Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 322 New Year
It snowed heavily.

The snow covered the city walls, rooftops, and streets, freezing into thick ice.

In this kind of weather, let alone training, you'll get frostbite just by going out for a walk.

Pei Qinghe was strict in training his troops, yet he cherished them greatly. From the first day of the snowfall, he issued an order for all soldiers to stay in their tents. The tents had stoves where they could warm themselves and also boil water to cook porridge.

Stealing a few days of leisure, Pei Qinghe and Shi Yan lay in the warm bedding, talking head to head.

"How long will our food supply last?"

Shi Yan did some mental calculations and chuckled softly, "It should be fine until February."

When the Pei family army arrived in western Liaoning, they brought a large amount of military rations. Countless soldiers died on the battlefield, and they continued to recruit new soldiers. Now their strength is nearly 20,000, and they still have a lot of stored grain.

Pei Qinghe remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "I will continue to recruit soldiers next year. The total military strength of Youzhou should be at least 50,000."

The four military camps in Beiping, Liaoxi, Guangning, and Fanyang each need to have 8,000 soldiers. Peijia Village needs to support 20,000 elite troops.

This number represents the limit of what Youzhou's resources can support. Without excessive exploitation of the people, 700,000 to 800,000 people cultivating the land can barely support 50,000 soldiers. That's roughly one soldier for every dozen or so people.

Shi Yan lowered his head and kissed Pei Qinghe's furrowed brows: "It's rare to have a few days of rest and relaxation, so don't worry about these things. I'll take care of the military provisions. You just focus on recruiting and training soldiers."

Pei Qinghe chuckled, her furrowed brows relaxing: "I have a heavy responsibility on my shoulders, I can't afford to relax!"

With great power comes great responsibility.

Now she governs Youzhou, a vast territory with hundreds of thousands of people under her rule. The heavy responsibility of dealing with the Xiongnu barbarians has fallen on her shoulders.

In the eyes of the soldiers, their General Pei was invincible and omnipotent. Whenever they saw her, they felt as if the sky above them was bright and clear, and they felt extremely at ease.

Only Shi Yan knew her exhaustion, fear, and occasional vulnerability and unease.

Pei Qinghe rested her head against Shi Yan's head, her voice full of affection: "Shi Yan, it's good that you're here with me."

Shi Yan rubbed his lower back and gritted his teeth, saying, "I will serve the general one more time."

Pei Qinghe chuckled and pinched him hard.

A charming room.

Exhausted, I fell asleep.

I woke up starving.

A sweet, soft, and chewy aroma wafted into my nostrils.

Pei Qinghe took a deep breath, dressed, and got out of bed, walking to the stove. Shi Yan used tongs to pull out the roasted sweet potato, carefully peeling back the charred, fragrant skin to reveal the soft flesh. He scooped a spoonful and brought it to Pei Qinghe's lips.

The freshly roasted sweet potato was hot, sweet, and fragrant. Pei Qinghe ate bite after bite, and in no time, the entire sweet potato was gone.

Shi Yan then handed over a cup of hot tea.

As soon as the tea touched her lips, Pei Qinghe exclaimed, "Why does this tea have a milky aroma? And it's sweet too?"

Shi Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "When I was brewing the tea, I added some milk and some brown sugar. Isn't it especially good to drink on a cold day?"

"It's really good." Pei Qinghe praised it highly: "Do you still have any milk and brown sugar in the barracks? Give some to each battalion so that everyone can have a cup."

He always kept the soldiers' needs for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation in mind. How could such a general not be respected and loved by his soldiers?
He also deeply respected his general.

Shi Yan chuckled softly and replied, "I'll go to the storeroom later and distribute the milk and brown sugar."

Pei Qinghe cupped Shi Yan's handsome face in her hands and kissed him heavily on the lips: "I can't live without my Chief Steward Shi for even a day."

Steward Shi put his arm around General Pei's waist and replied solemnly, "I'll be yours for life, General. You can't let me down." Amidst their playful banter, a familiar loud voice rang out: "I'm here!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a dark-skinned, muscular woman entered.

Even so, it was only after Yang Huai repeatedly instructed her that Pei Yan reluctantly developed the habit of speaking before entering. In the past, she would never have entered without informing anyone.

Now that they're all married, the men are getting in the way.

Pei Yan ignored Shi Yan's presence and muttered, "Ever since I could walk, I've followed my cousin Qinghe every day. I've been following her for over ten years, and now I have to report it."

Shi Yan knew Pei Yan's temper, so he wasn't annoyed and went out wrapped in a thick fur coat.

Pei Yan has a very keen sense of smell; she sniffed the aroma and moved closer: "What are you drinking?"

Shi Yan brewed a pot of tea, and Pei Qinghe picked up the pot and poured a cup for Pei Yan: "This tea was brewed with milk and brown sugar. Try it."

This one sip took more than half a pot.

Pei Qinghe looked at Pei Yan, who was hiccuping, and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "You drank so much, are you not going to eat lunch or not?"

belch!
Pei Yan let out another loud burp: "It won't delay you."

Pei Qinghe smiled gently.

Pei Yan nuzzled her fluffy head against her cousin Qinghe's shoulder and said happily, "It's still best to be with you."

Pei Qinghe couldn't help but chuckle and reached out to ruffle Pei Yan's hair: "What's wrong? Did you two have a fight?"

Pei Yan replied nonchalantly, "He wouldn't dare! I'd beat him to a pulp. I just find him too clingy. These past few days, it's been freezing cold, so I can't go to the training ground and have to practice in bed every day..."

Pei Qinghe coughed forcefully: "The New Year is just a few days away. You and I will both be a year older."

Pei Yan shifted her attention and chuckled, "It's Chinese New Year, my cousin Qinghe has to give me lucky money."

Pei Qinghe laughed: "Okay, I'll give you lucky money this year too."

Pei Yan pressed her advantage: "I want it next year and the year after."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "Okay, may you prosper every year."

……

The new year has arrived amidst everyone's eager anticipation.

The new recruits found it quite novel to spend the Lunar New Year in the barracks for the first time. There was meat, steamed buns, and dumplings to eat, and the biggest surprise was that they would receive a New Year's bonus.

After the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Shi Yan set off ahead to return to Peijia Village. He needed to prepare grain seeds and ensure that all the villagers could cultivate and sow their crops in time. This year's spring planting was particularly challenging, as the land area had increased several times over and the number of people to be cared for had also increased several times over.

"Go back to the Shi family first," Pei Qinghe whispered, "and discuss with your grandfather about preparing grain seeds."

Shi Yan nodded and hugged Pei Qinghe tightly.

"I need to train here in Liaoxi City for a few more months. After three months, I will set off back."

The young couple, deeply in love, were reluctant to part, as were Pei Qinghe. They nestled together, wishing each other well.

Youzhou was considered relatively peaceful in the north, with the fewest bandits. However, for safety reasons, Pei Qinghe specifically sent Pei Xuan and Pei Feng to accompany him and protect Steward Shi.

When Lü Erlang went to see her off, Pei Xuan called out in a clear, crisp voice, "Brother Lü Er!" Lü Erlang's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

They're so inseparable, even more so than General Pei and Chief Steward Shi!

(End of this chapter)