Chapter 227: Bloody Battle
The battlefield is just that cruel.
Pei Zhi and Pei Feng were injured one after another, and the Pei Family Army suffered heavy casualties.
However, they ultimately resisted the Xiongnu Barbarians’ fierce offensive. The corpses of the Xiongnu Barbarians thrown below the city piled up into small mountains. When the Xiongnu Barbarians withdrew troops, they wanted to take the corpses with them, but Pei Qinghe waved her hand, and the Pei Family Army’s divine archers immediately unleashed a volley of arrows.
No matter how ferocious the Xiongnu Barbarians are, they are still human. No one wants to die in vain. Soon, they abandoned their comrades’ corpses and retreated in panic.
Yang Hu had somehow climbed onto the city wall and looked at Pei Qinghe with admiring eyes: “The Pei Family Army is indeed powerful!”
In the previous days, the Guangning Army fought desperately, nearly losing the city several times.
Today, with the Pei Family Army on the city wall, they resisted the surging attack on the city like a solid rock. From beginning to end, they suppressed the Xiongnu Barbarians and held the upper hand.
The Pei Family Army consists of true elite soldiers and fierce generals!
Pei Qinghe showed no self-satisfaction and said softly: “The Guangning Army wore down the Xiongnu Barbarians’ morale and combat power. Today, the Pei Family Army is fresh troops, going up the city wall for the first time, which is why we achieved this result. If we fight again tomorrow, it probably won’t be so smooth.”
“Moreover, the Pei Family Army lost quite a few men today, and many others are injured.”
Yang Hu sighed: “In war, there are always deaths. I heard Pei Feng was also injured. How is he now?”
Pei Feng is Pei Qinghe’s consanguineous cousin brother and the oldest male of the Pei Clan. He holds a special and important status in the Pei Family Army.
In outsiders’ eyes, Pei Feng should be the second-in-command in the Pei Family Army. If Pei Qinghe had an accident on the battlefield, the one to succeed her would be Pei Feng.
Pei Qinghe sighed: “Pei Feng has a leg injury and has already been carried to Lu Dongqing for treatment.”
Pei Yan and Pei Xuan were both staying by Pei Feng’s side. As the commander, Pei Qinghe still had to remain on the city wall.
Yang Hu hesitated slightly and said softly: “Tomorrow, let the Guangning Army defend the city!”
Pei Qinghe said indifferently: “You know best in your heart whether the Guangning Army can hold on.”
Yang Hu was speechless.
“With a great enemy before us, the Guangning Army and Pei Family Army should unite and resist the enemy together.” Pei Qinghe looked at Yang Hu, her voice clear and forceful: “No need for polite words. The Pei Family Army will not retreat just because of casualties. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come at all.”
“Since I’ve led troops here, I will fight to the death!”
Yang Hu felt both ashamed and moved. At such a time, any words seemed pale and powerless. He cupped his hands and solemnly bowed: “Then we will have to trouble General Pei.”
As he descended the city wall, Yang Hu couldn’t help but look up.
Pei Qinghe stood tall on the city wall, the sunset’s afterglow plating her body with a layer of halo.
Invincible in battle, incomparably powerful.
Yang Hu went to his cousin Yang Huai’s side with a complex mood and sighed softly: “Cousin, I’ve never been so convinced by anyone in my life.”
“In this world, there really is someone like Pei Qinghe, as if the God of War descended to earth, never defeated. Her elite soldiers and fierce generals are as numerous as the clouds, all fearless of death.”
“The moment she said she would fight to the death, I even had an impulse to kneel to her.”
“I’m a commander of an army after all, and I shouldn’t have thoughts of submitting to another army’s commander. But I have a strong intuition. Heroes emerge in chaotic times, and the one who can end this chaos is General Pei!”
Yang Huai was also shocked by Yang Hu: “What do you want to do?”
Yang Hu and Yang Huai looked at each other for a moment.
Yang Hu’s martial skills were not outstanding, but he had read many military books, had a flexible mind, and was good at formulating strategies. Yang Huai’s strengths were his martial prowess and leading troops in battle.
