Chapter 110: Raging
The messenger trembled all over. The atrocities committed by the Xiongnu cavalry in occupying Anle County filled him with visceral fear. However, he still forced himself to walk up to Sixth Sister Pei and indicated that he wanted to defend the city together with them.
Pei Qinghe was somewhat surprised and looked at him squarely for the first time: “What’s your name?”
This messenger was around twenty years old: “My surname is Yang, and I’m the third in my family.” The messenger nervously swallowed repeatedly.
Pei Qinghe turned her head and instructed Feng Chang: “You take Yang Sanlang with you.”
Feng Chang nodded and had Yang Sanlang follow him.
This minor interlude requires no further description.
Pei Qinghe had people light torches. Dozens of torches were planted on the city wall, their light shining below the city and casting large patches of glow.
The ground vibrations became increasingly obvious.
The neighing of warhorses grew closer and closer.
Mixed with some sharp cries and screams.
Mao Hongling had excellent hearing, and her brows twitched: “Qinghe, listen, isn’t that women’s crying?”
A cold glint flashed in Pei Qinghe’s eyes, and she nodded slightly.
Where did these women, whose cries were as shrill as a cuckoo weeping blood, come from?
Flames of anger leaped in Mao Hongling’s eyes: “These beasts burn, kill, loot, and set fires to the city, and now they’ve even snatched so many women.”
Pei Qinghe’s face showed no expression: “When Xiongnu people raid, they grab grain and silver, and also take away large numbers of able-bodied young men. Women are even more important captives.”
Mao Hongling gripped her spear tightly.
Pei Yan was furious upon hearing this, took down her bow and arrow, and glared fiercely.
This group of Xiongnu cavalry clearly didn’t take Changping County Town seriously. They rode boldly forward and stopped below the city gate.
Pei Qinghe swept her gaze over and sure enough saw many able-bodied young women with their hands bound, driven like pigs and sheep below the city gate.
There were men too, but their situation was even more miserable. Their ankles were also bound with hemp rope; some were dragged down, emitting agonized howls.
The people guarding various spots on the city wall were stirred into an uproar.
Most of them were refugees; some had experienced war disasters, and upon seeing this hellish scene, painful memories from the bottom of their hearts were immediately stirred.
Feng Chang gripped his bow and arrow, waiting only for Pei Qinghe’s order to pull the bow, shoot an arrow, and force the Xiongnu people to retreat.
“Everyone stay still.” Pei Qinghe ordered in a deep voice: “First scout how many Xiongnu cavalry there are. Wait until they get closer. Our troop strength is limited, and we don’t have many weapons. If we don’t strike, fine; but once we do, we must have gains.”
Feng Chang took a deep breath and responded along with Pei Yan and the others.
The Xiongnu cavalry shouted below the city gate. After a moment, a young man in a long robe was pushed to below the city gate.
This man was in his twenties, a scholar. Under the threat of a sharp blade, he had lost all his integrity and backbone. At first he trembled and shouted a few sentences. Seeing no reaction from atop the city gate, his courage grew, and his voice became louder and louder.
“People of Changping County listen up. Immediately open the city gate and surrender, offer up the county magistrate’s head, and hand over the women and all money and grain in the city, and the rest can live.”
“This running dog!” Pei Yan was so hateful her teeth itched; she pulled her bow to shoot but was stopped by Pei Qinghe: “Don’t rush. You have a loud voice; shout for me. Say let the Xiongnu lords come forward, and we’ll open the city gate to surrender.”
Pei Yan didn’t hesitate at all and bellowed: “We surrender! Let the Xiongnu barbarians come forward.”
Torchlight was everywhere atop the city gate, illuminating clearly outside the city gate. But from below looking up, it was indistinct.
Pei Yan’s bellow like a wild ox led the running dog below the city to not discern if it was a man or woman.
The running dog was overjoyed and turned to shout a few sentences. Soon, several Xiongnu barbarians spurred their horses forward. All the Xiongnu cavalry also followed on horseback closer.
