Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 214 New Year
What happened in Peijia Village naturally couldn't be kept from Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe rubbed her forehead and called Pei Zhi aside: "Pei Yan can beat Yang Huai however she wants. They're engaged, so beatings and scoldings are a sign of affection, and General Yang won't say anything. Why are you beating Yang Hu?"

Pei Zhi was also seething with anger: "Who told Yang Hu to keep staring at me with those shifty eyes? Last time in Guangning Army, I warned him. He didn't learn his lesson and still dared to bother me, so of course I had to beat him up."

Pei Zhi was a battalion commander in the Pei family army, leading a hundred female soldiers. In terms of skill, Pei Zhi was among the best of the Pei family women. As the Pei family army grew stronger and more renowned, the Pei women were as tough as iron and could not tolerate the slightest bit of sullenness.

Pei Qinghe looked at her sulking cousin, feeling both amused and annoyed. She reached out and patted Pei Zhi's head, saying, "Alright, don't be angry anymore. If you ever lay a hand on him again, don't hit his head or face. At least give General Yang some face."

Pei Zhisong breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "I will listen to the general."

Since Yang Hu was beaten so badly, Pei Qinghe had no choice but to let them spend the New Year in Pei Family Village.

Yang Huai was naturally happy to oblige, and Yang Hu, with his pig-headed face, kept chuckling.

Peijia Village celebrated a peaceful yet lively New Year.

The situation in Bohai County, however, was far from peaceful. The battle lasted for more than half a year, resulting in heavy casualties for the Bohai navy and even more deaths among the rebel army.

Tao Wudi relentlessly looted grain and conscripted men into his army. The poor civilians, forced into the rebellion, were unarmed, armed only with sticks and the like, and forced to attack the city with long swords thrust from behind. They were then killed by arrows fired from within the city, or shot while carrying wooden ladders towards the city gates.

Beneath the city gates of Bohai County lay piles of corpses.

Bohai Commandery was able to maintain its status, but the surrounding counties were truly ravaged by war, with bones scattered everywhere.

Emperor Jian'an finally could not restrain himself and issued an edict summoning the troops stationed in the north to come to the aid of the emperor.

Most of Tao Wudi's main force and elite troops were killed in battle, and the siege became a joke. Emperor Jian'an's decree, after much trouble, finally reached Bohai Commandery.

The first to respond were two other armies from Ji Province: the Chang Le Army and the Wu Yi Army.

The garrison originally numbered between three or four thousand and seven or eight thousand. In the past two years, with the country in chaos, local garrisons have grown their own armies and established their own independent regimes. The Chang Le army has doubled its strength to ten thousand elite soldiers. The Wu Yi army, though slightly weaker, still numbers seven or eight thousand.

The Chang Le Army and the Wu Yi Army set out together, each dispatching several thousand elite troops, one on the left and the other on the right rear, to attack the rebel army.

This is where Tao Wudi's brilliance becomes apparent. Tao Wudi's military camps were all located in the county town, with city gates and walls. A surprise attack would be extremely difficult.

When the Chang Le Army and the Wu Yi Army arrived, Tao Wudi immediately sealed the city gates. As a result, the roles of attack and defense were reversed, and the rebel army became the defenders of the city.

The war in Bohai County finally came to an end, allowing them to catch their breath. So many people had died in the Bohai war that four or five out of ten households had to hang white banners. That New Year, Bohai County was filled with weeping and wailing.

Emperor Jian'an lived in constant fear for more than half a year, living day and night in terror of the city's fall and the country's demise. He lost a lot of weight, and his eyes were covered in dark circles.

On New Year's Day, Emperor Jian'an applied a thick layer of powder to his face, barely managing to conceal his haggard appearance.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple in the capital had been severely damaged by King Qiao. Here in Bohai Commandery, a whole bunch of ancestral tablets were remade. Emperor Jian'an led his officials in worshipping their ancestors, and the ceremony ended hastily.

