Liu Hong knew that Bai Qingyan’s decision to bring all the surrendered Liang soldiers to her side was to reduce the risks for him and Bai Jinzhi. However, Liu Hong still couldn’t help but worry about Bai Qingyan. She wasn’t taking the Anping army or the Jin army… all those under her command were surrendered Liang soldiers, and both Zhao Sheng and Yang Wuce were Great Liang generals. If they changed their minds halfway, Bai Qingyan only had a few thousand Shouyang soldiers – it might not be secure.
Bai Qingyan told Liu Hong to rest assured, that she trusted Zhao Sheng and Yang Wuce’s character. Moreover, Zhao Sheng’s family was now in Bai Qingyan’s hands. As for Yang Wuce… if he truly intended to betray her, he wouldn’t have deliberated for a whole month before voluntarily surrendering!
Though Liu Hong remained uneasy, he also knew Bai Qingyan’s personality had always been decisive and uncompromising. After careful consideration, he also felt that since Bai Qingyan dared to take Zhao Sheng and Yang Wuce with her, she must have confidence in her ability to control them. Liu Hong had no choice but to permit Bai Qingyan to lead her troops and depart.
The route Bai Qingyan chose had many cities, as it was meant to disperse the pressure of Liang forces for Liu Hong and Bai Jinzhi. Naturally… the more cities they conquered, the more treasures could be sent back to Shouyang and then to Bai Jintong’s hands.
Bai Qingyan departed first. Before leaving, she called Bai Jinzhi and Cai Ziyuan aside to instruct them: “The route I’ve chosen for you this time is all flat plains and smooth roads. If possible, try to avoid cities. Remember… your main target is Han City. General Liu Hong and I will attack cities as we advance, drawing military forces for you. We’re counting on you to become the surprise force that strikes into Great Liang! Don’t get entangled in the number of cities captured.”
“Xiao Si remembers! Elder Sister, rest assured! This time Xiao Si definitely won’t act rashly and will certainly proceed cautiously! If there’s anything I’m uncertain about, I’ll ask Master Cai!” Bai Jinzhi said, turning to look at Cai Ziyuan.
Cai Ziyuan was flattered and quickly bowed deeply to Bai Jinzhi.
Bai Qingyan nodded and couldn’t help but reach out to touch Bai Jinzhi’s hair, looking toward Cai Ziyuan: “Master Cai, I entrust Xiao Si to you!”
Dressed in a slate green padded cotton robe and wearing a cloak, Cai Ziyuan solemnly promised Bai Qingyan: “Princess Zhenguo, rest assured. Ziyuan swears to serve Noble Lady Gaoyi unto death.”
Cai Ziyuan and Bai Jinzhi stood before Liuzhou City’s gates, watching as the large army led by Bai Qingyan slowly departed. Only then did Cai Ziyuan say to the reluctant Bai Jinzhi, “I heard that General Liu is revising the memorial to be sent back to the capital. Noble Lady Gaoyi could take this opportunity to also send a letter to the Crown Prince, asking for more benefits for Princess Zhenguo!”
Bai Jinzhi, standing with her hands behind her back, turned to look at Cai Ziyuan: “What should I ask for?”
“Asking for things is secondary – the main point is to show loyalty. Right now… the more the Crown Prince trusts Princess Zhenguo, the more time he can win for Princess Zhenguo!” Cai Ziyuan lowered his voice and said, “Only when the Crown Prince invests more thought in Princess Zhenguo will he rely on her more and trust her more deeply.”
“Should I ask for medicinal materials?” Bai Jinzhi asked.
“Not just medicinal materials, but also grain! And military pay! The troops Princess Zhenguo brought out haven’t used court provisions or pay! Originally, we thought we could resupply after capturing cities, but Princess Zhenguo ordered that the people not be plundered to preserve hearts and minds for the Crown Prince. But if so… the soldiers from Shouyang have no money or provisions. Princess Zhenguo doesn’t want to report this to the Crown Prince to avoid troubling him, but Noble Lady Gaoyi is straightforward and can’t hold back. She can’t bear to watch Princess Zhenguo, who is already physically delicate and exhausted by the war, worry further about these soldiers’ provisions. It’s perfectly reasonable for her to request things from the Crown Prince.”
