Moreover, Yun Poxing’s son’s head was still hanging in the Jin army camp, and he probably thought about retrieving it constantly. What opportunity could be better than tonight?

Even if Yun Poxing hadn’t had such plans, he would likely develop them.

The young miss was attacking his heart and mind!

Shen Liangyu had originally been following beside Bai Qingyan. Before long, Zhang Duanrui, Zhen Zeping, Shi Panshan, Wei Zhaonian, and Cheng Yuanzhi all entered the tent together. Gu Wenchang and Shen Kunyang, one with an injured leg and the other with an injured arm, had been left by Bai Qingyan to guard Tianmen Pass and Feng City, respectively.

“Tonight, Yun Poxing will come to raid our camp, so… as soon as night falls, I ask General Cheng Yuanzhi and General Zhang Duanrui to lead five thousand elite troops around Linggu Road and Black Bear Mountain to launch a surprise attack on Yun Poxing’s camp! General Zhen Zeping and I will lead five hundred soldiers to serve as bait in the camp, while General Wei Zhaonian leads the Bai family army, and General Shi Panshan leads the remaining forces to lie in ambush around the perimeter. We must ensure that the Xiliang forces have no way back!”

Needless to say, General Wei Zhaonian of the Bai family army was loyal. After the Battle of Weng Mountain, Zhen Zeping, Zhang Duanrui, and Shi Panshan’s troops had become completely convinced of Bai Qingyan, so they naturally agreed immediately.

“Isn’t it too risky for General Bai to stay as bait?” Zhen Zeping said. “I can stay alone!”

Bai Qingyan was somewhat surprised that Zhen Zeping would worry about her. She shook her head: “Yun Poxing has learned from his mistakes. This time, only if he’s certain I’m here will Yun Poxing come…”

Bai Jinzhi’s heart pounded rapidly, afraid that Bai Qingyan would send her away. She grasped Bai Qingyan’s hand and wouldn’t let go, determined to stay with Bai Qingyan to protect her.

She looked through the tent entrance toward the south of the Jing River, a hint of amusement in her eyes: “Order the army to conduct a drill before the afternoon meal, a drill on… raiding camps!”

“Ah?” Zhen Zeping was puzzled. “What’s this for?”

“To… make Yun Poxing think I’m bluffing and trying to intimidate him!” Bai Qingyan said.

“This subordinate accepts the order!” Wei Zhaonian immediately clasped his fists and accepted the command without question.

“This subordinate accepts the order!” Zhang Duanrui also accepted the order.

Although Zhen Zeping had many questions, he still followed Shi Panshan in clasping his fists and accepting the order.

After all, none of them doubted Bai Qingyan’s abilities.

Before the afternoon meal preparation, the Jin army camp suddenly sounded horns and beat war drums in unison.

The Xiliang troops, jumpy as startled birds, anxiously grabbed weapons at hand. Xiliang generals all rushed out of their tents, keeping watch on the Jin army camp across the Jing River, where flags were flying and dust was rising, while quickly running toward Yun Poxing’s command tent.

Seeing that Yun Poxing had already been helped onto his war horse, the Xiliang generals all looked pale as they asked: “Commander?! Are the Jin forces launching a surprise attack?!”

“All troops on alert! I’ll go see!” Yun Poxing’s heart was uneasy as he shouted through gritted teeth.

“I’ll accompany the commander!”

Several generals also mounted their horses and followed behind Yun Poxing, galloping toward the Jing River.

The closer they got, the more they could hear earth-shaking battle cries from the Jin army camp across the river.

Yun Poxing stood on the riverbank, his fine horse beneath him restlessly stamping its hooves.

He saw soldiers suddenly surge from all directions on the opposite bank, raising the black flags with white pythons of the Bai family army. The soldiers protecting Yun Poxing all drew their swords to shield him.

“Retreat quickly! Prepare for battle!”

Someone shouted, but Yun Poxing sat motionless on his horse, frowning as he stared intently at the opposite bank.

