Observing her youngest sister’s expression, Bai Qingyan raised her hand and gently rubbed Bai Jinse’s head. “Eldest Sister understands your meaning. Did Bai Yusheng leave any traces along the way when he came?”
“Yinshuang and I were watching him, especially Yinshuang. He knows that Yinshuang is a simple-minded girl, so he wasn’t suspicious about Yinshuang staring at him intently. He didn’t leave any traces along the way. Perhaps… Yusheng also wants to live peacefully for the rest of his life, no longer having any entanglements with the former Wei Kingdom.”
Although Bai Jinse said this, Bai Qingyan didn’t see it that way. Though Bai Yusheng was still young, his eyes were extremely resilient. She feared that within his heart burned a blazing fire of restoration, only it was all hidden deep in his heart.
“Following along this entire journey, Physician Hong must have already lectured you. Go rest…” Bai Qingyan said gently to Bai Jinse. “Regarding Bai Yusheng’s matter, I will handle it properly and do my best to protect him… so he can live peacefully for the rest of his life.”
Just as her youngest sister hoped.
“Thank you, Eldest Sister!” Bai Jinse’s eyes and brows were filled with joy.
“Go rest!” Bai Qingyan said.
On September 29th, the first batch of warships that Bai Qingyan had promised to the naval generals arrived at the mouth of the Jinwan River leading to the sea.
The naval officers and soldiers looked at the newly arrived giant warships and marveled in amazement. This also demonstrated the Great Zhou Emperor’s determination to destroy Dongyi.
The naval officers and soldiers all felt greatly encouraged. Their emperor was more decisive than they had imagined. Saying he would destroy Dongyi meant destroying Dongyi. The people had arrived not long ago, and the warships had already come, which showed that the emperor had begun preparations long ago.
Bai Qingyan was accompanied by various naval generals, inspecting the warships one by one. These warships… were originally built in preparation for dealing with the Tianfeng Kingdom in the future. The plan was to depart by sea route, following a river path that Bai Jintong had once traveled, carrying soldiers to the territory of Tianfeng Kingdom for a pincer attack, so they were all built quite large.
Who would have thought that the ships prepared for Tianfeng Kingdom would first be used in the matter of destroying Dongyi.
“Now the new warships and the refurbished warships are all in position.” Bai Qingyan stood at the front of the deck and turned to look at Jiang Huaisheng. “I wonder how many of the old naval officers and soldiers have returned?”
“In response to Your Majesty, almost all who could return have returned. Those too far away probably couldn’t make it in time for this expedition. There are also some hot-blooded young men who, inspired by Your Majesty’s call, came forward claiming they wanted to join the navy. This humble general has also arranged for them to be properly settled, having them stay in the recruit camp for good training so they can serve the country in the future.” Jiang Huaisheng looked back at the officers and soldiers gathered in the distance, gazing at these giant ships, and said to Bai Qingyan, “Now all of Great Zhou is united in heart, working together to destroy Dongyi. This is all Your Majesty’s achievement.”
Bai Qingyan gazed at the shimmering sea surface but said, “This is not my achievement, but what Prince Han of the Han City purchased with his life.”
This price, in Bai Qingyan’s view, was somewhat too great.
Jiang Huaisheng observed Bai Qingyan’s expression, pressed his lips together, and said nothing more. He could see that… Prince Han’s death truly grieved Bai Qingyan. Before Liu Shucheng left, he had heard Liu Shucheng speak of Prince Han’s loyalty to the Great Zhou Emperor.
Perhaps before, he had felt somewhat that Prince Han’s sacrifice wasn’t worth it. Now he felt that Prince Han was fortunate to have encountered a master like Bai Qingyan. Possibly the trust that Bai Qingyan had given Prince Han initially was genuine, and Prince Han had felt it, so… he was willing to repay Bai Qingyan with loyalty.
A true man dies for one who appreciates him. Prince Han had always possessed a heart for the country and people; he simply wasn’t trusted before.
Now that he was gone, he probably… had no regrets.
