Chapter 106 Uprising
The only person capable of executing Pei Wu's entire clan is the emperor. Pei Wu can now submit a memorial to return to the capital and take up an official post, but once he returns to Bianjing, his fate will likely be the same as Song Pingzhang's.
If Jiang Ru were to offer other words of advice, Pei Wu might not listen. Moreover, Jiang Ru had no other reasons to persuade him. It seemed that only by clearly telling Pei Wu the truth would he believe her.
The story of rebirth sounds very strange, much like the shamanistic villagers they had met before, but what Jiang Ru said was all true.
She really did die once.
After saying everything, Jiang Ru asked somewhat uneasily, "Pei Wu, do you believe what I said?"
Pei Wu was always unfazed even by the collapse of Mount Tai, and even after Jiang Ru told so many bizarre stories, he didn't seem very surprised.
The calmer he was, the more flustered Jiang Ru became, fearing that Pei Wu wouldn't believe him. After all, it was hard to believe in rebirth without experiencing it firsthand.
Feeling uneasy, Jiang Ru involuntarily loosened her grip on Pei Wu's hand, afraid that Pei Wu wouldn't believe her.
However, Pei Wu tightened his grip on her hand. Holding Jiang Ru's icy hand, he asked gently, "When you died in your past life, did it hurt?"
He didn't ask anything else; he only asked Jiang Ru if she was in pain.
Jiang Ru felt a lump in her throat and just shook her head: "It doesn't hurt. I wasn't beheaded. I actually died on my own."
Before Pei Wu could ask, Jiang Ru whispered, "I was so angry when I heard that my entire family was to be executed that I died before the soldiers could even lift a finger."
Perhaps because the way she died was so outrageous, Jiang Ru said apologetically, then added, "That's why I came to find you after I was reborn."
Even though Pei Wu had a bad reputation in her previous life and was cursed so much, she still dared to come to him in order to save her life. If Pei Wu was really a bad person, she might not have come back, but she still came.
Pei Wu had never investigated why Jiang Ru had come to him before, but now he regretted it.
If she had asked Jiang Ru earlier, would she have been spared the burden of her tragic past life, keeping it buried in her heart for so long?
That's why she reacted so strongly when Pei Wu sent her away from Bianjing, because Pei Wu had actually died once, and she was afraid of him dying too.
After saying all this, Jiang Ru's palms were already covered in cold sweat. Pei Wu held her hand, but he couldn't warm it up no matter what. Pei Wu felt like he couldn't breathe. He wanted to ask Jiang Ru if she had a good life in her past life. Her parents were gone, and she had raised herself all by herself. Had she suffered a lot?
Even though Jiang Ru suffered a lot, she didn't live long, and she died a violent death because of him, which was really innocent.
It all started with Pei Wu, so she came to find him.
Their hands were clasped together. Pei Wu remained silent for a long time before asking, "Did you have a good life in your past life?"
Jiang Ru's life with Pei Wu was not so good. When she first came to Jinzhou, she was so young, but she had to worry about whether they could have enough to eat and was busy improving their lives. Later, she was always running around with him and didn't have many good days.
From this perspective, Pei Wu truly caused Jiang Ru a lot of suffering, both directly and indirectly.
He was somewhat afraid to face Jiang Ru and subconsciously tried to pull his hand away, but Jiang Ru held him tightly and did not let him leave.
When asked if Pei Wu was doing well, Jiang Ru pouted sadly and suddenly threw herself into Pei Wu's arms, crying, "Not at all. I have no family. They all want to take my land and even my life. Farming is so tiring. I'm not myself anymore. I'm not only tanned, but my hands have also become rough, like withered branches and fallen leaves. They look so ugly."
She was a student who had just started university and had very limited survival skills. In particular, she was illiterate, and unlike in modern times, she could not at least find a job as a waitress or doing odd jobs. She could only guard her land.
Doing business was a pipe dream; she had no money and was illiterate, making it impossible for her to get by.
As she grew older, her uncles and aunts always tried to use her to do favors and marry her off for money. She not only had to guard against them taking her property, but also against them kidnapping her and forcing her to marry someone else.
She was having a terrible time; she was overworked and her health was failing. So when she was caught, she died of a sudden heart attack.
All the talk about how good things were was a lie. She was just barely able to fill her stomach and not starve to death. But compared to the people who actually starved to death, she was indeed very lucky.
There can't be a worse outcome. If she comes to find Pei Wu, at worst she will die. She has died once before, so what is there to be afraid of?