He saw that the Bai family army was charging directly into their camp.

Yun Poxing and the generals beside him suddenly understood – the Jin army was conducting a grand military drill on the opposite bank.

Across the river, war drums urged on, battle cries boiled over, dust rolled, and horn sounds shattered the heavens.

Yun Poxing squinted his eyes, only able to see the battle flags fluttering vigorously in the Jin army camp, and his son’s head swaying in the wind.

“What are these Jin forces up to?! Making such a commotion with their drill – what do they want? To intimidate our Xiliang army and tell us they’re coming to raid our camp?! Ridiculous…” A Xiliang general sheathed his precious sword, no longer tense as before, his entire being filled with irritation.

Yun Poxing raised his eyebrows and suddenly smiled: “Yes, they… are intimidating our Xiliang forces!”

Yun Poxing figured that after Bai Qingyan returned, the man beside her, who had beheaded his son, probably advised Bai Qingyan, and she, too, realized she had been too arrogant in exposing his intentions today, so she arranged this camp raid drill to intimidate him.

This showed that Bai Qingyan was probably afraid, too!

Otherwise, she could have waited quietly for him. Why make such a big commotion to intimidate him?

This made Yun Poxing even more determined to raid the camp tonight.

After the drill ended, Bai Qingyan, dressed in silver armor with a red cloak fluttering, mounted the high platform and raised her hand…

The tens of thousands of soldiers on the training ground immediately fell silent as death, looking solemnly at Bai Qingyan on the platform.

“Tonight… will be the final battle between our Jin forces and Xiliang! Tonight, the brave sons of Jin will completely defeat the Xiliang barbarians, making those barbarians who covet our Jin State never again dare to underestimate our Jin elite soldiers! Making those barbarians tremble at the mere mention of our Jin army! Making them lack the courage to invade our great Jin’s people for years to come!” Bai Qingyan clasped her fists, her expression filled with murderous intent. “Gentlemen… Bai Qingyan here thanks you on behalf of tens of thousands of border people – thanks to the nation’s elite soldiers for sacrificing their lives to protect their homeland! Thanks to the nation’s elite soldiers for fighting bloody battles for them, fearless of life and death!”

Zhang Duanrui, seeing the soldiers’ morale at its peak, immediately had people serve wine to the panting soldiers.

Bai Qingyan accepted the wine personally offered by Zhang Duanrui and raised it high to toast the soldiers: “United in hatred against the enemy, protecting our mountains and rivers! Until death, we do not remove our armor!”

The soldiers’ blood boiled with passion as they shouted in unison three times…

“Until death, we do not remove our armor!”

“Until death, we do not remove our armor!”

“Until death, we do not remove our armor!”

The soldiers’ high-pitched roars were earth-shaking and deafening, making their ears ring with the sound.

Yun Poxing sat in the Xiliang command tent, looking at the imperial edict placed on the commander’s desk, his expression very grim.

Xiliang’s political situation had changed drastically!

The Xiliang Emperor had been assassinated, and though the palace tried to keep the news secret, it had still leaked…

The Xiliang Emperor had no sons, only two daughters. The emperor had no time to issue an edict designating which imperial brother should ascend the throne. The impatient Third Prince raised troops to force his way into the palace to seize power. The Empress decided to have the emperor’s eldest legitimate daughter ascend the throne as female emperor. The Sixth Prince issued an edict in the emperor’s name, calling the Empress a “hen crowing at dawn,” ordering Yun Poxing to immediately break camp and return to the capital, Yun Jing, to help him reclaim the throne and support the legitimate imperial lineage.

With changes in Yun Jing, Yun Poxing had to return! But before leaving… he had to kill Bai Qingyan first. Leaving this person alive would bring endless future troubles, more terrifying than Xiliang’s current internal worries.

He lowered his eyes to look at the map, beginning to plan tonight’s surprise attack!

With limited food supplies, this would be his final desperate battle. If he lost again…

He would no longer be able to suppress the peace envoys that the late emperor had sent before his death!