“General Jiang Huaisheng, in two more days, you will lead the navy into battle. Have the soldiers familiarize themselves with the new ships. The sea domain is entrusted to you all!” Bai Qingyan said to Jiang Huaisheng.
“Your Majesty, rest assured!” Jiang Huaisheng nodded in acknowledgment. “Not a single… Dongyi soldiers on the water will have a chance to escape!”
Jiang Huaisheng looked steadily at Bai Qingyan. Although Bai Qingyan wanted to destroy Dongyi with great momentum, not caring how much military resources were spent, Jiang Huaisheng now wanted to save what he could for the Great Zhou. With such an emperor as Bai Qingyan, Jiang Huaisheng didn’t want her to lose the national gamble…
On the first day of the tenth month in the second year of Yuanhe, the Great Zhou navy, commanded by Jiang Huaisheng, set out to conquer Dongyi.
Before dawn, the fire basins erected high at the mouth of the sea had flames dancing wildly, illuminating the features of the fully prepared soldiers with flickering light and shadow, making them appear even more resolute as they gazed solemnly at their emperor.
On the high platform where naval banners fluttered loudly, Bai Qingyan, accompanied by Bai Qingjue, Bai Jinzhi, and Bai Jinse, swept her gaze over the soldiers. Her voice sharp as a blade, she called out loudly: “Brave officers and soldiers of the Great Zhou navy, today… Our Great Zhou sends forth troops to destroy the Dongyi Kingdom, for the fallen Prince Han, for the fallen naval brothers, and the eternal peace of our Great Zhou’s coastal people! Dongyi says… that our Great Zhou is gambling with the nation, and that we dare not fight because we fear losing the national gamble, so they repeatedly provoke and cause trouble! Today we shall let Dongyi see that when a rat-like small country dares to offend our mighty Zhou, our Zhou… will surely destroy it!”
“Destroy Dongyi!”
“Destroy Dongyi!”
“Destroy Dongyi!”
The naval officers and soldiers shouted in unison three times, their voices shaking the wilderness and earth, inspiring passionate fervor in people’s hearts.
“When you return victorious in the future, I… will surely be here to welcome our Great Zhou’s elite warriors! The sea domain… is entrusted to you all!” Bai Qingyan performed a deep bow toward the soldiers.
“We swear to destroy Dongyi!”
“We swear to destroy Dongyi!”
“We swear to destroy Dongyi!”
At Jiang Huaisheng’s command, the emotionally stirred soldiers boarded the warships one after another. Bai Qingyan, accompanied by her brothers and sisters, stood on the high platform, watching the soldiers board the ships and depart.
As ten thousand golden rays burst forth from the churning, majestic sea of clouds in the east, enveloping the boundless vast ocean, over four hundred massive warships set sail. Their sides were outlined with faint golden edges, and countless Great Zhou naval banners fluttered in the wind as they broke through the waves, magnificent and grand—a spectacular sight of unprecedented momentum rarely seen in hundreds of years.
The common people who had specifically gathered at the mouth of the sea were also witnessing this magnificent scene of a naval expedition for the first time. Some had tears streaming down their faces, some shouted about certain victory, applauding with all their might.
The Great Zhou Emperor had personally come to the coast and commanded the navy to set out to destroy Dongyi, for Prince Han, for the fallen naval soldiers, for the peace of the coastal people, even while engaged in the national gamble. This let the people see the Great Zhou’s strength and confidence, and the people felt honored to share in this glory.
Bai Qingyan watched the naval warships slowly depart, her fists clenched behind her back. As she walked down from the high platform with her brothers and sisters, she said to Bai Qingjue and Bai Jinzhi: “We must accelerate the selection of Bai Family Army soldiers who can board ships. As soon as the ships arrive, we set out…”
“Eldest Sister, rest assured. General Cheng is already working urgently on this matter!” Bai Qingjue said.
The person Bai Qingyan had sent to impersonate a subordinate of the tavern keeper had already arrived in Dongyi Kingdom, carrying the peace lock that the seventh prince of Dongyi Kingdom had worn since birth.