Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 169 Serious Injury
There were about a hundred soldiers and bandits who came to harass the people and forcibly seize their grain.

Gu Lian was even more ruthless than Feng Chang, leading several hundred men in a fierce battle against the bandits, refusing to let a single one escape. The entire bandit group was killed. Gu Lian's side also suffered heavy casualties; 30% of the 200 elite soldiers she brought were killed, and many of the 400 civilians she recruited and trained also perished.

Gu Lian fought valiantly, taking a knife wound to her left chest. She endured the injury, and after wiping out all the bandits, she severed all their heads and piled them outside the city gate of Quanzhou County.

"How is Gu Lian now?" Pei Qinghe asked in a low voice, her expression grave.

The messenger was a woman named Jiang Huiniang who had come out of Black Bear Village with Gu Lian that day. She and Gu Lian had been inseparable for four years and had a deep bond. With red eyes and a hoarse voice, she replied, "Reporting to Sixth Miss, although Chief Gu was not seriously injured, she lost too much blood and has fainted. I rushed here to deliver this message and don't know how she is doing now."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and called over Mao Hongling: "I'm going to Quanzhou County. Pei Yan will come with me, and Second Sister-in-law will stay behind."

When Mao Hongling learned that Gu Lian was seriously injured, she felt heavy-hearted and replied softly, "Go in peace, I will definitely protect Pei Family Village."

Pei Family Village had 3,000 elite soldiers, but only a pitiful 300-odd warhorses. Pei Yun, Gu Lian, and Feng Chang each took some with them, leaving only 200 warhorses.

Pei Qinghe selected two hundred men, and they rode at full speed to Quanzhou County.

A fierce battle had taken place outside Quanzhou, the stench of blood still lingering. A hundred heads lay piled outside the city gates, dripping blood soaking the ground, which had dried to a near-black color. Vultures, with their voracious appetite for carrion, occasionally flew by.

Pei Qinghe arrived in a hurry. By the time Magistrate Ji received the news, Pei Qinghe had already entered the county town and arrived at Gu Lian's bedside.

Gu Lian was unconscious for two days, her face was deathly pale, almost devoid of any human color.

The doctor who bandaged and treated Gu Lian's wounds was from a pharmacy in Quanzhou County; his medical skills were mediocre.

Pei Qinghe asked about Gu Lian's injuries, but the doctor looked troubled and couldn't give a good answer. He was sweating profusely, fearing that the Sixth Miss Pei might draw her sword in anger. He knelt down with a thud and kowtowed heavily, pleading, "Sixth Miss, spare me! I've never treated such a severe external injury before. I really don't know when Chief Gu will wake up. Sixth Miss, spare me!"

Pei Qinghe coldly said, "I don't want your life. Get up." The doctor, who was kneeling on the ground, wiped the cold sweat from his brow with his sleeve and stood up tremblingly.

Pei Qinghe turned to Pei Yan and said, "Go to the Lu family and ask Physician Lu to come in person."

Within Youzhou, the Lu family was the most renowned family of physicians. Physician Lu, who had served as an imperial physician for over a decade before retiring peacefully, was the most skilled doctor in Youzhou. Now advanced in years, Physician Lu rarely made house calls in person.

Pei Yan readily accepted the order.

Given Pei Yan's temperament, if she couldn't be persuaded with gentle words, she would tie up Physician Lu and bring him here.

At that very moment, Magistrate Ji arrived in a hurry.

Pei Qinghe asked directly, "What's the situation in Quanzhou County right now?"

Magistrate Ji's face was ashen, his eyes sunken, and his voice hoarse: "The Pei family army fought fiercely with bandits to protect the people of Quanzhou County, suffering more than sixty casualties. Chief Gu was seriously wounded. The people are grateful for the Pei family army's kindness."

Magistrate Ji kept silent about the hardships he had endured these past few days in trying to appease the people.

Pei Qinghe knew this all too well, and her expression immediately softened considerably: "Magistrate Ji, you've worked hard."

