Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 113 Retreat

The Xiongnu have finally retreated!

The tension that had gripped everyone for over half a month suddenly eased. Someone shouted, "Long live the Sixth Miss!"

The shouts rose and fell in a continuous stream: "Long live the Sixth Sister!"

The shouts echoed from the city walls down to the city walls, and quickly spread to the streets and alleys. The tightly locked gates opened, and the people who had been hiding for so long emerged tremblingly. Upon learning that the Xiongnu had retreated, they joined in the cheers with wild joy.

From this moment on, the people of Changping County were under a new sky. That was the sky above them—the sky above Pei Liu!

Pei Qinghe, standing on the city wall, glanced at the faces of the crowd, which were filled with tears, joy, and excitement, and smiled slightly.

In her previous life, she established the Pei Family Army at the age of twenty-three and occupied Changping County.

This life was eight years ahead of schedule.

She can manage the situation with ease, win people's hearts, and expand her power. Her territory will grow larger and larger, and the number of people following her will increase.

"Sixth Miss is truly righteous," Magistrate Wang said, bowing deeply and saying, "You have saved the people of Changping County from suffering. From this day forward, I will obey all orders from Sixth Miss."

Regardless of whether Magistrate Wang was truly convinced, his statement at this moment was highly advantageous to Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe smiled and helped Magistrate Wang up: "I only know how to fight and kill, and I am not good at governing civil affairs. The affairs inside and outside the county government will have to be taken care of by the magistrate."

Magistrate Wang no longer mentioned leaving with his official seal, and solemnly replied, "This humble official will certainly do his utmost to live up to the expectations of the Sixth Miss."

He paused, then said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Shouldn't we open the city gates now?"

"No rush," Pei Qinghe said calmly. "Let's open the city gates in a few days to prevent the Xiongnu from launching a surprise attack."

Mentioning the counterattack, Mao Hongling couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "The Xiongnu have suffered a great loss. Will they go to get reinforcements and attack the city again?"

This terrifying speculation turned Magistrate Wang's face deathly pale.

Pei Qinghe's expression remained unchanged: "The Xiongnu invaded the border, looting everywhere and seizing a large amount of wealth and prisoners. Their goal has been achieved. Even if they suffer a defeat, they won't abandon all their wealth and prisoners to seek revenge."

"However, we can't say we're completely safe yet. Let's hold back for now and wait ten days to two weeks. If there's still no movement, then there's probably nothing to worry about."

Even Pei Yan, after experiencing half a month of fierce fighting, dared not utter such arrogant and ignorant words as "we will wipe out every Xiongnu that comes."

With the Pei family army's current fighting strength, defeating mountain bandits and outlaws is a piece of cake, and they can even put up a fight against regular imperial troops. However, compared to the skilled horsemen and archers of the Xiongnu, there is still a considerable gap. Defending the city was already extremely difficult; it was only because Pei Qinghe led elite troops in a midnight raid that the Xiongnu, caught completely off guard, suffered heavy losses. Otherwise, it is uncertain whether they could have held Changping County.

At least for now, Pei's army does not have the strength to confront the Xiongnu head-on.

"Magistrate Wang, go back to the county office and issue a notice ordering all residents to stay at home and not to open their doors or go out at will. Grain shops and oil shops, etc., shall remain open as usual."

Magistrate Wang received the order and left in a hurry.

"Mao Hongling, lead your men to patrol the city and reassure the people."

"Pei Yan, Feng Chang, Gu Lian, each of you select a battalion of men to come with me out of the city to the Xiongnu camp to clean up the battlefield."

These days, there's been fighting and death almost every day. Each battalion is short-staffed. The Third Battalion was supposed to have three hundred men, but after a headcount, only a little over a hundred are uninjured and able to leave the city.

Pei Qinghe rode out of the city, with the others following closely on horseback. A gust of wind blew by, carrying with it the stench of burnt meat and the thick smell of blood.

Pei Yan almost threw up.

Pei Qinghe glanced over and said, "What's this? Just bear with it! We'll see when we get closer."

They couldn't get close at all.

Charred warhorses and corpses were scattered everywhere. The stench was so strong it was hard to breathe. Pei Qinghe dismounted and ordered everyone to cover their mouths and noses with clean cotton cloths before beginning to "clean up" the battlefield.

Pick up all the weapons, including longswords, spears, bows, arrows, and shields. Even if they are damaged, take them so the blacksmith can repair them and make them usable again.

As the number of refugees recruited by Peijia Village increased, weapons became far from sufficient. After each battle, cleaning up the battlefield and collecting weapons became the top priority.

vomit!
Some people vomited from the fumes. While vomiting, they didn't forget to peel off their charred armor.

They arrived on horseback, but returned on foot, each leading their own horse. Cotton baskets now adorned the horses' backs, jingling and clanging as they carried various spoils of war.

After entering the city, even Pei Qinghe couldn't stand the filth and stench, so she had dozens of pots of hot water boiled. Everyone took turns going to the tent to wash and change into clean clothes.

“Qinghe, there are a few bold young girls waiting outside to see you.” Mao Hongling leaned over: “The one in the lead is called Zheng Xiaoying. She says she wants to join the Pei family army.”

Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and smiled: "I'll go see them."

Five girls of varying ages, the youngest being around twelve or thirteen, and the oldest being Zheng Xiaoying. She was sixteen this year, the tallest, and the most robust.

Whether from nervousness or excitement, Zheng Xiaoying stammered as soon as she opened her mouth: "Sixth...Sixth Miss! I want to join the Pei Family Army!"

The other girls didn't dare to make a sound, each holding their breath and keeping their eyes open.

This Miss Pei, I heard, is only fifteen years old and not even as tall as Zheng Xiaoying. Yet she is an unparalleled archer, incredibly skilled in combat, and a ruthless killer. She led eight hundred men to resist the Xiongnu and defend Changping County.

Pei Qinghe's gaze swept over them like a blade, sending chills down the girls' spines, and they all lowered their heads. Only Zheng Xiaoying still had the courage to raise her head: "Sixth Miss, please take us in! We also want to learn martial arts and swordsmanship to protect our families."

Pei Qinghe did not agree, but asked, "Do your family know that you came to see me?"

Zheng Xiaoying straightened her chest: "I know. I wanted to come as soon as Sixth Miss entered Changping County. My father and mother locked me in the house and wouldn't let me out. Now that Sixth Miss has defended Changping County and the Xiongnu have retreated, I knelt for half a day before my parents finally nodded."

"The same goes for them; their parents all gave their approval."

Another girl mustered her courage and looked up: "In the Pei family army, female soldiers are the main force. We also want to follow Sixth Sister and kill the Xiongnu."

Mao Hongling added softly, "I led a group of people on a city patrol today. These girls were all sent to me by their own parents. I asked them repeatedly to make sure their parents agreed before bringing them to see you."

The Pei family army suffered heavy casualties and urgently needed to replenish its forces.

A girl like Zheng Xiaoying, from an honest and simple family, with a pure heart and admiration for Pei Qinghe, is a top-notch recruit.

Pei Qinghe said, "It's not that easy to join the Pei family army. You have to train for six months first, survive on the battlefield, and only then can you be kept. Moreover, you have to leave your families and come with me to Pei family village. You guys go back and discuss it with your families, and only come if you're sure you're willing."

(End of this chapter)