Xiao Rongyan hadn’t noticed what kind of nose and eyes Chun Tao was giving him. After all, from the moment Bai Qingyan appeared, Xiao Rongyan’s gaze had been fixed on her, leaving no attention for others.

“Miss Chun Tao?” Only now did Xiao Rongyan recall that slightly dull-seeming maid beside Bai Qingyan, guessing that it was probably because the last time he had been overcome with emotion and intruded into Bai Qingyan’s chamber, that little girl had seen him, causing her to become wary of him.

Xiao Rongyan smiled and touched his nose, reflecting that his rash intrusion into Bai Qingyan’s chamber last time had indeed been impulsive.

Seeing Lu Ping from the Bai Mansion leading the Bai Family guards out, Xiao Rongyan smiled and cupped his hands toward Lu Ping.

“Master Xiao!” Lu Ping had an excellent impression of Xiao Rongyan. After all, he was a benefactor of the Bai Family, and Lu Ping remembered kindness.

The Dong Mansion’s carriage convoy was led by Dengzhou military officers, with Lu Ping and the Bai Family guards following closely behind. Dengzhou soldiers protected both flanks, old Lady Dong’s carriage was positioned in the very center, followed by Xiao Rongyan’s carriage, then the convoy transporting the Dong Family’s valuables, with several hundred Dengzhou soldiers bringing up the rear.

At the gates of Dengzhou city, when the Dong Family convoy arrived, most of the residents had already gathered there. Some were herding cattle and sheep, others had duck cages stuffed onto their carts. Children frightened by the scene were crying and calling for their mothers who were pulling the carts. The entire city presented a scene of military chaos, yet it maintained a sense of order.

At the south gate, Dengzhou soldiers helped the residents push carts and lead cattle, allowing the people to walk within a military escort. Dong Changlan rode a white horse in front, and only then did the Dengzhou army raise torches to illuminate the path ahead, setting out in grand procession toward the camp where tents had already been erected.

This time, besides escorting old Lady Dong and the residents to the encampment, Dong Changlan had another task: to transfer other Dengzhou officials back to Dengzhou city.

This way, the people sent by the imperial court… could successfully “die in battle” during this great war.

The journey was smooth and not difficult to traverse. When the residents saw the lights of the vast military camp in the distance, they became extremely excited…

“So Lord Dong had already arranged everything for us!”

“Sigh! We truly wronged Lord Dong!”

“I said all along that Lord Dong wouldn’t abandon us, Dengzhou people, but my wife still wouldn’t believe it! Now she finally believes!”

Though the residents had left their homes, because they hadn’t become displaced refugees and because Dong Qingyue had made early arrangements, they immediately felt grateful.

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan raised her hand to lift the curtain and looked into the distance.

Uncle Dong Qingyue had calculated Dengzhou’s population very clearly and had already made proper arrangements. Sending away a batch of residents and bringing back Dengzhou soldiers, there was enough accommodation.

On the thirtieth day of the eighth month, when Nanrong attacked, Dong Qingyue would dispatch trustworthy people to send word back to the capital, reporting that Nanrong had attacked and Dengzhou city was lost… and conveniently submit the first list of generals who died in battle, including Dong Changlan.

Only if Dong Qingyue’s legitimate son died would the emperor truly believe that the Dengzhou battle was brutal.

Thus, Dong Changlan could successfully lead a group of “fallen” Dengzhou soldiers straight to the border between the Jin Kingdom and Nanrong, heading toward Nanrong territory, taking supplies to train with Nanrong for future use.

Express messenger soldiers carrying urgent military reports would encounter no obstacles wherever they went, and within ten days at most, the battle report would definitely reach the capital.

In the military camp, following Bai Qingyan’s arrangements, the Dengzhou army divided the residents into small teams based on age, strength, and gender. Some were responsible for cooking, some for washing clothes, some for gathering and chopping firewood, some for distributing food and water. In short, everyone had something to do; no one could remain idle. They would work together, overcome difficulties together, and endure these difficult days together while waiting for the day they could return to Dengzhou city.

