Bai Jinzhi, who had been practicing with her silver spear until she was gasping for breath, also approached Bai Qingyan’s side. Unable to contain her excitement, her eyes were bright: “Elder Sister!”

Bai Qingyan glanced at Bai Jinzhi, signaling her to remain calm. She took the towel Xiao Ruohai handed her to wipe away her sweat, untied the heavy iron sand bags wrapped around her arms, took her cloak and wrapped it around herself, saying: “Let’s go…”

When Bai Qingyan entered the government office gates, Shi Panshan was pulling Zhen Zeping, who was still fastening his armor and cloak, as they followed closely behind Bai Qingyan.

She turned back to bow to Shi Panshan and Zhen Zeping, and both men cupped their fists in return.

“In the middle of the night like this, did the Xiliang army launch a sneak attack?!” Zhen Zeping’s rough voice entered before he did.

The Crown Prince and his three advisors, along with General Zhang Duanrui, were standing before a map discussing something in detail. Hearing Zhen Zeping’s voice, they turned around.

The Crown Prince saw Bai Qingyan together with Zhen Zeping and Shi Panshan, the three of them bowing to him. His gaze fell on Bai Qingyan: “No need for formalities. Scouts report that the Xiliang army is setting ambushes at the Nine Curves Peak bend and east of the Nine Curves Peak exit at Wengshan Gorge. They are currently transporting wood, stones, and fire oil up the mountain! The forces at Nine Curves Peak number about twenty thousand, while the number of troops buried at Wengshan is still unknown, but with dust clouds flying and banners waving, there are probably over ten thousand soldiers hidden!”

Zhen Zeping’s eyes widened. It turned out… Miss Bai had guessed correctly?! He suddenly turned to look at Bai Qingyan.

The slender figure in white robes and cloak stood under the bright, flickering candlelight. Her pale, stunning features showed no expression, her gaze deep and steady. She showed neither joy at having accurately predicted the Xiliang army’s entire battle deployment, nor anger at losing the opportunity to fight because the Crown Prince hadn’t listened to her strategic advice. She remained composed, calm, and self-controlled.

“The Xiliang army’s deployment at these two locations cuts off our fastest route to Wengcheng! If we detour around Nine Curves Peak and Wengshan, departing immediately without stopping, even with forced marches, we’d reach Wengcheng at the earliest by the shen hour!” Shi Panshan gritted his teeth and offered a plan: “If the defenders of Wengcheng can hold until the shen hour, we might be able to bypass Nine Curves Peak and Wengshan, coordinate from inside and outside at Wengcheng, and annihilate the Xiliang army.”

“No!” Bai Qingyan shook her head.

She stepped toward the map: “If the army departs now to bypass Nine Curves Peak and Wengshan in forced marches to Wengcheng, by the time we arrive, our fifty thousand troops will be exhausted – how could we fight?! Moreover, fifty thousand troops aren’t five people. Do you think the Xiliang army’s spies are blind and can’t see large troop movements?! Once Yun Poxing knows our fifty thousand troops are bypassing his ambush points, those Xiliang ambush forces can use the Nine Curves Peak mountain paths and Wengshan Gorge to reach the Wengcheng area several hours before us and redeploy their formations! Then our fifty thousand reinforcements would be like sheep entering a wolf pack, surrounded by Xiliang cavalry! The Bai family army defending Wengcheng has fighting spirit – they certainly won’t stand by and watch fifty thousand reinforcements be slaughtered before their eyes. They’ll attempt rescue and support! Yun Poxing’s objective would still be achieved!”

Last night, Bai Qingyan had already predicted the Xiliang army’s deployment today with perfect accuracy. Now… whether it was Zhen Zeping, Shi Panshan, or the Crown Prince, none could continue to underestimate Bai Qingyan, and they fell silent.

Qin Shangzhi pondered for a moment before looking up: “Perhaps Your Highness could first send someone to Pingyang to relay orders for thirty thousand reinforcements, then send a single rider straight to Wengcheng with orders forbidding the city’s generals from leaving to provide rescue – they must defend Wengcheng to the death! Since Yun Poxing wants to set an ambush, the ambush forces, seeing a single fast horse rather than a large army, certainly won’t intercept it!”

