Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 494 Internal strife in the extra story

Pei Yan was startled and abruptly turned her head.

What came into view was a familiar face covered in blood, yet still had the strength to smile at her: "Were you crying?"

Pei Yan's eyes welled up with tears, which promptly streamed down her face. She suddenly hugged the blood-covered man tightly, saying, "I thought you were dead."

"I know you're waiting for me, how could I bear to die?" Yang Huai, with his right arm injured, hugged Pei Yan with his left arm and smiled through his pain, "Hurry and call the army doctor over, if you don't treat my injuries soon, I'll really close my eyes and go to the west."

Pei Yan couldn't help but spit at him, wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and loudly called for the army doctor to come over.

It was already afternoon, and wounded soldiers lay everywhere along the city walls. Pei Yan's injuries weren't too serious, and after resting for half a day, although she couldn't get up and walk around, she still had the strength to speak.

Yang Huai, on the other hand, was seriously injured, especially the knife wound on his back, which was so deep that the bone was visible, and his soft armor was stained red with blood.

Yang Huai was a tough guy. When the military doctor stitched up his wound, he was in so much pain that he was sweating profusely, but he didn't utter a sound.

Pei Yan expressed concern in a way that was different from ordinary people. She reached out and touched Yang Huai's neck, and Yang Huai immediately fainted.

"Alright, hurry up and stitch up his wound!"

The military doctor twitched his lips, continuing his needlework while muttering to himself, "This General Pei Yan is really ruthless; she's got a lot of nerve."

General Yang Huai, who could share a bed with General Pei Yan, was no ordinary man. With all those injuries, anyone else would have been dead long ago. Yet Yang Huai managed to escape.

A cacophony of shouting and cursing erupted outside the city gates.

The Xiongnu barbarians have caught up with us.

Each county town had a limited garrison of only about five hundred men. Adding Pei Yan's thousand-plus wounded soldiers, the total was just over two thousand. Nearly ten thousand Xiongnu barbarians arrived outside the city, their momentum menacing.

The defending general remained calm and swiftly sealed the city gates. Catapults were already prepared on the city walls, and stones were ready in advance. The catapults fired a few times, unleashing a continuous barrage of stones that killed several Xiongnu barbarians.

The Xiongnu barbarians were furious. However, they had rushed here without bringing any siege equipment. Against the sturdy city walls, no matter how many arrows they fired, it would be of little use.

By evening, the Xiongnu barbarians had retreated.

Everyone in the city breathed a sigh of relief.

All the wounded soldiers were settled nearby.

Pei Yan and Yang Huai were carried into the nearest family's home. This family had specially vacated their largest room, cleaning it thoroughly. Two beds were placed inside. Pei Yan and Yang Huai each lay down on one bed.

Yang Huai has not woken up since he was knocked unconscious.

Pei Yan was too tired and soon closed her eyes and fell asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, it was already the next day. The sun shone brightly through the window. She struggled to turn her body and looked at Yang Huai.

The military doctor was changing Yang Huai's dressing. Yang Huai was awakened by the pain and cried out.

Pei Yan couldn't help but grin: "You were so badly injured, yet you played the hero yesterday without uttering a sound. Why are you complaining of pain today?"

Two beads of cold sweat appeared on Yang Huai's forehead: "With so many people watching yesterday, I couldn't let you lose face. Now that it's just you, of course you should cry out if it hurts."

The medic's lips twitched. Indeed, the only people in the room were this injured couple, still acting all lovey-dovey; he, the medic, hardly counted as a human being.

After Pei Yan's dressing was changed, someone brought over some porridge. Both generals were unable to move, so they were served half a bowl of porridge and then went to sleep.

They had accomplished what they were supposed to do. The upcoming battle would be fought with Pei Qinghe and tens of thousands of elite Pei family troops. The two of them could now focus on recovering from their injuries.

...Pei Yan led 5,000 cavalry in a successful night raid, burning half of the Xiongnu camp's provisions. The Pei family army suffered heavy casualties, with nearly 3,000 cavalrymen remaining in the enemy camp forever.

The Xiongnu suffered even greater casualties. Some were trampled to death by warhorses, some were killed by blades that night, and others were burned to death while fighting fires. The exact number of casualties is impossible to determine immediately. A rough estimate is no less than two thousand.

For a Xiongnu army of 70,000 to 80,000, these casualties were actually insignificant. What was truly terrifying was that nearly half of their supplies had been burned, and the remaining provisions would only last for a month. Morale was extremely low.

Batel and Xubu insisted on withdrawing their troops, and even Huhanye and others, who were originally neutral, sided with the faction that wanted to withdraw.

Moton Khan was unwilling to retreat. This was his first time leading an army in person since becoming Khan, and if he were to retreat in such a humiliating manner back to the grasslands, how could he continue to lead the various tribes of the grasslands?
A fierce argument broke out in the military tent.

Enraged to the extreme, Morton Khan drew his long sword and roared with a ferocious expression, "I am the Khan of the Xiongnu, the master of all Xiongnu cavalry. I forbid retreat! Anyone who dares to retreat is a traitor to the Xiongnu tribe!"

Batel's face turned ashen, and Xubu glared back angrily.

Tu Qi drew his long sword with a cold smile.

The other tribal leaders looked at each other, unsure whether they should all draw their swords against each other.

Huhanye was the first to soften his stance: "If the Khan is unwilling to retreat and insists on continuing the fight, I will listen to the Khan."

With Huhanye leading the way, many tribal leaders also expressed their willingness to stay and follow Morton Khan.

Batel glared at Morton Khan and said, "If you want to stay and die, I can't stop you. I'm leading my eagles back to the grasslands." With that, he strode out of the tent.

Xu Bu sneered and strode out as well.

Tuqi was furious: "Baterxubu dares to disrespect the Khan! I will go and kill them right now!"

Morton Khan's face was so dark it could drip water: "With a major battle at hand, we cannot afford to have internal strife. If they want to leave, let them. We cannot supply them with provisions; let them find their own way."

Huhanye sighed, wanting to say something, but seeing Morton Khan's extremely ugly face, he swallowed his words.

Two days later, Batel and Xubu each led their own cavalry out of their tents and marched in a grand procession toward the northern grasslands.

However, after traveling only forty miles, they encountered the Pei family army, which launched a fierce attack.

The scouts rushed over to deliver the message.

Batel and his companions all changed color.

In the past, they could come and go as they pleased. They never imagined that, after taking the initiative to withdraw their troops, the Pei family army would actually send troops to stop them.

"Did Morton anticipate that Pei Qinghe wouldn't let us leave?" Xu Bu gritted his teeth in anger. "That's why he let us out of the camp so readily. Now we have no choice but to fight."

Batel's face darkened: "What's the use of this nonsense now? Immediately give the order to prepare our men for a desperate fight!"

Having no other choice, Xu Bu swiftly waved his military flag.

The Xiongnu cavalry were not intimidated; they were accustomed to fighting on horseback at any time. In a short period of time, they quickly formed a battle formation to meet the enemy.

Under the banner of Pei, the young Li Si was the first to volunteer for the battle.

Pei Qinghe nodded in approval.

Li Si led three thousand cavalrymen and charged forward.

(End of this chapter)