After a moment, the guard came out and bowed, saying, "Lord Pei, Lord Hu says he is occupied with military affairs and has no time to see you now. If you truly have urgent matters, please wait until he is finished before he can receive you."
Pei You'an slightly furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, and then replied, "Thank you for your trouble," before standing to the side.
People came and went through the gate, occasionally casting glances at Pei You'an standing there, but none recognized him. Everyone was in a hurry, bustling with military urgency.
The two guards couldn't help but steal glances at this young, refined man. Even now, they found it hard to believe that the famously renowned minister of the realm could look so scholarly and stand so close to them, waiting for Lord Hu's summons. Though dressed in plain clothes, his demeanor and humility were unlike anything they had ever seen before, filling them with immense admiration and a willingness to serve him. After waiting for about the time it takes two incense sticks to burn, they noticed he seemed to grow somewhat impatient. Without waiting for him to speak, they took the initiative to go in and inquire again. This time, however, they returned with their heads hanging, stammering and unable to speak immediately.
Pei You'an, being astute, knew the guard must have been scolded.
If it were an ordinary matter, waiting wouldn't be an issue. But this concerned the safety of the city, and he had already guessed that even if Hu Liangcai had time, he might not be willing to see him—those earlier words were likely just excuses. He patted the guard's arm and said, "I'm sorry you were reprimanded. I have urgent business and cannot delay. I'll go see him myself. If he blames you, just say I forced my way in." With that, he strode inside.
Pei You'an was well acquainted with the layout of the Regional Military Commission's headquarters and went straight to the strategy hall, pushing the door open. Inside, Hu Liangcai was discussing troop deployments with his deputy generals, staff officers, captains, and advisors when he suddenly heard the door behind him open. Turning around, he saw Pei You'an standing at the entrance and was momentarily stunned before his expression darkened. "How did you get in here? Didn't I just send word for you to wait?"
Pei You'an bowed in greeting. "My apologies for disturbing you, Lord Hu. The matter is urgent, so I took the liberty of forcing my way in. I humbly request a moment of your time—may we speak privately? There is something I must tell you."
None of the officers and captains present were unfamiliar with Pei You'an's name, and except for Advisor Yang, this was the first time any of them had seen him in person. His sudden appearance startled them all, and they turned to look.
Hu Liangcai glanced around, noticing their expressions of surprise. Seeing Pei You'an's respectful attitude toward him, he felt quite pleased in front of his subordinates and finally nodded. "What matter requires such secrecy? Speak here. I am busy!""Lord Hu, I, Pei You'an, have heard that you received news of the Hu people conspiring to mobilize a hundred thousand troops to attack Sword Gate Pass, aiming to invade our territory. My lord, you may recall that throughout history, whenever the Hu launched large-scale invasions, they invariably did so during spring or summer. All major battles followed this pattern. Now, with the bitter cold freezing the land, ice and snow cover the roads in Hu territory, and not a blade of grass grows. Even if their troops are fully prepared to endure the cold, how could they possibly traverse such roads? And where would their warhorses find fodder? The Hu's combat habits differ from ours—they maintain no stockpiles, travel light for speed, and sustain their armies by plundering along the way. Sword Gate Pass lies far away, and in this harsh winter, a Hu force of a hundred thousand marching there defies all logic. It is not to be believed lightly. In my judgment, this is likely a ruse to lure our main army to Sword Gate Pass, leaving our borders vulnerable to a surprise raid. If our forces are diverted there, we may find ourselves unable to defend both fronts."
Pei You'an glanced around at the assembled men.
"However, since the intelligence exists, we cannot ignore it entirely. In my humble opinion, my lord should instruct the Yan-Yun garrison to verify the reports while defending Sword Gate Pass. Meanwhile, we should retain troops here at the border, fortifying the cities of Suye and Jinai against potential light cavalry raids. What does my lord think?"
As his words faded, the hall fell silent. Hu Liangcai scanned the room, noticing his subordinates' eyes fixed on Pei You'an. Irritated, he snapped, "Pei You'an, you yourself admitted this is merely your speculation. How dare you speak with such certainty and interfere with my command? I have verified intelligence—there can be no mistake! If we follow your advice and keep our main force here, only to have the Hu breach Sword Gate Pass, who will bear the responsibility?"
Pei You'an stepped forward. "My lord makes a fair point. Hence, I suggest you alert the Yan-Yun garrison to reinforce defenses as a precaution. But we absolutely cannot leave these border cities undefended!"
Since his arrival, Hu Liangcai had achieved no significant military merits, leaving him frustrated and ambitious. A man of methods, he had secretly dispatched numerous spies to Hu territory over the past two years. This latest intelligence came from one such trusted informant. Upon receiving it, Hu Liangcai immediately sent others to corroborate—they reported seeing massive Hu forces assembling, with vanguards indeed heading toward Sword Gate Pass. This confirmation cemented his belief.
