Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 320 Spring Arrives (Part 1)

Training reluctantly and training with utmost enthusiasm are two completely different things.

For several days in a row, Lü Erlang, holding his breath, trained his troops with all his might. The slick and lazy air about his soldiers gradually faded away.

His gaze gradually hardened, he practiced even more diligently, and he stopped complaining and grumbling when he studied and learned to read at night.

The progress is rapid and visible to the naked eye.

"It's starting to look somewhat decent." Pei Qinghe whispered to Mao Hongling with a smile, "If you train like this for a year or two, you'll be able to barely go to the battlefield."

Mao Hongling chuckled softly and replied, "The general really knows how to train troops. It hasn't been long, and Lu Erlang has already made progress. And Li Chi is improving even more rapidly."

When Li Chi was mentioned, Pei Qinghe's tone was full of praise: "Li Chi is intelligent, calm, and hardworking. He is a talented general."

"Yang Hu is not very skilled in combat, but he is good at military strategy and tactics."

"Lu Feng is a bit reckless, but he is quite skilled. He is brave and willing to fight to the death. He will be a fierce general in future battles."

"However, none of the three of them can compare to Meng Bing."

Meng Liulang secretly sent a reply, expressing his support, though reluctantly, for his elder brother's decision to marry into the Pei family.

This matter should not be publicized. Mao Hongling and Meng Bing only made a verbal engagement, and would plan the marriage after Meng Bing's injuries had healed.

In private conversations, Pei Qinghe often teased Meng Bing. Mao Hongling blushed slightly and replied gracefully, "That's what I thought too. It's a pity he injured his leg before, and this time it's serious. Once he recovers, he shouldn't lead troops into battle."

With Meng Bing's abilities, he's more than capable of training troops and defending the city. There's no need for him to risk his life in battle anymore.

Pei Qinghe had already made plans, and nodded with a smile: "Don't worry! After he marries into the family, he will stay in the Pei family army camp with you. I need him to train cavalry."

He then asked with a low laugh, "When do you plan to go back?"

Mao Hongling originally planned to leave after Pei Qinghe's wedding, but she stayed for Meng Bing's sake, and has been staying for more than two months now.

"I'll be setting off back in a few days." Mao Hongling was a little embarrassed. "Meng Bing plans to lead eight hundred cavalrymen back to Pei Family Village with me."

Pei Qinghe nodded in agreement with a straight face: "That's good. It will help him get used to the environment of Pei Family Village sooner. His injury hasn't healed yet, so he can't ride a horse. We'll prepare a carriage so that we can travel more slowly."

Mao Hongling nodded in agreement.

A few days later, Mao Hongling set off with her mother-in-law, Madam Feng, and her children, Xiaoyu and Xiaogou.

Everyone in the Pei family knows how to ride a horse. Madam Feng has practiced for several years and is quite skilled. Nine-year-old Xiaoyu is very dashing, and although Xiaogou is young, he rides the horse with great flair.

Meng Bing sat in the carriage, occasionally peeking out to look around.

Mao Hongling smiled, deliberately rode her horse to the carriage, and said softly, "The carriage is a bit bumpy, would you like to slow down a bit?"

The official road outside Liaoxi City was riddled with potholes from repeated trampling of horses' hooves. Several thick quilts were piled up in the carriage. Meng Bing was half-lying and half-sitting among the quilts, his slightly pale but handsome face full of smiles: "I'm not made of paper or clay, don't worry."

Mao Hongling said gently, "If you can't hold on any longer, just say so. Don't push yourself."

Meng Bing smiled and agreed.

The puppy rode over on his beloved little pony, his pretty little face flushed and his big eyes shining: "Mommy! Mommy!"

Mao Hongling turned her head and smiled gently at the puppy: "What's wrong?"

The puppy shouted happily, "I just had a horse-riding race with Sister Xiaoyu'er. I won!"

Mao Hongling smiled and praised him a few times, and the little dog happily went to talk to Madam Feng again.

During the break, Mao Hongling called Xiaoyuer over: "In the future, when you have a horse riding competition, don't let the little dog win."

“Our Pei family army never holds back in training.” “Look at your Aunt Qinghe, no matter how much she dotes on Aunt Yan, she never goes easy on her during training. And Pei Xuan and Pei Feng, they’re even closer than siblings, they never show mercy on the training field either.”

"You're giving in to the puppy now, and he thinks he's really something, all smug and self-satisfied. Do you expect everyone to give in to him like you do? When he grows up and goes to war, will the enemy give in to him too?"

Xiaoyu'er's delicate face flushed slightly: "I've remembered what Auntie said. I won't give in to him anymore."

Mao Hongling smiled and patted Xiaoyu'er's head: "Auntie knows you love your brother. However, girls in our Pei family are just as precious. There's no need to hide your talents or be modest."

Xiaoyu nodded vigorously.

She lost her father as early as she could remember, and the face of her mother, who had feigned death, was long since blurred in her memory. In her heart, the people she respected most were Aunt Qinghe and Madam Feng, and the person she loved most was her younger brother, Little Dog.

Auntie is right. She shouldn't have given in to the puppy.

She, Pei Yu, is of the same bloodline as the Pei family and will become a formidable figure in the Pei family army in the future.

Meng Bing watched silently, and only after Xiao Yu'er had walked far away did she chuckle softly, "You're very good at teaching children. Every woman in the Pei family is a heroine."

Mao Hongling sighed softly: "Back then, all the men of the Pei family were beheaded, leaving only the elderly, women, and children. I even contemplated suicide. If it weren't for Qinghe, I would have hanged myself long ago and gone to the underworld."

"No one is born a heroine; they are all forced into it step by step."

Meng Bing gazed at him silently.

Mao Hongling looked up and met Meng Bing's pitying gaze. Her heart warmed, and she smiled softly: "It was indeed difficult at first. But after six or seven years, we've long since adapted."

Meng Bing naturally picked up the conversation: "From now on, I'll also be a member of the Pei family. I'll have to learn the Pei family rules properly."

Mao Hongling smiled, biting her lip.

Meng Bing smiled too.

The parched fields, nourished by the babbling brook, quietly came back to life.

For the next few days, the puppy kept its mouth down and looked dejected.

Mao Hongling knew what was going on, but she didn't ask.

Meng Bing beckoned to the puppy and whispered some instructions. The puppy listened intently and memorized them. Using the techniques Uncle Meng had taught it, it indeed became faster while riding the horse, and was even able to catch up with Xiao Yu'er.

The puppy's tail was practically wagging with pride. Before Xiaoyu could even ask for help, the puppy rattled off a string of words: "...Uncle Meng taught me all of this. You should try it too."

Xiaoyu nodded repeatedly with a smile.

When it was time to rest, the siblings came over hand in hand and politely asked Uncle Meng for pointers on riding skills.

"How is Uncle Meng?" Madam Feng asked with a soft smile.

The puppy answered loudly, "Okay, Uncle Meng is skilled in riding, has a good temper, and is handsome. I'd be happy to have him as my stepfather."

Ms. Feng chuckled.

Mao Hongling's face flushed, and she turned her head to the side.

The puppy barked quite loudly, and Meng Bing, who was not far away, heard it too. His brows and eyes instantly relaxed.

Winter is almost over, and spring is just around the corner.

……

(End of this chapter)