49: Chapter 49 Beautiful women have always had tragic fates (20)

The reinforcements from the Beirong Army had arrived in high spirits.

General Dalu had even made bold promises, declaring that no matter how many soldiers the Beichuan Army sent, he would slaughter them all.

But once he truly witnessed that dark-faced god of war, seething with killing intent, holding his own against a hundred men as if he were slicing watermelons—no, as if he were ruthlessly lopping off heads—his heart trembled.

He began to believe more than half of the rumors regarding Pei Ji's title as the "God of Slaughter."

There was no avoiding it.

The God of Slaughter, with his fierce and ruthless gaze, fought through the ranks as if passing through checkpoints, heading straight for him.

Before he could even shout for a retreat, their weapons had already clashed.

He raised his broadsword high with both hands.

With a loud clang, the sound of the two blades colliding rang out above his head.

His arms were jolted numb, feeling as if they were no longer his own, and he temporarily lost all sensation in them.

The Beirong Army soldiers nearby, seeing their own General locked in a fierce, evenly matched struggle with the Prince of Beichuan, Pei Ji, felt a sense of awe.

Only Dalu himself knew the bitterness of his predicament.

This Pei Ji was truly as powerful as the rumors claimed, possessing infinite strength.

Every strike he parried felt like facing the weight of Mount Tai pressing down upon him.

Could he avoid parrying?

Of course not!

If he failed to parry, that gleaming blade would split his skull wide open.

Therefore, even at the risk of having his arms snapped by that sheer force, he had to bite the bullet and hold his ground.

The vertical slash failed, and a horizontal strike followed.

The broadsword followed like a shadow, aiming straight for his waist and abdomen.

But at this moment, his arms were completely numb.

Dalu felt a surge of panic; as he watched that sharp edge hurtle toward him, his heart turned to ash.

"Pfft—"

Fortunately, a soldier beside him took the blow for him.

The Beirong soldiers finally realized the dire situation their General was in.

This was no evenly matched battle; it was clearly a desperate, dying struggle.

They swarmed toward him.

In no time, dozens of soldiers had gathered around Dalu, shielding him in the center.

Yet Pei Ji showed no fear, still locking his gaze on him and charging forward.

He killed anyone who blocked his path.

After killing five or six soldiers, Dalu could no longer sit still.

Looking around, he saw his Beirong soldiers constantly falling from their horses—some killed by the Beichuan Army, others struck down by soldiers wearing the same Beirong armor.

The scene was chaotic, but it was clearly his Beirong Army that was suffering the massive losses.

Dalu gritted his teeth and shouted, "Retreat—retreat! On my command, everyone retreat!"

While shouting, he spurred his horse, turned it around, and, shielded by his men, fled toward the forest behind them.

By the time Pei Ji finished dealing with the entangled Beirong soldiers and wanted to pursue them, Dalu had already vanished with his remnants and troops.

The Xuanjia Army and the Beichuan Army chased them for a long distance, but they could not see Dalu's remaining troops.

Further ahead lay the forest, and they did not know how many enemy troops had come or if there were ambushes.

Out of caution, Pei Ji ordered everyone to stop the pursuit.

In truth, there was another reason: Beirong was famous for its fine steeds.

The mounts of the Beirong Army were well-known purebred Akhal-Teke horses.

Whether in endurance or speed, they were superior to the horses ridden by the Beichuan cavalry.

In such a situation, how could they pursue them?

Although they had not captured the enemy General in this battle, they had taken many prisoners, and less than half of the enemy had escaped.

Most importantly, through this battle, the relationship between the Beichuan Army and the Xuanjia Army had eased significantly.

Both sides cooperated with each other with high rapport, jointly repelling the Beirong Army reinforcements.

Zhao Yan, Hong Yun, and the others did not participate in this battle, choosing instead to guard the city and protect the common people.

That night, just as Pei Ji, dusty and travel-worn, stepped into the City Lord's residence, Zhao Yan, who had been leaning over a sand table, immediately straightened up and asked with anticipation, "A complete victory?"