Pei Qinghe pulled her bow, aimed at the leader, and coldly shot the first arrow. The arrow sliced through the night sky, and the lead Xiongnu cavalryman was instantly shot off his horse.
Pei Yan’s first arrow was equally swift, killing that detestable running dog.
Several arrows were loosed from beside her simultaneously.
The Xiongnu cavalry high on warhorses never expected so many divine archers inside the city. While cursing angrily, they bent down to grab bow and arrow to counterattack.
On the battlefield, one side held the city wall high above, the other caught off guard and hastily counterattacking; who had the upper hand was clear.
In the time of a stick of incense, the Xiongnu barbarians withdrew disheveled and dejected, leaving behind dozens of corpses. On Pei Qinghe’s side, only two people were wounded by stray arrows.
A burst of cheers erupted on the city wall.
County Magistrate Wang, whose legs had gone soft and who trembled like chaff hiding below the city gate, was overjoyed. Supported by Secretary Li, he climbed to the city gate: “Sixth Sister is indeed unparalleled in valor. The Xiongnu barbarians have already withdrawn.”
But Pei Qinghe’s face showed little joy, and she said indifferently: “County Magistrate, you’re celebrating too early. They didn’t suffer much loss and sensed something wrong and withdrew immediately. At dawn tomorrow, they’ll definitely come again.”
County Magistrate Wang’s heart tightened: “Can Sixth Sister hold them off?”
Pei Qinghe didn’t answer this stupid question.
On the battlefield, factors like troop strength, quality of weapons, morale, weather, and more could affect victory or defeat. Who would dare claim certain victory before battle?
“They shouldn’t come tonight. Have them take turns to rest, prepare to defend the city tomorrow.”
“County Magistrate, return to the county office, have the kitchen light fires to cook, prepare hot water. Send it before dawn tomorrow.”
“Also, all the doctors and physicians in the city, come below the city gate.”
……
No movement in the first half of the night. In the second half, Xiongnu barbarians came below the city wall to shoot arrows and harass. Pei Qinghe was prepared; a volley of arrows whistled out, and the Xiongnu barbarians quickly retreated.
In the county town, every household had locked their doors. The grain store was empty, no one queuing.
County Magistrate Wang, who hadn’t slept all night, brought runners carrying over a dozen baskets of mixed flour steamed buns to the city gate. Gu Lian and others brought hot water and hot soup.
The city defenders were divided into two shifts: one shift crouching on guard, the other below the city gate eating.
Before they finished eating, the Xiongnu barbarians came aggressively.
Pei Qinghe raised her voice: “Those eating, don’t panic. There are people holding the line atop the city gate. Come up after you’ve eaten your fill.”
Gu Lian stuffed a steamed bun into her mouth and strode up to the city gate. Peering out, rage rushed to her head: “Pah! These beasts worse than pigs and dogs!”
The Xiongnu barbarians were actually using sharp blades and long whips to drive large groups of common people forward to attack the city.
“Xiongnu barbarians are used to these tactics: first, to waste our arrows; second, to scatter the morale of the defenders.”
Pei Qinghe’s expression was calm, her tone cold: “Remember, all who crowd to the city gate are enemies.”
“On my command, loose arrows.”
Gu Lian had practiced martial arts for just over a year, so her skills were mediocre, and her archery average. However, she had an advantage others lacked: an exceptionally cold and hard heart.
After Pei Qinghe gave the order, Gu Lian was the first to shoot an arrow.
Pei Yan and Mao Hongling’s archery was superb; their arrows flew past the ordinary common people and hit the Xiongnu barbarians. The others’ arrows didn’t reach far enough, and wails rose unceasingly below the city gate.
Some refugees couldn’t bear it, turned, and vomited on the ground. Then, under Pei Qinghe’s cold gaze, they gritted their teeth and continued shooting arrows.
Half a day later, the Xiongnu people retreated once more.
