“The Wudan River connecting to Wengshan Gorge has the lowest and most expansive terrain… and is the only entrance. The Xiliang army pursuing General Shi will know there are Xiliang ambush forces in the gorge, and knowing the gorge entrance is wide while the Nine Curves Peak exit is narrow, they’ll certainly try every means to drive General Shi into the Wengshan Gorge toward the Nine Curves Peak exit, planning to annihilate all of General Shi’s forces within Wengshan Gorge!”

“General Zhang Duanrui!” Bai Qingyan looked toward Zhang Duanrui again.

Zhang Duanrui nodded, quietly awaiting Bai Qingyan’s arrangements.

“When General Shi Panshan begins fighting the Xiliang army, General Zhang Duanrui should immediately lead his army in a rapid retreat toward Wanping. After half an hour of assault, divide into two routes – General Zhang Duanrui takes two thousand crossbow soldiers and one thousand close-combat troops to turn back and set an ambush at Nine Curves Peak! Order the deputy general to lead twelve thousand soldiers to rush to the Wudan River entrance of Wengshan Gorge for a concealed ambush. Let the Xiliang forces in the valley send scouts to report to Yun Poxing, but don’t allow the Xiliang army to retreat! Once you see all of Yun Poxing’s Xiliang main forces enter the gorge valley, immediately seal the exit!”

“General Zhen Zeping will lead one route, taking twenty thousand elite troops to circle the eastern side of Nine Curves Peak in a long assault on Wengshan Gorge, climbing diagonally up the eastern side of the gorge to engage the Xiliang ambush forces at Wengshan Gorge. Again, only lose, don’t win. Then divide into two routes – one route pretending to be routed troops with General Zhen Zeping leading part of the Xiliang army into Wengshan Gorge, the other route leading Xiliang forces in the opposite direction away from the gorge to the Wengshan basin, where I will personally lead five thousand in ambush.”

“Generals Shi Panshan and Zhen Zeping, once you two converge in Wengshan Gorge, immediately find a way to lead troops out through the Nine Curves Peak exit of Wengshan Gorge, drawing the Xiliang army into General Zhang’s ambush site at Nine Curves Peak!” She turned to look at Zhang Duanrui: “General Zhang can use the wood, stones, and fire oil that the Xiliang army helped transport up the mountain, and together with Generals Shi Panshan and Zhen Zeping, do your utmost to slaughter most of the Xiliang forces there! When the Xiliang army discovers the ambush and tries to retreat, Generals Zhang, Shi, and Zhen should kill as many as possible, then lead troops to guard the narrow passage, cutting off the Xiliang army’s route toward Nine Curves Peak!”

“When Yun Poxing learns that all Xiliang ambush forces have been lured into Wengshan Gorge, calculating the forces, he’ll certainly think that besides the fifteen thousand reinforcements brought by General Zhang Duanrui, the remaining thirty-five thousand troops have all mobilized to launch sneak attacks on the Xiliang ambush forces. Given Yun Poxing’s eagerness to make a name for himself worldwide… his determination to annihilate the Bai family army, plus with all Bai family generals dead, he has nothing to fear and will certainly rely on his superior forces and numbers several times greater than Great Jin’s, wanting to slaughter all these thirty-five thousand reinforcements and the Bai family army in Wengshan Gorge! Then he can only follow his original plan, bringing his main force to assault Wengshan and drag the Bai family army into Wengshan Gorge as well!”

“Next comes the Bai family army’s Huying Battalion. The Huying Battalion has one ability – they can string rope bridges between cliff faces for rapid troop passage!” She pointed to the abyss between Nine Curves Peak and Wengshan: “Your Highness can order the Huying Battalion to depart immediately and string rope bridges across the ten-thousand-zhang cliffs between Nine Curves Peak and Wengshan. Time is urgent – string as many as possible!”

“After Generals Shi, Zhen, and Zhang work together to slaughter most of the Xiliang army, Generals Shi and Zhen will block the Nine Curves Peak exit of Wengshan Gorge! General Zhang on Nine Curves Peak should immediately take his crossbow soldiers and close-combat troops… cross via the rope bridges the Huying Battalion strung between Nine Curves Peak and Wengshan, hiding on the western side of the gorge where the Xiliang forces set their ambush, preventing the Xiliang army from climbing the western side of the gorge… to provide flanking support to the Xiliang forces in the gorge!”

