Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 362 The Surprise Attack (Part Two)

This wasn't Shi Yan's first time accompanying the army on a campaign, and he was quite accustomed to the battlefield. During battles, he would voluntarily hide, and once the fighting was over, he would immediately go about his duties.

"More than a dozen grain carts were burned." Shi Yan remained relatively calm. "About ten percent of them were burned."

Pei Yunsong breathed a sigh of relief: "The damage isn't too severe."

The wagons transporting grain were all equipped with a secret method used by the Shi family. The wagons were covered with a layer of oilcloth, which protected them from wind, rain, and fire. Even if one wagon caught fire, the fire would not spread extensively.

Shi Yan said in a low voice, "We have already entered the sphere of influence of the Bohai Navy. Such a surprise attack could happen once and then again. I'm afraid they'll be after our supplies every time."

Pei Yun nodded slightly: "We need to settle the army down as soon as possible."

He turned to Pei Yan and said, "Send someone to deliver a message to the general, asking him to make a decision as soon as possible."

Pei Yan and Yang Huai arrived with their cavalry battalion and had no intention of leaving. They conveniently replenished the forces escorting the supplies.

The messenger, who had been running back and forth for almost a day, returned the following afternoon with Pei Qinghe's message: "The general has ordered us to continue forward for another day and stop when we reach the county town ahead. The army is to take the county town and use it as a military camp."

This is also standard practice for large armies on the march. Setting up camp takes too much time and consumes too much supplies. Occupying a county town is much simpler, as there are existing city walls that can be slightly raised and reinforced. There are also houses to live in, readily available water sources, and so on.

When there were no men left to fight, they would simply conscript men from the local area. When there was no food, they would plunder the grain from the people. There were also even worse pre-war practices, such as allowing soldiers to abuse women in the city.

The Pei family army has strict discipline, and none of the above are allowed.

Pei Yun received confirmation but did not dare to relax. That night, she and Pei Yan took turns leading the troops on night watch.

At this time, Pei Qinghe had already led his troops to besiege An County.

This county town, eighty li from Bohai Commandery, was ideal as a temporary camp for the Pei family army. Coincidentally, the invincible general of yesteryear also took a liking to this place, and his iron hooves, boasting an army of one hundred thousand, trampled through the gates of An County. After occupying An County, Tao Wudi allowed his soldiers to commit atrocities. The poor, innocent civilians were trampled and humiliated; when rations were scarce, they were reduced to being slaughtered and boiled like sheep.

After the battle was over, Tao Wudi led his troops to retreat, and An County became almost a ghost town.

In recent years, some homeless migrants have moved to An County. This once deserted town has gradually become more populated. The original permanent population numbered around 60,000 to 70,000; now it's estimated to be around 10,000.

The Pei family army's banners fluttered outside the city gates, and the dark mass of soldiers roared with battle cries.

Dozens of soldiers guarding the city were so frightened that their legs went weak, and they hid behind the city gate, not daring to utter a sound.

Pei Qinghe sent Tao Feng, the loudest among them, to challenge them. Tao Feng had an extraordinary experience of verbal battles with the Xiongnu, and now he roared so loudly that it almost shook the city gates: "General Pei has led a large army here. If you open the city gates and surrender, not one of you will be killed."

"If you resist to the bitter end, you will all die after the army breaches the city!"

"Surrender without killing!"

Tens of thousands of elite soldiers shouted in unison.

The city gates seemed to be trembling incessantly.

"What...what should we do? Surrender or not?" Inside the city gate, a low-ranking military officer guarding the gate asked his subordinates with a mournful face.

The Pei family army is renowned; who dares to fight them?

Who wants to die?
"Surrender!" a city guard said in a trembling voice. "General Pei never kills surrendered soldiers! If we surrender, we'll have a chance to live!"

"If we open the city gates and surrender, General Zhang will not spare us!" The defending general said bitterly.

"We can't worry about that now. Every day we live is a day we die." "Surrender and you'll die; don't surrender and you'll die now. Let's surrender first!"

No one was worried about being slaughtered after the city gates were opened. General Pei was a man of his word; if he said he wouldn't kill those who surrendered, he definitely wouldn't.

As for the city's inhabitants, they huddled in their homes, trembling with fear. The despair of being slaughtered like pigs and dogs a few years ago had once again enveloped them.

Pei Qinghe said to Tao Feng, "Go and announce that if the city gates are not opened within half an hour, the Pei family army will begin the attack. After breaking through the city gates, do not harm the civilians, and kill all the guards."

When it came to killing, Pei Qinghe never hesitated.

Tao Feng, his face contorted with murderous intent, accepted the order, mounted his horse, and shouted at the top of his lungs. Before he could finish speaking, the city gates opened.

Dozens of city guards came out tremblingly, put their weapons on the ground, and knelt down together.

Pei Qinghe looked at Pei Xuan: "Go and disarm them."

Pei Xuan bowed and accepted the order, leading her men forward to collect all the broken weapons. Dozens of city guards were also bound hand and foot, resembling a string of gourds.

Pei Qinghe led his army into the city gate of An County.

Sun Cheng led his vanguard battalion on a round trip through An County. Several hundred cavalrymen rode their warhorses through the streets, both to familiarize themselves with the terrain and to intimidate the local populace.

The people hiding in their homes were filled with fear, awaiting their impending tragic fate. Some children cried in terror, some women hurriedly smeared their faces with soot, and some fiercely independent women gripped their scissors tightly, ready to rush out and fight those shameless soldiers the moment the door was broken down.

They waited and waited, until it got dark, but no one broke down the door.

However, they still dared not relax and moved heavy objects such as tables and chairs in their home behind the door to block it.

At this moment, Pei Qinghe had already entered the county government office.

The county government office in An County was completely ransacked a few years ago. The newly appointed magistrate, surnamed Zeng, looked to be in his fifties. Behind him were several women with their heads bowed; they were all his family members.

Pei Qinghe had no intention of going on a killing spree. He said calmly, "The Pei family army has occupied An County as their military camp. I'll give you two options: you can leave the city with your entire family. If you want to stay, you'll all have to stay in the prison for now. I'll release you after the war is over."

Magistrate Zeng, a civil official, trembled with fear at the sight of the menacing-looking military officers. He instinctively blurted out, "This humble official shall leave..."

"Master! We'll stay!" A trembling woman's voice suddenly rang out from among the women.

Pei Qinghe's brows twitched slightly as she looked in the direction of the sound.

Pei Xuan and Pei Feng were also somewhat surprised and looked over together.

The beautiful woman in her thirties mustered her courage and looked up, her face streaked with tears and filled with shame.

"Third Aunt!" Pei Xuan blurted out, "How come it's you!"

This woman was none other than Xu, who had feigned death and escaped during her exile years ago.

More than seven years have passed since they last met. Madam Xu has gained some weight and her complexion is quite rosy. She is wearing silk clothes, so it seems that she is doing quite well.

Magistrate Zeng was shocked and suddenly turned his head: "What third aunt! You...you said you had no family? How...how are you involved with the Pei family army?"

A woman in her fifties also looked up, her eyes filled with anger: "Master, I've said it before, this Xu woman is no good. Now she's even attracted the Pei family army!"

(End of this chapter)