Qin Shangzhi nodded in deep agreement.

“General Zhang Duanrui’s reaction has already told Great Liang… that our Jin Kingdom is far inferior to what it once was, and doesn’t even dare to fight! His Majesty’s dispatch of General Zhang Duanrui to lead troops at Chun Mushan is nothing more than the last gasp of a spent force, merely to frighten Great Liang!” Bai Qingyan turned her head to look at the Crown Prince. “If Your Highness sends such an order to release the Liang soldiers back to their camp, I fear that the day General Zhang escorts them back to the Liang military camp will be the day Great Liang attacks our Jin Kingdom.”

“The Duke’s words are surely an exaggeration,” Old Fang maintained in his pretentious manner. “Since our Jin Kingdom has returned their people, shouldn’t they give our Jin Kingdom an explanation?”

“If Old Fang has such great ability, why don’t you personally go to Chun Mushan to escort the Liang soldiers back to their camp, then seek an explanation from Great Liang?” Qin Shangzhi really couldn’t bear to listen to Old Fang’s words any longer and couldn’t help but retort.

Old Fang gritted his teeth. “Is Teacher Qin targeting this old one?”

“I wouldn’t dare target you, but I feel that Old Fang might well be a spy sent by Liang Kingdom, specifically to destroy our Jin Kingdom!” The fire that Qin Shangzhi had suppressed in his heart for so many days finally erupted, his words extremely impolite.

“You… you…” Old Fang was so angry that his finger, pointing at Qin Shangzhi, trembled. “A scholar can be killed but not humiliated! Your Highness, will you just watch him humiliate this old one like this?!”

The Crown Prince cleared his throat. “You are both my advisors. Offering counsel and expressing different opinions is your duty. Teacher Qin… Old Fang is an elder. Has Teacher Qin forgotten all propriety?”

Hearing the Crown Prince side with him, Old Fang smugly flicked his sleeve at Qin Shangzhi.

Qin Shangzhi closed his eyes and forcibly suppressed his anger, asking Bai Qingyan, “If His Highness now orders General Zhang Duanrui to send those Liang soldiers’ heads back to the Liang camp, would there still be time?”

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long while before saying, “Your Highness, immediately send orders to General Zhang Duanrui while also dispatching a general with troops to Chun Mushan as a deterrent! If we proceed this way… We’ll probably need to conduct another major conscription, with heavy troops needed to guard both the Western Liang border and the Great Liang border.”

“Sending orders while dispatching troops… there’s no time for conscription, we can only mobilize the capital’s forces, but then the capital will be empty!” The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed deeply.

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Matters have different levels of urgency! If we don’t send troops… if we can’t show Great Liang our Kingdom’s determination to fight, this war will be unavoidable. Once war breaks out, the capital’s forces will still need to be sent to Chun Mushan! If Your Highness worries about the capital’s safety, while sending troops to Chun Mushan, you could recall some of the forces stationed against the Rong Di. The Rong Di are currently embroiled in civil war and too busy to trouble themselves with invading Jin Kingdom!”

The Crown Prince nodded and hesitantly said two words: “Feasible!”

Old Fang’s slightly clouded eyes looked at Bai Qingyan, his fists clenching slightly. His Highness had again adopted Bai Qingyan’s advice.

“Your Highness, His Majesty probably won’t agree to moving the troops stationed in the capital,” Old Fang said, straightening his spine.

Bai Qingyan had said everything she needed to say. Whether the Crown Prince listened to her or not was another matter entirely.

Seeing Bai Qingyan fall into silence, Qin Shangzhi knew she didn’t intend to persuade further. He rose and bowed deeply to the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, since you can discern that His Majesty doesn’t want war and deeply understand that Jin Kingdom should rest and recuperate rather than go to war, please arrange things according to the Duke’s proposal! The Duke once campaigned with the Duke, and the Southern Border War fully demonstrated to us the Duke’s talent and ability in military strategy! Your Highness should trust the Duke, and the Duke is wholeheartedly devoted to Your Highness—this point… Your Highness knows well!”

Qin Shangzhi’s words brought the Crown Prince to sudden realization, reminding him of how Bai Qingyan had arranged the Divine Deer matter behind his back, yet even now had never sought credit before him. Warm currents seemed to ripple through the Crown Prince’s heart.

“If Your Highness truly wants to use the Duke’s method, why not enter the palace first to request His Majesty’s decision before giving orders? It won’t take much time and will prevent… failure to handle matters well and being blamed by His Majesty,” Old Fang suggested.

Having served by the Crown Prince’s side for so many years, Old Fang believed he understood the emperor better than that young girl Bai Qingyan. He only needed to let His Highness know that he was the one who truly understood the emperor and could help the Crown Prince win the emperor’s favor.

Bai Qingyan picked up the teacup beside her and quietly drank tea without speaking further.

“I’ll enter the palace right now to ask about father’s intentions and quickly give decisive orders!” The Crown Prince turned to instruct Quan Yu, “Prepare the carriage!”

Entering the palace to ask the emperor’s intentions—could this still be called decisive action?

As the Crown Prince rose anxiously to leave, he seemed to remember something and turned back to Bai Qingyan. “I heard that the convoy the Duke’s mansion sent back to Shouyang was robbed? Were the losses severe?”

Bai Qingyan bowed and replied, “Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. Those were merely material possessions.”

“Recently, the local officials in Shouyang also memorialized requesting bandit suppression, but with frequent external troubles, the court is truly willing but powerless…”

“I was just about to report this matter to Your Highness. I plan to use the silver that the clan leader has embezzled from the Bai clan over the years… for training civilians into soldiers and leading people to suppress bandits. This can be considered some compensation for what the Bai clan has owed the people of Shouyang over the years, and also solves hidden troubles for the court,” Bai Qingyan said.

The Crown Prince had already heard from Quan Yu about the Shouyang Bai clan leader’s embezzlement. He nodded. “I’ll mention to Father that on the first of the fifth month, troops will be sent to escort the Bai family members back to Shouyang. After that… local officials will be instructed to assist you in training troops and suppressing bandits.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Bai Qingyan replied respectfully.

After the Crown Prince left, Qin Shangzhi escorted Bai Qingyan out of the mansion and sighed. “Old Fang still understands His Highness well. His Highness fears His Majesty deeply! As soon as Old Fang mentioned His Majesty’s blame, His Highness immediately went to the palace. I hope His Majesty… can be more rational.”

Shen Qingzhu held the horse’s reins, standing to one side, waiting for Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan gazed at the stone steps before the Crown Prince’s mansion and said quietly to Qin Shangzhi, “In the end, His Majesty will probably have General Zhang Duanrui send the Liang soldiers’ heads back to their camp, but will not send additional troops to take the capital’s garrison to Chun Mushan.”

“If that’s the case, can war be avoided?” Qin Shangzhi asked cautiously.

Bai Qingyan shook her head. “Even if someone leads troops to pressure Xun Tianzhang, he may not be willing to back down, much less… Jin’s Kingdom hasn’t shown any real determination. Moreover, within Great Liang’s court… the most warlike is precisely Xun Tianzhang. The Liang court’s dispatch of Xun Tianzhang as commander makes their intentions quite clear.”

“If the Duke were to face Xun Tianzhang, would you have complete confidence in victory?” Qin Shangzhi asked.

“In warfare, circumstances change rapidly. Before it begins… no one dares claim complete confidence in victory.”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan walked down the high steps and leaped onto her horse.

She raised her black gold riding whip toward Qin Shangzhi and said, “On the first of the fifth month, I’ll return to Shouyang. Take care, Teacher Qin!”

Qin Shangzhi bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan without saying another word.