Chapter 228: Bloody Battle
Inside the Xiongnu Barbarians’ military tent.
After tallying the dead and wounded battle damage, Wu Yan flew into a rage.
Xiongnu warriors are invincible in battle—when have they ever suffered such a defeat?
This time entering the pass, over ten thousand cavalry were divided into two routes. He led six thousand cavalry, crushing everything at first, their iron hooves trampling freely. They looted large amounts of money and grain and able-bodied common people, with women making up the majority.
Unexpectedly, the Guangning Army first sent troops to lure the enemy, followed by repeated ambushes, especially the second ambush battle, where many Xiongnu warriors were killed or wounded. The cavalry that charged below the city also suffered heavy losses.
These past few days of attacking the city, the defending Guangning Army and Pei Family Army were unusually tough, with casualties on both sides. Today’s city attack had the highest number of casualties, and two fierce generals under his command both died under the arrows of that divine archer wearing soft armor and a helmet.
In his anger, Wu Yan had all the captives dragged over and beheaded them one by one with a single stroke, killing three in a row. The fourth captive finally broke and revealed the truth.
It turned out that divine archer was the Pei Family Army’s commander, Pei Qinghe.
An eighteen-year-old girl!
Wu Yan killed all the captives, then grinned ferociously and roared: “Boil them all and we’ll have meat tonight. Get up early tomorrow and continue attacking the city!”
“I will personally capture Pei Qinghe and use her blood to honor the fallen Xiongnu warriors!”
The Xiongnu Barbarians in the tent shouted together.
Wu Yan also ordered all the captured women to be sent into the military tents for the Xiongnu warriors to enjoy. The women who were ravaged to death became meat in the pot, just like the previous captives.
Female pleasures and killing barely soothed the surging anger in Wu Yan’s heart.
The next morning, as usual, they ate meat. Wu Yan shouted in the Xiongnu language: “Today after breaching the city, massacre for ten days!”
“The first warrior to climb the city wall gets a thousand gold!”
The Xiongnu Barbarians excitedly shouted loudly.
Wu Yan took out his longbow and arrows, personally leading troops to below the city.
At this time, dawn had just broken. The rising sun cast its light on the tall, sturdy city wall. The girl general standing on the city wall held a longbow and shot an arrow.
Wu Yan’s pupils suddenly contracted, but he did not retreat, raising his hand to shoot an arrow.
The two arrows collided in mid-air and fell together.
This was a true master!
Wu Yan was inwardly alarmed and shot another arrow. As long as he could kill Pei Qinghe with one arrow, he could shatter the Pei Family Army’s morale.
Coincidentally, Pei Qinghe was thinking the same.
She raised her hand and shot an arrow.
From a high position and with the wind at her back, the arrow flew even farther. The two arrows met in mid-air again and fell together.
The Pei Family Army on the city wall cheered together, cheering for their own general.
The Xiongnu Barbarians below the city also chattered and shouted.
Wu Yan waved his hand, and the Xiongnu Barbarians spurred their horses back, retreating beyond the range of the arrows. Then, Wu Yan ordered men below the city to start a verbal battle.
Verbal battles were commonplace on the battlefield. In battles between two armies, using words to humiliate the enemy’s commander was a common provocation tactic.
Cursing in the Xiongnu language was not satisfying enough, but there were a few Han people under Wu Yan’s military tent who were fluent in both Xiongnu and Han languages. They were ordered to walk onto the battlefield and curse again in Han language.
Actually, they were too far away for the city wall to hear clearly. However, with the verbal battle posture set, the Pei Family Army officers and soldiers’ anger surged. They cursed back, insulting the ancestors of the Xiongnu Barbarians.
Pei Yan had a loud voice and was one of the fiercest cursers.
Pei Qinghe narrowed her eyes, turned her head, and smiled at Pei Yan and the others: “Xiongnu Barbarians usually burn, kill, and loot everywhere, massacring at will—when have we ever heard of them calling for battle or verbal battles! This shows that after yesterday’s battle, they have already begun to feel fear! They want to use a verbal battle to boost morale. Today, if we give them a head-on blow, they will withdraw their troops!”
