Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 354 Bad News (Part 1)

The day the bad news reached Peijia Village was an ordinary day.

Pei Qinghe led the new recruits in drills as usual. For the past six months, the Pei family army had been recruiting and training soldiers. At the beginning, most of the new recruits were thin and timid, looking fearful and confused. After eating their fill for more than six months, their bodies gradually became stronger and they gained strength. They drilled every day without fail, and their eyes became more determined day by day as they learned to read, write, and recite military regulations.

At this rate, by the time this year is over, the new recruits will be considered trained. After a few more battles, those who survive will become elite soldiers, and in two or three years they will become veterans, who can then become captains and lead new recruits.

The most significant change was seen in the 500 soldiers from Fanyang brought by Lü Erlang. Originally lax, undisciplined, and lacking in combat effectiveness, they underwent rigorous training for over half a year and are now full of energy and have piercing eyes, resembling elite troops.

Pei Qinghe smiled and praised Lü Erlang: "Your soldiers have been training well these days and have made rapid progress."

Lü Erlang replied with a smile, "This is because the general has a good command of troops. Even scrap iron can be forged into a sharp weapon in the general's hands."

"That sycophant." Pei Feng curled his lip and rolled his eyes.

Pei Xuan gave Lü Erlang a sweet smile. Lü Erlang's mouth stretched almost to his ears in a wide grin. In a few days, General Pei would take Pei Xuan to Fanyang Army to propose marriage. He would soon have a formal status!

Yang Huai and Meng Bing, both experienced in such matters, secretly chuckled at Lü Erlang's overjoyed expression. Pei Xuan, though petite and sweet, was incredibly brave in battle and exceptionally clever and resourceful. She had a whole repertoire of methods for manipulating people. Of course, Lü Erlang was more than happy to be with her.

As evening approached, everyone lined up for dinner.

Steward Shi, who had been busy with accounts and calculations all day, also arrived. Those standing next to Pei Qinghe tactfully made way for him.

This was the only preferential treatment that Steward Shi received as the son-in-law of a general.

Only Pei Yan remained motionless, brazenly occupying the closest position to Pei Qinghe.

Yang Huai was helpless, and Shi Yan was already used to it. He greeted Pei Yan with a smile, and then whispered to Pei Qinghe, "All the autumn taxes from the seven prefectures of Youzhou this year have been delivered. I spent the whole day sorting out the accounts today, and I will be busy for another two days. I will ask the general to take a look after the accounts are all sorted out."

Pei Qinghe was in a very good mood: "Thank you for your hard work."

Shi Yan loved seeing Pei Qinghe's relaxed and smiling face, and continued with a smile: "Although the total accounts haven't been calculated yet, judging from the current accounts, we can support several thousand more soldiers next year."

Maintaining an army is incredibly expensive. Training cavalry is an even more staggering expense. We can't overly deplete the people's resources, nor should we excessively exploit powerful families. We need to ensure a substantial source of military funding, procure sufficient supplies, and deal with countless琐碎 matters. Shi Yan, the Grand Commander of the Pei family army, truly lives up to his title, being incredibly busy every day.

Upon hearing that they could raise several thousand more soldiers, Pei Qinghe's brows relaxed and he smiled: "Once the accounts are settled, we'll calculate how many new soldiers we can recruit."

Steaming millet porridge, fluffy steamed buns made from mixed grains, and pickled vegetables. Dinner was simple and ordinary. However, in these days, filling one's stomach was the greatest blessing.

A fast horse galloped into Peijia Village, and the messenger, his face pale and tears streaming down his face, shattered the village's peaceful tranquility.

"General Pei! The old lady and the others died outside the Zhang family's gate. They're all dead. Pei Jia and the others are also dead."

In an instant, all sound disappeared.

Upon hearing the devastating news, Pei Qinghe's first reaction was neither furious outbursts nor heart-wrenching tears; instead, she remained unusually calm: "What exactly happened?"

Pei Yan, her eyes red and her face contorted with rage, strode forward and grabbed the man's collar: "Speak!"

The messenger delivering the death notice was Meng Liulang's personal guard. While the imperial envoy was still en route, Meng Liulang's men rode swiftly to Peijia Village.

Meng Bing was also shocked. He had a limp and was a little slower than Pei Yan: "Quickly explain, what exactly happened?"

The guard, his clothes gripped tightly by Pei Yan, could barely breathe. He managed to squeeze out, "Please let go, Miss Pei Yan." In her rage, Pei Yan resembled a ferocious tiger ready to devour her prey.

"Pei Yan, let go." Pei Qinghe's voice remained calm: "Let him speak."

Pei Yan released her grip, stepped back slightly, and stood beside Pei Qinghe. She was still in a fit of rage, her hands trembling uncontrollably, when a familiar hand grasped her trembling hand.

Pei Yan burst into tears instantly: "Cousin Qinghe, Grandmother and the others are all dead..."

Pei Qinghe's eyes also reddened.

Mao Hongling covered her face and wept bitterly, while Pei Xuan and Pei Feng also shed tears. Pei Yan buried her head in Pei Qinghe's shoulder and sobbed softly.

The messenger wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and recounted the tragedy that had occurred a few days earlier: "...When our general received the news, he rushed over immediately. But the streets outside the Zhang family's gate were packed with people, and we couldn't squeeze in at all. By the time the crowd dispersed and we arrived, Madam Li and the others had all died. The Pei family's hundred elite soldiers had also been killed."

"The general immediately sent me to deliver a message. He also told me to tell General Pei to settle scores and avenge wrongs, without worrying about the bigger picture."

Morality is entirely on the Pei family's side.

Pei's army had no worries whatsoever. They didn't have to bear the stigma of treason. They could openly raise their banner and establish themselves. They could directly send troops to Bohai County to avenge the Zhang family's blood feud with the appearance of a desperate army.

This is the smooth road that my great-aunt and grandmother paved for the Pei family army with their lives.

As the commander of the Pei family army, she should feel fortunate and overjoyed.

But she couldn't laugh, nor could she cry. Her chest felt empty, as if something had been hollowed out. A cold wind, blowing from who-knows-where, blew in.

“Qinghe,” Mao Hongling came over crying, tightly gripping Pei Qinghe’s other hand: “If you want to cry, just cry.”

All I could hear was crying.

Pei Qinghe struggled to lift her eyes and met Mao Hongling's gaze: "Second Sister-in-law, I can't cry."

Extreme anger, extreme sadness, all kinds of emotions surged and collided in my chest, like a volcano about to erupt at any moment.

But she couldn't cry.

Mao Hongling felt heartbroken and distressed, and hugged Pei Qinghe tightly, crying bitterly.

Pei Yan, with her long arms, hugged Pei Qinghe and Mao Hongling together and burst into tears.

The sound of mournful cries quickly spread throughout Peijia Village. Soon, the tragic news became the talk of the town. Upon hearing the news, Madam Feng was shocked; the bowl in her hand fell to the ground and shattered with a loud crash.

Little Yu'er and Little Dog cried as they clung to Madam Feng's arm.

In the Pei family, the first thing the young children learn is about life and death.

Feng cried uncontrollably. After she finished crying, she went to find Pei Qinghe with the help of Xiaoyu and Xiaogou.

As dusk fell, Pei Qinghe stood there stiffly, like a helpless child: "Mother, I feel so sad. But I can't cry."

(End of this chapter)