Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 304 Imperial Envoy (Part Two)

"There's no one else here, so there's no need for such formalities," Pei Qinghe said calmly. "The mistake wasn't made by the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister doesn't need to apologize on behalf of the Emperor."

"I, Pei Qinghe, established the Pei Family Army for self-protection. In the past few years, I have eliminated mountain bandits, protected the people, and fought against the Xiongnu barbarians. I can be considered a loyal and righteous minister."

“I don’t want a civil war. My enemy is on the grasslands. The Xiongnu barbarians have suffered a great defeat and may be quiet for a year or two. However, as long as they lack food, silver, and slaves, they will come back. I want to recruit soldiers, train cavalry, and turn Youzhou into an ironclad city that can withstand the Xiongnu barbarians’ attacks.”

"I simply don't have the time to deal with the emperor's blunders."

"After the Prime Minister returns, convey my words to the Emperor verbatim. Tell him to calm down and sit securely on his throne. I will still honor him as Emperor. If such a tactless and undignified act were to happen again, I cannot guarantee that I would remain so calm next time."

Pei Qinghe did not fly into a rage, nor did he shout or draw his sword.

These calm words are more chilling than angry shouts and cold threats.

She now possesses absolute power and prestige, and could overturn the table at any time. Her decision not to do so demonstrates her magnanimity and compassion.

Prime Minister Pang broke out in a cold sweat and respectfully replied, "I have remembered what the General said."

Pei Qinghe then looked at Gao Yong: "Commander Gao, we've known each other for nearly seven years, we're old friends. This time, I'll accept your favor. If we ever really have to face each other with weapons in the future, I'll spare you this time."

Military officers speak much more directly. Gao Yong cupped his hands in thanks: "I thank you in advance, General. I hope for peace in the north and do not wish for a chaotic war, much less for an encounter with you on the battlefield."

Who wants to be Pei Qinghe's enemy?
Who would dare to test the sharpness of General Pei's long sword with their own neck?

Anyway, Gao Yong was unwilling.

Pei Qinghe laughed: "I also don't want to be enemies with Commander Gao."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Guests from afar are welcome. Since you've come, why not stay in Liaoxi City for a few days before returning?"

The implication is clear: Don't linger too long and annoy people.

Prime Minister Pang and Gao Yong exchanged a glance and chuckled in agreement.

Pei Qinghe treated Prime Minister Pang and Commander Gao with great respect, ordering the most spacious courtyard in the prefectural governor's mansion to be prepared for the imperial envoys to settle in.

Prime Minister Pang, being old and frail, needed a rest. Gao Yong, still in good spirits, went directly to see Meng Dalang.

Supported by his personal guards, Meng Dalang slowly walked around the house. When Gao Yong arrived, Meng Dalang leisurely sat down.

“General Meng is so badly injured!” Gao Yong frowned. “I was originally planning to set off back with General Meng.”

Meng Dalang sighed deeply: "That day, I led my cavalry to Liaoxi City and fought against the elite cavalry of the Xiongnu barbarians. We killed many Xiongnu barbarians, but we lost even more. I was seriously injured and almost lost my life. It took me more than two months to recover before I could barely get out of bed and walk a few steps. Doctor Lu said that I would need to recover for at least another three to five months before I could walk like a normal person."

Gao Yong could only offer some words of comfort and didn't want to urge Meng Dalang to set off any further.

They're already in such dire straits, how could they withstand the bumpy journey? Heroes have survived the battlefield, they can't perish on the road.

Meng Dalang lowered his voice and said, "General Pei is already married. Your imperial decree arrived a step late. Going back like this should be enough to explain things. The Emperor won't blame you."

Gao Yong smiled wryly: "That's hard to say. The Emperor has suddenly become a different person, stubborn and unwilling to listen to anyone's advice."

Is it possible that he thought he had secured the throne and that his true nature was gradually being revealed?
Meng Dalang gave Gao Yong a deep look and said, "His Majesty is a wise and enlightened emperor. How could he blame his trusted minister for such a trivial matter?"

Gao Yong, being straightforward, couldn't help but blurt out, "I think the Prime Minister is quite worried."

As a close confidant of the emperor, Gao Yong knew Jian'an Emperor's temperament best. This wasn't a sudden upheaval; signs had been brewing for some time. His arrogance, overconfidence, and blind self-assurance... Meng Dalang had no good solutions, offering only a few words of general comfort.

After Gao Yong left, Meng Dalang had his personal guards help him to his bedside to lie down.

The guard whispered, "Does the general really intend to stay for a few more months?"

Meng Dalang was indeed seriously injured, but not to the point of being unable to move. He could sit or lie down in the carriage and walk slowly.

Since Meng Dalang said that, it's clear he doesn't want to go back.

Meng Dalang sighed softly, "I have a bad feeling about this, like something terrible is about to happen. I should stay here! If something goes wrong in Bohai County, I still have eight or nine hundred cavalrymen here. We can make a comeback at any time."

Everything was for the sake of the Beiping army and the overall situation, and it was definitely not because Mao Hongling came to western Liaoning.

The guard glanced silently at his general.

Alright, I'm not saying anything more. Whatever the general says is right.

……

Pei Qinghe, Pei Yun, and Pei Yan were newly married, Song Dalang had already led his troops away, and Li Chi was busy recruiting new soldiers. The heavy responsibility of taking care of Prime Minister Pang fell on Mao Hongling's shoulders.

Prime Minister Pang was quite self-aware. After resting for three or four days, he took his leave and returned to Bohai.

The imperial envoy and his entourage arrived leisurely but returned in a hurry.

In order to avoid the "bandits", Gao Yong deliberately bypassed Fanyang County.

At this time, a shocking and silent incident of father and son turning against each other occurred in the Fanyang military camp.

"You disobedient and unfilial bastard!"

Bound hand and foot, General Lü, veins bulging, roared, "What do you want to do? Are you going to chop your own father off with one stroke?"

Lu Feng was also filled with helplessness: "Father should open his eyes and take a good look. General Pei defeated the Xiongnu barbarians head-on and saved the people of Liaoxi. His reputation is at its zenith. It's not too late for us to join Pei's army now."

“That King Qiao and the Invincible General are too far away from us. They can’t quench our thirst! Besides, they’re almost crippled by Situ Xi now. They can’t even protect themselves, let alone help us. I advised my father back then not to join King Qiao. But he wouldn’t listen to me and signed his pledge of allegiance early on.”

“Over the past few years, we’ve been struggling to survive, caught in a bind. If things continue like this, the Fanyang Army will be finished sooner or later.”

"The right path is to surrender to General Pei."

General Lü glared angrily: "I sent you as reinforcements, already bowing to Pei Qinghe. What more do you want from me?"

“Father, please don’t mention it. What reinforcements? I’m so ashamed.” Lü Feng immediately hit his father’s sore spot: “On the way, we were ambushed by the Xiongnu cavalry. In addition to the dead and wounded, many soldiers deserted. We didn’t fight a single proper battle after that, and we completely disgraced the Fanyang army.”

"If we hadn't become bandits twice to relieve General Pei's burden, we wouldn't have had the face to join the Pei family army."

"Take down the military flag as soon as possible and replace it with the flag of the Pei family army. In the future, the Lü family will still have a place under General Pei's command."

“My father is too embarrassed to do it, so I will do it.”

(End of this chapter)