Chapter 176 -175: Domination Over the World_1

From a distance, Xiao Rongyan, who appeared composed and serene, saluted in Bai Qingyan’s direction.

Bai Qingyan stopped in her tracks and returned the salute, watching Xiao Rongyan as he boarded the carriage.

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Today’s parting might be long before they could meet again, and she hoped that when they did, they would not be enemies.

“Eldest Sister, aren’t you going to say a few words to Mr. Xiao? He is about to leave!” Bai Jinzhi whispered.

She shook her head.

At the end of the fourth watch, when the army set out according to Bai Qingyan’s plan, Bai Qingyan had already gone to sleep to conserve her energy.

The Crown Prince stood on the city wall, watching the fifty thousand soldiers he had brought with him leave the city in batches, heading to the battlefield. He silently prayed to the heavens for victory in this battle.

Although the Crown Prince had never led an army into battle, he knew that ever since the Bai family of the Duke of Zhen Residence had perished, Jin’s morale had plummeted. Only by winning this battle with fewer forces could they restore morale and intimidate Nanyan and Xiliang.

After sending off the last batch of troops, the Crown Prince turned and asked his personal eunuch, Quan Yu, “What is Miss Bai doing at the moment?”

“Your Highness, I’ve heard that Miss Bai went to bed right after returning.” Quan Yu smiled, “This must mean Miss Bai is confident of victory; otherwise, how could she dare to sleep! Rest assured, Your Highness, this battle will surely end in victory! From now on, Your Highness will be renowned throughout the world!”

The Crown Prince’s fist clenched tightly within his sleeve. He hoped so.

The Crown Prince thought for a moment and instructed Quan Yu, “Send someone to wait at the city gate. If the Bai family’s Huying Camp returns, stop them and have them await orders outside the city. They are not to enter the city!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Shangzhi understood that the Crown Prince wanted to prevent Miss Bai from encountering the Huying Camp.

“Your Highness! I believe we should follow the suggestion that Miss Bai proposed last night: mobilize the Pingyang City garrison, have a small squad raid the Xiliang army’s provisions, and head towards Feng County to intimidate Nanyan!” Qin Shangzhi clasped his fists in salute.

“Impossible!” An elderly counselor beside the Crown Prince shook his head, “The Pingyang garrison is meant to deter Yan. If we redeploy them, Yan might seize the opportunity to take a share, knowing Jin is in a fierce battle with Xiliang and Nanyan! So the Pingyang garrison must not be moved!”

Frustrated, Qin Shangzhi argued, “Yan has been driven to barren lands by Jin. Last year, Yan first suffered from floods and then droughts, resulting in a failed harvest. It’s hard to say if Yan’s people can survive this winter. They were asking for aid from various countries earlier this year. How can they have the strength to share in the spoils?”

The elderly counselor stroked his goatee, casting a haughty glance at Qin Shangzhi, and spoke calmly, “One mustn’t underestimate the ambitions of Yan’s ruler. Moreover, it was you, Mr. Qin, who repeatedly reminded His Highness of this! Now, why do you say it’s uncertain whether Yan can survive this winter? Your words are contradictory, Mr. Qin. Such are the follies of youth!”

Qin Shangzhi gritted his teeth and looked directly at the Crown Prince, “Your Highness! You must decide!”

The Crown Prince remained silent for a long while before finally addressing Qin Shangzhi, “Mr. Qin has Jin’s best interests at heart—I know that! But Mr. Qin is young and still needs to learn more from Elder Fang.”

Qin Shangzhi: “…”

When Bai Qingyan awoke at noon, continuous reports from the front line were coming in.

Bai Jinzhi, eager to check the battlefield herself, was firmly held back by Bai Qingyan to finish her lunch properly.

At the hour of Shen, three bloody soldiers on horseback entered Wanping City through the gate and rushed to the Government Office, where the gate guards immediately helped drag them inside.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince, the bloodied commander cried out, “Your Highness! I have failed you! The five thousand ambushers at Wengshan Hollow and the ten thousand elite soldiers who lured Xiliang into the hollow were all slaughtered by Xiliang! The ferocious Xiliang soldiers have realized the trap and are now roaring back to reclaim the eastern ambush point of Wengshan Canyon, aiming to annihilate Jin’s reinforcements!”

The Crown Prince, upon hearing this, collapsed into a chair, his complexion pale. He urgently called to the eunuch, Quan Yu, “Quick! Quickly summon Mr. Bai!”

“It’s said that after the Huying Camp returned, they were stopped outside the city by people close to the Crown Prince! Presumably, this was to prevent the Huying Camp from meeting Miss Bai!” Xiao Ruohai whispered in Bai Qingyan’s ear.

“Eldest Sister!” Bai Jinzhi burst in, panting heavily from running. “General Wang, who led the ambush at Wengshan Hollow, has returned. They were defeated! The ferocious Xiliang soldiers are now attacking the eastern ambush point of Wengshan Canyon.”

Gripping the armrests of her chair, her eyes glinted with a menacing light.

She gritted her teeth and stood up, saying, “Jinzi, Milk Brother, change into your armor!”

The time had come!

The Bai family’s Bai Army should never change its name or serve another master!

The Emperor feared the Bai family would treat the Bai Army as personal guards. From today onward, the Bai Army would be exactly that—personal guards of the Bai family!

“Yes!” Bai Jinzhi clasped her fists in salute and quickly rushed out.

Xiao Ruohai’s throat bobbed, and his fervor was such that his shoulders trembled imperceptibly. Emerging from the house, he clenched his fists tightly, his eyes reddening, determined to avenge past injustices and show the late Crown Prince Bai Qishan that he had returned!

Quan Yu led a squad of guards on horseback from the Government Office to the camp, almost falling off his horse in his haste, his face turning pale from the pain, and was helped by the soldiers at the camp gate.

“Hurry! His Highness urgently summons Mr. Bai! Quickly call for him!” Quan Yu pushed the soldier supporting him, “Hurry!”

“No need!”

Bai Qingyan’s calm voice echoed as she approached the camp gate.

Quan Yu looked up and saw Bai Qingyan, clad in silver armor and a red cape billowing heroically, with a silver spear in hand. Her presence was imposing and intimidating.

In Quan Yu’s eyes, Miss Bai had always been gentle and courteous. He had never seen her in battle readiness, exuding such a deadly aura. Today, seeing Bai Qingyan in armor for the first time, her domineering presence gave him chills.

Following behind Bai Qingyan were the armored Bai Jinzhi and Xiao Ruohai. Both had calm expressions, their eyes filled with a burning desire for battle.

Bai Qingyan stepped out of the camp and mounted Quan Yu’s red horse in one leap, reining in with one hand. Her gaze cold and stern, she said, “I’ll borrow the horse!”

Without waiting for Quan Yu to respond, Bai Qingyan already turned the horse and galloped away, with Xiao Ruohai and Bai Jinzhi mounting the guards’ horses and following her.

Watching Bai Qingyan’s retreating figure, Quan Yu’s heartbeat quickened, and he hurriedly shouted, “Quick, quick, quick! Help me mount my horse!”

Inside the Government Office, the Crown Prince paced anxiously between the map and the doorway, repeatedly glancing around the room. When Bai Qingyan did not arrive, he turned to the three counselors, “Do you have any strategies?”

“Your Highness should immediately dispatch Mr. Bai with two thousand Wanping garrison troops to the eastern ambush point of Wengshan Canyon!” Qin Shangzhi suggested, “As long as Mr. Bai can hold off the Xiliang army and prevent them from assisting the troops within the canyon, our army might secure a victory!”