Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 108 Changping (2)

That's right!

This is Magistrate Wang's real predicament.

With the rise of Pei Family Village and the emergence of the Pei Family Army, all the bandits in the Yanshan Mountains were wiped out. The next step was to raise the banner of rebellion, and Changping County was a must-capture location for the Pei Family Army.

Magistrate Wang would die if he left, and he would likely die if he stayed. Either way, he was doomed. As for the accusation of being an accomplice in a rebellion, Magistrate Wang didn't care much. What use is a reputation when one is dead!
Do the county magistrates in the south who had their heads chopped off by the flood of displaced people have any good reputation?
All he wanted was a way to survive.

Pei Qinghe gently comforted the bitter-faced Magistrate Wang, saying, "It's hard to say what will happen in the future. At least for now, I can help you defend the county town."

“If we can hold out, the people will have a way to survive, and the county magistrate will also have a way to live.”

Magistrate Wang managed to squeeze out a dry, curt reply: "So what if we can't hold it?"

“If we can’t hold out, I can only lead my men to hide in the Yanshan Mountains first.” Pei Qinghe said calmly, “I have already hidden some food in the mountains. We will hide for a few months and then come down the mountain after the Xiongnu leave. As for the county magistrate, his dedication to defending the county and sharing life and death with the people is enough to make him a name in history.”

What name should I leave?

What do I need historical records for?
He just wanted to keep his head intact, drink some fine wine every day, and live a muddled life.

Magistrate Wang was no fool. Knowing he couldn't change Pei Qinghe's decision, he quickly bowed and said, "This humble official will obey the orders of the Sixth Miss."

Pei Qinghe glanced at Magistrate Wang and said calmly, "First of all, from now on, you are not allowed to drink a drop of alcohol. You must remain sober."

Magistrate Wang, his life force was being held, reluctantly agreed despite the pain.

Then, a series of orders were issued: "From now on, close the city gates, and no one is allowed to enter or leave. Anyone who escapes the city will have their property confiscated and be imprisoned."

"Grain shops will remain open as usual, and grain prices must not be raised. Each household is limited to purchasing enough grain for three days."

"Oil shops and salt shops should follow this procedure."

No matter how fierce the Xiongnu cavalry may be or when they arrive, the county town must remain safe and secure. With a formidable enemy at hand, calming the people is of paramount importance.

First, we must curb the flight of wealthy individuals. Second, we must ensure the supply of essential goods such as food.

As long as the people have food to eat, they will not cause trouble.

Magistrate Wang agreed to all of them.

Pei Qinghe looked at Magistrate Wang and emphasized, "You will personally handle these tasks."

"Go and arrest the big spenders who have fled, go and oversee the grain shops, and calm the panicked people."

Magistrate Wang's expression stiffened somewhat: "Sixth Miss, I haven't left the county office in a long time. These trivial matters have always been handled by Clerk Li. Perhaps..."

"With a formidable enemy at hand, Master Li cannot quell the people's anger. I am the daughter of an exiled criminal, and I am equally unsuitable to take charge of the overall situation." Pei Qinghe said coldly, "You, Wang Xiangcai, are the magistrate of Changping County, an official appointed by the imperial court. Only your presence can reassure the people."

"Leave the defense of the city and the fighting to me. You can handle all the other trivial matters."

Magistrate Wang was both bitter and bitter inside. He sighed and said, "Fine, if the Sixth Miss wants me to play the villain, I'll agree."

Despite Magistrate Wang's constant drunkenness, he is actually sharp-witted and discerning.

At times like these, sealing off the city gates, arresting wealthy smugglers, and forcing grain shops to sell grain at rock-bottom prices would all offend people. But for Pei Liu, who guards the city and protects the people, it's different; she can earn their respect and love, winning their hearts and minds.

Pei Qinghe slowly drew his long sword, and with a slight wave of his hand, the blade flashed, and a corner of the sturdy wooden table fell off: "The magistrate seems rather unwilling."

Cold sweat poured down Magistrate Wang's forehead, but he spoke much more fluently: "To be able to serve the Sixth Miss is the greatest fortune of my life, Wang Xiang. I am willing."

"I'll leave the county office now and do as Sixth Miss instructed." With that, he quickly stepped out of the county office.

In front of a crowd of people, Magistrate Wang loudly announced the closure of the city gates and ordered more than twenty yamen runners to patrol the streets and arrest those who had fled.

The yamen runners, swords in hand, stormed out of the county government office.

The people no longer dared to watch the spectacle. They all hid in their homes, bolted their doors, and pushed a table and a few chairs behind the door to make themselves feel safe.

Soon, some of those who had attempted to flee were apprehended.

Cries and pleas for mercy drifted into the room through the crack in the door, sending chills down one's spine.

This was a trivial matter, so there was no need for Miss Pei to intervene. Magistrate Wang personally presided over the trial and imprisoned the man in the county jail. The constables who came to confiscate his property were like ravenous wolves.

After dark, the county town was pitch black, and no one dared to light an oil lamp.

Only inside the county government office, more than ten torches were lit, making it as bright as day.

Although the county government office was not small, it could not accommodate eight hundred people. Pei Qinghe left two hundred people behind and led six hundred people to live at the city gate.

The north is cold, with large temperature differences between day and night. During the day, one wears simple clothes, but at night the cold wind howls.

Everyone was prepared. Each team set up a simple tent, laid out thick quilts, and the ten people squeezed together, which was quite warm.

Pei Qinghe spent a large sum of money to buy a large quantity of cotton and cotton cloth from the Wang family. Now, every soldier in the Pei family army has thick cotton clothes and shoes, and each team is also given three cotton quilts. At night, the cotton quilts come in very handy.

Pei Yan, oblivious to everything, fell asleep immediately.

Heavy-hearted and unable to sleep, Mao Hongling whispered to Pei Qinghe, "Qinghe, will the Xiongnu come?"

Pei Qinghe said in a low voice, "They might come, or they might not."

Mao Hongling sighed with worry: "We do have quite a few people now. But the ones who are truly capable of fighting are still our Pei family members. These refugees, whom we have recruited and trained for a year, can barely fight off mountain bandits. If we really encounter the Xiongnu cavalry, I'm afraid it will be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

The Xiongnu were skilled in mounted warfare, swift as the wind, and extremely ferocious. Even the Guangning army, though not the best, was still a regular imperial army. Yet, they were utterly defeated by the Xiongnu in their very first encounter.

Can these 800 people hold Changping County?
Pei Qinghe, however, was not afraid at all: "Let's hold our ground first. The Xiongnu are splitting into several groups, looting everywhere. Maybe they won't come back after they've looted Anle County. Or maybe only a small wave will come. We can use this opportunity to train our troops."

"If we hold on, Changping County will be our territory. We can recruit soldiers and raise the banner of the Pei family army."

"If we can't hold out, we still have a way out. The grain stored in the mountains is enough to feed us for half a year."

Mao Hongling was taken aback: "You mean, if we can't hold the county town, we'll leave?"

Pei Qinghe nodded.

"But what about all the people in the city?" Mao Hongling was shocked, looking at Pei Qinghe as if he were a treacherous and unfaithful man: "Are you going to abandon them?"

Pei Qinghe retorted, "Are we just waiting to die if we don't leave?"

Mao Hongling still felt something was amiss: "But they shouldn't have abandoned the city and fled..."

Pei Qinghe looked up at her.

Mao Hongling suddenly realized: "We are not an army, we came here voluntarily to defend the county town. We are not guilty of losing the town."

Pei Qinghe said, "Remember, no matter what happens, always prioritize your own life."

(End of this chapter)