Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 333 Brothers (Part 1)

"From now on, this will be your living quarters."

Fang Datou's face was as long as a donkey's, and he didn't even look at He Mu properly, continuing to speak to the air: "The Pei family army has more than thirty military regulations. Everyone must know them by heart. Anyone who violates the military regulations will be hung under a tree until they die."

“I’ll tell you the first three rules first. Once you remember them, then teach the other sixteen.”

Fang Datou was honest and straightforward, not particularly bright, but he had worked hard to memorize the military regulations back in the day. The Pei family army's regulations were already deeply ingrained in his blood. He recited the more than six hundred words of regulations in one go, without caring how much He Mu actually understood.

Then, he explained the first three military rules in detail.

Hemu listened silently, and after Fang Datou finished speaking, he repeated himself without making any mistakes.

Fang Datou grew increasingly angry. His previous clumsiness along the way had all been an act. This Hemu was truly cunning and scheming.

The worst part is that he lacked the discernment to see through Hemu's true colors. Now that he's brought the man back, it's too late for regrets.

"Settle in yourselves. I'll come and call you when it's time for dinner."

Fang Datou threw down a sentence and turned to leave.

A large, strong hand grabbed Fang Datou's only remaining left wrist: "Brother Fang!"

Those three words were like sparks, instantly igniting a firecracker in Fang Datou's heart. Fang Datou turned around abruptly and glared fiercely at him: "I'm not your brother!"

Hemu gave a bitter smile: "You trusted me and treated me like a brother. But I lied to you. You have every right to be angry."

"If you're angry, beat me up to vent your anger, and I'll never fight back."

Fang Datou sneered, "You think I'll just beat you up like that? Bah! You think I'm a fool! Who do you think you are!" A string of profanities burst out, constantly cursing Hemu's ancestors, wife, and children.

Hemu had diligently studied Jingchao dialect for a year and could answer normally without any problems, but he didn't quite understand some of the obscure words. Of course, he didn't need to understand them. Judging from Fang Datou's angry face, it was clear that what he was about to say was anything but pleasant.

Hemu didn't retaliate, didn't utter a sound, and didn't let go.

Fang Datou was no match for Hemu's strength. He tried to pull his hand back but couldn't, so he flew into a rage and kicked out. Hemu didn't dodge and took the kick head-on.

Fang Datou kicked him repeatedly like a madman, and He Mu grimaced in pain, but his right hand still gripped Fang Datou's wrist tightly: "Brother Fang!"

"Don't call me that!" Fang Datou, having vented his anger slightly, stopped kicking and spoke with fierce and sarcastic words, his mouth spitting fire: "You Xianbei swindler, you don't deserve to be my brother!"

"Don't think the general will definitely keep you. In a few days, he might kick you all out. You'll have to slink back to the grasslands with your men."

"No, we're already here, why go back? If you break military regulations, I'll break all your legs and hang you under the trees north of the village."

"Let go right now! I find you disgusting!"

Spit sprayed all over Hemu's face.

Fang Datou was furious and nothing he said would make a difference; he wouldn't listen to anything. He Mu reluctantly let go: "I'm sorry."

Fang Datou spat heavily and stormed off.

The Xianbei cavalrymen behind Hemu silently gathered around. One of them asked in the Xianbei language, "Chief, is the female general really willing to spare us and lend us troops to avenge us?"

Hemu's face darkened. "From now on, no one is allowed to speak Xianbei; they must speak Jingchao." The cavalryman switched to Jingchao in a broken and awkward accent: "Can we really stay?"

The remaining cavalrymen also looked puzzled and uneasy.

Leaving the familiar grasslands, they arrived in a completely unfamiliar place. Their own leader had been soundly beaten by the female general, and then received a beating from Fang Datou. All the gazes directed at them were filled with wariness, scrutiny, and disdain for a foreign race.

Will they stay with Pei's army? Will General Pei trust them? Will they really have a chance to fight their way back into the grasslands and avenge their wives, children, and parents?
Hemu's gaze swept across everyone's faces: "We're here now, there's no turning back."

The cavalrymen fell silent.

They've lost their homes, so where can they find a road?
If they remained on the grasslands, they would be nothing more than wandering bandits. They might die in the jaws of wolves, or under the swords of the Hun cavalry. They might also starve or die of thirst, or perish after a violent storm on the grasslands.

"We endured countless hardships to reach the Pei family army and meet General Pei," He Mu continued slowly. "The general didn't send me away; he even took action himself, which shows that he was willing to let me stay."

"We must learn the rules of the Pei family army well and integrate into it as soon as possible. In the future, we will always be at the forefront of battles. We will earn the general's trust."

……

"Cousin Qinghe, are you really going to keep Hemu and the others here?"

Pei Yan followed Pei Qinghe into the house, muttering to herself, "I think that He Mu is like a wild wolf, vicious and cunning, he's no good."

"Let's kill them all! To avoid future problems."

Pei Qinghe rolled her eyes at her: "All you do is kill, kill, kill. Can't you use your brain for once?"

"There are seventeen of them in total. Killing them would be as easy as snapping a finger. Why don't I kill them? Because they have a blood feud with the Xiongnu barbarians; they are mortal enemies."

"The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend, but he or she can be used by me."

"Hemu wants to use my Pei family army to kill the Xiongnu barbarians. I want what's in Hemu's mind."

Pei Yan immediately became excited: "I'll go right now, chop off his head with one stroke, and bring everything from his brain over here... Ouch!"

Pei Yan, who had been given a sharp rap on the head, grimaced and cried out in pain.

Mao Hongling, standing to the side, smiled and said, "If the general wants to lead troops into the grasslands in the future, it will be much more convenient to have someone familiar with the terrain to guide him, find water sources, and pursue the Xiongnu barbarians."

Pei Qinghe's brows relaxed: "Second sister-in-law understands me best."

Pei Yan was somewhat unconvinced: "What if Hemu was specially sent by the Xiongnu barbarians to feign pitifulness and deceive us? What if he deliberately leads us astray and we get ambushed by the Xiongnu barbarians?"

Pei Qinghe glanced over with a smile: "That's a problem too. So, we need to find out He Mu's background first, and only use him when we've completely won him over and made him trustworthy."

To enter the grasslands, we'll need a large number of cavalry. That's at least several years away. Let's leave Hemu here and observe him for now.

They can be killed at any time if something is amiss.

Mao Hongling said softly, "How about we send someone else to lead Hemu and the others? Fang Datou is simple-minded and honest, and I'm afraid he won't be able to control the shrewd and cunning Hemu."

Pei Qinghe smiled slightly: "No need to change, Fang Datou is the most suitable candidate."

(End of this chapter)