Chapter 1093 Hedong Pei Family
The autumn of the fifteenth year of Jianxing's reign is quickly coming to an end.
At the end of September in Guanzhong, it has begun to feel slightly cooler.
After the frost, every morning when you wake up, you will see a layer of white frost on the ground, which makes people wonder if it is about to freeze.
The trees isolated on the fields have either become bare, or they still have the last few yellow leaves that are swirling down.
Late autumn on the Guanzhong Plain looks vast, empty and beautiful.
The millet in the fields has been harvested, and many farmers in the fields under rotational cultivation are racing against time to seize the last moment to complete the sowing of winter wheat.
The government will not collect taxes this year, but families who have been allocated fields basically don't have to worry about this year's food rations.
Compared to the inspection in summer, the fields in late autumn were actually much hotter.
It can be seen from a distance that the farmers in the fields are very energetic.
Getting closer, you can even hear their occasional laughter.
The only regret is that there are still too few scenes in front of me.
Crossing the Wei River and heading north, the original fertile fields are now covered with withered grass and shrubs as far as the eye can see...
Fortunately, the quality of Qin Zhidao opened by Figure Maniac is good enough.
Walking along Qinzhidao, you can go all the way to Zhengguo Canal.
The place where Qinzhidao and Zhengguo Canal intersect has become a construction site at this time.
Even though the north wind has turned cold, there are still many people wearing only linen shirts and working hard.
At the same time, there were many young men with tanned faces who stood up straight from time to time, or looked around to check something, or simply walked around.
When they walk around, you can see that they all have their trouser legs rolled up.
This is a unique characteristic of college students when they are working - most of the non-academics taking exams lift their lower robes.
As for Cangtou Guizhou, he doesn't have such good clothes at all.
At the end of the year, they may have a hard time getting a piece of new cloth to make new clothes, but they will not waste money enough to wear them to work.
Pei Xiu, who was dressed similar to a college student, stood on a high ground and looked out.
Holding a folder in his hand, he would lower his head from time to time and write and draw with a charcoal pen.
Pei Xiu, who was born in an aristocratic family, initially felt that the nondescript clothing worn by the college students was too indecent.
But after doing the work, I realized that this kind of dress is the clothes for working: simple and relaxed.
It smells really good after squeezing it for a while.
In the end, he simply asked his grandmother to make a few sets for him and wear them in rotation.
After Hedong and Guanzhong settled down, the Pei family in Hedong asked around and learned that Pei Qian's favorite son had been dragged to work by King Feng Gui. They were really shocked and broke into a cold sweat.
The Hedong tragedy is still vivid in our minds.
At this time, the big people in Hedong were simply frightened.
Who dares to come forward and ask for someone from King Feng Gui?
He is just a concubine. Even if Pei Qian thinks highly of this child, he can't take the Pei family to be buried with him, right?
Unexpectedly, later, news came that King Feng Gui seemed to be very optimistic about Pei Xiu.
This is serious!
After repeatedly confirming that this rumor was highly credible, many people in the Pei family became inexplicably excited, and several elders in the clan almost suffered a stroke from excitement.
As long as we hug Feng Junhou's thick leg, why should the Pei family be worried anymore?
It doesn't matter that Pei Qian is not here, but aren't there still many clan elders in charge of things in the clan?
So the Pei family sent people to Chang'an to find a way out.
Just since the Han Dynasty regained Guanzhong, so many people have come to find Feng Junhou?
Not to mention the aristocratic families in Hedong. When they begged Feng Junhou to quell the civil unrest in Hedong, they often knelt and fished by the river.
There were too many people coming to the door, and it was a sensitive moment for the big man. Feng Junhou, who was guarding Guanzhong, simply turned them away.
The Pei family did not dare to meet Pei Xiu in private. After going around and around, they finally found the Ma family in Fufeng County, Guanzhong.
Ma Teng was originally from Fufeng, and later he garrisoned in Fufeng Huaili.
During this period, "Be prepared for Hu bandits in the north and white cavalry in the east. We will wait for scholars to develop talents and save the lives of the people. The three assistants will be very fond of them."
Therefore, the Ma family was left with a lot of remnants.
It's just that the Ma family's clan is now in Shu and not in Guanzhong.
The Ma family left in Guanzhong are just side branches and have long since declined.
Fortunately, Zhao Ma acted decisively in the early years and took a fancy to the potential of King Feng Gui. He secretly handed over all the remaining connections of the Ma family in Guanzhong.
After the Han Dynasty regained Guanzhong, these Ma family branches actively connected various families in Guanzhong and made considerable contributions. Therefore, the Ma family in Guanzhong regained some momentum.
As a wealthy family in Hedong, the Pei family originally looked down on the Ma family in Guanzhong who had fallen into disgrace.
Now that things are coming to an end, I just want to go to the door to build a good relationship. It has actually cost a lot of favors and a lot of time.
