Chapter 266: Tuhe
As soon as the enemy arrived, their first reaction was to flee. The lax military discipline of the Fanyang Army was evident.
Pei Qinghe had no intention of comforting Lu Feng and stated matter-of-factly: “The Fanyang Army’s military discipline is indeed too poor; they are cowardly and afraid of death, and will only lose faster.”
Lu Feng could not lift his head at all.
Pei Qinghe said indifferently: “Elite soldiers are not made by mere words; they require daily hard training and constant tempering on the battlefield to be forged. This battle has just begun, so there is no need to lose heart. Once the battle is over, you will be able to lead an elite force back.”
Lu Feng took a deep breath, raised his head, and replied: “Please give me much guidance, General Pei.”
Pei Qinghe said: “After fighting half a day, first treat the wounded soldiers. You go rest too. There will be plenty of opportunities to seek advice later.”
After Lu Feng left, Gu Lian and Feng Chang both pursed their lips.
“Among the garrisons in Youzhou, the Fanyang Army has the lowest combat power.” With the person not present, Gu Lian spoke bluntly and harshly: “Today I truly opened my eyes. They flee at the sight of the enemy, without any guts or bravery. What kind of soldiers are they! They are not even as good as the farmers in our Pei Family Village!”
Feng Chang was even harsher: “It’s not that they are completely useless. At least they can consume the Xiongnu barbarians’ stamina and killing intent. By the end of the battle, few from the Fanyang Army will remain.”
Pei Qinghe glanced over: “Say less, both of you. They were enemies before, but now we fight side by side, so we must tolerate them somewhat.”
Gu Lian and Feng Chang then fell silent.
Pei Qinghe continued: “The Fanyang Army took the initiative to send troops, which is tantamount to bowing their heads to the Pei Family Army. Regardless of how this battle goes, our Pei Family Army’s relationship with the Fanyang Army must ease somewhat in the future. You two, take good care of the Fanyang Army.”
Gu Lian and Feng Chang bowed and folded hands in acknowledgment.
Lu Feng hurried to the wounded soldier tent, where the military doctors were all roused to apply medicine and treat the wailing wounded soldiers. Looking at the scarred soldiers, Lu Feng felt both heartbroken and angry at their lack of resolve. He gritted his teeth and muttered: “Stop all the shouting. If it weren’t for the Pei Family Army coming to our aid, a few hundred Xiongnu barbarians would have slaughtered our three thousand men until they pissed and shat themselves in terror. You have completely lost the Fanyang Army’s face.”
“All of you shut your mouths. If it really hurts, bite on a piece of cotton cloth. Do not disturb the army’s peace. We still have to march early tomorrow.”
The wounded soldiers were greatly alarmed: “We are wounded like this; how can we still march?”
Lu Feng said coldly: “If you do not go, stay here. When the Xiongnu barbarians return, just wait to die!”
The wounded soldiers fell silent.
The next morning, Zhao Hai arrived.
Zhao Hai was not tall, of average appearance, and very amiable: “The general had me free up five grain transport carts for the wounded brothers to ride in.”
Lu Feng was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed and folded hands in thanks.
The grain transport carts were spacious and sturdy, each able to seat over a dozen wounded soldiers. The severely wounded were carried onto the carts, while the lightly wounded took turns sitting, and the marching speed was not slowed at all.
Over the next two days, they marched rapidly. News came from the rear from time to time that several thousand Xiongnu barbarians were pursuing on fast horses.
Fortunately, Tuhe County was right ahead. As long as they entered the city before the Xiongnu barbarians caught up, they could use the city walls to keep the enemy out.
When the Tuhe County city gate came into view, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The city gate was already open.
Yang Hu and Yang Huai led a group of military generals to welcome them outside the city gate. A middle-aged man with a worried frown and half-white hair bowed and folded hands: “I have seen General Pei.”
This man was the Magistrate Dan of Tuhe.
Magistrate Dan was forty-five this year. A juren scholar by origin, he had no backing in the court and had been the county magistrate in the remote and poor Tuhe County for over a decade, neither promoted nor transferred.
Liaoxi Commandery had repeatedly suffered Xiongnu barbarian incursions. Over these years, Tuhe County had its city gate breached three times, meaning massacred three times. Magistrate Dan was lucky; each time the city fell, he hid in a secret chamber, emerging only after the Xiongnu barbarians left to collect the corpses, clean the county town, and gather the pitiful common people. The city gate had been broken and repaired repeatedly.
This time, the Pei Family Army, united with the Guangning Army, Fanyang Army, and the Pingyang Army from afar, had all come to Tuhe County.
In Magistrate Dan’s view, this was no different from the Xiongnu barbarians occupying the city; he did not know how many innocent common people would suffer. Even whether he, the county magistrate, would survive was unknown.
Pei Qinghe glanced at the trembling Magistrate Dan: “The army needs a place to settle. We will requisition Tuhe County Town for use; we will not disturb the common people, nor loot grain or conscript soldiers. Magistrate Dan need not worry.”
With the infamous Liaoxi Army around, Magistrate Dan did not believe at all that the army entering the city would cause no harm. He verbally assented subserviently.
Pei Qinghe said no more and spurred her horse into Tuhe County.
The Guangning Army had arrived first. The common people of Tuhe County were all frightened into hiding in their homes, every house locked tight. The streets were empty, without even a dog’s bark.
The thunderous horse hooves shook the roads.
The common people hiding at home had tears in their eyes and choked sobs as they held their children tight.
The evil deeds of breaking in to loot grain and seize people did not occur.
The common people remained trembling in fear and terror, not daring to open their doors. In the past, the Liaoxi Army often came; if they could not requisition grain, they would burst in to loot it. How much better could this Pei Family Army be? They were just putting on a show upon entering the city; it would not be long before their true colors showed.
……
“Tuhe County is a mid-sized county, not too large. There are only twenty thousand common people in the county town.” Yang Hu reported in a low voice: “I arrived first and scouted the county town; there is no large open area. We can only requisition the county office.”
The county office at least had a training ground where dozens of military tents could be pitched. There were also dozens of rundown empty houses that could at least block wind and rain. For soldiers accustomed to wind and exposure, it was already a good place to stay.
Pei Qinghe acknowledged with a hum: “Over twenty thousand troops entering the city together will surely be crowded. Pass my military order: all are to center on the county office and find open ground to pitch military tents.”
“Still ten men per military tent, and one camp’s ten teams must stay together.”
“Do not disturb the common people, and do not go to the magnates in the county town to borrow grain. We have come to fight the Xiongnu barbarians, not to loot the common people.”
Everyone bowed and folded hands in acknowledgment.
Pei Qinghe specifically named Song Dalang and Lu Feng: “The Pei Family Army has strict military discipline, and the Guangning Army has been tightly controlled these past half year or more. You two, each manage the Pingyang Army and Fanyang Army well. If anyone disobeys military orders and disturbs the common people on their own, deal with them according to military regulations.”
Song Dalang composed himself and acknowledged.
Lu Feng’s face burned again. Pei Qinghe including the Pingyang Army was giving the Fanyang Army some face. In truth, the ones truly needing the warning were the Fanyang Army.
These little bastards—whoever dared disobey military orders, he would flay their skin first.
Lu Feng steeled himself inwardly. After receiving the order and withdrawing, he immediately led the soldiers who could still move to pitch military tents. He sternly warned all the captains and leaders.
Sure enough, what was feared came to pass.
That very night, some soldiers sneaked quietly into a civilian residence, intending to assault the wife and daughters for pleasure.
