Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 404 - 401: Devotion to Duty_1

Chapter 404: Chapter 401: Devotion to Duty_1

"The Governor is thoughtful, Magistrate Zhou has worked hard." Bai Qingyan still needed to show some propriety. "If the Crown Prince asks one day, I will report the truth."

"I have done many wrong things before. As the parent official of Shuoyang’s people, I did not uphold justice for them, and I feel deeply ashamed! Now that I can help the Commandery Princess work for the people, I am very happy and it’s not hard at all! If the Commandery Princess needs anything... please feel free to command me. I am willing to serve!" Magistrate Zhou hurriedly said.

"In that case, let’s start training soldiers formally on the tenth of May. The day we finish training will be the day we eliminate bandits for the people of Shuoyang!" Bai Qingyan lifted the tea cup in front of her. "This matter will also trouble both of you and the Clan Leader..."

Magistrate Zhou’s eyes turned, and he immediately brought out his sons: "Commandery Princess, these two are my legitimate sons. You can assign them to assist the Bai Clan Leader, or for training soldiers, or even as ordinary soldiers. I only hope they can be well-trained. I hope the Commandery Princess can give them a chance."

Bai Qingyan looked at Magistrate Zhou’s two sons, who were not very old, and nodded. Her gaze fell on Bai Qingping: "These two sons of Magistrate Zhou are about your age. You can associate more with them."

Magistrate Zhou’s eyes lit up at these words.

Bai Qingping straightened up and nodded, cupping his hands towards Magistrate Zhou’s two sons in greeting.

Magistrate Zhou’s two sons quickly returned the greeting.

The Governor looked at Magistrate Zhou and could not help but secretly laugh in his heart. This Magistrate Zhou really knew how to seize opportunities. In this corrupt Jin court, he was bound to thrive in the future.

Just as Magistrate Zhou was thanking Bai Qingyan, Lu Ping suddenly rushed in from outside the main hall and walked to Bai Qingyan’s side along the ebony four-pillar screen hanging drapes. With one hand covering his lips, he lowered his voice and said: "Eldest Young Lady, Miss Shen has sent back the latest news. Daliang launched a night attack on the Jin Kingdom’s military camp. The two countries are at war."

Bai Qingyan’s action of drinking tea paused. She raised her eyes and looked in Lu Ping’s direction.

"Did Qingzhu mention how General Zhang Duanrui responded?" she also asked in a low voice.

"She said General Zhang had retreated ten miles, and there was no further information." Lu Ping replied.

Bai Qingyan nodded. Turning around, she saw everyone looking in her direction. She straightened up and spoke slowly: "Everyone, the Crown Prince has sent a message. Daliang and our Jin Kingdom are at war in Chunmu Mountain."

Everyone from the Bai family was incredibly anxious at these words and began to discuss fervently.

However, the Governor and Magistrate Zhou were already speculating about Bai Qingyan’s standing in the heart of the Crown Prince. Even if the Crown Prince did not love Bai Qingyan romantically, he certainly relied heavily on her. Thus, they had to serve this Princess of Zhen well.

"The southern war has just ended, and now there is a war in the north. The Imperial Court cannot spare the effort to deal with the bandits in Shuoyang. These bandits will only become more rampant in the future! Therefore... the matter of training soldiers and eliminating bandits will require everyone’s utmost attention. This is not only to remove harm for the people but also for the nation! We must give our all!"

"We will give our all!" Magistrate Zhou was the first to respond.

Then, the Bai family members also echoed, pledging their full effort.

After the banquet, Steward Hao escorted the Governor, Magistrate Zhou, and the Bai family members on behalf of Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan sat by the window in Boyun Courtyard, carefully reading the letter from Shen Qingzhu. The contents were almost identical to what Lu Ping had told her, but Shen Qingzhu’s letter was more detailed. Shen Qingzhu also mentioned that she had already begun to evacuate the people.

Bai Jinzhi, after reading the letter over Bai Qingyan’s shoulder, frowned and asked: "Eldest Young Lady, can General Zhang Duanrui win this battle?"

Bai Qingyan did not respond immediately. After a long pause, she moved the glass lamp cover aside and ignited the letter in her hand. The bluish flame gradually consumed the paper. After watching it burn to ashes, she finally spoke: "I’m afraid he cannot win."

General Zhang Duanrui was talented, but he worried too much. With Jin’s forces exhausted in the southern campaign, General Zhang was being cautious and did not dare to fully engage against Daliang.

Meanwhile, the Daliang Commander Xun Tianzhang was infamous for his ruthless methods in warfare. He feared nothing and cared only for victory, regardless of the soldiers’ lives.

In a standoff, the one who fears death will lose.

This foretold that General Zhang Duanrui, who had reservations, could not win against Xun Tianzhang.

Bai Jinzhi felt uneasy hearing this. Even though she knew that if General Zhang Duanrui lost, the Emperor might send her eldest sister to the front, she still did not want General Zhang to lose.

Besides family ties, the strongest bond in the world was forged in shared battle and death.

Bai Jinzhi had fought bravely alongside General Zhang Duanrui in the southern campaign, creating an unusual camaraderie.

"If Eldest Young Lady goes to war, can you win?" Bai Jinzhi humbly asked.

"Xun Tianzhang has always been indifferent to his soldiers’ lives. This test at Chunmu Mountain proves it. He knew those soldiers would die but did not care, using their lives to verify his assumptions. To Xun Tianzhang, such a trade is very worthwhile!" Bai Qingyan tapped her fingers on the table rhythmically. "Given Xun Tianzhang’s disregard for his soldiers, Jin must defeat them by dividing and conquering. There is a saying about the gradual eating away, which is precisely what we should do."

Bai Jinzhi eagerly asked: "Can you hint to General Zhang Duanrui how to win against Xun Tianzhang?"

Bai Qingyan stared at the flickering candle flame and nodded: "I intend to do so."

If General Zhang won the battle against Daliang, she wouldn’t need to go to Chunmu Mountain herself.

This would also make the training of Shuoyang’s soldiers more secure.

"Since this is Eldest Young Lady’s plan, why don’t I go to Chunmu Mountain and tell General Zhang Duanrui in person?" Bai Jinzhi suggested enthusiastically.

Bai Qingyan raised her eyes and shook her head at Bai Jinzhi: "If you leave Shuoyang, the news will reach the Imperial City in Dadu. By then, whether it’s the Emperor or the Crown Prince, they will think that I sent you to Chunmu Mountain because I have doubts about the Bai family. This would delay our training efforts and impact the overall plan."

Bai Jinzhi nodded and sat quietly.

Bai Qingyan instructed Lu Ping to send reliable people to Chunmu Mountain, to find General Zhang Duanrui, and ensure he was informed of the strategy to defeat Xun Tianzhang. They were to stay in Chunmu Mountain and observe the situation. If the battle could not be won, they would assist Shen Qingzhu in evacuating the people ahead of time.

Bai Qingyan managed to remain calm in Shuoyang. But in Dadu’s Imperial Palace, the Emperor was furious upon receiving the news of the large-scale battle. He had not expected Daliang to be so bold and determined to wage war against the Jin Kingdom.

"Despicable! Despicable!" The Emperor angrily threw his tea cup.

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