Bai Qingyan thought for a moment and didn’t hide anything from Dong Qingyue, speaking frankly. “Uncle, Changlang should have already told you about my ulterior motives in training troops in Shuoyang.”

Dong Qingyue looked at his niece’s deep black eyes that concealed a sharp edge and nodded.

He heard her speak unhurriedly, “I wonder if Uncle has heard about the case of the Wang family from Nine Curves Alley in the capital?”

Dong Qingyue nodded and adjusted his sitting posture slightly. “I’ve heard something about it. I understand this case has caused much discussion among the people, all saying that the crimes committed by that Scholar Wang were not serious enough for the whole family to meet such a desperate end. Why would they all commit suicide in prison out of fear of punishment?”

Bai Qingyan looked at Dong Qingyue and spoke. “The imperial family is incompetent. Prince Liang, to satisfy the Emperor’s desire for elixirs of immortality, used children’s lives to concoct medicines. To protect Prince Liang, the Emperor had Scholar Wang’s entire family eliminated in prison, then sent the children’s corpses from Prince Liang’s mansion to the Wang residence. Even though such crude and brutal handling would make this case full of unreasonable aspects, the Emperor still did it! Moreover, this case was closed with overwhelming force. Uncle… such an imperial family, such a court, has reached the end of its mandate.”

Dong Qingyue’s pupils trembled as he straightened his back to look at Bai Qingyan, his eyes showing some disapproval. “But the Crown Prince still seems to be…”

“Uncle, the Crown Prince is the same!” Bai Qingyan looked steadily at Dong Qingyue. “When the Emperor had not yet ascended the throne, wasn’t he just like the current Crown Prince? After ascending, with Grandfather present, the Emperor could still suppress his nature. Now that Grandfather is gone, the Emperor’s true nature gradually shows—stubborn and self-willed, full of suspicion, lacking the bearing and vision of a ruler, not thinking of expanding territory or strengthening the people and enriching the Kingdom, only content with the present, greedy for pleasure, treating the people like grass. Now the court follows his example from top to bottom, with ministers all showing servile flattery, manipulating power for profit. The court no longer shows any signs of vigor. Such a court… has rotted from the bones, with its core festering… how can it not perish?”

Dong Qingyue frowned tightly, lowered his eyes, and rubbed his thumb and index finger together, pondering carefully.

Seeing Dong Qingyue wavering, Bai Qingyan rose and bowed to him. “To save Jin, the Kingdom needs new blood, with imperial power transferred to capable hands, only then can this putrid and stinking Great Jin be saved. Uncle once trained in the Bai family army and should know that the Bai army’s original intention was for the people… to quell internal disorders and external wars! These four words—protecting and securing the people—are the military soul upon which the Bai army was established! Since the imperial family now treats people like grass, pursuing immortality for selfish desires, and wantonly slaughtering innocent children! The people are the foundation of the Kingdom, and children are a nation’s future!”

Their eyes met as Bai Qingyan’s clear, black, and white eyes showed resolute determination. “When a foolish ruler misleads the Kingdom and harms the people, we who are sustained by the taxes of Jin’s people—should we stand aside? Even if Uncle believes the Crown Prince is still acceptable, preparations should still be made early! Now… Great Yan is taking advantage of Northern Rong’s plea for help to conveniently send troops stationed in Northern Rong, gaining all of Northern Rong’s natural pastures! Uncle should also take advantage of the situation… to gradually consume Nanrong. Otherwise, once Great Yan succeeds, our Jin will be caught between Great Yan’s forces on both sides, and we’ll be in danger!”

Dong Changlang, hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, knew that his sister had truly revealed everything to their family today. He was also shocked by Bai Qingyan’s far-sighted vision, looking at the composed and calm Bai Qingyan.

