Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 266 The River of Despair (Part 1)

When the enemy arrived, their first reaction was to flee. This illustrates the lax discipline of the Fanyang army.

Pei Qinghe had no intention of comforting Lü Feng, and said truthfully, "The discipline of the Fanyang army is indeed too poor. They are afraid of death and will only be defeated faster."

Lü Feng couldn't even lift his head.

Pei Qinghe said calmly, "Elite troops aren't something you can just talk about. They need to be trained hard every day and constantly tempered on the battlefield. This battle has only just begun, so don't be discouraged. Once the battle is over, you'll be able to lead an elite force back."

Lu Feng took a deep breath, looked up and replied, "Please give me your guidance, General Pei."

Pei Qinghe said, "We've been fighting for half a day. Let's treat the wounded first, and you should rest too. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask you questions later."

After Lü Feng left, Gu Lian and Feng Chang both curled their lips in disapproval.

"Of the several garrisons in Youzhou, the Fanyang army has the weakest fighting strength." With the person in question not present, Gu Lian spoke directly and harshly: "I've truly seen something new today. They run away at the first sign of an enemy attack, showing no courage or bravery whatsoever. What kind of soldiers are they! They're not even as good as the farmers in our Pei Family Village!"

Feng Changgeng said sarcastically, "It's not entirely useless. At least it can wear down the Xiongnu barbarians' strength and killing intent. By the time the battle is over, there won't be many soldiers left in the Fanyang army."

Pei Qinghe glanced over and said, "Say less. We used to be enemies, but now we're fighting side by side. We should at least be more tolerant of each other."

Gu Lianfeng then stopped talking.

Pei Qinghe added, "The Fanyang army took the initiative to send troops here, which can be considered as bowing down to the Pei family army. Regardless of how this battle goes, the relationship between our Pei family army and the Fanyang army should be improved in the future. You two should take good care of the Fanyang army."

Gu Lian and Feng Chang bowed in agreement.

Lü Feng hurried to the wounded soldiers' tent. The army doctors were awakened and applied medicine to treat the groaning wounded. Looking at the soldiers covered in wounds, Lü Feng felt both heartache and anger at their lack of resolve. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Stop yelling. If it weren't for the Pei family army's help, a few hundred Xiongnu barbarians would have slaughtered our three thousand men. You've completely disgraced the Fanyang army."

"Shut up, all of you. If it really hurts, bite on a piece of cloth. Don't disturb the army's peace. We still have to travel early tomorrow morning."

The wounded soldiers were horrified: "How can we travel in this state?"

Lü Feng coldly said, "If you don't leave, then stay here. When the Xiongnu barbarians come again, you can just wait to die!"

The wounded soldiers fell silent and went out of their way.

Zhao Hai arrived early the next morning.

Zhao Hai was not tall, had an average appearance, and was very kind: "The general asked me to free up five grain transport vehicles so that the wounded brothers could ride in them."

Lü Feng was overjoyed and quickly bowed to express his gratitude.

The grain wagons were spacious and sturdy, each capable of carrying a dozen or so wounded soldiers. The seriously wounded were carried onto the wagons, while the lightly wounded took turns sitting on them, maintaining a remarkably fast marching speed.

For the next two days, they marched at breakneck speed. News kept coming from the rear that several thousand Xiongnu barbarians were pursuing them on horseback.

Fortunately, Tuhe County was right in front of us. As long as we entered the city before the Xiongnu barbarians caught up, we could use the city walls to keep the enemy out.

When the city gate of Tuhe County came into view, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The city gates have been opened.

Yang Hu and Yang Huai led a group of military officers to greet him outside the city gate. A middle-aged man with a worried expression and half-gray hair bowed and said, "Greetings, General Pei."

This man is the magistrate of Shan County in Tuhe. The magistrate of Shan County is forty-five years old this year. He is a scholar who passed the imperial examination. He has no powerful connections in the imperial court. He has served as the magistrate of the remote and poor Tuhe County for more than ten years. He has neither been promoted nor moved to another post.

Liaoxi Commandery was repeatedly harassed by the Xiongnu barbarians. In the past ten years or so, Tuhe County's city gates were breached three times, meaning it was massacred three times. The magistrate of Shan County was lucky; each time the city fell, he would hide in a secret room and wait for the Xiongnu barbarians to leave before emerging to collect the corpses, clean up the county, and gather the poor people. The city gates were dilapidated and had to be repaired again and again.

This time, Pei's army, together with the Guangning army, the Fanyang army, and the Pingyang army from afar, came to Tuhe County.

In the eyes of the county magistrate, this was no different from the Xiongnu barbarians attacking and capturing the city; countless innocent people would suffer. Even he, the county magistrate, was uncertain whether he would survive.

Pei Qinghe glanced at the trembling magistrate of Shan County: "The army needs a place to settle down. We will requisition Tuhe County for a while, which will not disturb the people, nor will we seize grain or conscript soldiers. Magistrate Shan need not worry."

With the infamous Liaoxi Army present, the magistrate of Shan County simply did not believe the nonsense that the army had entered the city unscathed, and he nodded and agreed.

Pei Qinghe didn't say much and rode his horse into Tuhe County.

The Guangning army arrived first, and the people of Tuhe County were so frightened that they hid in their homes, locking their doors and leaving the streets deserted, without even the sound of dogs barking.

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves shook the road.

The people hiding in their homes, with tears in their eyes, choked back sobs as they hugged their children tightly.

The atrocities of breaking down doors to rob food and people did not occur.

The people remained trembling with fear and dared not open their doors. In the past, the Liaoxi army often came, and when they couldn't collect grain, they would rush in and plunder it. What good could this Pei family army be? They've only just entered the city and are putting on a show; they won't be able to keep up the act for long before their true colors are revealed.

……

"Tuhe County is a medium-sized county, not very large. There are only 20,000 people in the county seat." Yang Hu reported in a low voice, "I came ahead and looked around the county seat, but I couldn't find a large open space. I can only requisition the county government office."

The county government office at least had a training ground where dozens of military tents could be set up. There were also dozens of dilapidated empty houses that could at least provide shelter from the wind and rain. For soldiers who were used to sleeping in the open, these were considered decent lodgings.

Pei Qinghe nodded: "With more than 20,000 troops entering the city at the same time, it will definitely be crowded. Pass on my military order to have everyone find an open space to set up military tents, with the county government office as the center."

"Ten men per tent, ten squads per battalion, all in one place."

"Do not disturb the people, and do not seek to borrow grain from wealthy families in the county town. We are here to fight the Xiongnu barbarians, not to plunder the people."

Everyone bowed and agreed.

Pei Qinghe specifically called out Song Dalang and Lü Feng: "The Pei family army has strict discipline, and the Guangning army has been under strict control for the past six months. You two are responsible for managing the Pingyang and Fanyang armies. If anyone disobeys military orders or disturbs the people, they will be dealt with according to military regulations."

Song Dalang composed himself and replied, "Yes."

Lü Feng's face burned with embarrassment once again. Pei Qinghe's bringing the Pingyang army was a gesture of respect towards the Fanyang army. In truth, it was the Fanyang army that truly needed a warning.

Those bastards, anyone who dares to disobey military orders, he'll skin them alive first.

With a fierce determination, Lü Feng accepted the order and withdrew, immediately leading the able-bodied soldiers to set up tents. He then issued a stern warning to all the captains and leaders.

Just be afraid of something.

That night, a soldier sneaked into a private house, intending to rape the wife and daughter.

(End of this chapter)