Chapter Nine, it is not that one cannot

Hu Bing reported that we followed the footprints all the way and found that they disappeared at the edge of the Weishui River. Therefore, we rode across the river to the west bank to search again and discovered that Pei Gai was not far from the shore, leaning against a poplar tree and sound asleep

No, how can merely beheading him relieve the hatred in my heart? It would be better to tie him to the tail of a horse and drag him to death!

Shi Le glared and said, "If you wish to take revenge on me, a mere soldier will suffice. Why do you not go seek it out yourself?"

Given my current situation, how could I possibly have the strength to save the Pei family? Moreover, seeing that Pei is dressed in coarse cloth, it is possible that her true identity has not been revealed. If I were to approach her, it might instead expose her true background. Shi Le harbors a deep-seated hatred for Sima Yue; even though he is already dead, there are still plans to dissect his coffin and burn his corpse. If it were to be discovered that Pei is Sima Yue's queen, would she be spared? Would my reckless actions not only lead me back into the tiger's den but also cause Pei to fall into an even more tragic abyss?

Upon hearing this, Shi Le was momentarily taken aback, then furrowed his brows and turned to the guard Hu Bing, asking, "Where did you capture Pei Lang?"

Yuan An hurriedly said, "This subordinate has already sent someone to follow the trail and search, but out of respect and honesty towards you, my lord, I come to report..."

He did not speak, and neither did Pei; the two of them just stared at each other for a long time. An was anxious beside them and hurriedly helped Shile ask, "Pei Lang, are you willing to surrender? If there are conditions, please feel free to state them." I see that Lord Ming's intention to recruit you is very sincere and urgent. Whatever status, position, or reward you desire, just speak up; everything is negotiable. Stop dawdling here; we need to hurry and break camp to set out. If you keep staring at each other for a while longer, it will be past noon!

Shi Le could not help but laugh, quickly ordering to untie the bindings. He then smiled as he watched Pei Gai move his wrists, twist his waist, and shake his head, no longer speaking. I have already asked you twice whether you are willing to surrender; I cannot ask a third time, as it would seem too eager. If you refuse again, where would that leave my face? This time, I must wait for you to speak first

With Kong Chang absent, the other generals held lower ranks and had less experience. As they watched Shi Le punish Liu An, none dared to intervene; they could only kneel from a distance and bow their heads, assisting in pleading for mercy. Ultimately, Shi Le threw the whip to the ground, turned his head, and surveyed the crowd: "Do you all think that I am concerned about Pei Gai surpassing Liu An?"

Upon hearing the report, Shi Le's face suddenly revealed a hint of anger. He immediately clasped his hands behind his back and shouted loudly, "Bring him into the tent, so I can question him!" The officers quietly observed his expression, thinking to themselves that Pei should be doomed this time... That pretty boy should have been executed long ago, wasting so much of our food for so many days.

Pei curled his lips and twisted his body, saying, "Is this how the general recruits talent?"

Pei should smile: "At the moment of life and death, while fleeing, how could one exhaust their strength so quickly? I deliberately took a break, specifically waiting for the general to send someone to pursue me."

Upon thinking of this, Shi Le's murderous intent suddenly dissipated. He then twisted his waist, sat up straight, and fixed his gaze directly on the expression on Pei Gai's face: "Pei Lang, if you are unwilling to flee, does that mean you are willing to submit to me?"

The generals expressed, indeed, is it worth getting so worked up over a young official from Jin, who has not even fully matured? Fortunately, it is Xu An, your trusted and beloved general, and one of the earliest to follow you in raising the banner of rebellion, who only received a beating. If it were any of us, would we not have been directly chopped to pieces?

Who would have thought that Pei would stand upright at the desk, showing no fear on his face, with an expression that was half-smile, half-serious, and upon opening his mouth, he actually said: "Do you, General, believe that if I, Pei, truly wished to flee, your soldiers would be able to capture me?"

Because theoretically I have already died once, in this chaotic world two thousand years ago, being able to live one more day is a gain, and even if I live one less moment, there is nothing to regret. Since I am not afraid of death, I will not act shamelessly like Wang Yan and others, begging for my life; instead, I have the courage to directly criticize General Hu and even plan to assassinate... In fact, it can only be said that I am attempting to attack Shi Le

The generals all busily said, "General Yu is right, but please, my lord, consider that this is his first offense and grant him a little leniency."

