Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 232 Ambush (Part 1)

More than half a month has passed since the fierce battle to defend the city.

Inside and outside the city gates, on and up the city walls, the deep marks of the war remain, the stench of blood lingering. The city gates remain closed, and the people are not allowed to leave the city.

The people of Guangning County had no objections to this strict regulation. The prefect also wholeheartedly supported it.

If it weren't for the Pei family army and the Guangning army fighting desperately to defend the city, and the Xiongnu barbarians breaching the walls, who knows what terrible fate awaited this city, and how many would have survived. At Pei Qinghe's command, the city gates have remained sealed ever since.

The city was defended by Pei's army.

After surrendering, Yang Hu adopted a humble attitude in everything he did. Before leading his troops out of the city, he relinquished the important position of defending the city.

The leader of the city's defenses was a spirited young man of sixteen or seventeen, none other than Zhai Sanlang, whom Pei Qinghe had rescued from Anle County years ago.

Suppressing his admiration, Zhai Sanlang cautiously stepped forward and asked, "Has the general's injury healed?"

Pei Qinghe smiled slightly: "It's all fine now."

Zhai Sanlang's anxiety, which had been building for over half a month, finally eased.

Shi Yan's status within the Pei family army was unparalleled, and his position by General Pei's side was unshakeable. Neither the Yang family, nor the Lu family, nor the Tang family could challenge Shi Yan's position as a son-in-law. Everyone in the Pei family army knew this fact.

Zhai Sanlang admired General Pei and respected Chief Steward Shi. He never dared to have any grand ambitions, and was content with just occasionally stealing a glance at the general.

Pei Qinghe inspected the city gate defenses and pointed out any oversights.

Zhai Sanlang immediately stood at attention and obeyed the order.

A swift horse galloped to the city walls. The man riding it waved a banner bearing the character "Pei".

Pei Qinghe had excellent eyesight and recognized the person at a glance: "He's one of Sun Cheng's men."

The city gates couldn't be opened easily, so Zhai Sanlang opened a side gate that allowed the two of them to pass through. The soldier who delivered the message had traveled hundreds of miles and was so exhausted that he almost fell off his horse. Zhai Sanlang helped him to see Pei Qinghe: "General, this is a letter from Chief Sun."

This shows that the war is going well. Otherwise, where would Sun Cheng have found the time and inclination to write such a lengthy letter?
A smile flashed in Pei Qinghe's eyes as she quickly opened the letter.

Sun Cheng and Yang Hu pursued them relentlessly and finally caught up with the Xiongnu barbarians. The Xiongnu barbarians' morale had collapsed; they were only thinking about taking money, food, and prisoners back to the border and had no will to fight. They fought and ran.

Yang Hu continued the pursuit, while Sun Cheng led his men to take another shortcut and set up an ambush on the road that the Xiongnu barbarians were bound to take.

Pursuers were closing in from behind, and an ambush lay ahead. The Xiongnu barbarians suffered a crushing defeat and fled on horseback. They abandoned most of their money and provisions, and left behind all their prisoners.

The Xiongnu barbarians were skilled horsemen, and once they abandoned their money, provisions, and prisoners, they fled at an incredible speed. Sun Cheng and Yang Hu's group couldn't catch up and, carrying the money, provisions, and prisoners, began their return journey.

The messenger soldier returned on horseback at top speed. The main force, following behind, had to consider the needs of the rescued civilians, so their journey was slow and would take at least seven or eight days.

"General, have we won the battle?" Zhai Sanlang asked expectantly.

Pei Qinghe nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "Sun Cheng and his men have done a great service. They chased down the Xiongnu barbarians, retrieved the money and grain, and rescued the people."

Zhai Sanlang and the others cheered enthusiastically.

Pei Qinghe took the letter to the Guangning Army camp and told Yang Huai the good news.

Yang Huai's injuries were quite severe, and he would need at least half a year to recover. Upon hearing this good news, Yang Huai beamed with joy, even forgetting the pain in his wounds: "That's wonderful! If my uncle knew this from beyond the grave, I don't know how happy he would be."

