Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 112 Fighting
It took only two days to capture Anle County.

The siege of Changping County has lasted for eight days, with no sign of the city falling. On the contrary, the Xiongnu barbarians have suffered nearly 40% casualties.

The Xiongnu barbarians were accustomed to raiding the area frequently. While the elite Beiping army, supposedly the elite of Jingchao, could still put up a fight, the Xiongnu barbarians didn't even consider armies like the Guangning army a threat. The people of Jingchao were seen as nothing more than pigs and dogs by them.

Having suffered a major defeat in Changping County, the Xiongnu barbarians were enraged. Disregarding their humiliation, they continued their fierce attack while simultaneously sending messengers to call for reinforcements.

A large contingent of Xiongnu soldiers had already plundered a great deal of wealth and able-bodied men and was preparing to return to the grasslands. One contingent, consisting of about five hundred cavalrymen, was the closest and rushed over after receiving the plea for help.

When the cavalry arrived outside Changping County, they were stunned by the dilapidated city gate and the heavy casualties of their comrades: "This is just a run-down county town, and you've been here for half a month and still haven't breached it?"

Not only did they fail to break through, they also suffered heavy casualties.

The Xiongnu barbarians huddled together and chattered away, deciding that after capturing Changping County, they would massacre the city for three days to vent their anger.

That night, the Xiongnu barbarians lit a fire and cooked, indulging in their pleasure with the captured women. Their provisions, which had lasted for half a month, were nearly depleted, and with the arrival of five hundred reinforcements, they were still short of food. The barbarians then killed several captured civilians and cooked their flesh to eat.

After midnight, the Xiongnu camp finally quieted down.

Two hundred figures quietly slipped out of the side door under the cover of night.

The autumn night in the north was chilling to the bone. Yet Pei Yan felt her blood boiling. She followed closely behind Pei Qinghe, gripping her long sword tightly.

Who could have imagined that the city gates, sealed for more than half a month, would quietly open tonight? Even more unexpectedly, the Xiongnu reinforcements arrived. Pei Qinghe, who had been steadfastly defending the city walls, showed no intention of fleeing and even decided to launch a night raid outside the city.

“You all can’t believe it, and the Xiongnu barbarians outside the city can’t believe it either.” Two hours ago, Pei Qinghe gathered the true main force of the Pei family army, his gaze sharp as a blade, sweeping across everyone’s faces: “If we continue to defend like this, Changping County will not be able to hold out at all. We must take the initiative to attack in order to have a chance of victory.”

"Taking advantage of the fact that the Xiongnu barbarians have received reinforcements and are therefore relaxed and careless, we will set fire to their grain supplies and warhorses tonight, forcing them to retreat."

"This battle will determine victory or defeat; it is extremely dangerous, and life or death is uncertain. Anyone who dares not go, stay here now."

Pei Yan was the first to speak up: "Wherever you go, we'll go!"

Even the usually cautious Mao Hongling looked resolute: "We cannot lose this battle; we can only win. Otherwise, the people of Changping County will have no way to survive. Qinghe, I will go with you."

Feng Chang and Gu Lian, who were also key members of the Pei family army, spoke up enthusiastically.

After a hearty meal and two hours of sleep, everyone was full of energy. Though the cold wind was chilly, it couldn't extinguish the fire in their hearts.

The Xiongnu barbarians' camp was only seven or eight li from the city gate. There wasn't even a single sentry on night watch. This shows the barbarians' arrogance and overconfidence; they didn't believe anyone would dare to launch a sneak attack from outside the city.

Pei Qinghe circled around from a distance and found the place where the warhorses were gathered from the rear.

The barbarians' weapons were rudimentary, but their warhorses were all top-notch. Nearly a thousand warhorses, a dense, dark herd, were a sight to behold.

I wish I could take it with me.

Pei Qinghe sighed inwardly, but her hands moved swiftly. She quickly lit a torch and held it to the horse's tail. Pei Yan and the others did the same, each lighting their own horse's tail.

The horse's tail was on fire, and the searing pain made it neigh wildly and charge forward. The horses in front, startled by those behind, also galloped forward.

Some warhorses, with flames on their tails, galloped about wildly. The flames quickly ignited everything in their path.

The sleeping Xiongnu barbarians were trampled to death by frightened warhorses, or their bodies were set on fire. Some were startled by the terrible screams and grabbed their knives, swinging them wildly and injuring their companions in the chaos.

The entire Xiongnu camp fell in an instant, turning into a hellish landscape.

Pei Qinghe brandished his long sword, relentlessly reaping the heads of barbarians, while directing his men with a sharp bamboo whistle. "Don't linger in battle, return to the city quickly."

Pei Yan killed two barbarians with her sword. Hearing the bamboo whistle, she turned and ran without hesitation. As she ran past a barbarian whose body was on fire, she delivered a fatal blow, freeing him from his suffering.

Mao Hongling was not as fast as Pei Yan and was entangled by an exceptionally fierce barbarian.

A familiar longsword swung down, slicing the barbarian to death. Amidst the blood-stained blade, Pei Qinghe shouted, "Run!"

Mao Hongling had no time to respond and ran as fast as she could.

The people guarding the city wall watched the distant flames with tension, the sounds of battle and the neighing of warhorses carried on the wind.

The entire population of Changping County was awakened by this terrifying sound. They cowered under their beds or in their wardrobes.

"Have the Xiongnu barbarians attacked?"

"I heard that another group of barbarians has arrived outside the city."

"It's over! We're all going to die!"

It was unclear which household started crying first, but soon the cries joined together. The tragic scene after the fall of Anle County hung over everyone's hearts like a dark cloud.

"Sixth Miss is back! Open the city gates quickly!"

The guards, upon seeing the familiar figure, cried out excitedly, their voices trembling with emotion: "Sixth Miss is back!"

As dawn broke and the reddish sun rose, the first rays of sunlight fell on Pei Qinghe's face.

She was covered in blood, her hair disheveled, exuding a murderous aura, her face a mixture of sweat and blood. This appearance was utterly devoid of beauty. Yet, in the eyes of the crowd, this Sixth Miss Pei was like a goddess.

The side door opened, and Pei Qinghe led everyone in.

Magistrate Wang, who had been waiting all night, silently counted the number of people and stopped when he reached the 168th person.

Two hundred went there, but thirty-two came back missing.

The true main force of the Pei family army consisted primarily of women from the Pei clan. They launched a night raid outside the city, risking their lives to protect the people of Changping County. Perhaps they would never return to the city.

Magistrate Wang turned his head, wiped his eyes with the dirty sleeve of his official robe, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Sixth Miss, how was the battle?"

Pei Qinghe tilted his head back and drank a bowl of warm water to quench his thirst: "We won! However, it was too chaotic. We can't count how many Xiongnu barbarians died."

"Listen to my command, everyone go up to the city wall and guard it. In case the Xiongnu barbarians are desperate and decide to attack the city at all costs."

The injured were helped to get medicine, and those who still had strength went up to the city wall.

Pei Qinghe had been traveling all night, and her strength was almost completely depleted, but she didn't rest. She patrolled the city and finally stood on the city wall, looking towards the direction of the Xiongnu barbarian camp.

Without saying a word, she stood there like a pillar of strength, bringing peace to everyone's hearts.

Half a day later, Pei Qinghe said, "The Xiongnu have retreated."

(End of this chapter)