Xiao Rongyan, also dressed in Jin army black armor, sat beside Bai Qingyan without avoiding suspicion. All the generals in the tent already knew that this wealthy Wei merchant Xiao Rongyan was Bai Qingyan’s fiancé, who had specially rushed here tonight to spend New Year’s Eve with Bai Qingyan, so they didn’t say much about it.
“Report…”
A soldier under Zhao Sheng’s command ran quickly to the outside of the commander’s tent, knelt on one knee, and said: “Reporting to Princess Zhenguo, two scouts from Daming Prefecture have already headed toward Daming Prefecture. Our army has let them pass!”
The candlelight made Bai Qingyan’s deep, dark eyes flicker between bright and dim. She straightened her spine, gripped the sword at her waist tightly, and looked at all the generals in the tent.
“Today is New Year’s Eve, yet I must ask you all to face former comrades-in-arms with weapons drawn. Bai Qingyan knows… You all feel guilty toward your former brothers-in-arms! However… in General Cao’s eyes, we are all enemy troops of the Liang Kingdom, whom he vows to annihilate! This cannot be resolved with mere words of persuasion!” Bai Qingyan clasped her hands toward all the officers and soldiers. “And today we take up arms precisely to quickly pacify this chaotic world, so that in the future there will be no more killing between compatriots and comrades! If we act tepidly, who knows when peaceful days will come, but by pacifying with weapons, though it involves killing, it is also to stop war with war, to establish the merit of bringing peace to this world! Bai Qingyan earnestly requests that you all… must give your utmost in this battle, to render Daming Prefecture’s garrison powerless to resist further in one battle. Only thus… can we avoid facing each other with weapons again, avoid greater casualties! And quickly pacify Daming Prefecture!”
Bai Qingyan’s words greatly inspired the generals in the tent, completely dispelling that bit of guilt they felt toward their former comrades!
They were establishing the merit of bringing peace to this world, having no choice but to stop war with war!
Only thus could they quickly pacify Daming Prefecture, quickly capture Great Liang’s capital Han City… laying the foundation for unifying the world!
Every word of Bai Qingyan’s struck at the hearts of all the generals.
Zhao Sheng, his heart surging with emotion, straightened his spine and clasped his fists, shouting: “I swear to follow Princess Zhenguo to the death!”
“I swear to follow Princess Zhenguo to the death!”
All the officers and soldiers followed Zhao Sheng in straightening their bodies, clasping their fists, and shouting, their hearts blazing with fighting spirit.
In the main tent, except for Zhao Ran, all the rest were formerly soldiers of the Liang Kingdom, but they had all gathered under Bai Qingyan’s command for the same goal, swearing never to retreat.
“Zhao Sheng, Zhao Ran, hear my orders!” Bai Qingyan looked toward Zhao Sheng and Zhao Ran. “I command Zhao Sheng to lead fifty thousand officers and soldiers, and Zhao Ran to lead five thousand Shouyang troops, to hide on the right side of the military camp and await orders. Do not act rashly!”
“Zhao Sheng receives the order!”
“Zhao Ran receives the order!”
Zhao Sheng and Zhao Ran clasped their fists and accepted the orders.
“Yang Wuce, Yang Wei, hear my orders!” Bai Qingyan looked toward Yang Wuce and Yang Wei. “I command you two to lead fifty thousand officers and soldiers to hide on the left side of the military camp. Once Daming Prefecture’s garrison enters the main camp, surround and trap them, attacking from inside and outside! If there are any unexpected changes… follow General Yang Wuce’s orders in all matters, without error!”
“Yang Wuce receives the order!”
“Yang Wei receives the order!”
Bai Qingyan stood up, gripping her sword, her blazing gaze sweeping over the soldiers in the camp, her voice ringing clear and forceful: “The remaining officers and soldiers will serve as bait with me, waiting quietly in the military camp for the Liang army’s attack, coordinating inside and outside with the two Generals Zhao and the two Generals Yang, joining forces to annihilate the enemy!”
“Joining forces to annihilate the enemy!” Zhao Sheng was the first to shout along.
The entire main tent echoed with shouts of “joining forces to annihilate the enemy.”
Xiao Rongyan gazed at the dignified and solemn Bai Qingyan, finally understanding why Bai Qingyan could lead fearless warriors under her command. In terms of inspiring the morale of officers and soldiers, Bai Qingyan was unmatched by others.
