“The Prefect is thoughtful, Magistrate Zhou has worked hard.” Bai Qingyan still needed to show appropriate acknowledgment. “Should His Highness the Crown Prince inquire about this matter in the future, Bai Qingyan will certainly report truthfully.”

“This subordinate has made many mistakes in the past. As a parent official to the people of Shouyang, yet failed to make decisions for the people. I am deeply ashamed! Now that I can help the County Princess work for the people’s benefit, this subordinate feels very happy in my heart, and it is not hard work at all! If the County Princess has any needs… please feel free to command this subordinate. This subordinate is willing to pledge service!” Magistrate Zhou hastily said.

“Since that is the case, let us officially begin training troops on the tenth day of the fifth month. The day training is completed will be the time to eliminate bandits for the people of Shouyang!” Bai Qingyan picked up the teacup in front of her. “This matter will still require the hard work of both officials and the clan leader…”

Magistrate Zhou’s eyes darted about, and he immediately brought forward his sons: “County Princess, these two are this subordinate’s legitimate sons. The County Princess can assign them to be assistants to Patriarch Bai, for military training, or even as ordinary soldiers. This subordinate only hopes that these two sons can be properly tempered and trained. I hope the County Princess can give them an opportunity.”

Bai Qingyan looked at Magistrate Zhou’s two sons, who were not very old, nodded, and let her gaze fall on Bai Qingping: “Magistrate Zhou’s two sons are similar in age to you. You should interact with them more.”

Magistrate Zhou’s eyes lit up with joy upon hearing these words.

Bai Qingping straightened and nodded, cupping his hands toward Magistrate Zhou’s two sons in greeting.

Magistrate Zhou’s two sons also hastily returned the courtesy.

The Prefect watched Magistrate Zhou and couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. This Magistrate Zhou was truly skilled at seizing every opportunity and eagerly pursuing chances. Such a person would surely thrive like a fish in water in Great Jin’s court, which was corrupt from the inside to the outside.

Just as Magistrate Zhou was expressing gratitude to Bai Qingyan, Lu Ping suddenly hurried in from outside the main hall, walking along the ebony pillars with hanging curtains on both sides of the hall to Bai Qingyan’s side. Covering his lips with one hand, he lowered his voice: “First Miss, the latest message Miss Shen sent back – Great Liang launched a night attack on Jin’s military camp. The two countries are at war.”

Bai Qingyan’s tea-drinking motion paused, and she raised her eyes to look in Lu Ping’s direction.

“What about the message Qing Zhu brought back? Didn’t it mention how General Zhang Duanrui responded?” she also inquired in a low voice.

“It said General Zhang has already retreated ten li; nothing else was mentioned,” Lu Ping replied.

Bai Qingyan nodded, then turned back to see everyone looking in her direction. She sat up straight and spoke unhurriedly: “Everyone, His Highness the Crown Prince has sent word that Great Liang and our Jin nation are at war at Chun Mushan.”

Upon hearing this, the Bai clan members became extremely alarmed and began discussing among themselves.

However, the Prefect and Magistrate Zhou secretly began pondering Bai Qingyan’s importance in the Crown Prince’s heart. Even if the Crown Prince’s feelings for Bai Qingyan were not romantic love, he certainly relied on her heavily. Therefore, they must serve this County Princess of Zhenguo well.

“The southern border war has just ended, and now war breaks out in the north. Currently, the imperial court cannot spare the resources to deal with Shouyang’s bandit problem. I expect these bandits will only become more rampant in the future! Therefore, the matter of training troops to eliminate bandits, please take it to heart. This is eliminating harm for the people and removing trouble for the nation! We must devote our full efforts!”

“We must devote our full efforts!” Magistrate Zhou was the first to respond.

Then the Bai clan members also followed suit, all shouting that they would devote their full efforts.