“I’ll lead troops in an ambush on the eastern side of the gorge, preventing the Xiliang army from climbing the eastern side! As long as Yun Poxing leads the Xiliang main force into Wengshan Gorge, they’ll have Generals Shi Panshan and Zhen Zeping in front, the Bai family army and twelve thousand elite troops hidden at the Wudan River entrance of the gorge behind, cliffs on left and right, and Great Jin soldiers and crossbow troops above. Yun Poxing will have no escape route – calling it ‘catching turtles in a jar’ wouldn’t be excessive. In this battle… we must slaughter the Xiliang army’s main force between Wengshan Gorge and Nine Curves Peak! Make Xiliang incapable of invasion for at least three years! Only then can we make Nanyan and Xiliang fear us!”

In the quiet government office, amid flickering candlelight, the woman’s steady, confident voice was both urgent and stable.

After hearing everything, Qin Shangzhi felt his blood surging and his scalp tingling. With current troop numbers, he could find no flaws in Bai Qingyan’s arrangement!

Qin Shangzhi dared assert that this battle would be an epic victory of few against many! If Bai Qingyan yielded credit to the Crown Prince in this battle, it would certainly make him famous in one stroke!

This eldest legitimate daughter of Duke Zhenguo’s mansion – had she thought up this strategy last night, or was she adapting on the spot based on Yun Poxing’s arrangements?!

Thinking of the strategy Bai Qingyan had counseled to the Crown Prince last night, then considering today’s, Qin Shangzhi felt only admiration for Bai Qingyan.

Once, Bai Weiting had called this eldest legitimate granddaughter of his a military talent. He had only thought Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting was exaggerating, never imagining… Bai Qingyan’s title of Young General Bai was truly not undeserved.

“This is using Yun Poxing’s plan… against Yun Poxing!” After hearing Bai Qingyan’s battle arrangement, Zhang Duanrui felt greatly encouraged, completely free of his earlier worried demeanor: “It’s Yun Poxing who worked hard to have his people transport those things up the mountain, benefiting our Great Jin army!”

“Indeed, a brilliant strategy!” Shi Panshan couldn’t help but praise: “If Yun Poxing knew… that his army was destroyed by the very things he had transported to Nine Curves Peak and Wengshan Gorge for his ambush! He’d probably die of anger!”

The elderly advisor beside the Crown Prince stroked his goatee and nodded: “Indeed… this is truly an excellent strategy. However, Generals Shi and Zhen will be in great danger, especially when exiting through the Nine Curves Peak outlet of Wengshan Gorge – that passage is only wide enough for ten men to emerge side by side.”

“What battle isn’t dangerous?” Shi Panshan was already completely convinced by Bai Qingyan. He said, “This plan has already minimized our army’s losses! Otherwise… in a frontal assault, our fifty thousand troops wouldn’t be enough to fill the gaps between Yun Poxing’s teeth! Even if I die there, I’m not afraid!”

Bai Qingyan looked at Zhang Duanrui: “In this battle, the most crucial element is the two thousand crossbow soldiers and one thousand close-combat troops that General Zhang leads. After General Zhang achieves victory at Nine Curves Peak, you must immediately cross to guard the western side of Wengshan Gorge, not giving the Xiliang forces any opportunity, to ensure complete success!”

“Understood!” Zhang Duanrui nodded.

“Your Highness!” She looked toward the Crown Prince: “If you find this feasible, please give the order!”

The Crown Prince pressed his lips tightly, seeming to still have some hesitation.

Before the expedition, the Crown Prince had only hoped for Bai Qingyan to provide strategies and counsel, but hadn’t thought of having Bai Qingyan lead troops…

Zhang Duanrui knelt on one knee and cupped his fists: “Your Highness! Yesterday we already lost the initiative… we cannot miss today’s opportunity! Please give the order, Your Highness!”

Shi Panshan and Zhen Zeping also knelt, requesting the Crown Prince to give the order.

“Young Master Bai is physically weak and truly unsuitable for leading troops! Choose someone else!” the Crown Prince said.