Gu Ting returned home, drove away the servants, and hugged Pei Man.
Pei Man noticed that he was in a bad mood and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong? Did you have a fight with the Marquis?"
Gu Ting shook his head, "We are going back to the capital."
Pei Man was stunned, a little unable to react, "Return to the capital? When? Have you figured it out?"
Gu Ting let go of Pei Man and sat in the study, bowing his head and saying, "The Ministry of War will soon send a transfer order, and then our whole family will return to the capital."
Pei Man was silent.
At this time, there was suddenly an order to transfer Gu Ting back to Beijing. It was obvious that this matter was not simple.
She was very nervous and a little at a loss, "Is the court going to take action against the Northwest Army?"
"I don't know!" Gu Ting was very annoyed.
He had been in the army for more than ten or twenty years, and the Northwest Army was his home. But he could only watch helplessly as the imperial court dismembered the Northwest Army.
This feeling of powerlessness made him feel exhausted.
What should he do?
What can I do if I stay?
What else can I do when I return to the capital?
He was not sure he could convince his sister and His Majesty to let the Northwest Army go.
Military and national affairs will never change because of the will of one person.
Pei Man hugged him and said, "Perhaps we are worrying too much. Things are not that serious."
Gu Ting turned around and looked at her. "I was drinking with my brother-in-law today, and his attitude was a little strange."
"How strange is it?"
"I can't say."
Pei Man gritted her teeth and said, "I'll go find my brother and ask him clearly."
Gu Ting grabbed her hand and said, "Don't go! He won't reveal a single word about military and national affairs."
"I don't ask about military or national affairs, I only ask about family matters."
Pei Man was determined. She broke free from Gu Ting's hand, gathered her men and horses, and rode out of the house.
In the northwest, Pei Man's riding skills are better than many men in the army.
She spurred her horse into a gallop, heading towards the tavern.
When she arrived at the tavern, Pei Meng and Mr. Dou were just coming out of the tavern.
The entire tavern was surrounded by Pei Meng's personal soldiers, and all individual customers were driven away.
At this moment, the personal guards were gathering to escort Pei Meng back to the barracks.
“Big Brother!”
Pei Man screamed, and in the blink of an eye she rushed to Pei Meng, looking down at him condescendingly.
"Why is Xiaoman here? Why isn't she at home with Gu Ting?"
"I have something to ask you."
Her face was serious. "Let's find a quiet place to talk, or should we just talk here?"
Pei Meng mounted his horse and said, "Follow me."
The brother and sister, one in front and one behind, galloped on horseback towards the pasture.
The personal guards and Mr. Dou followed behind at a distance.
Green pastures, herds of cattle and sheep.
Pei Man pulled the reins and looked at Pei Meng, "Brother, how many years has it been since you returned to the capital?"
"About ten years."
"Brother, do you still remember what your sister-in-law looks like? Do you remember what your nephews and nieces look like?"
Pei Meng turned around and looked at Pei Man, "What do you want to say?"
Pei Man bit her lip, her eyes stubborn. "I don't understand military affairs. I just want to ask you, big brother, what should we do at home? What about mother and sister-in-law? Don't you and father care about them?"
Pei Meng's face was solemn. "Xiao Man, don't let your imagination run wild."
"Are you sure I'm just imagining things? Just because I don't understand military and national affairs doesn't mean others don't. This year, I received more than a dozen letters from my mother, sister, and even my eldest sister-in-law. How many letters did you and father receive from home?"
Pei Meng said expressionlessly: "Two!"
"Only two letters!" Pei Man sneered, "Have you and father ever thought about why?"
Pei Meng said vaguely: "Some things are unavoidable."
“They’re all excuses!”
"Then what do you want me and my father to do? Surrender and lose our heads?" Pei Meng was furious.
Pei Man shed silent tears, her eyes filled with sorrow, "Is there no other way?"
Pei Meng took a deep breath, "There is still a glimmer of hope."
Pei Man was so nervous that her breathing almost stopped.
She heard Pei Meng say, "I will escort your family back to the capital and try to secure that glimmer of hope."
Pei Man covered her heart and asked, "If you don't get it, will you take your sister-in-law away?"
Pei Meng shook his head and said, "The family members must stay in the capital." As hostages.
This is the court's balancing act.
Over the past thousands of years, dynasties have changed many times, but the defense against military generals has never been relaxed.
Pei Man burst into tears, "You are so cruel!"
Pei Meng said, "If they stay in the capital, there is still a glimmer of hope."
"Bullshit!" Pei Man was furious. "The court will vent their anger on them, and they will be the first to die. What do you want my sister and I to do? Are we going to watch helplessly as my family members are beheaded?"
"Collect their bodies and bury them properly. Don't worry about anything else." Pei Meng's voice was as cold as ice.
Pei Man loudly accused, "How can you be so cold and cruel?"
Pei Meng's eyes were firm. "As a member of the Pei family, while enjoying wealth and glory, you must also be prepared for your property to be confiscated and your head to be executed."
Pei Man was trembling all over and felt cold all over.
She asked weakly, "Can you please ask the Queen? The Gu and Pei families are relatives after all."
"This is a matter of great importance to the imperial court, and no personal feelings can be involved. Xiao Man, you should understand this principle. So after returning to the capital, do not mention the Pei family or the Northwest Army in front of the Empress. This is for your own good! No matter how the situation develops, you and Gu Ting will be fine."
