Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 265 Enemy Attack
Pei Qinghe took in Lü Feng's changing expression, smiled coldly to himself, and continued without showing any emotion: "The Xiongnu barbarians have occupied Changli County as their military camp, so we also need to find a place to stay."

He pointed to the topographic map and said, "This is Tuhe County, which is more than 80 li away from Liaoxi Prefecture and more than 100 li away from Changli County. We will settle here."

Looking at the map, Changli County, Tuhe County, and Liaoxi Commandery form a diagonal triangle. From a strategic perspective, it is very suitable to settle the army in Tuhe County.

To guard against a surprise attack by the Xiongnu barbarians, the army had to take a detour, which would add two or three days to their journey.

With an army of over 20,000 marching together, it was impossible to do so silently. They had to reach Tuhe County before alerting the Xiongnu barbarian army.

Yang Hu volunteered to lead the vanguard: "I will lead the troops to Tuhe first and persuade them to open the city gates to welcome the army."

Yang Hu is tactful, adaptable, and quick-witted.

Pei Qinghe nodded: "Alright, General Yang, you go ahead first, and I will lead the army to cover the rear. If the Xiongnu barbarians send troops to surround and pursue us, I will lead the troops to defend against them. You don't need to worry about these things; you must take Tuhe County as quickly as possible."

The army needed to find a place to settle down as soon as possible; a temporary camp could only provide shelter and could not withstand a cavalry raid.

It would be best to persuade Tuhe County to open the city gates. If persuasion fails, then force will have to be used to forcibly break down the city gates.

War is inherently cruel and allows no room for leniency.

Yang Hu and Yang Huai clearly understood Pei Qinghe's implication. They exchanged a glance and solemnly accepted the order.

Half an hour later, Yang Hu and Yang Huai led the Guangning Army to set off first.

The rest packed up their tents and belongings, setting off half a day later. The army of over 20,000, including cavalry and infantry, along with long supply wagons and convoys carrying provisions, resembled a giant serpent, impossible to conceal from everyone.

The next day, a group of Xiongnu cavalrymen who had been roaming and killing outside rushed over.

This group of Xiongnu cavalry was small, only a few hundred men. Suddenly, they charged out from the rear, hundreds of Xiongnu barbarians raising their scimitars and shouting incoherently. The sound of hooves and shouts accompanied by billowing dust, followed by screams and cries of terror.

The section where the Xiongnu barbarians attacked happened to be the Fanyang army led by Lü Feng.

The Xiongnu barbarians were not stupid at all. They followed the army for half a day, choosing precisely the weakest point. The cavalry at the front were full of spirit, the infantry behind them were spirited, and the grain wagons at the rear were wide and sturdy. Looking around, it was this section of infantry that had the most lax discipline and the worst morale.

In this wave of impact, at least dozens of soldiers from the Fanyang army were knocked down and trampled. The Xiongnu barbarians had roamed Youzhou for over a century, invincible in their path. The soldiers were filled with fear and terror; some even threw down their weapons and fled.

Lu Feng was both shocked and furious. He shouted for his soldiers to form a defensive formation. Seeing that some were still running away, Lu Feng, in a fit of rage, swung his sword and cut down two of them, finally stopping the soldiers' rout.

The convoy behind them stopped cautiously, even the coachmen had knives in their hands. Zhao Hai, having also gained experience, remained calm and composed in the face of the Xiongnu barbarians' surprise attack, and forbade the coachmen from rushing to fight the enemy: "Everyone, do not move, protect the grain carts."

The army at the front reacted swiftly, and the benefits of their rigorous daily training became apparent. Ten men quickly assembled into a formation, and ten formations formed a battalion, each group moving towards its own commander.

In battle, even the most capable general cannot command everyone. It all depends on the leaders of each battalion.

Without hesitation, Feng Chang led his troops to support the Fanyang army.

Gu Lian was faster than Feng Chang, and led the cavalry to charge forward.

The Xiongnu barbarians were skilled horsemen, especially adept at mounted combat. Seeing the large number of reinforcements, they showed no fear and charged forward with ferocious grins.

Cavalry charges are among the most brutal scenes on the battlefield. After the piercing neighs and screams, figures on horseback either fall to the ground or their horses are cut down, leaving behind a scene of bloodshed.

Dust billowed, obscuring the details of the battle. However, the screams of agony indicated that the Pei family's cavalry was at a disadvantage.

Pei Zhi, Pei Xuan, and Pei Feng couldn't contain themselves and were about to rush over. Pei Qinghe's face was ashen: "Pass on my order, continue the march."

Everyone was startled and abruptly looked up and drove over.

Pei Qinghe had no time to explain, nor did she intend to. She blew her bamboo whistle, ordering everyone to continue marching. Pei Zhi, Pei Xuan, and the others had no choice but to continue on their way.

Pei Yan felt uneasy and asked in a low voice, "What if they can't stop the Xiongnu barbarians?"

Pei Zhi and the others all pricked up their ears.

Pei Qinghe coldly said, "There are only a few hundred Xiongnu cavalry. If we can't even stop them, there's no point in fighting anymore."

Pei Qinghe's voice was icy, unusually tinged with anger.

Pei Yan shrank back, not daring to say another word.

Pei Qinghe remained steadfast, ignoring the battle behind him and continuing the march. After traveling thirty li (approximately 15 kilometers), as darkness fell, he finally ordered the army to set up camp.

The grain transport wagons were all at the rear, but fortunately everyone had brought their own military rations, so they ate some to fill their stomachs.

Pei Yun sat down next to Pei Qinghe, a hint of worry in her eyes, and whispered, "Should we send someone to check on the battle situation?"

“No need,” Pei Qinghe said in a low voice. “The Fanyang army has three thousand men, and Feng Chang and Gu Lian have each led several hundred men to provide support. Even if they only have a few thousand men, they can wear down several hundred Xiongnu soldiers.”

"We must maintain a rapid march and reach Tuhe as soon as possible. If we are delayed along the way, more than just these few hundred men will catch up."

We need to reach Tuhe County before the Xiongnu army catches up.

Pei Yun knew the gravity of the situation, nodded, and said no more.

After midnight, a noisy commotion arose.

Pei Qinghe, who was sleeping fully clothed, suddenly opened her eyes and got up. Pei Yan rubbed her eyes hard, jumped up, and caught up with Pei Qinghe.

Gu Lian, Feng Chang, and Lü Feng appeared before them.

Lu Feng was covered in blood, his face filled with shame.

Gu Lianfeng was also covered in bloodstains, it was unclear whether it was his own or the enemy's blood.

Pei Qinghe glanced at them for a few moments: "Are either of you injured?"

"I have a minor injury to my left leg, and Feng Chang was stabbed in the back, but he has already been treated with medicine," Gu Lian replied. "General Lü also suffered some injuries, but they are all fine."

“We suffered heavy casualties, and the Xiongnu barbarians didn’t fare much better either, as we surrounded and killed most of them.” Feng Chang continued, “It’s a pity we couldn’t kill them all; more than a hundred of them escaped.”

"General, we must march quickly, lest the Xiongnu army catch up upon us."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and looked at Lü Feng: "Infantry is naturally at a disadvantage against cavalry. Even if we exchange two or three for one, we can still consider it a victory."

Lu Feng felt increasingly ashamed and lowered his head, not daring to meet Pei Qinghe's gaze: "The Fanyang army was terrified by the Xiongnu barbarians. It was too chaotic at the time, and many people even fled. Fortunately, Chief Gu and Chief Feng came to our aid in time."

(End of this chapter)