Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 275 Cry for Help (Part 1)

"Several Xiongnu barbarians who fled back have already entered Changli County. In the past two days, the Xiongnu barbarians have launched a fierce attack on Liaoxi Commandery, intending to break through the city in the shortest possible time."

"This Pu Nu is calm and collected, and his attacks are ruthless and precise. He is very difficult to deal with."

In just a few days, the city gate of Tuhe County was raised higher, and the city walls were continuously reinforced and heightened. More and more people volunteered to help, their faces beaming with hope for the future. This hope, like a spark igniting a prairie fire, brought unprecedented vitality and energy to the entire Tuhe County.

Pei Qinghe personally patrolled the city every day, always presenting a resolute and composed demeanor. Only a few of her closest confidants knew of her hidden worries and anxieties.

Pei Qinghe stood on the city gate, gazing into the distance towards Liaoxi County. A bloody battlefield seemed to appear before his eyes, and he unconsciously frowned, muttering to himself, "I hope the Liaoxi army can hold off the Xiongnu barbarians' attack."

Pei Yun looked at Pei Qinghe: "Aren't you planning to send troops now?"

"Wait a little longer," Pei Qinghe said in a deep voice. "Wait until the Liaoxi Army can't hold on any longer and comes to ask for help. Wait until the people of Liaoxi County are completely disillusioned with the Liaoxi Army and are full of hope for our arrival. That will be the best time for us to send troops."

Just as the Li family had planned, she wanted both popular support and territory. The day she led her troops to defeat or drive away the Xiongnu barbarians would be the day Liaoxi Commandery was completely under the command of the Pei family army.

It's not time yet, let's keep waiting.

Pei Yun said softly, "You are best at seizing opportunities. We all trust you and are willing to go through fire and water with you. Just go for it."

Pei Qinghe's heart trembled slightly. After a long silence, she whispered, "But I'm a little scared. I'm afraid I'll be stubborn and arrogant. I'm afraid I'll lead you into a pit of fire and knives."

In her past life, the Pei family army at its peak numbered only around ten thousand men. She was already extremely fortunate to have a place to live in Yan County. She didn't have the ability or the ambition to do more or go further.

In this second life, she commands a vast army of fierce generals and elite troops, plus the surrendered Guangning army, totaling 20,000 men. Recruiting the Fanyang army is only a matter of time. If she can win this battle and capture Liaoxi Commandery, she will be the true ruler of Youzhou.

She longed for that day, yet worried whether she had gone down the wrong path, causing those who trusted and followed her to die in vain.

Pei Yun held Pei Qinghe's hand and sighed softly, "Qinghe, I know that too many people died in the previous battle. You may not say it, but you are very sad."

“You’re being too hard on yourself. These men are elite Xiongnu soldiers, each one a master of horsemanship and archery. In one-on-one combat, we were no match for them. It was you who spent years training the cavalry, it was you who fearlessly charged ahead, and it was you who led us to victory.”

"Even if it's just a one-for-one trade, we'd still be winning if we traded two or three lives for one of those Xiongnu barbarians."

"The warriors who died in battle will not blame you. No one is immune to death on the battlefield. If you choose this path, you must be prepared to close your eyes at any time."

"Even if it were just the two of us, we might one day die on the battlefield. I would never regret it. I would only regret not killing more of those Xiongnu barbarians."

A glint of tears welled up in Pei Qinghe's eyes as she gripped Pei Yun's hand tightly in return.

"You haven't slept well for several nights in a row," Pei Yun whispered with pity. "Go and get some rest. I'll stay here and keep watch. I'll call you if there's any urgent news."

Pei Qinghe nodded.

As she stepped down from the city gate, a familiar figure was waiting for her. His handsome face, slightly weary, held a faint smile, while a hint of worry lingered in his dark eyes.

She managed to hide her unusual behavior from the careless Pei Yan for a while. Pei Yun noticed, so how could the sharp-witted and astute Shi Yan not see it?
Shi Yan didn't ask any questions, silently accompanying him until they reached the military tent, whereupon he whispered, "Sleep well, I'll stay here and watch over you."

Pei Qinghe felt a lump in her throat again, and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "I didn't expect I'd need you all to take turns comforting me." Shi Yan never showed her excessive intimacy in public, lest it damage Pei Qinghe's dignity as a general. Even though his heart was overflowing with pity and empathy for her pain, he still stood two feet away and whispered: "Qinghe, you are only made of flesh and blood, you can get hurt too, and you will grieve when those around you die in battle."

"You're too tired. Go get some sleep, and you'll feel better tomorrow."

Pei Qinghe looked up, met Shi Yan's gaze, and slowly responded.

Shi Yan stood guard outside the military tent, while Pei Qinghe lay alone on the bed, closed her eyes, and was overcome with weariness, soon falling into a deep sleep.

This time, there were no nightmares.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already past midnight.

Pei Yun's voice rang out from outside the military tent: "Qinghe, the Liaoxi Army has sent someone to ask for reinforcements."

Pei Qinghe suddenly snapped out of her daze, rolled off the bed, and strode out of the military tent. A cool night breeze greeted her, and Pei Qinghe's eyes shone brightly and sharply, like a startled beast: "Bring the messenger here."

She finally overcame her inner demons.

Pei Yun was extremely pleased and personally took the order to lead the men.

Pei Yan, who had been sent to Pei Zhi and Pei Xuan's military tent to sleep, came over yawning and muttered with some dissatisfaction: "Shi Yan wouldn't let me into the military tent, and neither would my cousin Yun. I didn't get any good sleep at all when I slept with Pei Zhi and the others."

Pei Zhi and Pei Xuan rolled their eyes together: "I wonder who's been snoring the whole time."

"We're the ones who didn't get a good night's sleep because of the noise, okay?"

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "Alright, stop arguing. After tonight, Pei Yan will still sleep with me."

All three of them beamed with joy.

Pei Qinghe said to Shi Yan, whose eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night, "You've been up all night, go back and rest. The army will be setting out soon, and you'll be busy."

Once Shi Yan confirmed that Pei Qinghe had fully recovered and was even more energetic than before, the anxiety he had felt for the past few days finally subsided, and he left in response.

The messenger from the Liaoxi Army was quickly brought before Pei Qinghe.

The messenger, disregarding all pride, knelt down with a thud and pleaded tearfully, "General Pei, the Xiongnu barbarians are attacking the city like madmen, recklessly. We can't hold out for more than two days."

"I rode at top speed all night to come and beg General Pei for help. I implore you to send troops immediately. If we delay any longer, I fear the Xiongnu barbarians will invade Liaoxi Commandery. Our Liaoxi army will be utterly destroyed, and the people will be slaughtered like pigs and dogs. Please, General, save us!"

She was crying and kowtowing at the same time, and it was really pitiful to see.

Pei Qinghe remained unmoved, coldly staring at the messenger: "Who sent you to ask for help? Was it General Li?"

The messenger initially tried to be vague, but after being swept by Pei Qinghe's icy gaze, a chill ran down his spine, and he dared not lie at all: "No, the general is injured and bedridden, so he sent me to deliver this message. It was the general's eldest son, Li Xi."

(End of this chapter)