Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 280 Western Liaoning (Part 1)

"Li Chi! Wake up! Open your eyes and look! There are many people coming down from the city."

Li Chi was too tired last night and fell asleep leaning against the city wall at the city gate. He was suddenly shaken awake, opened his eyes abruptly, and rushed up the city gate in three steps.

The Liaoxi soldiers, carrying heavy loads and on patrol, were so excited they were incoherent: "Is it the Pei Banner?"

Are the Pei family troops under the city gate?

"Is that the one waving the Pei-branded flag General Pei?"

Li Chi's chest heaved with fervor: "Yes, it's General Pei!"

"The Pei family army has not been defeated! Yesterday's attack must have been a trap! General Pei has come to our rescue!"

"What are you waiting for? Open the city gates immediately and welcome General Pei!"

The city gates of Liaoxi Commandery were thick and sturdy. The boulders launched by catapults would at most leave shallow marks on the gates. It was thanks to these tall and solid gates that the Liaoxi army managed to hold the city.

The city gates had long been sealed off. What was supposedly opened was a side gate that could accommodate warhorses or two or three people at a time.

Li Chi strode out of the city gate and bowed deeply to General Pei, whose body was covered in blood and whose face was blackened by smoke and fire: "Thank you for your help, General Pei. Please come into the city and rest."

Since we're already here, there's no need for further words.

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and was about to take a step when Pei Yan stepped forward: "I'll go into the city first to avoid any ambush."

Li Chi did not feel humiliated: "It was my oversight. Please, Miss Pei Yan, enter the city first."

The Pei family army was so renowned that important figures within it had also gained fame in Youzhou. For example, the dark-skinned and robust Pei Yan was known for her bravery.

Pei Yan swaggered into the city gate, looked around to make sure there were no ambushes or threats, and then shouted, "Please come into the city, General!"

The Pei family army shouted in unison, "Please, General, enter the city!"

The soldiers of the Liaoxi Army were inexplicably infected and began to shout together, inviting the general to enter the city.

Pei Qinghe smiled for the first time in several days and stepped into Liaoxi City.

Behind them, the Pei family army, the Guangning army, and the Fanyang army, who had endured a night of fierce fighting and fleeing, refused to be underestimated by the Liaoxi army. Each of them raised their proud heads and walked into the city gate with their chests out.

Li Chi waited until everyone else had entered the city before being the last to enter the city gate, and then immediately closed it.

Pei Qinghe didn't rush to explore the route, but ordered everyone to rest on the spot.

The group helped each other to sit down, and each took out their prepared medicine kits. The military doctors also began to get busy.

Li Chi was very perceptive and immediately sent someone to fetch hot water.

Pouring hot oil or water on the ground during a city defense is a simple yet effective tactic. Oil is hard to come by, but boiling water is much easier. These days, the kitchen has been burning firewood day and night, so there has never been a shortage of hot water. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the soldiers from western Liaoning have brought over a dozen buckets of hot water.

Pieces of gauze stained with blood were thrown into a bucket of hot water, scalded and washed, and then used to wipe the wound, serving as a simple disinfectant.

Ten medics were brought out, but with so many wounded soldiers, they were clearly not enough. The soldiers were already used to it; those with minor injuries helped each other apply medicine and bandages. Those with serious injuries silently endured their pain, trying their best not to let out any cries of agony.

The Guangning army fought alongside the Pei family army last year, and somehow learned their patience and perseverance. The Pingyang and Fanyang armies, however, who came from afar, had far less endurance and frequently grimaced and groaned.

Even so, it was still quite shocking to Li Chi.

The Liaoxi Army expanded rapidly, forcibly conscripting able-bodied men into its ranks, more than tripling its strength in just three years. In terms of total troop strength, it far surpassed the Pei family army.

But when the battle actually began, the Liaoxi army, boasting 30,000 elite troops, suffered a crushing defeat, with deserters fleeing in droves. If it weren't for the sturdy city walls and the Liaoxi army's original foundation, the city would have fallen long ago. Wounded soldiers littered the ground, yet no one cried out, no one despaired and wanted to escape. They silently healed their wounds, occasionally glancing up at their General Pei, their eyes filled only with fervent loyalty and reverence.

Needless to say, Li Chi also felt the same burning ambition to follow General Pei.

“General,” Li Chi took a deep breath, “Yesterday, the Xiongnu barbarians attacked the city, and Li Xi was killed in battle. Some soldiers fled in the middle of the night, and now there are about seven thousand soldiers who can still fight.”

"At daybreak, I fear the Xiongnu barbarians will attack the city again. Please lead us to defend the city, General."

Pei Qinghe's cold, sharp gaze fell on Li Chi's face: "Can you make decisions for the Liaoxi Army?"

Li Chi gave a bitter smile: "General Li has been bedridden and recovering from his injuries, and both Li Xi and his brother have died in battle. Before he passed away, he ordered me to take over as commander-in-chief."

"To be honest, General, although the Liaoxi Army still has seven thousand men, they have lost their fighting spirit. They, like me, are eagerly awaiting your arrival."

The Liaoxi soldiers standing nearby shouted, "General, please take us in!"

"Without a general to rescue us, the city was breached by the Xiongnu barbarians yesterday. Our heads have long been cut off and used to build a mound of skulls."

"The Liaoxi Army's military flag should have been changed long ago."

"From now on, we are the Pei Family Army!"

These soldiers were mostly captains and leaders in the Liaoxi Army. They didn't understand those flowery phrases like "a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on." Since they were going to fight, they should follow the bravest generals.

At this moment, no one thought of the difference between men and women. Pei Qinghe had already proven herself with her powerful martial arts and strength; she was the most powerful general in the North.

The Pei family army is the most elite force in the North!

They didn't want to be part of the Liaoxi Army; they wanted to be part of the Pei family army.

Pei Qinghe looked at the burning, excited faces and smiled faintly: "You really want to follow me?"

Li Chi was the first to kneel down: "Please, General, accept us."

The rest of the Liaoxi army also knelt down: "Please, General, accept us."

Pei Qinghe looked down at everyone with disdain: "The military regulations of our Pei family army are extremely strict. Your previous behavior in Liaoxi Army will be dealt with in four words by me: military regulations."

The Pei family army's military regulations are also well-known far and wide.

Under the tree north of Peijia Village, a gourd hangs year-round. This is common knowledge in the Liaoxi Army.

Pei Qinghe's four casually uttered words sent cold sweat down the foreheads of the soldiers.

General Pei wasn't joking. Once you join the Pei family army, you can no longer be lax and careless, nor can you oppress or plunder the people. You'll have to train hard every day, and you might even have to learn to read and write…

Li Chi was the first to speak up: "I am willing to obey all the military regulations of the Pei family army."

The soldiers quickly echoed, "We will all listen to the general."

Pei Qinghe said calmly, "Let's defend Liaoxi City first and defeat the Xiongnu barbarians before discussing this matter. If we lose this battle, neither of us will escape death, so there's no need to say anything more."

"Get up, everyone! Let the kitchen light a fire and cook a meal so that everyone can have a good meal and be ready for battle at any time."

Li Chi bowed and accepted the order, then personally went to the kitchen to make the arrangements. A sheep had been slaughtered a few days ago, and several pigs had been butchered yesterday; soup and meat were to be prepared.

(End of this chapter)