Old Fang, the eldest strategist, paused his hand stroking his beard: “Between the valley, the Western Liang army is on the eastern side, and General Zhang Duanrui is on the western side. The Western Liang army is trapped in the valley by our forces, so our Jin army may not necessarily lose!”

“In this battle, only by following what Master Qin has said can our army achieve victory. There is no other way!”

Hearing this, the Crown Prince turned toward the door, seeing Bai Qingyan in battle armor stepping into the government office, cupping her hands in salute to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince’s pupils trembled slightly. Bai Qingyan had come in military attire—she must intend to go into battle!

Bai Qingyan straightened and spoke rapidly: “The Western Liang army outnumbers ours several times over. If the Western Liang elite soldiers return to the eastern ambush point of the Weng Mountain valley and see General Zhang Duanrui’s troops lying in ambush on the western side, wouldn’t they divide their forces to attack? Once Zhang Duanrui’s crossbow troops are held back by the Western Liang elite soldiers, our army will surely be annihilated between Weng Mountain and Nine Bend Peak!”

Hearing the words “annihilated,” the hair on the Crown Prince’s back stood on end.

If the fifty thousand reinforcements were all killed at Weng Mountain this time, then Great Jin would become nothing more than meat on the chopping block for Western Liang and Nanyan to slaughter at will!

But if this battle was won, his position as Crown Prince would be secure, and his fame would spread across the seas!

If it was lost, then he needn’t be Crown Prince anymore!

“Your Highness must not hesitate any longer!” Qin Shangzhi knelt and urged loudly.

Bai Qingyan also cupped her hands and knelt on one knee, speaking solemnly: “In this battle, whether Your Highness allows me to go or not, I must go! I will go regardless! This battle plan was devised by me! I cannot watch tens of thousands of soldiers die due to the tactical error of Weng Mountain’s jar-like depression! Nor can I watch the remaining Bai family army be slaughtered by Yun Poxing and bear this disgrace!”

The Crown Prince clenched his fists tightly. Thinking of how Bai Qingyan had offered strategies twice—last night and this morning—and remembering that she was a military star praised by the invincible Duke Bai Weiting, he made his decision in an instant to let Bai Qingyan go!

He helped Bai Qingyan to her feet and handed her the military tally: “Then… I’ll trouble Young Master Bai! I’ll immediately send someone to gather the two thousand garrison troops from Wanping. All Jin forces on the Weng Mountain battlefield shall be under Young Master Bai’s command!”

“Your Highness need not trouble yourself. Before coming from the camp, I had already had the garrison commander assemble the troops, ready for Your Highness’s deployment! However, Your Highness is the heir apparent, the foundation of the nation—the Wanping garrison cannot all be deployed! You must keep one thousand to protect Your Highness.” After speaking these diplomatic words, Bai Qingyan took the military tally and said, “Please command the Bai family army’s Huying Battalion to accompany me in the assault on Weng Mountain valley. If this battle is not won… Bai Qingyan will bring her head to you!”

“Your Highness! Young Master Bai speaks reasonably!” Old strategist Fang said. “Your Highness is the foundation of the nation and cannot be without protection!”

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth. With battle imminent, there truly was no time to delay further. Even if he needed to guard against Bai Qingyan… he’d wait until after winning this battle!

“The Huying Battalion is waiting half a li outside the city for orders. Take them with you!” the Crown Prince said.

“Bai Qingyan will not fail this mission!”

With that, Bai Qingyan turned and strode quickly outside.

The Crown Prince watched that heroic figure and couldn’t help but follow a few steps out, seeing Bai Qingyan stride quickly out the door, toss the military tally to Bai Jinzhi, then leap onto her horse with composure, saying: “Bai Jinzhi, quickly take the military tally to the military camp and deploy one thousand troops to follow me up Weng Mountain valley for a death battle against the enemy!”

“Bai Jinzhi receives the order!” Bai Jinzhi caught the military tally and galloped away swiftly.

“Young Master!” Xiao Ruohai threw the silver spear in his hands to Bai Qingyan.

She caught the silver spear with one hand, slung the Sun-Shooting Bow on her back, spurred her horse, and charged out at full speed.

