Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 276 Cry for Help (Part Two)

The messenger himself felt guilty and didn't dare to look up.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, he was ridiculed by the Pei family: "You think you can make us send troops to fight to the death just by talking? Your Liaoxi army has a lot of nerve."

The first to speak was the quick-witted Pei Zhi.

Pei Yan sneered: "That scoundrel Li killed our men, stole our horses, and repeatedly sent people to humiliate our general. We haven't settled that score yet."

Pei Xuan chimed in, "Let that scoundrel Li come in person and kowtow to our general to apologize."

Pei Feng raised an eyebrow: "Li Xi only said he was asking for reinforcements, could it be that he didn't offer any benefits? How dare he ask for that?"

With her cousins ​​doing the talking for her, Pei Qinghe didn't need to speak up herself and continued to watch coldly.

The messenger was so ashamed he almost had nowhere to hide, and had no choice but to shamelessly continue pleading: "I dare not lie to the general. The request for reinforcements was Li Xi's idea, and General Li was unaware of it."

“It’s certainly wrong to talk nonsense. But the war is urgent. A group of Xiongnu barbarians rushed up the city gate and even into the city. Li Xi led several hundred men and spent a lot of effort to kill that group of barbarians. He himself was also injured and was no longer able to fight.”

"At this rate, the Xiongnu barbarians will be able to breach the city in less than two days."

“I know that General Pei doesn’t care about the life or death of Li Xi and his son, nor does he care much about the soldiers of the Liaoxi Army. But there are still seventy or eighty thousand civilians in Liaoxi County. General Pei has traveled hundreds of miles to save them. Now is the best time for the Pei family army to send troops.”

"After this battle, the hearts of the people of Liaoxi County have turned to General Pei. They beg General Pei to send troops to save the people of Liaoxi."

Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and gave the messenger, who had ridden a fast horse all night, with bloodshot eyes and a tired face but a clear mind, a deep look: "What's your name?"

The messenger dared not hesitate and immediately replied, "My name is Li Chi. I am General Li's nephew and Li Xi's distant cousin."

"Brothers fight tigers together, fathers and sons go to war together." In those days, those who rose to the rank of commander in the military would promote their sons and nephews. This was the case in the Guangning Army, Pingyang Army, and Fanyang Army. In the Pei family army, Pei Yun, Pei Yan, and others clearly held a higher status than others.

This Li Chi is clearly a formidable figure among the younger generation of the Li family. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent him to plead for help in such a critical moment.

Pei Qinghe asked calmly, "Were those words spoken by Li Xi, or did you come up with them yourself?"

Li Chi wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and replied in a hoarse voice, "This is obvious. Everyone in the Liaoxi Army knows it."

She really knows how to talk.

"In other words, Li Xi didn't actually instruct you on anything, he just told you to come and ask for reinforcements." Pei Qinghe's expression was indifferent, revealing no emotion. "If I'm unwilling to send troops, what do you plan to do?"

Li Chi gave a bitter smile: "What General Li did back then completely created enmity with the Pei family army. General Pei disregarded past grievances and led a large army to Liaoxi. We, the Liaoxi army, are extremely grateful."

"Now that the general has come, he will not stand idly by and do nothing for us. The general is magnanimous and generous. We beg the general to send troops to save us."

After saying that, he kowtowed three more times.

Pei Qinghe's eyes flashed with coldness: "Sending troops is only a matter of time. Now that I've come, I don't intend to leave empty-handed. Wait a few more days, until the Liaoxi army is completely crippled and the Xiongnu barbarians' forces are greatly depleted, before I send troops."

From a strategic perspective, this is the best option.

There's no need for us to take action ourselves and just sit idly by while the Xiongnu barbarians annihilate the Liaoxi army. Even the people of Liaoxi Commandery, after suffering the loss of their homes and families, will only be deeply grateful to the Pei family army that comes to their rescue and completely pledge their allegiance to them.

Honestly, if it were him, he would have waited the same way.

Despite his despair, Li Chi calmed down.

He didn't weep and plead anymore, nor did he wail and curse. He respectfully kowtowed three times: "I will go back and report now. No matter what, I must thank the general for his help. If I, Li Chi, am fortunate enough to survive, I hope to serve the general in the future and be his vanguard." Pei Qinghe's lips curled up slightly.

Li Chi, with his head down, didn't see General Pei's smile.

Pei Yun, Pei Yan, and the others could see it clearly.

Li Chi declined the offer to stay and rest, and resolutely rode back to the battlefield of the Liaoxi Army.

“This Li Chi is quite good,” Pei Qinghe said to Pei Yun. “He is clear-headed and quick-witted. After this battle, let him be the commander of the surviving Liaoxi Army.”

Pei Yun nodded: "Li the scoundrel and his son are doomed. If they know what's good for them, they should offer their necks to be killed."

Pei Qinghe sneered: "Li the scoundrel is greedy by nature. He's seriously injured but refuses to die and still wants to hold onto military power. I'd like to see when he'll finally die."

Pei Yan scratched her head, not quite understanding, so she simply asked directly, "Are we going to send troops or not?"

Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow: "Of course we should send troops. However, the timing of the deployment is up to me. The Liaoxi Army is not yet at its wit's end; it can hold out for a few more days."

"We have too few cavalry, mostly infantry. It's time to start preparing."

"Pass on my military order to invite General Yang and the others to come over for a meeting."

……

Half an hour later, the generals and important figures of each army gathered in Pei Qinghe's military tent.

Pei Qinghe unfolded the map again and discussed with everyone how to deploy troops.

Lu Feng volunteered: "General, our Fanyang army was unable to contribute in the cavalry battles. Now that the infantry has been mobilized to set up an ambush, I am willing to lead the Fanyang army to the front."

Everyone looked over.

His eyes revealed surprise and doubt.

Can Fan Yangjun handle this?

Feeling ashamed and annoyed by the gazes of the crowd, Lü Feng straightened his chest and said, "We, the Fanyang army, are not cowards! I hereby swear a military oath: if I, Lü Feng, fail to fulfill this oath, I will bring my head to the general's door!"

Pei Qinghe looked at Lü Feng and said gently, "General Lü's magnanimity and spirit are truly admirable. In this battle, we will be fighting cavalry with infantry, which will inevitably result in heavy casualties."

"The Pei family army began forging weapons and practicing tactics against cavalry more than a year ago. The Guangning army has also been training for more than half a year. The Fanyang army has not been specially trained. If they rush into battle, wouldn't it be sending their soldiers to their deaths in vain? General Lü may be willing to do so, but I am extremely reluctant."

Yang Hu looked on with admiration, thinking to himself that he still had a lot to learn about leading troops and managing subordinates!

After all that, wouldn't that completely subdue Lü Feng?

As expected, Lü Feng's brows relaxed upon hearing this, and he calmed down: "General, you have considered everything very thoroughly. Then please make the arrangements, General. I, Lü Feng, will certainly fulfill my military orders. Otherwise, I'll risk my head..."

Pei Qinghe interrupted Lü Feng with a smile: "Keep your head on your neck and don't bring it to me all the time."

Lü Feng chuckled.

Pei Qinghe suppressed her smile and issued orders in a deep voice.

(End of this chapter)