The reason Western Liang became a powerful nation was not because of its strong national policies and systems, nor because of its comprehensive and unified national strength, but because Western Liang’s cavalry was formidable. Strong cavalry meant a strong military, and a strong military meant a strong nation!
Western Liang bordered the Rong and Di peoples, with vast territories in frigid highland regions. These cold highlands bred excellent horses, a convenience that Jin did not possess. The cost of raising horses in Jin was extremely expensive—raising one horse required more grain than feeding thirty people. Over the years, Jin had always relied on trade exchanges with the Rong, Di, and Western Liang, but the disadvantage was that Jin’s military combat effectiveness would be constrained by other nations.
Bai Qingyan analyzed the situation very rationally with the Crown Prince: “Moreover, if Your Highness harbors ambitions of unification, then in the future there will inevitably be a life-and-death battle between the Rong and Di peoples and the Great Jin. Rather than wait for the Rong and Di to recover and have the capability to fight against our Jin, it would be better to take advantage of their current internal strife and capture them in one decisive move.”
“But the territory that Western Liang is ceding and compensating already includes frigid highlands suitable for horse breeding…” The Crown Prince pondered, “I believe Father Emperor should accept the jewels and horses! After all, the frigid highlands that Western Liang is ceding border the Southern Di. If Jin wants to raise horses there, we would naturally need to maintain good relations with the Southern Di.”
“What does Your Highness think?” she asked.
“I also believe… we should accept the jewels and horses, and watch the spectacle unfold!” The Crown Prince tapped his fingers on the table, “This battle in the Southern frontier has caused truly devastating losses to our Jin. We need time to recuperate! Furthermore, Great Liang’s intentions are unclear. If our Jin armies were all trapped in Rong and Di territory and Great Liang attacked Jin at that time, our Jin would be in grave danger.”
She pressed her lips together and no longer tried to persuade him.
Taking down the Rong and Di to prepare for future unification of the realm was originally a tremendous gamble. The ruler of Great Liang dared not take this risk, and similarly, the ruler and crown prince of Jin dared not gamble either.
Suddenly, the Crown Prince’s carriage lurched violently, spilling the teacup on the wooden table. Quan Yu and the driver immediately reined in the horses.
Outside, chaotic shouting suddenly erupted.
“White deer!”
“Divine deer!”
“Divine deer!”
“Divine deer! It’s a divine deer! Look quickly!”
“Heavens! It’s truly the legendary white divine deer!”
“White divine deer! Such a beautiful, white, divine deer!”
Hearing these words, the Crown Prince hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
A pure white giant deer with a robust and magnificent form stood majestically, its fan-shaped antlers branching like trees. Like a king, it elegantly and nobly raised its beautifully lined neck to gaze toward the marching troops. Its pristine white fur gleamed with a sacred golden light under the setting sun’s rays.
Jin used the white deer as its symbol!
The Crown Prince had seen many white deer before, but this was the first time he had encountered one so beautiful and enormous!
He couldn’t help but step down from the carriage and gaze toward the high slope.
Zhang Duanrui was also shocked by such a magnificent giant deer.
Suddenly, the white deer, startled by something unknown, reared up and charged wildly toward the advancing troops. Its four slender yet beautiful legs displayed astonishing strength and explosive power.
Zhang Duanrui quickly shielded the Crown Prince behind him, drawing his sword and shouting: “Protect His Highness! Quickly! Protect His Highness! Your Highness, get back in the carriage!”
The soldiers drew their swords, raised their shields, nocked arrows, and drew their bows, all forming a protective wall in front of the Crown Prince’s carriage. If that white deer dared to charge forward, it would surely die instantly.
The Crown Prince’s face turned pale with fright, and just as he was about to retreat into the carriage, his arm was grasped firmly by Bai Qingyan: “Your Highness, don’t be afraid. It will submit to Your Highness! Trust me!”
The Crown Prince turned sharply to look at Bai Qingyan, whose expression remained calm and composed. She nodded gently at the Crown Prince with firm conviction, pressing something into his hand: “Your Highness, trust me!”
