Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 282 Settlement of Accounts
General Li paused, his breath catching in his throat.

He had never met Pei Qinghe.

In Youzhou, there is no other girl with such domineering and murderous aura besides Pei Qinghe.

The Xiongnu barbarians besieged Liaoxi City. How did Pei Qinghe get into the city?
Where is Li Xiren?

General Li, having commanded troops for many years, was by no means incompetent. His heart sank; he had already considered the worst possible outcome. He turned his head with difficulty to look at Li Chi: "What's the situation outside?"

Li Chi gritted his teeth and knelt down beside the bed: "General, the Xiongnu attacked the city yesterday, and Li Xi was killed in battle. It was General Pei who led troops to the rescue; otherwise, the Xiongnu barbarians would have stormed into Liaoxi City last night..."

General Li's fat face was deathly pale.

He had three sons. His second son died in battle a few years ago, and his youngest son was killed by the Xiongnu barbarians in a battle last year. Only his eldest son, Li Xi, remained, but he too died.

Pei Qinghe led his troops into Liaoxi City.

He knew very well what this meant.

It is precisely because we understand this that we suffer even more.

Had he known this would happen, why had he stubbornly held on until now? If he had bowed to Pei Qinghe earlier, perhaps Li Xi wouldn't have died...

“Even if you had bowed down earlier, I wouldn’t have come.” Pei Qinghe’s icy voice rang out: “Li scoundrel, you killed my men, stole my horse, and repeatedly sent people to humiliate me. This debt should be settled today.”

General Li's pupils suddenly contracted, his breathing became rapid, and he said haltingly and with difficulty, "What...what do you want to do? The army is yours, and Liaoxi City will be yours too. What else do you want? Can't you even spare my life?"

Pei Qinghe coldly curled the corners of her mouth: "Your Liaoxi army is rotten to the core. Do you think I wanted it? I came here to save the people in Liaoxi City."

"If you want to save your life, you'll have to ask General Li first."

General Li looked at Li Chi in shock.

Li Chi's throat felt dry and tight, and he subconsciously looked away, only to find himself staring directly at Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe said calmly, "I don't concern myself with the Li family's affairs. I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to clean up. I'll wait outside."

After saying that, he turned around and walked out.

Pei Yan spat at General Li.

General Li, too weak to bother wiping it away, gritted his teeth and cursed, "Li Chi, what do you think you're doing? Don't forget, your surname is Li, you're a member of the Li family. If I hadn't brought you into the army camp, you would have starved to death long ago... uh..."

Li Chi's eyes were bloodshot, tears streaming down his face, but he didn't hesitate and suddenly tightened his grip: "General, close your eyes in peace! I, Li Chi, swear to heaven that I will drive the Xiongnu barbarians out of Liaoxi and avenge you and Li Xi."

General Li's face turned purple, and the light in his eyes gradually faded.

I wonder if, before he died, he regretted sending troops to seize the Pei family army's horses and killing the Pei family army members.

Only after General Li had completely stopped breathing did Li Chi begin to weep silently.

He didn't dare cry for too long. He took out a bunch of keys from under General Li's pillow, wiped his face clean with his left hand, and strode out.

Li Chi presented the key to Pei Qinghe: "General, this is the key to the warehouse. Most of the Liaoxi Army's accumulated wealth over the past ten years is here. There is also some in the Liaoxi Army camp."

It took exactly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

A kind heart cannot manage finances, and righteousness cannot command troops; he is a ruthless person.

Every general who can truly lead troops independently has blood on their hands. They must be ruthless towards others and themselves.

Pei Qinghe didn't refuse or stand on ceremony, and reached out to take the keys: "Where is the storeroom?"

Li Chi summoned a personal guard and ordered him to lead the way. He stayed behind to handle General Li's funeral arrangements.

General Li was severely wounded by the Xiongnu barbarians and had not appeared in public for over a month. Upon hearing the devastating news of Li Xi's death yesterday, General Li succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

That makes perfect sense. The funerals for both father and son can be held together.

During wartime, everything must be kept simple. The prefectural governor's office hung white banners, gathered some soldiers to mourn, and placed the bodies of General Li and his son into coffins. There was no need for a mourning period; they were buried that very day.

When the people of Liaoxi City heard the commotion from the prefectural governor's office and learned that General Li had died, no one grieved or wept for him. On the contrary, the people felt a sense of relief.

"That scoundrel is finally dead."

"Look what he's done to our Liaoxi City!"

"People like this should die sooner rather than later."

"But General Li is dead. What will happen to the Liaoxi Army? Will they be able to defend Liaoxi City?"

"What are you afraid of! General Pei has already arrived! Pei's army is guarding the city gate! I heard that the Xiongnu barbarians suffered a great defeat yesterday and did not dare to attack the city today."

"Is it really the Pei family army? Thank God! General Pei has come to save us!"

Compared to the infamous Liaoxi Army, the Pei family army had an excellent reputation. Many wealthy families in Liaoxi County secretly fled to Yan County. Ordinary people, lacking money and food and having never traveled far, didn't know how to reach the Pei family army.

Upon hearing that Pei Qinghe was coming, the people were extremely excited. Some even dared to secretly unlock their doors and peek out.

……

"That scoundrel Li has amassed such a fortune!"

In the prefectural governor's storeroom, Pei Yan's eyes widened, and she even swore.

Everywhere you look, there are large wooden boxes. When you open them, you find boxes full of gold and silver, or all kinds of jewelry and jade, their brilliance dazzling.

Pei Qinghe was also somewhat amazed: "Li the dog is mediocre at fighting, but he is very good at robbing and killing wealthy people, extorting money from the people, and exploiting soldiers."

"Now, all of these belong to our Pei family army!" Pei Yan grinned and announced loudly.

Pei Qinghe smiled and rolled her eyes at her: "What nonsense are you talking about! We won the battle, what didn't we get? If we can't hold Liaoxi City, it will all become the spoils of war for the Xiongnu barbarians!"

"Let's go check the warehouse next door."

The next few warehouses were filled with grain.

The grain bags also bear the marks of different grain shops or major households.

Pei Qinghe regretted it a little: "I really should have brought Shi Yan with me."

Isn't it?

With so much gold, silver, and grain, it must first be counted and recorded before it can be distributed.

Li Chi, dressed in white mourning clothes, came over with three accountants: "These three are in charge of the storeroom. General, if you need anything, just give the order."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and, without any hesitation, told them to bring the account books first. Usually, with Shi Yan around, she didn't need to worry about it, and she could certainly understand the account books.

After looking through it once, he had a general idea of ​​all the valuables and grain in the storeroom.

Pei Qinghe issued his first military order: "Send men to go around the streets and announce that from today onwards, I, Pei Qinghe, am the one who has the final say in Liaoxi City. Let the people come to the prefect's mansion to collect their grain. Each household should send one person to collect five catties of grain."

Pei Yan readily accepted the order: "I will lead men to patrol the city."

Female soldiers are a unique feature of the Pei family army. Pei Yan leading a large group of female soldiers on a city patrol is more convincing than anything else.

Soon, some people mustered up their courage and left their homes, timidly approaching the prefectural governor's mansion.

(End of this chapter)