“Because the Bai family… is loyal to the people of Jin, and what we protect with our lives and bodies is also the people of Jin.” Bai Qingyan looked seriously at Liu Hong. “This is also the reason His Majesty’s trust in the Bai family has wavered.”

“In the Nanjiang campaign, His Majesty gave Prince Xin the golden arrow token, causing my grandfather, father, uncle, and brothers to die on the battlefield! In this current war with Great Liang… I don’t want such tragedies to happen again, because whether it’s His Majesty, General Liu, the officers and soldiers of the Jin army, or my Bai family members – everyone who came here did so for those four words: protecting the borders and securing the people!”

Bai Qingyan’s frank confession made Liu Hong feel inexplicably panicked. His palms tightened as he wanted to ask Bai Qingyan whether, if one day the people lived in misery… would the Bai family also rebel against the Lin imperial power for the sake of the common people.

But he couldn’t ask this question. Deep in his heart, he already knew the answer. If he asked it aloud, he was a loyal minister and couldn’t help but report it to the Emperor. If this brought trouble to the Bai family, he would rather not ask and not know.

Because families like the Bai family – both loyal and righteous with grand aspirations – were already very rare in this world.

Bai Qingyan’s frank words today gave Liu Hong peace of mind. Bai Qingyan was right – they all came here to protect the borders and secure the people. Rather than worry about whether Bai Qingyan would lead the Bai family in rebellion if Jin’s people lived in misery in the future, it was better to think more about how to repel the enemy and protect the people now.

Furthermore, Liu Hong felt that whether it was the current Emperor or the Crown Prince, while they might not be considered brilliant rulers or heroes of their generation, they absolutely wouldn’t drive Jin to the point where people lived in misery.

There was no need to worry about things that hadn’t happened yet. Whether the Bai family was loyal to Jin’s people or loyal to His Majesty, though the expressions differed, ultimately, they were all loyal to the Great Jin.

Liu Hong nodded: “I understand everything the Princess means! But it’s better not to say these words in front of others. I know the Princess and the Bai family are loyal and righteous, but inevitably, His Majesty would feel uncomfortable hearing this.”

“Thank you for General Liu’s guidance!” Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and said respectfully. “I request to lead people on a detour to the path that the Liang army from Fire God Mountain must take to return to their main camp. If the Liang forces at Fire God Mountain return to camp for reinforcements, I can also ambush them there.”

Liu Hong knew Bai Qingyan’s concerns were correct. Without setting up an ambush here, if the Liang army at Fire God Mountain returned to camp to report, and Xun Tianzhang brought the main force to counterattack Fire God Mountain, forget about the High Righteousness County Princess – even the ten thousand soldiers that Lin Kangle and Wang Xiping brought wouldn’t be able to return.

“You don’t need to go personally for this matter! I’ll just send people there, don’t worry!” Liu Hong looked at Bai Qingyan with a gentle voice. “Go rest for an hour. After an hour, you’ll accompany me to meet with Liang army commander Xun Tianzhang.”

Bai Qingyan nodded in agreement and withdrew.

Liu Hong watched Bai Qingyan’s departing figure and sighed. Whether it was Duke Bai Weiting, Duke Bai Qishan, or the current Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan, they were all too straightforward. No wonder they would be suspected by His Majesty.

When Bai Qingyan came out of Liu Hong’s camp, the sky was already bright.

What she said to Liu Hong today was simply because she felt that when Liu Hong had personally accompanied her uncle Dong Qingyue to the gates of the Bai mansion to see off the Bai family’s heroic spirits, he must still harbor a soldier’s loyalty and straightforwardness in his heart.

Her grandfather Bai Weiting’s style was direct and loyal, known throughout the court. Even Qin Shangzhi, who had never been involved in court affairs, knew this – how could Liu Hong not know?

The Bai family’s straightforward manner had long been deeply rooted in people’s hearts. So she might as well speak frankly and openly, so that the Bai family wouldn’t rebel, that they served the people, not the ruler, to reach a consensus with Liu Hong and work together to repel the Liang army. This way, Liu Hong wouldn’t be too guarded against her, lest the people suffer due to discord between commander and general.

Just now, Liu Hong’s advice not to tell others what she had said to him today suggested he had already been persuaded by her words.

Outside the south gate of the capital, Sima Ping held the reins of a fine horse. Saddlebags containing his belongings and sword hung on both sides of the horse’s back as he raised his eyebrows, looking at Lu Yuanpeng.

Lu Yuanpeng had changed into ordinary common folk’s coarse hemp clothing and cloth shoes. He had removed the jade crown from his head and used a small piece of cloth to wrap his hair knot, carrying a small patched bundle on his back. His whole appearance looked gray and dull – where was any trace of his former elegant and graceful demeanor?

Lu Yuanpeng looked at his current outfit, then at Sima Ping in his fine silk clothes, and felt like he had been tricked by his own brother.

“Didn’t we agree to join the army under assumed names? Look at those clothes you’re wearing… Even the servants’ clothes in noble families like ours are rarely seen among ordinary people! If you want to hide your identity, you’ll have to change that precious horse, that bundle, and those clothes!”

Lu Yuanpeng spoke in the tone of his brother, Lu Yuanqing, feeling very indignant.

Sima Ping pressed his lips together. He hadn’t expected that Lu Yuanpeng would go to such lengths to hide his identity and join the army. He led his horse forward and patted Lu Yuanpeng’s shoulder: “Yuanpeng… tell me honestly, were you tricked by your brother?”

“You’re the one who got tricked by your brother!” Lu Yuanpeng’s face was full of anger.

“Even if we want to join the army under assumed names, is it necessary to dress like this from the capital? Couldn’t we wait until we’re almost there to change into these clothes? Besides, without horses, relying on just your two legs to walk to Nanjiang – with your condition… it would take ten years, wouldn’t it?”

Lu Yuanpeng was stunned. That… seemed to make sense!

Sima Ping sighed: “Your grandfather is so shrewd. How did he end up with such a foolish grandson?”

Lu Yuanpeng lowered his eyes and thought carefully, seeming to figure out that something was wrong.

“I think… my brother doesn’t want me to go to Nanjiang, he wants me to go to the northern frontier!” Lu Yuanpeng suddenly looked up seriously at Sima Ping. “When I left today, my brother told me about the court recruiting soldiers for the northern frontier, and said that the northern frontier battle situation is urgent now, that times create heroes, and it’s a good opportunity to earn merit. He also told me that Sister Bai is currently at the northern frontier! Then… he didn’t give me a horse or money, just gave me a name – Wang San. Isn’t he trying to make me sign up myself and go to the northern frontier?”

Sima Ping’s brows furrowed as he also sensed something was amiss.

Lu Yuanpeng wanted to go to Nanjiang to join the Bai family army also to follow Bai Qingyan, and Lu Yuanqing telling Lu Yuanpeng that Bai Qingyan was currently at the northern frontier – the meaning was indeed quite obvious.

Lu Yuanpeng thought for a moment and said, “How about we go to the northern frontier instead! Have you prepared your new identity?”

Sima Ping nodded: “Ma San!”

Lu Yuanpeng: “…”

Why were they all “San”? Were fake names so casual nowadays?

“You change your clothes, and we’ll go to the military camp recruitment office outside the north city gate to enlist right now.” Lu Yuanpeng said as he took down the bundle from his back and untied it, stuffing a set of clothes into Sima Ping’s arms. “Go quickly! Once you’ve changed, we’ll leave!”

Sima Ping looked up and down at the gray, dusty clothes Lu Yuanpeng was wearing, holding the patched clothing in his arms with some reluctance, but still went to change.