However, can one truly abandon her and only care about saving oneself? Pei, in her previous life, was merely an ordinary person and cannot be considered a moral exemplar. Yet, having come to this world, although only for a few short days, her actions have fully earned her the title of "gentleman." Upon introspection, this is not merely the lingering thoughts of the true Pei at work—though for that fellow, Confucian virtues are ingrained in his very bones, whether one can truly adhere to them is another matter entirely—this is entirely because she is not afraid of death

No, I still have to go save her

Upon hearing that Pei had escaped, Shi Le was consumed by rage and immediately swung his whip, striking the back of the prostrate Guan An with over ten lashes, causing the armor plates to come loose and the lining to shatter

However, it seems that there is now a chance for survival; does that mean one can cast aside the principles of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor? What difference is there then from the likes of Wang Yan? Pei's soul originates from two thousand years later, and he does not hold the prevalent view of male superiority over females in this world. He does not consider it a fortunate thing to exchange a woman's safety or chastity for his own life; on the contrary, he cannot help but feel a deep sense of humiliation rising from the depths of his heart.

Shile let out a cold snort and fixed his gaze on Lian An: "Since you are so knowledgeable, let the remaining number of lashes be temporarily set aside..." Lian An thought to herself, what do you mean there are still remaining lashes? You never said how many you were going to hit me with in the first place...

That evening, a grand banquet was held in the tent, and even the herdsmen were able to enjoy a few cups of fine wine brought by Sima Bi for the journey. Xu An casually inquired about Pei's situation, warning the old herdsman to keep a close watch and not to be negligent. Consequently, the other Hu generals and soldiers also became interested in this topic, and they all began to ask, "What exactly does the Duke of Jizhou (referring to Duke Shi Le of Jizhou) see in Young Master Pei that he is so intent on persuading him to surrender?"

......

The Hu Han army is complex in composition, with the majority being Xiongnu, as well as a considerable number of Jie people from the Shile clan, and even a few Qiang and Xianbei, along with individuals from the Central Plains. Their languages do not communicate with one another, hence they often converse in Han dialect. While serving dishes and pouring wine, Pei, who was nearby, heard the term "Pei Lang" and could not help but take it to heart. That evening, after attending to Xu An and ensuring her maid had gone to sleep, she quietly slipped outside the tent, took out a dagger she had secretly kept for the purpose of self-destruction, and personally went to the stable to investigate the matter.

This is certainly also the intention of Concubine Pei. Although she sees Yuan An as having a rough appearance and with hair that is dry and yellow, which is vastly different from the people of the Central Plains, he is fully armored and should hold a significant status. In any case, falling into the hands of a Hu general is still slightly safer than being given to a Hu soldier. This Hu general seems to be staring intently at her maid, showing little interest in herself.

"In order for the general to understand, it is not that I, Pei, cannot escape, but rather that I do not wish to. If I truly wanted to flee the army, how could they possibly catch up to me or hold me?"

Both Shi Le and Pei Gai secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to themselves that Xuan An's interjection was indeed timely. Pei Gai took the opportunity presented by Xuan An's question to express his stance, thus he raised his hand, held up three fingers, and said loudly: "If the general is willing to agree to three matters from Pei, then Pei is willing to pledge loyalty to the general"

Shi Le ordered that all officials, servants, and common people, except for the Sima family, be distributed among the generals and officials. Among them, Yan An had the greatest merit and could choose first. Yan An immediately set his sights on the maid of Concubine Pei. Although Concubine Pei was not inferior in appearance to his own maid, she was over thirty years old, and according to the aesthetic standards of that time, she was already considered an "old woman," far less appealing to the Hu generals than a young and beautiful maid. The maid was currently weeping with Concubine Pei, and seizing the opportunity, she made a request, saying that this was her aunt and she did not wish to be separated, asking if they could serve the general together.

Shi Le said, "Go ahead and boast. With your thin arms and legs, you wouldn't be able to run away at all, which is why my soldiers were able to catch you. To save face, you deliberately say things like 'It's not that I can't escape, but that I don't want to escape. As long as I want to escape, I can do so at any time...' Who would believe you! However, Pei's tone this time seems different from before; it is neither harsh nor does he outright refuse my offer. What does this mean?

An couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh behind Shi Le's back—had I known I could catch you so quickly, I wouldn't have reported you in the first place... Truly a case of self-inflicted humiliation

Pei was unaware that the reason why Concubine Pei had fallen into the hands of the Hu camp was entirely due to her nominal son, Sima Yi. Sima Yi had always harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Pei family and had previously plotted to murder Pei Xia, a cousin of the Pei family. This time, under the instigation of He Lun and Li Yun, he coerced the entire family to leave Luoyang, intending to escape back to their fief, the Eastern Sea Kingdom.