·
In Daming Prefecture, the Liang army was similarly preparing for battle, with the great army assembled inside and outside the gates of Daming Prefecture.
All the generals, led by Cao Renyi, gathered atop the city gates to gaze into the distance, waiting only for news that the Jin army camp had extinguished its lights before immediately setting out.
“General! Look…” A general beside Cao Renyi vaguely saw two figures on horseback racing through the darkness and immediately pointed them out to Cao Renyi.
Cao Renyi raised his hand and shouted: “Be on guard!”
The archers all nocked arrows and drew their bows, aiming into the distance, and even the soldiers lined up in formation below the city wall, ready to depart, pressed their hands on their waist swords.
The sound of “clip-clop” hoofbeats grew closer and closer. The two returning scouts reined in their horses and shouted from below the city wall: “General! The Jin army has extinguished their lights!”
Cao Renyi gripped the sword at his waist tightly. Hearing that the Jin army had extinguished their lights, his heart settled greatly, his eyes brightening.
Tonight on New Year’s Eve, he had sent people to deliver Liang wine and foods unique to the Liang Kingdom, claiming to seek peace, but actually… first, to paralyze Princess Zhenguo… making Princess Zhenguo think he truly wanted to surrender like Zhao Sheng and Yang Wuce; second, to disturb the morale of those Liang army officers and soldiers under Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan’s command.
They were already attacking their motherland, so they should feel somewhat guilty in their hearts. The Liang wine and Liang Kingdom delicacies could awaken their affection for their homeland, so when it came to actual fighting, it wouldn’t be so difficult. This was what was called… attacking the heart first. The Liang wine and Liang Kingdom delicacies he sent to the Jin army camp today had the same wonderful effect as Liu Bang’s Han army’s strategy of surrounding Xiang Yu, the Western Chu Hegemon, with Chu songs from all sides.
“Soldiers of the Liang Kingdom! Today should be New Year’s Eve, a day for family reunions, but we must guard the Liang Kingdom here, protect the safety of our families! Without a Kingdom, how can there be homes? If the Kingdom perishes, where will our homes be?! Rather than cowering inside the city waiting for the Jin army to attack, better to catch them off guard with a preemptive strike, using offense as defense! Drive these Jin dogs… out of our Liang Kingdom!”
“Drive them out of the Liang Kingdom!”
“Drive them out of the Liang Kingdom!”
“Drive them out of the Liang Kingdom!”
The Liang army officers and soldiers shouted in unison.
Seeing that the fighting spirit of the officers and soldiers had been aroused, Cao Renyi shouted with all his might: “Depart!”
The Liang army generals below the city wall immediately mounted their horses, shouting “Depart!” and ordering all soldiers to extinguish the torches they held high, as the great army set out.
While walking down from the city wall, Cao Renyi turned to his deputy general and said, “Are you certain that all the scouts sent by the Jin Kingdom have been killed?”
Cao Renyi’s deputy general nodded: “General, rest assured. This subordinate has already instructed the squad leaders lying in ambush along the route… they must kill all the Jin Kingdom scouts without fail, absolutely cannot let any Jin army scouts return to report.”
Cao Renyi nodded: “That’s good then! I’m leading the army to the Jin Kingdom’s military camp, leaving the city empty… you must remember to guard Daming Prefecture well! If we are defeated, you should rally the common people to defend the city together. Anyone who dares disobey should be made an example of to warn others. You must hold out until court reinforcements arrive.”
“The General is invincible in battle! Leading sixty thousand officers and soldiers in this battle, you certainly won’t be defeated. You will surely slaughter all the traitorous dogs who betrayed Liang and personally take the head of the Jin Kingdom’s Princess Zhenguo to avenge the Fourth Prince! This subordinate awaits the General’s triumphant return here!” Cao Renyi’s deputy general solemnly clasped his fists toward Cao Renyi, completely confident in Cao Renyi’s certain victory in this battle.
Cao Renyi shook his head: “The Jin army has one hundred fifty thousand troops, while our army has only sixty thousand… You should still be prepared for contingencies.”
Though he said this, Cao Renyi’s decision to lead sixty thousand men in a surprise attack was precisely to face superior numbers with inferior ones, vowing to become famous throughout the various kingdoms in this one battle, and also to avenge his former friend, the Fourth Prince.