Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 271 Beijing View
Building a mound of skulls was a common way to intimidate enemies and demonstrate military strength.

In the past, it was common for the Xiongnu barbarians to invade and massacre villages, building mounds of skulls as a form of destruction. Who could have imagined that one day they would also build a mound of skulls from the heads of the Xiongnu barbarians!
Lü Feng's eyes lit up, he grinned, and loudly agreed. After reaching the city gate, Lü Feng couldn't wait to tell Yang Hu this big news.

Yang Hu, quick-witted as ever, immediately said, "The Pei family army, the Guangning army, and the Pingyang army all suffered casualties yesterday, and they also need to patrol the city and reinforce the city gates, so we really can't spare any manpower. We'll have to trouble the Fanyang army with the task of building the Jingguan."

Lu Feng rubbed his hands together, both excited and somewhat guilty: "In yesterday's battle, our Fanyang army didn't contribute any troops or effort. How could we possibly take advantage of this and show off like this?"

Pei Qinghe said, "This is a tough battle, and we don't know how long it will take. There will be plenty of opportunities for the Fanyang Army to contribute in the future. General Lü, please take on this task."

The Fanyang army was lax in discipline, and its soldiers were lazy and timid. They needed proper training and discipline before they could be properly deployed to the battlefield.

Lü Feng clearly hadn't grasped the deeper meaning; he was quite pleased to have received this prestigious assignment. After accepting the order, he went to count several hundred men.

When the soldiers heard that they were building a mound of skulls, they were all overjoyed and became very energetic.

They've never won a war against the Xiongnu barbarians. In the past, they were the ones offering up their heads, but now they're the ones taking the heads of the Xiongnu barbarians!

The soldiers, full of vigor and high spirits, picked up their long swords and followed Lü Feng out of the city.

The corpses of the Xiongnu barbarians, each with a different manner of death, were dragged back. No matter how fierce and savage a person is, once dead, they are nothing more than a pile of rotting flesh. The soldiers brandished their swords, swiftly severing the heads, and carried the bloody, stinking skulls to one place, stacking them layer by layer.

To ensure the imposing grandeur of the Jingguan (a mound of skulls), Lü Feng specially sought out two earthenware jars of glutinous rice paste. Once the glutinous rice paste solidified, each skull could be firmly attached to one place.

Standing on the city gate, Pei Qinghe could clearly see the soldiers of Fanyang working hard.

"At least it's still somewhat useful," Pei Yan muttered.

Pei Qinghe glanced at Pei Yan: "Don't talk nonsense. In front of Lü Feng, you must not show any contempt or disdain."

Regardless, the Fanyang army did send three thousand soldiers. No one is born a coward or a weakling, nor is anyone born fearless and willing to fight. With proper training, they can still be of use.

Pei Yun understood immediately and chuckled softly, "A cowardly soldier is a coward, but a cowardly general makes a whole army cowardly. They used to be General Lü's soldiers, and they would try to run away when they couldn't win. Now that they are all under the general's command, it's time for their spines to straighten up."

Pei Qinghe smiled as well: "My parents gave me life, but Pei Yun truly understands me."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Pei Yan was incredibly jealous. She could easily push her way past anyone else. The only person she couldn't afford to mess with was Pei Yun. Despite Pei Yun's fair and pretty appearance, she was actually ruthless and cunning. Pei Yan had always been wary of her.

Pei Qinghe teased with a smile, "Why are you so quiet? Aren't you usually the most domineering and unreasonable person?"

Pei Yun looked over with a smile, and casually clenched her fist.

Pei Yan coughed lightly: "I have always respected my cousin Yun."

Pei Qinghe and Pei Yun smiled again.

After half a day of work, the mound of corpses was finally erected. The bodies had all been stripped of their armor and clothing, and a considerable amount of gold, silver, and valuables were found inside.

Strangely enough, the soldiers, who were usually greedy and avaricious, all obediently put the gold and silver they had looted into bamboo baskets.

Lu Feng couldn't help but click his tongue twice: "You've all been behaving yourself today."

"Young general, don't embarrass us." A bold soldier sighed, "We're men too, how can we be so shameless?"

The other soldiers chimed in, saying, "We didn't contribute anything in this battle, but we still got a lucrative job. Building a mound of skulls for the Xiongnu barbarians is something we can brag about for the rest of our lives." "We were thrown into disarray by the Xiongnu cavalry charge earlier. If it weren't for the Pei family army's help, we would have scattered and fled."

"General Pei is watching from the city gate. If we steal the gold and silver, how will we have the face to return to the city?"

The soldiers' words contained shame and self-reproach, disdain for their past selves, and above all, reverence for General Pei.

Lu Feng showed no dissatisfaction or displeasure, and said solemnly, "Let it go this time. In the future, when there is another battle, we must take the initiative to volunteer. Let General Pei, General Yang, and General Song see that our Fanyang army also has heroes, and is not a coward!"

The soldiers were thrilled and readily agreed.

"Look, General Pei is coming down from the city gate."

The soldiers immediately stopped talking and continued their work to finish up. They were striving to present their best selves to their god of war.

Pei Qinghe stepped over, glanced around, and praised, "This mound of Jingguan is well done today."

Lu Feng instinctively straightened his chest and replied loudly, "This is what we should do; we dare not accept the general's praise."

Pei Qinghe glanced at the bamboo baskets piled high and said with a smile, "These are all valuables seized from the corpses of the Xiongnu barbarians. Have them sent to Chief Steward Shi to be counted and stored. They will be used as military rations in the future, and the Fanyang army will also receive a share."

Lu Feng's eyes suddenly lit up with eagerness, and he grinned in agreement. He then turned and called over several strong and burly soldiers, who carried the bamboo baskets into the city.

"General, what should we do with these corpses?"

The decapitated corpses were piled up in one place, like a small mountain.

Pei Qinghe's gaze was icy: "Set it on fire."

The general's order must have a profound meaning.

Lu Feng respectfully accepted the order, went to fetch several buckets of cooking oil, poured it on the surface, and at the same time lit more than a dozen torches and threw them over.

When the flames touched the vegetable oil, they immediately flared up, and in an instant, the fire raged fiercely.

The smell of burning corpses was strong and pungent, mixed with the stench of burning flesh, making one want to vomit.

Pei Feng couldn't hold it in any longer and turned away to vomit.

This time, Pei Xuan didn't mock her. Because she was about to throw up too. She'd fought countless battles, big and small, in her life, but this was the first time she'd seen anything like it.

This was a true act of utter annihilation, ensuring that even in death, the Xiongnu barbarians would not find peace. For the Xiongnu barbarians, who revered sky burial, it was both a display of power and a provocation.

"The news will soon reach the ears of the Xiongnu barbarians," Pei Yun whispered a reminder. "Changli County is only a little over a hundred li away. At a fast horse, we can reach the city in a day or two. We must prepare for battle."

Pei Qinghe sneered: "What I want is for them to come to me on their own initiative."

Pei Yan couldn't help but interject, "The Xiongnu barbarians are besieging Liaoxi Commandery. If this happens, their main force will probably be heading straight for us. Isn't that letting that scoundrel Li off too easily?"

Yang Hu and Song Dalang, whose arm was in a sling, both looked over, and Lü Feng also pricked up his ears.

The blazing red light illuminated Pei Qinghe's heroic face: "We are here to save the people of Liaoxi County. That scoundrel Li cannot protect the people, so from now on, I, Pei Qinghe, will protect them."

(End of this chapter)