After reading the secret report, Bai Jintong silently lit it with candlelight and sat on the window-side soft couch, watching the flames consume the secret letter. She let out a gentle sigh… This eldest brother-in-law of hers was truly difficult to deal with.

Ever since Xiao Rongyan returned to Great Yan and learned that during his time in Great Zhou, Little Emperor Murong Li and Second Prince Murong Ping had wanted to use the paper trade to harvest Great Zhou’s wealth, Xiao Rongyan had nearly exposed Bai Jintong completely. Fortunately, Bai Jintong knew Xiao Rongyan’s identity and managed to avoid him in advance.

But it was also because of Xiao Rongyan’s return that Bai Jintong found it increasingly difficult and inconvenient to conduct business in Yan. Now she was even being secretly watched by Xiao Rongyan’s people. If not for her eldest sister sending reinforcements, she wouldn’t be able to accomplish many things now.

After Xiao Rongyan’s return, he ultimately felt that even though merchants pursue profit, using Cui Fengnian was too risky. Not only was Cui Fengnian from the Great Zhou, but back in Xi Liang, if not for Cui Fengnian joining forces with the Eight Great Families, Xi Liang probably wouldn’t have met such a fate. He investigated her several times, and if she hadn’t made preparations in advance, she probably wouldn’t be able to remain in Yan Capital now.

It could be said that Xiao Rongyan, who had once been a merchant, was extremely wary of Cui Fengnian, who was also in commerce. Even though he saw that Bai Jintong was only conscientiously doing business, he never relaxed his surveillance of her in the slightest.

Even when Bai Jintong was planning to go to Dongyi and was packing her things, Xiao Rongyan sent the steward from the Regent’s Palace, using both soft and hard tactics to prevent Bai Jintong from leaving Yan. He even said that to avoid accidents, she would need to wait until after the three-year wager between Great Zhou and Yan ended before being allowed to leave their surveillance range.

Naturally, if Bai Jintong conducted business properly, Yan would not interfere.

After reading the secret letter, Bai Jintong understood… Originally, Yan had been scheming behind the scenes, colluding with Dongyi to cause trouble for the Great Zhou from behind. Unexpectedly, her eldest sister issued Great Zhou national bonds and was determined to destroy Dongyi. Now Yan was panicking…

Yan was worried that after the Great Zhou destroyed Dongyi and installed a puppet emperor, they would use the same tactics against Yan, letting Dongyi cause trouble for Yan. So Yan was planning to make a show of contributing some effort, then share in the fruits of Great Zhou’s victory over Dongyi.

Bai Jintong chuckled softly. This brother-in-law of hers was indeed a merchant, extremely shrewd!

Now, Bai Jintong could risk sending the message out, but this might expose her currently available personnel.

After careful consideration, Bai Jintong decided not to take the risk this time, not to expose her available people outside, and wait for more critical moments to use them!

After all, based on Bai Jintong’s understanding of her eldest sister, even if she didn’t send someone to deliver this news to her sister, just knowing that Yan’s Regent Prince was leading troops to Dongyi, her sister should understand what Xiao Rongyan was planning. Her eldest sister… understood Xiao Rongyan even better than she did.

What she needed to calculate now was what she should do after Xiao Rongyan left to help Great Zhou restrain Yan.

·

The Battle of Long Island, unsurprisingly, resulted in the destruction of most of Dongyi’s main naval forces within Great Zhou’s naval encirclement. When the Emperor of Dongyi heard the news, he was greatly shocked and still couldn’t believe that the Great Zhou dared to fight Dongyi.

Dongyi’s court had already become chaotic. According to the returning soldiers’ reports, the Great Zhou’s Emperor had already reached Jin Wan City, and this time he came to destroy Dongyi.

What was worse, their spies brought news that Yan, which had always supported the new emperor’s ascension, seemed unwilling to let Great Zhou destroy Dongyi and monopolize the benefits. They, too, wanted to send troops to attack Dongyi and get a share of the spoils.

Dongyi’s court ministers hurriedly kowtowed, begging their emperor to send a surrender letter to Great Zhou, respectfully return Prince Han Cheng’s remains, and seek peace. As long as the Great Zhou stopped attacking Dongyi, Yan would certainly not trouble Dongyi either.

The Second Prince of Dongyi, sitting on the dragon throne, looked at the kneeling minister offering counsel and had him dragged out and beheaded right at the palace gates. He deployed all naval forces from the east, west, and north to the south for a death battle with the Great Zhou, declaring that as long as Dongyi repelled the Great Zhou, Yan would naturally not dare trouble Dongyi. Not only that… the Second Prince of Dongyi also had the Yan secret envoy who had helped him ascend to the throne killed, displaying completely mad behavior.

When the Empress of Dongyi, who had not yet been crowned Empress Dowager, heard this news, she was overjoyed. The madder the newly ascended emperor became, the easier it would be for her to turn those court ministers against him.

That very night, the Empress secretly bribed eunuchs and palace maids to spread her message.

·

When Xiao Rongyan led his troops aboard ships but had not yet reached Dongyi, he received a secret report that the Great Zhou’s Emperor had personally led troops, but was heading east.

His brow furrowed tightly as he turned to look at the sea chart hanging on the wall. His gaze fell on Guan Island, then moved toward Dongyi, his knuckled finger tapping at Liu Guan City’s location, then his gaze fell on Gua Du City’s direction.

If he were commanding troops, especially elite forces like the Bai Family Army, he would certainly split his forces at Guan Island into two routes: one heading to Gua Du, one setting an ambush between Liu Guan City and Gua Du City. He would attack Gua Du City first, blocking Gua Du City’s south gate, forcing Gua Du City to only seek aid from Liu Guan City, which had a Liu Guan military camp and could provide the fastest reinforcement to Gua Du! He would set an ambush here in advance, and when Liu Guan City’s military forces came out, he would launch a surprise attack.

Xiao Rongyan tapped his knuckle finger on Liu Guan City’s position. As long as Liu Guan City’s military forces were destroyed, the fastest reinforcements that could reach Dongyi’s capital would be gone!

Looking at Bai Qingyan’s military tactics, he knew she must be planning a quick decisive battle, directly taking Dongyi’s capital.

Xiao Rongyan was silent for a moment, then decided they should also change their march route, striving to capture Dongyi’s capital together with Bai Qingyan… This way, whether dividing Dongyi or installing a puppet emperor, Yan would have a say.

Moreover, if he started fighting quickly here, Dongyi would need to divide their forces to deal with Yan, reducing pressure on Bai Qingyan’s side and keeping her relatively safer.

Having made his decision, Xiao Rongyan ordered full speed ahead, determined to reach Dongyi by October 22nd.

·

Gua Du City.

Chen Qingsheng had previously come to Gua Du City with Bai Jintong. Because of Bai Jintong’s wealth, she had befriended many wealthy families here and also got to know the deputy general guarding the city. From the deputy general, she learned that Gua Du City’s commanding general was very fond of ancient books and musical scores. Bai Jintong had even given this general an ancient book.

So this time, when Chen Qingsheng used the excuse of delivering ancient books to the commanding general on behalf of Cui Fengnian, he met with General Gong who guarded the city. He told General Gong that Cui Fengnian, knowing General Gong loved ancient books, had collected this ancient musical score book while in Great Zhou and asked him to personally deliver it to General Gong.