Pei Ji nodded.

But looking at his demeanor, Zhao Yan wondered why he wasn't happy if they had won.

Did this look like someone who had just won a battle?

Zhao Yan tentatively asked, "The main general escaped?"

Pei Ji frowned and asked, "Is it that obvious?"

"Your Highness, you might as well have written 'I am unhappy' in big letters on your face.

If you aren't happy after winning a battle, what else could be the reason? You must have failed to capture that bandit leader."

Pei Ji rubbed his nose.

Was his expression not always this serious?

However, not capturing the main general was indeed troublesome.

Seeing her lost in thought and silent, Pei Ji said, "Don't let me run into him again.

If I do, I will certainly take his head."

"Actually, there is no need to take his head.

It would be better if we could capture him alive."

"You want to keep him alive?" Pei Ji asked in return.

Zhao Yan clearly felt that the look in his eyes had changed.

Prince of Beichuan, what kind of look is that?

Have you become addicted to killing prisoners?

Pei Ji thought to himself, are you betraying our bloodthirsty alliance?

Clearly, before this, you were also very much in favor of killing all the Beirong prisoners of war.

If Zhao Yan knew he truly considered her a kindred spirit because they both shared a penchant for excessive slaughter, she would surely have stood up to refute it.

She had never agreed to form any bloodthirsty alliance with him; she killed with reason and justification!

Moreover, she usually presented herself as a gentle little fairy; she didn't want to ruin her image.

"Well, it's not just the main general; we cannot kill the prisoners of war this time either," Zhao Yan explained.

"I just thought of it."

The reason she didn't join the battle today was, on one hand, to guard the city so that the people of Qinzhou City, who had only just regained peace, could rest easy.

On the other hand, she needed to carefully study how to take back Changning City next.

Taking back Changning City would be harder than taking Qinzhou City!

Changning City was the first barrier on the border between Beirong and Beichuan, with extremely high city walls, about 120 feet tall.

Therefore, if they used the same method to breach Changning City as they did for Qinzhou City, it was clearly impossible.

But if they could not attack silently and take the city while the Beirong people were unprepared, the common people inside would be the ones to suffer.

If there was no way to achieve both, her last resort would be a direct assault.

But if she could think of a method to take the city while minimizing civilian casualties, that would naturally be best.

She did not want the end result to be that they had taken back Changning City, only for it to be a dead city.

She thought for a long time and finally came up with a feasible strategy.

They could exchange the Beirong prisoners of war for the common people in Changning City.

But that was not enough; ordinary soldiers might not be enough to make the Beirong people agree to an exchange.

However, if they could catch a big fish, it would be a different matter.

Zhao Yan shared her concerns and ideas with Pei Ji, then asked, "The prisoners of war from this time haven't been killed yet, right?"

"Not yet."

"Thank goodness." Zhao Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

"I was really afraid that you, Your Highness, would be too quick and have already beheaded them all."

Pei Ji: ...

In her heart, just how much did she think he loved to cut off heads?

He had only just returned from fighting and had come to see her immediately; where would he have found the time to cut off heads?

Come to think of it, why did he rush to see her as soon as the battle ended?

Pei Ji concluded that perhaps, after fighting for so many years, he had never met such a compatible companion.

Fearing he wouldn't agree to exchange the Beirong soldiers for the Changning civilians, Zhao Yan spoke softly, coaxing him: "Your Highness, let's not cut their heads off this time.

Let's first use them to exchange for the people in Changning City.

Think about it, what does it matter if the Beirong prisoners are exchanged back?

Does that mean we won't attack the city?

We will still attack.

With your ability, Your Highness, can you not take it?

You surely can.

So, in reality, we are just letting those prisoners live for a few more days.

Later, once we have taken Changning City without any worries, you can cut off as many heads as you want."

"See, Your Highness, won't those heads just be there again?"

Pei Ji's mouth twitched.

Was she coaxing a child?

He hadn't even said he wouldn't agree.

"Understood." Pei Ji gave a light cough.

How was it that a nine-foot-tall, mighty man felt a bit embarrassed?

