Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 89 Iron Blood
"Of the six bandit groups in Yanshan, Black Bear Village and Wolf Fang Village have been wiped out, leaving four bandit groups: White Tiger Village, Qingfeng Village, Menglong Village, and Eagle Village."

"White Tiger Stronghold has the largest population, about five or six hundred people. The stronghold is also in the most dangerous location, backed by cliffs and with a waterfall on the left, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"The leader of White Tiger Stronghold, whose real name is Luo Hu, was originally a minor officer in the border army. Five years ago, he fled during a battle and led a group of deserters into the mountains, where he built White Tiger Stronghold."

"Luo Hu has read military books and knows some military strategy. He's no good at fighting, but he's quite capable as a bandit. In just a few years, he's gathered a lot of men and robbed wealthy families and merchants. Now, he's even robbing the Shi family."

Pei Qinghe paused, her gaze sweeping over the eager Pei Yan and the calm Pei Yun, before finally settling on Mao Hongling's slightly furrowed brows: "Second sister-in-law, what do you have to say?"

Mao Hongling composed herself and asked, "Qinghe, why are you so familiar with White Tiger Village?"

They knew it all like the back of their hand.

How could she not be familiar with it? In her past life, she wiped out all the bandits in Yanshan, and White Tiger Stronghold survived to the very end.

Pei Qinghe said, "Among the newly recruited refugees, one escaped from White Tiger Village. He told me about the terrain and manpower of White Tiger Village."

Mao Hongling felt much more at ease: "Then when we go into the mountains to attack White Tiger Stronghold, we'll have this person lead the way."

“I’ve already chased this person away,” Pei Qinghe said casually. “However, I’ve drawn a simple topographical map; everyone come and take a look.”

The crowd gathered around.

Pei Qinghe took out a roll of paper, opened it, and the Yanshan Mountains appeared vividly on the paper with just a few strokes.

Pei Qinghe pointed to a black dot: "This is White Tiger Village. We can get there in about five days by walking through the mountains from outside the village."

“I’ll lead two hundred men into the mountains to capture the stronghold. Pei Yun, you take the rest and stay in the village.”

Of the more than a thousand refugees gathered over the past year, some are loyal, while others are still hesitant and need to be guarded against.

Pei Family Village is our base of operations and cannot be lost; we must have a reliable person stay behind to guard it. Pei Yun is the most suitable candidate.

Pei Yun did not feign modesty or decline, but nodded in acceptance.

Pei Qinghe whispered the instructions to make the arrangements.

That evening, two hundred women from the Pei clan, carrying bows and arrows, long knives, and half a month's worth of provisions, entered the mountains.

This was the first time Pei Qinghe had led a team on a proactive expedition.

White Tiger Stronghold has over 500 men and occupies a strategically advantageous location, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Pei Qinghe only brought 200 men; can he successfully take White Tiger Stronghold?

With so many people going into the mountains, how many will be buried deep in the mountains, and how many will return safely?

Pei Yun suppressed her worries and said softly, "Qinghe, you just go and capture the stronghold. I will definitely protect Pei Family Village."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll be back in half a month at most."

Holding back her tears, Mrs. Feng waved goodbye to her daughter with all her might.

Only after Pei Qinghe's figure disappeared into the distance did tears well up in Madam Feng's eyes.

Pei Yun gently comforted her, "Auntie, don't cry. Cousin Qinghe is very confident and has a sure plan."

Even though she didn't get along with her daughter-in-law, Madam Lu awkwardly spoke up: "Good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years. Qinghe is a very powerful girl, even the King of Hell wouldn't dare to take her."

No one said anything about not going into the mountains to wipe out White Tiger Stronghold. People are beholden to those who take bribes. Young Master Shi has placed a heavy bet in Pei Family Village; now it's Pei Family's turn to lend a hand, and they absolutely cannot back down.

Madam Feng wiped away her tears with her sleeve and took the lead in leading her two-year-old puppy. Madam Feng had always been the one taking care of Mao Hongling during her daily training. Today, Mao Hongling went into the mountains with Pei Qinghe, and the puppy remained quiet and well-behaved.

Three-year-old Xiaoyu tugged at Feng's other sleeve and asked in a soft voice, "Where did Auntie go?" Feng sniffed and pulled Xiaoyu back into the house, saying, "Your Aunt Qinghe went to fight bad guys. She'll be back in a few days."

Little Yu'er smiled innocently and said, "When I grow up, I'll go with my aunt to kill bad guys too."

The puppy, its speech unclear, chimed in, "I want to go too."

Feng felt a lump in her throat, but smiled and said, "That's for later. You're still young. Go eat and sleep now."

Lu returned to her room without a word and began sewing shoe soles under the oil lamp.

Fang took a nap, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Lu still sewing shoe soles. She said to Lu, "Don't bother, go to sleep! The light is bright during the day, and sewing shoe soles at night will hurt your eyes. Don't go blind too soon, or you'll really become a burden."

Without looking up, Madam Lu said, "I'll hang myself on that day, so as not to implicate you."

Unable to persuade Lu, Fang could only close her eyes and continue sleeping.

Madam Lu rubbed her red eyes and muttered angrily, "You're always showing off and acting like a hero. You'll regret it someday."

……

As soon as Pei Qinghe left, some of the refugees indeed became restless. That very night, someone sneaked into the woman's house.

This woman, named Jiao Niang, came from Langya Village. She had a beautiful figure and striking looks. Before being abducted to the mountain, Jiao Niang was a courtesan in Yan County. Later, she followed Scarface Wolf.

After the Wolf Fang Stronghold was destroyed, Jiao Niang followed a group of women into Pei Family Village. She couldn't do any physical labor, and she was completely unskilled in cooking and embroidery, but she could play the zither, dance, and was literate. Pei Qinghe then asked her to teach the refugees to read.

Most of the dozen or so migrants who had married into the family were given important positions, or at the very least, became minor leaders. With wives, children, and a warm bed, they were trusted and given important responsibilities, which made the migrants envious, and quite a few of them secretly eyeing the beautiful women.

However, marrying into the family is not easy. For a woman to agree, she has to take the initiative to ask Pei Qinghe for permission.

Tonight, he sneaked into the young lady's room with the filthy thought of forcing her into marriage.

The young woman was pinned down and struggled angrily.

The vagrant, panting heavily, laughed lewdly: "Stop pretending, how many men have you slept with? I don't mind, I'll marry you..."

Ah ~
A bloodcurdling scream.

The people in the nearby houses were awakened and rushed over.

The refugees rolled under the wooden bed, their injuries unknown, and their cries of agony continued.

The beautiful woman's long hair was disheveled and her clothes were in disarray. The dagger in her hand was stained with blood. She gritted her teeth and cursed angrily: "On the third day after I arrived, the Sixth Miss gave me this dagger."

"Sixth Miss said that if anyone dares to bully me, I will castrate him with this dagger. Sixth Miss will stand up for me."

Seeing the refugees wailing and bleeding profusely beneath them, everyone felt a chill between their legs.

Pei Yunhan approached with a cold face and ordered, "Pei Jia, Pei Yi, Feng Chang, hang this man under the tree north of the village. Don't give him a drop of water for three days. If he survives, consider himself lucky."

The cries and pleas for mercy from the refugees echoed day and night, lingering in their ears. Until the third night, when all sound fell silent.

Afterwards, Pei Yun caught two more people who were stealing grain, chopped off their hands and feet, and hung them under a tree.

The group of refugees were completely stunned by Pei Yun's ruthless methods, and the commotion caused by Pei Qinghe's departure quickly subsided.

(End of this chapter)