Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 418 Arrangement
With Pei Yan present, the military tent was exceptionally lively.

Pei Qinghe was sometimes amused, sometimes speechless with anger, and sometimes she wanted to glare at Pei Yan or scold her. She didn't have time to be gloomy and sad anymore.

Pei Zhi, who is usually very talkative, was acting differently today. She seemed absent-minded, lost in thought. She kept stealing glances at Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe found it somewhat amusing and asked directly, "Pei Zhi, is there something you want to tell me?"

Pei Qinghe is the commander-in-chief of the Pei family army and the patriarch of the Pei clan. Everyone in the Pei family listens to her.

Pei Zhi hesitated, "It's nothing serious, it's just..."

“It’s because she wants to get married.” Pei Yan quickly chimed in, “She’s only a few months younger than me, but she’s already twenty this year, almost an old maid.”

Pei Zhi was so angry that she didn't even bother to pretend to be shy. She glared at him and said, "What's wrong with wanting to get married? You've been married for over a year. Why can't I get married?"

Then, he looked at Pei Qinghe with great confidence: "I want to get married, please grant my request, cousin Qinghe."

Pei Qinghe chuckled: "You and Yang Hu have been engaged for over three years, it's time to get married. Don't wait until you go back, just like Pei Yun and Pei Yan did back then, get married in the army."

“Pei Zhi is older and it’s her wedding day, so the wedding date is set for ten days from now. Pei Xuan, you can wait another ten days. By then, I will be able to stay here and personally officiate the wedding for you.”

Pei Zhi blushed and nodded.

Pei Xuan didn't hesitate at all and readily agreed.

According to the customs of the court, when an uncle or brother dies, Lü Erlang must either wait a year or get married within a month. Pei Xuan is going to lead troops in Fanyang Army, so marrying Lü Erlang as soon as possible will allow her to rightfully take over the Fanyang Army.

Pei Qinghe thought for a moment and then said, "You two, go and call Yang Hu and Lü Erlang over. I want to ask them their thoughts personally. If they don't want to get married so hastily, then we can postpone it and hold the wedding a few months later when we return to Yan County."

Yang Hu arrived first. Upon hearing that the wedding would take place in ten days, Yang Hu was overjoyed. He was no longer the confident and resourceful general he was known for, and said repeatedly, "No need to wait, we'll do as the general says, the wedding will take place in ten days."

He had been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Pei Qinghe smiled slightly: "Then it's settled."

Yang Hu's grin stretched almost to his ears as he turned to look at Pei Zhi. Pei Zhi, usually so mischievous, was unusually shy today, her pretty face flushed and she remained silent.

After a moment, Lü Erlang also came in.

Lu Erlang had cried countless times in the past few days. Not only were his eyes red and swollen, but his handsome face was also puffy and he looked extremely haggard.

Pei Xuan simply called him over without saying anything else. Lu Erlang, his mind still foggy, bowed respectfully. Then, General Pei slowly said, "Lu Sheng, your elder brother Lu Feng died on the battlefield; he was a true hero."

Lu Erlang felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, and tears streamed down his face.

Pei Qinghe's face fell, and she sighed softly before continuing, "I want you and Pei Xuan to get married in twenty days. Then you can lead the Fanyang army together, with Pei Xuan as the head and you as her deputy. Are you willing?"

Caught off guard, Lü Erlang's mind went blank for a moment.

Pei Qinghe looked at Lü Erlang and slowly said, "If you are unwilling, then go to Fanyang Army alone. Your marriage with Pei Xuan can be discussed again after a year."

Lu Erlang suddenly came to his senses: "No need to wait, just listen to the general. Xuanmei and I will get married in twenty days, and then we will lead the Fanyang Army together."

"Are you convinced that Pei Xuan will be the commander-in-chief?" Pei Qinghe's gaze fell on Lü Erlang's face.

