Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 490 Extra Chapter: Fierce Battle (Part Two)
The four garrison forces in Youzhou had a history of joint operations and a clear division of labor. Yang Hu was in charge of defense and strategy, Meng Liulang was in charge of offense, and Li Chi and Pei Xuan could lead troops to defend the city or go out to fight.

Once the order was given, the cavalrymen immediately set out with six or seven days' worth of rations and enough hay for their warhorses to eat for several days. The next day at dawn, all three cavalry units set out.

Yang Hu assigned his 5,000 cavalry to the Fanyang army, whose cavalry was the weakest. All the infantry from the four armies converged in Beiping County, where Yang Hu led the defense of the city.

Yang Hu appeared calm on the surface, but was actually filled with anxiety and unease.

The last major battle like this was more than eight years ago. That year, Pei Qinghe led a large army on the road, and they fought desperately to hold off the Xiongnu army. Lü Feng died in that battle.

Many years later, the Xiongnu Khan Morton personally led his army to invade the northern lands, claiming to have 100,000 cavalry. That number is certainly exaggerated; there were at least 70,000 to 80,000 elite troops.

Their four garrisons combined had over 20,000 cavalry and over 30,000 infantry. While their forces were considerable, more than enough to defend the city, they were insufficient to support large-scale cavalry battles.

This time, we have to divide our forces into three routes. If they are defeated one by one and completely routed, not only will years of hard work be wasted, but morale will also be severely damaged. How can we fight the next battle then?
Even if you're crippled on one or two roads, it's still excruciating pain.

But this risk had to be taken. He couldn't stand by and watch the county town be massacred, he couldn't abandon the people, and he couldn't betray the trust and entrustment of Emperor Zhaoyuan.

It was his decision to wage war. Regardless of victory or defeat, he had to take responsibility.

By day, Yang Hu patrolled the military camps and inspected the city walls, his face radiating confidence and composure. But at night, he lay awake all night, unable to sleep, and lost clumps of hair.

Pei Zhi was always willful. After marrying Yang Hu, she would give her husband some face in public, but she often bullied him in private. Seeing Yang Hu like this now, she felt quite sorry for him and whispered to comfort him, "We will definitely win this battle. Don't be too anxious."

Yang Hu sighed with a bitter smile, "I firmly believe that final victory will belong to us. But war is the cruelest thing in the world, and I don't know how many people will die. I sent the three of them to lead the cavalry out of the city to fight fiercely. If anything happens to any of them, it will be my fault."

Pei Zhi hugged Yang Hu: "There are always deaths in war. Even if one of them is unfortunately killed in battle, they will never blame you."

Yang Hu felt much better after being gently comforted by his wife. He reached out and stroked Pei Zhi's pregnant belly: "You're five months pregnant and you still have to go to war with me. I wonder if this baby will be a boy or a girl."

Pei Zhi laughed: "We already have two sons. It would be best if this baby was a girl."

Pei Yun and Pei Yan were both unwilling to have children. Pei Qinghe gave birth to a daughter, Pei Xuan gave birth to a son, but Pei Zhi was already pregnant with her third child.

Six or seven days later, news came back that the Beiping army had been the first to defeat the Xiongnu barbarians.

Yang Hu's anxious mood, which had been turbulent for several days, suddenly eased. He smiled at Pei Zhi and said, "As expected, Meng Liulang is still the bravest in battle. He faced Batel, who had the most cavalry, and he did not lose at all in cavalry combat. He fought for two days and pursued him for two more days, making Batel flee in a sorry state."

Besides the Pei family army, the Beiping army was recognized as the elite force of the north. Meng Liulang was the most famous and fierce general in the north. Except for Pei Yan, who was dissatisfied, all the other military officers were convinced.

Meng Liulang made a great contribution by defeating a group of Xiongnu cavalry, which greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers defending the city.

