Chapter 258: Entering The Pass
Pei Qinghe had not yet spoken when General Song changed expression first: “The Xiongnu Barbarians just came last year, and it’s only been half a year—how have they come again!”
Once the Xiongnu Barbarians enter the pass, several garrisons in Youzhou are the first to bear the brunt, serving as the main force to resist the Xiongnu Barbarians. If Youzhou cannot resist, the Xiongnu Barbarians will ride horses everywhere to loot.
Pingyang Commandery is actually quite far from the border; after the Xiongnu Barbarians have looted and killed enough, they return to the grassland and cannot reach here. But for all the armies in the Northern Lands, the Xiongnu Barbarians are too ferocious and terrifying; just mentioning them makes one’s heart tremble several times.
Pei Qinghe gazed coldly: “Last year, the Xiongnu Barbarians divided their forces into two routes. One route wreaked havoc in Liaoxi Commandery, killing and looting wantonly. The other route was badly defeated by the Pei Family Army and Guangning Army, fleeing in a disheveled state. Wu Yan died under my blade. The Xiongnu Barbarians have never suffered such a great loss; this time they are coming for the Pei Family Army to take revenge.”
This time, however, Pei Qinghe had misjudged.
Zhai Sanlang, who came to deliver the message, was brought over: “General, the Xiongnu Barbarians have thirty thousand cavalry entering the pass, all heading to Liaoxi Commandery. Beiping Commandery, Guangning Prefecture, and Yan Prefecture are temporarily safe.”
General Song breathed a slight sigh of relief: “These Xiongnu Barbarians also bully the weak and fear the strong. Knowing the Pei Family Army is a tough nut, they dare not provoke and simply pick soft persimmons to pinch.”
In General Song’s view, as long as it doesn’t hit his own territory, it’s no big deal. The unlucky one is Liaoxi Commandery—let that “King of Liaoxi” deal with the Xiongnu Barbarians!
Pei Qinghe, however, said: “I will immediately lead troops back.”
General Song was stunned: “You’re not thinking of leading troops to support the Liaoxi Army, are you! That so-called ‘King of Liaoxi’ has stolen the Pei Family Army’s warhorses, killed your men, and repeatedly sent people to propose marriage to humiliate you. Why bother with his life or death?”
Pei Qinghe said indifferently: “I don’t care about the Liaoxi Army’s survival. I need to prepare for the Xiongnu Barbarians to completely overrun Liaoxi and then charge into my territory.”
“The situation is urgent; spread my military order—we set off today.”
The Pei Family Army was accustomed to forced marches; in just half a day, they packed all their belongings. They prepared only part of the military rations and set off first.
General Song also made an unexpected decision. He ordered his eldest son to lead one thousand soldiers to go with Pei Qinghe.
“Since the Pingyang Army has allied with the Pei Family Army, when the Pei Family Army has warfare, the Pingyang Army cannot stand idly by. I let Dalang lead one thousand elite soldiers to follow General Pei on the expedition.”
It wasn’t that General Song was stingy. The Pingyang Army had only one thousand warhorses in total; for a long forced march, they could only send one thousand men.
Pei Qinghe accepted this favor from General Song and cupped his hands in thanks: “Thank you, General Song, for the support.”
General Song said seriously: “Actually, I have my own selfishness. These one thousand cavalry—please, General Pei, train and guide them well, take them to fight the Xiongnu Barbarians, and make them true elite soldiers.”
In chaotic times, only powerful military force can truly ensure self-preservation.
After witnessing the prowess of the Pei Family Army, General Song also harbored great ambitions.
Pei Qinghe nodded, and that afternoon, she led one thousand five hundred men on horseback out of the Pingyang Army barracks.
Song Dalang had good horsemanship, riding a fine horse with snow-white hooves, following closely all the way. Pei Qinghe saw it in her eyes and secretly nodded in approval.