Sword Gate Pass was strategically vital; its fall would be a capital offense. Yet repelling the Hu there would bring great glory. Eager for merit and fearing the Yan-Yun garrisons might steal his opportunity, Hu Liangcai had prepared for a full-speed advance, planning to march at dawn. How could he entertain objections now? He sneered, "Enough! You're merely a civilian now—stick to managing your fodder yard. What qualifies you to meddle in military affairs? If you don't withdraw voluntarily, don't blame me for charging you with insubordination and disruption!"
Pei You'an held Hu Liangcai's gaze briefly. Seeing the cold arrogance in the man's expression, he clasped his hands in salute and turned to leave. As he walked toward the gate, a voice called from behind. Turning, he saw the Yang advisor—who had previously visited the fodder yard—hurrying after him and paused.Yang, the advisor, stepped forward and bowed deeply, speaking in a low voice, "Lord Pei, to be honest, when I first heard the news, I also found it suspicious. I advised Lord Hu to reconsider before making a decision, but he dismissed my concerns, accusing me of timidity. Since he insisted the source was reliable, I dared not be certain. After hearing your words just now, I am deeply convinced. Though I am but an ordinary advisor now, merely scraping by, I was once a scholar with aspirations to serve the nation, and that fire has not died within me. This matter is of grave importance, concerning the safety of countless soldiers and civilians across several cities. You, my lord, are unparalleled in your wisdom and virtue, and I have long admired you. I trust you will not let this rest. Should you have any use for me, command as you will. I pledge my life to serve you, whether in the vanguard or the rear!"
...
Before the fifth watch the next day, when the sky was still pitch black, the sound of horns echoed across the training grounds outside Suyeh City, and torches illuminated the camp. Before the gate, the army sharpened their shields and prepared their weapons. As previously arranged, only a small contingent remained to guard the area, while the rest, led by various deputy generals and staff officers, had already formed ranks, awaiting only the commander's arrival to raise the banner and march to Jianmen.
When the fifth drumbeat sounded, Hu Liangcai was nowhere to be seen. After waiting a while longer with no sign of him, the soldiers and officers began to exchange puzzled glances.
Hu Liangyou, seeing his elder brother overdue, feared the troops' morale might waver and was about to send someone into the city to investigate when he suddenly spotted a group of several hundred riders galloping toward the camp from the city gates, their torches flickering in the darkness. Assuming it was his brother, he was overjoyed and ordered the drums to welcome them. But as the group drew near, a man rode forward, holding something aloft, and shouted, "The commander's seal is here! By its authority, all troops are ordered to return to camp in orderly fashion!"
This man was Li Rui, a veteran of the frontier who had once risen to the rank of deputy general. Known for his quick wit and combat prowess, he was well-respected among the troops. After Hu Liangcai's arrival, however, Li Rui, being a former subordinate of the Duke of Wei, was repeatedly sidelined and demoted to a mere guerrilla officer. Naturally, he had not been chosen to join this campaign and was instead ordered to remain behind with five hundred men.
Hu Liangyou, shocked and furious, stepped forward. "Li Rui, are you rebelling? How dare you falsely issue the commander's orders! How is the seal in your hands? Where is my brother? Where is he?"
Li Rui barked an order to seize him, and a dozen men surged forward, swiftly capturing Hu Liangyou and clapping him in military shackles with a sharp clang. Hu Liangyou struggled violently, cursing nonstop.
The suddenness of this turn of events left everyone stunned. It wasn't until Hu Liangyou was shackled that his staff officers behind him snapped out of their daze, drawing their swords and advancing, demanding Li Rui release him. Tensions escalated, and the two sides stood on the brink of violence when another figure arrived from the city gates, galloping into the camp on a warhorse and halting between the opposing forces.
The newcomer sat tall on a powerful black steed, his expression solemn. His sharp, lightning-like gaze swept over the row of clamoring officers before him. Though dressed in plain clothes, his imposing presence was undeniable.
Someone recognized him and gasped, "Pei You'an!"
The others froze where they stood. A murmur rippled through the nearby ranks as soldiers whispered to one another, straining to catch a glimpse of him.Pei You'an dismounted and, under the gaze of the multitude, strode swiftly to the command platform. Ascending the torch-lined steps, he stood atop the high platform, surveying the assembled troops. Drawing a deep breath, he proclaimed in a resonant voice that carried far and wide: "Hu Liangcai has been stripped of his command seal. I, Pei You'an, shall temporarily assume his duties. From the highest officers to the lowest soldiers, all are to obey orders—return to your barracks immediately and await further instructions!" His voice carried authority, shaking the very air, reaching every corner of the grounds.
