“Elder Sister, rest assured!” Bai Qingqi responded.

The youngest, Bai Jinse, after yesterday’s battle, seemed to have not yet recovered from the shock. She stayed close behind Bai Qingyan, unable to eat anything. Her small face was deathly pale, and she appeared listless.

Whenever Bai Jinse tried to eat, her mouth would fill with the metallic taste of blood. She couldn’t help but recall the severed limbs and broken bodies on the battlefield, the scenes of rivers of blood, causing severe nausea.

Bai Qingyu noticed his sister huddled behind their elder sister, looking quite distressed. He deliberately slowed his pace to walk alongside Bai Jinse.

Looking straight ahead, he placed his large hand on Bai Jinse’s head: “Our Xiao Qi is much more capable than Great Yan’s little emperor. She can offer strategies to Elder Sister, didn’t cry when she went to battle, and didn’t vomit terribly after coming down from the battlefield!”

Upon hearing the word “vomit,” Bai Jinse quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

Bai Qingyu turned back, his clear features unobscured by the half-mask showing the gentlest smile: “If Father were still here, he would surely be proud of you!”

Upon hearing these words, Bai Jinse’s tears began falling in large drops, one after another. If Father were still alive… seeing her go to battle, would he truly be proud of her?

Bai Qingyu rubbed Bai Jinse’s head: “Mother, as well as your brothers and sisters, are all proud of you!”

Bai Jinse lowered her hands from her mouth, wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and nodded: “Mm!”

Bai Qingyan heard Yu’s voice comforting Xiao Qi behind her, and the smile in her eyes deepened…

If Grandfather and Father… and the uncles, the Bai family ancestors, could see the Bai family children now gathered at Yecheng Pass, working hard to create the peaceful mountains and rivers they had hoped for, they would surely be proud of all the Bai family descendants.

Today was the fifteenth day of the first month. Bai Qingjue led the Bai family army soldiers to clean up Yecheng Pass and hung lanterns on the city walls. Bai Jinzhao and Bai Jinhua made yuanxiao with the soldiers, while Bai Qingyan, Bai Qingqi, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Qingyu… and Bai Qingyun stood before the map establishing the siege strategies for what lay ahead.

“After breaking through Xiliang’s Yecheng Pass, Xiliang can be said to have no more natural barriers to defend. Yunjing… is already within our grasp!” Bai Qingqi pointed in Yunjing’s direction. “It just depends on whether we and Xiao Si, or Yan Kingdom… who reaches Yunjing first.”

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Yunjing, thinking of Li Tianjiao: “Now that Li Tianjiao has returned to Yunjing, she is not an emperor who would retreat when facing strong enemies and allow herself to be slaughtered…”

She thought for a moment and said, “Send someone to tell Xiao Si about Li Tianjiao’s return to Yunjing, have Xiao Si and Uncle Shen inform Li Tianfu of this matter, and reach an agreement with Li Tianfu. If Li Tianfu still wants to be the king of Xiliang, then she should cooperate with our Great Zhou…”

But Bai Qingyan felt that Li Tianfu probably wouldn’t cooperate with the Great Zhou. She would be delighted if Great Zhou’s battle became more difficult.

“Li Tianfu’s ascension to the throne has already been announced throughout Xiliang’s four territories. Even if Li Tianjiao steps forward, it will still cause doubt among Xiliang’s soldiers. As long as they harbor even slight doubts, we will win this battle!” Bai Qingyun said.

Bai Qingyu thought for a moment and spoke unhurriedly: “I’m just afraid that Li Tianfu, for the sake of that Lu Tianzhuo, won’t be willing to cooperate. After all… Li Tianfu is a madwoman, single-mindedly wanting to destroy the Great Zhou.”

“Lu Tianzhuo?” Bai Qingyun was quite puzzled, clenching his fists. “That bastard who was the adopted son of General Pang of Shu Kingdom and who killed… Second Brother?”

