He would make one final desperate effort. If he still lost, then it would be Heaven’s will and no one could be blamed – he would accept it!
But how many men to send was a problem!
Bai Qingyan was cunning, and the Bai family army was all fierce soldiers, especially that Huying Battalion… Yun Poxing felt a chill down his spine just thinking about them.
But if he was reluctant to sacrifice men this time and couldn’t take Bai Qingyan’s life, raiding the camp just to retrieve his son’s head would indeed be a loss.
Yun Poxing made up his mind – after nightfall, when all was quiet, half of the Xiliang forces would charge into the Jin army camp.
Since they would fight after dark tonight, the warriors needed to eat their fill first!
But once cooking smoke rose, Bai Qingyan would surely know the Xiliang camp was preparing meals. Would she overthink it?!
Probably not. She had made verbal threats and conducted intimidating drills – she should be confident. After the soldiers finished eating, he would put on a show of preparing to break camp and return home, having the soldiers circle Black Bear Mountain and Linggu Road.
This way, he could also make Bai Qingyan think he was admitting defeat and let her guard down.
Yun Poxing hesitated no longer and ordered immediate meal preparation.
In the distance, cooking smoke also rose from the Jin army camp. Wei Zhaonian and Bai Qingyan stood at the command tent entrance, looking at the cooking smoke from the south bank of the Jing River with knowing smiles: “It seems Yun Poxing is planning to raid our camp tonight!”
Bai Qingyan had already received news that chaos had erupted in Xiliang’s capital, Yun Jing, and a female emperor had ascended the throne.
Yun Poxing was an expert at leading troops and surely knew that once cooking smoke appeared, she would know the Xiliang army was about to make a move. She guessed… Yun Poxing probably wanted to create the appearance of letting his soldiers eat their fill before retreating, then circle Black Bear Mountain and Linggu Road to launch a surprise attack on their Jin army camp!
She looked up at Yun Poxing’s son’s head hanging high above. Since Yun Poxing wanted to act openly, she would also take the opportunity to openly send troops to ambush at Linggu Road! This would save them from the two armies meeting head-on at Linggu Road or Black Bear Mountain in direct combat… they didn’t have as many forces as Xiliang.
The fire oil in the camp had originally been reserved for the Xiliang forces coming to raid their camp, but since the raiding Xiliang forces wouldn’t be coming, they might as well send it for the opposing Xiliang forces to use!
The camp-raiding formations and killing tactics she had arranged during today’s drill could be perfectly applied to tonight’s camp raid, leaving the Xiliang forces with no power to fight back.
“Pass the order – after the meal… General Cheng Yuanzhi, General Zhang Duanrui, and General Shi Panshan will lead forty thousand elite troops, along with General Wei Zhaonian’s Bai family army, to make a show of retreating to City Feng. General Wei Zhaonian and General Shi Panshan will take thirty thousand men to cross the river after nightfall and quietly lurk on the east and west sides of the Xiliang camp, awaiting orders. General Cheng Yuanzhi and General Zhang Duanrui will lead ten thousand men – no need to circle as far as Black Bear Mountain, just ambush at Linggu Road and slaughter the Xiliang forces coming to raid our camp tonight at Linggu Road!”
Wei Zhaonian was quite surprised: “But… It’s not yet dark. If we let Yun Poxing see our main force withdrawing…”
Wei Zhaonian paused mid-sentence, suddenly understanding.
Yes, letting Yun Poxing see the main force withdraw while Young General Bai remained here would only strengthen Yun Poxing’s determination to raid the camp.
“Send someone to make a trip to the Xiliang camp and return Yun Poxing’s son’s head!” Bai Qingyan instructed Xiao Ruojiang. “Tell Yun Poxing that… with great chaos in Yun Jing, this battle probably can’t continue, and this is my farewell gift to him.”
Xiao Ruojiang understood – Bai Qingyan wanted Yun Poxing to think she had become so arrogant that she completely disregarded him, encouraging Yun Poxing to attack with confidence.
“I’ll go personally!” Xiao Ruojiang clasped his fists.
Bai Qingyan nodded.
As soon as Bai Qingyan returned to her tent, she heard someone calling for Xiao Ruojiang, saying: “There’s a mounted martial artist outside who wants to see Young General Bai. He seems to be delivering a message for Young General Bai!”
Xiao Ruojiang thought of the guard who had come to deliver horses that day and entered the command tent to report.
A message delivery – another person from Xiao Rongyan?
She nodded: “I understand! You prepare for your trip to the Xiliang camp.”
Bai Qingyan walked out of the main camp and indeed saw it was Xiao Rongyan’s guard. Upon seeing Bai Qingyan, the guard immediately performed a respectful bow: “Miss Bai!”
This guard had traveled day and night to deliver the message, only hoping not to delay Xiao Rongyan’s affairs.
“Your master has a letter?” Bai Qingyan asked.
“Indeed!” The guard quickly retrieved a letter from his chest and handed it to Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan opened it in front of the guard. Besides writing about his plan to use Bai Qingyan’s method to take Nanyan, he had casually mentioned another matter – that he had rescued a Jin soldier at a slave market.
He heard from the slave trader that this Jin soldier had been rescued from the Jing River. His demeanor and upbringing were first-class, and his speech and behavior indicated he was from a prominent Jin family. The trader said he had come to the battlefield with family elders for training, but was unwilling to be sent back to Jin State because he didn’t want his debt to implicate his family. He had given himself a false name, calling himself Wang Qijue, saying he would serve at his side for three tasks, and after repaying the debt would leave on his own.
A surge of warmth rushed straight to Bai Qingyan’s head, and her hand holding the paper trembled involuntarily.
Wang… was Fourth Aunt’s surname, and A’Jue was Seventh Brother, so he called himself Wang Qijue.
A’Jue was still alive!
He was still alive!
Was he injured? Did he know about the news from the capital?
The words she had originally wanted to ask Xiao Rongyan’s guard about A’Jue’s physical condition… she swallowed them back, unconsciously tears welling up in her eyes beyond her control.
Not wanting Xiao Rongyan’s guard to know too much, Bai Qingyan forcibly suppressed her sorrowful emotions and asked the guard: “Did you bring a fire starter?”
The guard respectfully handed the fire starter to Bai Qingyan. After watching Bai Qingyan burn the letter, he bowed and said: “Does Miss Bai have any message for me to convey to my master?”
By sending her such a letter, Xiao Rongyan naturally had suspicions about A’Jue’s identity…
She said, “Tell your master that Bai Qingyan thanks him here.”
Although Xiao Rongyan’s guard didn’t know what Bai Qingyan was thanking his master for, he agreed to deliver the message.
Bai Qingyan couldn’t say another word!
This letter was already enough – after all, nothing was more important than A’Jue being alive!
As Xiao Si had said, if Fourth Aunt knew A’Jue was alive, she would surely weep with joy, and the grief from Seventeenth Brother’s death might also be somewhat alleviated.
This was probably the most joyful news Bai Qingyan had heard since her rebirth.
Surely, Grandfather, Father, Uncle, and her brothers’ spirits in heaven had ultimately protected A’Jue.
And there was also Xiao Jiu – she hoped Xiao Jiu could also be safe like A’Jue.
Since Xiao Rongyan could write to hint at this to her, he would surely ensure A’Jue’s safety. Bai Qingyan wasn’t worried about this aspect.
At most, he would negotiate conditions with her in the future.
Moreover, A’Jue had his principles and integrity. If he wanted to repay Xiao Rongyan’s kindness, then… she would wait until he finished repaying the debt before bringing him back.
However, A’Jue couldn’t be without someone by his side!