Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 171 Lure the Enemy
The marching speed of Fanyang Army was much slower than Pei Qinghe had anticipated.

Along the way, General Lü would allow his soldiers to plunder and plunder at will in every village they visited, causing countless innocent people to suffer and countless women to be violated.

General Lü did this for two reasons: first, the army's rations were insufficient and needed to be supplied along the way; second, it was to boost the morale of the soldiers. It would be even better if he could provoke Pei Qinghe to leave Pei Family Village and launch a preemptive attack.

Peijia Village is Pei Qinghe's territory, which he has been cultivating for four years. It will definitely be a tough nut to crack. General Lü couldn't be happier if Pei Qinghe got carried away.

Therefore, General Lü deliberately slowed down and did not rush to attack. The four thousand troops swarmed across the land like locusts.

The Pei family army, who came to scout ahead, quickly ascertained the strength of the Fanyang army. Some of them were itching to act: "Chief Sun, there are only a few dozen bandits ahead. Let's just charge forward and kill them."

Sun Cheng glanced over and said, "This group is bait, they're trying to lure us into making a move. Everyone must obey my orders. Anyone who dares to make a rash move will be dealt with according to military regulations."

Three thousand elite soldiers, divided into thirty battalions. All the leaders were personally promoted and trusted by Pei Qinghe, and were utterly loyal to him.

The military regulations of the Pei family army were also established by Pei Qinghe. Over the past few years, everyone has trained during the day and studied, learned to read, and memorized the military regulations at night. Anyone who disobeys orders is expelled from Pei Family Village. Those who steal, rob, or commit other evil deeds are all hung under a tree in the north of the village without exception.

The strict military regulations had long been integrated into the lives of everyone in the Pei family army and imprinted in their minds.

As soon as Sun Cheng mentioned military regulations, everyone immediately became obedient. After following them from a distance, the Fanyang army couldn't hold back any longer. Soon, a bunch of their accomplices appeared, brandishing their knives and shouting as they charged over.

"Leave now!"

Sun Cheng shouted and spurred his horse to gallop away.

The people behind him ran after Sun Cheng without hesitation.

They were on horseback, and the Fanyang army behind them were all infantry, so they couldn't catch up at all. They stopped cursing and swearing after a short while.

Foul language drifted on the wind into everyone's ears. They were furious, wishing they could turn their horses around and charge. But Sun Cheng ignored them, continuing to gallop forward, so they had no choice but to keep following.

After galloping for twenty miles, Sun Chengcai told everyone to stop.

When the Fanyang army approached, Sun Cheng led his men on horseback to harass them, but did not actually attack, continuing to keep the group in suspense.

The soldiers of Fanyang's army, having failed to lure the enemy, were instead quite angry. Unfortunately, the infantry couldn't catch them, and the elite cavalry stayed firmly by General Lü's side.

The military commander leading the infantry, furious, went to General Lü to request permission to send out cavalry to capture the Pei family army that kept stroking his beard.

General Lü sneered, "I ordered you to lure the enemy, but you got so caught up in the enemy's trap that you became really angry. You're utterly useless!"

The military officer who was called a good-for-nothing was full of resentment but dared not utter a word.

General Lü stroked his beard and sighed, "Pei Qinghe actually has a master of military strategy under his command. This battle will not be easy."

"Pei Qinghe is quite composed for his young age. Our strategy of luring the enemy is useless. Very well, issue my order: from today onwards, march at full speed straight for the Pei family army!"

Kill Pei Qinghe and crush the Pei family army. The entire Yan County is like a piece of fat meat on the table; we can eat it whenever we want.

The marching speed of the Fanyang army suddenly increased.

Sun Cheng also abandoned his plan to lure and harass the enemy, and rode back to Peijia Village at full speed. He had been riding for a day and a night without sleep, and his face was flushed from exhaustion: "Sixth Miss, the Fanyang army will arrive in less than two days."

Pei Qinghe smiled at Sun Cheng: "Chief Sun, you lured the enemy here well. Go and rest for a day, get plenty of sleep and food before you come back."

War is a real battle, involving bloodshed and desperate fighting. Before a battle, one must eat well, sleep well, and conserve energy. Sun Cheng didn't mince words; he agreed and went back to his room, where he slept soundly for a whole day. After waking up, he ate a large bowl of noodles and then went back to sleep.

In the past few days, Pei Qinghe ordered the kitchen to cook at full capacity, ensuring everyone was well-fed. The grain in the storerooms was being consumed at an alarming rate, and even the cured meat stored for over half a year was brought out. The Fanyang army had reached a point fifty li away.

Pei Jiajun enjoyed a delicious meal of cured pork rice.

Twelve-year-old Pei Xuan has a sweet and lovely appearance, but she has a big appetite and ate three bowls of cured pork rice.

Eleven-year-old Pei Feng, handsome and aloof, ate half a bowl more than Pei Xuan before putting down his chopsticks.

Pei Xuan scoffed, "What's so special about comparing appetites? This time, when we fight the Fanyang army, we'll both be on the front lines. We'll see who cuts down the most heads."

Pei Feng scoffed, "Let's compete then. Whoever loses is a dog."

The four-and-a-half-year-old puppy came running over happily with his food bowl in his hand: "Uncle, what did you call me for?"

Everyone burst into laughter, and the tense atmosphere eased considerably.

Pei Qinghe smiled and waved to the puppy: "Listen to your aunt, after you finish eating, go hide in the cellar. You can come out after we win the battle."

The puppy nodded obediently.

Six-year-old Xiaoyuer, holding the dog's hand, Xiaowan'er, with her younger brother Peiwang, and the children born in the past few years, were all sent to the cellar.

The entrance to this cellar is under Pei Qinghe's bed in his room. Years ago, Pei Yun led people to dig a small cellar specifically for storing gold and silver. Later, this cellar was continuously expanded, becoming more and more spacious. All the children under the age of ten in Pei Family Village were sent here.

The cellar contained seven days' worth of dry rations and water for the children, and even some dried fruit and meat.

Pei Qinghe instructed nine-year-old Pei Yue: "Keep an eye on them. No matter what's going on outside, they mustn't come out."

Pei Yue was chubby and handsome when he was little, but even at nine years old, he was still as round as a lump of dough. At this moment, his handsome round face was tense: "Don't worry, Cousin Qinghe, I will definitely keep a close eye on them."

She paused, then whispered, "When can I fight alongside my cousin?"

Pei Qinghe pinched Pei Yue's chubby cheeks: "Wait until you're over ten years old."

Pei Yue's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. Then, he bid farewell to his murderous cousins ​​with an envious look.

Fanyang's army arrived twenty miles away.

Pei Qinghe ordered the doors to be sealed, and everyone was to stay inside and not go out. Five archer battalions each squatted on the wall, holding bows and arrows, while the rest of the Pei family soldiers gripped their long swords or spears, waiting quietly for the enemy to arrive.

Fanyang's army arrived five miles away.

The sound of the warhorses galloping caused the ground to tremble slightly.

Pei Yan licked her lips and whispered to Pei Qinghe beside her, "If I die, bury me under the tree north of Pei Family Village."

Mao Hongling's heart was pounding, and her palms were sweaty. She whispered to Pei Qinghe, "If anything happens to me, I'll entrust the puppy to you."

War is never a pleasant thing. Some are wounded, some die. Many members of the Pei family died, and even more of the Pei family army perished in battle.

Pei Qinghe listened intently to the sounds of the warhorses: "Enough with the chit-chat, the Fanyang army is here!"

(End of this chapter)