Chapter 270: Brutal
The common people were excited and thrilled one moment, but the next moment, upon hearing the sound of horse hooves, they reflexively shrank back, quickly closing and locking their doors.
Then they peeped out through the door cracks.
Leading the way was none other than the undefeated General Pei!
Covered in blood, all of it was her record of meritorious battle achievements.
A child from some household started crying. General Pei glanced over, then quickly withdrew her gaze and spurred her horse forward.
This commoner forcefully covered the child’s mouth until the army had passed and there was no more movement, then he let out a long sigh of relief. The common people unlocked and opened their doors again. This time, they were much bolder, coming out of their homes, gathering together, and loudly and heatedly discussing the Pei Family Army’s great victory.
Magistrate Dan of Tuhe County heard the good news of the great victory, stopped trembling, stopped cowering, and proactively came to offer congratulations.
Pei Qinghe was busy settling the wounded soldiers and had no time to see Magistrate Dan. She sent word: “After this battle, the Xiongnu barbarians will surely be enraged and may send troops again. Please continue to raise funds for wood and stone. The city gate needs further reinforcement, and the city wall must be built higher.”
Magistrate Dan agreed without a word.
In the past, the Liaoxi Army often demanded money and grain, making the government office, magnates, and common people endure unspeakable suffering. But in battle, the brutish Liaoxi Army became cowards, crushed to pieces by the Xiongnu barbarians. Now they only dare to hide in Liaoxi Commandery.
The Pei Family Army is different. They bring their own military rations, harm the common people not a little bit, and dare to proactively pursue and attack outside the city, achieving a great victory.
Asking for some wood and stone is also to reinforce the city gate and city wall. Such an army cannot be found a second one in the world.
The wounded soldier tent was packed with people; twelve military doctors were far from enough. Pei Qinghe immediately ordered nimble-handed people to come and apply medicine packets and bandages to the lightly wounded. The military doctors focused on treating the severely wounded.
Even so, by morning, one-third of the severely wounded soldiers had died.
Sobbing sounds occasionally rose in the military tent.
Pei Qinghe was the most heartbroken and grieved. Over these years, she took great pains to buy warhorses, pouring countless efforts into training this cavalry. In today’s battle, nearly half were lost. This was simply bone-chilling pain!
But she could not show it. She had no right to weakly cry; she was General Pei, the backbone of everyone. She had to calmly comfort everyone, show confidence and composure, and reassure all.
Shi Yan said nothing, silently staying by Pei Qinghe’s side.
Pei Qinghe hadn’t slept all night, and Shi Yan had stayed up the entire night as well.
At dawn, the kitchen sent hot porridge and steamed buns.
Shi Yan ladled a bowl of hot porridge, handed it to Pei Qinghe, and said softly: “You’ve stayed up all night; drink some hot porridge and go rest.”
Pei Qinghe hummed in acknowledgment, drank the porridge, ate the steamed bun, and felt warmth in her stomach.
After half a day of fighting to the death yesterday and another sleepless night, she was indeed fatigued. She didn’t force herself, closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
Shi Yan guarded by the bed.
Pei Qinghe slept half a day before waking; upon opening her eyes, a familiar handsome face came into view.
“You stayed up all night too; why don’t you go sleep.”
Shi Yan said softly: “I couldn’t rest easy leaving you.”
In everyone’s eyes, Pei Qinghe was indestructible and immensely powerful. But she was also flesh and blood, could be injured, saddened, and pained. This vulnerable side was shown only in front of him.
Pei Qinghe looked at Shi Yan’s eyes full of concern and pity, her nose suddenly souring, eyes heating up.
“Shi Yan, too many died in yesterday’s battle.” Pei Qinghe’s eyes reddened slightly, her voice choking: “So many familiar faces, all gone.”
Warhorses are extremely precious; those selected into the cavalry camp could be called the elite soldiers of the Pei Family Army, hand-trained by her.
In yesterday’s bloody fight to the death, the Xiongnu barbarians were killed with blood flowing like rivers, and the Pei Family Army also suffered heavy casualties.
“Zhai Sanlang died too.” A tear slid from Pei Qinghe’s eye: “When they entered Pei Family Village, they were all half-grown youths, over four hundred in total. Over these years, they died one after another in battle. Zhai Sanlang was only seventeen this year, in the prime of youth. I had thought to carefully cultivate, promote, and heavily employ him in the future…”
Shi Yan’s heart ached; he reached out and held Pei Qinghe: “Qinghe, don’t blame yourself. War is inherently cruel, the Xiongnu barbarians are savagely brutal by nature; being able to win is already great fortune. Casualties are inevitable. You’ve already done everything you could.”
Zhai Sanlang’s admiration for Pei Qinghe was no secret; anyone with eyes could see it. No matter how petty Shi Yan was, he wouldn’t quarrel with a youth in first love. Now with Zhai Sanlang sleeping eternally underground and Pei Qinghe losing a fierce general, Shi Yan’s heart was also heavy and uncomfortable.
Pei Qinghe snuggled into Shi Yan’s chest, closed her eyes, and shed silent tears.
Shi Yan’s eyes reddened too.
He had known Pei Qinghe for six years; after joining the Pei Family Army these years, their affection had gradually deepened.
This was the first time Pei Qinghe had shed tears in front of him.
All words of comfort were so pale and powerless. He said no more, just held her tightly, accompanying her as she cried bitterly.
After crying bitterly, she wiped her tears and had to muster her spirit to continue bearing the heavy responsibility.
Pei Qinghe said to Shi Yan: “I’m going to the city gate; you do your own tasks, no need to follow me.”
Shi Yan knew Pei Qinghe’s temper: decisive and straightforward, never indecisive or muddled. He said softly: “If you can’t hold on, come back and rest; I’ll always be here.”
Pei Qinghe hummed in acknowledgment.
At the city gate, it was exceptionally busy today. Yang Hu directed people to carry stone, artisans filled the gaps with rice paste water. Lu Feng also brought Fanyang Army soldiers to work.
The Fanyang Army soldiers were used to laxness daily; after encountering Xiongnu barbarian cavalry impact on the road, they were even more terrified and lost fighting spirit.
Yesterday Pei Qinghe led the cavalry in pursuit, fighting to the death half a day, cleanly wiping out this group of Xiongnu barbarians. Though at the cost of heavy casualties, it was a true victory.
Who could have thought that in a frontal cavalry clash, the Pei Family Army actually won!
This was too shocking for the Fanyang Army.
Today Lu Feng ordered them to move stone, and they obediently came.
“General Pei is here!”
Someone sharp-eyed shouted.
The Fanyang Army soldiers immediately sped up their actions. A few even deliberately moved into General Pei’s view.
In the barracks, the strongest is respected.
General Pei was like a god in their eyes.
Lu Feng looked at those show-offs, couldn’t help but hum, then quickly stepped forward, his tone much more respectful than before: “Greetings, General.”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly.
Lu Feng naturally followed behind Pei Qinghe and reported: “Last night General Yang sent people to clean the battlefield, recovering all usable weapons. The warhorses were also dragged back; the horse meat is enough for the whole army for three or four days.”
“The fallen were buried on the spot.”
“How to dispose of the Xiongnu barbarians’ corpses?”
Pei Qinghe coldly spat three words: “Build a Mound of Skulls.”