The two were cousins who grew up together, usually teasing and bickering with each other, but their affection was actually very deep. Otherwise, Yang Huai wouldn’t have risked his life to support Yang Hu as commander. He had even taken on the suicidal order of ambushing the Xiongnu Barbarians.
Yang Huai, lying on the bed unable to move, frowned deeply and asked again: “Yang Hu, what exactly do you want to do?”
Yang Hu coughed: “It’s too early to talk about these things now. I was just stirred up and had a bellyful of words I wanted to share with you. Just listen and forget it, don’t take it to heart.”
“Rest well and recover from your injuries. I’ll go to the Pei Family Army side to check on Pei Feng.”
With that, he got up and slipped away.
Yang Huai smiled wryly and watched Yang Hu’s figure disappear into the distance, his own mind starting to ponder.
The Guangning Army marched out for Emperor Jian’an. The commander died in battle, and troop strength was reduced by forty percent. In return, they got only a flimsy imperial decree from Emperor Jian’an posthumously conferring the title of First-rank Great General. There was no postwar compensation, no money and grain rewards. When the Xiongnu Barbarians invaded and plundered, Bohai Commandery showed no movement.
Bohai Commandery, which had been fighting for over a year and finally saw the rebel army withdraw troops, indeed needed a breather to recuperate. But for the Guangning Army, Emperor Jian’an’s neglect was truly disheartening.
Is such a Son of Heaven really worth the Guangning Army’s loyalty and devotion?
Should the Guangning Army seek another wise lord?
……
The wounded soldier tent of the Pei Family Army was crowded with people.
After hurriedly suturing Pei Feng’s wound, Lu Dongqing had no time to even catch his breath before busily treating the other wounded.
Once Pei Yan confirmed Pei Feng’s injury was not serious, she got up to find Pei Qinghe.
Pei Xuan stayed by Pei Feng’s side, her eyes red.
She and Pei Feng were a year apart in age, competing from childhood to adulthood, always vying for supremacy in everything. They bickered and quarreled every day, but their affection was the deepest. Pei Feng’s injury hurt her more than anyone.
Pei Feng awoke from the pain, his handsome face pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Pei Xuan wiped his forehead with a handkerchief: “If it hurts, cry out a few times. It’s not shameful.”
Pei Feng then let out an “ouch.”
Pei Xuan brought a bowl of meat porridge, scooped a spoonful, blew it cool, and brought it to Pei Feng’s mouth. Pei Feng opened his mouth and ate it slowly.
After eating a bowl of porridge, Pei Feng was sweating coldly again. Pei Xuan carefully wiped the sweat beads for him and specially brewed a bowl of pain-relieving and calming herbal medicine, feeding it to Pei Feng.
Pei Feng’s mind soon grew groggy. Before falling asleep, he muttered: “This time, I lose to you. Wait until I’m recovered, and we’ll compete again.”
Pei Xuan couldn’t help rolling her eyes. The tender sibling affection was officially worn away.
Pei Qinghe patrolled the wounded soldier tent, comforted all the wounded soldiers, and finally came to Pei Feng’s side: “Pei Xuan, you go sleep first. I’ll watch over Pei Feng.”
Pei Xuan said softly: “No one is made of iron. Cousin Sister Qinghe, you are also flesh and blood. You stood at the forefront, resisting the Xiongnu Barbarians’ fight to the death for a whole day. You’re the most exhausted. Tomorrow you still have to lead troops to defend the city. Everyone is watching you and depending on you. You go sleep. I’ll watch here.”
Under the candlelight, Pei Xuan’s dark eyes were full of heartache and concern.
Pei Qinghe’s nose tingled slightly. She reached out and touched Pei Xuan’s head: “Little Xuan has really grown up. Brave and good at fighting, and now knowing to care for this cousin sister.”
Pei Xuan smiled sweetly at the praise and urged Pei Qinghe repeatedly to rest.
Pei Qinghe smiled: “Alright, I’ll listen to you. I’ll go sleep now and get up early tomorrow to fight!”
