Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 281 Western Liaoning (Part Two)

The broth was steaming hot, with thick slices of fatty meat floating on top.

The soldiers of the Liaoxi Army ate with their mouths full of oil.

Pei Jiajun's side secretly grumbled to themselves. The cooking skills of the Liaoxi Army's kitchen were really terrible. They should have added some vegetable leaves and more salt to the meat broth. This meat broth was oily and not salty at all, and it was too greasy to drink.

The soldiers of the Guangning Army, Fanyang Army, and Pingyang Army ate with beaming smiles, showing no disdain whatsoever. In those days, every army was very poor, and it was not easy to get a full meal on ordinary days; seeing meat was a great joy. Only the Pei family army knew how to create all sorts of delicious military rations in an innovative way.

After filling their stomachs, the wounded soldiers who couldn't move continued to rest on the spot. Those with minor injuries received medicine and bandages, picked up their long swords, and followed their General Pei to the city gate.

Pei Qinghe's gray military uniform was almost soaked in blood, and after it dried, it reeked of blood. She didn't have time to change her clothes, but only washed the soot and blood off her face.

She stood at the highest point of the city gate, gazing in the direction of Changli County for a long time.

Li Chi stood obediently with Pei Yun, Pei Yan, Yang Hu, and the others, waiting for the general to give orders.

The sun rose high into the sky.

Pei Qinghe narrowed his eyes slightly, descended from the watchtower, and said to the crowd, "The Xiongnu barbarians suffered a crushing defeat last night, losing countless lives, enough to make the Punu heartbroken. Today, the Xiongnu barbarians should not send troops."

The soldiers behind Li Chi breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Chi, however, remained grave: "If the Xiongnu barbarians don't send troops today, they will tomorrow. Only by completely defeating them will they withdraw."

Pei Qinghe gave Li Chi a deep look: "General Li is right. Everyone, continue to defend the city and do not slacken your efforts."

Upon hearing the word "General Li," Li Chi's body trembled slightly. Yesterday, before Li Xi died, he had instructed him to take over as commander, but he hadn't really felt it. With the Xiongnu barbarians launching a fierce attack, Liaoxi City could fall at any moment. What difference would it make whether he became a general or not? It would simply mean dying sooner or later.

But now, Pei Qinghe has arrived with reinforcements, ambushed and lured the enemy, inflicting a great defeat on the Xiongnu. The scales of war are tipping in their favor.

Pei Qinghe's address of "General Li" was an affirmation of him, and also a way of telling him that even if the Liaoxi Army lost its banner, the commander of this army was still a member of the Li family.

Li Chi was deeply moved and respectfully bowed in agreement.

"Where is the seriously injured Li thief?" Pei Qinghe asked, showing no politeness whatsoever when mentioning "King of Liaoxi".

Li Chi immediately said, "I will lead the way now, please follow me, General."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly and said to Pei Yun, "You lead the guards to defend the city. If there is any movement, immediately send someone to inform me."

Pei Yun bowed and accepted the order.

Pei Qinghe descended from the city gate, followed closely by Pei Yan. Li Chi personally led the way.

The streets were deserted; all the shops were closed, even the grain stores. The wide streets were frequented only by fierce-looking soldiers.

The Liaoxi Army had a terrible reputation. The people of Liaoxi City suffered greatly from them and avoided the soldiers like the plague.

Pei Qinghe seemed oblivious to Li Chi's embarrassment and anxiety, and asked calmly, "With all the grain shops closed, what will happen to the people if they lack food?"

Li Chi's face was burning, and he said in a low voice, "The grain in several grain shops has been requisitioned by the Liaoxi Army as military rations. Even if the grain shops are open, there is no grain to sell."

"There's nothing we can do about it. We have to rely on the soldiers to fight and risk their lives, so we can't let them go hungry. We just have to make the people suffer."

Pei Qinghe's gaze turned slightly cold: "Is this how the Liaoxi Army gets its rations on a regular basis?" Li Chi's ears also turned red, and under Pei Yan's disdainful gaze, he forced a smile and replied: "We do buy some rations on a regular basis. Most of them are requisitioned."

I feel ashamed even saying it myself.

The Liaoxi Army was notoriously greedy. Ordinary soldiers didn't actually get much benefit; their uniforms and weapons were tattered, and they often went hungry. The looted goods were all sent to General Li's treasury.

General Li had a nickname, "Pixiu," because once he swallowed wealth, he would never spit it out. Whenever there was a war, he would demand large sums of money and grain.

For more than a month, the wealthy families in Liaoxi City have been nearly plundered, leaving the common people without food. Some have even starved to death in their homes. Others have been forced to resort to cannibalism, a truly tragic situation.

The empty streets, like the sounds of the Liaoxi army, had lost all face and substance.

Pei Yan curled her lip and bluntly said, "In Tuhe County, it was the people who voluntarily came to help repair the city wall. There are seventy or eighty thousand people in Liaoxi City, and not a single one came out to help. It's clear that your Liaoxi Army has a terrible reputation."

Li Chi was filled with shame and felt utterly embarrassed.

Pei Qinghe said calmly, "You can't make decisions about the Liaoxi Army, so there's no need to be ashamed. However, from today onwards, everything in Liaoxi City will be yours."

"For the army to win battles, it needs both the morale of the soldiers and the support of the people."

"These things are not obvious in ordinary times, but they become apparent during battle. Our Pei family army has never had a deserter in battle. Your Liaoxi army claims to have 30,000 elite soldiers, so why are there so many deserters? Ultimately, it's because you have no military discipline in ordinary times, wantonly bully the people, and forcibly conscript men into the army. They have no sense of belonging to the Liaoxi army, so how can they be willing to fight to the death?"

Li Chi was too ashamed to look up and replied in a low voice, "Thank you for your guidance, General."

Pei Qinghe said no more. A complete and profound change in the Liaoxi Army would not happen overnight. The most urgent matter needed to be addressed first.

The prefect of Liaoxi City had long been killed, and the entire prefectural government office was now empty. General Li was recuperating in his spacious and luxurious bedroom.

No one dared to report the tragic news of Li Xi's death to General Li.

Father and son are of one mind. General Li had been restless since yesterday, his eyelids twitching incessantly. He repeatedly sent people to summon Li Xi, but they were all turned away with the excuse that he was "too busy guarding the city."

Several beautiful women stepped forward gracefully; one helped General Li change his clothes, another washed his face, and a third carried a bowl of warm ginseng soup.

General Li was agitated and angrily told them all to get out.

The beauties left crying after being scolded, but secretly they were all delighted. They couldn't wait to be kicked out; they didn't want to even glance at the greedy, lustful, obese, pig-like General Li, let alone serve him.

As soon as they stepped outside, they ran into Li Chi and his group.

A blood-soaked, fierce-looking young girl and a dark-skinned, muscular female warrior suddenly came into view. Several delicate beauties were so frightened that their faces turned pale, their knees involuntarily went weak, and they knelt down.

Pei Qinghe ignored him and stepped into the dormitory.

Li Chi hurried to the bedside: "General, General Pei has arrived."

"What General Pei!" General Li, who had been furious just a moment ago, scoffed, "What nonsense are you spouting in broad daylight..."

A pretty and spirited young girl's face suddenly appeared above.

(End of this chapter)