Seeing that the giant deer charging down from the high slope was gaining speed and becoming increasingly uncontrollable, even though the Crown Prince’s carriage was protected by layers upon layers of soldiers, Zhang Duanrui’s heart still leaped to his throat. He drew his sword and shouted: “Your Highness! Get in the carriage quickly!”
The Crown Prince’s brow twitched. Where was Bai Qingyan trying to use him to catch someone? She was trying to use the white deer to kill him!
Old Fang, who had descended from the carriage, ran rapidly toward His Highness the Crown Prince, his face deathly pale, shouting: “Your Highness! Get in the carriage quickly!”
“The white deer is Jin’s divine beast. If the divine beast submits to Your Highness… then Your Highness is chosen by Heaven’s mandate! Presenting it to His Majesty as a birthday gift would be an auspicious omen!”
Looking at Old Fang’s anxious expression, the Crown Prince turned back to see Bai Qingyan trying to pull him out of the protective circle, his mind in complete chaos.
[The location should be set at Yuqing Mountain, how about that? Although this is a mountain path, the terrain is open… releasing it here would make it easy to spot and easy to act.]
Our purpose is to make it, in full view of everyone… seek out the Crown Prince, submit to the Crown Prince, and let the Crown Prince personally capture it to present to His Majesty. We’re not trying to kill it! If it dies… all our efforts would be meaningless.]
The Crown Prince’s heart pounded violently as he stared at Bai Qingyan, who was gripping his wrist and pushing past Zhang Duanrui to lead him outside the protective circle. So… was this the white deer that Bai Qingyan and the others had been discussing?
She wanted this white deer to submit to him in full view of everyone, for him to personally capture it and present it to Father Emperor!
“Move aside!” Bai Qingyan shouted, tightly gripping the Crown Prince’s wrist.
Zhang Duanrui looked at the Crown Prince, awaiting orders: “Your Highness?!”
Bai Jinzhi rode up on horseback, tossing the Sun-Shooting Bow in her hands: “Elder Sister! The Sun-Shooting Bow!”
Bai Qingyan caught the Sun-Shooting Bow with one hand and grabbed an archer’s quiver with the other, her deep black eyes blazing: “Your Highness, time waits for no one!”
The Crown Prince’s gaze fell upon the Sun-Shooting Bow in Bai Qingyan’s hands, his heart racing violently. Bai Qingyan’s arrows never missed their mark—with her present, he should be safe from harm!
But… deep in his heart, the Crown Prince feared Bai Qingyan rather than truly trusting her.
Even though that day at the wine house next door, he had overheard those words from Bai Qingyan, and everything seemed clear, yet with that giant-antlered white deer charging down the mountain with such imposing momentum, if Bai Qingyan deliberately missed her shot, his life would be forfeit.
The Crown Prince looked at the enormous creature still charging downward, drawing ever closer. As a mortal being, he still felt fear. He was already the Crown Prince—did he need to risk his life in such a way to consolidate his position?
Just as the Crown Prince hesitated, Bai Qingyan had already swiftly drawn a feathered arrow, snapped off the arrowhead, tore a strip of cloth from her garment to wrap around the arrow’s tip, nocked the arrow, and aimed at the giant deer.
The Crown Prince’s palm tightened as he noticed the sachet Bai Qingyan had placed in his hand. Gripping it firmly, he looked up and shouted: “Move aside!”
Zhang Duanrui raised his hand toward the giant deer, whose charging speed was increasing, and shouted: “Move aside!”
Under Bai Qingyan’s protection, the Crown Prince lifted his foot and walked toward the giant deer that was charging straight down at the troops below.
The Crown Prince’s entire body was tense, his palms drenched in sweat. Seeing that the giant deer showed no signs of slowing its charge, his heart had already leaped to his throat.
Qin Shangzhi held his breath as he watched the Crown Prince and Bai Qingyan standing at the very front of the shield formation, already understanding in his heart what Bai Qingyan intended to do.