Chapter 233: Ambush
They rejoice at the sound of battle—this is what true elite soldiers and fierce generals are!
Pei Yun watched it all, her lips curving slightly upward. She remained silent and still, quietly lying in wait in the mountain forest.
The Xiongnu scouts were probing ahead. A few entered the mountain forest, glanced around hastily, and turned back. Their commander was dead, they had suffered an unprecedented defeat, and after withdrawing troops they were pursued and ambushed. Now they were like lost dogs, their only thought to hurry back to the grassland.
The scouts were entirely focused on escaping quickly and had no mind to scout carefully.
The Xiongnu barbarians in the rear, believing the scouts’ report, soon spurred their horses forward. As they passed the desolate official road and the calm mountain forest, sharp arrows suddenly whistled through the air.
“Ambush!”
“Dismount and fight!”
At a time like this, swiftly dismounting, using warhorses to shield their forms while shooting arrows in retaliation, closing distance for close-quarters fight to the death—that was the way to fight desperately and secure victory.
But the Xiongnu barbarians had no morale left, not even the courage to counterattack. Some who luckily dodged the arrow rain spurred their horses silently and fled forward madly.
Pei Yun fired only three arrows before raising her saber and charging out of the mountain forest.
Gu Lian followed closely behind and charged after her.
The five hundred Pei Family Army elite soldiers were like a sharp blade, ruthlessly cutting off the Xiongnu barbarians’ way to survive.
The Xiongnu barbarians who had already fled did not turn back to rescue their comrades. Relying on superb horsemanship and excellent warhorses, they escaped amid rolling clouds of dust. Those Xiongnu barbarians who could not flee in time cursed and shouted while drawing their sabers to fight to the death.
On one side were the exhausted Xiongnu barbarians fleeing in disorder after defeat; on the other were the Pei Family Army, rested and recuperated, waiting at ease for the fatigued. The moment they clashed, it was a one-sided thrashing.
Blood and flesh splattered, screams of agony unceasing.
Pei Yun calmly wielded her saber while surveying the overall situation with the corner of her eye. Gu Lian had killed until her eyes were red, charging the fastest and fiercest.
No wonder she was so badly injured that day. This reckless, all-out fight to the death style was the easiest way to get hurt on the battlefield. Did she think she was the invincible Pei Qinghe?
Pei Yun frowned and shouted loudly: “Form military formation!”
Gu Lian then slowed her pace slightly, waiting for the four elite soldiers behind her to catch up. The five-person small military formation had each other’s backs on the battlefield, exerting the greatest effect.
The Xiongnu barbarians fell one by one, dying in unwillingness and despair.
The Pei Family Army also had casualties, but they grew braver with each battle. More and more Xiongnu barbarians spurred their horses to flee in disorder. Pei Yun had given strict orders early on: do not pursue those who flee, only fight to the death with those who remained.
From the blazing midday sun to the setting sun in the west, this ambush battle finally ended.
Gu Lian was covered in bloodstains, not knowing how many Xiongnu barbarians she had killed, unable to distinguish which blood was her own. She licked the hot, salty blood at the corner of her mouth: “Miss Yun, we have a great victory today!”
Pei Yun’s left shoulder was injured. She hastily stopped the bleeding and bandaged it, her face slightly pale, but her eyes full of delight: “That’s right, we won this battle!”
Unknown how many escaped, but in any case, several hundred Xiongnu barbarians’ corpses were left here. Dozens more were captured alive.
This was no place to linger; they had to hurry back to Beiping Commandery. Lest the Xiongnu barbarians turn their horses around for a counterattack.
At Pei Yun’s command, the Pei Family Army placed their comrades’ corpses on horseback and bound the dozens of captives like dead pigs, throwing them onto the horses’ backs.
The army departed, leaving behind a ground covered in corpses and blood.
A flock of crows circled in the sky for a long time before cautiously flying down to peck joyfully. A few jackals darted out from the mountain forest, Zhang Kou tearing into the flesh voraciously.
A day and a night later, Pei Yun and her group spurred their horses into the barracks.
Doctor Bao led several military doctors rushing over. Wounded soldiers who could walk went to the wounded soldier tent themselves; those who could not move were carried there on simple wooden frames.
Pei Yun’s injury was not serious. After arriving at the wounded soldier tent, she said to the anxious Bao Hao: “I’m fine. You treat the seriously wounded first.”
Before coming to Beiping, the two had been betrothed. Over these past half year or more, they had been together day and night, their affection rapidly warming. Bao Hao knew Pei Yun’s temper, suppressed his inner anxiety, and deftly cleaned, sutured, and bandaged the wounded soldiers’ wounds.
Over these past five years, he had always been the Pei Family Army’s military doctor. With wounded soldiers every day, his medical skill was not particularly brilliant, but he was very adept at treating external injuries.
The wounded soldier tent was packed with wounded soldiers; the military doctors were busy without touching the ground. Until late at night when most wounded soldiers had fallen asleep did Bao Hao come to Pei Yun’s side and softly say: “Let me check your left shoulder wound.”
Pei Yun hummed in acknowledgment.
He cut open the clothes at the wound, revealing the bloody, gooey injury. Bao Hao felt heartbroken and distressed, his eyes red as he silently treated Pei Yun’s injury.
Pei Yun sweated coldly on her forehead from the pain but still managed to smile: “I’m the one injured, and I haven’t cried. Why are you shedding tears?”
Bao Hao tightened the bandage, his voice choking: “I’m useless, unable to follow you leading troops in battle. Seeing you return injured pains my heart greatly.”
He casually wiped the sweat beads from Pei Yun’s forehead.
Pei Yun looked at the young face so close by, her heart stirring. Suddenly she leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
Bao Hao froze completely.
Pei Yun’s expression was calm and frank. She looked up at Bao Hao and said: “I’m tired.”
Bao Hao, face flushed, helped Pei Yun lie down. Pei Yun closed her eyes and fell into deep sleep. Bao Hao stayed by Pei Yun’s side until dawn.
Pei Yun slept for half the night and a full day, waking only at dusk the next day. Bao Hao changed her medicine and bandage. Pei Yun got up to check on Gu Lian.
Gu Lian had three wounds all over her body, of varying severity. Wang Erhe stayed by Gu Lian’s side, serving food and drink, decocting and feeding medicine, very thorough and attentive.
Gu Lian had always been cold toward Wang Erhe in the past. Now lying recovering from injuries, with such a caring person by her side, she tasted a different kind of warmth.
“I need to talk with Miss Yun. Erhe, you guard outside.”
Wang Erhe happily agreed and went out.
Pei Yun watched it all and smiled knowingly but said nothing, getting straight to business: “We ambushed and won the battle. I’ve already sent someone to inform the general.”
Gu Lian sighed softly: “I heard the general was also injured. I don’t know how serious it is.”
Pei Yun also sighed: “Getting injured in battle is commonplace. The general’s injury should not be serious. This ambush cost the Pei Family Army many casualties. Next, we must continue recruiting new recruits and train them diligently.”
Gu Lian agreed and suggested: “We captured dozens of Xiongnu barbarians. We can use them to train troops.”
“Our general has great ambitions and dislikes civil war. There will surely be many battles with Xiongnu barbarians in the future. We should focus on training tactics against Xiongnu barbarians.”
Pei Yun’s eyes lit up: “No wonder the general often praises you. You are indeed clever, bold, and quick-witted.”
Having such capable subordinates was also a challenge for her. She had to become stronger to command such powerful subordinates.
Gu Lian was so shrewd that she immediately smiled: “No matter how capable I am, in the general’s heart, I can’t compare to Miss Yun.”