Pei Wu felt as if his heart was being pricked by needles. He held Jiang Ru tightly, patting her back to comfort her and frantically coaxing her, "I will do my best to be good to you from now on and I will not let you suffer."
Jiang Ru suffered a lot with him, so Pei Wu could only promise her the future. But Jiang Ru shook her head, leaned on Pei Wu's shoulder, and said in a muffled voice, "Since I met you, every day has been wonderful. I have never been so happy."
No matter what she does, Pei Wu will support her; whatever she wants, Pei Wu will fulfill it.
She would no longer be afraid, nor would she have to associate with people she disliked. The happiest time she had been in this world was with Pei Wu. Without Pei Wu, she might have repeated her fate from her previous life.
So she felt incredibly lucky to be reborn, and she really, really hoped to continue her relationship with Pei Wu.
She hugged Pei Wu tightly, embedding herself completely in his arms. She knew he would grant her any request, so she drawled, "Pei Wu, so you must live, or I'll be bullied."
She didn't know how Pei Wu died, but she told him everything. Pei Wu was so smart, he must have been able to avoid it.
Pei Wu finally warmed her hands until they weren't so cold. No matter how shocking Jiang Ru's story was, he calmly asked her, "When did I die? Do you remember?"
Jiang Ru quickly replied, "The tenth day of the fifth month in the tenth year of Yuantai was the day the soldiers came looking for me. You must have died before me."
Jiang Ru always remembered that day. After all, being captured and beheaded was an unforgettable experience. So, since her rebirth, she has always kept that date in her heart.
In the tenth year of Yuantai, there were still six years until Pei Wu's death in his previous life.
It sounds like it will be a long time, but if a war really breaks out, time will pass very quickly, and each war may last for several years.
Although there are still a few years until Pei Wu leaves in his previous life, it is hard to guarantee that no accidents will happen. Jiang Ru is not sure if their rebirth will have a butterfly effect, and she is afraid that Pei Wu will die even earlier than in his previous life.
Pei Wu seemed to be thinking. He hummed in agreement and said, "Logically speaking, I shouldn't have come to that point."
If Pei Wu had truly become regent, he would have held power. How could he have ended up like that? Even if he had displeased the emperor, he should have found a way to extricate himself unscathed and not implicate his entire family.
Since saying those words, Jiang Ru had lost control of her emotions, hugging Pei Wu and crying for a long time. She still hadn't calmed down, and she clung to Pei Wu helplessly, asking, "Why is that?"
After asking this question, the room was silent for a moment. Pei Wu then asked Jiang Ru, "Do you know when I became regent?"
Jiang Ru remembered this. At that time, Pei Wu was enfeoffed as the Prince of Liang. Although he was only enfeoffed as a prince, his influence had actually reached into the palace. The emperor had to listen to him on a daily basis. That's why it was rumored among the people that Pei Wu was the regent, who not only held the emperor hostage but also wanted to ruin the foundation of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Jiang Ru replied, "The fifth year of Yuantai."
The fifth year of the Yuantai era, which is this year in today's timeline.
At this time in his previous life, Pei Wu had already become the regent.
Perhaps Jiang Ru's appearance in this life has indeed changed a lot. At least at this time, Pei Wu is not the regent. But if he were to return to the court now, he might repeat the mistakes of his previous life, become the regent again, and then die mysteriously one day.
Pei Wu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "You said I had a bad reputation in my past life?"
Jiang Ru nodded, then said hesitantly, "I used to be very afraid of you."
Rumor has it that he forcibly abducted women and was extremely ugly. Jiang Ru was really uneasy when she came to find him. She even thought that if Pei Wu was really a bad person who could not be changed, she would poison him and let him die mysteriously, and then she would run away.
Even if she were arrested by the authorities and imprisoned, Jiang Ru would accept it.
When they actually met, Pei Wu was completely different from what she had imagined, so she changed her plans and decided to stop Pei Wu from taking the imperial examination.
Jiang Ru hugged Pei Wu tightly: "But things are different now. I know you're a good person."
Jiang Ru truly didn't hide anything and told Pei Wu everything. Pei Wu had a vague guess, and he paused: "Since I am the regent, why would I allow the people to speak ill of me? That doesn't make sense."
Jiang Ru blinked blankly, equally bewildered by Pei Wu's question: "I don't know."
Pei Wu put himself in that situation; without Jiang Ru, why would he choose to become regent?
After thinking for a long time, Pei Wu suddenly said, "Perhaps I did it voluntarily."