After Cai Ziyuan finished speaking in a low voice, Bai Jinzhi understood. She nodded: “I understand! Asking for things… that’s what I’m best at! I also need to tell the Crown Prince that Elder Sister forbade me from telling him, and that I only dared to secretly write this letter after Elder Sister left!”
Bai Jinzhi was clever and understood immediately. Cai Ziyuan smiled and nodded.
Bai Qingyan’s ambition was the entire realm, so the amount of silver needed for future endeavors would certainly be enormous. Whatever they could obtain from the Crown Prince was beneficial, and whatever the Bai family could save from their resources was also good.
Moreover, based on Cai Ziyuan’s years of studying this Crown Prince in the capital, if the Crown Prince knew that Princess Zhenguo considered him so thoughtfully, he would certainly reciprocate and allocate even more from the national treasury to Bai Qingyan.
·
On the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan led her forces and first captured Jianye City. Great Liang’s defending general Wang Xingjun was defeated and committed suicide for his Kingdom. Princess Zhenguo ordered that soldiers entering the city must not rob the people, and the army took over medical facilities, dispatching accompanying military physicians to treat the civilians.
On the ninth day of the twelfth month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, the forces led by Liu Hong encountered a severe epidemic situation in Huaishang City. The people of Huaishang knelt and begged the defending general to exit the city and seek peace, requesting the Jin army to enter the city to treat the epidemic and save lives. Seeing the entire city of people kneeling and seeking peace, the defending general no longer resisted and led his troops out of the city to surrender to Jin, requesting Liu Hong to treat the plague-stricken people.
On the tenth day of the twelfth month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan captured Great Liang’s Yong’an City again, expanding her forces to one hundred fifty thousand. When the people of Yong’an City saw the Jin army enter without robbing or killing, but instead treating plague-stricken civilians, they were moved to tears of gratitude, and wealthy merchants offered treasures one after another.
On the eleventh day of the twelfth month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Yan general Xie Xun shot the Wei Emperor, who had personally led the expedition, from his horse. The Wei Emperor died from severe injuries.
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month in the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Wei’s six-year-old prince was supported by the Empress Dowager to ascend the throne, becoming the new Wei Emperor. The Wei Empress Dowager ruled from behind the curtain and decided to move the capital to Weishu City to temporarily avoid Yan’s military might.
On New Year’s Eve of the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, the two armies led by Xie Xun and Second Prince Murong Ping had reached the walls of Wei’s capital, Chang City. Wei’s Grand General Song Guanxu led troops to defend Chang City to the death.
On this New Year’s Eve night, Shen Qingzhu finally caught up with Bai Qingyan after riding hard, bringing letters from her mother in Shouyang and winter clothes sent by her mother for warmth.
Great Liang’s weather was always warm, with no snow in winter, so such thick winter clothes weren’t really needed. But as Bai Qingyan touched the winter clothes with extremely thick fur, warmth still flowed through her heart like a gentle stream.
On New Year’s Eve night, Bai Qingyan gathered with all the soldiers. Some people and restaurant owners in Yong’an City, grateful for Jin Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan’s life-saving grace, came to the military camp before New Year’s Eve to deliver dumplings.
Yong’an City, occupied by the Jin army, didn’t become a living hell like other captured cities, but instead showed a harmonious scene between the military and civilians.
After the lively celebration with the soldiers, Bai Qingyan returned to her main tent, removed her armor, and sat by the brazier in regular clothes. While reading the letter her mother had sent, she asked Shen Qingzhu, who was kneeling across from her, “Wasn’t I supposed to have you stay in the capital to care for your master? Why did you come?”
Shen Qingzhu hung the teapot over the brazier to brew tea for Bai Qingyan, saying in a low voice: “I was worried about Miss!”
“Are you still afraid I’ll charge ahead like I used to when you were all by my side?”