Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 392 Support (Part 3)

"Prime Minister Pang and his colleagues have already submitted their third memorial."

Lu Feng went to find Yang Hu in private and said with a gleam in his eyes, "We can't just stand by and watch. Let's also jointly write a memorial to the throne and ask General Pei to ascend the throne."

Yang Hu chuckled softly, "To be honest, Brother Lü, I've already written the memorial. I was just waiting for you to arrive so I could sign your name on it as well."

Lü Feng was overjoyed: "That's wonderful! I'm completely illiterate and was worried about how to write the memorial. It's great that Brother Yang is willing to take me along."

Li Chi approached at some point and said, "Brother Yang, please write my name down as well."

Despite their usual rivalry, the generals were completely united on this matter. Yang Hu nodded and, in front of the two men, wrote down their names. Then, the three of them went to see Pei Qinghe together.

Military generals don't mince words or grand pronouncements. Yang Hu first presented his memorial, then said solemnly, "Please, General, ascend the throne as soon as possible to reassure the army."

Li Chi and Lü Fengyi echoed, "Please, General, ascend the throne."

Pei Qinghe accepted the joint memorial from the three: "I know your intentions. Don't rush, wait a little longer."

“Bohai Commandery has been captured for over two months, and the New Year is just a few days away.” Lü Feng blurted out, “The civil officials are all suggesting that General establish a new dynasty and ascend the throne on New Year’s Day. What are you waiting for, General?”

Yang Hu's heart skipped a beat, and he whispered, "General, are you perhaps waiting for the Pingyang Army, Taiyuan Army, Puyang Army, and Changshan Army to make a statement?"

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "They have all met with me privately and expressed their support for me. There were originally twenty armies in the north, but the Bohai Army was decimated. I have you and the Beiping Army under my command. General Lu and his men also support me. So, half of the army supports my ascension to the throne. As for the other half, we have to wait for them to express their stance."

Even if someone effectively controls a region, they still have to submit a memorial to the throne to show their subservience. Only then can she be considered the rightful emperor of the new dynasty, truly deserving of the people's support.

Li Chi was quick-witted and could flatter ten men at once. He immediately said, "General, you were born by the mandate of heaven to fight the Xiongnu, protect the people, and safeguard the country. It's only a matter of time before they bow down and submit."

Lu Feng glanced at Li Chi with jealousy. "You've said all the nice things, what am I supposed to say?"
“It would be too hasty to ascend the throne on New Year’s Day,” Pei Qinghe said calmly, revealing his plans. “Also, I don’t want to ascend the throne in Bohai County.”

Yang Hu reacted the fastest: "General, your place of origin is Youzhou, so you should make Youzhou your capital in the future."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly: "Youzhou has seven prefectures and currently has five armies. In terms of military strength, it is the strongest in the north. Youzhou has a strategic location and is a necessary passage for the Xiongnu barbarians to move south. Since I am going to be the emperor of the north, I will station troops in Youzhou, set up the capital in Yan Prefecture, and personally guard the country's gate."

The king dies for the country, and the emperor guards the national border.

The same thought flashed through the minds of all three, and a surge of warmth welled up in their chests.

Only someone like Pei Qinghe deserves their respect and homage.

"When we fight the Xiongnu in the future, General, you must let me lead the vanguard." Lü Feng said passionately.

Li Chi suddenly stabbed Lü Feng in the heart: "General Lü, you should fight a battle when things are going well! Leave the direct confrontation with the Xiongnu barbarians to General Yang and me."

Lu Feng glared at him angrily, his eyes wide as copper bells.

Well, it's a fact that the Fanyang army was weak, and even with strenuous training, they still couldn't compare to the Guangning and Liaoxi armies. Compared to the Pei family army, they were far inferior. This wasn't apparent when they were winning, but when faced with truly formidable opponents, the Fanyang army would falter and easily collapse and flee.

I can't be too blunt about the truth, it's too embarrassing.

Pei Qinghe glanced at Li Chi.

Knowing he had gone too far, Li Chi cupped his hands in apology to Lü Fenggong.

Pei Qinghe did not rush to ascend the throne and spent the New Year in Bohai County. On New Year's Day, Prime Minister Pang led a group of civil officials into the palace, where Pei Qinghe met with them in the Golden Palace. She did not sit on the dragon throne, but simply stood casually before the officials, displaying an extraordinary demeanor that was unmatched by others.

"We, your humble servants, have submitted memorials several times, but the general has not responded. Could it be that the general has some concerns?" Prime Minister Pang spoke on behalf of all the civil officials: "Please give us your instructions directly, the general. We will do our best to assist you."

Pei Qinghe and Pang Cheng exchanged glances for a moment, then Pei Qinghe slowly said, "First, I need to wait for the memorials from all the military generals in the North."

After a moment's thought, Prime Minister Pang said, "After I return, I will immediately write ten letters and send them out."

Such matters are indeed more suitable to be handled by Prime Minister Pang.

Pei Qinghe continued, "I want to establish my capital in Yan County, and then station troops in Youzhou to keep the Xiongnu barbarians out of the pass."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Pang was filled with respect, and Vice Minister Qin and others were also full of admiration.

Emperor Jian'an's mediocrity and weakness are obvious to all. After several years on the throne, he only knew how to rely on the Zhang family. Pei Qinghe, on the other hand, won the throne on horseback and had the ambition and courage to protect the country.

"Your Excellency, I am truly convinced now." After leaving the palace, Minister Qin hitched a ride with Prime Minister Pang in his carriage and sighed, "General Pei is indeed a hero of our time, worthy of our respect and admiration."

Prime Minister Pang glanced at Vice Minister Qin: "You were all so anxious before, jumping around and submitting a joint petition. Look at General Pei, how calm and composed he is, not in the slightest bit hasty."

Qin Shilang replied with shame, then thought for a moment and said in a low voice, "General Pei wants to establish the capital in Yan County, so we will all have to go to Yan County together in the future."

Prime Minister Pang nodded and said, "Judging from General Pei's intentions, there is no rush to establish a new dynasty and set up a new capital. We might as well plan carefully so that General Pei can ascend the throne with dignity and composure."

Vice Minister Qin responded repeatedly.

He is the Vice Minister of Rites, and is a professional at handling the emperor's enthronement ceremony. Since there's no rush, there's plenty of time to arrange things at a leisurely pace.

……

Prime Minister Pang wrote ten letters and sent them out to each of them.

The civil officials, including Minister Qin, packed their bags and prepared to set off for Yan County to settle down.

General Lu and General Ge bid farewell to Pei Qinghe, saying, "We will definitely go to Yan County when you ascend the throne."

Next to leave were Song Dalang and General Fei. Each of them took two thousand prisoners of war and a batch of military rations with them.

"We've been treated to food and gifts, we're really sorry," General Fei said, rubbing his hands together.

Song Dalang, on the other hand, was quite frank: "From now on, we will all regard General Pei as the emperor and obey his orders. Taking some bribes is only right and proper."

General Fei thought about it and grinned, "We'll meet again in Yan County in a few months."

Before the spring plowing season, Yang Hu, Li Chi, and Lü Feng all led their troops away.

The overcrowded Bohai County suddenly became much more relaxed. The pressure on military supplies also eased considerably. Shi Yan, who had been racking his brains for months to procure military supplies, breathed a long sigh of relief.

As the people of Bohai County gradually calmed down, Pei Qinghe was finally able to deal with the prisoners of war.

(End of this chapter)