Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 225 The Devastation (Part Two)

It was time to apply the medicine to Pei Zhi again.

Pei Qinghe personally applied medicine and changed the gauze for Pei Zhi. The bloody wound had slowly scabbed over, but even the slightest movement caused unbearable pain.

Pei Zhi was usually pretty and delicate, unable to bear the slightest grievance or resentment, yet she endured this pain. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead from the pain, but she didn't cry out.

Pei Qinghe looked at Pei Zhi with pity: "If it hurts, just shout a few times."

Pei Zhi bit her lip until it turned white, but still didn't cry out in pain. She forced a smile and said, "I can handle it."

The women of the Pei family are all outstanding!

Pei Qinghe felt a surge of pride and bittersweetness, and her eyes welled up with tears. She turned her head to the side, and after a moment, she turned back: "You are badly injured and cannot move. Just lie here and rest to recover."

Pei Yan chimed in, "If the battle is over and your injuries haven't healed yet, stay here to recover. You can return to the Pei family army once you're fully healed."

The Xiongnu barbarians generally did not stay in the pass for long. According to their usual practice, after burning, killing, and looting, they would leave with a large amount of money, grain, and able-bodied people.

It's hard to say how long this match will last.

Pei Zhi was somewhat reluctant and whispered, "I don't want to be left alone."

Pei Yan laughed heartily, "There are a bunch of wounded soldiers here, it's not like you're the only one. Don't be so delicate."

Pei Xuan slipped into the military tent: "General, General Yang has arrived."

Yang Hu would fight and defend the city during the day, and when it was time to withdraw his troops, he would come to the wounded soldiers' camp to tell Pei Qinghe about the day's battle and discuss the next steps in defending the city. He would also take the opportunity to visit the seriously injured Pei Zhi.

Pei Qinghe straightened Pei Zhi's clothes and casually said, "Please invite General Yang in!"

For some reason, Pei Zhi suddenly felt a little shy. She turned her head to the inside, but her ears unconsciously perked up.

"General Pei!"

"General Yang was injured again today?" Pei Qinghe asked with concern.

Yang Hu gave a wry smile: "The Xiongnu barbarians are attacking the city too fiercely. As the commander-in-chief, I cannot retreat. Only by fighting hard can we boost morale."

Pei Zhi quietly turned her head, and what came into view was Yang Hu, who was covered in blood.

Yang Hu, though not as tall and handsome as Yang Huai, was still a dashing young man, his sharply defined face showing signs of exhaustion. While speaking with Pei Qinghe, Yang Hu's gaze drifted over.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

Pei Zhi immediately turned her head to the inside.

Yang Hu thought Pei Zhi still disliked him and wouldn't even look at him, and felt extremely bitter. He rallied his spirits and said to Pei Qinghe, "Two years ago, the Xiongnu barbarians invaded the pass, and the Guangning army suffered a great defeat. In the past two years, the Guangning army has been training hard. These past few days, they have managed to hold out in the city."

"The initiative is still in the hands of the Xiongnu barbarians. If they want to retreat, we can't stop them at all." Pei Qinghe said realistically, "Even if thousands of warhorses suddenly appeared, the Guangning Army and the Pei family army would be no match for the Xiongnu in cavalry. The best strategy is to rely on the strength of the city walls to wear down the Xiongnu barbarians' greatest advantage in cavalry."

Yang Hu's brows relaxed, and he nodded with a smile: "What General Pei said is exactly what I was thinking. The Xiongnu barbarians also have disadvantages. They do not have a stable source of military supplies. Furthermore, if they cannot be defeated in a long siege, they will find it difficult to sustain themselves and will retreat on their own soon."

"We must deplete the Xiongnu barbarians' forces as much as possible!" Pei Qinghe looked at Yang Hu: "Tomorrow I will lead the Pei family army to the city wall, and you will lead the Guangning army soldiers to rest."

Yang Hu didn't try to be brave and agreed.

Having said all the important things, Yang Hu had no reason to stay any longer. He got up to take his leave, but couldn't help glancing at Pei Zhi as he went.

Just then, Pei Zhi turned her head and looked over. Their eyes met once more.

Pei Qinghe seemed oblivious to Pei Zhi's flushed cheeks and Yang Hu's reluctant gaze, and said with a smile, "Pei Yan, see General Yang off." Pei Yan responded with a "yes," and after seeing Yang Hu off, she went to visit her fiancé, Yang Huai.

Yang Huai's injuries were much less severe, and after a few days of rest, he had shown significant improvement. Pei Yan personally changed Yang Huai's dressings; she was strong, and her movements were somewhat rough.

Yang Huai gasped occasionally: "Go easy on me, you're going to hurt me to death."

Pei Yan found him too noisy and shut him up.

……

In the dead of night, the Pei family army's kitchen would light a fire and cook.

Only when you are well-fed and watered can you have the strength to fight.

After this meal, who knows how many people will survive to eat dinner tonight? Pei Qinghe specifically instructed the kitchen to put in plenty of meat.

In a large pot of simmering porridge, cabbage and cured meat simmered. On the other side, a steamer was steaming hot, filled with meat-filled buns.

At dawn, the aroma of meat porridge and steamed buns filled the tents, making everyone's mouths water.

Pei Yan ate two bowls of porridge and five steamed buns in one meal.

While muttering about her cousin being a glutton, Pei Xuan secretly worked harder to eat more. Only by eating more could she grow tall and strong, and have more strength to wield a knife and kill.

Pei Feng has grown taller recently, even taller than Pei Xuan. He teased Pei Xuan, "No matter how much you eat, you won't grow taller, so don't waste food."

Pei Xuan was sweet and delicate, with a petite and charming figure. Touched on a sore spot, Pei Xuan retorted with a cold laugh: "You eat a lot, but you'll vomit it all up after you kill someone."

Pei Fengjun's face darkened again.

He's had this bad habit since he was a child. He'd vomit at the sight of blood. He'd tried to tough it out for years, but it never worked. Luckily, he was fine after vomiting and could continue fighting without a problem.

Pei Qinghe glanced over and said, "After you've eaten, line up and follow me to the city wall."

Pei Xuan and Pei Feng immediately shut up and exchanged a few sharp glances.

The Guangning soldiers, who had been up all night and were initially dejected, perked up immediately upon the arrival of the spirited Pei family army, standing tall and proud.

Among the Pei family army soldiers stationed on the city walls were many female soldiers, some of whom were exceptionally beautiful. After three years in the army, even a sow could rival Diao Chan in beauty. Not to mention, the Pei family army's female soldiers were spirited and captivating.

The Pei family army had three full meals a day, received their monthly pay on time, and received new uniforms every quarter. This was already enviable enough. What made the soldiers of the Guangning army even more envious was the large number of female soldiers in the Pei family army. Who knew, someone might take a liking to them and they'd have a wife.

So what if they want to be live-in sons-in-law? If Yang Huai could be one, they would be just as willing!

The veteran general of the Guangning army, disgusted by his men's disgrace, quickly led his troops down from the city wall.

Pei Qinghe quickly set up defenses, with skilled archers lying in ambush behind the battlements, strong men going to the catapults, and loud and clever men staying by his side as messengers.

As soon as the sun rose, the Xiongnu barbarians, who had repeatedly failed in their sieges, rode in on their warhorses with great momentum.

The ground trembled as thousands of warhorses trodden their horses.

The Xiongnu barbarians shouted in a high-pitched, murderous voice, exuding a powerful aura.

Pei Qinghe sneered, drew back his longbow, and fired the first arrow.

(End of this chapter)