No sooner had Ji Langhua finished speaking than a messenger came running through the rain and mud to Bai Jinzhi’s tent, kneeling on one knee and cupping his fists: “County Princess Gaoyi, the Commander requests your immediate presence at the command tent!”
“I’m coming!” Bai Jinzhi responded, tilted her head back and drank the medicine in one gulp, wiped the medicine from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, casually handed the medicine bowl to Ji Langhua, and without waiting for Ji Langhua to turn and fetch an umbrella, dashed into the rain with swift steps, running toward the command tent.
Liu Hong stood before the map, holding an oil lamp and carefully examining the map while speaking with Lin Kangle. Hearing the report that Bai Jinzhi had arrived, Liu Hong turned to look at the girl tanned dark and thin from military campaigns, beckoning: “County Princess, come look…”
Lin Kangle cupped his fists and bowed to Bai Jinzhi: “County Princess Gaoyi!”
Bai Jinzhi took the handkerchief from Liu Hong’s attendant, wiped her face, and quickly walked to Liu Hong’s side: “Look at what?”
Liu Hong pointed with his finger at the cliff face to the left of Qingxi Mountain Pass on the map, where someone had drawn an extremely thin line.
Liu Hong said, “There’s an inconspicuous small path here. Before I ordered the army to withdraw from Qingxi Mountain Pass, I sent people to scout it. Though this path is narrow and secluded, it can reach the rear of Qingxi Mountain Pass!”
Bai Jinzhi gripped the sword at her waist tightly: “General Liu means for me to lead troops around this way to attack from behind?”
Liu Hong nodded, but continued: “But not now! I know you’ve always been valiant, and like General Lin, you must be blaming me in your hearts for retreating from Qingxi Mountain Pass early before even formally engaging in battle.”
Hearing this, Lin Kangle saw Liu Hong looking at him, raised his hand to scratch his head, and laughed awkwardly.
“But you must understand that Zhao Sheng arrived so quickly with the Zhao family army… he must have received news of Princess Zhenguo leading troops out. They will certainly fight to the death to take Qingxi Mountain Pass before Princess Zhenguo arrives! If we fight to the death and defend stubbornly, we’ll only suffer heavy losses! Better to withdraw first…”
Liu Hong smiled like an old fox, pointing again at the map: “Let them think we withdrew because we know Princess Zhenguo is coming, and that I, this incompetent commander… want to rely on Princess Zhenguo to retake Qingxi Mountain Pass! Right now, they must be conserving their strength and waiting for Princess Zhenguo to come knocking at the gates!”
“So, General Liu means we give them a surprise attack tonight!” Lin Kangle gripped the sword at his waist, his expression somewhat excited.
“Kill them while they’re caught off guard!” Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth, finally feeling the fire that had been building in her heart somewhat appeased.
“When scouts reported today that the Zhao family army had arrived, I had two small squads hide inside the pass… awaiting orders. When the time comes, I’ll lead troops to engage Liang forces head-on, while you and General Lin attack from behind!” Liu Hong pointed at the mountains on both sides of Qingxi Mountain Pass. “Qingxi Mountain Pass is built between the valley paths of Qingxi Mountain, not a city. As long as you can get through this narrow path that only allows one person to pass and circle to the rear, by the time they discover you’ve already struck at their rear, Zhao Sheng will certainly prioritize fighting you! Because the side I’m attacking is the pass, blocked by the city walls! But focusing on one will neglect the other, as long as Zhao Sheng takes people to fight you! The small squad I left in the city will open the city gates for our Jin army, and then… our Jin forces can march straight in!”
Liu Hong raised his hand to loosen his collar, letting out a long breath, as if feeling quite stifled: “Everyone says I, Liu Hong, fight like a turtle – put nicely, it’s being steady, winning through stability! Put harshly, some call me best at being a cowardly turtle. Today I’ll show them that I, Liu Hong, simply don’t fight battles without certainty, I’m not a cowardly turtle!”
Lin Kangle clenched his fist and cleared his throat, his gaze wandering.
Bai Jinzhi looked at Liu Hong, not daring to agree aloud. Behind his back, she didn’t know how many times she’d cursed Liu Hong as a turtle who only knew how to withdraw into his shell. She hadn’t expected that Liu Hong’s withdrawal today was actually to paralyze the enemy and prepare for tonight’s sneak attack.
Liu Hong knew Bai Jinzhi was someone who couldn’t hide things in her heart – the words “I’ve cursed you behind your back several times” were practically written on her face. He laughed heartily: “Princess Zhenguo’s arrival is timely, and this storm is timely too, giving us this opportunity! We must seize it! Go prepare! I’ll have the lads who scouted the path today lead you and General Lin to explore that small trail. Today’s heavy rain will provide cover for you, letting you smoothly circle to the rear of Qingxi Mountain Pass! Remember to bring the black banner with white python – let them think Princess Zhenguo has arrived and scare them out of their wits! We must take Qingxi Mountain Pass before Princess Zhenguo arrives, otherwise… others will think that among Jin’s generals, only Princess Zhenguo can handle tough situations!”
“Yes!” Bai Jinzhi responded loudly.
·
“Rumble——”
Thunder shook the mountains, lightning split the sky, and tore through the rolling dark clouds. In that instant, the rain-soaked earth and mountains were illuminated brightly, clearly showing the narrow passage on the cliff face where Bai Jinzhi led troops forward in a crouched position.
In the moment lightning tore across the sky, even insects and rats busy shuttling through the rain had nowhere to hide, let alone the armored Jin soldiers led by Bai Jinzhi and Lin Kangle advancing through the rain. They gripped bows and crossbows with careful composure, one following another, quietly and quickly pressing against the cliff face. When lightning flashed… Bai Jinzhi would raise her hand, and the soldiers would immediately press against the cliff wall, not daring to move, afraid of being discovered by the Liang army patrol soldiers below.
Following closely behind the soldiers were warhorses led by Ping’an. The heavy rain plastered the horses’ manes against their muscular, taut bodies. Each warhorse had its mouth fitted with a muzzle to prevent neighing and alerting the Liang army.
At this moment, Zhao Sheng was inspecting wounded soldiers inside Qingxi Mountain Pass, along with soldiers who had contracted the epidemic and been moved to the treatment center. Zhao Sheng emerged after covering his nose and mouth with a handkerchief for his inspection round, just as four more people were being carried into the treatment center.
The physician from the treatment center came out with Zhao Sheng, standing in the corridor, and said to Zhao Sheng, “This epidemic is truly fierce. Our Great Liang is not like Jin… we don’t have the effective methods for dealing with epidemics from the great Jiaozhou epidemic, nor have we developed appropriate remedies. The court won’t readily provide medicine either. If this continues… I fear more and more people in the army will fall!”
Zhao Sheng gripped the cold sword at his waist tightly. Now, both Liang and Jin forces had soldiers who had contracted the epidemic, but Jin had remedies and medicine for treating the epidemic while Liang’s forces did not.
Zhao Sheng was deeply worried. The Liang Emperor, holding his breath and refusing to seek peace, was extremely determined to fight to the death to avenge the Fourth Prince. But if Great Liang continued to be dragged down by the epidemic, with soldiers and population declining, Jin could achieve victory without fighting.
It was Great Liang who couldn’t afford to drag this out!
The more Zhao Sheng thought about it, the more frightened he became. Cold sweat had already appeared on his back. He turned to look at the physician: “Is there truly no clue at all?”