Chapter 274: Popular Support
“Bad news! The Xiongnu Barbarians are attacking the city again!”
“The Xiongnu Barbarians have gone mad! They’ve almost all come out in force!”
The Prefectural Governor’s Mansion of Liaoxi Commandery had long been occupied by the Liaoxi Army. A military general in his fifties with a full beard lay pale-faced in the luxurious bedroom. Several beautiful women stood by serving him.
This military general was none other than General Li, who had raised his own banner and proclaimed himself King of Liaoxi.
A month ago, the Xiongnu Cavalry had launched a massive invasion. The Liaoxi Army was defeated, General Li was hit by an arrow wounding his waist and abdomen with blood flowing nonstop. He barely saved his life with a century-old ginseng.
His life was preserved, but he could not get out of bed. These days, it was his eldest son Li Xi who was leading the troops.
Li Xi was thirty-two this year, tall and imposing in appearance, but in reality addicted to wine and women, his body long hollowed out. This month, he only dared to cower with his neck shrunk behind the city gate, never once going out to counterattack.
At this moment, Li Xi was drenched in sweat, as if the sky had fallen: “Father, what should we do now?”
General Li suffered qi and blood attacking the heart, and angrily scolded in a tone of hating iron for not becoming steel: “What else can we do? Hurry and go defend the city.”
Li Xi did not move, gritted his teeth and said: “We sent men to Tuhe County to ask General Pei to send troops to relieve our siege!”
“General Pei led his large army to Liaoxi to help us fight the Xiongnu Barbarians. The day before yesterday General Pei won a victory and even built a jingguan with the heads of Xiongnu Barbarians. Now the only one who can save us is Pei Qinghe!”
General Li was so angry his eyes nearly bulged out, his chest heaving violently, his breathing like a bellows: “You bastard! Are you trying to hand Liaoxi Commandery over to Pei Qinghe?!”
Li Xi finally spat out the words he had mulled over in his heart for a long time, feeling much relieved: “Father knows clearly, we can’t beat the Xiongnu Barbarians. Now over twenty thousand cavalry are besieging us; our defeat is only a matter of time.”
“If the Xiongnu Barbarians break into the city, we father and son have no way to survive. Liaoxi Commandery will also be massacred!”
“Rather than that, it’s better to bow our heads to Pei Qinghe. From now on, we’ll be like the Guangning Army, submitting obediently to General Pei…”
“Get out!”
General Li roared from his chest: “As long as I’m alive for one day, don’t even think of that idea. Get out now and defend the city! If the city falls, you’ll be the first to die!”
Li Xi was scolded until disheveled and dejected, and could only get up and roll out.
Li Xi had walked a good distance before turning back to spit.
It was all his own father’s fault; who did he have to provoke but the Pei Family Army? He killed Pei Family Army men, seized their warhorses, and even repeatedly sent men to “ask for marriage” with Pei Qinghe. Thus the enmity was formed.
Pei Qinghe was a ruthless person, capable in battle and enduring. These two years, she had made no moves and sent no troops.
Last year the Pei Family Army sent troops to attack and aid the Guangning Army; the Liaoxi Army could not beat the Xiongnu Barbarians and could only shrink back without daring to go out, barely preserving themselves.
No one expected that this year the Xiongnu Barbarians would come out in great force, heading straight for the Liaoxi Army. The Imperial Court made no move, which was expected. Who told you General Li to have the capability to declare yourself king; once you raised the banner, don’t expect relief from the court.
What was truly unexpected was Pei Qinghe leading her large army to come.
General Li’s concerns were not wrong; Pei Qinghe was no saint doing good deeds. She wanted to save the common people, and she also wanted Liaoxi Commandery. But for the Liaoxi Army, aside from bowing their heads to Pei Qinghe and surrendering, was there a second path?
Li Xi was irritated and restless, his face gloomy as he went to the city gate.
Below the city was a dense mass of Xiongnu Barbarians. Their jabbering shouts surged like waves.
