Bai Jinxiu deeply felt that what Bai Qingyu said made perfect sense, and nodded with a smile: “Good!”
Watching her fifth brother Bai Qingyu’s upright posture as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, Bai Jinxiu’s eyes grew moist again. She hurriedly turned her head to wipe away her tears, smiling as she said: “It’s truly wonderful to have a younger brother here!”
How wonderful it was that A’Yu had also returned…
Those difficult days when she had only relied on her eldest sister for support were all in the past now. The Bai family would surely get better and better!
The Bai family army of Great Zhou’s southern frontier had already turned around to head south, seemingly intending to compete with Yan for Xiliang’s territory alongside them, apparently no longer interested in entangling with Tianfeng. Additionally, Sa’er Khan had received news that the Great Zhou’s emperor was departing from the southern frontier to return to the capital city, as well as news that Yan had already captured Fangzhong City, which gave him temporary relief.
He ordered: “Immediately send someone to deliver a message to General Akxie, telling him not to hesitate and to speed up his return to Tianfeng!”
After speaking, Sa’er Khan threw the letter into the campfire before him. Watching the flames devour the paper, he narrowed his eyes and slowly exhaled a long breath, speaking to the Great Shaman’s disciple: “The cold climate is unsuitable for the giant elephants. Originally, I thought that dressing the elephants in fur would be enough, but… the giant elephants have never left the warm Tianfeng. Even the breath we exhale is ice-cold. Akxie sent word saying… quite a few giant elephants have fallen ill one after another.”
The Great Shaman’s disciple, wearing a black cloak, sat across from Sa’er Khan, adding several pieces of firewood to the campfire as he said: “Great Zhou’s withdrawal is advantageous for us. When the Great Shaman awakens and determines where exactly the deity has chosen the master of this land to be, we’ll dispatch our elite forces to kill the master of this land. Then we’ll wait for spring to arrive and begin preparing for war. When summer comes and we deploy our troops, wherever the elephant army goes, it can truly be said to be invincible. At that time, this entire land will belong to our Tianfeng!”
Sa’er Khan nodded: “Back then, the Great Shaman told me to wait a little longer, but I didn’t listen to the Great Shaman…”
“At that time, Xiliang’s emperor came to request that our Tianfeng send troops to assist Xiliang. Our deployment of troops was precisely the time when we had legitimate justification. Your Majesty’s choice to deploy troops at that time was also completely natural!” the Great Shaman’s disciple said.
“Enough! A mistake is a mistake! You don’t need to keep making excuses for me!” Sa’er Khan smiled at the Great Shaman’s disciple. “What’s past is past. We’ll return and regroup… wait a few years before coming back!”
Sa’er Khan looked at the leaping flames before him and sighed: “This land is too fertile, and the population is large… As long as we can become the masters of this land, we’ll have an endless supply of grain and an endless supply of slaves, and only then can we let the people of our Tianfeng live the kind of life they used to!”
“Your Majesty’s dedication to Tianfeng and the people can truly be said to be utterly devoted! Even the deity would be moved,” the Great Shaman’s disciple said with a smile.
Sa’er Khan chuckled: “You don’t need to flatter me here!”
Currently, the Great Zhou already knows about the jade cicada matter. However… I told Great Zhou’s emperor that only our Tianfeng royal bloodline can use the jade cicada, and the other jade cicada is in Your Majesty’s hands. If Great Zhou’s emperor truly wishes to use the jade cicada, he should send someone to discuss it with Your Majesty. At that time… we’ll occupy the dominant position!”
Sa’er Khan’s brow furrowed tightly: “If we speak of what regrets Great Zhou’s emperor might have, it would probably be that his imperial consort died young!”
The Great Shaman’s disciple nodded, then continued: “It’s not just that his imperial consort died young. I’ve also heard that back then, in the battle fought with Xiliang and that destroyed Nanyan in the Jing River area, Great Zhou’s female emperor’s grandfather, father, uncles, and younger brothers all died there. She must want to turn back time and then save her relatives and husband!”
Speaking of this, Sa’er Khan instead let out a long exhale: “In that case, we’ll hold the dominant position! Let’s return first!”
“Good! Let’s return to Tianfeng first!” the Great Shaman’s disciple nodded.
When Akxie received the order, he also felt it was time to withdraw from this land. He was the supreme commander of the elephant army, and when setting out on the expedition, His Majesty had entrusted him with leading the main elephant army forces out of trust.
During this period, Akxie watched as giant elephants fell ill one after another, and his heart felt more pain than if he were watching his own flesh and blood collapse. He was terrified that something might happen to these giant elephants.
But coming to this land was his majesty’s command, and he couldn’t question his majesty, so he had been gritting his teeth and persevering all along.
Now that His Majesty had issued an edict for them to withdraw, his heart felt much more at ease. Moreover, with the Great Zhou and Yan now fighting like dogs over Xiliang’s cities and territory, they should quickly withdraw to Tianfeng to preserve their strength.
This accursed place—Akxie would return. At that time… he would make Great Zhou and Yan prostrate themselves under the hooves of the giant elephants he rode!
Whenever Akxie thought of that person called Dong Qingyue, his teeth itched with hatred. Never before had anyone dared to be so arrogant in front of their Tianfeng elephant army.
“General! His Majesty has already given the order! Break camp and withdraw!” Akxie’s deputy general spoke.
Akxie knew that having received His Majesty’s command, they should withdraw quickly, but for some reason, he felt vaguely uneasy in his heart.
Seeing Akxie purse his lips in silence, the deputy general anxiously added: “General cannot hesitate any longer! We must move quickly! The faster we return… the fewer of our giant elephants will fall ill!”
Akxie closed his eyes, and only after a long while did he exhale and say: “It’s not that I’m not anxious, but previously His Majesty’s elephant army suffered heavy losses at Hanwen Mountain. If we want to withdraw quickly, we’ll have to pass through Liuxiang Mountain. I’m afraid Great Zhou or Yan will split their forces to set an ambush there!”
“But didn’t our scouts already say that Great Zhou’s army has turned around to march south?” the deputy general said.
“I still feel uneasy!” Akxie thought for a moment and said, “Like this—have the soldiers break camp and withdraw quickly. Increase the personnel watching the Great Zhou’s army. When we’re about to reach Liuxiang Mountain, we’ll stop and make camp until… The Great Zhou’s army begins attacking Xiliang’s cities! Then we’ll quickly pass through Liuxiang Mountain and return to Tianfeng!”
“Yes!” The soldier went to relay the orders.
When Akxie’s side broke camp and set out, the news quickly reached the hands of Bai Qingyu and Bai Jinxiu.
“According to the marching speed of Tianfeng’s giant elephants, they’ll probably reach Liuxiang Mountain the day after tomorrow,” Bai Qingyu said, looking at the map.
“Yan’s Ninth Prince has also sent word saying they can reach Liuxiang Mountain tomorrow,” Bai Jinxiu said, pointing at a spot on the map with her finger.
The corners of Bai Qingyu’s lips curved upward: “This terrain is still very similar to Hanwen Mountain’s terrain. Then we’ll use Hanwen Mountain’s tactics to fight once more. This time, they have many giant elephants. As long as the giant elephants are thrown into chaos by the chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, the giant elephants alone will be able to trample and kill quite a few of their own. Instead, it won’t require much effort on our part!”
After the battle at Hanwen Mountain, Bai Qingyu had gained experience and rather felt that these giant elephants weren’t so easy to control…