Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 111 Fierce (2)

Corpses littered the ground beneath the city gates, limbs and remains scattered, the air thick with the stench of blood.

There were also many dead and wounded on the city wall.

The Xiongnu barbarians were tall, strong, skilled in horsemanship and archery, and extremely ferocious. The refugees, who had only ever fought bandits, would have been no match for them had it not been for the advantage of the city walls.

Exhausted, Mao Hongling didn't even have the strength to lift her sword. She muttered, "The Xiongnu barbarians are indeed formidable."

Pei Qinghe replied, "The Xiongnu barbarians didn't go all out today; they were testing our strength. The real battle is yet to come."

Mao Hongling felt a chill run down her spine.

Pei Yan, with the fearlessness of a newborn calf, said, "What's there to be afraid of? We didn't even use our full strength!"

Pei Qinghe laughed: "You continue guarding the city wall. I'll go check on the wounded soldiers."

In this battle, eight died and more than twenty were wounded. The dead were immediately dragged away and buried, and the wounded were carried into tents. Magistrate Wang personally invited all three doctors from Changping County to come and busy themselves treating and bandaging the wounded.

The Lu family's wound medicine lived up to its reputation; even the most severe external wounds could be stopped quickly with a sprinkle of the powder. On the battlefield, stopping bleeding meant saving more lives.

Pei Qinghe pondered that after this battle, she would have to make a trip to the Lu family.

Gu Lian, who had displayed remarkable bravery today, also sustained a minor injury, specifically to her left shoulder. Her clothes were half-undressed. The doctor treating her, mindful of the difference between men and women, hesitated to act, but Gu Lian herself was quite uninhibited, even joking with Pei Qinghe: "I killed three today. It's a pity my archery skills aren't good enough, otherwise I could have killed a few more barbarians."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "Archery skills are honed through practice. You are meticulous and courageous. After climbing the city wall a couple more times, you will be a true elite soldier."

Gu Lian's eyes flashed with excitement and passion. As she nodded, her wound aggravated her, and she cried out in pain.

Pei Qinghe chuckled: "Alright, stop moving around and get some rest."

Mao Hongling casually found a corner to curl up in, closed her eyes, and quickly fell asleep amidst the stench of blood and screams.

She had a dream. In the dream, the Xiongnu cavalry charged up the city walls like surging waves, one after another, like wild beasts. She screamed and rushed forward, only to be cleaved off the city wall by a single blow.

This nightmare was truly terrifying. She suddenly opened her eyes and drew a long knife from her bosom. The person beside her was startled and shouted her name.

Mao Hongling woke up from a nightmare, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, hugged her long sword tightly again, and fell into a deep sleep once more.

“In the past, when we killed bandits, we only killed those who deserved to die, and they were all young and strong men. This time, the Xiongnu barbarians drove ordinary people to attack the city, and there were many women among them. In order to defend the city, we had to kill them. This is the most terrible and cruel aspect of the battlefield.”

After inspecting the wounded soldiers, Pei Qinghe returned to the city wall and said to Pei Yan, "Second sister-in-law is kind and soft-hearted, and she can't adapt to the cruelty of the battlefield right away. Let her rest for a day or two. Next time the Xiongnu barbarians come to attack the city, don't let her come up to the city wall."

Pei Yan responded softly, stealing a glance at Pei Qinghe, wanting to say something but holding back.

Actually, she had felt nauseous and wanted to vomit several times today. Even on such a cruel and brutal battlefield, her cousin Qinghe remained calm. That's a born killer!
Pei Qinghe stood on the city wall, gazing in the direction where the Xiongnu barbarians were stationed.

……

The Xiongnu barbarians learned to ride horses and kill from a young age. They were overjoyed when they won battles, and they were not discouraged when they suffered defeats. After two probing attacks, they figured out the strength of the troops defending the city.

"There are nearly a thousand people guarding the city. Their skills vary, and most are ordinary, but the women are exceptionally skilled in archery."

"That leader is a true archer. We can't find anyone as skilled as him among us."

“We originally had a thousand men, but four hundred have gone back with money, provisions, and prisoners, leaving only about six hundred. We suffered more casualties last night and today. The enemy is tough; if we want to capture Changping County, we're afraid we'll lose many more.” Some men were considering retreating and suggested turning back. However, many more Xiongnu barbarians were unwilling to be defeated by a woman, clamoring to occupy Changping County, capture the girl who had killed so many Xiongnu warriors, and exact the cruelest and most intense revenge.

On the third day, the Xiongnu barbarians attacked the city again.

This time it was a real, fierce attack. Swish, swish, swish! The barbarians on horseback fired arrows at the city walls from afar, the arrows falling like rain, making it almost impossible for the people to lift their heads.

The Xiongnu barbarians braved a hail of arrows and rushed to the city gate, carrying thick logs to violently ram the gate.

Boom!
The city gate suddenly shook.

Boom!
The plaster and ash fell in a flurry.

The city gate of Changping County, built more than 30 years ago and repaired every year, is not very sturdy. After being violently struck several times, it has begun to shake.

On the city wall, Pei Qinghe gave a deep order: "Pour water!"

Buckets of boiling water poured down from the city wall. One of the Xiongnu barbarians was drenched head-on, letting out a bloodcurdling scream.

The other barbarians were also scalded and screamed in agony.

The logs were too heavy to lift and began to roll down.

Those scalded by boiling water wouldn't die immediately and struggled to run back. Others, pierced by arrows in their backs, fell like hedgehogs beneath the city walls.

The Xiongnu barbarians, their ferocity aroused, paused for two days, felling many trees to make seven or eight makeshift siege ladders. When they attacked again, the Xiongnu barbarians climbed the ladders.

Pei Qinghe directed the men to pour hot oil, the arrows carrying only flames. The Xiongnu barbarians were scalded by the oil and burned, suffering heavy casualties.

On the defending side, the death toll was also rising sharply. The attacking barbarians had also started using fire arrows.

Magistrate Wang couldn't stay in the county office at all; he was constantly running around preparing hot water, hot oil, bricks, stones, and other supplies for the Pei family army guarding the city. Anything that could kill someone if thrown down was moved to the city wall.

Too many people died or were injured, leaving gaps in the city's defenses. Even the yamen runners had to be deployed to the city walls. Then, Pei Qinghe instructed Magistrate Wang to gather all the wealthy households in the county and summon their servants and guards to defend the city walls. If manpower was still insufficient, they arrested all the local ruffians and hooligans.

Unlucky Zhao Da was among them.

Two years ago, when Pei Qinghe entered Changping County, the foolish Zhao Da dared to provoke him and was nearly killed by Pei Qinghe. In the past two years, Pei Qinghe has wiped out all the mountain bandits, and his fearsome reputation has spread far and wide. Zhao Da has more than once regretted that he was blind to have provoked such a ruthless person.

At this moment, Zhao Da mingled among dozens of brothers, shrinking his head as he climbed the city wall, wishing he could shrink himself into a docile sheep so as not to attract the attention of the female demon.

Unfortunately, what you fear most often comes to pass.

"Zhao Da, come here."

Zhao Da inwardly groaned. Two years had passed; how could the female demon still remember his name? Yet, he dared not refuse, and his advance was inevitably slow.

Pei Qinghe gave him a cold look, and Zhao Da's legs went weak, and he knelt down: "Sixth Miss, spare my life!"

Pei Qinghe coldly said, "Go get a knife. If any barbarians climb the city wall, use the knife to fight them to the death."

(End of this chapter)