The Crown Prince’s throat rolled violently. Was this the killing aura of the Bai family generals on the battlefield?!

Majestic and imposing, with an aura of stern resolve, all commands spoken from her mouth stirred the blood and made one long to charge into battle alongside her!

Qin Shangzhi followed behind the Crown Prince, his fists clenched tightly.

This was Qin Shangzhi’s first time on a battlefield. Seeing Bai Qingyan’s heroic bearing, he couldn’t help but think: if the current emperor could deeply trust the Bai family’s loyalty and tolerate their existence, what magnificent appearance would the Bai family’s sons display on the battlefield! Forget the Western Liang army—even swallowing the entire realm would probably be just a matter of time.

The hundred-year military family, the Duke’s mansion, had reached its most glorious and prosperous peak under Bai Weiting’s leadership. His children and grandchildren were all, without exception, talented, with lofty ambitions, multiple generations united in heart and will, fighting only to unify the realm! But their sovereign lacked the ambition to swallow the world, which was why the emperor feared the Bai family so much!

This was the true reason the Bai family was doomed to die!

Such a pity! Such a lament!

·

Xiao Ruohai closely followed Bai Qingyan’s figure, galloping toward the city gate and out toward the half-li camp.

At the half-li camp, two bone whistle messengers from the Huying Battalion were huddled together, just discussing how they’d heard the bone whistle command last night ordering them to await orders, when the sentry reported fast horses approaching.

All the Huying Battalion members stood up, holding their reins and gazing into the distance.

Shen Liangyu, the Huying Battalion’s deputy commander, who had been sitting under a withered tree with a straw in his mouth, stood up and squinted into the distance. On the fine horse was a young man in silver armor, holding a red-tasseled silver spear!

Shen Liangyu felt that the figure was incredibly familiar. He spat out the straw and walked forward two steps, seeming to remember where he’d seen this before, yet unable to recall, until the fast horse galloped near and the rider suddenly pulled the reins, causing the warhorse to rear up on its front legs. Only then did Shen Liangyu widen his eyes: “Little… Little Commander Bai?!”

The Huying Battalion veterans from years past heard Shen Liangyu’s murmur, recognized Bai Qingyan, and excitedly shouted: “It’s Little Commander Bai! Little Commander Bai has returned!”

Atop the tall horse, Bai Qingyan gripped the reins tightly. After the warhorse’s front hooves touched ground, her fierce gaze swept over the remaining hundred-plus members of the Huying Battalion, and she called out loudly: “I am Bai Qingyan, eldest daughter of Bai family army Deputy Commander Bai Qishan. Today, our army battles Western Liang at Weng Mountain valley—the situation is critical! Those who dare follow me to kill enemies and save our compatriots, mount up immediately and charge to Weng Mountain!”

With that, Bai Qingyan wheeled her horse around and galloped away with Xiao Ruohai.

The moment Shen Liangyu saw Bai Qingyan’s figure, tears had already filled his eyes, his blood boiling and surging straight to his crown. He leaped onto his horse and roared with all his might: “This general swears to follow Little Commander Bai to the death! Huying Battalion! Mount up!”

The well-trained Huying Battalion elite soldiers leaped onto their horses’ backs, cracked their whips, and pursued Bai Qingyan directly.

Bai Qingyan, charging toward Weng Mountain at full speed, met up with Bai Jinzhi, who had received orders to bring one thousand Wanping garrison troops to reinforce Weng City, on the road to Weng Mountain.

Bai Jinzhi spurred her horse to catch up with Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister!”

“Did you bring all the banners?!” She turned to look at Bai Jinzhi, who had caught up and asked.

“Elder Sister, rest assured! Not a single one was left behind!” Bai Jinzhi guaranteed.

“Shen Liangyu!” Bai Qingyan called back loudly.

Hearing Bai Qingyan call his name, Shen Liangyu cracked his whip to accelerate forward, responding with excitement: “This general is here!”

“I command you to lead the Huying Battalion to climb to the mountain top at the exit between Weng Mountain valley and Nine Bend Peak. From the high ground, shoot and kill Western Liang soldiers to cover our advance! Plant our Bai family army banner in the most conspicuous place to boost our army’s morale!”