Chapter 106: Offense And Defense
Pei Qinghe flashed a cold glint in her eyes and said in a deep voice: “Don’t panic, explain clearly, what exactly happened?”
How could they not panic?
Secretary Li had a mournful face as he recounted the matter of the Xiongnu Cavalry entering the pass to raid for grain. He emphasized the fact that the Guangning Army was utterly defeated and the miserable state of the Xiongnu Cavalry burning, killing, looting, and abusing everywhere.
“……It is heard that there are seven or eight thousand Xiongnu Cavalry. After a few back-and-forth charges, they shattered the morale of the Guangning Army. After the Guangning Army’s great defeat, these Xiongnu Cavalry split into several groups, one of which has already arrived at Anle County.”
“Anle County is only three days’ journey from our Changping County. These cavalry have already attacked into Anle County Town. After making trouble for a few days, next will be our Changping County.”
“Changping County only has a few dozen City Gate soldiers, utterly unable to stop the Xiongnu people. Now, the only ones who can save the common people are the Pei Family Army.”
Secretary Li bowed deeply with all his might, as if wishing to bend his waist to the ground: “Please have Sixth Sister Pei immediately lead people into the county town.”
Pei Yan listened with blood boiling: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, let’s go right now.”
Pei Qinghe’s expression remained calm as she glanced over: “If we leave, what about Pei Family Village?”
Pei Yan was stunned.
Pei Xuan at the side quickly chimed in: “The village was only built half a year ago, the wall was truly completed just last month, the newly built storeroom is piled full of grain and cured meat, as well as gold and silver. We can bring all the people into the county town, but we can’t take these things.”
“Pei Xuan is right, we cannot leave.” The nine-year-old Pei Feng was much steadier than Pei Yan: “This is the new home that the Pei Clan spent two years building, the foundation of our Pei Family, we cannot just abandon it like this. We will stay in Pei Family Village.”
A hint of amusement flashed in Pei Qinghe’s eyes as she reached out to touch Pei Xuan’s braided pigtail, then intimately rubbed Pei Feng’s handsome little face: “Reading every day and teaching you all the time, it indeed has some effect.”
“Unlike certain people, taught a hundred or a thousand times, yet when something happens, they still don’t use their brain.”
Pei Yan was long accustomed to being scolded, her thick skin didn’t blush at all, and she grinned cheekily: “I was just saying it casually, don’t take it seriously. Whatever we do, I’ll listen to you.”
Secretary Li grew anxious upon hearing this and stepped forward: “Sixth Sister Pei, the County Magistrate has always treated you well! Now Changping County is in trouble, tens of thousands of common people are about to suffer, Sixth Sister Pei has a bodhisattva heart, you can’t ignore it!”
Pei Qinghe tugged at the corner of her mouth, her words calm to the point of being almost cold: “I, Pei Qinghe, do not have a bodhisattva heart. Nor do I have such great capability; I can only protect my own family. Changping County’s County Magistrate is surnamed Wang, not Pei.”
Secretary Li had received County Magistrate Wang’s instructions before coming, to invite this great Buddha into the county town no matter what, and immediately picked up: “The County Magistrate said that as long as Sixth Sister Pei leads people to defend the county town, this Changping County will be Sixth Sister Pei’s from then on. The County Magistrate will resign from office and leave the entire County Office and county town intact to Sixth Sister Pei.”
Pei Yan got excited again: “Oh wow! Isn’t this a case of just needing a pillow when sleepy?”
The following words were glared back by Pei Qinghe.
Pei Feng tugged at Pei Yan’s wrist: “Cousin Sister Yan, let’s go over there horse riding.” He dragged the obstructive Pei Yan away.
Secretary Li continued to plead bitterly.
Pei Qinghe put on a full show of reluctance before finally yielding: “Secretary Li, please return first. Defending the county town is no small matter; I need to deliberate with everyone before making a decision.”
Who did not know that Pei Qinghe was the Pei Clan Leader whose word was law? Big matters or small, Pei Qinghe could decide with a word. Now she was suddenly being modest and democratic.
