealing with Prince Qiao in the capital, did not pursue the Pei family army's stance. General Zhang, however, repeatedly mentioned the Pei family army in front of everyone, his words revealing considerable dissatisfaction.

Meng Dalang wrote a letter specifically to remind her, but Pei Qinghe just smiled and ignored it. However, the Lu family and other elderly women tossed and turned in fear because of this.

After much deliberation, Lady Lu decided to go to Bohai County. Lady Li also supported her decision.

The Lu family wanted to prove the Pei family's loyalty, while the Li family wanted to use this action to dispel the suspicions and dissatisfaction of the Zhang family of Bohai. Regardless of their reasons, they ultimately made the same decision.

Lu found it somewhat grating and pouted, saying, "I went to Bohai County to show that there are still people in the Pei family who are loyal to the Emperor. It wasn't for that girl Qinghe."

Li yawned: "Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's all go to sleep!"

Fang closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Lu closed his eyes as many bloody and terrifying images flashed through his mind.

She felt as if she were enveloped in a crimson haze, struggling desperately but unable to escape. Her chest felt like it was being pricked by countless tiny needles, a sharp pain shooting through her. Her breathing became rapid and slow, her chest heaving uncontrollably; she was in excruciating pain.

The sound of steady breathing filled the air; everyone had fallen asleep. Madam Lu remained still, lost in thought for an unknown amount of time before finally managing to drift off.

It seemed like I hadn't slept for very long before I was woken up again.

Lu rallied her spirits and continued on her journey. Mao Hongling was very thoughtful and had prepared several carriages for them. The carriages were lined with thick cotton quilts, which protected them from the biting early spring wind. There were dried biscuits and the military rations that Pei's army was used to eating. The roasted and crushed coarse grains were mixed with sesame seeds, and a bowl of them soaked in hot water was fragrant, satisfying both hunger and cravings.

Pei Jia and his entourage also brought plenty of dry rations, as well as dried meat and vegetables. With ample preparation, they did not suffer hunger or hardship on the journey.

Jizhou and Youzhou are adjacent. After traveling for eight or nine days, Lu and his party left Youzhou and had just entered Jizhou when they encountered a group of refugees.

Pei Jia, expressionless, drew his long sword and slashed at several refugees who rushed towards him to seize the grain. The remaining refugees scattered in all directions.

Back then, he was also one of those aimless vagrants.

Meeting Miss Pei Liu and changing his name was the most important chapter in Pei Jia's life. He had been well-fed for more than three years, practiced martial arts every day, and became incredibly skilled, able to lead a hundred men. He had completely transformed.

All of this was given to him by Miss Pei. He was willing to risk his life for her.

When Mao Hongling sent him to accompany her on this journey, she told him, "Pei Jia, the journey to Bohai County is fraught with danger. Once we arrive in Bohai County, you must stay behind to protect your grandmother and the others."

Without hesitation, Pei Jia accepted the important task.

Over the next few days, they encountered several groups of bandits. These bandits were emaciated and swayed unsteadily, their limbs weak. Pei Jia and his group, on the other hand, were tall and strong, each carrying a weapon, including bows and arrows. Before the bandits even got close, they were often frightened away by a volley of arrows.

Danger was inevitable. On this particular day, they encountered a large group of refugees. The refugees were thin and weak, but they couldn't withstand the sheer number of people. The scene of over a thousand refugees charging and looting grain was chaotic and terrifying. The refugees included men, women, and children.

Pei Jia hardened his heart and slaughtered all the refugees who rushed over to seize the grain.

After the refugees left, more than a hundred blood-soaked corpses remained. One of them, not quite dead yet, struggled to crawl to the side of the cart, grabbed a grain sack, trembling as he stuffed a handful into his mouth, and died contentedly.

Someone turned around and vomited.

Some people even had tears in their eyes. They were probably thinking about their miserable past as refugees, living hand to mouth and constantly hungry.

Pei Jia shouted, "We'll be in Bohai County in two days. Hang in there, everyone!"

Everyone perked up and agreed.

They fought their way through, and by the time they reached Bohai County, thirteen of the hundred men in the battalion had died, and several others were wounded. Eighty-two men survived unharmed.

In war, there are always casualties. Everyone is used to it. When digging graves to bury their fallen comrades, they wipe away a tear, then stand tall and continue forward.

Over the course of more than a year, the city gates of Bohai County were repeatedly rebuilt and heightened, and elite troops guarded the gates. From a distance, they began to resemble the capital city.

Lu's eyes were a little red. After looking at him for a while, she turned to Pei Jia and said, "Go see the city gate official and tell him that Pei has come to surrender."

Bohai Commandery was the new capital, and Emperor Jian'an was the legitimate heir to the throne, born of the Crown Prince. People came to surrender every day.

Pei Jialiang made his name known, and soon people came to greet him.

(End of this chapter)