Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 198 Negotiation
After staying in Peijia Village for several days and touring the village, Zheng's advisors gained confidence in their prefect's decisions after witnessing Pei Qinghe training his troops.

Putting aside everything else, in terms of combat strength alone, Pei's army could leave the Fanyang army, Liaoxi army, and Guangning army far behind.

Pei Qinghe was busy, so Shi Yan volunteered to help Zheng's staff.

When Shi Yan was still the young master of the Shi family, he was already famous in Youzhou and had met Zheng's advisors several times. Now, he had transformed into the commander-in-chief of the Pei family army. Zheng's advisors did not dare to underestimate him and were very warm and friendly towards Shi Yan. They even privately sent him a generous gift: "Please speak well of Beiping County to General Pei and ask him to send troops to Beiping County as soon as possible."

Shi Yan accepted the generous gift and immediately recorded it in the accounts.

Pei Qinghe teased him privately, "How did the generous gift that Zheng, the advisor, gave you end up in the public treasury?"

Shi Yan laughed and said, "There is no such thing as a public treasury or a private treasury. Everything in Pei Family Village, including me, the steward, belongs to General Pei."

It's so nauseating it makes me want to vomit.

Even Pei Yan couldn't stand it anymore, so she rolled her eyes and walked away.

The leaders who had stationed troops in various counties returned one by one. Gu Lian, who had been lying in bed for several months, was able to move again. Unable to ride a horse, she swayed back to Pei Family Village in a carriage.

Upon seeing Gu Lian, who was pale and lacked vitality, Feng Chang couldn't help but mock her: "The job in Beiping County isn't even yours. Why did you come back so eagerly?"

Gu Lian retorted with a cold laugh: "The Pei family army will eventually expand its territory. You'll still have to be behind me in line."

Feng Chang choked and let out a cold snort.

Wang Erhe, who could eat as much as he wanted but never gain weight, kept his eager gaze fixed on Gu Lian's face. Feng Chang, finding him embarrassing, glared at him.

Wang Erhe, shameless as ever, pretended not to see anything and even struck up a conversation with Gu Lian: "Is Chief Gu's injury healed?"

Gu Lian was quite amiable towards Wang Erhe, replying with a smile, "He's almost recovered; he can walk and ride in a carriage. He still needs to rest a bit longer before he can take up arms and ride a horse."

Wang Erhe sighed, "Chief Gu should have someone by his side who cares about his well-being and takes care of his daily needs."

Gu Lian chuckled: "Who has time for that now?"

Wang Erhe said tenderly, "When Chief Gu has some free time and wants to find a son-in-law, don't forget me..."

Feng Chang coughed twice, interrupting Wang Erhe's self-recommendation: "Stop rambling. Come with me to see the Sixth Miss."

The female soldiers beside Gu Lian all grinned.

"I never expected Wang Erhe to have such thoughts."

"How about Chief Gu just take him in? Although Wang Erhe is a bit thin, he's quick and efficient, and he's Chief Feng's confidant."

“Pull him over here and make Chief Feng angry.”

Gu Lian was both annoyed and amused, and she snapped at them, "Nonsense! Is this something to be sulked about? Shut up! We're going to see General Pei too."

Gu Lian and Feng Chang were like fighting cocks in private, but when they were in front of Pei Qinghe, they were both well-behaved and obedient.

Pei Qinghe first asked Gu Lian about her injuries with a smile.

Gu Lian replied gratefully, "Thanks to General Pei for inviting Physician Lu to treat my injuries and prescribe medicine. Physician Lu stayed in Quanzhou County and took good care of me for several months. My injuries have healed."

Feng Chang secretly felt annoyed. After Pei Qinghe looked over, he also changed his address to General Pei.

Pei Qinghe, accustomed to the open and covert struggles between the two, simply smiled and let it go. Once all the leaders had arrived, Pei Qinghe convened a crucial military meeting. The council hall was packed with nearly forty people.

Pei Qinghe told everyone that Beiping County had taken the initiative to surrender, which greatly boosted everyone's spirits and made them smile.

Gu Lian was the first to volunteer, offering to lead troops to Beiping County.

Feng Chang was a step behind and was the second to speak up and volunteer.

Even Tao Feng couldn't help but speak up: "I was originally a member of the Beiping Army and am most familiar with Beiping County. Please send me there, General Pei."

In truth, everyone knew that the person entrusted with such an important task was one of Pei Yun, Mao Hongling, and Pei Yan. Their declarations weren't meant to compete for the position, but rather to demonstrate their loyalty to Pei Qinghe.

As expected, Pei Qinghe remained silent until Pei Yun spoke, at which point Pei Qinghe said, "I will personally go to Beiping County. Pei Yun will lead troops to accompany me."

"This matter needs the Meng brothers' approval; there's no rush."

"Gu Lian, Feng Chang, you are all leading troops in the field most of the year. It's rare for you to return to the Pei family army, so please stay a few more days."

The leaders all bowed and accepted the order.

……

After the meeting, Gu Lian stayed behind and whispered, "Beiping County is such a large territory, it should have at least one or two thousand troops stationed there."

“I am willing to be Miss Pei Yun’s assistant and go to Beiping County together.”

Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and gave Gu Lian a deep look: "Now that you're gone, who will lead the troops in Quanzhou County?"

Gu Lian said, "Hui Niang has always been my deputy. These past few months, while I've been recuperating from my injuries, she's been leading the troops and handling affairs. Quanzhou County is nearby, so even if there's any mishap, sending someone back to deliver a message is only a matter of a day or two by fast horse, which is very convenient."

“Beiping County is different. It’s a large area, far away, and the people’s hearts haven’t been won over yet. I’m afraid Miss Pei Yun alone can’t take care of it all.”

"General Pei, please let me go! I will obey Miss Pei Yun's orders in everything."

Gu Lian is bold and resourceful, and is indeed a capable person for expanding territory.

Pei Qinghe pondered for a moment: "Let me think about it some more. You take good care of your injuries and be ready to be called upon at any time."

Gu Lian's eyes lit up, and she bowed in agreement. Then, she chuckled softly, "Young Doctor Lu has also come to Pei Family Village with me. He has inherited his medical skills from his family, and his diagnosis and prescriptions are even better than Doctor Bao's. General Pei, won't you keep him?"

The last sentence has a joking or teasing tone.

The Pei family army grew stronger day by day, and Pei Qinghe's reputation became more and more renowned. Officials and wealthy families in Youzhou were eager to send their outstanding sons and nephews to him. To be chosen by Pei Qinghe as a son-in-law was an extremely fortunate thing.

If all else fails, you could take a step back and get engaged to Pei Yan like Yang Huai did!
The Pei family has young women and many widowed wives, so there are quite a few people who can be used for marriage alliances.

Pei Qinghe glanced over with a smile: "Have you taken a liking to Lu Dongqing?"

Gu Lian waved her hands repeatedly: "Dr. Lu is the grandson of Physician Lu. He is highly skilled in medicine and has a very high opinion of himself. He rarely speaks to any woman except when he is seeing patients and writing prescriptions. I only feel gratitude towards Dr. Lu and have never had any improper thoughts about him."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "The Lu family has its own plans, and Lu Dongqing has his own ideas. If he wants to stay, I will make him the military doctor of the Pei family army. If he doesn't want to, then let him go back to the Lu family."

The Pei family army now possesses sufficient strength and confidence to look down upon the Lu family. Faced with absolute power, the Lu family's petty schemes are insignificant.

(End of this chapter)