Chapter 288: Open Scheme
This military conference continued discussing until after the third watch.
After everyone dispersed, Pei Yun sighed with full heart worry: “This Pu Nu is much more powerful than Wu Yan. He set up this open scheme, we know it’s a trap, but we can only grit our teeth and charge in.”
Infantry fighting cavalry, the advantage is definitely with the cavalry.
Once the Pei Family Army leaves the city, losing the advantage of the city wall, their combat power will be greatly weakened. In this battle, who knows victory or defeat, who knows how many people will die.
Pei Qinghe also sighed, lowering her voice: “What you said, how could I not know. But today’s reaction of everyone, you all saw. Yang Hu approves sending troops, Song Dalang, Lu Feng, Li Chi are all watching, if we shrink back and don’t go out, we preserve strength in the short term, but from a long-term view, we lose more.”
“We not only have to send troops, but also win the battle, thoroughly winning over the people’s hearts and morale. As long as we win, Youzhou will be our territory, no one can snatch it away.”
Once walking this path, there is no room to shrink back. Ahead is a sea of swords and flames, still have to charge through it.
Pei Yun took a deep breath, placing her hand over Pei Qinghe’s hand back: “I’ll listen to you.”
Pei Yan boldly reached out, grabbing Pei Qinghe’s other hand: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, wherever you go, I’ll go.”
Pei Qinghe gripped back, holding tight Pei Yun and Pei Yan’s hands: “With you following behind me, my heart feels especially secure.”
Since troops must be sent, no need to hesitate.
The next day at the fifth watch, all soldiers had enough to eat, each carrying two slender grain bags, those with soft armor put on soft armor, weapons, carry as many as possible. They exited the city from the northern city gate.
Pei Yun was left to defend the city, Pei Qinghe personally led troops out of the city. Here with the Guangning Army, Yang Hu stayed in the city, Yang Huai led troops following Pei Qinghe. Song Dalang and Lu Feng scrambled to send troops, they all followed along.
Li Chi originally also wanted to come, but was left by Pei Qinghe: “You are most familiar with Liaoxi City, you must stay to defend the city.”
Actually, the Liaoxi Army’s morale had long been beaten away, defending the city was barely passable, if really making them go out of the city, no need to fight and they would be scared witless. Pei Qinghe would rather have fewer people than be dragged down.
Not sure if Li Chi heard the implication in Pei Qinghe’s words, he obediently cupped hands and received the military order.
The remaining few hundred cavalry, Pei Qinghe all gave to Captain Sun, ordering him to lead the cavalry to scout ahead, any movement news, report back anytime.
Captain Sun said no big words, cupped hands, received orders and went.
Pei Qinghe led the infantry on a forced march, speed although not matching cavalry, yet much faster than usual.
Captain Sun kept sending people back with messages, already saw some defeated soldiers and deserters on the road. Beiping Army was just over twenty li ahead. Xiongnu Barbarians like mad dogs, tightly biting the Beiping Army.
Pei Qinghe ordered everyone to rest in place, drink water and eat.
This was also the pre-battle convention. Before fighting, always have enough to eat first. Died on the battlefield, also go with full belly, not become a starving ghost.
Yang Huai sat beside Pei Yan, grabbed a handful of military rations from the grain bag, stuffed into Pei Yan’s hand. Pei Yan lifted her furry head, grinning at her fiancé: “You eat too.”
Yang Huai also laughed. Nothing needed to be said, together they buried heads eating and drinking.
Pei Qinghe saw this scene in her eyes, Shi Yan’s figure flashed in her mind, suddenly a eager longing surged in her heart.
Shi Yan was left in Tuhe County. From the last parting, over half a month without seeing him.
“After this battle, I’ll get married.” Pei Yun’s familiar voice rang in her ears.
Pei Qinghe turned her head to look over.
Pei Yun’s resilient and composed beautiful face rarely showed a trace of tenderness: “When leaving the capital city that year, I was sixteen. In a blink, over six years passed, I’m twenty-two now. Bao Hao has waited devotedly for me so many years, I should also give him a proper status.”
With fierce battle of life and death imminent, originally shouldn’t indulge in romantic love. But who knows if the next battle can survive?
Pei Qinghe softly said: “Good, we’ll get married together.”
Pei Yun pursed lips in a smile.
Two fast horses rushed over: “General, Captain Sun sent us back with message, Beiping Army is coming, Xiongnu Barbarians right behind. Please General prepare for combat.”
Pei Qinghe nodded, stood up, blew the bamboo whistle.
The bamboo whistle was made by skilled artisans, especially sharp, carrying far. Soldiers sitting on the ground immediately packed grain bags and stood up. In the whistle sound, quickly found their own teams.
With familiar companions beside, taking handy weapons, one turn of the head, General Pei was right among them, everyone’s courage doubled.
Half a shichen later, several hundred warhorses came over.
Tao Feng and other Beiping Army origin soldiers, seeing the Beiping Army’s military banner, noses suddenly soured.
Beiping Army’s soldiers, seeing so many reinforcements come, also moved to tears.
Cavalry moving to rescue infantry is common, who has seen infantry moving to rescue cavalry? General Pei is righteous to the heavens, Pei Family Army fierce and fearless, truly convincing.
Meng Dalang was injured, full body bloodstains, face pale. He had no strength to dismount and salute, on horseback cupped hands to Pei Qinghe: “Many thanks to General Pei for the rescue!”
“I should first thank Beiping Army for sending troops.” Pei Qinghe was concise: “Now is not time for idle talk, please General Meng first lead them to treat injuries and rest. The next battle, leave it to us.”
On the battlefield, most taboo that muddled dragging set.
Meng Dalang did not pretentiously decline. Fierce battle half day, fleeing one and a half days, both men and horses utterly exhausted, already no power to fight again. Time for pleasantries, better rest a moment to recover some strength, still can fight to the death another round.
Meng Dalang led a crowd of Beiping Army soldiers to settle and rest in the dense forest to the side.
Pei Qinghe continued to arrange deployment.
Not even half a shichen, the ground trembled.
Xiongnu Barbarians’ pursuing soldiers came!
“Tripwires ready!”
“Archers ready!”
“Spearmen and shieldbearers ready!”
Pei Qinghe’s face was cold, issuing military orders one after another.
Xiongnu Barbarians grinning fiercely rushed over, the fastest charging one tripped right by the thick long tripwire, heavily fell off the horse, head snapped, body trampled to pieces by rear galloping warhorses.
The heavily set tripwires had astonishing lethality.
Xiongnu Barbarians not stupid at all, quickly slowed horse speed, took out bow and arrow. They all practiced riding and shooting from childhood, shooting arrows precise.
Pei Family Army side not afraid at all, all shot arrows in retaliation.
Distance closed, inconvenient to shoot arrows, everyone immediately threw bow and arrow, drew long sabers.
This battle almost from the start entered desperate fight to the death.
Pei Qinghe as the whole army commander, had to command everyone in combat, instead inconvenient to charge ahead. Pei Yan, Yang Huai and others, while loudly shouting, wielding sabers.
One by one Xiongnu Barbarians were killed.
One by one familiar faces fell.
Pei Qinghe had no time to grieve for the dead, she drew her long saber, straight charging at Xiongnu Barbarians.
