Chapter 113: Withdraw Troops
The Xiongnu people have finally withdrawn troops!
The hearts of the crowd, tense for over half a month, suddenly relaxed. No one knew who shouted first: “Long live Sixth Sister Pei!”
Continuous cheers rose one after another: “Long live Sixth Sister Pei!”
The cheers spread from the city wall to below the city, then quickly to every street and alley. The tightly locked doors opened, and the common people, who had hidden for a long time, cautiously came out. Upon learning that the Xiongnu had withdrawn troops, they joined in the ecstatic cheers with joy.
From this moment on, the common people of Changping County Town had a new sky above their heads. That was Sixth Sister Pei!
Pei Qinghe stood on the city wall, her gaze sweeping over the tear-streaked, joyful, and excited faces of the crowd, and she smiled faintly.
In her previous life, she had established the Pei Family Army at the age of twenty-three and taken Changping County.
In this life, she had done it eight years earlier.
She could now leisurely manage affairs, win over hearts, and expand her influence. The territory belonging to her would grow larger and larger, and the number of people following her would increase as well.
“Sixth Sister Pei acts with justice,” County Magistrate Wang said, bowing deeply in salute. “You saved the common people of Changping County Town from dire straits. From today onward, this official will obey all of Sixth Sister Pei’s commands.”
Regardless of whether County Magistrate Wang was truly convinced, this statement was greatly beneficial to Pei Qinghe at this moment.
Pei Qinghe smiled and helped County Magistrate Wang up. “I only know how to fight and kill; I’m not skilled in governance or civil affairs. The matters inside and outside the county office still need to be handled by you, County Magistrate.”
County Magistrate Wang no longer mentioned resigning his official seal and leaving. He solemnly replied, “This official will do his utmost and not fail Sixth Sister Pei’s trust.”
He paused, then said in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Shouldn’t we open the city gate now?”
“No rush.” Pei Qinghe said calmly, “Wait a few days before opening the city gate, to avoid the Xiongnu people launching a counterattack.”
Mentioning a counterattack, Mao Hongling couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “The Xiongnu people suffered a major loss. Will they go for reinforcements and come back to attack the city?”
This terrifying speculation made County Magistrate Wang’s face turn pale instantly.
Pei Qinghe’s expression remained unchanged. “The Xiongnu people invaded the border pass, looting everywhere, seizing large amounts of wealth and captives. Their objective has been achieved. A single defeat won’t make them abandon all their wealth and captives for revenge.”
“However, we can’t say it’s completely safe yet. Stay put for now and wait ten days or half a month. If there’s no movement, then there won’t be any major issues.”
Even Pei Yan, after experiencing half a month of bitter fighting, no longer dared to say arrogant and ignorant things like “kill every Xiongnu that comes.”
With the Pei Family Army’s current combat power, dealing with mountain bandits or bandits was no problem, and they could even fight against regular imperial court troops. However, compared to the Xiongnu cavalry skilled in riding and shooting, there was still a significant gap. Defending the city was already extremely taxing, and it was Pei Qinghe who led elite soldiers in a midnight raid. The Xiongnu, caught off guard, suffered a major loss. Otherwise, whether they could hold Changping County was still uncertain.
At least for now, the Pei Family Army did not have the strength to confront the Xiongnu head-on.
“County Magistrate Wang, return to the county office and issue a proclamation ordering all common people to stay at home and not go out casually by opening doors. Grain stores and oil shops should continue to open as usual.”
County Magistrate Wang accepted the order and hurried away.
“Mao Hongling, lead people to patrol the city and stabilize the people.”
“Pei Yan, Feng Chang, Gu Lian, each of you assemble one camp of people and come with me out of the city to the Xiongnu camp to clean up the battlefield.”
These days, there had been battles and deaths almost every day. Every camp was short of numbers. The three camps originally should have had three hundred people, but now, counting those uninjured and able to go out of the city, there were only a little over one hundred.
Pei Qinghe rode out of the city on horseback, with the crowd following closely on horseback.
A gust of wind blew over, carrying the stench of burnt flesh and a thick bloody smell.
Pei Yan was on the verge of vomiting.
Pei Qinghe glanced over: “This is nothing, endure it! Wait until we’re closer to take a look.”
They couldn’t even get close at all.
Charred warhorses and corpses were everywhere. The intense stench made it hard to breathe. Pei Qinghe dismounted and ordered everyone to cover their mouths and noses with clean cotton cloth, then began “cleaning” the battlefield.
Long sabers, spears, bows and arrows, shields, and other weapons were all picked up. Even if some were damaged, they had to be taken away; the blacksmith could repair them and they’d still be usable.
The refugees recruited by Pei Family Village were increasing, and weapons were far from enough. After every battle, cleaning the battlefield to pick up weapons became a top priority.
Urp!
Someone was vomited by the smoke.. While vomiting, they didn’t forget to strip off the charred battle armor.
They rode horses on the way there, but on the return, everyone led their horses on foot. The horse backs were loaded with cotton cloth backpacks, clinking with all sorts of spoils of war.
After
“Qinghe, there are a few bold young misses waiting outside to see you.” Mao Hongling poked her head over: “The leader is called Zheng Xiaoying, saying she wants to join the Pei Family Army.”
Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and smiled: “I’ll go meet them.”
Five girls of different ages, the youngest looking about twelve or thirteen, the oldest being Zheng Xiaoying. She was already sixteen this year, the tallest, and had the sturdiest build.
Zheng Xiaoying did not know if it was due to excessive nervousness or excitement, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she stuttered: “Sixth Sister Pei! I want to join the Pei Family Army!”
The remaining few girls didn’t even dare to make a sound, each holding their breath with eyes wide open.
This Sixth Sister Pei is said to be only fifteen years old and shorter than Zheng Xiaoying. Yet she has divine arrows without peer, powerful skills, kills like flies, led eight hundred people to resist the Xiongnu, and defended Changping County.
Pei Qinghe swept her gaze like a blade edge, and the girls felt a chill in their hearts, all lowering their heads. Only Zheng Xiaoying still had the courage to raise her head: “Sixth Sister Pei, please take us in! We also want to practice martial arts and saber, to protect our families.”
Pei Qinghe did not agree, and Zhang Kou asked: “Does your family know about your coming to see me?”
Zheng Xiaoying straightened her chest: “I knew. On the first day Sixth Sister Pei entered Changping County Town, I wanted to come. My father and mother locked me in the house and wouldn’t let me come out. Now that Sixth Sister Pei is defending Changping County Town and the Xiongnu have withdrawn troops, I knelt for half a day before my father and mother nodded.”
“The few of them are the same; they all have their parents’ approval.”
Another young woman mustered her courage and looked up: “In the Pei Family Army, female soldiers are the main force. We also want to follow Sixth Sister Pei and kill Xiongnu people.”
Mao Hongling softly added a few words: “Today I led people to patrol the county town. These few were all sent to me by their own parents. I asked repeatedly and confirmed that their parents agreed before I brought them to see you.”
The Pei Family Army has suffered many casualties and urgently needs to replenish troop strength.
A girl from a clean common family like Zheng Xiaoying has simple thoughts and reveres and worships Pei Qinghe, making her top-quality soldier material.
Pei Qinghe said: “If you want to join the Pei Family Army, it’s not that easy. You must first train for half a year, survive the battlefield, and then you’ll be kept. Moreover, you have to leave your families and follow me to Pei Family Village. You few go back and discuss with your families, and come back once you’ve confirmed you’re willing.”
