Xun Tianzhang’s son thought for a moment and added, “Moreover, the Longmu River has reached the peak of flood season. If this rain continues for just one day, flooding Longyang City will be within sight, and we can surely eliminate the Jin army quickly.”

Xun Tianzhang coughed several more times, covering his lips with a handkerchief, instantly wiping the corner of his mouth to prevent his son from seeing the bloodstains on the cloth. He forced himself to rally his spirits: “Let’s fight a quick, decisive battle! As long as we can retake Yushan Pass, this father will die without regrets!”

Xun Tianzhang’s days were numbered, and his heart couldn’t help but feel anxious.

“We will!” Xun Tianzhang’s son gently patted his father’s back, saying in a low voice, “Father, please take your medicine properly. Under Father’s leadership, our Great Liang elite soldiers will surely be able to retake Yushan Pass!”

“Report…” A scout called out loudly, hastily riding through the torrential rain into the camp. He leaped off his horse and knelt outside the commander’s tent, saying: “Reporting to the commander, the Jin Kingdom’s Duke’s daughter and Fu Ruoxi are suspected of leading the main force out of the city!”

Hearing about Bai Qingyan, Xun Tianzhang’s palm tightened, gripping the handkerchief in his hand forcefully: “Go investigate again, whether they’re heading toward Pingming Road!”

“Yes!”

Soon, Liang’s army generals hurried over. After Xun Tianzhang deliberated, he ordered his son to personally lead heavy troops to Pingming Road, determined to protect the grain supplies and annihilate the Jin soldiers.

The Liang army generals were all eager and ready, as if victory was already in their grasp, each wanting to be the first to charge into Longyang City to search for treasures.

As they emerged from the main general’s tent, the Liang army generals were still discussing what rare treasures might be hidden in the mansion of Xiao Rongyan, the world’s richest merchant.

Someone said that Xiao’s mansion hid a man-high golden carved auspicious beast, its entire body encrusted with gems. Any gem pried off would be worth a fortune, but it was too heavy and conspicuous, so Xiao Rongyan hadn’t dared to transport it away, hiding this golden carved beast in a secret chamber. When the time came, they’d probably have quite a search ahead of them.

The storm poured down violently, fierce winds howled, and the black, heavy sky seemed about to collapse.

Liu Hong stood on the city wall in the rain, watching Bai Qingyan’s group lead the main force away. The wind and rain beat against him so fiercely that he couldn’t keep his eyes open, constantly wiping his face with his hands.

Today’s rain was truly too heavy. He hoped Bai Qingyan and General Fu could successfully circle to the left flank of Longmu River, avoiding the Great Liang army. The victory or defeat of this battle depended on this…

Liu Hong stood on the city wall, gritting his teeth, waiting for scouts to report the movements of the Great Liang military camp.

An hour later, the Liang army camp finally moved.

Liu Hong gripped the sword at his waist tightly and turned his head to ask Lin Kangle: “Have County Princess Gaoyi and the others safely left the city?”

Lin Kangle nodded: “They were all escorted out by the Hundred Families Guard Army, and that female physician is with them too. There definitely won’t be any problems. Commander Liu, please rest assured.”

Half an hour later, Liu Hong turned and walked down from the tower, loudly ordering: “Wang Xiping! I command you to immediately take three thousand elite troops straight to Longmu River, and you must kill every single Liang soldier guarding the channel!”

“This subordinate receives the order!” Wang Xiping clasped his fists and accepted the command.

The Jin army soldiers had long been ready in the city, their bodies standing straight and tall in the rain. The various generals rode horses at the front, waiting only for the commander’s order to charge straight at the Jin army camp.

Several main generals all understood clearly in their hearts that this battle required feigning defeat and retreating, with the main purpose being to lure the Liang army into Longyang City.

After quietly waiting for the Liang army to be flooded, they would then slaughter the Liang army completely, leaving not a single piece of armor behind! They would ensure that the Liang people never again dared to invade Jin territory.

“Jin army soldiers!” Liu Hong drew his sword and shouted, his voice like a great bell nearly drowned out by the sound of the torrential rain.

“Present!”

The Jin army soldiers responded loudly, their momentum… shaking the earth and mountains.