The city gate had long been sealed. The soldiers on the city gate were all frowning with morale low.
Li Xi roused his spirit and encouraged all soldiers: “Everyone don’t be afraid, pick up your bow and arrow. Xiongnu Barbarians are also human; hit by one arrow and they’ll die too.”
“The day before yesterday, the Pei Family Army killed two thousand Xiongnu Barbarians and even built a jingguan.”
“The Pei Family Army can fight, and we can too.”
Not mentioning the Pei Family Army was fine, but as soon as it was brought up, the soldiers all started clamoring: “The Pei Family Army is so powerful, we should just surrender to the Pei Family Army.”
“As long as the Pei Family Army is willing to come out, we can do an inside-outside pincer attack and drive away the Xiongnu Barbarians.”
Li Xi’s anger flared up, finally feeling his father’s anger from moments ago: “All of you, shut your mouths.”
“If you’re men, all of you show some guts and fight to the death. The Pei Family Army has already arrived, right in Tuhe County. We have to win a brilliant victory before we have the face to invite General Pei to Liaoxi.”
These words did have some effect. The soldiers finally perked up, pulling their bows and shooting arrows sporadically.
Li Xi darkened his face and cursed angrily, complaining that the soldiers were weak in hands and feet. The soldiers were also indignant. They only ate two meals a day, and they were already fighting to the death in battle, yet they weren’t even allowed a full meal. They had only eaten a dry biscuit and drunk a bowl of cold water in the morning, so where would they get so much strength.
“I heard the Pei Family Army’s meals are especially good, three full meals a day, and they often eat meat.”
“What’s the use of talking about it. We can’t eat it anyway.”
“Once we surrender to the Pei Family Army later, we’ll be able to eat our fill.”
The soldiers desperately held off the first wave of attack. Some were wounded by arrows, some were smashed by giant stones from catapults, and went to the Yellow Springs on empty stomachs.
They had no time to catch their breath. The Xiongnu Barbarians rested briefly, then attacked the city again.
Within one day, the Xiongnu Barbarians assaulted the city gate twice. Li Xi personally went into battle, boosting morale and fighting desperately. By dusk, the Xiongnu Barbarians finally retreated.
After one day, the Liaoxi Army suffered heavy casualties.
Li Xi’s left arm took a knife wound, and his shoulder was also injured. He bandaged his wounds and went to see his father: “Father! The Xiongnu Barbarians are ferocious, like they’ve gone mad. At this rate, we won’t last a few more days before the city falls.”
“While it’s dark, send someone to Tuhe County for help! If we delay any longer, it’ll be too late!”
General Li’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and he cursed Li Xi out again.
Li Xi had no choice but to change the subject: “I’ll have the kitchen slaughter a few sheep, so everyone can have a meat meal tomorrow, eat their fill, and then go into battle.”
General Li lay on the bed unable to move, muttering curses: “Those bastards deserve to eat my mutton!”
Even his own son couldn’t stand to listen anymore.
“If you want them to fight to the death, you have to let them eat their fill.” Li Xi said in a low voice: “If the Xiongnu Barbarians break into the city, Father’s family business accumulated over more than ten years will all be gone.”
If it really came to that, they wouldn’t even be able to save their lives, and no amount of money and grain would matter.
The stingy General Li had a pained expression: “Fine, fine, handle this little matter yourself.”
The next morning, the Liaoxi Army soldiers drank steaming hot mutton broth. With meat in their stomachs, their hands and feet had strength. The hands holding knives and spears no longer shook.
Unfortunately, the Liaoxi Army’s combat power was mediocre. Even fighting with all their might, they couldn’t hold back the Xiongnu Barbarians’ fierce offensive. That day, the Xiongnu Barbarians charged up to the city gate several times. A few even killed their way into the city, causing great panic and turmoil.
Li Xi gritted his teeth and secretly sent someone out of the city to Tuhe County for reinforcements.
