Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 110 The Raging Tide (Part 1)

The messenger trembled all over; the atrocities committed by the Xiongnu cavalry in attacking Anle County instilled in him a physical fear. Nevertheless, he still managed to walk up to Miss Pei Liu and express his willingness to defend the city together.

Pei Qinghe was somewhat surprised and looked at him properly for the first time: "What's your name?"

The messenger, who was about twenty years old, said, "My surname is Yang, and I am the third child in my family." The messenger nervously swallowed.

Pei Qinghe turned to Feng Chang and instructed him, "You take Yang Sanlang with you."

Feng Chang nodded and ordered Yang Sanlang to follow him.

It was a minor incident, no need to elaborate.

Pei Qinghe ordered torches to be lit. Dozens of torches were planted on the city wall, their light casting large halos of light on the city below.

The ground tremors became increasingly noticeable.

The neighing of warhorses grew closer.

Interspersed with some sharp cries and screams.

Mao Hongling, with her excellent hearing, raised an eyebrow and said, "Qinghe, listen, isn't that a woman crying?"

Pei Qinghe's eyes flashed with coldness, and she nodded slightly.

Where did these women, whose cries were as mournful as the lament of a cuckoo crying blood, come from?

Mao Hongling's eyes blazed with fury: "These beasts, burning, killing, looting, setting fire to the city, and now they've even kidnapped so many women."

Pei Qinghe's face remained expressionless: "The Xiongnu raided the fields, plundered grain and silver, and also abducted a large number of young men. Women were an even more important captive."

Mao Hongling gripped the spear tightly in her hand.

Pei Yan was furious upon hearing this, took out his bow and arrows, and glared at them menacingly.

This group of Xiongnu cavalry clearly didn't take Changping County seriously. They rode up arrogantly and stopped at the city gate.

Pei Qinghe glanced around and indeed saw many young and middle-aged women with their hands bound, being driven like pigs and sheep under the city gate.

There were men too, but their situation was even worse. Their feet were also bound with hemp rope, and some were dragged down, letting out pitiful howls.

A commotion arose among the people guarding various points on the city wall.

Most of them were refugees, some of whom had experienced the ravages of war. Upon seeing this hellish scene, painful memories were immediately stirred in their hearts.

Feng Chang gripped his bow and arrows tightly, waiting for Pei Qinghe's command before drawing his bow and shooting an arrow to force the Xiongnu to retreat.

"Don't move." Pei Qinghe ordered in a deep voice, "First, find out how many Xiongnu cavalry there are. Wait until they get closer. Our forces are limited, and we don't have many weapons. If we don't make a move, we won't make a move at all, but if we do, we must make a victory."

Feng Chang took a deep breath and agreed along with Pei Yan and the others.

The Xiongnu cavalry shouted at the city gate. After a moment, a young man in a long robe was pushed to the city gate.

The man, in his early twenties and a scholar, lost all his integrity and spirit under the threat of a sharp blade. At first, he trembled and shouted a few times, but seeing no response from the city gate, his courage grew, and his voice became louder and louder.

"Listen up, people of Changping County. Open the city gates and surrender immediately. Offer up the head of the county magistrate, the women in the city, and all the money and grain. The rest of you will live."

"That traitor!" Pei Yan gritted his teeth in hatred, drawing his bow to shoot, but Pei Qinghe stopped him: "No rush, you have a loud voice, shout for me. Tell them to let the Xiongnu lords come forward, and we'll open the city gates and surrender."

Without the slightest hesitation, Pei Yan shouted at the top of her lungs, "We surrender! Let the Xiongnu barbarians come forward!"

The city gate was ablaze with firelight, illuminating the area outside clearly. However, looking up from below, the view was indistinct.

Pei Yan's shouts were like those of a bull, yet the lackeys below the city couldn't tell if it was from a man or a woman.

The lackey, beaming with delight, turned and shouted a few words. Soon, several Xiongnu barbarians rode forward. All the Xiongnu cavalry followed suit.

