Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 479 Side Story: The Southern Expedition (Part 3)
This was a resounding and exhilarating victory!

Tao Wudi had some backbone; he didn't run away. When Pei Yue and Pei Wan rushed over, he slashed his own neck first.

Blood splattered.

Tao Wudi collapsed in despair.

Pei Yue said with some regret, "I couldn't kill Tao Wudi with my own hands."

Pei Wan raised an eyebrow and smiled: "He committed suicide with a knife, and we don't even need to lift a finger to get military merit." With that, she stepped forward and delivered the final blow, then picked up the bloody head and threw it to Pei Yue.

Pei Yue deftly took the head and grinned, "That's right. No matter what, we won this battle. We will present Tao Wudi's head to the Emperor."

Pei Wan said, "Go ahead! There are still many defeated soldiers in the city. I'll deal with them. Once we take Xin'an County, it will be our territory. Don't let the defeated soldiers escape and harm the people."

After saying that, he called Pei Yu and Pei Lang to rush down the city gate.

Pei Yue carried the severed head to see Pei Qinghe, emphasizing that Pei Wan had cut off this fine head.

A smile flashed in Pei Qinghe's eyes.

With such outstanding sons and descendants, the Pei family is truly blessed by heaven!

"Leave the heads behind, and you lead the men into the city," Pei Qinghe ordered. "All military officers in the Jiangnan army will be executed. Ordinary soldiers who throw down their weapons and surrender may be spared temporarily. Anyone who resists will be killed on the spot."

War is inherently cruel and allows no room for leniency.

The Pei family army rarely took prisoners on the battlefield, killing as many as possible. Even when they did take in surrendered soldiers, they would execute them on May 1st as a deterrent. After the executions, the prisoners were mostly sent to the mines. Pei Qinghe preferred to recruit and train new soldiers rather than have ruffians, bandits, or scoundrels among them.

It is precisely through these measures that the Pei family army has maintained its strong fighting capacity and loyalty to the emperor, and has been invincible in battle.

"Why don't you go after the deserters?" Pei Qinghe teased Pei Yan beside her with a smile. "In the past, when there was a battle to be fought, you were always the first to rush in."

Pei Yan replied nonchalantly, "I was young and impetuous before, but now that I'm all grown up, it's time to let the younger generation handle things like charging into battle."

Pei Qinghe smiled gently. Pei Yan, though seemingly rough, was actually quite shrewd; he wanted to stay by her side to prevent any defeated soldiers from risking their lives in a final stand.

Even Pei Qinghe's attempt to enter the city was stopped by Pei Yan: "It's too early to enter the city now. Wait two or three days until all the deserters in the city have been hunted down and wiped out before entering."

It was rare for Pei Yan to offer such serious advice, so Pei Qinghe nodded and said, "Alright, I'll listen to you. I'll return to the military camp first."

Now that she has become emperor, her life has become more precious, and her safety is crucial to the stability of the court. It is no longer appropriate for her to personally lead troops into battle as before.

Forty thousand elite troops stormed into Xin'an County. Pei Qinghe led several thousand elite troops back to the camp. On the way, a group of fleeing soldiers, numbering several hundred, suddenly appeared out of nowhere. These fleeing soldiers, with nowhere else to go, charged towards them with bloodshot eyes.

Without Pei Yan even lifting a finger, Yang Huai sneered, led his men on horseback to meet the fleeing soldiers, and slaughtered them all, leaving no one alive.

Pei Qinghe waited for a moment, then leisurely rode back to the military camp.

Over the next three days, battle reports kept arriving at Pei Qinghe's table.

After the Pei family army entered the city, they relentlessly pursued and annihilated the Jiangnan army, without harming the common people. However, the routed soldiers of the Jiangnan army frequently stormed into people's homes, looting grain, abusing women, and killing—committing numerous atrocities. These routed soldiers were simply beheaded upon capture. More than a dozen rank-holding military officers from the Jiangnan army were captured and all beheaded. Two others went into hiding; the gates of Xin'an County were sealed, and as long as they remained within the city, their capture was only a matter of time.

The Jiangnan army, which boasted a strength of 50,000, lost over 20,000 men and captured more than 20,000. They were just waiting for Pei Qinghe to enter the city before they could be dealt with.

Pei Qinghe smiled slightly and said to Pei Yan, Yang Huai and the others, "I will enter Xin'an City at dawn tomorrow."

On the tenth day of the eleventh month, Emperor Zhaoyuan led his troops to garrison Xin'an County.

It took three months from the dispatch of troops to the capture of Xin'an City.

This also means that from now on, all rebel forces will surrender, and the country will truly be unified.

More than a dozen officials of rank in Xin'an County knelt before Emperor Zhaoyuan, their faces ashen and trembling with fear. The highest-ranking official, the Prefect of Xin'an County, dared not raise his head at all, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I have long been loyal to you, but the bandit Tao has soldiers and weapons in his hands, so I have no choice but to obey him and supply provisions to the rebel army in Jiangnan. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and spare my life."

The prefect of Xin'an was astute and knew that he would never be reappointed; he only sought to survive.

The other civil officials also kowtowed and begged for mercy.

Pei Yan sneered and drew his gleaming longsword: "Why should the Emperor listen to their nonsense? Xin'an County is the stronghold of the rebel army in Jiangnan. Not only does it supply them with provisions, but many of the rebel soldiers are also from Xin'an County. These civil officials are aiding and abetting the wicked; how can they be let off lightly? How can we face the Pei family army soldiers who died on the battlefield if we let them go?"

Nowadays, who doesn't know General Pei Yan? Her infamous reputation is no less than that of Emperor Zhaoyuan. She's a woman who draws her sword without hesitation when it's time to kill.

The civil officials turned pale and kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Pei Qinghe winked at Pei Yan, signaling her to tone it down a bit and not overact. Pei Yan understood and sheathed her long sword.

Pei Qinghe slowly opened his mouth and said, "I will give you a way out. Go and appease the people of Xin'an County and tell them not to panic. Once Xin'an County is settled, I will allow you to leave. You may take 20% of your family's money and grain with you."

Pei Yan added fiercely, "Anyone who doesn't want to live, step forward now, and I, Pei Yan, will send them to their death."

The civil officials could only kowtow and express their gratitude; they dared not utter a word.

These civil officials worked tirelessly in Xin'an County for a month. Despite the threat of General Pei Yan's long sword, the officials showed no sign of fatigue, running around extremely diligently, personally visiting every household to appease the people. Emperor Zhaoyuan then issued a series of new levies, declaring that Xin'an County would henceforth have the same land and commercial taxes as other counties.

When the Jiangnan army was stationed here, they demanded 50% of the land tax, not to mention the commercial taxes, which were practically extortionate. The new policies promulgated by Emperor Zhaoyuan quickly gained the support of the people and merchants.

The officials and wealthy individuals who were truly exploited had to painfully part with 80% of their assets in exchange for a way to survive.

Emperor Zhaoyuan issued a strict order that these officials and wealthy families must leave before the New Year.

This was also to eliminate the influence of the Jiangnan Army. After all, it was once the Jiangnan Army's stronghold, and it had to be purged.

There needs to be a reliable person to stay here in Xin'an County.

After much deliberation, Pei Qinghe summoned Pei Yue and said, "Pei Yue, you will stay and serve as the governor of Xin'an County. I will leave you three thousand soldiers. You do not need to recruit soldiers here. Your administration should be lenient and you should try to win over the hearts of the people as soon as possible."

Pei Yue said with a bitter face, "I'm still young, how can I shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"

(End of this chapter)