Magistrate Ji replied solemnly, "Without the Pei family army, this band of bandits would have stolen the grain and stormed into Quanzhou County to burn, kill, loot, and plunder. It is the Pei family army that has suffered; what I have done is nothing."

He paused, then sighed softly, "That day, bandits were robbing grain outside the city and killing more than a dozen ordinary people. Chief Gu was furious and immediately led his men out. He even shouted for the city gates to be closed."

"Even if we lose, we can hold the city gates for a few days until the Sixth Miss brings reinforcements."

"The people are not ignorant fools; they only feel gratitude towards the Pei family army and harbor no resentment. I personally visited each of the dozens who died in the war to offer my condolences and also sent them some money and provisions. It is my small token of gratitude."

Magistrate Ji is indeed a good official who cherishes the people; he is meticulous and thorough in his thinking. Pei Qinghe said gently, "Go and get some rest. I'll take care of everything from now on."

Magistrate Ji hadn't slept for days and nights and was at his limit. Upon hearing this, he felt a sense of relief and swayed slightly. Pei Qinghe, quick-witted and agile, caught him.

Ji Junze was a step too slow, and he and the advisor helped Magistrate Ji back to the county office, one on each side.

Pei Qinghe didn't have time to wipe away her tears by Gu Lian's bedside. She first went to comfort and inspect the wounded soldiers, and then led her men on a tour of the streets of Quanzhou County.

The bloodshed and carnage of the battle a few days ago have terrified the people of Quanzhou County, causing widespread panic. Many households in the city have hung white banners.

Magistrate Ji talked himself hoarse, but barely managed to appease the crowd.

Pei Qinghe rode his horse around, his expression icy, followed by elite soldiers on horseback, swords drawn, exuding a murderous aura. After two days, the people of the county town had calmed down.

With Miss Pei Liu around and the Pei family army around, Quanzhou County will be safe.

In war, people always die. The Pei family army suffered heavy casualties among the people of Quanzhou County, but does that mean the people of Quanzhou County can't die?
Whose life is not life?

Pei Qinghe ordered notices to be posted throughout the city, continuing to recruit civilians into the Pei family army to bolster its strength. This time, the number of applicants was two to three times higher than before.

Pei Qinghe selected two hundred strong men from among them and personally led them in training.

The good news is that Gu Lian finally opened her eyes and woke up after being in a coma for several days.

The bad news is that after Gu Lian woke up, she drank half a bowl of porridge, and after only a few words, she fell into a coma again.

The elderly Physician Lu arrived, having endured a bumpy ride in a carriage. A young boy carefully supported him.

The Lu family is prosperous, and this is Physician Lu's eleventh grandson, the same age as Pei Qinghe. Since last year, the Lu family has been sending Lu Dongqing to deliver medicine to Pei's army.

"Sixth Miss," Lu Dongqing said, her skin fair and her appearance delicate, her voice soft and pleasant, "I will now help my grandfather to see Chief Gu."

Pei Qinghe nodded: "I'll trouble Physician Lu."

The trembling Physician Lu sat down by the bed to take Gu Lian's pulse. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with clear eyes and uttered a series of medicine names.

Lu Dongqing wrote down the prescription and then went to brew and decoct the medicine.

"Chief Gu has lost too much blood and needs to be recuperated slowly," Physician Lu said slowly. "His life is not in danger."

Pei Qinghe felt relieved and sincerely thanked him, "Thank you very much, Physician Lu."

Physician Lu said, "It is inconvenient for me to stay here for long. Please let Dongqing stay in Quanzhou for a while."

Lu Dongqing came from a family with a long tradition of medical learning and had studied medicine since childhood, making him stand out among the younger generation of the Lu family. Pei Qinghe had no reason to refuse and readily agreed.

Before leaving, Physician Lu privately instructed, "Take this time to get closer to the Sixth Miss."

……

(End of this chapter)