The Bad Girl's Quick Transmigration System: Traveling Back and Forth

Chapter 740 The Lin Sisters Fight in the Northern Border: The Song of the Rear Guard at the Dunhuang

Part 1: Geese returning to the capital, fledgling eagles entering the forest

The Great Xia Dynasty rose to power in the south and expanded its territory in the north. Through generations of effort, although nomadic tribes such as the Turks still occasionally raided the northern border, a fragile peace was largely maintained thanks to the strong fortifications and the valiant defenses of its border troops. Dunhuang, a pearl on the Silk Road, was a crucial node in the northern defense line, permanently garrisoned and heavily guarded.

On this day, outside Dunhuang City, the former camp of the Falcon Squad was now bustling with activity, banners fluttering in the wind. The camp had expanded several times over, with brand-new tents arranged in an orderly fashion. The patrolling soldiers wore gleaming armor, their eyes sharp, and an air of solemnity mingled with youthful vigor.

Inside the commander's tent in the center of the camp, the atmosphere was relatively relaxed.

"...With my elder brother and several elders assisting Father, the affairs of the main branch should be able to transition smoothly. Our purpose in coming out here is twofold: first, to hone our skills and improve our cultivation; and second, to cultivate truly capable individuals for the Lin family. Military service is the best way to temper oneself." The speaker was a young woman in silver armor, with beautiful features, yet possessing a calm and dignified air born from years of battlefield experience. She was Lin Wei, the former captain of the Falcon Squad, now the newly promoted brigade commander, leading this expanded female cavalry and infantry brigade of 1,250 men—the designation still "Falcon," but its size and combat power were vastly different from before.

Opposite her sat another girl who bore a resemblance to her, but with a more aloof and lively air—her younger sister, Lin Muxue, now the deputy commander of the Falcon Brigade. Lin Muxue, dressed in a close-fitting outfit with a sword at her waist, nodded upon hearing this: “Sister is right. For the Lin family to truly establish itself, relying solely on the main branch's foundation is insufficient; we need fresh blood, we need capable and battle-hardened forces. However… wouldn't bringing Ping'er and Shu'er along be a bit too risky? They are still young.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Wei smiled gently: "Mu Xue, have you forgotten how old we were when we first went to the battlefield? Ping'er was eleven, and she had reached the Great Perfection of the Earth Realm; Shu'er was ten, and she had reached the Lesser Perfection of the Earth Realm. This talent is already outstanding among their peers. You can't raise towering trees in a greenhouse. They are the hope of the Lin family branch and our future support. They must experience the storms as soon as possible. Don't worry, we will take care of them, but they must face what they need to face."

As they were talking, the tent flap was gently lifted, and two figures walked in excitedly.

Leading the way was Lin Ping, with her hair styled in two buns, a round face, and eyes full of curiosity and excitement, showing no fear of the grim atmosphere of the military camp. She wore a small-sized soldier's armor, making her appear somewhat endearing, but her upright posture and the subtle fluctuations of internal energy revealed her considerable cultivation. "Sister Wei, Sister Muxue! We're here!"

Following closely behind was Lin Shu, slightly shorter than Lin Ping, with more delicate features and a seemingly quieter temperament, but her eyes also shone with excitement. She too wore well-fitting armor, tightly gripping a standard-issue spear, its tip gleaming coldly in the dim light of the tent. "Sister Wei, Sister Mu Xue, we've become familiar with our squad; the sisters are all very kind!"

Lin Wei and Lin Muxue looked at the two sisters with affection and expectation in their eyes. Lin Wei stood up, walked to them, carefully examined their armor, and reached out to straighten Lin Ping's slightly crooked shoulder guards: "Ping'er, Shu'er, welcome to the Falcon Brigade. From today onwards, you are real soldiers. Remember, the military camp is not child's play, and the battlefield is a place of life and death. You are now squad leaders, each with ten sisters under your command. Their lives may, at times, depend on you."

Lin Ping nodded vigorously, her little face serious: "Don't worry, Sister Wei! Ping'er understands! I will definitely protect my sisters!"

