Chapter 276: Cry For Help
The messenger said it himself but felt guilty, not daring to lift his head at all.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, he was mocked by Pei family members: “Just by moving your mouth, you want us to send troops to fight to the death. Your Liaoxi Army sure has a big face.”
The first to speak up was the sharp-tongued Pei Zhi.
Pei Yan sneered: “That Li Gouzei killed our people back then, stole our horses, and repeatedly sent people to humiliate our general. This account hasn’t been settled yet.”
Pei Xuan picked up the thread: “Let Li Gouzei come in person and kowtow to our general to apologize.”
Pei Feng raised one sword brow: “Li Xi only mentioned requesting reinforcements. He didn’t promise any benefits at all! How does he have the face to make this request.”
With her cousin sisters and cousin brothers speaking for her, Pei Qinghe didn’t need to speak up herself and continued to watch coldly.
The messenger was so ashamed he almost had nowhere to hide, but he had to thicken his face and continue pleading: “I dare not hide from the general. The matter of requesting reinforcements was Li Xi’s idea; General Li is unaware.”
“Empty words indeed shouldn’t be trusted. But the warfare is urgent. A group of Xiongnu barbarians charged the city gate and even broke into the city. Li Xi led a few hundred men and went to great lengths to kill off that group of barbarians. He himself was injured. He is already unable to fight anymore.”
“If this continues, in less than two days, the Xiongnu barbarians will breach the city.”
“I know General Pei doesn’t care about the life or death of Li Xi and his father, nor does he care much about the soldiers of the Liaoxi Army. But there are still seventy to eighty thousand common people in Liaoxi Commandery. General Pei traveled hundreds of li precisely to save them. Now is the best time for the Pei Family Army to send troops.”
“After this battle, the popular support in Liaoxi Commandery will entirely belong to General Pei. I beg General Pei to send troops and save the common people of Liaoxi.”
Pei Qinghe raised her brows slightly and gave a deep look at this messenger who had ridden a fast horse through the night, with bloodshot eyes and a face full of exhaustion yet clear thoughts: “What is your name?”
The messenger didn’t dare hesitate and immediately replied: “I am called Li Chi, General Li’s clan nephew and Li Xi’s distant cousin.”
To fight a tiger, rely on close brothers; on the battlefield, father and son as soldiers. In these times, anyone who reaches the position of commander in the barracks will promote their own nephews. The Guangning Army, Pingyang Army, and Fanyang Army are all like this; in the Pei Family Army, Pei Yun, Pei Yan, and others clearly have higher status than the rest.
This Li Chi is evidently an outstanding figure among the Li Family’s younger generation. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent him at such a critical moment to request reinforcements with nothing but empty words.
Pei Qinghe asked impassively: “Were those words just now spoken by Li Xi, or did you come up with them yourself?”
Li Chi wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and replied in a hoarse voice: “These are all obvious matters; everyone in the Liaoxi Army knows them.”
He sure knew how to talk.
“In other words, Li Xi didn’t actually instruct you on anything; he just told you to come request reinforcements.” Pei Qinghe’s expression was indifferent, showing no joy or anger: “If I am unwilling to send troops, what do you plan to do?”
Li Chi gave a bitter smile: “The things General Li did back then thoroughly made enemies of the Pei Family Army. General Pei set aside past grievances and led a large army to Liaoxi; we in the Liaoxi Army are deeply grateful from top to bottom.”
“Since the general has come, he won’t stand by with folded arms regarding us. The general is magnanimous; I beg the general to send troops and save us.”
After speaking, he kowtowed three more resounding heads: dong dong dong.
A chill flashed in Pei Qinghe’s gaze: “Sending troops is a matter of sooner or later. Since I’ve come, I have no intention of returning empty-handed. Wait a few more days until the Liaoxi Army is thoroughly crippled and the Xiongnu barbarians’ troop strength is substantially consumed, then I will send troops.”
From a strategic perspective, this is the best choice.
No need to act personally; just watch the Xiongnu barbarians wipe out the Liaoxi Army. Even the common people of Liaoxi Commandery, after their families are destroyed and they suffer calamity, will then be utterly devoted to the Pei Family Army that comes to their rescue.
Speaking from the heart, if it were him, he would do the same and wait.
Li Chi was filled with despair but instead calmed down.
He no longer cried bitterly or pleaded, nor did he wail or curse; he respectfully kowtowed three heads: “I will go back now to report. Regardless, I must thank the general for his aid. If I, Li Chi, am fortunate enough to survive, I hope in the future to serve under the general as a vanguard.”
Pei Qinghe’s lips curved slightly upward.
Li Chi, with his head bowed, didn’t see General Pei’s smile.
Pei Yun, Pei Yan, and the others saw it clearly.
Li Chi politely declined the offer to stay and rest, resolutely mounting his horse and galloping back to the Liaoxi Army’s battlefield.
“This Li Chi is very good.” Pei Qinghe said to Pei Yun: “Clear-headed, with sharp reactions. After this battle, let him be the commander of the surviving Liaoxi Army.”
Pei Yun nodded: “Li Gouzei and his son are surely doomed to die. If those two know what’s good for them, they should take their own lives.”
Pei Qinghe sneered: “Li Gouzei is greedy by nature; even gravely injured, he clings to life and grips the military power. I want to see when he will finally die.”
Pei Yan scratched her head, not quite understanding, and simply asked directly: “Are we sending troops or not?”
Pei Qinghe raised her brow: “Of course we are sending troops. But when to send them is up to me. The Liaoxi Army hasn’t reached the end of its rope yet; they can hold out a few more days without issue.”
“We have too few cavalry, mostly infantry. It’s time to prepare.”
“Pass my military order: summon General Yang and the others for deliberation.”
……
A little over half a shichen later, the commanders of each army and important figures gathered in Pei Qinghe’s military tent.
Pei Qinghe unrolled the map again and discussed with everyone how to send troops.
Lu Feng volunteered: “General, in the horse combat, our Fanyang Army couldn’t contribute. This time for infantry deployment to set up an ambush, I am willing to lead the Fanyang Army as the vanguard.”
Everyone looked over.
Their gazes showed surprise and doubt.
Can the Fanyang Army do it?
Lu Feng, looked at by everyone’s gazes, felt somewhat ashamed and annoyed. He straightened his chest and said: “Our Fanyang Army aren’t cowards either! I stand here and sign a military pledge: if I, Lu Feng, fail to fulfill the military order, I’ll bring my head to see the general!”
Pei Qinghe looked at Lu Feng and said warmly: “Young General Lu has such breadth and spirit; it’s impressive. In this battle, we must use infantry against cavalry, which will inevitably cause heavy casualties.”
“The Pei Family Army began forging weapons and training tactics against cavalry more than a year ago. The Guangning Army has also trained for over half a year. The Fanyang Army hasn’t specially trained; sending them hastily into battle would just be sending the officers and soldiers to their deaths in vain. Young General Lu may be willing, but this general is absolutely unwilling.”
Yang Hu’s eyes showed admiration, thinking that he still had much to learn about leading troops and managing subordinates!
With such words, hasn’t he completely won over Lu Feng?
Sure enough, Lu Feng’s brows relaxed upon hearing it, and he no longer bristled: “The general considers things thoroughly. Then please arrange the deployment, general; I, Lu Feng, will certainly fulfill the military order. Otherwise, I’ll bring my head…”
Pei Qinghe smiled and interrupted Lu Feng: “Keep your head safely on your neck for now; don’t keep wanting to bring it over to see me.”
Lu Feng chuckled.
Pei Qinghe restrained her smile and solemnly issued orders.
