Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 492 Extra Chapter: Fierce Battle (Part 4)
Pei Feng is twenty-three years old this year. He has been leading troops on his own for eight years and has long been honed to the point of prowess. He has four thousand cavalrymen under his command, Gu Lian has five thousand cavalrymen, and Sun Cheng also has five thousand cavalrymen. In addition, Zhao Hehua leads three thousand cavalrymen, for a total force of seventeen thousand.

Nearly 20,000 cavalrymen clashed with the Xiongnu cavalry led by Huhanye.

Like two solid boulders crashing together with earth-shattering force, in an instant, flesh and blood flew everywhere and blood splattered into the sky. The mournful cries of warhorses falling to the ground mingled with the screams of cavalrymen being trampled on as they landed, creating a terrifying war song.

Pei Feng was stabbed in the left arm, blood gushing out, and he had no time to bandage it. He continued to wield his sword with his right hand to kill the enemy.

Gu Lian was even more ruthless on the battlefield than Pei Feng. Wang Erhe was her personal guard commander, always by her side.

Sun Cheng had an old injury to his right leg, but it didn't really affect his ability to ride a horse and fight. He was the most calm and clear-headed, and while fighting, he ordered his troops to wave their own flags so that the soldiers behind him could gather more quickly.

This was Zhao Hehua's first time participating in such a major battle. Three years ago, Pei Yun was left behind by Emperor Zhaoyuan to guard Luoyang. Pei Yun pleaded with the emperor for favor, and Zhao Hehua, as Pei Yun's trusted and beloved general, was promoted several ranks and became the commander of the Bohai Navy.

Pei Feng was a member of the Pei family, Gu Lian was the most senior, and Sun Chengli had the most military achievements. Zhao Hehua, however, was the daughter of an ordinary family in Beiping County. She started as a lowly female soldier and worked her way up to where she was today. She was the most respected figure among the lower-ranking female soldiers.

Over the past three years, Zhao Hehua recruited many new soldiers, with women making up 40% of them. This proportion was the highest among all armies.

Female soldiers are naturally physically weaker than their male counterparts, making them vulnerable during cavalry charges. Zhao Hehua therefore focused on improving the female soldiers' equipment. For example, their warhorses were equipped with an extra layer of soft armor, and the female soldiers carried bows, arrows, swords, spears, and several short spears. These spears were made of bamboo with sharpened tips, designed to be hurled during rapid charges specifically to engage enemy warhorses.

The sharp bamboo spear pierced the cold wind and struck the warhorse's belly, instantly tearing open the skin and causing blood to gush out. Although it couldn't kill the warhorse immediately, the injury and fright of the horse could have a fatal impact on the cavalry.

Zhao Hehua's cavalry had the fewest men, but suffered the most wounded horses and killed the most Xiongnu cavalry in this cavalry battle.

After fighting for half a day, Huhanye finally couldn't hold out any longer and led his cavalry in a retreat.

As darkness fell, Pei Feng, Gu Lian, Sun Cheng, and Zhao Hehua returned to the city victorious.

After winning the battle, all the generals were beaming with joy.

Pei Qinghe noticed Pei Feng's left arm stained red and frowned abruptly: "Pei Feng, don't try to tough it out just because you're young. Go get your wound treated right away."

The usually cold and proud General Pei Feng became as meek as a lamb in front of Pei Qinghe, immediately responding and obediently going to treat his injuries.

Pei Qinghe smiled and praised Gu Lian and Sun Cheng for their bravery.

Gu Lian and Sun Cheng exchanged a glance and said with a smile, "We are ashamed to say that our contributions this time are not as great as General Zhao's."

"General Zhao prepared a large number of short spears, which he threw out during the cavalry charge, wounding many of the Xiongnu warhorses. This severely suppressed the Xiongnu barbarians' morale. Later, during the pursuit, he personally cut down the Xiongnu military flag and killed a Xiongnu general!"

The younger generation surpasses the older. The valiant Gu Lian and the experienced Sun Cheng both held Zhao Hehua, their junior, in high esteem.

