Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 395 - 392: Skull_1

Chapter 395: Chapter 392: Skull_1

"Let me try," Bai Qingyan grasped Lu Ninghuan’s hand and said softly, "I’ll try to persuade her."

After all, Ji Langhua was someone Bai Qingming once protected, so... Bai Qingyan also held unique feelings toward Ji Langhua and did not want her to sacrifice her life in vain.

"Thank you, Miss Bai..." Lu Ninghuan expressed her gratitude, but she did not hold out much hope in her heart.

The Xiangfei bamboo curtain was lifted. Chun Tao entered from outside and curtseyed, "Miss Bai, a messenger from the Crown Prince’s residence has come, saying that the military report from Chunmu Mountain has arrived."

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened. The Crown Prince sent someone to summon her... Was Daliang making a move?

"Prepare the horse," Bai Qingyan ordered.

The Crown Prince placed the military report from Chunmu Mountain on the table, frowning. He could not fathom why his father sent the military report to him.

"Eunuch Gao by Father’s side said that Father was perusing some old manuscripts in the Imperial Library, seemingly searching for records of cases from early times where people in Xiliang were said to rejuvenate." The Crown Prince’s fingers rubbed the armrest of his chair. "Could it be that Father has lost interest in state affairs?"

Old Fang stroked his goatee and turned to bow toward the Crown Prince, "This old man believes that His Majesty is testing Your Highness’s ability to handle affairs. To see if Your Highness can manage the minor friction between Daliang and Jin’s elite soldiers and prevent such minor matters from escalating into large-scale chaos."

Qin Shangzhi, who sat opposite Old Fang, resisted the urge to roll his eyes and cupped his hands to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, if it is said that His Majesty is testing you, it is reasonable. However, Your Highness first needs to understand why Daliang is provoking at this time. Moreover, during the handling... You must not only think about turning major issues into minor ones but also consider how to act without damaging national prestige. Mr. Ren, what do you think?"

Ren Shijie, who was sitting beside Old Fang, was drinking tea when Qin Shangzhi pointed this out. He almost spilled his tea from the shock and hurriedly put down the teacup, "Mr. Qin is right."

Old Fang glanced at Qin Shangzhi, then at Ren Shijie behind him, and suppressed his annoyance. "Your Highness should consider. Although we eventually won the battle in the southern border, Jin suffered severe losses, and our military strength is insufficient. Does His Majesty wish for our nations to go to war? If Xiliang and Daliang join forces, does Jin have the military strength to fight a war on both fronts?"

The Crown Prince nodded in agreement with Old Fang’s words.

"Your Highness, the Princess of Zhen has arrived," Quan Yu quietly reported beside the Crown Prince’s ear.

"Quickly invite the Princess of Zhen!" The Crown Prince’s mood instantly lightened upon hearing that Bai Qingyan had arrived.

Regarding military matters, who could be more proficient than Bai Qingyan?

The Crown Prince saw Bai Qingyan, dressed in plain attire, enter and salute him. He hurriedly said, "Princess, no need for formalities. Serve the Princess tea!"

Qin Shangzhi saluted Bai Qingyan and then vacated the next position for her to sit.

After Bai Qingyan sat down, she asked, "Has something happened in Chunmu Mountain?"

Quan Yu personally handed over the military report and respectfully presented it to Bai Qingyan.

She thanked him, then held the report and read it carefully.

The cavalry of both Daliang and Jin, during their night patrol, had a skirmish north of Chunmu Mountain. After both sides engaged, a Jin cavalryman was killed by Daliang soldiers. Consequently, the Jin night patrol cavalry arrested all the Daliang soldiers and took them back to their camp. General Zhang Duanrui and the leading commander of Daliang’s forces, Xun Tianzhang, met. General Zhang Duanrui insisted on retribution for the killing, but Xun Tianzhang demanded his men back unscathed, claiming that Daliang would handle their own people.

General Zhang Duanrui, considering the gravity of the matter, sent the military report back swiftly for the Emperor’s judgment.

After reading the report, Bai Qingyan closed it and set it aside. She asked calmly, "What concerns does General Zhang Duanrui have that necessitate the Emperor’s judgment? Since the skirmish occurred north of Chunmu Mountain, the Daliang soldiers entered our Jin territory illegally. Their death was justified. If Xun Tianzhang wants his men back... send over their heads."

The Crown Prince’s fingers twitched.

Old Fang couldn’t help but recall the incident where Bai Qingyan had burned the Xiliang prisoners in Wengshan Canyon, feeling a chill in his heart, "The Princess of Zhen’s view is too simplistic. Sending their heads over would undoubtedly start a war between the two countries. After our significant losses in the southern border battle, can Jin afford another war? Even if we forcefully engage, what if Xiliang seizes the opportunity to join the fray? Fighting two countries simultaneously... Jin has no chance of winning! The Princess of Zhen must be accustomed to killing and casually talks about beheading!"

"My father entrusted me with this matter to test my judgment. We mustn’t act rashly," the Crown Prince timely remarked.

"Exactly!" Old Fang nodded to the Crown Prince. "Whether to fight or not hinges on His Majesty’s decision. The Crown Prince mustn’t act impulsively. Misjudging His Majesty’s intentions and rashly initiating war... His Majesty would surely hold the Crown Prince accountable. For this matter, I suggest seeking to avoid mistakes over seeking accomplishments. Otherwise, giving Daliang a pretext to start a war would make conflict inevitable."

Bai Qingyan’s eyes brimmed with sharp coldness as she looked at Old Fang. To avoid mistakes over seeking accomplishments?

She never realized that matters of war and peace, affecting the survival of border residents, were considered not in terms of the situation, their survival, or national dignity but based on the ruler’s whims!

"What is Old Fang’s suggestion for handling this?" the Crown Prince asked.

"Send the Daliang soldiers back and warn them that another offense will result in Jin taking stern measures," Old Fang suggested arrogantly.

Bai Qingyan avoided a direct conflict with the petty Old Fang and looked at the Crown Prince, "Had General Zhang Duanrui acted decisively at the incident, sending the heads of the Daliang soldiers to their camp, this conflict might have been avoided. Following Old Fang’s suggestion, letting them go and merely warning them would make conflict unavoidable."

After the southern border battle, the Crown Prince placed deep trust in Bai Qingyan regarding military matters. Upon hearing her argument, he solemnly asked, "Why do you say so, Princess?"

"That Daliang night patrol intruded into our Jin territory was likely a deliberate test by Xun Tianzhang. He wanted to see if Jin, after the southern border battle, still had the strength and resolve to confront Daliang. If Jin’s response is timid or conciliatory, Daliang would confidently wage war," Bai Qingyan calmly explained. "Take General Zhang Duanrui, for example. If Jin’s military strength were as formidable as during my grandfather’s and father’s time, post the incident, he would have directly sent their heads to Xun Tianzhang."

The Crown Prince pondered deeply, his heart pounding, then nodded, "That makes sense..."

"Appointing General Zhang Duanrui to lead troops to Chunmu Mountain, Xun Tianzhang remained inactive for days, not because he couldn’t find an excuse to start a war, but because he was investigating our commander’s history, traits, and character. In this chaotic era, the strong prevail. Conquering a country no longer requires grandiose excuses. Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures a hundred battles, a hundred victories."

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