They willingly bear the infamy, and even willingly die.
Pei Wu frowned, looking at Jiang Ru's wide-open eyes, and finally told her his thoughts: "Maybe I died willingly, but I was deceived. He and I may have made an agreement, but he broke it after my death, so you were implicated as well."
Jiang Ru couldn't understand why anyone would willingly die. She couldn't imagine that Pei Wu would one day willingly choose to die. Jiang Ru broke free from Pei Wu's embrace: "Would you still willingly die now?"
Pei Wu shook his head this time. He and Jiang Ru were face to face, and they could both feel the warmth of each other's cheeks. Pei Wu said, "Now that I have you, I won't die."
As long as he can live, he will try his best to live on; he can't bear to leave Jiang Ru alone.
"Then why did you die in your previous life?" Jiang Ru asked, puzzled.
After a long silence, Pei Wu said, "His achievements overshadow those of his lord."
Song Pingzhang was like this, Chen Ling was like this, and even Su Mu was like this.
So, if Pei Wu had reached the position of regent in his previous life, he naturally wouldn't have been able to escape this fate.
The emperor doesn't need a regent who can completely overpower him, so Pei Wu is willing to bear the infamy so that he can one day retire unscathed.
But something went wrong, and he died.
Jiang Ru seemed to understand, but she was only worried about Pei Wu, so she asked anxiously, "What should we do now? Should we go back to Bianjing? If we do go back, how can we protect ourselves?"
Pei Wu quickly made a decision, saying, "I will not return to Bianjing."
The emperor is not only untrustworthy, but may also take his life. Moreover, even if Pei Wu returns to Bianjing, the emperor may not listen to him.
Rather than walking into a trap, it's better to take your destiny into your own hands.
The reason I chose to leave Bianjing was because I knew it was no longer safe, and I knew Pei Wu wouldn't make the same mistake.
In Hongzhou and Xinzhou, no matter what, Pei Wu would try his best, even if it could only save one more person.
Pei Wu said, "I plan to go to Hongzhou in the next few days."
Jiang Ru looked down at her sprained ankle, which was still throbbing with pain. She had gotten hurt at the worst possible time; if she were to go with Pei Wu, she might cause him trouble.
Jiang Ru didn't want to be separated from Pei Wu, and she wanted to do everything she could to help him, but her leg was injured.
Jiang Ru wondered if she should tell Pei Wu that she wasn't going, so that Pei Wu wouldn't be put in a difficult position. But Pei Wu asked her instead, "Would you like to come with me?"
Jiang Ru was stunned.
In the past, Pei Wu would have told her not to go, because Jiang Ru had sprained her ankle and the best option was to recuperate in Tanzhou.
He asked her, but Jiang Ru was afraid that she would need Pei Wu to take care of her if she went, so she hesitated and looked at her feet: "But I twisted my ankle."
Her exposed ankles were still red. Pei Wu seemed to be reminded by her and reached out to touch Jiang Ru's feet. Because she hadn't been wearing shoes and socks, Jiang Ru's feet were ice cold. Pei Wu said, "It's okay. We need to take a carriage to get from Tanzhou. You can rest in the carriage and don't need to follow me around. Just wait for me inside."
After saying that, he continued, "If you don't want to come with me, you can stay in Tanzhou. With Xia and the others with you, you shouldn't be bored. If you want to go out, you can ask them to help you. Just don't run around and try to move around as little as possible."
Knowing that Jiang Ru would be unable to leave him, he gave her two choices.
Jiang Ru reached out and wrapped her arms around Pei Wu's neck. She whispered, "I want to go with you, but I'm afraid I'll cause you trouble."
Pei Wu immediately replied, "It won't cause any trouble."
Jiang Ru was naturally willing to go, so she leaned close to Pei Wu's ear and said, "I want to go."
Pei Wu nodded: "Okay."
As he spoke, he picked up Jiang Ru in that position, and Jiang Ru wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her up.
Before, Jiang Ru might have been shy, but now that she had truly expressed her feelings, she just wanted to cling to Pei Wu and let him hold her.
Pei Wu carried her back to the bedroom. The three rooms in the main hall were the largest in the mansion. In addition to the bed, there were also partitioned rooms in the outer room, which were suitable for taking a nap or reading.
Pei Wu placed Jiang Ru on the small couch, first putting socks on her, then finding a small blanket to cover her cold feet. After washing his hands again, he asked Jiang Ru, "Have you had dinner yet?"
Jiang Ru shook her head: "I'll wait for you."
