Upon hearing these words, Zhao Sheng’s fingers trembled slightly. He could not believe that these words—that war was not for the sake of slaughter—had come from the mouth of Bai Qingyan, who was known as the God of Death. After all, when she had executed the one hundred thousand Western Liang prisoners at Weng Mountain, she had killed them without hesitation.

Bai Jinzhi nodded with seeming understanding, gazing at Bai Qingyan.

On the first day of the tenth month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, after fierce fighting throughout the night, the Jin army achieved a great victory, recapturing Qingxi Mountain Pass and taking thirty-six thousand Liang prisoners while beheading twelve thousand.

The Jin army advanced directly into Qingxi Mountain Pass. Several Liang generals were imprisoned in the dungeons, and the surrendered prisoners were also confined under guard in the prisoner camp.

After a night of intense battle, Liu Hong, Lin Kangle, Wang Xiping, Bai Jinzhi, and other generals, along with the Jin soldiers they commanded, could no longer hold on and fell asleep from exhaustion.

The Anping army that Bai Qingyan had brought took over the task of cleaning the battlefield and clearing the camps.

Following the old customs of the Bai family army, Bai Qingyan did not rest and went to inspect the field hospital before even removing her armor.

Zhao Ran, who had fought fiercely all night, had already compiled the casualty statistics for the Niujiao Mountain troops and was discussing with Cai Ziyuan what to report to Bai Qingyan when they saw Bai Qingyan, her silver armor stained with blood, already walking toward the field hospital.

Zhao Ran, standing at the entrance of the field hospital, quickly stepped forward and bowed: “Eldest Miss, of the elite troops brought from Niujiao Mountain this time, ninety-three died and one hundred ninety-five were severely wounded. They all died or were injured while serving as the vanguard after climbing the city walls and defending the rope ladders to the death.”

Bai Qingyan stopped in her tracks, gripping tightly the sword at her waist, and said: “Bury the fallen elite troops above Qingxi Mountain Pass. They have outstanding merit in capturing Qingxi Mountain Pass! Erect a monument at Qingxi Mountain Pass… inscribe the names of these fallen soldiers on it, so that future generations will remember them!”

“Yes!” Zhao Ran responded.

“Princess Zhenguo!” Du Sanbao saw Bai Qingyan from afar and called out loudly. Just as he was about to approach, he was separated by soldiers rushing to carry the wounded into the field hospital. He stepped back to avoid them, then quickly ran toward Bai Qingyan.

Du Sanbao, tanned dark by the sun, stood before Bai Qingyan, adjusting the helmet on his head and revealing a set of white teeth as he clasped his fists in salute: “Greetings to Princess Zhenguo! I wonder if Princess Zhenguo still remembers this humble person?”

“Du Sanbao…” Bai Qingyan looked at Du Sanbao, the corners of her lips curving into a slight smile. “I heard you’re now a junior general!”

Du Sanbao chuckled: “It’s all thanks to General Wang Xiping’s promotion! Oh, right… I came to find Princess Zhenguo to ask for instructions—how should we deal with those Liang soldiers who contracted the plague? Should we let them fend for themselves, or kill them?”

After brief consideration, Bai Qingyan asked: “How many Liang soldiers have contracted the plague?”

“There are already over six hundred in the treatment center…” Du Sanbao replied.

“Separate the plague-infected Liang soldiers according to the severity of their symptoms, just as we do with our Jin army. I brought medicine to treat the plague this time, which should be sufficient. Additionally, for the prisoners who have already been detained, have them all wear face coverings soaked in medicinal water to prevent them from contracting the plague as well. Fumigate the prisoner camp with mugwort three times daily, twice a day.”

Upon hearing this, Du Sanbao glanced at Zhao Ran and said to Bai Qingyan with clasped fists: “Princess Zhenguo, but those are Liang soldiers! They’re enemy troops!”

Bai Qingyan looked at Du Sanbao with a smile: “They were Liang soldiers before, but in the future… who’s to say they won’t become Jin soldiers? Go… do as I’ve instructed!”

Du Sanbao recalled something Wang Xiping had said: people in different positions have different perspectives, and thus different ways of viewing and handling matters.