Bai Qingqi nodded: “This Lu Tianzhuo later entered Xiliang’s imperial palace as a eunuch. Don’t know what methods he used… but he actually made Li Tianfu pledge her life and death to him. Previously, when Xiao Qi told you about Jin Kingdom’s crown prince taking Li Tianfu as his consort, she stabbed Elder Sister at the wedding banquet to avenge Lu Tianzhuo.”

Bai Qingyun looked completely astonished.

“If Li Tianfu cooperates, that’s best. If she doesn’t cooperate, everyone knows Li Tianfu is currently in Great Zhou, so we can just borrow her name…” Bai Qingyan was unconcerned. “Xiao Si and Uncle Shen will next attack Tanggu and Gangdi. Great Yan’s army advancing from Fangzhong City toward Yunjing is also about to press close to Yunjing, so Li Tianjiao will be forced to temporarily focus her attention on the cities on Xiliang’s western side.”

Bai Jinxiu nodded: “In that case, we need to take advantage of Xiliang being forced to first resist the west, and accelerate our capture of Yunjing…”

“Now with Yan army to the east, Great Zhou and Yan army simultaneously advancing from the west, and three directions from the south, we can say large armies are approaching from all sides!” Bai Qingyan pointed at the area south of Yunjing. “I think we should have Jinxiu and Qi lead troops to secretly circle to the south of Yunjing, blocking Li Tianjiao’s retreat route to the south! Otherwise… if Li Tianjiao retreats south and moves the capital, this battle will drag on endlessly!”

“Jinxiu follows Elder Sister’s command!” Bai Jinxiu clasped her fists.

“Qi follows Elder Sister’s command!” Bai Qingqi also spoke.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “In that case, General Yang Wuce and Yun will lead troops to remain and guard Yecheng Pass. Yun must implement Great Zhou’s new policies in the cities north of Yecheng Pass… quickly let Xiliang’s people know the benefits of Great Zhou’s new policies. Only this way can we prevent the people from causing chaos!”

“Yun receives the order!” Bai Qingyun responded.

“Bai Qingyu, Bai Qingjue, take Bai Jinzhao and Bai Jinhua, follow the original planned route to Deyang…” Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Qingyu. “Depart early tomorrow morning!”

“Yu receives the order!” Bai Qingyu responded.

Bai Jinse, who had prepared tea and snacks for her brothers and sisters and brought them in, entered the room and replaced Bai Qingyan’s half-cold tea, saying: “Elder Sister, Physician Hong has come to check Elder Sister’s pulse. He instructed not to delay, and I noticed Physician Hong looked very angry.”

When Bai Qingyan personally led the Bai family army to attack Yecheng Pass, Physician Hong’s heart was hanging in his throat. After all, Bai Qingyan was currently pregnant, so how could he not be worried?

After taking Yecheng Pass, Physician Hong heard that Bai Qingyan was injured and rushed to see her…

But she had gone to inspect the camps!

Physician Hong went from tent to tent trying to catch Bai Qingyan, but couldn’t find her. When he returned, he heard that Bai Qingyan had personally gone up the mountain to bury the Bai family army soldiers who died in this battle. This was also urgent business, so Physician Hong couldn’t say anything.

It was agreed that once Bai Qingyan came down from the mountain, someone would be sent to summon him. Who knew that after finally waiting for them to come down the mountain, Physician Hong had fallen asleep. When he woke up, he heard that Bai Qingyan didn’t have anyone call him, saying to let him sleep well!

When Physician Hong inquired further, good heavens… this Bai Qingyan really thought herself made of iron. She was actually still studying the marching routes for what came next. Did she have any awareness at all that she was carrying a child?

This made Physician Hong so angry that he put on his shoes and came over in a burning rage.

Bai Qingyan smiled as she accepted the tea Bai Jinse handed her, looking at Bai Jinse and asking: “Xiao Qi, will you return to the capital with Elder Sister, or follow your Fifth Brother and the others… to continue to the next city?”