Quan Yu nodded hastily. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Bai Qingyan supporting herself on the chair’s armrests and slowly standing up. He looked up at Bai Qingyan, whose imposing presence had greatly increased and whose gaze was sharp, and hurriedly stood up as well in panic.

He saw Bai Qingyan looking toward the direction outside the main hall’s entrance, speaking calmly: “Please also trouble Eunuch Quan Yu to tell those court officials for me that the cities and territories lost under my Bai family’s hands, I, Bai Qingyan, will personally take back. Others need not trouble themselves!”

Though Bai Qingyan’s voice was not loud, it was resounding and forceful, causing Quan Yu’s hair to stand on end in shock.

“Princess Zhenguo!” Quan Yu immediately knelt before Bai Qingyan, his reddened eyes wide open. “Princess Zhenguo’s body is not suitable for warfare! When the Crown Prince sent Quan Yu here, he had no intention of having Princess Zhenguo go to battle! Please, Princess Zhenguo, think of your health!”

In less than half an hour, the news that Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan, who had been bedridden recuperating for nearly a year, would once again don armor and take the field, intending to campaign in Great Liang to reclaim the lost territories, spread throughout Shouyang City as if it had grown wings.

At the wei hour, Clan Elder Bai Qihe, Bai Qingping, and Shen Yancong, as well as the eldest and second sons that Shen Tianzhi had left behind for Bai Qingyan’s service before departing… Shen Yan’an and Shen Yanzhong, along with Zeng Shanru, Steward Liu, Lu Ping, and Steward Hao, all gathered in the main hall of the Bai mansion to discuss matters concerning Bai Qingyan’s expedition. Even though the former Left Chancellor’s mansion strategist, Cai Ziyuan, was seated in the main hall.

“Before troops move, provisions must go first! Since Princess Zhenguo intends to lead our Shouyang recruits to Great Liang, why not have Qingping escort the provisions and depart first?” Bai Qihe said.

For this expedition, Bai Qingyan had spoken very clearly to Quan Yu. Since Quan Yu had spoken of how difficult things were for the Crown Prince, Bai Qingyan could not make things difficult for the Crown Prince. She would not add to the Crown Prince’s troubles. The recruits trained in Shouyang for bandit suppression could be put to good use. Bai Qingyan would mobilize the full strength of the Bai clan to gather sufficient resources for the army’s departure, leading the Shouyang troops on the expedition.

Bai Qingyan’s reason for saying this was not merely to show loyalty to the Crown Prince, but more importantly, if Bai Qingyan did not want the court’s military funds, then the gold, silver, and treasures obtained from conquering cities and seizing territory could naturally become military resources. Bai Qingyan could have people continuously transport these to Western Liang to support Third Sister Bai Jintong’s plan to weaken Western Liang.

Bai Qingyan already had a general idea of this transportation route in her mind, which was why she needed Steward Liu to remain in Shouyang, await orders, and instruct Ji Tingyu to act, safely delivering what Bai Jintong needed to Shen Kunyang, then transporting it to Western Liang.

“This past year, Shouyang’s military strength has grown. Yancong and I have already cleared the roster. Including those not reported to the court, Shouyang now has eleven thousand troops, if not more.” Bai Qingping spoke.

Cai Ziyuan, seated at the very end, felt his heart tremble. He had not expected that Princess Zhenguo now had ten thousand troops under her command in Shouyang alone. Princess Zhenguo had not forcibly conscripted soldiers, but relied entirely on the people’s voluntary participation. In just over a year, she had gathered such a multitude – this was truly a terrifying number.

Zeng Shanru calculated with his hands hidden in his sleeves, then turned to Bai Qingyan and cupped his hands: “Regarding weapons, if the eldest miss wants to use the old weapons from before, that’s no problem. But if you want to use new weapons and equip the entire army, I’ll immediately order everyone to put down their current work and rush to complete them. In about a month, we can deliver the first batch to Great Liang, enough to equip a thousand men without problem.”

Cai Ziyuan’s heart shook greatly. Princess Zhenguo was still forging weapons! What did Princess Zhenguo intend to do?