So, although Du Sanbao didn’t understand why Bai Qingyan would want to save Liang soldiers, he still accepted the order and went to carry it out according to her wishes.

Cai Ziyuan stood behind Bai Qingyan, raising his eyes to look at the woman standing in the blazing sun. His fists clenched slightly behind his back. Bai Qingyan intended to recruit Great Liang’s soldiers for her use, but… these Liang soldiers had their homes in Great Liang, their families were in Great Liang—could they truly be used by Bai Qingyan?

After much deliberation, Cai Ziyuan stepped forward and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “Princess Zhenguo, these Liang soldiers will probably not be easy to subdue.”

“Once we capture Great Liang’s capital, Han City, and Great Liang ceases to exist… these soldiers will no longer be Liang soldiers.” Bai Qingyan turned her head, her eyes as calm as a mirror gazing at Cai Ziyuan.

Cai Ziyuan’s heart shook tremendously, feeling as if his mind buzzed and went completely blank.

So, what Bai Qingyan wanted was not merely the Jin Kingdom, but…

The entire realm!

Cai Ziyuan understood. The reason Bai Qingyan personally donned armor and led troops to Great Liang was to conquer Great Liang and make it her foundation.

She not only wanted to replace the Lin imperial power of the Jin Kingdom, but also to become the ruler of the entire realm.

What magnificent ambition!

She didn’t even control the Jin Kingdom yet, and she… wanted the entire realm!

What kind of spirit was this, what kind of vision, what kind of aspiration!

Cai Ziyuan’s breathing became somewhat rapid. His mind had never contemplated such grand scales…

Previously, when Cai Ziyuan was at the Left Chancellor’s mansion, he had vaguely perceived the Left Chancellor’s ambition to become the ruler of the Jin Kingdom, and he was willing to devote all his efforts to assist the Left Chancellor.

The Left Chancellor was always entangled among the several princes in the capital, wanting to achieve merit from supporting the dragon and become a powerful minister who could say one thing and have it be law. Therefore, as a strategist of the Left Chancellor’s mansion, Cai Ziyuan’s vision was limited to the princes in the capital.

Since being recruited by Bai Qingyan, he first thought that Bai Qingyan wanted to seize the Jin Kingdom and replace the Lin imperial power, so he predicted Bai Qingyan’s strategic direction accordingly.

Now, learning that Bai Qingyan wanted the entire realm, he could no longer serve Bai Qingyan with a vision limited to the Jin Kingdom.

At this moment, Cai Ziyuan suddenly felt an emotion so stirring it nearly brought him to tears, his eyes stinging and swelling.

As a strategist, who wouldn’t want to meet a wise lord and hero they could assist? Who wouldn’t want to achieve great deeds with a heroic ruler… and leave their name in history for eternity?!

Assisting a wise lord to pacify the realm—this was the dream of countless strategists.

Cai Ziyuan came from humble origins and had never imagined he would reach such heights, never thought he could meet a wise lord capable of unifying the realm. How fortunate was he!

Even if Bai Qingyan was a woman, even if… Bai Qingyan was to fail, what of it? A true man comes into this world once, to be able to ride alongside such a lord whose heart could contain the entire realm, what would death matter?!

Bai Qingyan entered the field hospital, where continuous wails and screams could be heard. Some soldiers had lost arms or legs, or had injured their eyes. During the fierce battle, they hadn’t felt the pain, focused only on fighting the enemy courageously, but now the pain had become unbearable.

Last night, Qingxi Mountain Pass had been a scene of complete devastation, with corpses strewn everywhere. Today, inside this field hospital, it was chaos and pandemonium.

More than a dozen military physicians were insufficient, and even the small attendants beside the military physicians who could treat wounds had been pressed into service.

Among the wails, Physician Hong was busy shuttling between various wounded soldiers. For minor injuries, he directed other military physicians to handle them, while he treated the most severely wounded cases. He was overwhelmed with work.

Bai Qingyan turned and instructed Zhao Ran: “Go and summon all of the Liang army’s military physicians to me!”

“Yes!” Zhao Ran responded and turned to relay the order.