“I’ll accompany Elder Sister!” Bai Jinxiu said.

Grandmother had now clearly positioned herself in opposition to Elder Sister. Bai Jinxiu couldn’t let Elder Sister venture into danger alone.

“This general will also accompany Your Majesty!” Lin Kangle clasped his fists.

Lin Kangle had learned that the dog emperor of Jin was again conscripting a thousand virgin boys and girls, and this time it was still that waste Crown Prince in charge. If not for Bai Qingyan’s grandmother, Grand Princess, still being in the city, causing Lin Kangle some concern, he would have wished to charge in right now and slaughter both the dog emperor and that worthless Crown Prince!

Bai Qingyan slowly shook her head: “Tonight… half an hour after I enter the city, you two will lead troops to attack the city! Don’t worry about me being inside the city! Act without concern!”

Lin Kangle was quite surprised. He glanced at Bai Jinxiu with worry: “But Your Majesty is still in the city. If that dog emperor becomes desperate, Your Majesty might be in danger…”

“It’s fine. Since I dare let you attack the city, I have the confidence to remain safe. The Great Zhou has just been established… the court is still unstable. If something happens to me, it will certainly cause nationwide chaos. I won’t let anything happen to myself!” After Bai Qingyan finished speaking, thinking of Qin Shangzhi, she added, “General Lin, please make the trip personally and arrange a meeting with Mr. Qin Shangzhi for me. Tell him I wish to meet him outside Luohong City, and ask him to honor me with his presence.”

“Yes!” Lin Kangle clasped his fists in acknowledgment and turned to leave the main tent to deliver the message.

“Elder Sister, I’ll go mobilize the troops. When those Jin people see our Great Zhou elite soldiers arrayed behind Elder Sister, they won’t dare use any treacherous schemes,” Bai Jinxiu said.

“Don’t be hasty yet. We still don’t know if this Mr. Qin will be able to come out of the city to meet…” Bai Qingyan said with a smile, then added to Bai Jinxiu, “Abandoning Wang Ge’er for so long and constantly making you travel about… you’ve worked hard.”

“What are you saying, Elder Sister?” Bai Jinxiu frowned tightly. Compared to Elder Sister’s hardships, what Jinxiu can do is limited. Moreover…”

Bai Jinxiu looked down at the battle armor she wore, then looked up at her elder sister with a smile: “I originally thought that after marriage, I would never have another chance to wear it. Who would have thought… There would still be an opportunity to wear it and fight for the people? Jinxiu is very happy! If I could wear it… and fight alongside the Bai family brothers once more, Elder Sister… I would be even happier!”

Bai Qingyan’s eyes reddened. She knew that Bai Jinxiu, like herself, was anxious at heart, not knowing how many of the Bai family sons would ultimately return.

She hoped that every Bai family son could encounter miracles like A’Yu, A’Jue, and A’Yun, and be able to survive.

·

Inside Luohong City, the atmosphere had suddenly become tense due to Bai Qingyan leading a great army.

Qin Shangzhi was currently the person most relied upon by the Crown Prince and Emperor, responsible for Luohong City’s defense arrangements.

Qin Shangzhi had once campaigned in Nan Jiang alongside Bai Qingyan and knew that she was a person of flawless strategy, rarely matched in warfare.

Moreover, the Bai family army’s fierce combat effectiveness was rarely seen in the world…

When Bai Qingyan had used Jin soldiers to utterly defeat Xiliang, leaving them without a single piece of intact armor, and in the great battle at Liang, using Jin soldiers and Liang defectors to destroy the Liang state, if Bai Qingyan were to use the Bai family army, Qin Shangzhi didn’t even dare to imagine.

Qin Shangzhi could be called a strategist and could even be used as a great talent for governing the Kingdom, but when it came to military campaigns, how could he possibly match Princess Zhenguo, who came from a century-old military family?

Qin Shangzhi had both hands supporting himself on the desk, concentrating on preparing for battle with various generals, while simultaneously beginning to plan escape routes out of the city for the Emperor and Crown Prince.

