Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 107 Changping (1)

The devastating news of the approaching Xiongnu cavalry had spread. Panic gripped the people of Changping County. Wealthy families with connections quietly packed their belongings and went to seek refuge with relatives and friends. But most ordinary people, with nowhere else to go, could only pray that the relatively tall city gates would hold back the Xiongnu cavalry.

Upon hearing that Miss Pei had led a group into Changping County, the people mustered their courage and left their homes, crowding towards the city gate.

"This Miss Pei is the daughter of the famous general Pei Zhongde. I heard that she is eight feet tall, has eyes like copper bells, and is incredibly strong, capable of tearing a tiger apart."

"I heard that Miss Pei Liu wiped out all the bandits in Yanshan. Refugees from the mountains flocked to Pei Family Village, and now there are several thousand refugees there."

"With Miss Pei here, she will surely be able to hold off the Xiongnu cavalry."

The people whispered enthusiastically, unconsciously exaggerating the rumors they had heard, as if this would bolster their confidence.

Some people sighed in despair: "Sixth Miss Pei is only fifteen years old. She can fight off mountain bandits, but how can she stop the Xiongnu cavalry? Even the Guangning Army was defeated. The city gate of Anle County is stronger than that of our Changping County, but it still couldn't stop the Xiongnu. Sixth Miss Pei would only be sent to her death if she came."

"Let's go back and dig a cellar to hide. If we hide for half a month, we might be able to escape death."

Such negative and depressing remarks left the slightly excited and jubilant public feeling utterly disheartened.

At that moment, the sound of hooves filled the air, and a black steed led the way into Changping County.

The people held their breath and looked up.

The moment the people saw the beautiful and spirited face of Miss Pei, they all sighed in unison, unsure whether to be shocked or disappointed.

If Miss Pei were truly eight feet tall, with eyes like copper bells and a broad back, it wouldn't matter. But she has this slender and delicate appearance. She's pretty, that's all. But what good is being pretty when defending a county town in battle?

How could such a beautiful young girl be able to protect Changping County and all its people?
and many more!

They must have mistaken her for someone else. The one riding the dappled horse into the city is really Miss Pei Liu! Dark-skinned and strong, with powerful muscles, her eyes gleaming with an excited, fiery light. She's clearly a female tyrant!

"Sixth Miss Pei!" A bolder member of the crowd waved and shouted at the female tyrant. Soon, others joined in, their shouts echoing through the air.

"Huh? Why are they all waving and shouting at me?" Pei Yan was a little confused and turned to ask Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe chuckled softly: "They probably mistook you for me."

Pei Yan chuckled, "Indeed, I look more imposing and powerful this way! I'll shout to them, 'I am Pei Yan, the real Sixth Miss Pei!'"

"No need. The people are filled with fear and unease; mistaking you for them puts their minds at ease." Pei Qinghe didn't care about such details and casually laughed, "Let them shout."

After over a hundred women from the Pei family rode in, they were followed by over six hundred refugees… "Refugees" was no longer an appropriate term. These people were formerly refugees, but had been trained for six months to a year, fought several tough battles in the mountains, and had killed and seen blood. With daily meals to their hearts' content, their thin bodies quickly became strong. They marched in neat formations, their eyes gleaming, displaying the bearing of elite soldiers.

At this moment, calling them the Pei family army is by no means an exaggeration.

The Pei family army consisted of both men and women. In terms of numbers, there were more men. However, the female soldiers were even more imposing, marching with their heads held high and chests out, carrying long spears or long swords, each with sharp eyes.

Among the onlookers were many women who, upon seeing the Pei family's female soldiers, felt a surge of longing.

"Women can also ride horses and fight, killing people with swords and spears." A teenage girl murmured, "If I had a sword in my hand, could I kill the Xiongnu people too?" Another girl, startled, covered her mouth with her hand, "Xiao Ying, what nonsense are you talking about? Don't let anyone hear you."

Xiao Ying pushed the girl's hand away: "So what if I heard you! I'm not afraid! I'm going to go to the county government office to ask Miss Pei if she'll take me in."

The crowd of people was quite large and noisy.

Pei Qinghe had keen hearing and caught a few words. His gaze lingered precisely on Xiao Ying's face for a moment.

Xiao Ying held her breath and waited until Pei Qinghe rode away before exclaiming with delight, "Sixth Miss Pei saw me! She really saw me!"

……

Magistrate Wang greeted Pei Qinghe into the Changping County government office with extreme humility, even bringing out his official seal.

"Please accept this official seal, Miss Six. From this day forward, the county government belongs to you, Miss Six."

Pei Qinghe did not rush to accept the official seal, but asked calmly, "The Crown Prince is dead, the Emperor has passed away, the Prince of Wei has ascended the throne, and the Jiangnan rebels have already besieged the capital."

"With the world in chaos, Magistrate Wang no longer wants to be an official of the imperial court. He wants to abandon these tens of thousands of people to me and resign his post without a care in the world. Isn't that wishful thinking?"

Magistrate Wang was a heavy drinker, and he always reeked of alcohol. His small eyes flashed with a bitter smile: "The Pei family army is now established, and Changping County is a place that the Sixth Miss must take. I now offer it up with both hands, please spare my life, Sixth Miss."

When the rebel army occupied a county town in Jiangnan, the first thing they did was kill the officials. Roughly speaking, more than a dozen county magistrates died at the hands of the rebel army.

If he doesn't present the official seal, does he expect Miss Pei to take it with a knife?
Pei Qinghe looked at the humble, pragmatic Magistrate Wang, who was only trying to survive, and laughed: "Magistrate Wang is a smart man, so I won't beat around the bush. I don't want this official seal now, and Magistrate Wang can't leave now either."

"The Xiongnu cavalry will arrive in a few days. Changping County cannot be allowed to descend into chaos; the people's hearts must be at ease. Magistrate Wang must remain in the county office to reassure the people."

“I, Pei Qinghe, am here on behalf of the county magistrate to help the people defend the county seat. I am not a bandit who is taking advantage of the situation to seize territory.”

Magistrate Wang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and said with a forced smile, "Yes, yes, yes, the Pei family army is a true righteous army, unlike those bandits who stir up trouble in the south."

He secretly lamented his misfortune. Even presenting the official seal to the county government office wouldn't get him out; it seemed Heaven was determined to destroy him!

Pei Qinghe's bright and sharp gaze, like a candle, reflected Magistrate Wang's dejection: "The Guangning army has suffered a great defeat, Anle County has been lost, and the counties and prefectures of Youzhou are in grave danger. At this time, Magistrate Wang, if you leave Changping County and set off alone, where can you go? Not only are there Xiongnu people on the road ahead, but also bandits and perhaps even military bandits. No matter who you encounter, you are doomed."

"Only by staying in Changping County can we truly survive."

Magistrate Wang was not so easily fooled. He sighed softly, "If I leave now, it will be Miss Pei who takes Changping. Even if I lose my official position, I can still save my life."

"If I stay, what will become of me if the court holds me accountable later?"

Pei Qinghe smiled calmly: "Consider yourselves accomplices. If the imperial court sends troops and I am defeated, you will die with me."

Magistrate Wang: "..."

(End of this chapter)