Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 307 Fate of Marriage (Part 3)

Looking at Meng Bing's gloomy face, Mao Hongling felt a pang of pity and sympathy.

She lost her husband, but she still had a son, a sister-in-law who was as close as a sister, a kind mother-in-law, and members of the Pei clan.

Meng Bing's wife and daughters were gone, leaving only the impulsive, stubborn, and easily angered Meng Liulang by his side. These past few years must have been difficult for Meng Bing; in the prime of his life, he had already begun to show signs of gray hair.

"The dead will never come back, but the living must live on." Mao Hongling gently comforted Meng Bing, but wasn't she also telling herself: "Let go of the past! Look up and move forward; perhaps there is a better future ahead."

Meng Bing nodded and smiled at Mao Hongling: "You're right. They're watching me from heaven, and they'll also hope that I'll move forward and look ahead."

Mao Hongling did not avoid his gaze: "Once General Meng has recovered from his injuries, will you lead the cavalry back to Bohai County?"

This is asking him what his plans are for the future.

Meng Bing felt a surge of warmth in her heart, sat up straight, and replied earnestly, "Since Liu Lang is in Bohai County, it doesn't matter whether I, as his elder brother, go back or not. I would rather stay in Youzhou."

These eight hundred cavalrymen were his "dowry".

No general could refuse such a generous gift. Pei Qinghe needed elite soldiers with superb horsemanship and expertise in mounted combat to rebuild his cavalry battalion.

Meng Bing must be kept!

Adults want marriage, but they also want tangible benefits.

Almost instantly, Mao Hongling made up her mind. She gazed at Meng Bing and said softly with a smile, "I understand General Meng's intentions. If General Meng is willing to stay, our Pei family army will warmly welcome you."

A smile spread across Meng Bing's dark eyes. She glanced at the brother and sister who were eating dried meat together, their heads close together, and then whispered to Mao Hongling, "I'll write a letter to Liu Lang tonight."

Mao Hongling felt a heat behind her ears and her cheeks flushed slightly, but she remained calm: "After some time, when General Meng Liu has replied, I will go and discuss this matter with Qing He."

Meng Bing, a steady and composed person who rarely showed her emotions, suddenly had a glint in her eyes: "I'll go with you then!"

Mao Hongling smiled and said, "You're still recovering from your injuries, how can you travel that far? Just stay here and rest, I'll take care of this."

Meng Bing's willingness to "stay" implies an intention to marry into the family. Logically and emotionally, she should be the one to handle everything from now on.

Meng Bing raised the corners of her mouth and laughed silently.

If we stay any longer, I'm afraid I'll say some things that are inappropriate for the child to hear.

Mao Hongling stood up, took her leave with her two children, and departed. Meng Bingling had her personal guards support her as they slowly saw her off for a few steps. Only after Mao Hongling's figure disappeared from sight did she turn and go back into the house.

The guard grinned, revealing his front teeth: "Great! General, you can stay with the Pei family army from now on, and you'll have someone by your side. We can stay too."

Meng Bing was in such a good mood that she couldn't muster any seriousness, and her question lacked any real force: "You've been in Bohai County for four years, don't you want to go back?"

“If it weren’t for the general’s insistence on leading troops to rescue the Crown Prince back then, we wouldn’t have had to leave Beiping County at all.” The personal guard didn’t hide anything and spoke the truth: “Bohai County is the territory of the Zhang family. Our Beiping Army suffers injustices in Bohai County. Every year, we don’t have enough military funds, and we don’t have enough to eat or wear. When it comes to fighting, we are the first to step up.”

"Of the eight hundred cavalrymen, most are veterans. Go ask them: who wants to return to Bohai Commandery? Who doesn't want to stay?"

Meng Bing was speechless.

The guard, still eager to continue, said, "Besides, over the past few years, everyone has seen clearly that the Emperor is mediocre and incompetent, not a wise ruler. The Zhang family father and son have great ambitions, and sooner or later, Bohai County will be in great turmoil. We should find a better way out now, to gain a foothold in the Pei family army. If something happens in Bohai County in the future, General Liu can lead his troops to join us." "General, isn't that what you were planning too?"

Meng Bing glared at him with a smile: "Alright, I only asked you one question, but you're getting all worked up, babbling on and on. Go get some pen and ink, I need to write a letter to my sixth brother."

There's no time to wait until tonight; I'll write the letter now.

……

Meng Bing's handwritten letter was sent out of Liaoxi City and immediately reached Pei Qinghe's ears.

Pei Qinghe raised the corners of her mouth, feeling extremely happy.

Shi Yan smiled and leaned closer, putting his arm around Pei Qinghe: "What has made the General so happy?"

Pei Qinghe chuckled softly, "Isn't it a joyous occasion that General Meng is willing to marry into the family?"

The shrewd Steward Shi's eyes suddenly lit up, and he blurted out, "Should we leave the eight hundred cavalrymen here as well?"

“Of course.” Pei Qinghe laughed. “The Pei family army is rebuilding its cavalry battalion, and it lacks both generals and cavalrymen and warhorses. General Meng also knew that I couldn’t refuse this generous gift. In the future, the cavalry battalion will be based on the cavalry of the Beiping Army. It will subtly overwhelm the Yang brothers and Li Chi and Lü Feng. This plan is brilliant!”

Shi Yan smiled and said, "General Meng's ability to establish himself in Bohai County and deal with the Zhang family father and son shows his exceptional intelligence and skill. Congratulations, General, on gaining another wise general under your command!"

Pei Qinghe was overjoyed and smiled, "Aren't you going to ask who wants to take General Meng as their son-in-law?"

Shi Yan smiled knowingly: "Second Sister-in-law took the little dog Xiaoyu to visit General Meng today. Is there any need to ask?"

Pei Qinghe chuckled lightly: "Chief Steward Shi is indeed well-informed."

He paused for a moment, then added, "This matter cannot be rushed; it must be handled slowly. We must wait for Meng Liu's reply first, and also be wary of the Zhang father and son interfering."

As for Emperor Jian'an, it goes without saying that he must be furious. The Meng brothers were both renowned generals of the north, and suddenly one of them had deserted, taking all his cavalry with him. How could Emperor Jian'an not be enraged?
It doesn't matter.

They were already on the verge of a complete falling out. If Emperor Jian'an wanted to overturn the table and turn against them, she was ready to oblige!
……

Three days later, Pei Qinghe wrote a letter and ordered a messenger to take it back to the Fanyang army camp. He also specially gave them a brand-new Pei-character flag, which was considered a formal acceptance of the Fanyang army's surrender.

Lu Feng was overjoyed upon receiving the letter and read it three times before going to General Lu's military tent.

General Lü had been imprisoned for over half a month, looking listless and emitting a foul odor. Seeing Lü Feng approaching with a beaming face, General Lü gritted his teeth in hatred.

Lu Erlang took the rag from General Lu's mouth and immediately spat it out.

Spit landed on Lü Feng's face.

Lu Feng, the dutiful son, casually wiped his face, squatted down, and handed the letter to General Lu, his tone full of pride: "Father, look, this is General Pei's personal letter. The general has accepted us. He even sent a banner with the character 'Pei' on it."

"I have already had the Pei banner raised. From now on, there is no such thing as the Fanyang Army; we are the Pei Family Army."

(End of this chapter)