“Report…”

Qin Shangzhi, who was gathered with various generals around the defense map of Luohong City, rearranging defensive positions, looked up at the sound. He saw a small soldier hurrying through the door, kneeling on one knee before Qin Shangzhi and the generals to report: “Reporting to Lord Qin, enemy General Lin Kangle is shouting outside the city gate, claiming that the rebel Princess Zhenguo wishes to see Lord Qin.”

Qin Shangzhi was stunned upon hearing this. Seeing all the officers and soldiers looking at him, Qin Shangzhi slowly straightened up, his throat rolling slightly.

·

Outside Luohong City.

Under the blazing sun, the black-armored soldiers of Great Zhou could be seen in the distance, standing in formation. The heavy cavalry in the front ranks was like a black tide, their armor gleaming with intimidating cold light under the fluttering black banners with white python designs, poised like giant beasts crouching and gathering strength, ready to pounce on their prey at any moment.

Such a battle formation brought a tremendous psychological impact to the soldiers still resisting atop Luohong City’s walls. Apart from the soldiers who had been transferred to assist with canal construction, the defenders here were either temporarily conscripted for canal work or prisoners from the jails. Seeing Great Zhou’s well-trained heavy armored elite soldiers moving in perfect unison, how could they not feel a chill in their hearts?

Though it was still the same blazing sun, the air had been carrying waves of heat just moments before; now it made the defending soldiers on Luohong City’s walls feel cold down their spines, involuntarily generating fear.

Bai Qingyan rode a white horse, slowly approaching Luohong City from among the heavy armored formations.

The captain of the small defending squad atop the city wall shouted: “Archers, prepare!”

The archers on the wall quickly came to their senses, nocking arrows and drawing their bows to aim in Bai Qingyan’s direction…

The Great Zhou soldiers under the distant black banners with white python designs, upon hearing some command, suddenly let out earth-shaking “Hu-he!” cries. The heavily armored soldiers advanced in orderly steps, and with another command from Bai Jinxiu, ballista carts were slowly pushed out from behind the heavy cavalry, stopping in neat rows behind the heavy shield bearers.

Which of the Jin soldiers resisting atop the city walls wouldn’t feel a chill in their hearts seeing such a battle formation?

This wasn’t simply the Great Zhou Empress wanting to meet with Lord Qin—this was Great Zhou intimidating these stubborn Jin soldiers.

Lin Kangle followed beside Bai Qingyan. Seeing the ancient and heavy gates of Luohong City slowly opening, Qin Shangzhi, also dressed in battle armor, emerged from within Luohong City on horseback, followed by two Jin generals.

Seeing this, Bai Qingyan reined in her horse and dismounted.

Qin Shangzhi saw Bai Qingyan dismount and stand waiting for him from afar. He spurred his horse faster, only stopping when he was ten zhang away from Bai Qingyan.

“Mr. Qin, you’ve been well…” Bai Qingyan smiled gently at Qin Shangzhi.

Qin Shangzhi dismounted and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “I pay my respects to Princess Zhenguo.”

Seeing Bai Qingyan again, Qin Shangzhi felt many emotions arise in his heart. He remembered when he first encountered Bai Qingyan—at that time, the Bai family was in precarious danger, and Bai Qingyan had straightforwardly asked Qin Shangzhi for guidance. Now, after Bai Qingyan had destroyed Liang, she had already proclaimed herself Emperor.

In just three years, what kind of intelligence, what kind of boldness, what kind of planning was needed to push the Bai family to where they stood today?

“Mr. Qin needn’t be so formal.” Bai Qingyan glanced at the two generals beside Qin Shangzhi. “I didn’t expect Mr. Qin could also lead troops to resist enemies.”

“I’m showing off my meager skills before Princess Zhenguo!” Qin Shangzhi had no intention of false modesty. Toward Bai Qingyan, his heart held only respect and admiration.