By the time they got through the relationship, Feng Junhou was no longer in Chang'an and had gone to lead the army to inspect Bingzhou and counties.
Secretary Zhang Da, who stayed in Chang'an, was naturally concerned about the disciples of the Feng family who could learn the true knowledge of his Alang.
After all, her son also has the surname Feng, so her son also shares in Alang’s knowledge.
Not to mention, the disciples that Alang accepts from his family will all be called his sons junior brothers in the future.
How can we look down upon the disciples of the Feng clan?
Feng Guiwang has not accepted any disciples for several years. Last year, when he was in Hedong, he received a disciple of the Pei family.
Secretary Zhang knew even more that his Alang wanted to take this person under his sect.
Therefore, when facing the Pei family who came to ask for help, Secretary Zhang could not easily make any promise.
The reason is also very simple:
Pei Xiu's mother and son had said it themselves at the beginning. One of them was a lowly concubine and the other was a concubine. Not only were they not valued by the Pei family, they were also ostracized.
The only thing the Pei family could do was to send a few servants to Pei Xiu's residence to serve Pei Xiu's mother and son.
After Pei Xiu met the family members and heard about the incident in Chang'an, he felt bitter in his heart.
In the rebellion, I saw with my own eyes the bloodbath of the Hedong clan. Who dared to admit that he was valued by the family?
Okay now, just shoot yourself in the foot.
If it were an ordinary person, a member of the family, if they sent more money, food, and labor for the army, they would be able to escape from the sea of misery and return to their hometown in Hedong.
There are some people in the Unmarried Camp who were brought home by their family members in this way.
It is a pity that Pei Xiu himself also knew that after he was received by King Feng Gui, things were no longer that simple.
Fortunately, the Pei family’s original intention was not to take Pei Xiu back.
Besides, if Pei Xiuzhen wants to return to Hedong, the Pei family may not be happy.
So, Pei Xiu stayed in Guanzhong with the college students, and still had to travel around to study (work).
The good news is that because he is not a prisoner, and he may become a disciple of Feng Junhou in the future, he has a special status.
Pei Xiu's mother was finally able to leave the Weijuan camp and have her own independent small courtyard in Chang'an - of course, the money to buy the small courtyard was paid by the Pei family.
In this way, his grandmother was actually much better off than when she was in Hedong - not only did she have servants to serve her, but she also didn't have to be bullied by her aunt.
Pei Xiu then no longer wanted to return to Hedong.
After all, as a concubine, no matter how much he is valued by his own adults, those legitimate sons and grandsons in the family may not be able to look down upon him.
Besides, although I am a little tired from running around and working, I have learned a lot.
Especially in terms of making maps, the students under King Feng Gui have real skills.
Pei Xiu couldn't stop learning about the knowledge of geography that he had never heard before.
It’s like rebuilding the Zhengguo Canal. Wherever the water passes, there are mountains, swamps, water and mausoleums.
In addition, it has been hundreds of years since the Qin Dynasty, and the geography has changed greatly.
In some places, whether it is necessary to change the route, where to change it, and how to change it are all big questions.
The bamboo whistle gradually sounded, and someone shouted:
“Pei Langjun, come down for dinner!”
Pei Xiu, who was standing on the high ground to check the surrounding geographical environment, responded loudly.
Then he closed the folder in his hand and checked whether his trouser legs were tied properly.
Just then he started to trot down to the high ground.
This is a wasteland. No one has cultivated it for many years. It is full of weeds and weeds, and there are many insects hidden there. Being bitten is no joke.
When I arrived at the eating place, I washed my hands with soap first.
At this point, even a man from a wealthy family like Pei Xiu felt luxurious - after washing, he secretly reached under his nose and smelled it.
It has a refreshing smell that makes people feel relaxed and happy.
Of course, washing hands with soap is the privilege of college students and not others.
Other people only use water soaked in willow branches or soap locust to wash their hands.
As for those civilians working hard, it would be good to have clean water.
The staple foods include noodles, steamed buns and millet.
But most people choose pasta.
After three or four days, you can still have a bowl of white rice.
Paired with pickled vegetables, a small piece of dried meat, and a piece of salted fish, it’s so fragrant!
But this is also the prerogative of students.
Most people only have millet rice and pickled vegetables, and only have salted fish every other day.
The common people could only eat salted fish every three days.
The salted fish, a specialty of Yuexun, has been in short supply over the years.
The people who were working were getting hungry quickly. Pei Xiu had just picked up the food and was about to enjoy it, when he heard someone suddenly shouting outside:
“Pei Langjun, someone from your family has sent to see you!”
The students around them who were munching their meals looked up, and some even said "oh".
It is good to have family in Guanzhong.
However, some people deliberately made noises, not only because they were envious, but also because they were jealous.
After all, we are all young men who are in the heat of the moment and come out to work alone.
The family only sends people over to visit once in a while.
But if you send someone over frequently, it will inevitably make people think that this person is a little too dependent on his family.
