Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 352 Choice (Part Two)

It's absurd and laughable.

Meng Liulang looked up at the sky. Thick, dark clouds, seemingly from nowhere, obscured the clouds, casting large shadows. The chilly autumn wind pierced to the bone.

It's going to change.

Meng Liulang turned and left without a word. The veterans of the Beiping Army, cursing and swearing, put away their weapons and followed behind Meng Liulang.

Xiao Mo hurried a few steps and approached Meng Liulang: "General, are we just leaving like this? What will happen to the bodies of so many elders in the Pei family? We should at least collect their remains."

Meng Liulang didn't stop, coldly throwing out a few words: "If you don't leave now, I'll make sure the Zhang family father and son bleed five steps away today."

"Let General Pei deal with this deep-seated blood feud himself."

"let's go."

Xiao Mo quickly followed, lowering her voice to ask, "Are we still staying in Bohai County?"

Meng Liulang paused and turned around.

Xiao Mo had followed Meng Liulang for nearly ten years and was not afraid of his sour face at all. He continued, "The Emperor is biased towards General Zhang. If I were General Pei, I would never let this go. There might be a major battle in the North."

"If General Pei's army comes to the city gates, should we open the gates to welcome them, or should we fight against Pei's army?"

Without hesitation, Meng Liulang blurted out, "We will absolutely not fight the Pei family's army!"

"What if the Pei family army tries to force their way through the city gates?" another veteran chimed in, speaking very directly: "Rather than being caught in a dilemma then, it's better to make a decision sooner rather than later. If you're going to leave, leave now."

The other veterans chimed in, "Yes, let's go and join Pei's army."

"Since the General has married into the Pei family, our Beiping Army and the Pei family army are one family."

Meng Liulang looked at the group of passionate veterans with a complicated expression: "Do you all really want to leave? Does no one want to stay?"

“What’s the point of staying?” Xiao Mo said bluntly. “If the emperor were a wise ruler, it would be fine. But what has the emperor done these past few years? He listens to General Zhang in everything. We, the dignified Beiping army, are nothing more than gate dogs if we stay in Bohai County.”

"Our Beiping Army is known throughout the land for its unparalleled loyalty and righteousness. Back then, the general was the first to lead troops to the capital to rescue the Crown Prince. He died outside the capital, and both princes perished in battle. The Beiping Army suffered heavy losses, leaving us with almost nothing but our military flag. In recent years, we have been suppressed by the Bohai Army in every way, but we have endured it all and have been guarding the city gates for the Emperor."

"Is it really worth it for such a tyrannical ruler?"

This last sentence voiced the sentiments of all the veterans of the Beiping Army. The veterans, filled with righteous indignation, echoed his sentiments.

Meng Liulang, who was always impulsive and hot-blooded, remained silent, listening quietly, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

A rumble of thunder sounded in the sky, and raindrops began to fall.

Meng Liulang vigorously wiped his face: "It's raining! Let's go back first, quietly pack our things, and leave as soon as the rain stops."

The veterans grinned at each other.

……

Another rumble of thunder sounded, and raindrops began to fall in torrents.

All the bodies were carried away in preparation for burial.

Rainwater washed away the blood outside the Zhang family mansion.

The Emperor and Empress have returned to the palace.

The gates of the Zhang residence were sealed off, and Zhang and his son were confined to the residence from this day forward, forbidden from leaving without an imperial edict.

"What kind of treatment is this?" Several disgruntled old ministers went to the Pang residence together and whispered angrily to Prime Minister Pang: "Both Zhang and his son were injured and should have been recuperating at home."

"His Majesty didn't seal off the Zhang residence; he clearly wanted them to recuperate in peace and not allow anyone to disturb them!" "That tyrannical emperor!"

Prime Minister Pang's lips twitched, and he looked at him intently: "You must not speak nonsense, and you must not be disrespectful to the Emperor!"

The veteran officials looked indignant: "We have endured this for years. Today we are truly outraged and must speak out."

"The Northern Court has been established for several years, and the Emperor has always listened to the Zhang family in everything. Today, the Zhang family father and son killed more than twenty members of the Pei family, as well as a hundred of their personal guards. And the Emperor still wants to protect the Zhang family. If this gets out, who wouldn't feel chilled to the bone?"

"General Pei will be arriving soon with a large army. When that happens, who will be able to stop him?"

"Even the Xiongnu barbarians are no match for Pei Qinghe, so can the Bohai Navy withstand the enraged Pei family army?"

Suddenly someone blurted out, "Aren't there still the Beiping Army?"

Everyone instinctively looked at Prime Minister Pang.

Prime Minister Pang gave a helpless bitter smile: "Why are you all looking at me like that? You all know General Meng's temper. Even though I am his father-in-law, I have to consider whether he is willing to listen to what I say."

Besides, Meng Dalang has already married into the Pei family. Whether Meng Liulang feels closer to the Pei or Pang family is something we can't delve into.

The old ministers were grumbling when suddenly there was a knock on the door: "Prime Minister, the palace urgently summons you. Please come to the palace immediately."

It's so late, and the rain keeps falling. Why is the Emperor urgently summoning Prime Minister Pang?
The veteran officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

Prime Minister Pang sighed inwardly, rallied his spirits, reassured the veteran officials, and quickly boarded his carriage to enter the palace.

Emperor Jian'an, like a caged beast, paced back and forth in the imperial study, his face filled with anxiety.

"Prime Minister," Emperor Jian'an strode over and suddenly grabbed Prime Minister Pang's sleeve, "I have already ordered that the bodies of Lady Li and the others be placed in coffins and kept at the Pei residence. The mourning hall has also been set up. Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will lead the way to the Pei residence to pay respects. All the officials will follow. Make sure the funeral is conducted with dignity and grandeur."

"Furthermore, I have already dispatched messengers on horseback to catch up with Commander Gao and retrieve the imperial edict."

"I also personally wrote a letter to General Pei explaining the details of this tragedy. Although Zhang's actions were unintentional, she has caused so many deaths and committed a grave mistake. Zhang must bow her head and apologize to General Pei."

"Could the Prime Minister personally go to Youzhou and explain things to General Pei?"

Prime Minister Pang remained silent for a long time.

Looking at Emperor Jian'an, whose eyes were filled with hope as if grasping at a lifeline, he slowly said, "This old minister is also over sixty years old. I am old and frail, and I am afraid I cannot withstand the bumpy journey."

Emperor Jian'an pleaded gently, "Of all the civil and military officials in the court, the only one I can trust and rely on is the Prime Minister."

Prime Minister Pang felt a bitter taste in his mouth, but even more bitterness in his heart.

He suddenly remembered that at this time last year, he, this old man, had carried the deadly imperial decree of marriage to Liaoxi County. Pei Qinghe, out of consideration for their past relationship, spared his life.

This time, he was going to see Pei Qinghe with the devastating news that all the old women of the Pei family had died at the hands of Zhang... Would he be able to come back alive?

Such trust and reliance are better left unused.

However, before Prime Minister Pang could come up with a suitable reason to refuse, Emperor Jian'an hurriedly continued: "I will issue an edict immediately, and the Prime Minister shall set off early tomorrow morning. I will send someone to deliver a message to Gao Yong, instructing him to wait at the official post station to meet the Prime Minister. Together we will go to Yan County."

Prime Minister Pang sighed sadly and accepted the order with clasped hands.

When I left the palace, it was pitch black and rain was pouring down.

Prime Minister Pang shrank back, glanced up, and sighed again.

Heaven has changed.

(End of this chapter)