Secretary Li internally complained, but did not dare show a hint on his face, sticking like a dog-skin plaster and refusing to leave: “I’ll wait right here for Sixth Sister’s news.”
……
Half a shichen later, the deliberation hall was filled with people.
Pei Yun, Pei Yan, Mao Hongling, Wu Xiuniang, the young Pei Xuan and Pei Feng were all Pei Clan direct descendants. Pei Jia, Pei Yi, Fang Datou, Feng Chang, Gu Lian were confidants personally promoted by Pei Qinghe. There were also several who joined later, all refugees who performed outstandingly in suppressing the mountain bandits, plus a few Beiping Army soldiers who married into the Pei Clan, all participating together in this important decision.
Pei Qinghe explained the original story in a few words and stated her attitude: “First defend Pei Family Village, then help County Magistrate Wang defend the county town.”
Mao Hongling lacked courage and said in a low voice: “We have plenty of personnel, but most are refugees who have only trained for half a year, barely counting as new recruits who have seen blood. How could they be a match for the Xiongnu Cavalry.”
County Magistrate Wang’s intelligence was outdated; now Pei Family Village had over four thousand refugees. Among them, those able to charge into battle numbered about one thousand. Adding the Pei Clan women, the true main force was over twelve hundred people. The remaining three thousand plus refugees could also understand simple orders; they might not be able to charge, but in a pinch, they could barely fill in to defend the village.
Pei Yun clearly understood Pei Qinghe better and spoke up: “Pei Family Village must be defended, and Changping County must also be held. Once Changping County is breached, Pei Family Village will have no barrier.”
“Moreover, County Magistrate Wang has proactively offered to hand over Changping County to us; wouldn’t it be too much of a pity not to take it?”
These words indeed hit Pei Qinghe’s thoughts.
Pei Qinghe smiled at Pei Yun, then said in a deep voice: “The Xiongnu people have now attacked into Anle County; they will at least rob and kill for a few days. We still have time for deployment.”
“We will split our forces into two routes: one to defend the county town, the other to stay and guard Pei Family Village.”
The one to take over the county town would naturally be Pei Qinghe.
The person to stay and guard Pei Family Village was no need to think much about; it would be between Pei Yun and Mao Hongling.
Mao Hongling had good self-awareness: “My courage is insufficient; I’m fine guarding the village on ordinary days, but at a time like this, better have Pei Yun stay behind!”
Pei Yun was not modest or polite: “Then I’ll stay and guard Pei Family Village.”
Pei Qinghe nodded, her gaze sweeping as she pointed to several people: “Pei Jia, Pei Yi, Fang Datou, you three all stay in the village and obey Pei Yun’s orders in all matters.”
“The rest, come with me to the county town.”
Everyone cupped their hands together and acknowledged.
Pei Family Village’s personnel had rapidly expanded and were continuously being reorganized. Pei Qinghe had deliberately scattered the refugee groups, ten people per team with the best fighter as captain. Ten teams make one camp; those qualified to command one camp were all here.
Now there were twelve camps in total; Pei Qinghe would take eight camps, that is, eight hundred people. Though only leaving four camps, with over three thousand refugees still there, Pei Family Village’s personnel were extremely sufficient.
One shichen later, Pei Qinghe led eight hundred people to appear before Secretary Li.
Secretary Li was so moved that tears welled up, nearly kneeling to Pei Qinghe.
Pei Family Village only had over a hundred horses, all dispatched this time. Pei Qinghe led on horseback, with Pei Yan and Mao Hongling at her left and right. The Pei Clan women spurred their horses alongside, full of heroic vigor.
Feng Chang, Gu Lian, and others each led one camp of people, striding forward at a speed not one bit slower.
Arriving outside Changping County Town, the sky was not yet fully dark.
County Magistrate Wang personally came out to welcome them, dozens of City Gate soldiers bowing their heads to listen to orders, together welcoming Pei Qinghe into the city.
