Wei Zhaonian looked toward Bai Qingyan, no longer speaking in roundabout ways as he had initially, but expressing himself directly: “Xiao Bai Commander means to have Fifth Miss, Sixth Miss, and Seventh Miss join the Bai family army?”
Regardless of gender, all Bai family descendants were to enter the military camp for training upon reaching ten years of age. Due to the Bai family’s misfortunes, this matter had been delayed.
Now that everything was moving in a good direction, Bai Qingyan still wanted to continue this tradition.
Bai Qingyan nodded: “Xiao Wu… has a temperament most similar to Xiao Si’s, so I want Xiao Wu to follow Uncle Shen. Uncle Shen must properly temper her character—with Uncle Shen watching over her, I can rest assured.”
Shen Kunyang looked at Bai Qingyan somewhat dazedly, stunned for a moment before nodding: “Xiao Bai Commander, rest assured!”
When Bai Qingyan had been assigned to Shen Kunyang’s command by Bai Qishan, Bai Qishan had said the same thing to Shen Kunyang… asking Shen Kunyang to properly temper Bai Qingyan’s character, saying… with Shen Kunyang watching over Bai Qingyan, he could rest assured.
Shen Kunyang’s reddened eyes looked at Bai Qingyan sitting under the lamplight, restrained and steady, as she assigned Bai Jinhua to Gu Wenchang’s command. The corners of his lips curved up slightly…
Thus, Deputy Commander Bai Qishan should be able to rest in peace. The Xiao Bai Commander who had once worried the Deputy Commander most… had now grown to possess the Deputy Commander’s steady demeanor.
“As for Xiao Qi, I want Xiao Qi to follow General Wei.” Bai Qingyan looked toward Wei Zhaonian. “Though Xiao Qi is young, among us sisters, she’s exceptionally precocious. Fourth Uncle once praised General Wei as the most strategic general under his command, whom Fourth Uncle relied upon greatly. So… I want to entrust Xiao Qi to General Wei. I hope General Wei can guide her well!”
Bai Qingyan’s meaning was clear. Bai Jinse wasn’t suited for the type of battlefield combat that generals like Cheng Yuanzhi and Shen Kunyang excelled at, so Bai Qingyan wanted Bai Jinse to follow Wei Zhaonian to learn military strategy and how to become a leader who could both command troops and devise plans.
Wei Zhaonian looked toward the young Bai Jinse, who immediately stood and bowed deeply to Wei Zhaonian: “Please teach me, General!”
Wei Zhaonian quickly rose and returned the bow, then bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “Since Xiao Bai Commander trusts me, Wei Zhaonian will certainly protect Seventh Miss with his life and teach her everything I knows.”
After arranging for her three sisters, Bai Qingyan slowly began to speak: “In the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, the Bai family army surrounded Yun Poxing. Our enemy was within reach… but to survive, we had no choice but to let our enemy escape. At that time… I gave myself a three-year deadline, and also gave Yun Poxing three years, promising our Bai family army brothers that I would lead them to avenge the Bai family army and the Bai family generals. Only a few months remain of those three years…”
Shen Kunyang and the other generals sat upright with proper bearing.
Cool wind entered the pavilion, gently swaying the gauze curtains hanging from the outer pillars and beams to keep out insects. The summer insects’ chirping suddenly stopped for a moment, as if holding their breath, waiting for Bai Qingyan’s next words.
“When the time comes, if Yun Poxing doesn’t come, I ask all the generals to follow Bai Qingyan and lead the Bai family army to storm the pass!” Bai Qingyan’s voice rang out clearly, her tone conveying her firm determination for revenge. “To avenge the Bai family army!”
Wei Zhaonian understood. Regardless of what conditions Xiliang offered this time, Bai Qingyan would not make peace with Xiliang.
He clenched his fists. From a strategic perspective, this time, Bai Qingyan should accept Xiliang’s peace negotiations and let the Rong Di and Great Yan fight against Xiliang.
But as members of the Bai family army, Bai Qingyan had once sworn to lead them in revenge after three years. If Bai Qingyan broke her word for national interests, they could all understand, but… they would be disappointed.
