Chapter 234: Captive
There were a total of thirty-seven captives, three of whom were seriously wounded and had already passed away last night. Medicine is extremely precious in the barracks and cannot be wasted on these Xiongnu Barbarians.
Pei Yun kept half and had the other half of the captives sent to the Pei Family Army.
The Xiongnu Barbarians chattered all day, so Pei Yun found two merchants from Beiping Commandery who knew the Xiongnu language and subjected them to severe torture, resulting in a very simple grassland map.
How simple was this map? Nomadic tribes follow water and grass, frequently changing locations, so the map only showed a few rivers and mountain ranges.
Pei Yun copied the map and had someone send a copy out.
At this time, Pei Qinghe had just received the good news of Pei Yun’s group’s great victory in the ambush.
“Pei Yun is indeed powerful.” Pei Qinghe’s brows relaxed, and she smiled in praise: “This ambush was carried out neatly and beautifully.”
Captain Sun laughed: “Miss Yun also captured more than thirty captives alive and sent seventeen Xiongnu Barbarians over.”
Tao Feng chimed in: “I can speak the Xiongnu language. General, hand the captives over to me, and in at most two days, I can get everything they know out of them.”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and instructed: “Keep the captives alive; they will be useful later.”
Tao Feng rubbed his fingers with some regret.
Captain Sun immediately understood: “General, do you want to use them for training troops?”
Pei Qinghe hummed in agreement: “Against the Xiongnu Barbarians, we can only defend the city or lure the enemy into an ambush. We need to train in horse combat so we can face them head-on in the future.”
These two simple sentences revealed boundless heroic spirit.
Captain Sun and Tao Feng exchanged a glance, both seeing the surging passion in each other’s eyes.
Pei Yun, Pei Yan, Pei Xuan, and Pei Feng were all Pei Clan bloodline, Pei Qinghe’s most loyal followers. Mao Hongling, Bian Shulan, Zhou Shi, and other Pei Clan wives closely surrounded Pei Qinghe. Gu Lian from the mountain bandit stronghold and Feng Chang from the refugees both held fanatical worship for Pei Qinghe.
Captain Sun and Tao Feng were different. One came from the Imperial Guard, the other from the Beiping Army. Their loyal following of Pei Qinghe was first for a way to survive, and second because of the yearning in their hearts to achieve success and establish a career as men.
Pei Qinghe did not like civil war and specialized in fighting Xiongnu Barbarians. This perfectly matched their ideals and pursuits.
“I am willing to follow the General forever!” Captain Sun solemnly cupped his hands and bowed deeply.
Tao Feng also bowed in salute: “I too am willing to follow the General and establish everlasting achievements.”
Pei Qinghe smiled and helped the two up: “It’s too early to talk of everlasting achievements now. We still need to continue recruiting and training soldiers. When the day comes that we are truly strong, there will be no need to wage war everywhere; others will come to submit sincerely.”
Subduing others without fighting—this was the highest realm.
Tao Feng eagerly went to interrogate the captives. Sure enough, two days later he brought a topographic map: “Among this batch of captives, there was a Xiongnu general. I broke his leg bones before he loosened his tongue and drew the map.”
Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow: “I have a topographic map drawn by Zhan Fei after he went out of the pass, which can be used for comparison.”
After receiving the map, Pei Qinghe added: “Your Xiongnu language is not bad. From today on, every evening allocate one hour to teach everyone to speak the Xiongnu language.”
The Pei Family Army trained during the day and read and wrote at night, which had long become a habit. Tao Feng grinned: “I never thought the day would come when I could be a teacher.”
“Right, besides me, there are two others who know the Xiongnu language.”
These two, like Tao Feng, were soldiers from the Beiping Army. Back then, Meng Liulang refused to stay in Pei Family Village and insisted on leaving. The five soldiers who stayed to marry into the Pei Clan all showed their talents and became battalion commanders.
This showed that the Beiping Army truly had elite soldiers like clouds.
Pei Qinghe smiled: “Good, I’ll issue the order now: starting tonight, all battalion commanders will learn.”
Once the battalion commanders learned, they could slowly teach their own subordinates.
That evening, all the battalion commanders of the Pei Family Army gathered in Pei Qinghe’s military tent. Even Pei Yan insisted on being carried over. She held her head high and learned the chattering Xiongnu language.
After learning just two sentences, Pei Yan’s eyelids began to droop, and she accidentally let out a snoring sound.
Pei Qinghe was both amused and helpless, pinching Pei Yan’s nose with her hand. Pei Yan’s snoring immediately became much quieter. Everyone laughed, then continued to study attentively.
The next evening, Yang Hu showed up shamelessly.
“I know some Xiongnu language,” Yang Hu laughed: “I’m just not very fluent. This is a good chance to practice.”
Since he was already there, Pei Qinghe didn’t chase him away and casually called for Pei Zhi.
There were many wounded soldiers in the Pei Family Army, and Pei Zhi was badly injured, needing support to barely walk. As she limped over, Yang Hu could not restrain himself and reached out to support her.
Pei Zhi didn’t roll her eyes or show disgust or aversion; she slowly sat down beside Yang Hu.
Yang Hu felt both sour and sweet in his heart, unable to focus on what Tao Feng was teaching up front. His heart was all on Pei Zhi, his eyes drifting over from time to time.
Pei Zhi thought to herself, why aren’t you proud and distant now? Hmph!
Pei Qinghe pretended not to see. Only at the end of the one-hour lesson did she announce: “Assessments every ten days. Those who learn the Xiongnu language quickly get three meat meals as reward; those who learn slowly forfeit half a month’s military pay.”
Pei Zhi drew in a sharp breath and refused to sit with Yang Hu the next evening.
Men would only hinder her progress!
Yang Huai learned that Pei Yan came every day and couldn’t hold back either, having his personal soldier carry him over too. Sitting side by side with Pei Yan, they had quite the air of a pair of lovers in distress.
Soon, several military generals from the Guangning Army also came, even volunteering for the assessments.
The military generals in the barracks, accustomed to fighting and killing, expressed loyalty in very direct ways, without so many twists and turns.
Pei Qinghe smilingly agreed.
In the first assessment ten days later, Tao Feng set the questions. Pei Qinghe took first place, Yang Hu second. Actually, Yang Hu had a foundation and learned quickly. But since he had lowered his head in sincere submission, he had to be careful in everything and not steal General Pei’s limelight.
Pei Qinghe knew this but did not point it out.
Pei Zhi, who took sixth and got no reward, felt indignant and muttered: “I actually didn’t even beat Yang Hu!”
Pei Qinghe smiled and glanced over: “Don’t be rude; call him General Yang!”
Pei Zhi immediately corrected herself: “I misspoke for a moment; please forgive me, General Yang.”
Pei Zhi was spoiled and cunning. But Yang Hu just ate this up, grinning: “You can call me by name in private.”
In the second assessment, Pei Qinghe still firmly took first.
Pei Zhi advanced one place and was very happy, showing off in front of Pei Yan, who came dead last. Pei Yan was in a bad mood and that night snatched most of the meat from Pei Zhi’s bowl. Pei Zhi shouted in anger but didn’t move, still sitting beside Pei Yan.
Then, Emperor Jian’an’s rewards arrived.
Yang Hu of the Guangning Army was promoted two ranks for meritoriously repelling the Xiongnu Barbarians!
The Pei Family Army reinforcements defended the city and achieved a great victory in ambush; Pei Qinghe was enfeoffed as a third-rank military general!
