Chapter 225: Brutal
It was time again to apply medicine to Pei Zhi.
Pei Qinghe personally applied medicine to Pei Zhi and changed the gauze. The bloody wound had slowly scabbed over, and even a slight movement caused unbearable pain at the injury.
Pei Zhi was usually pretty and delicate, unable to bear even the slightest grievance or frustration, yet she had endured such pain. Her forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, but she didn’t cry out.
Pei Qinghe looked at Pei Zhi with pity: “If it hurts, shout a few times.”
Pei Zhi bit her lips until they turned white, still not crying out, and forced a smile: “I can endure it.”
The women of the Pei Clan were all outstanding!
Pei Qinghe felt a surge of pride and bitterness in her heart, her eyes growing hot. She turned her head to the side, and after a moment, turned back: “Your injury is serious, you can’t move. Just lie here and recover properly.”
Pei Yan chimed in: “If the battle ends and your injury hasn’t healed, stay behind to recover. Return to the Pei Family Army once you’re better.”
Xiongnu Barbarians generally wouldn’t linger long inside the pass. Following their usual habit, they would burn, kill, and loot, then leave with large amounts of money and grain and able-bodied common people.
It was hard to say how long this battle would last.
Pei Zhi was somewhat reluctant and said softly: “I don’t want to be left alone.”
Pei Yan laughed boldly: “There are still a bunch of wounded soldiers here, it’s not just you. Don’t be so delicate.”
Pei Xuan slipped into the military tent: “General, General Yang is here.”
Yang Hu fought and defended the city during the day, and when it was time to withdraw troops, he would come to the wounded soldier camp to tell Pei Qinghe about the day’s battle situation and discuss future defense strategies. He would also take the chance to glance at the seriously injured Miss Pei Zhi.
Pei Qinghe tidied Pei Zhi’s clothes and said casually: “Invite General Yang in!”
For some reason, Pei Zhi suddenly felt a bit shy. She turned her head inward, but her ears perked up involuntarily.
“General Pei!”
“General Yang is injured again today?” Pei Qinghe’s tone revealed worry.
Yang Hu gave a bitter smile: “The Xiongnu Barbarians attacked the city too fiercely. As the commander, I can’t retreat; only by fighting hard can I boost morale.”
Pei Zhi quietly turned her head, and what came into view was Yang Hu covered in blood.
Yang Hu wasn’t as tall and handsome as Yang Huai, but he was also a valiant young man with a chiseled face full of exhaustion. As Yang Hu spoke to Pei Qinghe, his gaze drifted over.
Their gazes met squarely in the air.
Pei Zhi immediately turned her head inward again.
Yang Hu thought Pei Zhi still disliked him as before and didn’t want to look at him more, feeling extremely bitter in his heart. He mustered his spirits and said to Pei Qinghe: “Two years ago, when the Xiongnu Barbarians entered the pass, the Guangning Army suffered a major defeat. These past two years, the Guangning Army has been training troops desperately. These days of defending the city, we’ve finally held on.”
“The initiative is still in the hands of the Xiongnu Barbarians. If they want to withdraw troops, we can’t stop them.” Pei Qinghe stated matter-of-factly: “Even if thousands of warhorses dropped from the sky now, the combined Guangning Army and Pei Family Army couldn’t match the Xiongnu in horse combat. Relying on the sturdiness of the city wall to wear down the Xiongnu Barbarians’ greatest advantage in horse combat—that’s the best strategy.”
Yang Hu’s brows relaxed, and he nodded with a smile: “What General Pei said is exactly what I was thinking. The Xiongnu Barbarians have weaknesses too—they have no stable source of military rations, and if they fail to take the city after a prolonged siege, they won’t be able to sustain it. It won’t be long before they withdraw on their own.”
“We must consume the Xiongnu Barbarians’ troop strength as much as possible!” Pei Qinghe looked at Yang Hu: “Tomorrow, I’ll lead the Pei Family Army up to the city wall, and you lead the Guangning Army’s officers and soldiers to rest.”
Yang Hu didn’t act tough and agreed.
All the important matters had been discussed. Yang Hu had no reason to stay and rose to take his leave, unable to resist glancing at Pei Zhi on his way out.
Just then, Pei Zhi turned her head to look over. Their four eyes met again.
Pei Qinghe seemed not to notice Pei Zhi’s flushed cheeks or Yang Hu’s lingering, reluctant gaze, and said with a smile: “Pei Yan, see General Yang off.”
Pei Yan acknowledged and after seeing off Yang Hu, went along to visit her fiancé Yang Huai.
Yang Huai’s injury was much lighter; after lying for a few days, he had improved greatly. Pei Yan personally changed his dressing; she had great strength, and her movements were somewhat rough.
Yang Huai winced from time to time: “Lighter, are you trying to pain me to death?”
Pei Yan found him noisy and blocked his mouth.
……
At three in the morning, the Pei Family Army’s kitchen started fires to cook.
Only after eating and drinking their fill would they have the strength to fight to the death.
After this meal, who knew how many would return alive for the evening one. Pei Qinghe specially instructed the kitchen to add more meat.
In the big pot of hot porridge, cabbage and cured meat were bubbling. On the other side, the steaming pot was full of steam, filled with meat-filled buns.
At five in the morning, the aroma of meat porridge and buns permeated the barracks, making people’s mouths water.
Pei Yan ate two bowls of porridge and five buns in one go.
Pei Xuan muttered that her cousin sister was a glutton while secretly eating more herself. Eating more would make her taller and stronger, giving her more strength to wield a knife and kill.
Pei Feng had shot up in height recently, taller than Pei Xuan. He mocked her: “No matter how much you eat, you won’t grow taller, so don’t waste grain.”
Pei Xuan was sweet and soft, with a petite and exquisite figure. Hit at her sore spot, Pei Xuan sneered back: “You eat a lot, but after killing, you’ll still vomit it all clean.”
Pei Feng’s handsome face darkened again.
He had this bad habit since he was young. Seeing gore would make him vomit. After years of honing, he still couldn’t change it. Fortunately, after vomiting, he was fine and could continue fighting without issue.
Pei Qinghe glanced over: “Once you’re full, form up and follow me up to the city wall.”
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng immediately shut up, glaring daggers at each other with their eyes.
The Guangning Army, who had endured all night, originally looked dejected. When the spirited Pei Family Army arrived, the Guangning Army soldiers immediately perked up, all straightening their chests.
Among the Pei Family Army going up to the city wall, there were many female soldiers, including no small number of striking beauties. After three years in the barracks, even a sow could outshine Diaochan. Not to mention, the Pei Family Army’s female soldiers were high-spirited and captivating.
The Pei Family Army had three full meals a day, military pay issued on time each month, and new military uniforms every season. This was already enough to envy. What made the Guangning Army soldiers even more envious was the abundance of female soldiers in the Pei Family Army. Who knew who might catch one’s eye and gain a wife.
So what about being a son-in-law? Yang Huai could do it, and they were willing too!
The Guangning Army’s old general was embarrassed by his men’s behavior and quickly led all soldiers down from the city wall.
Pei Qinghe quickly set up defenses: divine archers skilled in shooting arrows hid in the battlements, those with great strength went to the catapults, and those with loud voices and quick wits stayed by her side as messengers.
Just as the sun rose, the Xiongnu Barbarians, frustrated from repeated failed attacks, came charging fiercely on warhorses.
Thousands of warhorses made the ground tremble nonstop.
The Xiongnu Barbarians shouted loudly in their gibberish, radiating killing intent and immense momentum.
Pei Qinghe sneered, drew her long bow, and shot the first arrow.
