“Your words are most reasonable, Your Highness!” She cupped her fists and bowed to the Crown Prince.

With the major matter settled, the Crown Prince toured the camp in high spirits, commending Bai Qingyan before the soldiers, sharing drinks with them, and affirming her military achievements.

Since he intended to win over this person, the Crown Prince naturally would handle things with finesse—in this regard, he was cut from the same cloth as the current Emperor.

Bai Qingyan presented the trophy sword to the Crown Prince, then respectfully escorted him out of the military camp.

Before boarding his carriage, the Crown Prince was already slightly intoxicated. Supported by Quan Yu, he said earnestly to Bai Qingyan: “With the military tally in your hands, I… trust you! No matter what others say… I trust you! Command the troops as you see fit, just don’t let my Jin subjects suffer anymore!”

Bai Qingyan cupped her fists solemnly: “I shall not fail Your Highness’s trust!”

Watching Quan Yu help the Crown Prince into the carriage, Bai Qingyan said to Quan Yu: “Thank you for your trouble in caring for His Highness.”

“It is this servant’s duty!” Quan Yu hastily bowed to Bai Qingyan. “General Bai’s health is poor—please take good care of yourself while away!”

After saying this, Quan Yu felt his words were inappropriate and quickly added: “Only then… can His Highness be at ease!”

The two maintained the pretense of a harmonious scene—the general abroad not doubted by his lord, the general loyal to his sovereign.

As soon as the carriage began moving, the Crown Prince, who had just appeared drunk, opened his eyes and glanced sideways at the precious sword Bai Qingyan had given him inside the carriage.

They say wine reveals truth—he hoped Bai Qingyan would believe the words he’d spoken before boarding the carriage.

After seeing off the Crown Prince, Bai Qingyan was about to return to the commander’s tent when Xiao Ruojiang stepped forward and whispered in her ear: “Eldest Miss, a guard from Master Xiao’s side has come, saying he was ordered to deliver something to you.”

Without turning around, Bai Qingyan only asked: “Where is he?”

“He’s been waiting by the Jing River for quite a while,” Xiao Ruojiang replied.

“Return to the commander’s tent first, we’ll go see him later!”

With that, Bai Qingyan turned and headed back to the commander’s tent.

Xiao Rongyan’s guard had been enduring the cold wind by the Jing River for quite some time. Sitting on horseback, he held the reins of a white horse in his hand. Seeing Bai Qingyan and torch-bearing Xiao Ruojiang riding toward him, he immediately dismounted.

Observing Bai Qingyan from afar in her military attire, Xiao Rongyan’s guard was quite startled. He had seen this Miss Bai in the capital before—delicate and slender yet seemingly possessed of mountain-moving tenacity, stunningly beautiful.

But now, Miss Bai wore full military dress, her long hair bound behind her head, wielding a black-gold riding whip, her entire being radiating a fierce, commanding aura that made one dare not stare directly.

As they approached the man by the river, Bai Qingyan reined in her horse and asked: “You are Master Xiao’s guard?”

“This humble one is Master Xiao’s guard, sent this time to deliver this horse to Miss Bai! My master saw this horse at the market in Mengcheng, Nanyan! Master also had me bring a letter for Miss Bai!”

With that, the guard quickly produced a sealed letter from his chest, holding it up respectfully.

Xiao Ruojiang dismounted to take the letter from the guard’s hands, carefully examining it to ensure there were no problems before passing it to Bai Qingyan.

She opened the letter and read it by the light of Xiao Ruojiang’s torch.

In the letter, Xiao Rongyan informed Bai Qingyan that he had borrowed the Bai Family Army’s black sail and white python banner to raid Nanyan’s grain supplies. He said that to thank Bai Qingyan for her care along the way, and because he had used the black sail and white python banner without prior notice, he felt apologetic and was therefore presenting a fine steed as an apology.

He also detailed in the letter how, upon seeing this white horse, he was reminded of the scene in the Shu Kingdom’s imperial palace where he had seen Bai Qingyan riding her swift white horse Jifeng, her cloak billowing in the wind, which prompted him to have this horse delivered to Bai Qingyan.

He wrote that this horse had a fierce temperament and no one had been able to tame it, but it seemed to be waiting for its master. He believed Bai Qingyan would surely be able to subdue this horse.

The letter’s content was simple, its brushstrokes bold and forceful with an inherent sense of dominance. Bai Qingyan guessed this letter was mostly written in Xiao Rongyan’s hand.

Xiao Rongyan had gone to Nanyan?

It appeared that Xiao Rongyan intended to take advantage of the chaos between Great Jin and Xiliang to reclaim Nanyan, which had once been carved away from Great Yan.

Great Yan had suffered consecutive natural disasters last year and was already riddled with problems. Everyone thought Great Yan would be too preoccupied with its survival this winter, but who would have thought Xiao Rongyan still harbored such grand ambitions, far-sighted and having already taken action?

The timing was indeed perfect.

If it were her… she would do the same!

She would first falsely borrow the Bai Family Army’s black sail and white python banner to raid grain supplies, choosing Yao Pass as the location. After seizing the grain, she would continue to set an ambush at Yao Pass, waiting for Nanyan’s main army to return to court, then annihilate Nanyan’s elite forces at Yao Pass.

Yao Pass was the easiest place to set an ambush—it would be a waste not to utilize such favorable terrain.

But could Great Yan still afford to deploy troops?

Xiao Rongyan always had his purposes in what he said and did. His frank revelation of his whereabouts in the letter was tantamount to presenting Great Yan’s plans before her, and in his handwriting no less—what difference was there between this and handing over leverage?

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Xiao Rongyan’s guard staring intently at her. Without blinking, she burned the letter right in front of the guard.

“Please convey my thanks to your master for his kind intentions!” She watched the flames gradually consume the letter paper before releasing it, letting the fire burn it completely clean. “I accept the horse! Your master… sending a horse from a thousand li away, does he want to borrow something else from me?”

Xiao Rongyan’s guard looked up at Bai Qingyan, his expression showing slight bewilderment.

The torch swayed constantly in the strong riverside wind with whooshing sounds, casting Bai Qingyan’s stunningly beautiful features in alternating light and shadow.

The guard repeatedly pondered Bai Qingyan’s tone and expression, confirming that she wasn’t being sarcastic or displeased but asking in genuine earnest, before breathing a sigh of relief: “Master said nothing.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, her gaze falling on the white horse as she said: “Then please convey my thanks to Master Xiao.”

After the guard bowed respectfully and left the white horse where it stood, he leaped onto his horse and was about to depart when Bai Qingyan’s voice came again…

“Taking Nanyan isn’t something that can be accomplished just by winning battles. Nanyan follows Great Yan’s old governance—for over ten years, the people have been cattle and horses for princes and nobles. Going from luxury to frugality is difficult… The people who experienced Empress Ji’s New Policies likely already harbor resentment toward Nanyan’s court!” Bai Qingyan lightly offered this observation.

The power of the people was enormous. If Great Yan’s army arrived beneath Nanyan’s city walls and the people lined the streets in welcome… wouldn’t that be victory without battle?

Thus, Great Yan could reclaim Nanyan with minimal losses while taking advantage of the chaos.

It would also spare Nanyan’s people from suffering…

Throughout history, in wars, it was always the common people who suffered.

Xiao Rongyan’s guard was shocked, his scalp tingling. How did this Miss Bai know their master intended to retake Nanyan?!

Could it be… that their master had even mentioned such matters in his letter to Miss Bai?

Or perhaps their master had long ago reached some agreement with Miss Bai, only they, as guards, were unaware of it?