However, devastating news followed immediately. Li Chi led his troops into battle against Xu Bu, suffering a crushing defeat in the cavalry engagement. Li Chi was struck by two arrows and escaped under the protection of his personal guards. He developed a high fever on the way back to the city and died.

The body was indeed returned.

With red eyes, Yang Hu collected Li Chi's body and buried him. Li Chi had made arrangements before the battle: if he died on the battlefield, his niece Li Si would take over command of the Liaoxi Army.

Li Si is the eldest daughter of Li Chi's cousin. At the age of thirteen, she went to Yan County and served as a personal guard for Pei Qinghe for several years, fighting in both the Imperial Guard and the Jiangnan Army. At the beginning of this year, she left the personal guard camp and returned to the Liaoxi Army.

Emperor Zhaoyuan had many female generals under his command, so it was only natural for Li Si to take command of the Liaoxi Army. Eighteen-year-old Li Si, dressed in white mourning clothes, knelt before her uncle's grave, crying until her voice was hoarse.

No matter how much grief we feel, we must suppress it and continue fighting.

Fortunately, the last leg of the battle went relatively smoothly. The Fanyang army already had 5,000 cavalry, plus another 5,000 cavalry from the Guangning army, totaling 10,000 troops. Their strength was nearly twice that of the enemy. They gained the upper hand from the start. The garrison in the county town also did a good job, defending the city with all their might until reinforcements arrived.

After being defeated, Tu Qi was unwilling to give up and sent troops again, only to be defeated once more by Pei Xuan's army.

Lu Sheng was wounded but rescued. Unable to move, he stayed in the county town to recuperate. Pei Xuan led his troops in pursuit of Tu Qi for a day, killing more than a thousand Xiongnu barbarians.

Ultimately, the western county fell into the hands of the Xiongnu barbarians. The Xiongnu barbarians massacred the county, looted all the money and grain, and also took away the women and able-bodied men. The county was set on fire and burned for several days and nights.

The firelight illuminated half the sky, accompanied by black smoke and the mournful cries of death, all of which came into Pei Qinghe's view.

Today, Pei's army finally arrived in Beiping County.

Pei Qinghe stood on the city wall, gazing westward into the distance, her face as cold as ice.

Standing behind Pei Qinghe, Yang Hu's eyes were red, and his face was full of self-blame: "It's all my fault for poor command and improper troop deployment. Li Chi's defeat and death, and the massacre of the western county town, are all my fault."

Pei Qinghe let out a deep breath: "You have done enough. Even if I were here, I could not stand by and watch the people suffer, so I had to send troops to their aid. Of the three reinforcements, two were victorious and only one was defeated. We have the upper hand."

However, Li Chi was killed in battle, and of the six thousand cavalry, only two thousand returned, suffering a loss of four thousand. It was a truly heart-wrenching pain!
The massacre in Xilu County, where tens of thousands of people perished, is truly heartbreaking!

Pei Qinghe said to Yang Hu, "The army will rest for several days before setting out again. Issue my military order to have the Beiping and Fanyang armies return immediately. I will personally lead the cavalry to destroy the Xiongnu Khan."

Yang Hu bowed and agreed.

After descending the city wall, Pei Qinghe went to Li Chi's grave to pay her respects.

Li Si, dressed in white, also came along.

Pei Qinghe placed the yellow papers one by one into the flames, and said without turning her head, "Li Si, the Liaoxi army suffered heavy casualties in this battle. You will stay in the city to guard it."

Li Si replied, "This humble general is going to kill Xubu to avenge my uncle. I beg Your Majesty to allow this humble general to join the expedition!"

Pei Qinghe turned her head.

The young and spirited Li Si, with a stubborn and persistent expression, pleaded again: "This humble general has a younger sister. If this humble general dies on the battlefield, let Li Yi take over the Liaoxi Army!"

Li Yi is Li Chi's daughter, fifteen years old this year, and she is also in the Emperor's Personal Guard Camp.

Pei Qinghe sighed silently, but finally nodded in approval.

(End of this chapter)