"Can I just watch you get into trouble?"
"If I can, why can't you?"
Pei Meng's words were too cruel, like a knife stabbing into Pei Man's heart, making her feel unbearable pain.
Pei Meng had no regrets at all, "As a member of the Pei family, I should have this awareness."
Pei Man wiped away her tears, "Are you and father deliberately forcing me to be a cold-blooded woman?"
Pei Meng looked at the horizon and said, "Without a heart, there will be no pain! Life will be easier. Besides, things may not develop in the worst direction."
"Are you sure you can seize that glimmer of hope?" Pei Man asked anxiously.
Pei Meng smiled and said, "That depends on what conditions the Emperor and Empress offer."
If the imperial court asked them and their son to give up their military power and return to the capital to retire, it would be better for them to die on the battlefield.
If the imperial court attempts to dismember the Northwest Army, we might as well rebel.
In Pei Meng's eyes, there is no solution between the Northwest Army and the imperial court.
He really couldn't think of any way Queen Gu could solve this problem.
He is curious!
More of a caution.
He is not as optimistic as Mr. Dou.
Pei Man knew it very well, and there was no point in continuing the conversation.
No one can convince anyone else.
She wiped her eyes and asked, "When do we leave for the capital?"
Pei Meng said, "Don't worry! You can take your time packing your luggage. If you have any large items that are not suitable for carrying, you can send them back to Sanhe Express. Sanhe Express is very professional in shipping."
Pei Man asked again: "Father won't return to the capital?"
Pei Meng smiled and pointed at his feet, "This is my father's hometown, this is our home."
Marquis Lu will never return to the capital in his life unless he dies!
Pei Man asked, "Aren't you worried about your mother?"
"You and I don't need to worry about Mother. She understands things more clearly than anyone else."
Pei Man sneered, "You are truly a good son to your mother."
Pei Meng seemed not to hear the sarcasm in the words and said as a matter of course: "She is proud of me, so of course I am her good son."
"How shameless! How can you say such a thing?"
Pei Man rode her horse back to the city, she was almost suffocating!
Pei Meng watched her go away with an expressionless face.
Mr. Dou rode up to Pei Meng and said, "Don't worry, my Lord. There's still a glimmer of hope."
"Mr. Dou is indeed full of confidence in the Queen." Pei Meng said sarcastically.
Mr. Dou asked Marquis Lalu to take the blame, "The Marquis is also full of confidence in the Earl's coming to Beijing."
"Father was bewitched by you." Pei Meng was very dissatisfied.
Mr. Dou provoked him, "Master, aren't you really curious about what the Empress has prepared as a ray of hope?"
"We're going to have to fight sooner or later! Do you really think we can achieve anything through negotiation?"
"I am looking forward to the outcome of this conversation."
Old thief!
…
Pei Man returned home, threw herself into Gu Ting's arms and burst into tears.
Gu Ting hugged her tightly, patted her back, and comforted her in a low voice.
Pei Man was tired of crying and fell into a deep sleep.
Gu Ting stayed by her side.
There are three children, two sons and one daughter, all of whom are teenagers.
Gu Ting comforted the children, "Mom is fine, she's just crying because the sand got in her eyes."
"Did mother and daughter accidentally get sand in their eyes?"
"yes!"
"Let me give mother a blowjob."
"Mother is asleep, we can't wake her up."
"The daughter is well behaved and doesn't speak."
"Good boy."
Gu Ting picked up his daughter and felt that his daughter was very caring.
Pei Man slept until the next morning.
She regained her spirit, healed her wounds, began to pack her luggage, bid farewell to her old friends, and prepare to return to the capital.
Half a month later, Gu Ting officially received a transfer order from the Ministry of War, transferring him back to the capital.
Gu Ting felt a little melancholy.
Take the time to say goodbye to your comrades in the army and write down everyone's home address, hoping that we will have the opportunity to meet again in the future.
Deng Cunli visited Gu Ting.
Gu Ting asked curiously, "Does Eunuch Deng plan to return to the capital with us?"
Deng Cunli shook his head. "My family will continue to stay in the northwest and serve the Empress."
"I'd like to ask, the Queen sent Eunuch Deng to garrison the northwest, not just for business, right? What exactly are you busy with?"
Deng Cunli answered the question irrelevantly, "General, have you noticed any changes in the city?"
Gu Ting nodded, "More wells were built, ditches were dug, and water wheels were installed."
"Besides that?"
Gu Ting thought carefully, "It seems that there are more scholars."
"Exactly! Most of the scholars General Gu saw on the street were from Shanhe Academy, and a few were from local academies."
"What are the students from Shanhe Academy doing in the northwest?"
"Explore the terrain, draw maps, find water sources and mines, and so on. There are so many things to do."
Gu Ting was stunned for a moment. "Are these all done privately by the academy, or are they authorized by the court?"
"Of course we have the imperial court's authorization! Shanhe Academy does not do anything illegal. After surveying the topography of the towns and villages in the northwest, these students will soon enter the prairie."
"They're still going to enter the grasslands? Aren't they afraid of danger? Even without Beirong and Xiliang, the grasslands are still full of dangers. Wolves are everywhere, and without military protection, scholars will be unable to move forward."
"Of course there will be military escort! The Grand Military Governor's Office will send troops to protect the students' safety."
"Why do we want to enter the grassland?"
"Of course it's to occupy territory!"
Gu Ting was completely bewildered.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
The second update is here!
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