Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 258 Entering the Pass (Part 1)

Before Pei Qinghe could speak, General Song's expression changed: "The Xiongnu barbarians just came last year, and it's only been half a year, why are they here again!"

Once the Xiongnu barbarians entered the pass, the garrisons in Youzhou would bear the brunt of the attack, forming the main force against them. If Youzhou could not hold them off, the Xiongnu barbarians would plunder and pillage on horseback.

Pingyang County is actually quite far from the border, and the Xiongnu barbarians would return to the grasslands after they had their fill of looting and killing, so they wouldn't come here. But for the armies of the northern lands, the Xiongnu barbarians were too ferocious and terrifying, and the mere mention of them made their hearts tremble.

Pei Qinghe's gaze was icy: "Last year, the Xiongnu barbarians split into two groups. One group carried out rampages of killing and looting in Liaoxi County. The other group was utterly defeated by the Pei family's army in Guangning and fled back in disarray. Wuyan died by my blade. The Xiongnu barbarians have never suffered such a great loss before, and they are coming for revenge against the Pei family's army."

This time, Pei Qinghe was wrong.

Zhai Sanlang, who had come to deliver the message, was brought over: "General, the Xiongnu barbarians have sent 30,000 cavalry into the pass, and they have all gone to Liaoxi Commandery. Beiping Commandery, Guangning Commandery, and Yan Commandery are all safe for the time being."

General Song breathed a slight sigh of relief: "These Xiongnu barbarians are bullies who prey on the weak. They know that the Pei family army is tough, so they don't dare to provoke them and instead pick on the weak."

In General Song's view, as long as they didn't invade his territory, it wasn't a big deal. The unfortunate ones were Liaoxi Commandery; let that "King of Liaoxi" go fight the Xiongnu barbarians!

Pei Qinghe replied, "I will lead my troops back immediately."

General Song was taken aback: "You're not going to lead troops to support the Liaoxi Army, are you? That so-called 'King of Liaoxi' stole the Pei family's warhorses, killed your men, and repeatedly sent people to humiliate you by asking for your hand in marriage. Why bother with his life or death?"

Pei Qinghe said calmly, "I don't care about the life or death of the Liaoxi army. I need to prepare for the Xiongnu barbarians to completely flatten Liaoxi and then rush into my territory."

"The situation is urgent. I hereby issue the order to depart today."

The Pei family army was accustomed to rapid marches, and in just half a day, they packed up all their belongings. They only prepared a portion of the military rations, deciding to get on the road first.

General Song also made an unexpected decision. He ordered his eldest son to lead a thousand soldiers to accompany Pei Qinghe.

“Since the Pingyang Army has allied with the Pei family army, and the Pei family army is at war, the Pingyang Army cannot stand idly by. I will send my eldest son to lead a thousand elite soldiers to accompany General Pei on his expedition.”

It's not that General Song is stingy. The Pingyang army only has a thousand warhorses, and for a long-distance, rapid march, they can only send out a thousand men.

Pei Qinghe accepted General Song's favor and bowed in thanks, saying, "Thank you for your support, General Song."

General Song said solemnly, "Actually, I also have my own selfish motives. I ask General Pei to train and guide these thousand cavalrymen, and lead them to fight against the Xiongnu barbarians, so that they can become truly elite troops."

In chaotic times, only strong military force can truly protect oneself.

Having witnessed the power of Pei's army, General Song also developed great ambitions.

Pei Qinghe nodded, and that afternoon, he led 1,500 men out of the Pingyang military camp on horseback.

Song Dalang was a skilled rider, his warhorse a magnificent steed with snow-white hooves, following closely behind. Pei Qinghe observed this and secretly nodded in approval.

However, not all of Pingyang's thousand cavalrymen could keep up with the pace of the rapid march. After three consecutive days of rapid travel, some began to grumble and complain.

Pei Qinghe said to Song Dalang, "Let those grumbling fellows go back."

Song Dalang felt ashamed. He dragged the soldiers out, gave them a beating in public, confiscated their horses, and made them walk back to the camp on their own.

If they suffered minor injuries and limped back, they would likely die if they encountered bandits or wild beasts on the way.

Song Dalang hardened his heart and sent the weeping, remorseful soldiers back. After that, no matter how arduous the journey, no one dared to utter a sound. The Pei family army was truly admirable. Traveling day and night, there was never a word of complaint.

When it was time to rest, the soldiers of Pingyang were exhausted and staggering, but the Pei family's army still set up camp, started fires, and cooked, without making any trouble.

Pei Qinghe summoned his key leaders to discuss tactics for dealing with the Xiongnu barbarians. Song Dalang also attended, listening to Pei Yan, Pei Feng, and others speak confidently and without fear.

Pei Qinghe would also ask Song Dalang for advice. Song Dalang was a little embarrassed: "I've never fought against the Xiongnu barbarians before, so I don't know how to fight them. You tell me, I'm listening."

When I went to bed, it was already past midnight.

Pei Feng was in charge of night patrols, leading a battalion of men on patrols from time to time. Song Dalang quietly got up and came over, whispering to Pei Feng, "I heard that the Xiongnu barbarians are extremely ferocious. We can only barely fight them if we rely on the city walls."

Facing his future brother-in-law, Pei Feng showed no modesty whatsoever, raising an eyebrow and saying, "That was indeed the case before. Now, with our Pei family army, we are not afraid even in open field battles. The general said that the Xiongnu barbarians are also human beings; if they are cut, they will bleed and die just like everyone else. There is nothing to be afraid of."

Song Dalang felt even more ashamed after being told this.

For over a century, the Xiongnu barbarians roamed the grasslands, raiding the borders, burning, killing, and plundering the people as if it were their right to eat and drink. Not only the northern armies, but even the southern armies trembled at the mere mention of the Xiongnu barbarians.

The Pei family army had defeated the Xiongnu barbarians in a direct confrontation, so they naturally had the confidence and resources to be arrogant and domineering.

Pei Feng glanced at Song Dalang and said in a low voice, "Brother, don't be ashamed. Battle skills are honed on the battlefield. This time you're coming with us, and you'll definitely have the opportunity to fight against the Xiongnu barbarians. After a few battles, you'll naturally develop courage."

Song Dalang took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.

……

Pei's army pressed on with all their might, but in Youzhou, the people were in chaos.

It was common for the Xiongnu barbarians to send out troops. Several thousand cavalrymen would come and plunder for a while, then return to the grasslands with a large amount of gold, silver, grain, and able-bodied people.

But this time, the Xiongnu barbarians actually mobilized 30,000 cavalry!

This is no longer a simple matter of looting and pillaging; it's about destroying Youzhou!

Emperor Jian'an of Bohai County could no longer sit still and urgently summoned General Zhang and the Meng brothers to the palace to discuss countermeasures.

"Your Majesty, Youzhou borders Jizhou. If Youzhou falls, Jizhou will be next to suffer." Meng Dalang's expression was grave. "We must send troops to support them!"

General Zhang sneered: "General Li of the Liaoxi Army has declared himself King of Liaoxi and is a traitor to the imperial court. Why should the imperial court send troops to support such a traitor?"

Meng Liulang was furious and retorted, "We are not supporting the King of Liaoxi, but protecting Youzhou and driving away the Xiongnu barbarians."

General Zhang said coldly, "Our military strength is sufficient to protect ourselves. However, we are not capable of sending troops to deal with the Xiongnu barbarians."

"What would happen if the rebel army in the capital came again while our forces were weakened? Have you thought about that?"

"I disagree with sending troops!"

(End of this chapter)