Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 425 Loyalty (Part Two)

"Pei Feng, I'll give you two thousand soldiers. You'll lead them to take over Fang County. Are you willing?"

Pei Feng was completely unprepared and almost stunned by the question: "I...I'm only fifteen years old. I want to stay with my cousin for a few more years."

Pei Xuan was sent to the Fanyang army, and he knew that he would have to lead troops himself someday. But this was way too early!

Isn't there Commander Feng in the army?
Gu Lian and Sun Cheng are both capable of leading troops independently, demonstrating that Pei Qinghe is not practicing nepotism and equally trusts and values ​​the non-family generals in the Pei family army. Why was Feng Chang singled out?

Pei Feng's doubts were clearly written on his face.

Pei Qinghe didn't elaborate, only saying calmly, "I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to think it over. If you're willing to go, then go and muster the troops to prepare for departure. If you're not willing, then let Pei Yan go."

Pei Feng: "..."

Pei Yan: "..."

The siblings' eyes widened instantly, and they quickly exchanged a glance.

Pei Yan, who was known as the invincible female bully of the Pei family, who had defeated all her younger cousins, rarely lowered her head and offered Pei Feng a fawning smile: "Pei Feng, you are a young hero, intelligent and decisive, far superior to me. I am impulsive and reckless, and when I'm hot-blooded, I don't care about anything. I am simply not fit to be the commander of an army. The important task of leading the Fang army should be yours."

Pei Feng twitched his lips: "Cousin Pei Yan is too modest. Everyone knows you are a fierce tiger in the Pei family army, charging into battle with unparalleled might and domineering presence. If you go to lead the Fang army camp, you won't even need to clean up the remnants; just showing your ferocious face will be enough to intimidate them."

Pei Yan continued with a forced smile: "It's not as amazing as you make it out to be. I can only serve as Qinghe's personal guard and foot soldier. I have neither the patience nor the ability to lead troops on my own. You are different. Among the twenty-odd young men of the Pei family, you are the eldest. You uphold the reputation of the Pei family's male members. It is the best choice for Qinghe to send you to lead the Fang Army."

Pei Feng said expressionlessly, "You are five years older than me."

Pei Yan quickly replied, "Besides being older than you, I'm inferior to you in every other way."

Pei Feng kept a straight face: "I can also be Qinghe's personal guard, and I can charge into battle just like her. I can do anything you do."

Pei Yan nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, that's right. You can do what I can do, but I can't do what you can do. It's clear that you are much better than me. This important task is rightfully yours."

Sparks flew in Pei Feng's eyes: "Why can you stay by Qinghe's side forever while I have to go out and lead troops?"

Pei Yan pretended to wipe the corner of her eye: "You are a man of integrity, and I am a woman, so please give way to me."

How dare you, a dark-skinned, fierce, and infamous ruthless female general, pretend to be weak?
Pei Feng's eyes reddened. It was unclear whether it was from anger at her unruly cousin or from feeling too wronged.

Pei Qinghe hadn't expected Pei Feng to react so strongly, and glared helplessly at Pei Yan. Pei Yan immediately let go and shut her mouth.

"You can go out first," Pei Qinghe said. "I want to speak with Pei Feng alone."

Having gotten the better deal, Pei Yan readily agreed and made her escape. Only Pei Qinghe and Pei Feng remained in the military tent. Pei Feng could no longer suppress the grievances and reluctance in her heart; her eyes grew redder and redder, and she pouted like she did when she was a child: "Cousin Qinghe, I can't bear to leave you."

Pei Qinghe sighed softly, "Pei Feng, I'm also reluctant to part with you. But I don't have many people around me who are reliable, trustworthy, and capable."

"I must take advantage of my great victory and rising prestige to quickly expand my territory and power. Otherwise, even if I ascend the throne, I will only be a puppet emperor. Just like Xie Li back then, who relied on the Zhang family for everything. The generals in the north were outwardly loyal but inwardly resentful. They outwardly submitted to the emperor but secretly carved out their own territories and became warlords."

"I want to become the emperor and truly rule the north. The first step is to take control of all the northern armies."

"The Chang Le Army, the Runan Army, and the Fang Army took advantage of my absence while I was fighting the Xiongnu barbarians to launch an attack, attempting to seize Bohai Commandery and also to attack Peijia Village. However, they were utterly defeated. How could I not take these three commanderies?"

“Gu Lian has been with me for more than eight years. She is cunning and resourceful. I sent her to Chang Le County, the largest territory in the country.”

“Sun Cheng arrived a few years late, but he was loyal and made many contributions. Moreover, he had served in the imperial army for several years. He was not only good at leading troops, but also experienced and steady in his actions. He chose Runan County, which was slightly more prosperous.”

"Daifang County is somewhat remote, but it's quite large. Once you get there, your first step is to take over the military camp and clear out the remaining soldiers. Those willing to join the Pei family army, spare their lives. Those unwilling to surrender, kill them all—be ruthless and swift. Then, while recruiting and training soldiers, eliminate the bandits and outlaws in Daifang County. Next spring, you also need to supervise the government's spring planting. In short, there's so much to do."

“Pei Yan is impetuous and only knows how to fight. He is not suitable for stationing troops in the field. I have no choice but to send you.”

Pei Feng wiped his eyes with his right hand, his voice still tinged with grievance: "I understand everything you're saying. When leading troops in the field, one must be a completely reliable and trustworthy person. Otherwise, if they later secretly disobey orders and establish their own independent regime, it will be a huge problem. My cousin Pei Yan is not cut out for that."

"Why not let Feng Chang go? In terms of seniority and ability, he is more than qualified."

Pei Qinghe was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I'm only telling you about this. Don't let it slip, especially don't let Pei Yan know."

Pei Feng's heart sank suddenly.

Pei Qinghe lowered her voice and recounted how Feng Changzeng had secretly contacted the Zhang family.

Pei Feng's pupils constricted, his face contorted with rage. He gritted his teeth and cursed, "That Feng Chang! How dare he! If it weren't for you taking him in back then, cousin, he would have starved to death in Yanshan long ago. He actually dared to betray the Pei family army! Why let him go? I'll go kill him right now!"

"Don't be impulsive." Pei Qinghe gripped Pei Feng's hand tightly with her right hand. "Feng Changxin wavered, but ultimately didn't betray me. Without sufficient reason, I can't just kill a veteran with such distinguished service. Otherwise, wouldn't that dishearten Gu Liansun? What would Yang Hu and Li Chi think of me? And what would the Meng brothers, who later joined me, think?"

"You should keep this to yourself. Don't tell anyone. You know Pei Yan's temper; if she finds out about this, she'll definitely kill Feng Chang."

"Precisely because I avoided Feng Chang, it was inconvenient for me to send anyone else from the army to lead Fang County. Tao Feng and the others are not as capable or experienced as Feng Chang. How could I explain sending them to everyone?"

“Only if you go can you win everyone’s hearts. You are my cousin, Pei Qinghe’s cousin, and the head of the Pei family’s male line. In the eyes of others, my sending you out to lead the troops is just a selfish move to let a direct descendant of the Pei family lead the troops.”

Pei Feng took a deep breath: "Okay, I'll go."

(End of this chapter)