Chapter 267: Tuhe
“……Young General, Du Da sneaked out of the military tent in the middle of the night and was noticed by us few. He slipped into a civilian residence, but before he could do anything evil, we caught him.”
Du Da clearly hadn’t realized the seriousness of the matter yet. He struggled hard a couple of times and said with a shameless grin: “I have an old habit of sleepwalking. I wandered around when I got up at night. I came back without doing anything.”
Lu Feng’s face was expressionless, his eyes brimming with killing intent: “No one is to disturb the common people. Today, you all watch what happens to those who defy military orders.”
With a clang, he drew his long saber.
Only then did Du Da panic. He hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy: “Young General, calm your anger! I won’t dare do it again…”
Pfft!
The long saber pierced through his chest.
Du Da died in shock and pain.
Even until his death, he couldn’t figure out why something he used to do all the time didn’t work tonight.
The few soldiers who had caught Du Da to claim merit were also stunned by this bloody scene. They wanted to claim merit and curry favor, to get some reward silver to spend. They hadn’t intended to get a colleague killed.
Who could have thought that Lu Feng would kill Du Da with just one saber strike!
Lu Feng sheathed his long saber, his cold and ferocious gaze sweeping around: “No collecting the body. Let everyone in the Fanyang Army see what happens to those who defy military orders!”
Many heads poked out from the crowded military tents, then quietly shrank back.
The matter soon reached Pei Qinghe’s ears.
“General Lu is cowardly and afraid of death. The soldiers he leads are useless in battle and habitually bully the common people.” Pei Yun commented objectively and calmly: “Lu Feng is at least a bit stronger than his father. He at least knows some sense of shame.”
Pei Qinghe said faintly: “True gold is forged in fierce fire. If Lu Feng can survive this battle, he might barely be able to lead troops.”
Pei Yan was exhausted and kept yawning: “After being busy for so many days, tonight I can finally sleep well on the bed. Aren’t you going to sleep?”
“You sleep first.” Pei Qinghe said: “Cousin Sister Yun and I still have matters to discuss.”
Pei Yan rolled over and soon fell asleep snoring.
Pei Yun smiled helplessly: “Sometimes I really envy Cousin Sister Yan. She’s so carefree and can sleep anytime.”
Pei Qinghe also smiled: “Everyone has their strengths. It’s good for her to be like this. She just needs to obey orders, charge, and fight.”
Pei Yun looked at Pei Qinghe, a trace of worry in her eyes, her voice lowering: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, now that there’s no one else, just the two of us. This battle—how confident are you?”
Pei Qinghe finally shed her indestructible armor, sighing lightly: “I have not a shred of confidence in certain victory. We can only fight to the death with all our might.”
More than twenty thousand followed her, while the enemy was thirty thousand ruthless Xiongnu cavalry. The natural disadvantage of infantry against cavalry was plainly evident. She was human, not a god. With the weight of a thousand jun on her shoulders, how could she not feel anxiety and worry?
But she was the Pei Family Army commander, the backbone of everyone. All eyes were on her. She had to remain calm and composed without losing an inch.
Pei Yun was silent for a moment, then held Pei Qinghe’s hand: “I hope heaven stands on our side.”
To win this battle, one needed not only strength but also to borrow some luck from heaven.
Pei Qinghe hummed in acknowledgment, quickly rallying her spirits with a smile: “I’m looking at the terrain map. Come take a look too.”
Pei Yun nodded, leaning over to look at the terrain map with Pei Qinghe, discussing the ambush in low voices. Unknowingly, time slipped away, and the sound of the watchman’s clappers reached their ears.
Third watch!
Pei Qinghe and Pei Yun lay down on the bed. Both had heavy hearts, but they were steady and resilient, and actually fell asleep.
At the fifth watch, Pei Qinghe opened her eyes and woke up. Pei Yun woke at the same time. The two sisters exchanged a smile and casually tugged Pei Yan’s ear.
Pei Yan rubbed her ear, grimacing as she got up.
The male and female soldiers of the Pei Family Army were also accustomed to rising at the fifth watch. The kitchen staff rose even earlier, starting the fire at the fourth watch to cook hot porridge.
Pei Qinghe personally led the troops, running two laps through the empty streets of Tuhe County Town.
The footsteps converged like sudden muffled thunder. The common people who hadn’t slept peacefully all night peered out trembling through door cracks. Soon they shuddered back, hiding their last grain and silver money. They smeared black ash on their wives’ and daughters’ faces. Though it had no real effect, it was a comfort to their hearts.
Pei Qinghe was well aware of the common people’s fear and didn’t bother to comfort them. Once the army stayed longer, the common people would naturally see the military discipline for themselves. Words now were useless no matter how grand.
After morning training, they drank two bowls of hot porridge and ate two mixed flour steamed buns. After filling their stomachs, Pei Qinghe led the crowd to the city gate.
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng had guarded the city gate last night. Both hadn’t slept, their eyes slightly red, but their spirits were good: “General, last night the Xiongnu cavalry circled below the city once and left.”
“Fortunately, we moved quickly and entered Tuhe County in time.”
Tuhe County Town’s city gate and city walls were dilapidated, but still better than nothing. At least they could block warhorses somewhat.
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly: “You two go back and sleep half a day, then come again.”
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng didn’t show off. They obediently followed orders to rest. Pei Qinghe walked a circle on the city gate and ordered it sealed. She then had the Shan County Magistrate summoned: “I want to reinforce the city walls. We have enough personnel; you figure out the wood and stone.”
What could the Shan County Magistrate do? He pinched his nose and accepted the order. He first went to several magnates to “borrow” wood and stone. Even ordinary common people’s homes had some stored, so he “borrowed” them all first.
The Shan County Magistrate spoke plainly: “General Pei is being polite first and forceful second. If you lend now, there’s some merit or hard work. Otherwise, when General Pei sends people, it won’t just be borrowing wood and stone.”
Under this intimidation, the several magnates all sensibly lent large quantities of wood and stone. The common people, used to being squeezed, watched their things taken away, angry but dare not speak, only consoling themselves. Reinforcing the city gate was at least a good thing. If the Xiongnu barbarians breached the city, everything would be over.
Changli County had been taken by the Xiongnu barbarians. The innocent common people in the city were slaughtered at will, and the women’s fates were even more miserable.
In the eyes of the Xiongnu barbarians, the Jing Dynasty’s common people were like pigs and dogs, not counted as people. At least General Pei wasn’t robbing or killing common people right now.
The city gate area soon bustled with activity. Some transported, some carried up to the city gate, some reinforced the city walls under the artisans’ direction. Each leader commanded orderly.
Men from the Guangning Army, Pingyang Army, and Fanyang Army were all sent to repair the city walls. Patrolling and guarding the city were the Pei Family Army. This was also deliberate by Pei Qinghe. For military discipline, she only trusted her own army.
Clop clop clop clop!
The ground-shaking movement of galloping warhorses was alarming.
“No need to panic,” Pei Qinghe focused intently and said steadily: “From the dust and movement, the pursuing Xiongnu barbarians won’t exceed two thousand men. This many is just right for everyone to practice their hands.”
