Ye Shouguan raised his hand, pointing to the flanking mountain peaks: “What if all my Western Liang soldiers come into the city to fight against you, Great Zhou forces? This is our Western Liang territory after all. However many of you enter, we could kill exactly that many, dividing and devouring Great Zhou—wouldn’t you be afraid?”
The corners of Bai Qingyan’s lips curved up as she smiled and said to Ye Shouguan: “If that were the case, then… the catapults would come into use.”
Ye Shouguan suddenly understood, realizing what Bai Qingyan’s catapults that had remained unused were truly for.
Just as he had guessed—if he had the soldiers from both peaks come down to provide support, Bai Qingyan would use the catapults!
“According to Yecheng Pass’s terrain, what’s most important for Yecheng Pass… is not the city of Yecheng Pass itself, but the high peaks on both flanks of Yecheng Pass. Therefore, Yecheng Pass’s main forces must be positioned on the flanking high peaks, not within the city!” Bai Qingyan earnestly explained her tactics to this senior. “As long as Western Liang scouts came out to reconnoiter, they would inevitably discover that all the Bai Family generals, including myself, were attacking the city…”
Ye Shouguan’s gaze fell on the young Bai Family generals behind Bai Qingyan, all clad in silver armor. He couldn’t deny that Bai Qingyan was correct.
Upon seeing that all the Bai Family generals were present, he had concluded that Great Zhou’s main forces were before the gates of Yecheng Pass, and that Great Zhou was definitely going all out to attack Yecheng Pass in order to lure the soldiers from the flanking high peaks to provide relief.
“According to the strategy of troop deployment, the main army would be positioned behind the catapults, and with night fallen… the Western Liang army could only see the catapults but couldn’t see that there were no Great Zhou forces behind the catapults at all. Great Zhou’s main forces… were all lying in ambush on the flanking high peaks!” Bai Qingyan’s voice was measured. “If General Ye dispatched troops to circle to the rear for an inside-outside pincer attack against Great Zhou, they would fall right into the ambush!”
Ye Shoucheng’s heart suddenly became clear.
“If General Ye was not so ambitious… and fought conservatively, having the soldiers from both flanking peaks descend along the city walls to provide relief, Great Zhou’s catapults would move! Once the catapults moved… the ambushed Great Zhou main forces would stake everything on capturing the city walls!”
The Bai Family Army now had elite assault troops capable of taking the city walls, and with detailed knowledge of Yecheng Pass’s internal structure, capturing the city walls was only a matter of time.
But unless necessary, Bai Qingyan didn’t want to use the catapults…
Catapults launching fire stones into the city would inevitably harm civilians.
Ye Shoucheng nodded: “If I had ordered the soldiers from both flanking peaks to descend along the city walls for relief, Great Zhou’s catapults would have inflicted casualties on some troops, which would reduce the burden on the Great Zhou forces attacking the city from both peaks, and would further reduce the burden on the Great Zhou forces attacking Yecheng Pass! Good… good! Preparing for both scenarios! Ye Shoucheng… admits defeat wholeheartedly!”
Bai Qingyan nodded: “On the battlefield, situations change in an instant. Being able to keep backup plans for one’s own soldiers to adapt as needed is always better than the cost of having to attack a second time if the first attempt fails.”
Ye Shoucheng agreed with Bai Qingyan’s words. He looked at Bai Qingyan’s upright posture, smiled and patted his leg, looked up at the sky, exhaled a puff of hot vapor, and sighed: “The young generation is truly to be feared! Everyone said… after Prince Zhenguo Bai Weiting, Duke Zhenguo Bai Qishan, and the Bai Family generals died, the Bai Family Army would have no successors. Now it seems… the Bai Family descendants have surpassed their predecessors!”
“General Ye… Western Liang’s defeat is already determined.” Bai Qingyan’s gaze looked toward the Western Liang soldiers on the city walls, almost all of whom were wounded. “Continued resistance has no meaning whatsoever. Many of Western Liang’s soldiers are still very young.”
“How can it have no meaning…” Ye Shoucheng’s bloodshot eyes looked at Bai Qingyan as he smiled and said, “Child, behind us Western Liang soldiers… is our nation! Our home!”
Bai Qingyan’s hands, resting on her knees, slowly tightened. No one understood this feeling better than the Bai Family Army—because behind them was the nation, was home… they absolutely could not retreat.
“General Ye…” Bai Qingyan suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, genuinely admiring this elderly senior before her. “My leading the Bai Family Army to attack Yecheng Pass is different from all the wars that you, General, and all our Great Zhou soldiers have experienced before… whether occupying other nations’ territories and cities, or resisting foreign enemies!”
“My grandfather Bai Weiting, whose courtesy name meant ‘unwavering,’ intended… to restore peace to the people and create tranquility in the world, with unwavering determination until death!” She straightened her spine. “Only with the unification of the realm can eternal peace be returned to the people! Bai Qingyan and all the Bai Family members, as well as our Great Zhou soldiers, all advance with this goal. Therefore… Great Zhou soldiers entering the city must not harm civilians! Those who surrender and lay down their weapons shall not be killed! And all the Western Liang cities previously captured by the Great Zhou have implemented the Great Zhou’s new policies, enabling the people to live in prosperity and stability.”
Ye Shouguan chuckled softly, seemingly thinking that Bai Qingyan was using such words to persuade him. He said, “Could it be that you overthrew the Jin Dynasty and ascended to the throne not for revenge, but for the unification of the realm?”
Bai Qingyan didn’t hide anything: “Overthrowing the Jin Dynasty and ascending to the throne was indeed for revenge, but also to protect our Great Zhou people, and even more so to achieve the unification of the realm! Someone once said… peace is established by generals, but generals are not permitted to see peace. I ascended to Great Zhou’s throne precisely to ensure that such things never happen again, to never let the tragedy of the Bai Family and Bai Family Army be repeated on any… loyal and brave person who sacrifices their life for the nation.”
Bai Qingyan raised her hand, pointing to Yecheng Pass behind her: “Just like today, I led the Bai Family members and the Bai Family Army to break through Yecheng Pass. This is indeed to exact revenge against Western Liang, but also to unify the realm! To ensure that within the four seas… There will be armies from now on, but no wars!”
Ye Shouguan looked in astonishment at Bai Qingyan, whose eyes were solemn and resolute. Her gaze was calm and profound—this wasn’t a lie fabricated to persuade him to surrender, but seemed to be… the very faith in her heart.
He hadn’t expected that this seemingly frail young girl would have such grand aspirations.
Within the four seas, armies but no wars!
Ye Shouguan even wanted to see in his lifetime whether this girl before him could truly establish the unified realm she envisioned.
Realizing that he had nearly been swayed, Ye Shouguan looked at Bai Qingyan and chuckled softly. After a long while, he slowly stood up…
Bai Jinxiu stepped forward to help her elder sister up as well.
Bai Qingyan looked at Ye Shouguan: “If the General doesn’t believe it, he can wait quietly for the future… to see whether Bai Qingyan is merely boasting.”
“I know you want to spare my life…” Ye Shouguan’s lips exhaled white vapor as he spoke, and he smiled. “Your kind intention, I, Ye Shouguan, appreciate it.”
This meant they would continue fighting…
Bai Qingyan’s brows furrowed tightly, her heart unable to bear it.
Ye Shouguan clasped his hands and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan with a long salute, genuinely submitting and genuinely admiring her. He straightened up, his expression full of smiles, and spoke calmly: “This humble one is willing to offer his mere eight-foot frame to battle Great Zhou and protect every inch of Western Liang’s soil.”