“So the bandit troubles in Shuoyang… are your people, and you’re training civilians as soldiers in Shuoyang to have troops available for future use?” Dong Qingyue looked at his niece, uneasily adjusted his posture, sighed deeply, and said, “But A’Bao, overthrowing the Lin imperial power would throw Jin into great chaos… who could sit on that throne! Rebellion is easy… but lasting peace and stability are difficult to achieve. How can you guarantee that after you rise, there won’t be those with designs on that supreme position who will fish in troubled waters? When that time comes, won’t it still be the people who suffer?”

“Uncle… what A’Bao seeks is not just to secure one nation of Jin. A’Bao has never dared forget the great aspirations of the Bai ancestors—to bring eternal peace to all people under heaven. What A’Bao seeks… is the unification of all under heaven, seeking clear seas and peaceful rivers, unwavering until death!”

Bai Qingyan’s words suddenly reminded Dong Qingyue of Zhenguo King Bai Weiting… of Duke Zhenguo Bai Qishan, and his eyes suddenly reddened.

Zhenguo King Bai Weiting’s courtesy name was Buyu (Unwavering).

The wish… to restore peace to the people, to establish tranquility in the human world, with unwavering determination until death.

This was the origin of Zhenguo King Bai Weiting’s courtesy name.

Having served in the Bai family army, how could Dong Qingyue not understand the Bai family’s breadth of mind and aspirations?

Dong Qingyue looked up at Bai Qingyan. “So the Bai army remaining in Nan Jiang is to prepare for the future, and training troops in Shuoyang is also preparation for the future. Now… what do you want Uncle to do? Is control of Nanrong? To be able to contend with Great Yan in the future.”

Bai Qingyan nodded. “Changlang should have told Uncle when he returned to Dengzhou that this year, Nanrong’s offensive will surely be fiercer than in previous years! For the safety of the people, why not evacuate them in advance? If cities are lost, just request aid from the Emperor. A’Bao thinks Uncle might as well make extravagant demands, using the silver obtained from the Emperor… to train your cavalry on the natural horse farms of Nan Jiang.”

Dong Changlang forcefully tapped the desk with his finger and looked up at Dong Qingyue. “Father, your son believes… Sister’s plan is feasible.”

“Uncle, even if not for pacifying all under heaven, to protect the people of Dengzhou before your eyes, Uncle should have had the people evacuate after the autumn harvest. Otherwise, blindly following imperial commands, when the Rong Di enter the city, only the people will suffer. The Emperor, far away thousands of li, will not be affected, and I’m afraid he’ll even blame Uncle for the disaster, just as he once slandered my grandfather for stubborn military usage.” Bai Qingyan spoke solemnly to Dong Qingyue.

Thinking of how Prince Xin had once saddled Zhenguo King Bai Weiting with the stigma of stubborn military usage, Dong Qingyue felt uncontainable indignation in his heart and nodded. “A’Bao’s matter of evacuating the people, Uncle understands it all.”

After Dong Qingyue finished speaking with lowered eyes, he raised his piercing gaze to look at Bai Qingyan and asked again, “Tell me… how do you plan to gradually consume Nanrong?”

Uncle’s meaning was that he agreed with Bai Qingyan’s proposal.

“This time when Nanrong attacks, Uncle should retreat… memorialize to inform the Emperor that provisions and wages are insufficient, that soldiers have no heart for fighting and are retreating steadily, requesting grain, grass, and silver from the Emperor. If the Emperor doesn’t provide it… Then retreat to another city! The Emperor will surely feel pain at losing cities and territory. When provisions, wages, and silver are in place, Uncle should strike back directly, sending loyal and reliable people, such as… Cousin Changlang—to penetrate deep into Nanrong territory. At the same time, Uncle can petition the court to station troops in Nanrong to train cavalry. If the Emperor approves… then have Cousin Changlang remain long-term in Nanrong’s heartland, controlling the overall situation as much as possible before court-appointed personnel arrive. Just keep requesting provisions and supplies from the court!”

Dong Changlang understood Bai Qingyan’s words, his throat working as he looked toward his father, Dong Qingyue.