Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 414 The Great Battle (Part Two)

The Xiongnu cavalry were unparalleled in the world, dominating the grasslands for centuries, and entering the northern lands was like entering their own backyard. With such a large-scale cavalry attack, how could they possibly fail?

General Punu, the Xiongnu commander, raised his sharp scimitar and roared at the Xiongnu generals: "The Pei family army has been mobilized! Men, be alert and win this battle! Gold, silver, grain, women—you'll have everything you need!"

The Xiongnu generals shouted in the Xiongnu language that they had won a great victory.

A large-scale battle is not something that can be accomplished overnight. From above, the Xiongnu cavalry, clad in black soft armor, first charged towards the gates of Qi County. Soon after, the Beiping and Fanyang armies, dressed in grey uniforms, arrived like a flood. The clash between cavalry and infantry was bloody and brutal, filled with bloodshed and death.

Twenty miles away, the Xiongnu cavalry received news that Pei's elite troops had been dispatched. Urged by Pu Nu, the Xiongnu cavalry shouted angrily and spurred their horses toward Qi County.

Pei's army adopted an attack stance, showing no fear of the cavalry charge. The two sides collided heavily like two tightly clenched fists.

First, the black torrent suppressed the gray torrent. After a large amount of blood gushed out, the gray and black mixed together. The gray was not overwhelmed; instead, it tightly bound the black, and then, like a millstone, ground out countless pieces of flesh and blood.

Under the banner bearing the character "Pei," Pei Qinghe sat on horseback, gazing into the distance.

Pei Yan asked impatiently, "Is it time to set out?"

"Wait a little longer!" Pei Qinghe's eyes flashed, and she gripped the hilt of her knife tightly with her right hand.

She appeared calm and composed on the surface. But how could she not be nervous and apprehensive before such a great battle? In her previous life, she had led a maximum of 20,000 men against the Bohai Army. Now, she was the commander-in-chief, leading over 60,000 men in a decisive battle against more than 20,000 Xiongnu cavalry.

From the moment the decision to send troops was made, her heart trembled. In war, no one can claim certain victory. On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes; anyone can die. She, too, could die on the battlefield.

She could not and was unwilling to back down; this battle was inevitable!

The battle cries were deafening. Xiongnu barbarians were slain and fell from their horses, while Pei family soldiers were trampled to death by horses' hooves. Countless lives were being lost.

Feng Chang took a deep breath and silently counted in his mind. When he reached two hundred, Pei Qinghe's cold and sharp voice rang in his ears: "The time has come. Everyone, follow me and march out!"

Feng Chang heard his own blood gushing out, heard his own screams echoing at the top of his lungs. At this moment, his thoughts and body seemed to separate. His soul, floating in the air, calmly watched his body charge forward.

Rush!
kill!

Gu Lian didn't have as much inner turmoil as Feng Chang. She wielded a knife and slashed at the Xiongnu barbarians while shouting to boost the morale of the crowd.

Then look at Pei Yan, who, along with Yang Huai, followed Pei Qinghe, fighting fiercely on either side of her. She silently protected Pei Qinghe.

They all knew very well that Pei Qinghe was the commander-in-chief of the Pei family army, and even more so, the soul of the army. The death of anyone else wouldn't affect the overall situation, but Pei Qinghe absolutely could not be harmed.

Pei Qinghe was clearly not used to hiding behind anyone. After the initial close combat, she immediately brandished her sword and led the Pei family army in a fierce and fearless charge.

With a flash of the longsword, the head of a Xiongnu barbarian fell to the ground.

Pei Qinghe was infamous among the Xiongnu cavalry. Wherever she went, the Xiongnu barbarians fled in terror. She led her troops in continued charge, like a sharp dagger piercing deep into the heart of the Xiongnu cavalry.

General Pu Nu, who had been observing the battle from the rear, keenly noticed the changes on the battlefield: "What's going on? Why has the Pei family army suddenly become so fierce? Go and see what's happening immediately."

A moment later, the personal guard hurriedly rode back, his breath ragged: "Reporting to the general! Pei Qinghe personally led the troops in the attack! Those Pei family soldiers are like madmen, none of them are afraid of death. Our cavalry, on the other hand, are being slaughtered and are in a bit of a disarray."

The narrow road meets the brave to win!

Warfare is all about this one last breath. Whoever can hold out gains the upper hand. Conversely, once that breath weakens, or fear takes hold, the thought of fleeing arises. It was only because General Punu was personally leading the charge that the Xiongnu barbarians were able to escape. Under normal circumstances, they would have already started running away.

Pu Nu's face was ashen, as black as the bottom of a pot. He coldly ordered, "Pass on my military order: no one is allowed to retreat. Anyone who retreats will be executed immediately!"

The messenger responded and went to relay the order.

However, the battlefield was too chaotic to effectively transmit military orders.

Punu simply dispatched a supervisory team, and anyone who dared to retreat or attempt to flee was immediately killed with a sword.

"General, this is bad! Pei Qinghe is leading his troops and charging over!" Several guards shouted. "General Pu Nu, retreat quickly!"

Pu Nu was also provoked into a ferocious rage, grinning maliciously: "We can't retreat! Where is Pei Qinghe? I'll kill her first!"

As the commander-in-chief of the Xiongnu army, Punu was no ordinary man. He was the most valiant general under the Xiongnu Khan, deeply trusted and valued by him. Two years ago, after suffering a major defeat with heavy losses, the Xiongnu Khan was furious but did not severely punish him. This year, he was once again appointed as the commander-in-chief.

He could only wash away the shame of defeat by winning a major victory and seizing a large amount of money, grain, and slaves.

Punu's weapon was a scimitar, a common weapon used by Xiongnu cavalry. Punu's scimitar was a gift from the Xiongnu Khan, forged from fine iron and extremely sharp. It had undoubtedly drunk the blood of countless people of Jingchao.

Pu Nu wanted to personally attack and kill Pei Qinghe, so hundreds of his personal guards immediately gathered and rushed towards Pei Qinghe along with their commander.

Pu Nu bowed slightly, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, fixed on Pei Qinghe's figure.

Pei Qinghe sneered, urging his horse forward while drawing his bow and shooting an arrow.

Punu reacted with lightning speed, swiftly ducking on his horse to avoid the deadly arrow. He then fired a shot of his own, this time aimed at his warhorse.

The steed that accompanied Pei Qinghe on his campaigns suddenly pierced his belly with an arrow, neighing in agony, and Pei Qinghe's body trembled.

Pei Yan was shocked and desperately reached out to grab Pei Qinghe: "Hurry up and get to me right away."

Using the pull, Pei Qinghe flipped and leaped behind Pei Yan. The warhorse, shot in the belly, fell heavily to the ground.

If Pei Yan hadn't reached out in time, and if Pei Qinghe hadn't reacted quickly, Pei Qinghe would have fallen off the warhorse at that moment.

Pei Qinghe's back was covered in cold sweat, but his face remained expressionless. He spurred his horse forward and shouted, "Follow me to kill the enemy!"

The distance closed rapidly, and Pu Nu had no time to fire a second arrow. He threw down his bow and arrow with a cold smile and charged forward, brandishing his scimitar.

Pei Qinghe coldly drew her long sword.

Pei Yan let out a sinister laugh and swung his sword first. Pu Nu flicked his wrist, and his curved blade collided head-on with Pei Yan's longsword, producing an extremely piercing sound.

Pei Yan's right hand trembled, and the long sword almost slipped from her grasp.

Seeing that Pu Nu had made a second strike, Pei Qinghe immediately raised her sword to meet it, blocking the attack for Pei Yan.

(End of this chapter)