Pei Qinghe smiled and looked at Zhao Hehua: "General Zhao has made a great contribution, and I have noted it all down. We will reward those who have rendered meritorious service after this battle!"

Zhao Hehua joined the army at sixteen and is now twenty-eight, in the prime of her life. Slender and with a slightly dark complexion from years of sun exposure, she has long, narrow eyes. While not exceptionally beautiful, she possesses the vibrant spirit characteristic of a female general. Zhao Hehua usually guards Bohai County and rarely sees the emperor. Now, receiving such high praise from the emperor, Zhao Hehua is both excited and delighted. Her dark face flushes, and she bows respectfully, replying, "This humble servant learned all the methods of training these troops from General Pei Yun."

Pei Yun is in Luoyang, intending to guard the south, and cannot leave without permission. She cannot come to this great battle.

Pei Qinghe laughed: "I am leading the troops here to fight the Xiongnu barbarians. There must be no trouble in the south. General Pei Yun's defense of Luoyang is also a great achievement. I will not forget her contributions."

Zhao Hehua smiled somewhat embarrassedly after her thoughts were exposed.

Pei Qinghe was quite tolerant of this. In the imperial court, civil officials formed cliques, and the military was similarly rife with factions. For example, the four garrisoned armies in Youzhou had exceptionally close relationships. Pei Feng, Gu Lian, and Sun Cheng, who came from the Pei family army, were naturally very close. The Pingyang Army, Puyang Army, and Changshan Army also maintained close private interactions; such relationships were commonplace.

Pei Yun was the first military commander to lead troops independently, and over the past decade or so, he has cultivated many outstanding young military commanders. Zhao Hehua is one of the best among them.

As long as Zhao Hehua is loyal and brave in battle, and is emotionally inclined towards her former superior Pei Yun, what's wrong with that?
Who doesn't have selfish desires?

Even Pei Qinghe himself, did he not have any favoritism or reliance on his trusted military generals?
"Pei Yan, Yang Huai!" Pei Qinghe turned to look at the two people he relied on and trusted the most: "When we attacked the Imperial Guards, you two made great contributions by raiding their camp at night. This time, I'm giving you five thousand cavalry. You two will lead the cavalry to raid the Xiongnu camp at night."

"Remember, don't linger in battle; prioritize disrupting morale with surprise attacks. Do your best to find their supplies and burn them!"

“Youzhou has adopted a scorched-earth policy, so the Xiongnu barbarians will not be able to seize any grain, and their army will inevitably run out of food. Burning the grain will surely cause their morale to collapse.”

Pei Yan and Yang Huai bowed and accepted the order.

Pei Yan, shameless as ever, demanded more cavalry from Pei Qinghe: "Five thousand men are a bit too few, add another three thousand."

Pei Qinghe rolled her eyes at her: "A night raid on a military camp requires quick entry and exit; too many people would only be a burden. If you don't want to go, then let Pei Xuan lead the troops!"

“I’ll go!” Pei Yan straightened her chest: “When it comes to night raids, I have the most experience. Pei Xuan can’t compare to me.”

Yang Huai was much more composed than Pei Yan, and accepted the order with clasped hands.

This place is more than a hundred li away from the Xiongnu camp. The marching speed is not fast at night, and even if we set out now, we cannot launch a surprise attack on the enemy camp tonight.

Pei Yan was usually rough and bold, but when it came to battle, she had a lot of clever ideas. She selected five thousand elite cavalry, and after leaving the city, she first headed east, making a long detour, taking two extra days, and then secretly sneaked to a point more than twenty miles from the rear of the Xiongnu camp.

There are still two hours until nightfall.

Pei Yan ordered all cavalry to dismount, eat their fill of dry rations and drink their fill of water, and rest. The warhorses were allowed to eat hay and drink water. After dark, cotton cloth was wrapped around the horses' hooves, and bridles were stuffed into their mouths.

At midnight, the Pei family army, having rested for several hours and full of energy, mounted their warhorses and galloped towards the Xiongnu camp.

(End of this chapter)