Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 234 Captive
There were thirty-seven prisoners in total, three of whom were seriously wounded and died last night. Wound medicine is very precious in the army camp and cannot be wasted on these Xiongnu barbarians.

Pei Yun kept half of the prisoners, and sent the other half to Pei's army.

The Xiongnu barbarians chattered incessantly all day long. Pei Yun found two merchants from Beiping County who could speak the Xiongnu language, tortured them severely, and they drew a very rudimentary map of the grassland terrain.

How simple is this map? Nomadic tribes move around frequently in search of water and pasture, so the map only shows a few rivers and mountains.

Pei Yun made a copy of the map and sent it out.

At that moment, Pei Qinghe received the good news that Pei Yun and her group had won a great victory in their ambush.

"Pei Yun is indeed impressive." Pei Qinghe's eyebrows relaxed, and she praised with a smile, "This ambush was executed swiftly and beautifully."

Sun Cheng laughed and said, "Miss Yun also captured more than thirty prisoners and sent seventeen Xiongnu barbarians over."

Tao Feng chimed in, "I can speak the Xiongnu language. If the general hands over the prisoners to me, I can get everything they know in two days at most."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and instructed, "The prisoners must be kept alive; they will be useful in the future."

Tao Feng rubbed his fingers together with some regret.

Sun Cheng immediately understood: "General, you want to use them to train troops?"

Pei Qinghe nodded: "When facing the Xiongnu barbarians, we can only defend the city or lure them into an ambush. We need to practice mounted combat so that we can face them head-on in the future."

These two simple sentences reveal boundless passion.

Sun Cheng and Tao Feng exchanged glances, both seeing the intense passion in each other's eyes.

Pei Yun, Pei Yan, Pei Xuan, and Pei Feng are all of Pei blood and are Pei Qinghe's most loyal followers. Pei family wives such as Mao Hongling, Bian Shulan, and Zhou Shi closely surround Pei Qinghe. Gu Lian, who came from a bandit stronghold, and Feng Chang, a refugee, both have a fervent adoration for Pei Qinghe.

Sun Cheng and Tao Feng were different. One was a former member of the Imperial Guard, and the other was a former soldier of the Beiping Army. They loyally followed Pei Qinghe, firstly for survival, and secondly because they yearned to make a name for themselves as men.

Pei Qinghe disliked civil wars and preferred fighting the Xiongnu barbarians. This perfectly aligned with their ideals and pursuits.

"I am willing to follow the general forever!" Sun Cheng solemnly cupped his hands and bowed deeply.

Tao Feng also bowed and said, "I am also willing to follow the general and establish unparalleled achievements."

Pei Qinghe smiled and helped the two up: "It's too early to talk about unparalleled achievements. We still need to continue recruiting and training soldiers. When we are truly powerful, we won't need to fight everywhere, and people will come to submit to us."

Subduing the enemy without fighting is the highest level of skill.

Tao Feng went to interrogate the prisoners with great interest. Sure enough, two days later he brought back a topographical map: "Among these prisoners, there was a Xiongnu general. I broke his leg bone before he would talk and draw the topographical map."

Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and said, "I have a topographical map that Zhan Fei drew after he left the pass, which I can use for comparison."

After taking the map, Pei Qinghe said, "Your Xiongnu language is quite good. From today onwards, you will dedicate one hour every night to teaching everyone to speak Xiongnu."

Pei Jiajun's daytime drills and evening reading and writing had long become a habit. Tao Feng grinned: "I never thought I'd be a teacher one day."

"By the way, besides me, there are two others who also speak the Xiongnu language."

These two men, like Tao Feng, were soldiers from the Beiping Army. That day, Meng Liulang refused to stay in Peijia Village and insisted on leaving. The five soldiers who remained to marry into the Pei family all distinguished themselves and became battalion leaders.

This also shows that the Beiping army was indeed full of elite troops.

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "Alright, I'll give the order now. Starting tonight, all the leaders will begin learning." Once the leaders have learned, they can then slowly teach their subordinates.

That evening, all the leaders of the Pei family army gathered in Pei Qinghe's tent. Even Pei Yan insisted on being carried over, where she held her head high and began to speak the broken, incoherent Xiongnu language.

After learning only a few sentences, Pei Yan's eyelids started to droop, and she inadvertently began to snore.

Pei Qinghe was both amused and exasperated. She pinched Pei Yan's nose, and Pei Yan's breathing immediately quieted down. Everyone laughed for a moment and then continued to concentrate on their studies.

The following evening, Yang Hu shamelessly showed up.

“I also know some Xiongnu language,” Yang Hu said with a smile, “but I’m not very fluent. This is a good opportunity to practice.”

Since they were already there, Pei Qinghe didn't want to send them away, so she casually called over Pei Zhi.

There were many wounded soldiers in the Pei family army, and Pei Zhi was seriously injured, needing assistance to walk. Seeing her limping over, Yang Hu couldn't resist and reached out to help her.

Pei Zhi didn't roll her eyes or show any disgust or aversion. She slowly sat down next to Yang Hu.

Yang Hu felt a mix of bittersweet emotions, and he couldn't concentrate on what Tao Feng was teaching. His mind was entirely on Pei Zhi, and his eyes kept drifting over to her.

Pei Zhi thought to herself, "Why aren't you arrogant and aloof anymore? Humph!"

Pei Qinghe pretended not to see it. At the end of the one-hour class, he announced: "There will be an assessment every ten days. Those who learn the Xiongnu language quickly will be rewarded with three meals of meat, and those who learn it slowly will be fined half a month's military pay."

Pei Zhi gasped in shock, and the following evening, she refused to sit with Yang Hu again.

Men will only hinder her progress!
Knowing that Pei Yan came every day, Yang Huai couldn't resist any longer and had his personal guards carry him over as well. Standing side by side with Pei Yan, they looked like a pair of lovers in distress.

Soon, several military officers from the Guangning army also arrived. They even volunteered to take the assessment together.

The military officers in the camp were used to fighting and killing, and their way of expressing loyalty was also very direct, without so many roundabout ways.

Pei Qinghe smiled and agreed.

Ten days later, in the first assessment, Tao Feng set the questions, and Pei Qinghe came in first, while Yang Hu came in second. Actually, Yang Hu had a solid foundation and learned quickly. However, since he had bowed his head in submission, he had to be careful in everything he did and not steal General Pei's thunder.

Pei Qinghe knew what was going on, but didn't say it aloud.

Pei Zhi, who came in sixth place but didn't receive a reward, felt a little resentful and muttered, "I'm not even as good as Yang Hu!"

Pei Qinghe glanced over with a smile: "Don't be rude, you should call him General Yang!"

Pei Zhi immediately corrected herself: "I misspoke, please forgive me, General Yang."

Pei Zhi was spoiled and difficult. But Yang Hu was completely smitten with her, grinning and saying, "Just call me by my name in private."

In the second assessment, Pei Qinghe remained firmly in first place.

Pei Zhi was overjoyed to have moved up one place and gloated in front of Pei Yan, who was in last place. Pei Yan was depressed and that very evening snatched most of the meat from Pei Zhi's bowl. Pei Zhi was furious and yelled, but didn't move, remaining seated next to Pei Yan.

Then, Emperor Jian'an's rewards arrived.

Yang Hu of the Guangning Army was promoted two ranks for his meritorious service in repelling the Xiongnu barbarians!
Pei family army reinforcements defended the city, ambushed and won a great victory, and Pei Qinghe was promoted to the rank of third-grade military general!
(End of this chapter)