Before King Feng Gui officially accepted Pei Xiu as his disciple, his identity was already somewhat embarrassing among the students.
If coupled with the fact that family members come to visit from time to time, it makes him even more unable to integrate into the students.
Pei Xiu didn’t look at the people around him, but sighed in his heart:
Didn’t you tell the people who came here last time to ask my mother not to send anyone over again? Why are you here again?
“Thank you very much, may I ask where my family members are?”
“Over there.”
The visitor pointed to several people standing not far away.
Pei Xiu thanked them again and walked towards them.
As he got closer, he discovered that one of them was wearing a cloak, as if he didn't want others to see his true face.
Before Pei Xiu could stand still, the man suddenly took a few steps forward.
Pei Xiu was startled and stopped in his tracks.
“Xiuer!”
The man shouted tremblingly.
When Pei Xiu heard this voice, his body suddenly trembled, and his forehead suddenly rumbling.
He stared at the person in front of him in disbelief and shouted inaudibly: "My lord..."
The visitor lifted up his cloak, revealing an already somewhat old face.
If there are important ministers of Wei State here, they will definitely find that this person is none other than Shangshu Ling Pei Qian, who has disappeared for nearly a year.
“Sir, how could you, how could you be here?”
If it is said that Pei Xiu is not very fond of some people in the clan, but his feelings for his master are real.
Because even though he is a concubine, he regards himself more seriously than his legitimate son. He even said that one day, he would inherit his title.
Pei Xiu looked around nervously, and his face suddenly turned pale.
This place is under the rule of King Feng Gui, and your Excellency is the Minister of the State of Wei.
“Sir, it’s not a good time to stay here for a long time!”
Pei Xiu grabbed Pei Qian's hand tightly, lowered his voice and spoke urgently.
Pei Qian smiled happily and patted his son's hand:
“Don’t panic, since I came here, I already had a plan.”
Pei Xiu’s eyes widened: “What do you mean, sir?”
"I have contacted your second uncle, and he will be coming to Guanzhong soon."
“Second uncle?”
“He is my father’s second brother who fled to Shu many years ago, and is also your second uncle.”
Pei Xiu then remembered that he did have a second uncle.
I heard that when the second uncle was more than ten years old, he sent his brother-in-law to Shu to serve as the governor of Shu. Unexpectedly, there was a great chaos in the world, so he stayed in Shu.
With the help of his second uncle and brother-in-law, he became an official in the Han Dynasty at an early age.
Pei Qian was the head of the Pei family in Hedong, and was originally the minister of Wei.
The second brother Pei Jun served as an official in the Han State, and the third brother Pei Hui served in the Wei State.
"Then the Lord is back this time..." Pei Xiu paused, having some guesses in his mind, but he didn't know how to express them.
He finally changed his words and asked, "Aren't you in Wei State? How come you are here?"
Pei Qian sighed:
“It’s a long story. In the battle of Guanzhong, the Wei state lost its annexed state to Yongzhou, Luoyang was shaken, and the emperor of Wei fled.”
As he spoke, he shook his head with a wry smile:
“The whole country of Wei is shaken. The king does not trust his ministers, and the ministers are not loyal to the king. It is like a ruined country.”
"Under such circumstances, Emperor Wei asked me to serve as Shangshu Ling, just to use my name as the Pei family in Hedong to win over the people of Hedong."
At that time, Wei State lost Xiping County, and the concubine Guo who was favored by Emperor Wei came from the Guo family, a wealthy family in Xiping.
During the Battle of Xiaoguan, King Feng Gui's route to the rear was cut off, and rumors spread. The Guo family took the opportunity to stage an uprising in Xiping County in the rear, and was massacred.
This incident happened in the distant Liangzhou, so few people know about it.
But as a minister, how could Pei Qian not know this?
He could see at a glance what the purpose of Cao Rui's rush to appoint him as Shangshu Ling was.
Coupled with the knowledge of the tragic civil unrest in Hedong and the fact that Pei Xiu's mother and son were lost to the rebels, Pei Qian was really heartbroken.
In the end, Cao Rui died suddenly of illness, and the state of Wei was in chaos.
In this case, Pei Qian has already seen that in the battle between Han and Wei, Wei has little hope.
Even so, that’s all. However, there is still a symbol of division within the country, and a five-year-old child was even appointed as emperor. Isn’t this a symbol of the subjugation of the country?
So how could he be in the mood to win over the hearts and minds of the people in Hedong for Wei?
So he simply took advantage of the chaos to flee Wei and returned to Hedong.
In the past, the Pei family focused heavily on suppressing the Wei state, but now the world is different.
Although he has a second brother in Han, he has no real power.
It would be better for him, the head of the family, to come back and personally take charge of the overall situation of the Pei family.
Anyway, his son happens to be favored by King Feng Gui—if the rumors are true.
Pei Qian came here this time, firstly to see his son, and secondly, to confirm the authenticity of this rumor to his son.
(End of this chapter)