Feng Yao brought up hot tea. Xiao Rongyan tapped the table beside him with his finger, indicating for Feng Yao to set it down.
Xiao Rongyan wasn’t angry with General Song. Instead, he gestured for Yue Shi not to continue speaking, only looking at General Song as he smoothed his robes and said: “Since General Song is so loyal to His Majesty, he must surely be able to think of a solution that achieves both goals. Otherwise… how could it be considered unreserved, wholehearted loyalty to His Majesty? Isn’t that right… General Song!”
General Song was choked by Xiao Rongyan’s words and was about to retort, but when he met Xiao Rongyan’s eyes, it was as if someone had grasped his throat.
Xiao Rongyan tapped the table intermittently with his fingers: “Then… this Prince will give General Song the time of one incense stick. If you can’t think of anything, you’ll be served with military rods – fifty military rods would be getting off easy for General Song!”
After speaking, Xiao Rongyan tucked away the wild goose hairpin in his hand, picked up his teacup, ordered someone to light an incense stick, and gently blew on the hot tea.
Seeing General Song’s ugly expression, Yue Shi finally felt somewhat comfortable.
“Your Highness, please calm your anger!” A general hurried to plead for General Song, kneeling on one knee with cupped fists: “General Song should be severely punished for offending Your Highness, but now is when we need men. General Song is most valiant on the battlefield. Please, Your Highness, considering that General Song was first to charge into the city each time, show mercy and spare General Song this once!”
Xiao Rongyan smiled: “How could this be called sparing him? General Song speaks constantly of loyalty to His Majesty. This Prince is merely giving General Song an opportunity – if he thinks of a solution, it would be a great achievement… This Prince certainly wouldn’t hold his offense against me. But if General Song can’t think of anything…”
Xiao Rongyan’s smile became increasingly cold, his eyes filled with terrifying killing intent: “In our Yan army, a general who cannot do what he demands but waves His Majesty’s banner to pin blame on this Prince – I can tolerate that. But if he pins the blame on subordinates… wouldn’t those subordinates be driven to death when they can’t achieve it? Even if such a general were a war god, I, Murong Yan, would not want him. If General Song truly can’t think of anything, after surviving fifty military rods, get out of my sight and roll back to the Yan capital!”
General Song’s face flushed red with anger: “Your Highness, doing this seems to have intentions of undermining His Majesty’s influence in the army!”
These words were serious. The faces of all the generals in the tent immediately turned ugly.
“General Song, what are you saying?” A general, friendly with General Song, hurriedly scolded him, then knelt to beg for mercy: “Please spare General Song, Your Highness. General Song is confused with anger and speaking nonsense!”
“What, this Prince asking you to think of the win-win solution you mentioned constitutes undermining His Majesty’s influence in the army? Or do you think… You can represent His Majesty in the army?” Xiao Rongyan laughed lowly, a laugh that made people’s hair stand on end. “General Song, you should be grateful that this Prince still recognizes your loyalty to His Majesty. Otherwise… your head would no longer be on your neck!”
Soon, the incense stick burned out. General Song’s face was ugly as soldiers dragged him out for fifty military rod strikes. Yue Shi personally carried out the punishment. General Song fainted as soon as the beating was finished and was carried back to the tent by his subordinates.
At this time, Xiao Rongyan had finished the tea in his hand and casually set the teacup aside: “What about you all? Do you have any win-win solutions?”
The generals in the tent looked around at each other, none making a sound.
Xiao Rongyan nonchalantly straightened his clothes: “If none of you have any win-win solutions, then… We’ll follow Great Zhou’s methods, win over the Xiliang people, and see… how many Xiliang people we can gain for our Great Yan!”
After speaking, Xiao Rongyan stood up and walked toward the tent entrance.
The generals hurriedly rose and respectfully bowed deeply toward Xiao Rongyan, seeing him out of the tent.
On the first day of the second month, Bai Qingyan arrived at Jiangzi City with her army and refugees.
Outside Jiangzi City, there were already many refugees who had come upon hearing the news, but the defending general hadn’t received orders from above, so he dared not arbitrarily allow these Xiliang refugees into the city. However, having received news from Yecheng Pass, he also didn’t actively drive them away.
As soon as Bai Qingyan arrived, she immediately ordered people to register the Xiliang refugees for entry into the city, distribute residences and farmland, and had soldiers repair damaged houses to ensure the people could move in directly.
The people who received houses and grain took their wives and children to look at their new homes in Jiangzi City, moved to tears with excitement. From now on, they had homes and wouldn’t live as they had in recent months – displaced and wandering, constantly worried about starving to death, while also guarding against raids from Tianfeng armies and bandits who had turned to robbery when they couldn’t make a living. Every day had been filled with fear!
Now they had finally settled down, becoming Great Zhou citizens with the court providing grain so they wouldn’t starve. They had houses to live in and land to cultivate. Though they owed the government silver and grain, at least they had survived.
In times of war, for common people, being able to survive was everything, not to mention that Great Zhou had also provided them with this stability.
When Bai Qingyan arrived at Jiangzi City, after arranging matters, she rested under Chun Zhi’s care. Because the battle reports from the front were victory reports, Wei Zhong held them back, thinking to wait until Bai Qingyan woke up before having someone report.
During this period, Bai Qingyan hadn’t been able to rest properly. After all, she was carrying twins, and Wei Zhong couldn’t bear to wake her.
Bai Qingyan slept for three full hours. The meal had long been prepared, and Chun Zhi had come to check more than ten times, but Bai Qingyan still hadn’t awakened. She could only have the kitchen keep the food warm over the fire, ready to serve as soon as Bai Qingyan woke.
When she woke, it was already the zi hour. The kitchen cooks had been standing ready without daring to rest. Upon hearing His Majesty had awakened, they immediately had people place the food in black lacquered, gold-decorated food boxes and sent them to where Bai Qingyan was staying. The kitchen also bustled into activity, preparing dishes.
Behind screens and hanging curtains, Bai Qingyan changed clothes and rinsed her mouth in the inner chamber. Maidservants filed in carrying food boxes, with Wei Zhong personally arranging the meal on the round table. After tasting the food, the maidservants quickly withdrew.
“Your Majesty, the meal is ready,” Wei Zhong reminded quietly from outside the screen.
Chun Zhi fastened the frost-colored orchid knot buttons for Bai Qingyan, placed her hands folded over her lower abdomen, took small steps back to the hanging curtains to lift them for Bai Qingyan, then came out from the inner chamber together with her.
“Are there any battle reports?” Bai Qingyan asked after taking her seat and wiping her hands with a hot towel.
“They are victory reports, so this old servant didn’t disturb Your Majesty’s rest.” Wei Zhong took the battle reports from the square tray held by a young eunuch behind him and handed them to Bai Qingyan. “Deyang City has been taken…”
Bai Qingyan skimmed through them. The battle reports didn’t mention whether her younger brothers and sisters had been injured. Bai Qingyan asked Wei Zhong again: “Where is the soldier who delivered the battle reports?”
“He has retired for the night. If Your Majesty has questions, perhaps wait until tomorrow?” Wei Zhong smiled.