However, not all one thousand cavalry of the Pingyang Army could keep up with the speed of the forced march. After three consecutive days of rapid riding, some began to grumble.
Pei Qinghe said to Song Dalang: “Send those few full of grumbling back.”
Song Dalang’s face flushed with embarrassment; he dragged those few soldiers out and beat them with military cudgels in public, confiscated their warhorses, and made them walk back to the barracks on their own.
With skin wounds, limping back, if they encountered bandits or wild beasts on the road, they would meet their end.
Song Dalang steeled his heart and drove back the few soldiers who were crying bitterly and regretting it. After that, no matter how hard the journey, no one dared to complain.
The Pei Family Army was truly admirable. They marched day and night without a single voice of dissent.
During rest times, the Pingyang Army soldiers were exhausted and sprawled everywhere, while the Pei Family Army people still calmly set up camp, lit fires, and cooked.
Pei Qinghe gathered the important leaders together to discuss tactics and methods against the Xiongnu Barbarians. Song Dalang also joined, listening to Pei Yan, Pei Feng, and others speak confidently without fear.
Pei Qinghe also proactively asked Song Dalang, who was somewhat embarrassed: “I’ve never fought the Xiongnu Barbarians, so I don’t know how to fight them. You say, and I’ll listen.”
By bedtime, it was already past three in the night.
Pei Feng was in charge of night patrol tonight, leading one camp of people to patrol around. Song Dalang quietly got up and came over, asking Pei Feng in a low voice: “I’ve heard the Xiongnu Barbarians are extremely ferocious; we can only barely fight them by relying on city walls.”
Facing his future brother-in-law, Pei Feng was not modest at all and raised his brow: “That was true before. Now with our Pei Family Army, even in wilderness battles, we’re not afraid. The General said the Xiongnu Barbarians are also human—stabbed with a blade, they bleed and die just the same; there’s nothing to fear.”
Song Dalang felt even more ashamed.
The Xiongnu Barbarians had dominated the grassland for over a hundred years, raiding and plundering the Jing Dynasty common people on the border as naturally as eating and drinking. Not just in the Northern Lands—even southern armies trembled at the mention of the Xiongnu Barbarians.
The Pei Family Army was the force that had defeated the Xiongnu Barbarians head-on, naturally having the confidence and capital to be proud.
Pei Feng glanced at Song Dalang and said lowly: “Big Brother doesn’t need to feel ashamed; the ability and skill in battle are honed on the battlefield. This time, following us, you’ll surely have chances to face the Xiongnu Barbarians. After a few fights, you’ll naturally gain courage.”
Song Dalang took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.
……
While the Pei Family Army hurried along, Youzhou was already in great turmoil.
The Xiongnu Barbarians sending troops was commonplace—a few thousand cavalry would come to loot and kill, then return to the grassland with large amounts of gold and silver, grain, and young common people.
But this time, the Xiongnu Barbarians had actually mobilized thirty thousand cavalry!
This was no longer simple looting and raiding—it was to annihilate Youzhou!
Emperor Jian’an in Bohai Commandery could no longer sit still and urgently summoned General Zhang and the Meng Brothers into the palace to discuss countermeasures.
“Your Majesty, Youzhou borders Jizhou closely. If Youzhou falls, Jizhou will be next to suffer.” Meng Dalang’s expression was grave: “We must send troops to support!”
General Zhang sneered: “General Li of the Liaoxi Army has declared himself King of Liaoxi and is a rebel against the court. Why should the court send troops to support such a rebel?”
Meng Liulang was furious and retorted: “We’re not supporting the King of Liaoxi; we want to protect Youzhou and drive away the Xiongnu Barbarians.”
General Zhang said coldly: “Our troop strength is sufficient for self-preservation. To send troops against the Xiongnu Barbarians, however, we lack the strength.”
“What if the rebel army in the capital attacks again while our troop strength is depleted? Have you thought of the consequences?”
“I disagree with sending troops!”