“Great Liang has raised troops to invade our Jin border, seize our Jin cities, and kill our Jin people! They massacred Chunmu and Puwen cities! Not even chickens and dogs were left alive! Today is the day for us, Jin men of blood and courage, to take revenge! Drive the Liang dogs out of our Jin territory!” Liu Hong shouted until his voice was hoarse.

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

The Jin army soldiers’ morale soared as they thrice called out to kill the thieves.

Liu Hong leaped onto his horse and shouted: “Open the city gates!”

Soon, the city gates opened wide. Jin army commander Liu Hong took the lead, leading troops out of the city in a mighty procession toward the direction of the Liang camp.

Bai Qingyan and Fu Ruoxi led the Jin army’s main force, pretending to head to Pingming Road to ambush the Liang army’s grain supplies, but when they were almost at Pingming Road, they took a shortcut and circled to the left flank of Longmu River.

The fierce wind and torrential rain greatly affected people’s vision. Beyond five zhang, humans and animals were indistinguishable; beyond ten zhang, nothing could be seen.

But for the Jin army quietly infiltrating to prepare for a night raid, this heavy rain was quite helpful.

Bai Qingyan and Fu Ruoxi led troops to within less than two li of the Liang camp, dividing into two routes: one route led by Bai Qingyan to provide support from the right side of the Liang army camp, and one route led by Fu Ruoxi to provide support from the left side of the Liang army camp.

The Jin soldiers crouched and knelt in the rain beneath the steep slope at their horses’ bellies, in battle formation, gripping their weapons with determined gazes, waiting for their commanding general to give the order.

Although it was the end of the sixth month, this kind of heavy rain continuously pouring on their armor made them shiver with cold after a long time, but the soldiers gritted their teeth and endured it.

Bai Qingyan, dressed in silver armor and holding a silver spear, stood beside her steed, gazing toward the direction of the Liang camp, quietly awaiting the horn sounds from the Liang camp.

Rain flowed down her helmet like broken pearl strings, obstructing her vision, but her straight back did not stoop because of the heavy rain, nor did she feel her whole body heavy from rain-soaked clothing.

Normally, Bai Qingyan always moved with iron sand bags wrapped around her body. Now with all the iron sand bags removed, Bai Qingyan felt light as a swallow.

Before leaving, Bai Qingyan had already discussed and agreed with Liu Hong that Liu Hong would set out half an hour after the Liang army departed, heading straight to raid the Liang camp. Bai Qingyan and Fu Ruoxi would quickly join the battle when Liu Hong began attacking the Liang camp, creating momentum and causing panic among the Liang army.

The sound of rain was so loud that people couldn’t hear the sound of galloping hooves. By the time the Liang army sentries reacted, Liu Hong and Lin Kangle, leading the Jin army, were already less than one li away.

In the Liang camp, horns immediately sounded.

“Jin army attack! Jin army attack!”

“Quickly go report to the commander!”

“Archers! Quickly!”

The Liang army was completely unprepared, never having expected that the Jin army, whose main force had gone to Pingming Road, would actually dare to raid their camp.

The continuous horn sounds of the Liang army came from the distance. Bai Qingyan’s eyes darkened as she mounted her horse: “Kill!”

The Jin army quickly mounted their horses, following Bai Qingyan who took the lead, shouting battle cries as they charged toward the Liang camp.

Sitting in the commander’s tent, Xun Tianzhang suddenly stood up, then nearly fell due to a lack of physical strength. Fortunately, a Liang army soldier was quick-eyed and quick-handed, supporting Xun Tianzhang: “Commander!”

Xun Tianzhang looked outside the commander’s tent at the Liang army soldiers running toward the camp entrance in the rain with bows and crossbows, shouting: “How many Jin army soldiers have come?!”

“The rain is too heavy, we can’t see clearly!” The soldier kneeling outside the commander’s tent shouted, “For the commander’s safety, please retreat first!”

Xun Tianzhang pressed his lips tightly together, always feeling that he had overlooked something, as if he had just been about to think of something when that flash of inspiration disappeared in an instant.

Before Xun Tianzhang could calm down and make a decision, he heard Liang soldiers outside shouting: “Right side! There are enemy troops on the right side! Quick! Archers to the right!”

“Left side! There are enemy troops on the left side, too! Someone come quickly!”

The Liang camp instantly fell into chaos.