Pei Qinghe drew his bow, aimed at the leader, and coldly fired the first arrow. The arrow pierced the night sky, and the leading Xiongnu cavalryman was instantly shot off his horse. Pei Yan's first arrow was equally swift, killing the despicable lackey.

Several arrows were fired simultaneously from his side.

The Xiongnu cavalrymen, mounted high on their warhorses, never expected there to be so many skilled archers inside the city. They cursed angrily as they bent down to retrieve their bows and arrows and retaliated.

On the battlefield, one side held the high ground of the city walls, while the other was caught off guard and hastily launched a counterattack; it was clear who had the upper hand.

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Xiongnu barbarians retreated in disarray, leaving behind dozens of corpses. On Pei Qinghe's side, only two people were wounded by a hail of arrows.

A cheer erupted from the city wall.

Magistrate Wang, who had been hiding under the city gate with his legs weak and his whole body trembling like a leaf, was overjoyed. With the help of his advisor, Li, he went up to the city gate and said, "Sixth Miss is indeed incredibly brave. The Xiongnu barbarians have already retreated."

Pei Qinghe showed little joy, saying calmly, "The magistrate is too happy too soon. They suffered few losses and retreated immediately upon realizing something was wrong. They will definitely come again at dawn tomorrow."

Magistrate Wang's heart tightened: "Could the Sixth Miss possibly hold them off?"

Pei Qinghe did not answer this foolish question.

On the battlefield, factors such as troop strength, weapon quality, morale, and weather can all influence the outcome. Before a battle, who dares to claim certain victory?

"They probably won't come tonight. I've told them to take turns resting and prepare for defending the city tomorrow."

"Magistrate Wang, return to the county office and have the kitchen prepare a fire and cook hot water. It should be delivered before dawn tomorrow."

"Furthermore, all the doctors and physicians in the city have come to the city gate."

……

There was no movement during the first half of the night. During the second half, the Xiongnu barbarians came to the city walls to harass them with arrows. Pei Qinghe was prepared; a volley of arrows flew out, and the Xiongnu barbarians quickly retreated.

In the county town, every house was locked. The grain store was deserted, with no one queuing.

Magistrate Wang, who hadn't slept all night, led his yamen runners carrying over a dozen baskets of mixed flour buns to the city gate. Gu Lian and others brought hot water and soup.

The city guards were divided into two groups: one group stayed at the city gate while the other group went down to the city gate to eat.

Before they had even finished eating, the Xiongnu barbarians arrived in a menacing manner.

Pei Qinghe raised her voice: "Don't rush to eat, there are people holding up the city gate. You can go up to the city gate after you've finished eating."

Gu Lian stuffed the steamed bun into her mouth, strode up to the city gate, peeked out, and her anger surged to her head: "Pah! These beasts are worse than pigs and dogs!"

The Xiongnu barbarians used sharp blades and long whips to drive large numbers of people forward to attack the city.

"The Xiongnu barbarians are adept at using such methods. First, they waste our arrows. Second, they demoralize the defenders."

Pei Qinghe remained calm, her tone cold: "Remember, everyone who crowds at the city gate is an enemy."

"On my command, fire the arrows."

Gu Lian had only been practicing martial arts for a little over a year, so her skills weren't particularly good, and her archery was even more mediocre. However, she also had a strength that others lacked: an exceptionally cold and hard heart.

After Pei Qinghe gave the order, Gu Lian was the first to shoot an arrow.

Pei Yan and Mao Hongling were highly skilled archers; their arrows flew past ordinary people and struck the Xiongnu barbarians. The others tried to shoot, but their arrows didn't reach far enough, and cries of agony echoed below the city gates.

Some refugees couldn't hold on any longer and turned to vomit on the ground. Then, under Pei Qinghe's cold gaze, they gritted their teeth and continued shooting arrows.

Half a day later, the Xiongnu retreated again.

(End of this chapter)