Lin Shu straightened her small body and said in a clear voice, "Shu'er understands! I will never let my sisters down!"

Lin Muxue stepped forward and handed each of them a standard token: "This is your squad leader token. Keep it safe. Now, go back to your units, familiarize yourselves with the barracks, the commands, and each of your sisters. We don't know when the enemy will come, so we must be prepared at all times."

"Yes!" Lin Ping and Lin Shu responded in unison, took the tokens, carefully put them away, then gave Lin Wei and Lin Muxue a slightly immature but standard military salute, turned around and ran quickly out of the command tent, heading towards their military career, which was full of unknowns and challenges.

Watching their disappearing figures, Lin Muxue sighed softly, "I hope they can grow up quickly."

Lin Wei turned her gaze northward, to the vast grasslands, the homeland of the Turks. "The winds of the north will soon blow. They will grow up, at the fastest speed."

Part Two: Initial Training in the Camp, Then the Flames of War Suddenly Rise

In the days that followed, Lin Ping and Lin Shu were completely immersed in the novel and exciting military camp life.

At dawn, before the sky had even brightened, the resounding bugle call shattered the tranquility of the camp. All the soldiers quickly rose, dressed, and washed, then assembled at the designated location for drills. For Lin Ping and Lin Shu, who had received rigorous martial arts training from a branch of the Lin family since childhood, the basic physical training wasn't too difficult. However, the uniformity and strict discipline of a thousand people made them realize the stark contrast between the atmosphere of the military and their family's training.

"One, two, one! One, two, one!" The slogans were deafening, and the footsteps thundered. Lin Ping and Lin Shu stood at the very front of their respective teams, trying their best to straighten their small bodies and keep up with the rhythm of the group. Sweat quickly soaked their clothes, and their tender faces were flushed red from the strenuous exercise, but the light in their eyes grew brighter and brighter.

During the day, they engaged in tedious yet crucial military skills training. Formations, weapon handling, horsemanship (cavalry portion), archery, battlefield first aid, flag signaling… Lin Ping and Lin Shu absorbed knowledge like two sponges. Their talent quickly became apparent; they progressed rapidly in both spear thrusts and crossbow aiming, even earning the approval of the veterans who taught them in some areas.

As squad leaders, they not only had to excel themselves but also lead their ten female soldiers. These ten soldiers were selected from collateral branches of the Lin family or loyal retainers, mostly between fifteen and twenty years old, with cultivation levels generally at the Yellow Realm, and a few reaching the early Earth Realm. Initially, they had some doubts about these two young squad leaders, but soon, Lin Ping's fearless drive, Lin Shu's calm and meticulous arrangements, and the two's cultivation levels far exceeding those of their peers, won them over.

Lin Ping is lively and outgoing, always the most enthusiastic during training, and loves to lead the charge, making her team full of energy. Lin Shu, on the other hand, is meticulous and observant, always able to spot details in training and patiently guide her teammates to improve, making her team more rigorous and organized. The two sisters complement each other's personalities and work together seamlessly, resulting in their team consistently achieving top results in various training competitions.

At night, when most soldiers had rested and the camp was quiet, Lin Ping and Lin Shu would still review the day's training and consolidate their cultivation in their small tents by the dim light of an oil lamp, or quietly exchange their insights.

"Shu'er, your change of marksmanship today was amazing! How did you come up with that?" Lin Ping rubbed her sore arm and looked at her younger sister with admiration.

Lin Shu was wiping her spear when she heard this and smiled slightly: "It's a variation from the basic spear technique that Sister Wei taught me before. I just think that angle is more suitable for counterattacks after parrying. Sister Ping'er, your archery skills are amazing. You hit a copper coin from fifty paces away. Even Instructor Zhang praised you."

"Hehe, that's right!" Lin Ping proudly raised her chin, then said with some worry, "I just don't know when I'll actually be able to go to the battlefield. I'm getting itchy hands from practicing these things every day."

Lin Shu lowered her spear, gazing at the dark night sky outside the tent and the flickering lights on the distant watchtower: "There will be an opportunity. The wind in the North is getting colder every day."