"It's just a pity we didn't capture the general of the reinforcements alive," Zhao Yan lamented.

"Your Highness, do you remember the address on the letter when Tuva requested reinforcements?

The leader of our reinforcements is also a prince; he is a member of the Beirong royal family.

If we could capture him and hold him with this batch of prisoners to exchange for the people in Changning, the Beirong Army would agree nine times out of ten."

"But you don't need to blame yourself, Your Highness.

Even without him, the matter of exchanging Beirong prisoners for the people might not necessarily fail.

Let me think about it more."

Zhao Yan was already accustomed to Pei Ji's brevity.

Although his face was a bit fierce and he was built like a small mountain, which was a bit intimidating, his advantage lay in his clear mind.

Pei Ji said nothing and was comforted by the young girl once again.

Pei Ji: Does he look like someone who needs to be comforted?

Zhao Yan thought about it for three days and still couldn't come up with a better method, but taking back Changning City was urgent.

During these three days, she and Pei Ji discussed the deployment of troops within Qinzhou City.

Even if they went to take back Changning City, they could not relax the defensive deployment of Qinzhou City in the slightest, to guard against a Beirong comeback.

Secondly, there was the issue of exchanging prisoners for civilians.

If the Beirong agreed, the matters needing attention during the exchange had to be thought out in advance to ensure the safety of the civilians; they must not be caught scrambling when they reached the front lines.

If the Beirong did not agree, a backup plan had to be ready.

Their primary goal was to minimize civilian casualties within the city as much as possible, not just to win the battle.

After everything was discussed, it was decided that Pei Ji would lead the army to Changning City the next day.

However, at dusk, an unexpected person arrived outside the city gate.

Pei Ji was told by a subordinate that a young lady outside the city gate was specifically asking to see him, just as he was studying the topographical map and the plan to attack Changning City with Zhao Yan.

He frowned, feeling it was inexplicable, but still stood on the city wall to take a look.

As soon as he appeared on the city wall, the person below shouted loudly, "Your Highness, Your Highness... It's me, Liu Shi! I've finally found you... *sob sob*..."

Pei Ji was surprised.

How did she get here?

But he still ordered his subordinates to bring her in.

Upon seeing him, Liu Shi fluttered toward Pei Ji's embrace like a butterfly.

Pei Ji grabbed her wrist and kept her at arm's length.

"Your Highness..." Liu Shi pouted aggrievedly.

"How did you come here? How did you find this place?"

Liu Shi immediately cried and recounted her ordeal, which was nothing more than her deep, profound love for His Highness.

When he had first set out on the campaign, she had wanted to accompany him, but he had not allowed it.

After the army departed, she had secretly followed behind.

It was fine for the first few days, but later the army's pace was too fast, she couldn't keep up, and fell behind.

Later, as she traveled along the way, she heard refugees saying that His Highness had already taken Qinzhou City, so she came running to seek refuge.

In truth, she had some selfish motives.

She knew that in her previous life, not long after the Prince of Beichuan led his army to resist the Beirong, Wei Qingli of East Lake would lead his army to attack Yandu.

Although she didn't know why, in this lifetime the Beirong Army attacked Beichuan earlier than in her previous life, but Pei Ji had still led his army on the northern expedition.

She was afraid—afraid that her fate would be the same as in her previous life, and when Wei Qingli attacked Yandu, she would be demoted to the Cold Palace, never to see the light of day again.

Therefore, this time she resolutely and decisively chose to secretly follow behind the northern expedition army, embarking on the campaign with Pei Ji.

When the time came, once she appeared, would Pei Ji be moved by her willingness to face the battlefield with him and share life and death?

She thought it was beautiful, but unfortunately, the person in question was Pei Ji.

After hearing what she said, Pei Ji's eyes darkened, and his expression was gloomy: "Nonsense! Is war a child's game? Get back, now!"

Liu Shi stared blankly at the furious man in front of her, forgetting to cry.

Why was it completely different from the moving scene she had imagined?

