Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 202 Iron-Blooded (Part 1)

Pei Qinghe did not dismount, but spoke in a condescending manner: "Prefect Shen, no need for formalities. Everyone else, no need for formalities either."

Prefect Shen bowed again to express his gratitude, his expression extremely respectful: "Please, General Pei, enter the city first. I have already vacated the prefectural residence; please move in."

Such understanding and tact. It seems there's no need to replace the prefect.

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and rode his horse through the city gate. Behind him, more than a thousand menacing Pei family soldiers followed into Beiping County.

Inside the city gate, there were even some bold civilians who came to watch the spectacle. They were stopped by the city gate guards and dared not go forward, so they stood a dozen meters away and peered out from a distance.

"Is this the Pei family army?"

"They look very imposing, but I wonder how formidable they are in battle."

“Even the Xiongnu barbarians are no match for the Pei family army, how could they not be powerful?”

The story of Pei Qinghe's defense of Changping County and his night raid on the Xiongnu camp, which resulted in its burning, has been passed down and become increasingly exaggerated. Some even claim that Pei Qinghe is a war god sent from heaven to save the people. Furthermore, the Pei family army never harms civilians and has an excellent reputation, far surpassing that of the Guangning Army, Fanyang Army, and Liaoxi Army.

The people of Beiping County had no complaints about the arrival of Pei's army; in fact, they were full of anticipation.

Pei Yan, with her sharp ears, overheard the crowd praising the Pei family army and grinned from ear to ear.

Pei Qinghe smiled and nodded to the people.

As Pei Qinghe passed a three-story restaurant, a chill suddenly ran down her spine.

This is a keen intuition that comes from years of battlefield experience.

Whoosh!
An arrow shot out from inside the window.

Pei Qinghe swiftly drew his sword; a flash of light, and the arrow was deflected.

"An assassin!" Pei Qinghe shouted sharply, "Everyone draw your swords and be on guard!"

Pei Yun drew her sword with a solemn expression, while Pei Yan snorted coldly, leaped off her horse, and led her men straight to the restaurant.

The assassin, hidden on the third floor, fired a second arrow.

Pei Qinghe remained expressionless, wielding her longsword to parry. Several more arrows flew out; with the Pei family army in the open, some were inevitably hit. Those who were hit were ruthless individuals, likely gritting their teeth and swallowing their cries of pain.

The people in the distance were not the only ones stunned by this sudden assassination attempt. Prefect Shen was utterly terrified, his legs going weak with fear.

The sky is falling!

I had checked this road repeatedly before, so how did this group of assassins suddenly appear?

What if Pei Qinghe were wounded by an arrow, or an important figure in the Pei family army were killed? How would he, the prefect, explain that? The Pei family army was no pushover; he would be the first to lose his head!
An arrow killed a civilian. The onlookers gasped in shock and became restless.

Pei Qinghe dismounted, using his horse as cover, and drew his bow and arrows from his back, swiftly drawing the bow and firing. The assassin hiding on the third floor was struck by the arrow, screamed in pain, and fell to the ground.

Pei Yun and the others quickly dismounted and shot arrows to cover for Pei Yan.

Pei Yan had already led her men up to the third floor. The group of assassins consisted of six men, dressed as the shopkeeper and waiters. Now that the assassination attempt had failed, they scattered and fled. Unfortunately, anyone who showed their face was shot down. The remaining few were quickly killed by Pei Yan and her men in a few exchanges.

Pei Yan searched the restaurant and found six corpses in the cellar. These were the restaurant's original owner and staff, all killed by assassins.

Once she was sure there was no more danger in the restaurant, Pei Yan quickly went to Pei Qinghe and said, "General! Everyone who was in the restaurant has been killed, and these six assassins are all dead now as well."

Pei Qinghe's gaze turned icy: "Let everyone rest where they are. I'm going into the restaurant to find the mastermind behind the assassination."

The civilians were driven away. The more than a thousand Pei family soldiers rested on the spot, their hearts filled with uncontrollable rage and a palpable air of killing intent. The Pei family army was extremely popular in Yan County; wherever they went, the people lined the streets to welcome them. Who could have imagined that they would be assassinated so soon after entering Beiping County?

The casualties were limited, but I really couldn't swallow this bitter pill.

Pei Qinghe entered the restaurant lobby first and casually found a chair to sit down.

With his limbs trembling, Prefect Shen, supported by his pale-faced advisor Zheng, staggered over: "Please, General Pei, calm your anger! It is my incompetence that allowed the assassin to infiltrate!"

Pei Qinghe said coldly, "You are indeed quite incompetent! If it weren't for my vigilance today, you would have lost your life here."

When Prefect Shen was met with a murderous glare from Pei Qinghe, a chill ran down his spine, and his knees buckled, causing him to kneel down. The other officials followed suit.

The wealthy guests had various expressions; none of them dared to stand, and they all knelt on the ground. Since the restaurant had limited space, many knelt in the open area outside.

Pei Qinghe's voice reached everyone's ears: "Whose restaurant is this?"

To own such a large restaurant on the most bustling street in Beiping was certainly no ordinary feat. The restaurant owner happened to be kneeling among the wealthy families.

The restaurant owner, his face ashen, stammered, "Yes, it was me."

Before Pei Qinghe could question him coldly, the restaurant owner hurriedly defended himself: "I have always admired the general. When I heard that the general had led his troops here, I was only happy and had no dissatisfaction whatsoever. Today, this group of assassins killed everyone in the restaurant and attempted to assassinate the general in public. Someone must be deliberately trying to frame me! Please, general, see the truth!"

Pei Qinghe sneered: "Easy for you to say. There are other restaurants and teahouses along this road, why is it that your restaurant happens to have an assassin?"

The other wealthy guests all kept their heads down, none of them daring to look Pei Qinghe in the eye, and no one was so reckless as to plead for the restaurant owner.

The restaurant owner was sweating profusely with anxiety, and pleaded with Prefect Shen, "Your Excellency, our Lou family has always been law-abiding; how could we dare to assassinate the general? Please, Your Excellency, intercede with the general!"

Prefect Shen was in dire straits himself, so he had no mood to speak up for the landlord. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and remained silent.

Pei Qinghe's icy voice rang out again: "I can't investigate cases, and I'm not good at interrogation. All I know is how to kill."

"Pei Yan, send the landlord on his way first."

Pei Yan coldly accepted the order, dragged Lou Dongjia out, and with one stroke, Lou Dongjia's head fell to the ground, blood splattering onto Prefect Shen's face.

Prefect Shen turned pale and nearly fainted.

It's over! My life is in danger today!

Pei Qinghe's gaze drifted over the group of wealthy families.

Pei Yan strode over and dragged another one over. She rudely questioned the other person about their identity and origin.

The wealthy man was terrified. Under the gleaming blade, he hurriedly stammered, "General, my surname is Li. My family owns some small fields and a few grain shops. We are honest and law-abiding citizens and never oppress the people."

"My relationship with the Lou family is merely superficial, and I have absolutely no knowledge of what happened at the restaurant today! Please, General, be the judge!"

Pei Qinghe asked, "Who are these assassins today?"

The wealthy man trembled all over, his lower body soaked: "General! I know nothing! I really know nothing!"

Pei Qinghe coldly said, "Kill them!"

Pei Yan swung her long sword, and another head fell to the ground. Then, she went to drag away the third one.

(End of this chapter)