Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 334 Brothers (2)

In the evening, Fang Datou came over with a sour face: "Now it's time to line up for dinner."

Hemu nodded: "Thank you, Brother Fang."

Fang Datou glared at him angrily: "Don't call me that. I'm not your brother Fang. I, Fang Datou, never be brothers with swindlers."

Hemu, who had a very good temper, replied: "Yes, Chief Fang."

For some reason, Fang Datou became even angrier. He wanted nothing more than to punch that familiar face.

Hemu was clearly familiar with Fang Datou's temper, and said in a low voice, "Let us go eat first, and then we'll have the strength to beat me up."

Fang Datou snorted coldly and turned to leave.

As if venting anger, their steps were fast and hurried.

Hemu immediately stepped forward to follow Fang Datou, followed by a dozen or so Xianbei cavalrymen.

When Hemu arrived at the kitchen, he was stunned by what he saw.

The soldiers, dressed in uniform gray uniforms, included both men and women. They lined up in a long queue to receive their dinner, maintaining perfect order and without the slightest disorder.

"You bumpkin, open your eyes and take a look. This is the Pei family army." Fang Datou felt much better seeing Hemu's shocked face and said smugly, "Your previous tribe had more than a thousand people, but only a few hundred cavalry. Our Pei family army now has more than ten thousand people and is still recruiting new soldiers. Have you ever seen anything like this?"

there has never been.

He had never seen so many people lining up for food. No one shouted or yelled, no one pushed or shoved, and everyone kept to the rules.

Only those who have led troops know how terrifying this military discipline is.

A loud voice suddenly rang out from behind: "What are we having for dinner tonight?"

Hemu turned his head and was stunned again.

The loud-voiced one is Pei Yan, and the woman standing in front of Pei Yan is none other than Pei Qinghe, the commander of the Pei family army!
General Pei, a man of great stature, was actually eating with his soldiers?
Fang Datou loved watching Hemu's dumbfounded expression: "Our General Pei always eats with the soldiers. He also drills with them every day."

Hemu couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder the Pei family army is invincible, even the Xiongnu are no match for them. Our General Pei is truly amazing!"

Fang Datou glared at him and said, "It's our General Pei! What does he have to do with you, you Xianbei swindler! You dare to call us general!"

Hemu replied earnestly and sincerely, "I'm not qualified now, but I will be in the future."

Fang Datou spat and ignored him.

Pei Qinghe took in the whole scene and just laughed it off.

Spring planting has only just ended, and we're currently eating leftover grain. However, in these times, being able to eat our fill is a great blessing. Moreover, the kitchen staff is quite ingenious; today they stir-fried wild spring vegetables with minced meat, which, served with mixed-grain steamed buns, was delicious. The rice porridge, simmered all afternoon, was thick and smooth, with a subtle sweetness.

The Xianbei cavalrymen were almost crying from hunger.

"We haven't had a hot meal in a long time."

"What? These steamed buns are so delicious, I could eat them three times a day?!"

"I want to stay in Pei Family Army forever."

Hemu didn't say anything, but ate five steamed buns, two bowls of vegetables, and drank three bowls of rice soup.

After they had eaten their fill, the veterans and new recruits of Pei's army went to find their respective leaders. Learning to read at night had become a habit, and no one complained anymore.

Hemu had been carefully observing the movements of the people around him. Seeing this, he immediately asked Fang Datou, "Chief Fang, what are they going to do?"

Fang Datou let out a burp: "Reading and writing, huh? Luckily, I'm away most of the time, so I don't have to suffer like that." But then He Mu couldn't contain his excitement: "Can I go too?"

Fang Datou curled his lip, looking impatient: "You're just a Xianbei swindler, and you can already speak Jingchao language. Do you want to read our books and learn to write our characters?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Pei Qinghe's voice rang out: "Fang Datou, come here, I have something to tell you."

Fang Datou's expression changed instantly. He smiled and quickly turned to leave, saying, "General, please give your orders!"

Pei Qinghe smiled and instructed, "He Mu and the others are new here, so please take good care of them and help them adapt to the environment and life in Pei Family Village as quickly as possible. As long as it's not excessive, just agree to whatever he wants to learn."

Is it excessive to teach children to read and write?

Fang Datou wasn't good at reading between the lines, but he had a question in mind, so he asked directly, "If he wants to learn to read and write, will you agree to that?"

Pei Qinghe hummed in agreement.

Despite his reluctance, Fang Datou would not disobey Pei Qinghe's order and nodded in agreement: "Yes, then I will start teaching them to read tonight."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "You take care of them during the day and they can study and learn to read at night. I will send someone else to do it. You have been working hard for more than a year and you have finally come back. You should take a good rest for a while. I don't trust anyone else to handle the horse purchase. I will have to ask you to do it."

Fang Datou puffed out his chest with joy and pride: "Yes, I will obey the general!"

Then, he walked up to Hemu with a proud and imposing air, glancing at him sideways: "You go back first, the general will send someone to teach you to read and write."

Hemu was overjoyed and did not approach, but bowed from a distance.

They used the traditional Han Chinese cupped-hand salute.

After Hemu and his group left, Pei Qinghe said to Mao Hongling, "Hemu is someone I can either completely win over and make into a powerful general under my command, or he will become a hidden danger."

Mao Hongling chuckled lightly: "You've taken a liking to talent and are willing to take this risk."

“Yes, it’s worth the risk for a true general.” Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Yang Hu of Guangning Army, Li Chi of Liaoxi, Lü Feng of Fanyang, and those who previously joined me, who can guarantee their eternal loyalty? If I were too suspicious and wary of everyone, I wouldn’t need to lead troops into battle.”

There were also Meng Bing, Yang Huai, and others who didn't say it aloud.

Who can guarantee that those who marry into the Pei family will be loyal? Who knows, one day someone might turn against them and stab them in the back.

One should not forget to eat because of a choking incident; one should firmly continue on the path one is meant to take.

……

Zhan Qi was in charge of teaching Hemu and other Xianbei people to read and write.

In recent years, the Zhan family has dwindled in size, with many deaths and injuries. Zhan Fei's eldest and second sons have both died. Zhan Qi, Zhan Fei's eldest grandson, has always accompanied Zhan Fei on his trade of horses and merchants outside the Great Wall. This year, he has frequently interacted with He Mu and they have become quite familiar with each other.

Pei Qinghe chose Zhan Qi to teach He Mu and the others, firstly because Zhan Qi could speak Xianbei language, and secondly to appease the Zhan family.

Zhan Qi was only nineteen years old, but he was much more composed and experienced than Fang Datou, who was over thirty. Despite his many grievances and anger, he didn't show it on his face. He taught for an hour every night.

Half a month later, Zhan Qi reported to Pei Qinghe: "General, the seventeen Xianbei people are learning at different speeds, with Hemu learning the fastest. At this rate, Hemu will be able to recognize nearly a thousand commonly used Chinese characters within half a year."

Hemu was also the fastest at memorizing military regulations.

Intelligent, patient, able to conceal one's talents while also revealing one's brilliance.

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and sent someone to call Fang Datou over: "Starting tomorrow, let He Mu and the others train together."

(End of this chapter)