Chapter 20: Refugees
“These people are disguised as refugees, tailing us, which shows they have concerns in their hearts and won’t attack openly. Nine times out of ten, they will drive the refugees as vanguards, with the real killers hiding among the refugees.”
Pei Qinghe flashed a cold gleam in her eyes: “We need to scout how many real opponents there are and their combat power.”
“The battlefield can’t be chosen by them; it must be decided by us.”
“There’s a posthouse ten li ahead; we’ll stop at the posthouse.”
The posthouse at least has a courtyard and walls, allowing simple defenses. The posthouse also has a postmaster, posthouse attendants, and a cook; a few more personnel at key moments is good.
Guard Gao nodded in agreement: “Good, we’ll hurry to the posthouse quickly.”
Captain Sun instinctively chimed in: “What if they don’t come?”
“The enemy can come, and I can go too.” Pei Qinghe said coldly: “If they don’t come, we’ll launch a proactive attack.”
Guard Gao had never suffered such humiliation; hearing this, his blood boiled, and he agreed without hesitation: “Exactly right. Kill all these bastards who dare have crooked thoughts.”
Captain Sun, without any background or backing, had much less courage: “What if the enemy outnumbers us and we can’t beat them? Better to stay in the posthouse for a few days and wait for reinforcements.”
Pei Qinghe glanced at Captain Sun: “Reinforcements coming is the best situation. If the county office cowers and the Julu Army refuses to send soldiers to rescue, we can’t just keep hiding in the posthouse forever.”
They could all think of the opponent’s extraordinary origins; surely the county magistrate in the county office and the general of the Julu Army could too?
This matter involves the Eastern Palace and imperial power struggle, clearly a quagmire. Smart people would choose to stay clear; who would wade into muddy waters?
Captain Sun’s face grew even uglier, and he said nothing.
Guard Gao had much more courage, sneering: “No need to fear. We have over fifty people here! We’re not buns to be kneaded at will!”
Pei Qinghe tugged at the corner of her mouth: “On our side, those who can fight and fight to the death number more than just these; it should be over three hundred.”
Guard Gao: “…”
Captain Sun: “…”
Pei Qinghe had counted the entire Pei Clan, old and young.
These days, Pei Qinghe had been training the Pei Clan female dependents, their formations neat, orders strictly followed, spirits high and fighting spirit soaring—all visible to the naked eye.
Whether they could really hold up in actual combat was another matter.
Captain Sun coughed and asked in a low voice: “Does Sixth Sister really have confidence?”
Pei Qinghe said indifferently: “We’ll know once we try.”
Captain Sun: “…”
Guard Gao had much stronger confidence in Pei Qinghe. As an Eastern Palace Guard, he had witnessed Pei Boren’s resourceful strategies and admired Pei Zhongde’s fierce bravery.
Pei Qinghe was Pei Zhongde’s daughter, the clan leader put forward by the Pei Clan, who in just one month had trained the Pei Clan old and young into shape, showing her power.
“How will we act?” Guard Gao asked directly.
Pei Qinghe whispered a few words.
Guard Gao nodded in agreement.
Captain Sun took a deep breath and nodded in agreement too.
The group set off again.
Two fine horses galloped away, one toward the county office, one toward the Julu Army’s direction.
……
“They’ve discovered our whereabouts!”
“What do we do now?”
From the depths of the dense forest by the official road came a few urgent whispers.
A disdainful sneer rang out: “What are you afraid of! Even if they’ve discovered us, what can they do! We’re here to kill!”
This sneering man was about nine chi tall, sturdy and strong, with fierce light in his eyes.
His surname was Wu, third in his family. His cousin Wu Zhong was Prince Wei’s confidant.
Wu San rarely appeared in public, handling shady deeds. In terms of skill, he ranked in the top ten among Prince Wei’s Dark Guards, a true master.
This time, Wu San brought a hundred Dark Guards. To hide their identities and facilitate action, they specially grabbed one or two hundred refugees.
“Third Brother, I’ve followed from afar for two days. The Pei Clan women and children aren’t like ordinary female dependents,” a triangular-eyed man said lowly: “Not to mention anything else, their marching speed keeps up with the army…”
Clang!
Wu San casually drew his long saber, its snow-bright blade edge flashing cold, stern chill: “Zhao Da, you’re getting more cowardly with age. A bunch of women and kids, and you’re scared? Like this—you don’t follow me anymore, ride back directly. No more errands for you in the future. Stay home serving your wife and holding kids—how nice.”
The Dark Guards all grinned.
Triangular-eyed Zhao Da smiled awkwardly and fell silent.
Wu San licked his lips, a lewd glint in his eyes: “The Pei Clan is a nest of beauties. That Sixth Sister Pei—you lot don’t touch her; bring her back intact to present to the master. The rest of the beauties, heh heh!”
The Dark Guards whooped excitedly, eyes gleaming with arousal.
Wu San stood up, glancing arrogantly at the crowd: “Since they’ve discovered our whereabouts, no more hiding. We’ll chase up now! Act when night falls!”
“Have our fun tonight, and head back tomorrow.”
The Dark Guards chorused in agreement.
The over a hundred captured refugees were all withered and thin as firewood, sallow and emaciated, staggering as they walked. Driven forward by the Dark Guards, one suddenly collapsed while walking.
Wu San, impatient, swung his long saber.
Pfft!
Blade light flashed.
Blood splashed.
A head fell to the ground, rolling with a clatter, stained with dirt and leaves, eyes staring in despair.
This bloody, cruel scene made the refugees tremble in fear. They dared not look, hastily turning their heads, silently pressing forward.
For Wu San, killing was routine. These numb refugees were like pigs and dogs in his eyes, not even human.
He chopped down another staggering refugee: “All of you listen well—follow us obediently. When the job’s done, each gets a bag of grain. Anyone who dares yell or run, I’ll chop him down right away.”
The refugees didn’t dare breathe, exerting all their strength to walk forward.
Wu San and the others all had horses.
But since disguised as refugees, they had to put on a show. Over a hundred fine horses were tied in the woods. The Dark Guards wore ragged clothes, long sabers at their waists, bows and arrows on their backs, swiftly advancing.
Night fell quickly.
The official road was empty of travelers, desolate. The posthouse came into view a few hundred meters away.
The posthouse, built who knows how many years ago, was very dilapidated, though with many buildings. A wind lamp hung at the wide door outside, swaying in the wind.
Qiu Da crept over, asking lowly: “When do we act?”
Wu San narrowed his eyes, saying casually: “Wait till it’s dark. You take some men, sneak in and set a fire. Once the fire starts, we’ll rush in amid the chaos.”
“Kill all the Eastern Palace Guards. Kill the escorting soldiers too.”
“Spare a few Pei Family Members; don’t kill them all.”
……
New book goes on shelves next Friday; double updates after shelving