On the thirtieth day of the eighth month, Nanrong’s Ghost-Faced General led fifty thousand troops in a surprise attack on Dengzhou. The Dengzhou army suffered over half its casualties. Dengzhou Prefect Dong Qingyue was severely wounded, and the Dengzhou army fought desperately to protect him as they escaped from Dengzhou. His legitimate eldest son, Dong Changlan, died in battle. The battle was brutal.

On the eighth day of the ninth month, news reached the capital. The emperor learned that Dong Qingyue had submitted over ten memorials explaining why Nanrong would launch a fierce national attack this year, but these memorials had been suppressed. Furious, he had Minister of War Shen Jingzhong imprisoned for his crimes, implicated eleven officials who were dismissed from office. Simultaneously, the emperor issued an edict that Fu Ruoxi from Anping Camp should immediately rush to Dengzhou’s aid and must retake Dengzhou.

On the ninth day of the ninth month, the emperor ordered Supreme Court Minister Lu Jin to thoroughly investigate the matter of misappropriating Dengzhou military funds for palace renovation. Implicated personnel were consecutively imprisoned, palace renovation was temporarily suspended, and the Crown Prince personally escorted grain and supplies to Dengzhou, promising to pay back Dengzhou military salaries threefold after victory, with additional rewards.

At this time, Dong Qingyue was earnestly holed up in his command tent “recovering from injuries.”

Dong Changlan had already taken detailed maps of Nanrong and led troops toward Nanrong territory, avoiding Nanrong’s sentry posts and garrison locations, carrying grain and supplies to establish their stronghold on the Nanrong grasslands.

Bai Qingyan was accompanying Dong Qingyue in the command tent, playing chess. After placing a stone, she said: “I estimate the emperor will deploy troops from Anping Camp to rush to Dengzhou’s aid and retake Dengzhou city.”

“These past days, after the Nanrong people occupied Dengzhou city, they’ve been searching house by house. Their behavior doesn’t seem like the usual pattern of… fighting, looting, then leaving. Instead, it seems like they want to take root in Dengzhou and gradually advance from there.”

Bai Qingyan rubbed the chess piece in her hand, contemplating for a moment before saying: “This isn’t hard to guess. There are three possible reasons. First… over these years, Nanrong has been inferior to the Jin Kingdom, largely because the Jin Kingdom’s people are skilled at farming, leading more stable lives compared to nomadic peoples! When the people are wealthy, the nation is strong. The Ghost-Faced General will advise the Nanrong King… to occupy cities and towns, allowing Rong barbarian people to take Jin Kingdom people’s houses and fertile fields, enabling them to live stable lives. That’s why the Nanrong King mobilized everything this time.”

“If that’s the case, this Nanrong King’s ambitions aren’t small either!” Dong Qingyue placed a stone. “Mobilizing everything like this, isn’t he afraid Beirong will raid his home base!”

“Second… having gained the Ghost-Faced General, the Nanrong King’s confidence has swelled. Attacking Jin Kingdom cities at this critical juncture might be to negotiate with Jin Kingdom and demand some benefits.” Bai Qingyan half-lowered her eyes. “Fight if you can win, run if you can’t – this has always been the Rong barbarians’ style. Jin Kingdom indeed has no advantage over the vast grasslands. Supply lines can’t keep up, and the deeper into the grasslands Jin soldiers go, the less adapted they become. This is also why the Rong barbarians, despite their limited military strength, cannot be eliminated.”

Dong Qingyue nodded thoughtfully and deliberately.

“Third, A’Yu is waiting for me in Dengzhou, wanting to meet with me!” Bai Qingyan looked up earnestly at Dong Qingyue.

Dong Qingyue tossed a handful of chess pieces into the chess box: “I estimate the emperor’s edict deploying Anping Camp for reinforcement will arrive in five or six days. If Fu Ruoxi comes, she might disrupt the situation. We need to ensure A’Yu can retreat unscathed. So… regardless of which of these three reasons it is, we need to deploy troops toward Dengzhou to retake the city tomorrow morning!”

“Uncle speaks truly!”