After the meeting, it turned out to be his own cousin Pei Gai. The Pei family could not help but feel a surge of sorrow, tears streaming down their face. They immediately cut the ropes and presented a dagger to assist Pei Gai in his escape

As Shi Le returned to the tent and had just settled down, Hu soldiers brought in Pei Gai, bound with ropes. Shi Le propped himself up on the table with one hand, leaning his body to the side, and deliberately glanced at Pei Gai from the corner of his eye, coldly asking, "Pei Lang, do you truly refuse to surrender to me?" His murderous intent had already arisen, and he was just waiting for Pei Gai to utter a "no" before immediately ordering him to be taken out and executed.

But how can I rescue Pei? What if not only the rescue fails, but I also lose my own life? Pei thought for a long time, and finally, with determination, he plunged the dagger into the ground, gritted his teeth, and murmured to himself: "It doesn't matter, if I can't save her, it's her fate; if I don't go to rescue her, it's my sin!" At worst, I will die with her, to repay the favor of her rescue in the dead of night. What is there to fear in death?

Shi Le's face showed a hint of confusion as he asked Pei: "Pei Lang, crossing the water late at night, you must be exhausted, right?"

Anxin said, "Yes, I am indeed too honest. If I had known earlier, I would have sent someone to report to you. You could have vented your anger on someone else instead of me! ... No, I really must go personally to capture Pei and bring him back; otherwise, I am truly afraid of the many lashes that might still come my way. " He hurriedly got up from the ground—after all, he was strong and healthy, frequently navigating through perilous situations, and these dozens of lashes, being delivered through armor, would not truly injure him. Just as he was about to take his leave, he suddenly heard a soldier calling from a distance: "We have already captured Pei Lang!"

But why is that

You should hasten to capture Pei Gai and redeem your mistakes through merit

Unfortunately, it was only after Pei had crossed the river and escaped far away that he finally remembered the identity of the Pei family. He could not help but feel both sorrow and fear, and immediately thought of returning to the Hu camp to rescue the Pei family. However, just as he took a step, his legs weakened, and he fell to the ground. He then sighed deeply towards the sky, his teeth grinding together with a "creaking" sound, and his emotions surged for a long time.

I am ultimately an adult; how can I expect a theoretical aunt to sacrifice herself to save me in order to survive? The Pei family has fallen into the hands of the Hu, and our identity will eventually be exposed. Perhaps I will die without a sound. Can I really bear to drift away, pretending not to know? Will my life, whether short or long, be a continuous struggle filled with guilt and heart-wrenching pain? Even if I live, what difference does it make from being dead? Will my life, whether short or long, be a continuous struggle filled with guilt and heart-wrenching pain? Even if I live, what difference does it make from being dead?

The last time he spoke to himself in such a gentle and pleasant manner, he was planning to copy Ru Yi and strike himself... However, now both of his hands are bound behind his back, and even if he wanted to rush over and bite with his teeth, he probably wouldn't be able to reach himself. Could it be that he has finally come to terms with it and is willing to surrender?

Lady Pei was naturally intelligent. Upon hearing of Sima Yue's death, she realized that the great structure was about to collapse, with no one left to support it. The journey back to the East Sea was fraught with dangers, as it was filled with Hu soldiers and bandits, making it no different from a fool's dream. Therefore, she had long prepared a set of servant's clothing, ready to disguise herself at the first sight of Hu soldiers. Sima Bi soon lost his head, but due to Lady Pei's usual kindness towards her subordinates, no one came forward to report her, allowing her identity to remain concealed for the time being

He finally made a decision, and instead felt an immense sense of relief within. However, once he relaxed, drowsiness surged back, so he sat down again, leaning against a large tree on the outer side of the woods, and fell into a deep sleep once more

However, Yan An lay on the ground, suddenly straightening his neck and addressing the pleading generals: "Do not indulge in wild thoughts. The Lord's punishment of me this time is not for the sake of Pei Lang. The Lord entrusted Pei Lang to my care, but I, in a drunken stupor, failed in my duty, leading to his escape. If such negligence were to occur on the battlefield, it would surely result in defeat! I am guilty and must accept punishment. You must not misunderstand the Lord's intentions, nor harbor resentment in your hearts!"