On the command platform of Shouyang’s training ground, Bai Qingping surveyed the fire basins swaying high and low with the wind all around, listening to the fluttering black banners with white python emblems, suddenly feeling a surge of heroic spirit in his heart.
What a pity that he had no strength to truss a chicken and couldn’t accompany Bai Qingyan to rush to the battlefield and fight bloodily – this was Bai Qingping’s greatest regret in life.
There were indeed several spirited men in the Bai clan who wanted to go to the Great Liang battlefield with Bai Qingyan, but they were all prevented by their family elders who used filial piety to suppress them.
Hearing the sound of horse hooves from outside the training ground, Bai Qingping turned toward the entrance of the training ground. When he saw the figure riding the white horse, Bai Qingping quickly leaped down from the command platform, almost unable to contain himself from running toward the training ground entrance.
Bai Qingyan was followed by twenty Bai family guards. They galloped to the front of the command platform before reining in their horses.
Bai Qingping, worried about Bai Qingyan’s physical condition, immediately stepped forward, grasped the reins, and reached out to help Bai Qingyan dismount. But Bai Qingyan shook her head, lifted the reins, and rode forward…
She surveyed the five thousand armored soldiers in the training ground, holding heavy shields or spears and halberds… or great swords, arranged in formations, quite impressive like a regular army, their armor reflecting cold light from the high fire basins.
Bai Qingyan reined in her horse. Her mount shook its head, snorted heavily, and stood still in front of the command platform.
The entire training ground was solemn and silent, with the gazes of five thousand soldiers all looking toward this silver-armored woman mounted on her tall horse.
“Previously, we gathered here to suppress bandits… to prevent those brigands on the mountains from daring to plunder our people! But today… We march far away, to Great Liang, facing not mountain bandits, but Great Liang’s well-trained armies! Yesterday, when news spread that I would lead the Shouyang army on a distant campaign to Great Liang, I heard… some people said that the Shouyang army is just a rabble that I, Bai Qingyan, gathered together haphazardly. We can defeat mountain bandits easily, but facing Great Liang’s armies, we’ll be beaten until we flee in panic!”
“But you! Are my soldiers! Soldiers trained by the Bai family! The Bai family produces no cowards! The Bai family’s soldiers also produce no cowardly soldiers! We defeat mountain bandits easily, and we will also defeat Great Liang easily!” Bai Qingyan raised her hand, pointing to the black banners with white python emblems that had been placed around the training ground. “The Bai family army has never been defeated. The only time we nearly faced complete annihilation was because we died in the filthy conspiracy of our people! Even so… the Bai family and the Bai family army’s heart to protect and serve the people has never changed!”
“Some ask! Since the Bai family army protects and serves the people, why… do we march far to Great Liang, to conquer other nations! Today… I will tell you why! It is for… the unification of this realm! It is to ensure this realm has no more warfare! It is… so that this world no longer has nine empty houses out of ten, separated wives and children, no more abandoned farmland, no more tragic scenes of unburied bones! The Bai family army protects peaceful mountains and rivers, guards all the people under heaven! We will not remove our armor until we die in battle! Are you all willing to risk your lives with me?”
Bai Qingyan’s voice was majestic and profound, shaking the four corners of the earth.
After hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, Cai Ziyuan’s heart was stirred and excited. Though a scholar, he wanted to take up a sword and risk his life on the battlefield with Bai Qingyan.
“We will not remove our armor until we die in battle!”
“We will not remove our armor until we die in battle!”
“We will not remove our armor until we die in battle!”
The soldiers’ high-pitched battle cries shot straight to the ninth heaven, shaking heaven and earth.
The morning sun leaped out from layers of clouds, the dawn light gradually strengthened, dazzling golden light moving from east to west, slowly illuminating this vast and boundless earth, illuminating Shouyang’s ancient and solid city walls.
Bai Qingyan led five thousand soldiers out, marching magnificently toward the outside of Shouyang City.
The common people crowded both sides of the long street so tightly that not even water could leak through. People also stood on the wine shops, all competing to see off this Princess Zhenguo, who dragged her sick body to fight for the Kingdom…
Even the girls in the pleasure houses gathered on their balconies, leaning out half their bodies, wanting to catch a glimpse of Princess Zhenguo’s magnificent bearing.
The former County Magistrate Zhou, now Prefecture Governor Zhou, ordered his bailiffs to keep the people on both sides of the street while he crowded to the very front, actually putting on an appearance of tearfully and respectfully seeing her off. Looking at Bai Qingyan riding at the front, he even choked up and shouted: “Princess Zhenguo, you must take care of your health! We people of Shouyang are still waiting for you to lead us in suppressing bandits!”
Not seeing Bai Qingyan respond, County Magistrate Zhou grabbed his official robes and ran after her with quick steps, prostrating himself on the ground: “Respectfully seeing off Princess Zhenguo! Wishing Princess Zhenguo a triumphant return! May you display our Jin nation’s might!”
That Western Liang dancing girl named Na Kang seemed to have been awakened by the noise. Draped in a layer of gauze, she pushed open her window, used a round fan to cover her face, and frowned with displeasure as she looked down. But when her gaze caught sight of the woman riding the white horse at the front, clad in brilliant silver armor with cold light flashing, her round fan slowly dropped from her half-covered face, and for a moment she stared transfixed…
The nobility and imposing presence of that woman was not like the showy facade of those wealthy officials and nobles who came to the pleasure houses, but a kind of noble bearing that feared neither life nor death and looked down upon all living beings.
Na Kang followed Bai Qingyan’s figure with bare feet, pushing open another window. In her mind, suddenly arose resounding and sharp martial music. She unconsciously kept following Bai Qingyan’s figure, her eyes full of burning passion, her fingers gripping the window frame until the knuckles turned white.
She remembered a line from ancient literature her mother had once taught her: “When she points, wind and clouds gather; when she turns back, mountains and peaks are leveled.” Such presence – this must describe heroes like Princess Zhenguo.
Na Kang pushed open all the carved flower windows on the roof until there were no more windows to push. She could only see the dark mass of the disciplined departing army and could no longer see that sharp and majestic figure. Only then did she press her wildly beating heart, turn, and rush straight to the canopy bed, taking down her pipa.
Turning the tuning pegs and plucking the strings, the resounding and sharp music from her mind immediately burst forth from her fingertips, causing the people below to look up toward the pleasure house with its open windows.
·
Quan Yu rode swiftly back to the capital, not even having time to drink a sip of water before requesting an audience with the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had just awakened from Hong Mei’s tender embrace and was being attended by Hong Mei as he changed clothes, preparing to go to his study to review the court affairs he had organized last night before attending morning court. When he heard that Quan Yu had returned, claiming to have extremely urgent matters requiring an audience with the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince, who was just embracing Hong Mei’s delicate waist, suddenly shivered, thinking something might have happened to Bai Qingyan. He quickly pushed Hong Mei away, grabbed his cloak, and walked out while fastening his buttons.
Hong Mei pouted at the Crown Prince’s departing figure, flounced her sleeves, and lay back on the bed to rest.
Outside Hong Mei’s courtyard, Quan Yu rubbed his hands together. He repeatedly pondered how he should tell the Crown Prince that Bai Qingyan had dragged her sick body and led the troops trained for bandit suppression in Shouyang to Great Liang.
If this matter wasn’t explained well, it would make the Crown Prince think… that Princess Zhenguo had disobeyed orders and sent troops without authorization, making the Crown Prince think that Princess Zhenguo holding military power and commanding troops was a serious matter of insubordination.