“Pass down the order! Have all our Western Liang warriors maintain full alert. Tonight… as long as Great Zhou’s people dare to come, we absolutely cannot let them return!”
“Yes!”
Old General Cui Shanzhong firmly believed that Bai Qingyan would return to assault the camp. Apart from the Western Liang generals currently leading troops in defensive ambushes, the remaining officers all sat with Old General Cui in the command tent, waiting continuously.
The weeping candles had already been replaced once, and the horizon was gradually brightening, yet Great Zhou had still not come to assault the camp.
Never mind the already aged Old General Cui Shanzhong—even the robust middle-aged Western Liang generals waiting with him in the command tent were beginning to nod off drowsily.
It wasn’t until the sky showed its white belly that a general finally looked toward Old General Cui Shanzhong: “General, it seems Great Zhou won’t assault the camp this time. They opened and closed the city gates just to make us think they would launch a night attack next, consuming our Western Liang army’s rest time.”
Old General Cui Shanzhong was not a stubborn person. Seeing how bright the sky had become, he understood in his heart that he had fallen for Bai Qingyan’s trick—Bai Qingyan had never intended to launch a night assault today.
She had been quite right about one thing: Great Zhou was within high city walls, so naturally they weren’t afraid of surprise attacks. But the Western Liang army was surrounding the city without high walls as a barrier—launching a surprise attack on Western Liang would be much easier than attacking Great Zhou.
Old General Cui Shanzhong had always been cautious. Thinking of this, he relented and had someone pass down orders: “Have the soldiers take turns resting. They must not all fall asleep, in case the Great Zhou Emperor launches an unexpected daytime assault on the camp.”
“Yes!”
Soon, a yawning Western Liang general went out to relay the orders.
“Old General Cui, you should also rest. You’ve stayed up all night with us—if this continues, your body definitely won’t be able to take it!” a Western Liang general advised in a low voice.
Old General Cui Shanzhong nodded, waved to indicate that the other officers should all return to rest, and couldn’t help but give another warning: “We must leave sufficient personnel on guard. If there’s any unusual movement from the Great Zhou’s army in Jiangzi City, report immediately!”
“Old General, rest assured—I’ll keep watch!” a Western Liang general said very respectfully.
After the generals emerged from Old General Cui Shanzhong’s command tent, some of the younger, more hot-tempered ones inevitably complained: “Is this Old General Cui becoming too cautious in his old age? That’s why we’re being played for fools by Great Zhou’s emperor! With that tiny bit of military strength they have in the city, they dare to assault our camp? Why don’t they try flying to heaven?”
“Watch your words!” his companion looked back toward the old general’s tent and said in a low voice, “Don’t forget that although Jiangzi City has few troops, we’re facing Great Zhou’s Emperor Bai Qingyan. In the battle of Weng Mountain back then, and later General Yun Poxing, didn’t they both die at the hands of the Great Zhou Emperor? Even Prince Yan couldn’t survive in the end!”
Hearing these words, the young Western Liang officer pressed his lips together and nodded, remembering that Li Tianjiao had returned to Yun Capital carrying Prince Yan’s corpse, and afterward had to kneel to beg Old General Cui to come out of retirement.
Their Western Liang’s most valiant Auxiliary General Yun Poxing had died at the hands of this Great Zhou Emperor, and Prince Yan was also gone. This Great Zhou Emperor was indeed not to be underestimated. Since their Western Liang Female Emperor could kneel to request Old General Cui’s return, presumably, only Old General Cui in all of Western Liang could defeat this Great Zhou Emperor. Otherwise, why would their Western Liang’s Majesty kneel before a subject?
Thinking of this, he nodded and said: “Let’s go back and rest well! In case Great Zhou’s main forces turn back to rescue their emperor, there might be tough battles to fight later!”
While Great Zhou’s army had rested peacefully through the entire night and climbed the city walls full of energy, the Western Liang army that had been tormented all night was already extremely fatigued. Most of the Western Liang soldiers were sleeping in their tents, and those who couldn’t rest were also utterly exhausted—tired and hungry, barely managing to hold on, unable to summon any spirit.
After Bai Qingyan patrolled the city walls, she turned and instructed Liu Pinggao: “Today, have the soldiers prepare their noon meal half an hour early!”
Liu Pinggao was startled, then thinking that Bai Qingyan might be planning to send troops out to assault the camp today, he excitedly clasped his fists in acknowledgment.
That made sense—they needed to eat their fill before fighting!
The Western Liang army had thought they would assault the camp last night and had forced themselves to stay alert all night. Now they were drowsy—this was the perfect time for Great Zhou’s army to launch a surprise attack. They would be able to beat the Western Liang army into a complete rout.
Soon, news of the Great Zhou’s army preparing their meal half an hour early reached the tent of Old General Cui, who had only just fallen asleep for a short while. Old General Cui sat up with the help of a young attendant, draped a cloak over his shoulders, and wiped his face with an ice-cold cloth.
“As expected! Last night, they opened and closed the city gates to prevent our Western Liang army from resting, all for the sake of launching a surprise attack at this time! Fortunately, Old General Cui sent people to monitor Great Zhou’s movements in advance!” the Western Liang general said indignantly.
The shock of the ice-cold cloth made Old General Cui feel much more alert. Preparing meals half an hour early would certainly produce cooking smoke—such an obvious flaw, would Bai Qingyan make such a mistake?
Perhaps Bai Qingyan deliberately revealed this flaw to make him think that, just like last night, Great Zhou was only making another feint? After all, Western Liang had spent the night sleeping on their weapons, and now they were exhausted—this was indeed a good time for a sneak attack.
Even if Bai Qingyan was making another false move this time, Old General Cui had no choice but to guard against it!
Because Western Liang couldn’t afford losses like the Great Zhou could!
Old General Cui knew he had made an error. Any general should know that the best defense is offense.
But Western Liang’s current situation wouldn’t allow Old General Cui to actively assault the city.
First, the cost of assaulting a city was too great, and after attacking the city, it would inevitably create a commotion. Once the beacon fires were lit on the city walls, it would easily put Western Liang in a position of being attacked from multiple sides—Western Liang didn’t have as many soldiers or as much grain as the Great Zhou.
More importantly, Old General Cui had his plans.
But fighting this way made Western Liang too passive. They needed to give the Great Zhou a warning to make them behave properly.
“General Ma, pass orders to the generals blockading Jiangzi City’s four gates to deploy troops in ambush right at the city gates… make sure Great Zhou’s people can see them! Use this to intimidate the Great Zhou! Let our soldiers rest well tonight. If they can’t eat their fill, at least let them rest well. Only when they’re well-rested can we seize grain from Great Zhou’s hands and ensure Great Zhou’s reinforcements never return!”
The generals in the tent looked at each other, but finally responded with clasped fists and went out.
Soon, news that Old General Cui had arranged for people to deliberately reveal weaknesses by setting ambushes at the four city gates also reached Bai Qingyan’s desk.
“Oh no!” Liu Pinggao slapped his forehead in self-reproach. “It’s all my fault for not being careful enough. I was too excited and didn’t explain clearly—preparing meals early creates cooking smoke, which tells the Western Liang people that we’re going to assault their camp!”
Liu Pinggao also marveled inwardly that Old General Cui was truly formidable.
“When did I say we were going out to assault the camp today?” Bai Qingyan held the bamboo scroll in her hand, her voice carrying a light laugh.
Liu Pinggao looked bewildered.