Could it be… rebellion?

Cai Ziyuan widened his eyes as he looked toward Bai Qingyan. He saw the woman seated in the place of honor with a complexion as calm as still water, her gaze steady and resolute, waving her hand: “New weapons are not urgent for now. What we want is precision… not quantity! Regarding personnel, I plan to take only five thousand men, leaving the rest to guard Shouyang against unforeseen circumstances! This matter… I must trouble Steward Hao!”

The “unforeseen circumstances” Bai Qingyan spoke of meant that if the court discovered any clues and came to Shouyang to arrest the Bai family members as a threat…

“Eldest miss, rest assured. Leave Shouyang to this old servant. This old servant will guard Shouyang like an iron barrel!” Steward Hao cupped his fists.

Against unforeseen circumstances? Cai Ziyuan’s hands trembled… what these unforeseen circumstances were, Cai Ziyuan already understood.

It seemed Princess Zhenguo truly intended to rebel.

Though Cai Ziyuan was shocked, he also understood that Bai Qingyan’s invitation for him to sit here showed she already considered him one of her own, allowing him to participate in such secret matters.

He was even more amazed that Princess Zhenguo’s decision to campaign in Great Liang was made on the spur of the moment, and she would depart tomorrow, yet the Bai family members could think of provisions and weapons in such a short time, calculating without complaint how to arrange everything properly in the shortest time.

This unity of the Bai family from top to bottom was something he had never seen in Left Chancellor Li Mao’s mansion.

“For this matter of escorting provisions, let Shen Yancong do it. Afterward, Yancong will accompany me to the battlefield!” Bai Qingyan looked toward Shen Yancong.

Shen Yancong’s blood immediately boiled with excitement as he cupped his fists: “Yes!”

The entire Shen family now knew that his father Shen Tianzhi had already brought the whole family under Princess Zhenguo’s command, so naturally, everything followed Princess Zhenguo’s arrangements.

“Bai Qingping will remain in Shouyang to control the remaining Shouyang soldiers. Your mind is meticulous, so pay close attention to Shouyang City. Keep everything as usual and don’t let anyone notice anything amiss!” Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Qingping.

Bai Qingping knew he indeed was not as skilled in martial arts as Shen Yancong. With Shen Yancong by Bai Qingyan’s side, Bai Qingping felt reassured. He nodded and cupped his fists: “Bai Qingping will not fail in this mission!”

“Shen Yanzhong, Shen Yan’an, you two remain and follow Steward Liu’s orders. There are other matters to attend to, matters concerning the Jin nation’s future… You two must be extremely cautious and cooperate well with Steward Liu! There must be no mistakes whatsoever!”

Shen Yanzhong and Shen Yancong also cupped their fists in acknowledgment.

“Uncle Ping, for this trip to Great Liang, you should not accompany me. Having Shen Yancong and Master Cai Ziyuan by my side will suffice. If something truly unexpected happens in Shouyang City, I can only feel at ease knowing both you and Steward Hao are here.”

Cai Ziyuan was suddenly called by name. His spine straightened as he looked toward Lu Ping, who was casting an examining gaze at him, tightly gripping his clothes.

“But Master Cai…” Lu Ping frowned tightly.

Cai Ziyuan thought Lu Ping was going to mention that he had formerly been a strategist in the Left Chancellor’s mansion. His spine bent slightly, but unexpectedly, Lu Ping said, “Master Cai is a frail scholar. Going to the battlefield, he might not be able to protect the eldest miss and might even be in mortal danger. Why not have Master Cai and Steward Hao guard Shouyang together, while I accompany the eldest miss to Great Liang?”

Bai Qingyan shook her head: “On the battlefield, one good military strategist is worth tens of thousands of troops!”

Cai Ziyuan’s palms tightened. Stirred to passionate fervor by Bai Qingyan’s words, he stood up and gave a deep bow to Bai Qingyan, then another deep bow to Lu Ping: “Master Lu, rest assured. Cai Ziyuan is fortunate to receive Princess Zhenguo’s regard. I will devote all my wisdom to help Princess Zhenguo and Princess Gaoyi win this great battle.”