No sooner had she finished speaking than, as if in response to fate, a sharp and piercing alarm suddenly tore through the night sky!

"Woo-wu-wu-"

That's an enemy attack alarm!

The entire Falcon Brigade camp was instantly jolted awake! Soldiers sprang from their beds like springs, donned their armor in a very short time, grabbed their weapons, rushed out of their tents, and quickly assembled in the designated area according to the formations they practiced in daily drills.

Inside the command tent, the lights were on. Lin Wei stood before the sand table, long sword in hand, her expression cold and stern, while Lin Muxue rapidly issued orders.

"Report—Commander! A large number of enemy cavalry have been spotted in the northwest! Their numbers are unknown! They are rushing towards our camp!" The scout scrambled into the tent, his voice trembling with extreme tension.

"The number is unknown?" Lin Wei frowned. "Investigate again! We must find out the enemy's numbers and movements!"

"Yes!"

Soon, the second wave of scouts reported: "Commander! It's Turkic cavalry! The vanguard is already three miles outside the camp! Judging from the banners and the size of the force, there are at least... at least ten thousand men!"

"Ten thousand men?" The expressions of the guards inside the tent changed. Although the Falcon Brigade had expanded to 1,250 men, the situation was extremely dangerous when facing ten times their number of elite Turkic cavalry, especially during a night raid!

Lin Muxue quickly analyzed, "The Turks have always been cunning. This time, they have come out in full force, probably because they want to take advantage of our newly formed army and the fact that we are not yet firmly established, and wipe us out in one fell swoop, removing this thorn in the side outside Dunhuang!"

Lin Wei took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She knew that she was the backbone of this army at this moment, and she couldn't panic. Ten thousand Turkic cavalry—this was definitely going to be a tough battle!

"Pass on my orders!" Lin Wei's voice was clear and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority. "The cavalry battalion, mount up immediately and follow me out of the camp to meet the enemy, delay their offensive, and buy time for the main force to deploy its defenses! The infantry battalion, immediately take up position in the camp fortifications and form a defensive formation, with archers on the walls and swordsmen and shieldmen in formation! Mu Xue, you will be in the central command to direct the overall situation!"

"Sister, be careful!" A hint of worry flashed in Lin Muxue's eyes.

"Don't worry!" Lin Wei nodded, her gaze sweeping across the tent. "Everyone, do your duty and defend the camp to the death! We are Falcons, soldiers of Great Xia, with Dunhuang behind us, our homeland! There are only Falcons who die in battle, not cowards who surrender!"

"Yes!" The crowd inside the tent responded in unison, their morale instantly ignited.

Lin Wei said no more, turned around and strode out of the command tent.

In the open space in the center of the camp, Lin Ping and Lin Shu had already led their squad into the infantry battalion's formation. All around them were densely packed crowds; the sounds of clashing armor, grinding weapons, and deep commands mingled together, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of blood—the aura of an impending great battle.

Lin Ping gripped the spear tightly, her palms slightly sweaty, her heart pounding wildly. Not out of fear, but out of excitement! The battlefield she had longed for had finally arrived! She turned to look at Lin Shu beside her; her younger sister's face appeared unusually calm in the firelight, only the knuckles gripping the spear were slightly white, revealing the turmoil within her.

"Shu'er, don't be afraid!" Lin Ping lowered her voice and said in a tone only the two of them could hear, "Your sister is here!"

Lin Shu turned her head and gave her a firm smile: "Yes! Let's do it together!"

Just then, a messenger rode up on horseback, shouting, "Brigade Commander's order! The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Battalions will advance alongside the Deputy Brigade Commander to defend the front! The 5th and 7th Battalions will defend the flanks! The 4th Battalion..." The messenger's gaze swept across the formation, finally landing on the positions of Lin Ping and Lin Shu. "The 11th and 12th Squads of the 4th Battalion, proceed immediately to the rear granary to organize guard duty and reinforce the defenses! Without orders, no one may leave their post!"