Qin Shangzhi stepped forward and pointed at the map: “As long as Wengcheng’s defenders hold firm, we can divide our forces into two routes – one heading to Feng County to prevent Nanyan from deploying troops! The other avoided Yun Poxing’s main force and slowly circled Nine Curves Peak and Wengshan, keeping Yun Poxing uncertain of our army’s intentions, while sending a cavalry team straight to the Xiliang army’s main camp! Set it ablaze! Once the Xiliang army’s main camp is in chaos, Yun Poxing will have to redeploy! We’ll have an opportunity to seize, then adapt according to Yun Poxing’s arrangements!”

“Not reliable!” Before Bai Qingyan could speak, the Crown Prince’s oldest advisor had already spoken first: “The combined forces of Xiliang and Nanyan far exceed our Jin forces. If you set fire to their camp, there’s no guarantee Yun Poxing won’t become furious and besiege our fifty thousand troops! Master Qin’s suggestion to adapt according to Yun Poxing’s deployments would put the initiative entirely in others’ hands – we’d be too passive, too risky!”

The Crown Prince nodded, also agreeing with the old advisor’s words.

But Bai Qingyan looked at Qin Shangzhi with new respect.

They say the best defense is offense, but waiting for others to make their move before responding… though it appears passive, it gives you the opportunity to manipulate the outcome toward your desired direction.

Although Qin Shangzhi understood this principle well, it still contained an element of gambling. For the Crown Prince, who could only win and not lose, it was indeed lacking in reliability.

“Young Master Bai!” Zhang Duanrui cupped his fists and bowed deeply toward Bai Qingyan: “Young Master Bai said yesterday that if Your Highness didn’t deploy according to Young Master Bai’s advice last night, there would still be countermeasures today. Please speak frankly…”

The Crown Prince, his brow furrowed with worry, quickly looked toward Bai Qingyan: “Young Master Bai has countermeasures?!”

Shi Panshan also looked toward Bai Qingyan.

The impatient Zhen Zeping was extremely anxious: “Young Master Bai, yesterday I was wrong to underestimate you! Now with great enemies before us, don’t keep us in suspense! Speak quickly!”

Bai Qingyan remained composed, her tone steady: “Yesterday I did tell General Zhang I had countermeasures, but I also made it clear… only if the Bai family army’s Huying Battalion is present do I have countermeasures!”

As soon as she finished speaking, a scout outside the government office called out loudly: “Report… news from the direction of Wengcheng – Yun Poxing is leading a major assault on Wengcheng!”

“What hour did the assault begin?!” Zhang Duanrui stepped forward to ask.

The scout kneeling on one knee at the doorway replied: “The siege began at the chou hour!”

The Crown Prince was stunned. His hand hidden in his sleeve silently tightened as he recalled his father’s instructions before departure. After just a moment, the Crown Prince’s clenched fist relaxed again, and he said: “The Huying Battalion is here, right here in Wanping!”

Bai Qingyan showed no sign of excitement. She turned to face the map, silent for a moment, then her steady and swift voice rang out…

“This time, the army can be divided into four routes! General Zhang Duanrui will lead one route as bait, taking thirteen thousand elite troops and two thousand strong crossbow soldiers toward the Nine Curves Peak mountain path. Let the Xiliang spies go and report, but remember to move slowly – take two hours to reach Nine Curves Peak, and do not enter the Nine Curves Peak mountain path! General Shi Panshan will lead another route, taking ten thousand elite troops to circle behind the eastern side of the Nine Curves Peak mountain path, then catch the Xiliang ambush forces completely off guard!”

“Once battle begins, the Xiliang army, knowing they cannot ambush our forces, will certainly fight General Shi with full force. But in the Nine Curves Peak battle, General Shi must only lose and not win!” She looked at the bewildered Shi Panshan, her finger tracing around Nine Curves Peak on the map to the Wudan River: “General Shi, remember – pretend to flee in panic and lead the Xiliang army around Nine Curves Peak… toward the Wudan River direction!”