Pei Yan, Pei Xuan, and the others were greatly encouraged.
Tao Feng stepped forward proactively: “General, when I was in the Beiping Army, I learned some Xiongnu language. Let me curse them back.”
Unexpectedly, Tao Feng had such a talent.
Pei Qinghe smiled and agreed. Tao Feng immediately stepped forward and cursed loudly. Clearly, his curses were exceptionally filthy; the few people standing closest below the city gate heard it, their faces turning ugly as they angrily shouted.
Tao Feng showed no weakness, facing many alone, cursing without stop.
Pei Qinghe turned her head and gave an instruction. Pei Yan nodded and left, and after a while, she led a few people up to the city gate.
These were all borrowed from the Guangning Army. The Guangning Army fought the Xiongnu year-round, and their barracks had soldiers who spoke Xiongnu language. All had loud voices.
With the fresh troops joining, the verbal battle became even more exciting.
Soon, one person spurred his horse forward below the city. Pei Yan raised her hand to shoot an arrow, but Pei Qinghe stopped her: “Wait a moment.”
After this person approached the city gate, he shouted loudly: “General Wu Yan invites General Pei to battle. Does General Pei dare to accept?”
Pre-battle commander duels were not uncommon in wars between two armies. However, Xiongnu Barbarians rarely initiated such invitations. It showed that the Xiongnu Barbarians were blustering but inwardly weak, having lost their confidence in certain victory.
The Xiongnu Barbarians’ commander wanted to slay the enemy’s commander on the battlefield to boost morale and quickly breach the city.
Pei Qinghe had the same intention.
“Tell them that I accept this battle.” Pei Qinghe coldly instructed Tao Feng: “Have the Xiongnu Barbarians retreat three li, and I will come down from the city to fight their commander!”
Pei Yan and Pei Xuan were both startled and tried to dissuade her.
They of course trusted Pei Qinghe. But pre-battle fights to the death were extremely dangerous. What if there was a mishap or she got injured?
The usually silent Captain Sun said: “If we can slay the Xiongnu commander, this battle is ours! The Xiongnu Barbarians will quickly withdraw. We won’t have to fight to the death anymore! Many lives can be spared!”
“This risk is worth taking!”
As expected of a battle-hardened military general—his vision and perspective surpassed Pei Yan and Pei Xuan.
Pei Qinghe looked approvingly at Captain Sun: “Captain Sun is right. The Xiongnu Barbarians have actively invited battle, so I will kill him openly in front of everyone! Shatter the Xiongnu Barbarians’ morale!”
“Pei Yan, Pei Xuan, you two stand guard for me from the city wall!”
Pei Yan and Pei Xuan could only accept the order.
“Captain Sun,” Pei Qinghe solemnly instructed: “If the situation below the city changes suddenly, you must make an immediate decision.”
This was the general’s respect and trust in him.
A surge of warmth rose in Captain Sun’s heart, and he solemnly agreed.
The Han person who had come below the city to issue the challenge spurred his horse back to Wu Yan’s side and respectfully reported: “Pei Qinghe has accepted the challenge! Please order the warriors to retreat three li.”
Wu Yan grinned ferociously and waved his hand, signaling; the cavalry behind him retreated like a tide.
A rope was lowered from the city wall.
Pei Qinghe gripped the rope and leaped down from the city wall.
Wu Yan tossed aside his bow and arrows, removed his armor, gripped his long saber, muttered something in his language, and strode forward.
Pei Qinghe also removed her soft armor, tossed aside her helmet, gripped her long saber, and advanced.
The distance between the two rapidly closed.
Pei Qinghe’s clear and heroic face entered Wu Yan’s eyes. A sense of contempt and lust arose in Wu Yan’s heart; when he swung his saber, he deliberately avoided her face.
Pei Qinghe sneered, blocking horizontally with her saber.