General Zhang and his son stayed in the palace to dine with Emperor Jian'an.

Although the Zhang family father and son were arrogant and domineering, they did manage to withstand the rebel army and protect Bohai County in the past six months.

Emperor Jian'an roused himself and personally raised his cup to General Zhang: "These past few days, it has all been thanks to you, Uncle, that Bohai Prefecture has remained peaceful. I toast you, Uncle."

General Zhang was a man of action, personally going to the city gates several times. His left arm was bandaged, but he held a wine cup steadily in his right hand, without rising, offering sincere thanks, and then drinking the wine. Emperor Jian'an then toasted his cousin Zhang Yun.

Zhang Yun was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, and he was busy with military supplies, military expenses, and pensions every day. He was so tired that wrinkles started to appear on his face. He raised his wine cup, clinked it with Emperor Jian'an's, drank it, and said, "With the arrival of the Chang Le Army and the Wu Yi Army, the rebel army is like a grasshopper in autumn. They won't be able to jump around for long. They will definitely retreat within a month."

Emperor Jian'an relaxed his brows: "I also hope to finish this battle as soon as possible."

Zhang Yun's eyes flashed, and he said with a smile, "The rebel army has retreated, and His Majesty is about to get married; it's a double celebration." He paused, then added with a smile, "My sister has waited for three years, and her affection for His Majesty is profound. His Majesty must treat my sister well in the future. Otherwise, I, as her brother-in-law, will have to stand up for her."

Emperor Jian'an was very patient and sincerely replied, "My cousin Jingwan is gentle, virtuous, intelligent and kind. I will make her my empress and never fail her."

Zhang Yun and General Zhang exchanged a smile.

As soon as the New Year was over, the Zhang family began to make grand preparations for their daughter's wedding.

On one side, the city was draped in white banners and the people were weeping; on the other side, the Zhang family's residence was bustling with activity and guests. This created a stark and ironic contrast.

The Emperor's wedding is a joyous occasion, and Zhang must not be negligent; she must prepare two sets of congratulatory gifts.

Meng Liulang never concerned himself with such matters; naturally, it was the elder brother Meng Dalang's job to prepare the congratulatory gifts. Prime Minister Pang also prepared generous gifts and sent them to the Zhang family.

Inside the Pei family mansion, Madam Li was also racking her brains to prepare the congratulatory gifts.

When I left Pei Family Village that day, I did take some gold, silver, and jade with me. Over the course of the year, I gradually spent it all. Now I need to send a generous gift to the Zhang family and also send a congratulatory gift to the palace. If it's too simple, it won't work; if it's too extravagant, I don't have the means.

Just when Li was at her wit's end, Pei Jia came to report with shining eyes: "Chief Sun has arrived with his men."

Li perked up and immediately said, "Quickly, invite Chief Sun in."

It was Sun Cheng who arrived.

Sun Cheng led a battalion to gather military intelligence and battle reports near Bohai County, having previously tried every means to send messages into the city. Now, with the rebel army besieged and Bohai County's city gates sealed for more than half a year, opening only for one hour each day, Sun Cheng was finally able to lead his men into the city.

“Madam,” Sun Cheng said, his left leg slightly lame, though it was not noticeable when he stood, “our general sent five boxes of gold and silver, along with a letter.”

The letter, though brief, allowed Li to prepare ample gifts and calmly navigate the current situation.

Madam Li breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Good, good! Qinghe has thought things through so well, this old woman doesn't need to worry anymore."

"By the way, did Qinghe personally prepare a wedding gift for the Emperor's wedding?"

Sun Cheng replied without changing his expression, "I don't know about that."

That means no more.

It's fine if we don't have it! As a member of the Pei family, it's not impolite for them to send a congratulatory gift to the emperor.

In early February, Emperor Jian'an held his wedding. Lady Zhang, with her elegant red bridal attire stretching for miles, married in grand style.

……

(End of this chapter)