When the banquet ended, Steward Hao saw off the Prefect, Magistrate Zhou, and the Bai clan members on behalf of Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan sat in Boyun Courtyard on the soft couch by the window, holding the letter Shen Qingzhu had sent back and reading it carefully. What was written in the letter was almost identical to what Lu Ping had told her, except that Shen Qingzhu’s letter was more detailed. Moreover, in the letter, Shen Qingzhu mentioned that she had already begun evacuating civilians.

Bai Jinzhi leaned close to Bai Qingyan and after reading the letter, frowned and asked: “Elder Sister, can General Zhang Duanrui win this battle?”

Bai Qingyan didn’t respond. After a long while, she moved aside the glass lamp shade and lit the letter in her hand. The azure flame gradually consumed the paper. After the flame died out and she watched the letter burn to ashes, she finally spoke: “I’m afraid he cannot win.”

General Zhang Duanrui was talented, but he had too many concerns. Now that Jin had exhausted all its military strength on the southern border, in the war against Great Liang, General Zhang Duanrui was being cautious with his forces and dared not fight with full strength.

Meanwhile, Great Liang’s commander Xun Tianzhang had always been ruthless in his military tactics, unafraid of soldier casualties and caring only for victory.

When brave warriors meet on a narrow path, the one willing to die wins.

This destined that General Zhang Duanrui, with his concerns, could not defeat Xun Tianzhang.

Upon hearing this, Bai Jinzhi felt somewhat uncomfortable. Even though she knew in her heart that as long as General Zhang Duanrui couldn’t win, the Emperor would send Elder Sister to war, privately, she didn’t want General Zhang Duanrui to lose.

In this world, aside from blood kinship, the most difficult bond to sever… was the brotherhood forged through fighting and dying together!

Bai Jinzhi had once fought alongside General Zhang Duanrui in the southern border, so their bond was naturally special.

“If Elder Sister goes to war, could you win?” Bai Jinzhi humbly asked for guidance.

“This Xun Tianzhang has never cared about soldiers’ lives. Take this Chun Mushan probing attack – he already anticipated that those Liang soldiers entering Chun Mushan would die, but he didn’t care at all. He used one team’s lives… to turn his speculation into confirmed evidence. Such a trade was very worthwhile in Xun Tianzhang’s view!” Bai Qingyan tapped her fingers intermittently on the table surface. “Since Xun Tianzhang doesn’t care about soldiers’ lives, for Jin to win… we could divide and eliminate the Liang soldiers. There’s a saying about gradual erosion… this could be called gradual killing.”

Bai Jinzhi urgently asked: “Could Elder Sister give General Zhang Duanrui a hint, telling him how this battle against Xun Tianzhang should be fought?”

Bai Qingyan gazed at the flickering candlelight that hadn’t yet been covered by the glass shade, and nodded: “I was just thinking the same thing.”

If Zhang Duanrui won the battle against Great Liang, then she wouldn’t need to go to Chun Mushan.

In that case, the troop training in Shouyang could proceed more smoothly.

“Since Elder Sister has the same intention, why don’t I make a trip to Chun Mushan and personally tell General Zhang Duanrui?” Bai Jinzhi was eager to try.

Bai Qingyan raised her eyes and shook her head at Bai Jinzhi: “Once you leave Shouyang, someone will report to the imperial capital. At that time… whether it’s the Emperor or the Crown Prince, they will think you are someone I sent to Chun Mushan out of suspicion toward the Bai family, which will certainly delay our troop training and affect the overall situation.”

Bai Jinzhi nodded and sat there obediently without making a fuss.

Bai Qingyan had Lu Ping send a reliable person to Chun Mushan to find a way to meet General Zhang Duanrui, making sure to inform him of the method to defeat Xun Tianzhang, and to remain at Chun Mushan… observing the battle situation. If the battle could not be won, they should assist Shen Qingzhu in evacuating civilians in advance.

While Bai Qingyan in Shouyang could still maintain stability, when the imperial palace in the capital received news of the great battle, the Emperor immediately developed a severe headache. He hadn’t expected that Great Liang would be so bold as to be determined to go to war with Jin.

“Despicable! Despicable!” The Emperor angrily smashed the teacup in his hand.