Thinking of the hardships along the way, Liu Shi felt aggrieved and said indignantly, "Why is it that Miss Bai can accompany Your Highness on the campaign, but when I come, it becomes nonsense to Your Highness?"

"Miss Bai is of the Bai Clan, possessing both literary and military strategies.

She lacks neither courage, strategy, nor martial arts.

She came to help me repel the Beirong Army.

What did you come for?

If you just want to pose, sing, and dance for the whole army to reward the soldiers, I find your decadent music to be a disturbance to the morale of the Beichuan Army and a corruption of our military discipline."

Liu Shi was both ashamed and angry!

In his heart, did he really think she was completely useless?

"Your Highness, don't forget, I have the ability to foresee the future.

I can predict future battles."

"Then tell me, how can I save the people of Changning City?"

Liu Shi thought for a moment and said seriously, "There is no way.

Your Highness, you can win the battle of Changning City, but it will be extremely difficult to win, and it won't be taken in a short time.

By the time you take Changning City, the people inside will have already been slaughtered by the Beirong Army."

These were things she had heard from the maids and eunuchs when she was in the Yandu palace in her previous life.

Changning City ultimately became a dead city.

"Hmph..." Pei Ji sneered.

"I want a strategy, not the result.

What use do I have for a 'prophet' like you?"

"Your Highness, Your Highness... but I have already come.

The journey was long, and I am just a woman.

Aren't you afraid—please, just let me stay and serve you."

"Go back."

Seeing that this man was completely unmoved, Liu Shi stammered, "Then, Your Highness, could you send someone to escort me back?"

Pei Ji glanced at her disdainfully: "Go back the way you came.

My soldiers are for fighting wars, not for escorting anyone."

"Someone, take Lady Liu out."

"Your Highness... Your Highness..." Liu Shi cried bitterly.

"It is already dark now; I will just stay for one night, just one night, how about that?

Tomorrow, early tomorrow morning, I will leave.

Your Highness, I beg you..."

Pei Ji was unmoved and turned to leave.

Liu Shi was disheartened and was about to be dragged out.

Suddenly, another guard came to pass on an order, saying that the Prince took pity on her, had changed his mind, and would allow her to stay for the night and leave tomorrow.

Still had to leave... There was not a trace of a smile on Liu Shi's face.

That night, Liu Shi lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Early tomorrow morning, she would still have to leave.

But if she left, where could she go?

She knew clearly that returning to Yandu meant walking the same old path as her previous life.

The days in the Cold Palace were like a stagnant pool, consuming her life.

Moreover—Liu Shi clutched her chest—she had also been poisoned.

Yes, in reality, she hadn't encountered any refugees along the way, nor did she know that Pei Ji had already taken Qinzhou City.

Instead, when she was traveling, she had accidentally encountered the Beirong Army the day before yesterday.

Those barbarians wanted to bully her, so she revealed her identity as Pei Ji's Lady Liu, hoping to make them wary.

Unexpectedly, the leader of those barbarians, a general named Dalu, took her into his tent, forcibly fed her poison, and ordered her to go to Qinzhou City to find Pei Ji.

He commanded her to pour the poison he gave her into the water wells of Qinzhou City and then secretly open the city gates for them.

If she followed his instructions, when they took Qinzhou City, he would give her the antidote and return her freedom; if she did not follow them, she would die from the poison.

When Liu Shi first saw Pei Ji, she had been in a state of constant panic.

She wanted to tell him the truth, but she was afraid of dying from the poison, and her heart was in constant turmoil.

But now, seeing how heartless he was, she gritted her teeth.

Every man for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him.

She had lived a second life, not to be cannon fodder for anyone.

She didn't want to die so quickly; she still wanted to live well!

Thinking this way, Liu Shi finally made up her mind.

She climbed out of bed, carefully groped her way out, and tremblingly took out the folded medicine packet from her bosom, just about to throw it into the water well—

Her slender wrist was firmly restrained.

She was startled.

Looking up, she saw that incomparably familiar and fierce face, which scared her so much that she fell to the ground on her backside.