Lin Ping and Lin Shu exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of disappointment in each other's eyes. They longed to rush to the front lines and fight the enemy, but instead were assigned to guard the rear granary.

But military orders are absolute!

"Eleventh Five, yes sir!" Lin Ping gritted her teeth and answered loudly.

"Twelfth Fifteenth, as you command!" Lin Shu responded in a deep voice.

They quickly led their ten female soldiers away from the main force and ran towards the granary at the rear of the camp.

Behind them, the shouts of battle grew ever closer, the thunderous clatter of hooves echoing like muffled thunder, shaking the very earth. Arrows rained down like locusts across the night sky, hurtling towards the camp's fences and watchtowers. The soldiers of the Falcon Brigade began their counterattack, unleashing a torrent of powerful bows and crossbows, the bowstrings snapping and crackling.

A fierce battle of attack and defense officially began at the Falcon Brigade camp outside Dunhuang City.

Three: The granary is isolated, and enemy activity suddenly appears.

The Falcon Brigade's supply depot is located on the westernmost side of the camp, near a sparse woodland, in a relatively remote location. It stores nearly a month's worth of rations for the entire brigade, making it crucial for maintaining the army's combat effectiveness and thus a key target requiring close protection.

When Lin Ping and Lin Shu arrived, the granary was deserted, with only a dozen or so laborers in charge of logistics and a few soldiers guarding it. Hearing the shouts and explosions from the front (likely simple siege weapons such as catapults or gunpowder packs), the laborers and soldiers seemed somewhat flustered.

"Don't panic!" Lin Ping shouted. Although young, the aura she exuded calmed the crowd considerably. "We've been sent by the brigade commander to reinforce the defenses! Everyone, pick up your weapons and help us strengthen the defenses!"

Lin Shu quickly surveyed her surroundings. The granary consisted of several large wooden warehouses surrounded by a simple wooden fence, making its defenses quite weak.

“Sister Ping’er,” Lin Shu said quickly, “The main camp is on the east side of the granary, so the enemy’s main force shouldn’t detour through here. But the west and north sides are close to the woods, making them vulnerable to small groups of enemies. We must immediately reinforce the fences on these two sides, set up more obstacles, and send people to the granary roof for guard duty!”

Lin Ping immediately nodded: "Okay! I'll do as you say! My men will be responsible for reinforcing the north fence and setting up barricades! Your men will be responsible for the west side! Also, send two men from each side to the rooftops for guard duty! The rest of you, come with me to the warehouse and see if there are any usable tools and...weapons!"

At the command, the twenty female soldiers immediately sprang into action. Although they were nervous at this moment, they were well-trained and, under the leadership of the two sergeants, they all performed in an orderly manner.

Laborers were also mobilized to help move timber and stones and reinforce the fence. Some debris that had been piled up near the warehouse was quickly cleared out and used as temporary roadblocks.

Lin Ping personally led the group to move several heavy chevaux-de-frise (a type of defensive device with spikes) behind the north fence and secure them with iron chains. Although she was young, her cultivation at the Great Perfection of the Earth Realm gave her strength far beyond that of ordinary people, making it effortless for her to move the chevaux-de-frise.

Lin Shu then directed the female soldiers to distribute the spare spears and machetes from the warehouse to the laborers, arming them as well. She also carefully inspected every joint of the western fence and reinforced it with thick wooden stakes. She specifically ordered two female soldiers skilled in archery to climb onto the roof of the highest granary to hide and closely monitor the movements in the woodlands to the west and north.

"Shu'er, do you think we might really encounter enemies here?" Lin Ping asked while laboriously tapping on the wooden stake, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty and a barely perceptible expectation.

Lin Shu was inspecting the stability of a fence when she heard this. Without looking up, she said, "I don't know. But our duty is to guard this place. Whether we encounter the enemy or not, we must be fully prepared. Sister Wei said that on the battlefield, the worst thing you can do is take chances."

Lin Ping pursed her lips and stopped talking, but her hands moved even faster.

Time ticked by, and the battle ahead seemed to have reached a fever pitch. Shouts of battle and the clanging of weapons filled the air.