Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 44 The Visitor (Part 1)

How could I not panic?

The pit was only half dug, with about twenty bandit corpses piled up to the side. If outsiders saw this scene... just thinking about it made Mao Hongling's scalp tingle.

"Could it be that the authorities have been alerted?" Pei Yun's pretty face turned pale, and she lowered her voice to a whisper: "We have already killed three groups of bandits. There are more than a dozen people hanging under the tree. Although their mouths are gagged so they can't make a sound, they are still too conspicuous. Perhaps a passerby saw them and went to report to the authorities."

“They’re not from the county government.” Pei Qinghe said calmly, “Given Magistrate Wang’s temperament, if he knew that the Pei family had killed so many bandits, he would just pretend to be deaf and dumb and would not provoke the Pei family at all.”

“You guys keep digging here, I’m going to meet the guests.”

Without hesitation, Pei Yan chimed in, "Cousin Qinghe, I'll go with you."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly, put down the shovel, and strode forward.

Peijia Village wasn't large; it would only take the time it takes to drink two cups of tea to walk from here to the village entrance. A sudden, rapid clatter of hooves approached, and over a hundred fine horses came galloping in, kicking up clouds of dust.

Pei Qinghe had excellent eyesight. With a quick glance, he took in the flags fluttering in the wind and realized, "So it's the Beiping Army."

There were four garrison troops in Youzhou, with the Beiping Army being the most valiant. Its commander, General Meng, was a skilled and courageous warrior, ranking among the top military officers in the Dajing Dynasty. Moreover, General Meng was a member of the Crown Prince's faction.

It seems her letter to the Crown Prince had a significant effect. Therefore, the Beiping army specifically sent people to Peijia Village.

In their previous life, the Pei family struggled to survive in Changping County, and General Meng, who lived hundreds of miles away, never offered them any help.

When the Crown Prince was deposed and the Prince of Wei ascended the throne, General Meng was transferred to serve as a palace guard in the capital. He was dismissed from his post in less than two years. After the Beiping army changed its commander, its fighting strength was far inferior to before. They were utterly defeated by the Xiongnu cavalry, their commander was killed in battle, and the remnants of the defeated army scattered and fled, becoming bandits who looted and committed atrocities even more severely than ordinary bandits.

When she led the Pei family army to wipe out the mountain bandits, she also took care of two other groups of bandits. Who knows, maybe one of these guests is an "acquaintance"!

Pei Yan, being recklessly bold, blurted out, "Should we teach them a lesson?"

Pei Qinghe was both amused and exasperated, and rolled her eyes at her: "They're here on orders to take care of us. Don't cause trouble!"

In the short span of two sentences, more than a hundred fine horses had arrived.

The leading horse was entirely black except for its four snow-white hooves, its coat smooth and shiny, exuding an extraordinary air of power. Riding it was a boy of sixteen or seventeen.

The young man had striking features, and was extremely handsome. His sun-tanned, bronze skin gave him a touch of untamed wildness.

The young man did not dismount, but looked over with a disdainful air: "You are Miss Pei Liu?"

Pei Qinghe remained calm and smiled slightly: "Exactly."

Pei Yan was somewhat annoyed and glared at the other person fiercely.

Even the Prince of Zhangwu wasn't that arrogant. Who did this young man think he was, daring to be so disrespectful to his cousin Qinghe!

The boy ignored Pei Yan's provocative gaze and casually looked Pei Qinghe up and down: "My surname is Meng, and coincidentally, I'm the sixth in my family. You can call me Meng Liulang."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "So it's General Meng."

Flattery never fails. This address of "Young General Meng" was perfectly timed. Meng Liulang grinned, his expression softening considerably: "My father ordered me to come to Pei Family Village to deliver some grain. I've taken the cavalry ahead; the grain wagons will arrive in half a day."

It turns out they were delivering grain.

Pei Yan's expression immediately softened, and she no longer found Meng Liulang's arrogance annoying: "Thank you, General Meng."

"Please, General Meng, dismount and rest in the village for a while." Pei Qinghe was exceptionally polite to the wealthy family who came to deliver grain: "And everyone else, please dismount and rest for half a day."

Meng Liulang dismounted and, once he stood still, was a full head taller than Pei Qinghe. He was tall with long legs, long arms, and a slender waist; his figure was quite handsome. His movements were agile and nimble, demonstrating considerable skill.

Pei Qinghe glanced over. Meng Liulang subconsciously straightened his back, like a male peacock spreading its tail feathers.

Meng Liulang knew, of course, that he was handsome. In the military camp, he was surrounded by rough-looking soldiers. But whenever he left the camp, young women and wives everywhere would blush with embarrassment at the sight of him.

This Miss Pei, who was favored by His Highness the Crown Prince, had delicate features and a spirited demeanor, which suited his eye very well.

Young men are always awkward, and they unconsciously put on an arrogant look.

Pei Qinghe glanced at him again, then smiled and led the way: "General Meng, this way please."

Meng Liulang grunted in acknowledgment and strode forward unhurriedly: "Miss Pei is so young, yet she has become the clan leader. Are the Pei family members all satisfied with this?"

Pei Qinghe said, "I am completely convinced."

Meng Liulang: "..."

Pei Yan, her ears perked up, immediately chimed in loudly, "Cousin Qinghe is amazing and capable; we're all happy to listen to her."

Meng Liulang glanced over and asked, "Could this one also be a young lady?"

Pei Yan had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a robust physique, making it indeed difficult to tell her gender. However, all male members of the Pei family over the age of eight had been beheaded. Meng Liulang was asking a question he already knew the answer to.

Pei Yan didn't care and puffed out her chest: "I am a girl, that's true, but my skills are no less than a man's. If General Meng wants to give me some pointers, I'm always ready."

Pei Qinghe glanced over: "You must not be rude to distinguished guests."

Pei Yan immediately shut up.

Just as Meng Liulang was about to speak, his nose suddenly twitched, and his expression hardened: "Such a strong smell of blood!"

The soldiers behind him immediately became alert and quickly stepped forward to protect Meng Liulang.

This Pei Family Village looks ordinary from the outside, but once you enter, everything is unusual. There isn't a soul in sight, not even a child, and the stench of blood wafts through the air.

Pei Qinghe smiled and explained, "No need to be nervous. Yesterday, some bandits attacked Pei Family Village. We had to kill a few to protect ourselves. We've already washed the ground with well water, and it will be dry after a few days."

Everyone: "..."

Meng Liulang coughed, breaking the silence: "Why is no one in the village?"

"They're digging a pit over there to bury the bodies." Pei Qinghe politely invited, "General Meng, would you like to go take a look?"

In broad daylight, under a clear sky, the young girl's face was radiant, her eyes smiling.

Meng Liulang felt a chill run down his spine for no reason, but he refused to admit defeat in the slightest: "Alright, please lead the way, Miss Pei."

The soldiers, accustomed to fighting and dying on the battlefield, were naturally unafraid. They followed Pei Liu toward the north of the village.

A sparse grove of trees came into view.

There were still traces of blood and signs of a fierce fight on the ground. A sturdy rope hung from the tree trunk, with figures dangling below. As the wind blew and the branches swayed, the figures suspended by the rope also swayed.

More than twenty corpses were piled up in one place, and a thick stench of blood filled the air.

Dozens of women of varying ages were working together to dig a pit. Hearing footsteps, they all stopped and turned around.

(End of this chapter)