Lu Erlang answered swiftly, "Xuanmei is superior to me in both literary and military talent, and she also surpasses me in training and leading troops. She is the commander-in-chief, and I am the deputy commander; I am completely convinced." Emotionally, he was willing to submit. Rationally, he should submit even more. The fates of the four armies that refused to submit to Pei Qinghe are clear!
The Zhang family, father and son, were killed, and the Bohai Army was decimated. The commander of the Changle Army was beheaded, and the Runan Army and the Fang Army were also routed, with their commanders killed. As the second army to join the Pei family, the Fanyang Army was able to retain its banner and expand its forces in the future. What more could he, the soon-to-be son-in-law of the Pei family, possibly want?
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly: "Okay, then it's settled."

Lu Erlang bowed and thanked the general.

Pei Xuan saw Lü Erlang out of the military tent, and after walking a short distance, she stopped and said softly, "Brother Lü, don't worry. In the future, when we go to Fanyang Army, I will discuss everything with you and will not act unilaterally."

Lü Erlang mustered his courage and grasped Pei Xuan's hand. Pei Xuan chuckled softly and returned the gesture, taking Lü Erlang's hand in return. The two gazed at each other in the wind.

Immersed in grief over his brother's death in battle, Lü Erlang finally rallied and a smile returned to his face.

……

After accepting the important task, Shi Yan immediately got busy.

According to precedent, weddings in the military are simple: a few tables are set up for a celebratory banquet, where the officers of rank eat and drink. Then all the soldiers in the camp are given a meal of meat, and that is considered the ceremony complete.

With a large army of nearly 50,000 soldiers, feeding them enough meat was no easy task. The stored cured meat, smoked meat, and dried meat in the warehouses were all used up, and several thousand pigs, sheep, chickens, and ducks needed to be purchased. In addition, there were wedding halls to be set up and two new rooms to be prepared. All these trivial matters had to be handled by the steward, who was so busy he didn't even have time to drink water.

The wounded soldiers' camp was the busiest place. There were so many wounded soldiers that there were never enough military doctors. Dr. Lu had only slept three or four hours in total over the past few days.

Meng Bing comforted the wounded soldiers in the wounded soldiers' camp every day, Meng Liulang suffered a minor injury and needed to recuperate, and Li Chi inspected the military camp every day.

Pei Qinghe, the commander, spent his days lying in bed recovering from his injuries, making him the most leisurely of them all.

Yang Hu, who was about to become a groom, was beaming with joy, which goes without saying. However, it was Lü Erlang, whose elder brother had died and who was about to marry, who attracted more attention.

Li Chi, who had always been at odds with Lü Feng, went to Lü Feng's grave to burn paper money during the seventh day after Lü Feng's death.

A tall, brave, and impulsive young man, full of passion and recklessness, turned into a pile of dust in the blink of an eye.

Li Chi carried the wine jug and sprinkled the wine in front of the grave.

“Lu Feng, I underestimated you before and often made fun of you.”

"You are a true hero."

"I, Li Chi, am completely convinced of your worth. Today, I offer you a pot of fine wine. After you drink this wine, go in peace! May you be reborn into a good family soon."

Li Chi sighed deeply, his eyes slightly red.

Kneeling before the grave, Lü Erlang wept bitterly.

Meng Liulang and Yang Hu, who had come to the grave together, also stepped forward to offer wine in turn.

Meng Liulang still had bandages on his arms and legs, making it difficult for him to walk. He said to the grave, "Brother Lü, may you have a safe journey."

Lu Erlang cried uncontrollably.

Yang Hu sighed, squatted down to burn paper money with him, and whispered to comfort Lü Erlang: "No one is safe from death in war. Even you and I, if we go to the battlefield again one day, we might die on the battlefield at any time. Your brother died a worthy death."

Lu Erlang's voice was hoarse from crying, and he couldn't speak. He could only nod vigorously.

(End of this chapter)