Silence fell over the barracks. Even Hu Liangcai's trusted followers, let alone the ordinary soldiers, were momentarily cowed by Pei You'an's imposing presence, exchanging uneasy glances without daring to stir.
Though shackled, Hu Liangyou refused to concede. With a violent effort, he broke free from the two soldiers restraining him and shouted hoarsely, "Pei You'an! You hold no official rank—how dare you presume to command the army in my brother's stead? Do you not fear the court's retribution for this military blunder? I am a fourth-rank Longwei Vice General of the imperial court! What crime have I committed? You publicly humiliate me before the troops, shackling me today—but mark my words, you'll find it far harder to remove these shackles from my neck later!"
As his voice faded, several hundred of his loyalists echoed his outcry. Hu Liangyou shook his shackles, the clattering chains adding to the uproar.
Pei You'an descended from the platform and approached Hu Liangyou. With a faint smile, he said, "Vice General Hu, if I wished to remove your shackles, what difficulty would there be?" Before the smile could fade from his lips, he turned and barked, "Guards! Cut off his head—that will remove the shackles!"
At first, Hu Liangyou swelled with triumph at Pei You'an's words, never dreaming the man would suddenly order his execution. When Li Rui drew his blade and advanced, Hu Liangyou's face paled in terror. He struggled desperately but was forced to the ground. Before he could react, a cold flash descended—a chill at his neck—and his head parted from his body. The shackles clattered to the ground as a fountain of blood sprayed several feet high, instantly staining the snow crimson.
Li Rui lifted the severed head and declared, "Hu Liangyou has long violated military discipline and today defied orders. He has been executed on the spot as a warning to all!"
Hu Liangyou's followers, witnessing how Pei You'an had casually ordered his beheading mid-conversation, were utterly cowed. When Pei You'an's smiling gaze swept over them again, they froze in place, not daring to move a muscle. Soon, Li Rui's men disarmed them, and they surrendered without resistance. The remaining officers and soldiers, long resentful of Hu Liangyou's abuse of power through his brother's influence, felt nothing but satisfaction at his execution. Awed by the might of the Pei family, they knelt before Pei You'an, shouting in unison, "We pledge our loyalty to Lord Pei and vow to serve unto death!" The rest of the troops followed suit, their roars filling the training grounds with fervor.
Pei You'an temporarily secured the command seal and immediately summoned Li Rui and others to return to the city. He ordered the soldiers back to their barracks to await further orders and dispatched messengers to relay urgent notices to the commanders of Yan and Yun. Leading his retinue back to the city, he entered the Regional Military Commission headquarters to deliberate. Dawn had only just broken.
Pei You'an worked tirelessly into the early hours of the morning before finally completing the preliminary arrangements. The officers dispersed, each assigned their respective duties.Though Yang Yun had been left at the fodder yard, Pei You'an had not seen Jiafu for a full day and two nights, counting tonight. His heart ached with longing, and he feared she might be worrying about him. After giving final instructions and disregarding the others' attempts to dissuade him, he set out from Suyeh City during the fourth watch. Riding hard by the reflected light of the snow, the biting wind lashing his face, he shattered countless stretches of ice along the wild paths, finally arriving back at the fodder yard at dawn.
While the sun and moon had changed in Suyeh City, this home he had inhabited for a year in the wilderness remained as tranquil as ever. The pale light of dawn cast a hushed silence over everything.
Pei You'an gazed at the snow-covered roofs of the low houses ahead, warmth flooding his heart. As he urged his horse toward the main gate, he spotted a figure standing in the snow, carrying a bundle under one arm. The person must have traveled through the night, having just arrived. They seemed torn between knocking and hesitating, craning their neck to look around. Suddenly hearing hoofbeats behind them, they turned and recognized Pei You'an, their face lighting up with joy. They rushed forward but slipped and fell face-first into the snow. Ignoring the pain, they scrambled up and ran to the middle of the road, dropping to their knees and kowtowing. "Lord Pei! This humble servant Cui Yinshui has come to serve you and your lady. From now on, I belong to you both, ready to obey any command!"
Pei You'an's expression remained cold, as if Cui Yinshui were invisible. His horse never slowed, charging straight toward the kneeling figure. Just as it seemed the horse would trample him, Cui Yinshui dared not move, bracing himself for the impact. But to his surprise, the horse leaped over his head and halted directly before the gate.
Lao Ding, hearing Pei You'an's call, hurried to open the gate. Cui Yinshui, still shaken, scrambled to his feet and ran after him. "Lord Pei—"
"Go back. I have no need of your service here."
Pei You'an, still mounted, did not turn his head as he spoke. He ordered Lao Ding to close the gate and rode inside without another glance.
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