Two years ago, the Guangning Army suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Xiongnu barbarians, a painful memory for everyone in the army. This year, this month, this hour, they have finally avenged that humiliation.

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "The army is already on its way back. There's no need to get excited; just focus on recovering."

Pei Yan is Pei Qinghe's closest and most beloved cousin. Because of this affection, Pei Qinghe is also very gentle with Yang Huai, her future brother-in-law.

Yang Huai readily agreed and then asked about Pei Yan's injuries. "Her arrow wounds on her back and legs have improved considerably. However, Doctor Lu instructed that she still needs to lie down to recover."

Pei Yan used to visit him every day. Later, Pei Yan got injured, and he couldn't move, so they didn't see each other for more than half a month.

I miss her so much!

Seeing the eagerness in Yang Huai's eyes, Pei Qinghe softened, a rare occurrence for her: "If you have any words to say, I will pass them on to Pei Yan."

He couldn't bring himself to say anything too sentimental. Yang Huai said in a low voice, "Let her rest and recover as soon as possible."

Pei Qinghe smiled and nodded, then returned to her tent and relayed Yang Huai's instructions to Pei Yan.

Pei Yan lay there listlessly, pouting, and said, "Stop talking nonsense. If I'm not recuperating, am I supposed to run off and do something reckless?"

Pei Xuan and Pei Feng both grinned.

Pei Qinghe was also helpless against the carefree Pei Yan, so she smiled and took out Sun Cheng's letter, telling Pei Yan and the other two: "We have won a great victory in this pursuit and ambush battle."

Everyone was overjoyed.

"Unfortunately, most of the Xiongnu barbarians still fled." Pei Yan said with some regret.

Pei Qinghe's eyes flashed: "Pei Yun and Gu Lian are already leading their troops ahead, waiting for them. We'll at least take a big bite out of them."

……

"We've been waiting for seven days."

"Why haven't the Xiongnu barbarians arrived yet? Could they have changed their route?"

"The military rations we brought are only enough to last three days. If we continue to wait, the rations won't last until we get back."

The further north you go in Youzhou, the more desolate it becomes. The so-called official road is bumpy and uneven. The fields near the road have long been abandoned and uncultivated. Even villages are hard to find.

Pei Yun, with five hundred cavalrymen, had been lying in ambush in the mountains for seven days.

Pei Yun held on, but Gu Lian and the others couldn't contain themselves and kept whispering among themselves in front of Pei Yun. Gu Lian even volunteered to lead a group into the mountains to hunt some game.

Pei Yun raised an eyebrow: "Don't move. The Xiongnu barbarians aren't stupid. If we move, we'll leave a trace and be detected by their spies. If we change our route, we'll have waited all these days for nothing."

Five hundred elite soldiers are good enough for ambushes, but they are far from sufficient for a fair fight against the Xiongnu barbarians.

Pei Yun was calm and clear-headed, and made the most advantageous decision.

Gu Lian sighed softly, "In my life, I admire General Pei the most, and then I admire Miss Yun the most."

Pei Yun glanced at Gu Lian, who was flattering her, and said, "Tell your men to wait patiently."

Pei Yun had been in Beiping County for over half a year, and she had been ruthless in recruiting and training soldiers, pacifying the people, reprimanding officials, exploiting wealthy families, and punishing soldiers who violated military regulations. This iron-fisted approach quickly established her authority. Gu Lian was completely convinced of Pei Yun's authority and obediently agreed.

Another day has passed.

At noon that day, the muffled sound of horses' hooves could be faintly heard on the official road.

Pei Yun pressed her ear to the road for a moment, then smiled and said, "There are at least thirty horses. It must be the Xiongnu scouts who arrived first. Everyone, hide well and don't let your whereabouts be discovered. There will be a battle soon."

Upon hearing that war was imminent, everyone was not afraid at all, and their faces lit up with joy.

(End of this chapter)