Wang Jin raised his hand to touch the back of his head, at a loss but with a few parts admiration and determination as he spoke: “This general was initially moved by Princess Zhenguo’s words. Princess Zhenguo said… the righteousness of the Bai Family Army is to never abandon any comrade who shares life and death through blood and battle! She said… even if it wasn’t Noble Lady Gaoyi trapped in Fire God Mountain that day, but any person in the Jin army who would risk their life and forget death to save their comrades, Princess Zhenguo would also risk her life to save them! You said… this has nothing to do with good or evil, nothing to do with worth or value! This is faith! This is righteousness! This general only felt it was deafening and enlightening, and deeply agreed! So this general is willing to follow Princess Zhenguo!”

Even now when Wang Jin recalled Bai Qingyan sitting high on her horse, speaking these words with such resounding force, his mood was filled with such passionate fervor, such stirring emotion.

Every single word of Bai Qingyan’s he remembered crystal clear, able to recite word for word without error.

Wang Jin was willing to swear to the death to follow a general like Bai Qingyan and risk his life on the battlefield!

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Wang Jin glanced at Liu Pinggao, then boldly clasped his fists and said: “This general came with General Liu today because our soldiers at Anping Great Camp really can’t stay at this Qingxi Mountain pass anymore. We’ve come specifically to ask Princess Zhenguo why she still hasn’t attacked the city. Princess Zhenguo, we soldiers have never seen you as a hesitant leader – you’ve always been decisive in killing and cutting. Why… this time we’ve waited almost a month and there’s still no sign of attacking the city? I heard from scouts that Liuzhou City’s reinforcements arrived three days ago.”

Liu Pinggao also said to Bai Qingyan: “Indeed, if we keep waiting like this, our soldiers’ killing spirit will be worn away, and dragging it out is also disadvantageous to our Jin army.”

“The reason for not attacking the city is that every soldier’s life is extremely precious in my view!” Bai Qingyan picked up a bamboo scroll, rolled it up, and without hiding anything from Liu Pinggao and Wang Jin, spoke frankly: “I’m waiting for Liuzhou City’s defending general Yang Wuce to surrender to Jin. Yang Wuce’s loyalty to Liang is extremely high – we need to give Yang Wuce time to think. I calculate… Yang Wuce should have already received news from Great Liang’s capital, Han City! Soon… Yang Wuce will make his decision. Let’s wait a bit more. If Yang Wuce refuses to surrender, it won’t be too late to attack then!”

Just as Bai Qingyan finished rolling up the bamboo scroll and placed it on the small mountain of scrolls piled on the desk, Bai Jinzhi hurriedly walked into the main tent: “Elder Sister, Yang Wuce has sent someone who wants to see General Zhao Sheng!”

Liu Pinggao and Wang Jin exchanged glances, and Wang Jin’s gaze toward Bai Qingyan became even more reverent.

Bai Qingyan nodded and stood up, saying: “Bring the person Yang Wuce sent to General Liu Hong’s command tent, and summon the other generals! General Liu… come with me!”

“Yes!” Liu Pinggao clasped his fists in acknowledgment.

Coming out of Bai Qingyan’s main tent, Wang Jin was beside himself with joy. Without waiting for specific news to be released, he hurriedly ran back to the Anping army soldiers’ camp to tell the soldiers this good news.

·

Liu Hong had been waiting all these days. Upon hearing that Liuzhou City’s defending general, Yang Wuce, had sent someone to the Jin army camp, he knew Yang Wuce was about to surrender to the Jin. His mood immediately improved greatly, and he quickly had someone bring Zhao Sheng and Yang Wei, who was sent by Yang Wuce, to his main tent.

As soon as Yang Wei entered the main tent with Zhao Sheng, he saw Liu Hong sitting in the commander’s position with a radiant, ruddy complexion. In contrast, Princess Zhenguo sat in the position below Liu Hong’s right hand, dressed in military attire, appearing very solemn. He didn’t know… who had the final say in this military camp.

According to merit and status, it should be Bai Qingyan who had the final say, but Liu Hong was currently sitting in the commander’s position, which put Yang Wei in a difficult position.

