Now the Liang court had sent Lian Wenjie with thirty thousand troops as reinforcements. The reinforcements had arrived three days ago, but because there was still a gap in military strength compared to Jin… and among Jin’s commanding generals was Princess Zhenguo, even Lian Wenjie didn’t dare rashly deploy troops. Both sides remained in this stalemate.
Yang Wuce sat in his study, having looked at the map of various nations before him for a long time, yet still couldn’t make that fateful decision.
“General! General… Yang Wei, whom we sent to deliver the prescription to Han City, has returned!” Yang Wuce’s deputy general entered from outside with the soldier who had delivered the prescription.
Only then did Yang Wuce turn and walk to his desk, gesturing for Yang Wei to sit.
After sitting down, Yang Wei first picked up water and gulped down a large bowl, then said: “His Majesty has decided to collect medicinal materials for treating the epidemic from across the entire nation and send them to the army! Imperial edicts have been sent to all regions, ordering that common people must not privately hoard medicinal materials but must surrender them all! If anyone is found hoarding medicinal materials, they will be severely punished without mercy!”
Actually, when Yang Wuce and his deputy general had obtained the prescription and seen that the irreplaceable scutellaria was among the medicines, they had guessed this might be the result. After all, Emperor Liang was currently desperate for revenge, and with Jin already attacking their homeland, it was reasonable that Emperor Liang could only prioritize the army first.
“Princess Zhenguo’s methods are indeed formidable.” Yang Wuce bit his teeth, finally understanding why Bai Qingyan had given the prescription to Liang. “His Majesty’s actions will surely chill the people’s hearts. As a nation’s sovereign, upon obtaining the prescription… instead of thinking to quickly treat the people, he’s snatching medicine from the people’s hands. This is openly cutting off the people’s path to survival!”
Collecting medicinal materials from across the nation to send to military camps while disregarding the people’s lives… would inevitably cause popular resentment to boil over.
And what about Jin? By giving the prescription to Liang, Jin had assumed a righteous posture before all nations. If Liang continued fighting Jin… that would be ungrateful. Even if Jin destroyed Liang in the future, others couldn’t criticize Jin…
Jin needed only to say that by giving the prescription to Liang, Jin had shown goodwill, but Emperor Liang insisted on avenging the Fourth Prince and refused to make peace, leaving no choice.
Moreover, during the war between the two nations, Jin’s army had even sacrificed medicinal materials to save Liang’s people, preserving their reputation for righteousness! Liang’s people probably wouldn’t resist Jin’s army anymore!
Yang Wuce closed his eyes, then heard Yang Wei continue: “Additionally, there’s another matter. The Third Prince angrily denounced His Majesty in court for refusing to submit and seek peace, saying he wanted to be a fallen ruler. This enraged His Majesty. The Third Prince attempted a death remonstrance by ramming into a pillar in court, but was rescued. After being humiliated again by His Majesty, the Third Prince returned to his mansion in despair, shut his doors, and wouldn’t attend court anymore!”
Upon hearing this, Yang Wuce let out a long sigh. He understood…
Even if he, Yang Wuce, stubbornly resisted Jin’s army here today, he still couldn’t stop Liang’s march toward destruction. Because the nation’s emperor… had already been blinded by hatred, abandoning territory and people, single-mindedly pursuing private revenge. He had lost the responsibility and bearing a monarch should have, becoming among all living beings… the most ordinary one who held supreme power yet was just… an old father wanting to avenge his son.
If there was anyone in Great Liang’s court among the imperial family who could truly think for Great Liang’s sake, it would be the Third Prince.
Now even the Third Prince had lost heart – what hope remained for Great Liang?
Yang Wuce’s deputy general looked at Yang Wuce, who had his eyes tightly closed with what seemed like tears at the corners, bit his teeth, and boldly stepped forward, clasping his fists: “General, don’t hesitate any longer! This subordinate knows the General has great ambitions and a heart loyal to the sovereign and loving toward the people! Now Jin has medicinal herbs to save countless people from fire and water, Jin has the ability and determination to pacify the realm, and the General has aspirations to pacify the realm! Great Yan’s momentum is surging… destroying Wei is inevitable. Princess Zhenguo won’t give the General more time to consider!”
When Yang Wuce had met with Zhao Sheng beneath Liuzhou City previously, Yang Wuce had summoned his generals to discuss this matter, and Yang Wei had been present.
Yang Wei also walked out from behind the desk, knelt on one knee, and clasped his fists to Yang Wuce: “General, if Jin’s army attacks versus the General actively seeking peace, the level of regard the General receives from Princess Zhenguo in the future will be different. Moreover, it could reduce our army’s casualties! This subordinate is willing to follow the General to the death in pacifying the realm!”
Yang Wuce slowly opened his eyes, looking at his deputy general and Yang Wei kneeling before him. His fists clenched tight as he made his decision: “Yang Wei… leave the city and go to Jin’s military camp to find Zhao Sheng. Have him tell Princess Zhenguo that tomorrow morning, Yang Wuce will lead Liuzhou City’s officers and soldiers out of the city to respectfully await Princess Zhenguo outside the city gates, willing… to lead all officers and soldiers in following Princess Zhenguo to the death!”
“Yes!” Yang Wei responded, not caring about the dust from his recent journey, and ran outside.
“You go…” Yang Wuce walked to his deputy general’s side and lowered his voice: “Send people to quietly control Lian Wenjie, who brought troops as reinforcements… and the three accompanying generals. Summon all of Liuzhou City’s officers and soldiers, saying I have something to tell them!”
“Yes!”
As Yang Wuce’s deputy general was about to leave, Yang Wuce grabbed his wrist, his voice extremely low: “This must be carried out without a sound. I don’t want Generals Lian Wenjie and the others to resist and cause disturbances at this critical moment, making the soldiers uneasy.”
Once the decision was made, Yang Wuce had only one path ahead – he could only go down this road to the end!
This time, following Princess Zhenguo… if he couldn’t pacify the realm in his lifetime, he would be Liang’s traitorous minister. If he could pacify the realm, he would be an unparalleled meritorious minister!
But observing this Princess Zhenguo’s wisdom and methods, Yang Wuce believed… following Princess Zhenguo, he would be the latter.
Jin’s army had been camped at Qingxi Mountain pass for nearly a month. Some generals were becoming restless, not knowing whether this battle would ever be fought.
Wang Xiping and Lin Kangle were fine – they had previously followed General Zhang Duanrui, and General Zhang Duanrui was steady and cautious by nature. Now General Liu Hong was even more prudent than General Zhang Duanrui. Even if they had tempers… following Liu Hong for so long had mostly worn them down.
But Bai Jinzhi, along with Liu Pinggao and other soldiers from Anping’s army, could no longer contain themselves.
Urged on by soldiers from Anping’s main camp, Liu Pinggao brought Wang Jin from Anping’s Flying Bear Battalion to seek an audience outside Bai Qingyan’s main tent.
Bai Qingyan looked up to see Liu Pinggao entering with a somewhat familiar-looking soldier, put down the bamboo scroll in her hands on the desk, and smiled: “General Wang Jin from Flying Bear Battalion has come as well…”
Wang Jin was overwhelmed with favor and glanced at Liu Pinggao, quickly clasping his fists and kneeling on one knee in salute, somewhat embarrassed: “This subordinate doesn’t deserve the word ‘general’ from Princess Zhenguo. I didn’t expect Princess Zhenguo would still remember this humble person!”
“Of course I remember. You accompanied me to Fire God Mountain to rescue Princess Gaoyi, and I haven’t properly thanked you yet. Please rise!” Bai Qingyan smiled.