Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 363 Old Friend
Pei Qinghe gave the fifty-year-old woman a cold look.

The woman, full of resentment and complaints, was terrified by the icy gaze and immediately shut her mouth.

Magistrate Zeng, however, saw a glimmer of hope and knelt down with a thud: "General, I truly do not know Xu's true identity or background. Five years ago, my family was traveling when we encountered Xu, who was on the verge of death. Unable to bear seeing her perish, I took her home, found a doctor to treat her, and she drank herbal medicine for half a year before recovering. Later, grateful for my kindness, she wished to become my concubine. So I took her in..."

For a beautiful, lonely woman to survive in a chaotic world is no easy task. Before meeting Magistrate Zeng, Xu had clearly suffered greatly and nearly lost her life. Once she became involved with Magistrate Zeng, she refused to let go.

Pei Qinghe couldn't stand listening to this, so she gave Pei Xuan a wink.

Pei Xuan nodded slightly, quickly stepped forward, gagged Magistrate Zeng and the others, and escorted them out. Only Madam Xu remained.

Yang Hu and the others tactfully took their leave.

Only Pei's direct descendants remained in the room. They all stood beside Pei Qinghe, looking at Xu Shi, whom they hadn't seen for many years, with cold and wary eyes.

Under everyone's gaze, Madam Xu trembled uncontrollably, and mustered her courage to look at Pei Qinghe: "Qinghe, when I left back then, you told me that if I had nowhere else to go, I should go to Youzhou to find you. I have always kept that in mind."

“After I left you, I wandered around for a long time. Later, I met Magistrate Zeng and finally had a peaceful life. Over the years, I have always kept you in my heart.”

"The Pei family army's reputation is growing, and I have always been secretly proud and happy for you."

Pei Feng couldn't hold back any longer: "Since Third Aunt knows that the Pei family army is living a good life, why don't you come to Pei Family Village to find us?"

Ms. Xu hesitated and said, "In the second year after I entered the Zeng family, I became pregnant and gave birth to a son."

So, she abandoned Xiaoyu'er and the Pei family's past. She lived a good life with a husband and children. If she hadn't run into the Pei family today, Xu would never have admitted that she was once Pei's wife.

Pei Feng snorted.

Pei Xuan tugged at Pei Feng's sleeve, signaling him to keep quiet. Pei Feng suppressed his anger and looked at Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe's gaze was cold, and her words were sharp: "An County and Bohai Prefecture are only eighty li apart. Magistrate Zeng was sent to be the magistrate of An County, which means he must have gone through the Zhang family's connections. Therefore, you dare not contact the Pei family at all."

Mrs. Xu was speechless, clearly having been right.

Magistrate Zeng not only had connections with the Zhang family, but he had also been a loyal henchman of General Zhang.

"You should already know about the feud between the Pei and Zhang families," Pei Qinghe said coldly. "I have led a large army to punish the Zhang family and avenge our elders. The Pei and Zhang families are sworn enemies."

"If it weren't for you, I could have kept Magistrate Zeng. But now it's not convenient to keep him any longer."

"Go with Magistrate Zeng! If we meet again, we will be enemies, and I will show no mercy."

Tears streamed down Xu's face as she trembled uncontrollably, pleading, "General! For the sake of our past relationship, please spare us and give us a way to live."

If we leave the city like this, and we happen to encounter refugees or bandits on the way, everything will be over.

Pei Qinghe remained unmoved, her heart as cold as iron: "I'll give you one hour. You can take as much luggage as you want."

As for anything else, don't ask for more.

Mrs. Xu covered her face and left in tears.

Pei Xuan let out a sigh of frustration and muttered angrily, "If she would even ask Xiao Yu'er a question, I might think more highly of her."

But Xu Shi never once asked about her abandoned daughter. It was utterly heartless. "Everyone, keep your mouths shut. Keep this a secret. Don't tell Xiaoyu'er." Pei Qinghe finally removed her cold mask and sighed, "Let Xiaoyu'er believe that her biological mother is already dead!"

“He was already dead long ago,” Pei Feng complained. “He’s been gone for over seven years without a trace. What’s the difference between him and someone who’s dead?”

Pei Xuan volunteered: "General, I'll keep an eye on the Zeng family. When the time comes, I'll urge them to leave."

Pei Qinghe nodded.

This unexpected little incident was like a pebble falling into the center of a lake, creating a small ripple that quickly disappeared.

It is unknown how Madam Xu and Magistrate Zeng and his wife explained it.

The Zeng family hurriedly packed up their valuables, and an hour later, a dozen or so Zeng family members, carrying bundles, left the city in a disheveled state, their figures quickly disappearing into the vast darkness.

……

Pei Qinghe summoned Yang Hu, Li Chi, and Lü Feng, and said in a deep voice, "We have occupied An County to use as a military camp, and we must not disturb the people."

"By order of the General, anyone who harasses the people without authorization shall be dealt with according to military regulations."

The Guangning Army, Liaoxi Army, and Fanyang Army were originally bandits, but for the past year or so, they have been training their troops using the Pei family army's methods, with equally strict military regulations. Upon hearing this, they all nodded in agreement: "Yes, I will go and relay the military order right away."

"General, rest assured, my men are much more obedient now and would never dare to violate military discipline."

Unfortunately, those who speak too confidently are immediately proven wrong.

Sun Cheng, who was in charge of patrolling the city, came in with a grim face and reported: "General, someone ran out without permission, kicked open the door of a commoner's house, robbed the family of their belongings, and even tried to harass the girl. He was stabbed by the girl with scissors, and in a fit of rage, he tried to kill her with a knife. Fortunately, our men discovered him in time and stopped him."

Pei Qinghe's face was as cold as ice: "Where is he? Bring him here!"

Yang Hu, Li Chi, and Lü Feng also looked unhappy, secretly praying that it wasn't one of their own people.

When that damned bastard was brought into the main hall, Lü Feng's face quickly turned bright red, like a pig's liver. Yang Hu and Li Chi both breathed a sigh of relief, now able to watch the show with amusement.

Pei Qinghe glanced at Lü Feng: "Is this one of your men?"

Lü Feng, his face full of shame, replied, "Yes."

In fact, the discipline of the Fanyang army is much better than before. In the past year, Lü Feng has been training his troops like crazy and has been very strict with them. However, the Fanyang army's fundamental nature is what it is, and it will not be easy for them to completely transform themselves.

On the other hand, the Liaoxi Army had almost all of its veterans dead, and the newly recruited soldiers had to abide by strict military regulations from the start, so they didn't have time to pick up the bad habits of the military camp.

Pei Qinghe did not reprimand Lü Feng, but said calmly, "Training soldiers is not something that can be accomplished overnight. I know you have done your best, so there is no need to feel ashamed or blame yourself. This person is your responsibility."

Lu Feng bowed and led the man away.

Yang Hu and Li Chi also bowed and took their leave. They quickly summoned their subordinates and gave them a stern warning. These matters need not be elaborated upon.

The girl who almost died at the hands of soldiers and bandits was brought before Pei Qinghe.

A pretty girl of fifteen or sixteen, gripping the scissors tightly with fear and nervousness, mustered her courage to look at the legendary General Pei.

(End of this chapter)