“There’s still time. When Great Zhou storms Xiliang’s pass, we absolutely cannot let Great Yan remain idle…” Wei Zhaonian spoke at an unhurried pace. “From the ruler to the common people, Yan has a ruthless streak in their bones. If Great Zhou becomes embroiled in major warfare and lets Great Yan rest and recuperate, they might reap the benefits.”
“Yan has signed a pact with the Rong Di—within three years of the Rong Di attacking Xiliang, Great Yan cannot interfere or claim spoils.” Bai Qingyan’s fingers traced the edge of the stone table. “Though Great Yan is now nationally strong, compared to Great Zhou, there’s still a gap, and they don’t dare rashly start a war! So… once Great Zhou and Xiliang go to war, Great Yan’s first choice will be to attack the Rong Di!”
“With Great Zhou and the Rong Di jointly attacking Xiliang, if Yan circles to attack the Rong Di court and extends the battle line straight to the Rong Di’s northern side, it will force… the Rong Di to withdraw their troops for defense. And at that time… with Great Zhou mired in Xiliang, even if we could spare forces to help the Rong Di, Yan is right to Great Zhou’s west and will certainly send troops…” Bai Qingyan could even envision the chaos of that time. “The four nations… will certainly become a complete mess.”
Cheng Yuanzhi gritted his teeth. He truly wanted to charge into Xiliang with Xiao Bai Commander for revenge, but if Great Yan caused trouble, it would indeed be impossible to guard against…
Cheng Yuanzhi thought of the recently famous fierce general of Great Liang, Xie Xun, and the Second Prince of Great Yan, Murong Ping.
“If Xiao Bai Commander is worried about Great Zhou’s western flank, Cheng Yuanzhi is willing to lead troops stationed at the Great Zhou-Yan border. Even unto death, I won’t let the Yan people cross the border by half a step! If they want to reach the Rong Di… they’ll have to step over my corpse, Cheng Yuanzhi!” Cheng Yuanzhi rose and knelt on one knee to request orders.
The great enterprise of unification required some to charge at the forefront, fighting bloodily to leave their names in history, and others to guard the rear flanks. Since Xiao Bai Commander was leading them and the Bai family army to set foot on this path of unifying the realm, they absolutely could not allow any accidents.
With strong enemies at their side… Cheng Yuanzhi was willing to be the one in the rear, eliminating worries for Xiao Bai Commander and the Bai family army.
“Let me guard the Yan border!” Wei Zhaonian relaxed his tightly clenched hands and slowly spoke as if he had made up his mind. “General Cheng is a brave and fierce general of the Bai family army. On the battlefield… General Cheng’s name alone is enough to strike fear into Xiliang’s hearts, while for restraining Yan, I am more suitable than General Cheng.”
Wei Zhaonian all but explicitly said that restraining Yan required using one’s brain. Though Cheng Yuanzhi’s mind worked well in battle, he was ultimately a rough man who might inevitably overlook some matters.
“Let me go…”
Bai Qingyun, who had remained silent in his wheelchair for a long time, suddenly spoke.
Bai Qingyun looked toward Bai Qingyan: “If elder sister trusts A’Yun, I’ll guard against Great Yan… I will lock them within Yan’s borders and not let the Yan people stain even half an inch of Great Zhou’s soil!”
In these years, Bai Qingyun had not been idle at the Four Seas Pavilion on Luopan Mountain. No one knew this better than Xiao Ruojiang and Xiao Ruohai.
Bai Qingyun had worked almost day and night. Having lost his legs, he had to compensate for his deficiency in other areas.
The Four Seas Pavilion on Luopan Mountain had existed for countless years. Its existence was like that of Guiguzi—to ordinary people… it had always been a legend. Almost no one could find the Four Seas Pavilion through Luopan Mountain’s heavy mists… to glimpse the true face of the Four Seas Pavilion.
People all said that the Four Seas Pavilion on Luopan Mountain was an immortal mountain and immortal pavilion, encompassing all the world’s scholarly and martial arts, as well as mystical arts and divination.