Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 463 Destiny (Part 1)

"This is a national war, with both sides having hundreds of thousands of troops. It's laughable to think you can win with any tricks or schemes when such a massive battle is going to happen."

Pei Qinghe stood before the assembled generals, his eyes gleaming, his voice cold and stern: "The outcome of this battle will depend on which side has the superior, stronger, and more valiant troops!"

Are you confident you can win this battle?

Pei Yan, whose left leg injury had not yet fully healed, was the first to shout: "The Pei family army will win!"

Pei Yun, Pei Feng, and the others shouted in unison, "The Pei family army will surely win!"

Military generals like Song Lu also shouted, "Our army will surely win!"

Pei Qinghe's eyes gleamed, and he raised his voice: "I personally wrote the challenge and sent it to Situ Xi. Let's see if he dares to send troops to fight!"

In front of all the military generals, Pei Qinghe picked up his brush and wrote the challenge in one stroke.

The best candidate to deliver the challenge should have been Pei Yan. However, Pei Yan's leg injury had not yet healed.

Pei Qinghe's gaze swept over the several Pei clan youths beside her.

Suddenly, a sixteen-year-old girl stepped forward, cupped her hands in a gesture of respect, and volunteered: "I am willing to deliver a declaration of war to the Emperor's imperial guards! Please grant my request, Your Majesty!"

The young girl had delicate features and a spirited look in her eyes; she was none other than Pei Wan, nicknamed "Little Qinghe"!

Pei Qinghe's heart stirred slightly.

Another boy stepped forward: "I'm here, there's no reason for a junior to take the lead. Cousin Qinghe, let me go!"

This young man, a year older than Pei Wan but a generation older, had a handsome face that was slightly rounded, and his eyes shone brightly. It was Pei Yue.

Fei Lin, in his early twenties, was itching to make a move, but the steady Song Dalang tugged at his sleeve.

The Emperor is going to issue a challenge to Situ Xi, and such a task naturally falls to a direct descendant of the Pei family. Didn't you see that even Mao Hongling didn't say a word? Pei Yun and Pei Feng are in command of an army, Pei Yan is injured, and either Pei Yue or Pei Wan can go. It's not their place to compete for this dangerous and eye-catching glamorous task.

Fei Lin understood and pulled his foot back.

Sure enough, Pei Qinghe made a decision in a moment: "Pei Yue, Pei Wan, you two will go together. When you arrive at the enemy camp, you must be neither humble nor arrogant, and you must not disgrace the Pei family!"

Pei Yue and Pei Wan accepted the order in a loud voice.

After galloping out of the city gate of Mo City, the horse galloped for more than an hour and entered the guard area of ​​the Imperial Guard camp.

A patrol of cavalry quickly charged over. A hundred paces away, they raised their arrows and aimed at the spirited young man and woman: "Who goes there? State your names!"

This cavalry unit had more than twenty men. If they fired several arrows at once, they could shoot the two boys off their horses.

Under the threat of the cavalry's arrows poised to be fired, Pei Wan took out a black Pei-character flag from the pack on her horse's back, held it in her right hand, and waved it, silently announcing her identity.

Pei Yue said loudly, "We are messengers from the Pei family army, here to deliver a declaration of war to General Situ!"

The cavalrymen were somewhat surprised and quickly looked at the cavalry captain: "These two have come to deliver a declaration of war!"

"What should we do? Should we shoot them and send their heads to the general?"

The cavalry captain's face darkened, and he glared angrily: "In war, envoys are not to be killed. Don't you even know such a simple battlefield rule? We are the imperial guards here for the Northern Expedition, to unify the world honorably. How can we imitate the behavior of those bandits and rebels!"

"Put down your arrows, all of you!" The Imperial Guard was, after all, the army that once protected the capital, and the most elite and proud regular army left behind by the Jing Dynasty. After being scolded by their captain, the cavalrymen sheepishly put away their bows and arrows.

The cavalry captain rode forward and, upon learning Pei Yue and Pei Wan's identities, was also taken aback. The Pei family army was renowned throughout the land for its rigorous recruitment and training, and its unparalleled combat prowess. However, the true members of the Pei family within the army were actually quite few. At most, including all the women of the Pei family, there were only two or three hundred.

The handsome young man before them was Emperor Zhaoyuan's direct cousin, and the beautiful and spirited young woman was Emperor Zhaoyuan's niece; both were true heirs of the Pei family. They showed no fear of the imperial guards, delivering a declaration of war under the watchful eyes of thousands of soldiers. They certainly had guts!

"May I ask where General Situ is?" Pei Yue's gaze was arrogant, and his voice boomed: "I have come by order of the Emperor to deliver a declaration of war!"

They've already dared to come? How can we not let them see the General?
The cavalry captain said, "I will take you to see the general! You are not allowed to carry weapons!"

Pei Yue disarmed himself and threw his weapon off his horse.

Pei Wan also threw her usual longsword and bow and arrows to the ground.

Like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, the two Pei youths, unarmed, rode into the Imperial Guard camp. Under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Guard soldiers, they arrived outside the central command tent.

The cavalry captain went in to deliver a message, and returned a moment later, leading two men into the military tent.

General Situ was summoning a group of military officers to discuss the war when he heard that the Pei family had come to deliver a letter of challenge. He sneered, "Today I want to see what kind of letter of challenge Pei Qinghe will send."

As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Yue and Pei Wan walked in with their heads held high.

The military officers erupted in commotion. Some looked at the barely grown-up Pei Yue with disdain, some eyed the pretty Pei Wan with ill intent, and others burst into laughter: "Is the Pei family out of talent? They actually sent two greenhorns to deliver a message!"

"Isn't that right? There's even a woman here! Hahaha!"

Young and impetuous Pei Yuejun's face turned red with anger. Pei Wan, who was behind him, spoke first: "Emperor Zhaoyuan established the Pei family army, destroyed mountain bandits, recruited refugees and trained an elite army, killed the Zhang family father and son, defeated the Xiongnu cavalry, and was enthroned as the Emperor of the North."

"General Pei Yun commands the Bohai Navy, General Mao Hongling guards Pei Family Village, General Pei Xuan commands the Fanyang Army, and General Gu Lian leads the Runan Army. A few days ago, they led a cavalry raid on the Imperial Guard camp at night; it was Commander Pei Yan who did it!"

"I am but a junior member of the Pei family, not yet fit for great responsibility, so I have come to deliver a challenge to General Situ! After a few years of training, I will be able to lead troops into battle and accompany Emperor Zhaoyuan to destroy the Xiongnu!"

"In the Pei family army, women are just as capable as men, and there are many female generals. How can sparrows know the ambitions of swans! You are ignorant and mock me for being a woman, but I will not argue with you."

The laughter of the military generals abruptly stopped.

General Situ's smile froze: "What a silver tongue!"

Pei Wan coldly replied, "My longsword was thrown away. Otherwise, I could ask General Situ for advice now and show him that I, Pei Wan, am not only eloquent, but also as sharp as a longsword!"

The group of warriors remained silent.

Even General Situ could no longer laugh.

Pei Yue stepped forward and took out the challenge letter, which had been warmed by his body heat, from his bosom: "This is the challenge letter. Please take a look, General Situ."

General Situ's personal guard stepped forward, took the challenge letter, and handed it to General Situ.

Situ Xi's gaze sharpened.

The challenge was only two lines long.

Two days later, at the hour of Shen (3-5 PM), each side sent out troops twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers) to fight a decisive battle.

Those who are destined by Heaven will gain the world.