“Minister Dong’s words are very true, please think thrice, Your Majesty!” Wei Bugong also hastily kowtowed. “Generally, when emperors personally lead expeditions, it’s to show they are chosen by Heaven, blessed by Heaven, accomplished in both civil and military affairs. But Your Majesty is already the war god of our Great Zhou, and having implemented new laws that benefit the country and people, you are already a sage ruler praised by all the people. Moreover, this is not a time of crisis for our Great Zhou, so there’s no need for a personal expedition!”

“Elder Sister! You are the emperor… how can you easily leave the capital?” Bai Qingyu also disagreed. “I also oppose this!”

“Yes, Elder Sister, if Elder Sister does this, your younger brother also disagrees!” Bai Qingqi also opposed.

“Then… will you still let me go?” Bai Jinzhi asked.

Bai Qingjue patted Bai Jinzhi on the forehead, signaling her to speak less, then smiled at Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister, Xiao Si and I are enough! A small Dongyi… Elder Sister, give Xiao Si and me a chance to establish merit, otherwise this prince title… I always feel somewhat guilty about it.”

Bai Jinxiu also looked anxious: “The School Affairs Bureau doesn’t matter, it can temporarily be handed over to Wei Zhong’s control. As for Wang Ge’er… it’s all for our Great Zhou, Wang Ge’er will surely understand his mother! Elder Sister, let me go!”

Listening to her younger siblings’ persuasion, Bai Qingyan picked up the gold token placed at the corner of the table, her fingers gently rubbing it. She thought again of Cheng Yuanzhi having someone bring back word that Prince Hancheng had bid him farewell before leaving, saying he would serve her again in the next life. Her heart ached terribly, and she spoke with a hoarse voice: “Regarding Prince Hancheng… I feel guilty in my heart.”

“This humble minister knows Your Majesty grieves over Prince Hancheng’s sacrifice for the country, but Your Majesty… You are the emperor, not a hot-blooded youth. You must not act on impulse!” Grand Commandant Lu didn’t wait for Bai Qingyan to finish before solemnly kowtowing, hoping Bai Qingyan would withdraw her order.

Grand Commandant Lu was not Dong Qingping; he was Bai Qingyan’s uncle and usually spoke with careful consideration. Today, calling Bai Qingyan impulsive was already quite bold of him.

“Personally, going to destroy Dongyi is not me acting on impulse.” Bai Qingyan placed the gold token in her hand aside, raised her eyes to look at Grand Commandant Lu, Minister Dong, Minister Wei, and her younger siblings, speaking with a grave tone: “Prince Hancheng was a surrendered prince of Great Liang. Our Great Zhou’s generals or court ministers might look down on him, but Prince Hancheng originally surrendered to avoid the suffering of the people, and holds extremely high prestige in the hearts of Great Liang’s navy and people!”

Her eyes became teary: “This time, Prince Hancheng died in battle protecting fishermen and envoys on their return voyage! The escort navy was annihilated! Do you think this… wouldn’t stir up tremendous waves in the hearts of former Great Liang people?! Our Great Zhou’s navy was originally left from Great Liang times, and they’re not entirely of one heart with our Great Zhou. It was Prince Hancheng… it was he who went to the coast and used his status to control those naval officers and soldiers! He protected the coastal people!”

“Now Dongyi state has declared that they want me, this Great Zhou emperor, to personally come and retrieve Prince Hancheng’s body. Do you think this is just Dongyi State’s casual provocation? Think about Prince Hancheng, who died for his country, protecting fishermen and the envoy fleet. If I don’t go, wouldn’t that chill the hearts of the naval officers and coastal fishermen?”

Grand Commandant Lu wanted to speak again, but was stopped by Bai Qingyan’s raised hand. She knew clearly what Grand Commandant Lu wanted to say.

“I’m not coveting any reputation for civil and military achievements, nor do I think only I can win this battle, or seeking any reputation for civil and military achievements in this certain victory! I go… to fulfill Prince Hancheng’s loyalty! Also, to win the loyalty of the navy, to win the hearts of those who have become our Great Zhou people, but still remember the Great Liang royal family in their hearts! Let them know… the Great Zhou emperor personally comes to avenge Prince Hancheng! The Great Zhou emperor treats Prince Hancheng and their navy as his people! Treats the people as his children!” Bai Qingyan’s fingertips tightened, her voice word by word: “Especially at this time, Prince Hancheng died protecting the people. Whether coastal people or the navy, they must be grieving deeply. This is precisely when the Great Zhou court needs to take a stance. The Great Zhou emperor is going to demand Prince Hancheng’s remains, as Dongyi state said, personally leading the expedition to destroy Dongyi is the best stance!”

Bai Qingyan had known from very early on the importance of soldiers being united in purpose and having the people’s support. She believed that the reason a sovereign becomes sovereign should not be to be supported by the people in the capital palace, but wherever there is disaster or war, she should be able to appear there alongside her people.

Thus… the people’s hearts would be with Great Zhou, with her, and only then could a nation truly be united from top to bottom.

Grandfather had once taught Bai Qingyan that as a general, if one dares to lead by example, one can inspire the soldiers’ martial spirit, ensuring victory in battle! Success in attack!

Sitting on the imperial throne, Bai Qingyan felt that inspiring soldiers’ martial spirit to gain their loyalty was the same as gaining the people’s loyalty. As long as she could be more than just an emperor sitting on the golden throne in the capital’s Golden Luan Hall, as long as she could lead by example during great disasters and wars, she could gain the people’s loyalty.

Bai Qingyan indeed had not received standard instruction on how to be a proper monarch, but she had her methods of governing the country and people.

“You ask… what do we want Great Liang’s territory for? Do we want Great Liang’s land and cities? We want Great Liang’s people! The people are the foundation of the state! What the people’s hearts support is most important! Just as Shen Tianzhi is now in Zhou territories of Yan land, winning Yan people’s hearts for us!” Bai Qingyan heavily knocked her finger on the table once. “This matter is not up for discussion. State affairs are entrusted to Prince Zhenguo, Prince Huguo, Prince Fuguo, Prince Xingguo, Grand Commandant Lu, and Minister Dong. You all discuss and handle them!”

“Prince Zhongguo and Prince Gaoyi, tomorrow morning, accompany me…” Bai Qingyan clenched her fist. “Depart… to destroy Dongyi!”

“Bai Qingjue receives the order!”

“Bai Jinzhi receives the order!”

Bai Qingyan, leaving tomorrow morning, caught Grand Commandant Lu off guard: “Isn’t tomorrow morning too hasty?”

“Speed is precious in war. I’ve already had Wei Zhong send people to Yuanping military camp to relay orders, transferring thirty thousand soldiers to rush to the coast for reinforcement. I’ll lead people on fast horses from the capital to pursue and join up as quickly as possible.” Bai Qingyan looked at Grand Commandant Lu. “If more troops are needed, I’ll send word back!”

Before they came, Bai Qingyan had already sent people to the Yuanping camp with orders. It seemed Bai Qingyan’s mind was made up.

“I’ll immediately write to Nan Jiang, having Ji Tingyu, Zhao Ran, and the Shouyang army recalled.” Bai Qingqi said.

“No use for naval warfare!” Bai Qingyan turned to look at Bai Qingqi. “Have them guard the passes well. Before our Great Zhou destroys Dongyi, absolutely do not allow Tianfeng state to cause trouble!”

“Yes!” Bai Qingqi nodded.

“My departure from the capital for the coast, after I leave, announce it to the court ministers during morning court, and stabilize the ministers.” Bai Qingyan looked at Grand Commandant Lu and the others.