Since Jiang Ru was unavailable, Pei Wu asked Xia and the others to bring dinner to the bedroom.
The two of them sat facing each other and finished their meal.
That evening, Pei Wu wrote documents in the room. He wrote at the table while Jiang Ru watched him. Pei Wu listed everything very clearly, from raising grain to raising money. However, he was having trouble with the selection of personnel.
If things go smoothly in Hongzhou, he can return in a month. This matter is of great importance, and Pei Wu dares not entrust it to others, so he plans to go by himself.
Pei Wu was not at ease entrusting this task to either Hongzhou or Xinzhou.
He went to Hongzhou, so the affairs of Tanzhou could only be handed over to the Tongpan (assistant prefect). Therefore, Tongpan Wu Changzhi could not be sent out and could only stay in Tanzhou.
Having served as the prefect of Tanzhou for half a year, Pei Wu had enough time to understand the character of his subordinates. Therefore, he could only list a few options: Zhang Zhou, the salt transport commissioner, or Yan Ming, the registrar.
Zhang Zhou is younger and less cautious in his actions. Yan Ming is a bit dull, but he is reliable and unlikely to make mistakes.
In the end, Pei Wu chose Yan Ming and sent him to support Xinzhou.
After pondering for a long time, he wrote another order to conscript soldiers within the Tanzhou area.
Tanzhou's location is crucial. If the Northern Qi and Northern Yan were to invade the Great Xia from the south, they would inevitably pass through Tanzhou, so Tanzhou must make preparations in advance. Even if they don't invade Tanzhou, these soldiers will still have a use in future battles against the Northern Qi.
After writing the order, it will be issued tomorrow. In the next few days, we can only try our best to gather food and go to provide support as soon as possible.
Working late into the night, Jiang Ru stayed with Pei Wu. After Pei Wu finished everything, Jiang Ru reached out and let Pei Wu hold her and put her back on the bed.
The two fell asleep in each other's arms, and slept without any dreams.
The next day, the Tanzhou government office was bustling with activity. Although Tanzhou was a wild and undeveloped place, it had many wealthy merchants. After Pei Wu's order was issued, it quickly received a response, and some grain was collected.
Pei Wu then used most of his salary to buy food, hoping to do his best to save as many people as possible.
He and Jiang Ru kept their money together, and they no longer distinguished between theirs and each other's. When Pei Wu took money, he specifically asked Jiang Ru, intending to take only his share. Jiang Ru had no objections and told Pei Wu to take whatever he wanted, saying she was willing to support him no matter what he did.
Pei Wu had just told Jiang Ru not long ago that he would not let her suffer anymore, but now they had spent most of their money, and their life might be much more difficult in the future.
Pei Wu felt that Jiang Ru had been wronged, so Jiang Ru said, "You and I are one, husband and wife of one mind. How could I stand by and watch you struggle while I do nothing?"
"Moreover," Jiang Ru paused, "in the sixth year of Yuantai, Shuzhou suffered a flood, and I survived only because I received assistance."
Jiang Ru looked at Pei Wu: "Back then you were still the regent, and you might have been involved in this. If that's the case, you saved my life back then."
Pei Wu's focus was not on the so-called "he may have saved Jiang Ru's life." He knew that once a disaster struck, only one in ten thousand could survive, and Jiang Ru must have suffered a lot.
Pei Wu asked, "How were you back then?"
The question was about Jiang Ru's situation. Jiang Ru said, "I'm fine. My house wasn't flooded. The situation isn't too bad, so don't worry."
It sounds easy for her to say this now, but Pei Wu knows that it must have been very difficult for her to survive back then.
The great flood in Shuzhou is coming next year. The past few years have been truly a year of disasters for the Great Xia Dynasty. Although Jiang Ru doesn't feel a strong sense of belonging to Shuzhou, she has lived there for ten years and has several kind aunts and sisters who have treated her well. Jiang Ru fell silent again. She leaned on the table, as if sighing, "Shuzhou will also have a disaster next year. What can we do then?"
She wished that in her previous life it wasn't Pei Wu who requested the aid; if it were other officials who were transferred to Shuzhou, that would be better, as it would at least save many people in Shuzhou.
Pei Wu's expression gradually froze. As a minor official in the local area, there was very little he could do. Shuzhou was too far away, and he might not be able to provide support there. Moreover, he was now in charge of Tanzhou, and he couldn't afford to neglect one area for the other.
Jiang Ru said dejectedly, "You should make arrangements for Hongzhou and Xinzhou first. We can talk about Shuzhou next year. It won't be until next summer that Shuzhou will experience flooding."