Yang Wei glanced at Liu Hong again, somewhat hesitant, but still bowed toward Liu Hong with clasped hands, then turned to bow to Princess Zhenguo: “Liuzhou City’s defending general Yang Wuce has sent this general to relay to Princess Zhenguo… tomorrow at dawn, General Yang Wuce will lead all the soldiers of Liuzhou City out of the city to respectfully await Princess Zhenguo outside Liuzhou City’s gates, willing to lead all soldiers of Liuzhou City to follow Princess Zhenguo to the death!”

These were the words Yang Wuce had asked him to deliver, and Yang Wei had no choice but to relay them. Yang Wei had originally thought that once these words were spoken… Liu Hong, as the Jin army’s commander, would be displeased. Unexpectedly, Liu Hong was very happy and said: “General Yang understands righteousness deeply and considers the people of the entire city – Liu Hong admires this! Though Princess Zhenguo is a woman, her broad mind and unmatched skill in leading troops into battle make her rarely matched. That General Yang can serve under Princess Zhenguo shows his broad-mindedness!”

Bai Qingyan looked at Yang Wei and replied: “Please trouble yourself to relay to General Yang Wuce that tomorrow at dawn… Bai Qingyan will arrive.”

Liu Hong’s guard escorted Yang Wei out. Bai Qingyan looked at Zhao Sheng and spoke: “This time… being able to take Liuzhou City without bloodshed, General Zhao Sheng’s contribution cannot be understated.”

If Zhao Sheng hadn’t gone to see Yang Wuce under Liuzhou City to relay Bai Qingyan’s words and deliver the medical prescription to Yang Wuce, perhaps Yang Wuce still wouldn’t have been able to make this decision.

Liu Hong nodded: “When we return to the capital in the future, Liu will report General Zhao’s achievements truthfully to His Majesty and the Crown Prince!”

Zhao Sheng quickly bowed and said he didn’t dare accept such praise.

“Tomorrow we enter Liuzhou City, and Liuzhou will be completely settled…” Bai Qingyan looked toward Liu Hong, “General Liu Hong, I, and Bai Jinzhi will each lead troops in three separate routes advancing toward Han City, striving to take Han City in the shortest time possible and destroy Liang.”

As soon as Bai Qingyan said this, the Jin army generals in the main tent immediately became passionate and excited, each rubbing their hands together preparing for a great battle.

Bai Jinzhi let out a long breath, unable to hide her excitement.

Especially Lin Kangle – back then, the battle to destroy Shu was fought by the Bai Family Army, and Lin Kangle had been envious for a long time. Now… it was finally his turn to participate in a battle to destroy a nation.

Bai Qingyan gripped the sword at her waist. She had walked painstakingly and with extreme care to reach this day. As long as she could take Han City, she would be able to raise troops in rebellion against Jin.

She believed it wouldn’t be long before the northern Rong would be completely pacified by A’Yu. With the northern Rong in hand, and Great Liang grasped in her palm, destroying Xi Liang and pacifying Great Yan – unifying the realm would be just around the corner.

This realm… should be pacified by the capable, obtained by those who prioritize the people.

The emotionally stirred Jin generals all looked toward Bai Qingyan whose expression showed little change. Back then in the battle to destroy Shu… it was Bai Qingyan who beheaded Pang Pingguo and achieved great merit to pacify it. They believed this time Bai Qingyan could also lead them to destroy Liang.

Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi came out from Liu Hong’s main tent. Unable to withstand the dazzling sunlight, she raised her hand to shield the light with her palm and squinted, then heard a soldier report that outside the main camp there was someone named Yue Shi who requested to see Bai Qingyan.

“Elder Sister, it must be someone sent by Master Xiao!” Bai Jinzhi’s face showed surprise and joy, “I’ll go call Yue Shi in!”

Bai Qingyan’s hand gripping the sword at her waist tightened as she said: “Let’s go out to meet him!”

“Good!” Bai Jinzhi responded.

Yue Shi stood outside the repaired city walls of Qingxi Mountain pass, holding the reins of two horses, stretching his neck to peer inside…