The most pressing matters were indeed Hongzhou and Xinzhou, and Pei Wu should get busy with those, but he paused for a moment.
He thought too much, wondering how Jiang Ru had survived in such a turbulent era, and how strong she truly was. In the end, all of this turned into heartache.
All he could do was offer his heart to Jiang Ru and do everything he could to be good to her.
His pained look was too much for Jiang Ru to bear, so she reached out and pushed him, saying, "You should go now."
Pei Wu was eventually driven away by her.
After returning to the government office, Pei Wu handed the conscription order to Wu Changzhi, the vice magistrate.
Although Tanzhou also had some soldiers, their numbers were not large. Wu Changzhi was somewhat puzzled by Pei Wu's sudden call to conscript soldiers, so Pei Wu explained: "Now that Northern Qi and Northern Yan are eyeing us covetously, we should prepare for the future."
Upon hearing this, Wu Changzhi immediately took action.
After several days of preparation, the long wagons were full of grain, and it was time for Pei Wu and his group to set off.
As planned, Pei Wu and Jiang Ru rode in the same carriage. After a few days of rest, Jiang's ankle had recovered considerably and she was now able to walk. However, her ankle would hurt when she walked, so Pei Wu refused to let her walk.
It would take a week to get from here to Hongzhou by carriage. Jiang Ru leaned on Pei Wu's shoulder, and when the carriage bumped along, she simply sat in Pei Wu's lap, the two of them relying on each other.
Seven days later, the carriage finally entered Hongzhou territory.
They were transporting grain, and in theory, many disaster victims would have directly looted or fought with them. However, they saw almost none of them. Although there were disaster victims along the way, they were all in a hurry and only cared about running away when they saw or heard them.
As the carriage entered Hongzhou City, it made a hollow creaking sound as it traveled along the long streets. The city was unusually quiet, but occasionally, the sound of what sounded like orderly footsteps could be heard, clanging and clattering throughout the city.
Everything seemed eerie. Carriages and horses entered the city, and there were pedestrians on the road, but they showed no reaction to them or any joy at being helped, as if they had become numb.
The strange atmosphere made Jiang Ru uneasy. She gripped Pei Wu's hand tightly and occasionally lifted the curtain to look outside. She wondered if everyone in Hongzhou City had died, which was why there were so few people in Hongzhou City. Could this city have become a ghost town?
The remaining people must have gone mad, otherwise why would they be completely unresponsive to the food?
Pei Wu probably sensed something was wrong. He frowned slightly and patted Jiang Ru reassuringly, signaling her not to be afraid.
Upon arriving outside the Hongzhou government office, Jiang Ru lifted the curtain and saw a long queue outside, where people were distributing porridge.
Could it be that someone had already entered Hongzhou to provide support before them? Because there had already been support, the people's faces didn't show numbness, but rather a sense of commonplace.
But something seemed off. Jiang Ru tried to dismount, but Pei Wu stopped her, and his subordinates went to ask.
The subordinate politely addressed the man distributing porridge: "May I ask who you are...?"
The man distributing porridge proudly raised his head: "You don't even know who the Taiping Army is?"
To be honest, he really didn't know.
Seeing his puzzled expression, the man frowned and looked at him with disdain: "You're not from around here, are you?"
As he spoke, he glanced at the grain convoy behind him, seemingly puzzled, and waved his hand at them: "Who are you? What are you doing transporting so much grain here?"
The subordinate hesitated, glancing at Pei Wu behind him. Since the leader was distributing porridge outside the government office, he must be from the government office. He said to the leader, "Please inform them that we are from Tanzhou and request an audience with the prefect."
Upon hearing this, the leading man looked puzzled: "Prefect?"
The subordinate nodded.
For some reason, the man's expression changed slightly. He raised his hand, and a large number of disaster victims had already surrounded them. There were so many disaster victims that the carriage was completely blocked.
The leading man laughed and said, "Don't you know? Hongzhou is now surrounded by our Taiping Army. The prefect you are looking for is in prison. I see that you are transporting grain here, so you must be men of ambition. I will give you two choices: either submit to me or be imprisoned with the prefect you are looking for."
Looking at the scene before her and these strange people, Jiang Ru's eyes suddenly widened after she realized what was happening.
It seems everything has been explained: an uprising has broken out in Hongzhou!
Moreover, Hongzhou is now under the control of the rebel army, and even the prefect of Hongzhou has been imprisoned.
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