Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 559 - 556: Trust in Life and Death_1

Chapter 559: Chapter 556: Trust in Life and Death_1

Dong Changlan clasped his fists and said, "Father, rest assured. Your son understands."

Dong Qingyue clenched his fist and lightly pressed it on the table, looking at Bai Qingyan and Dong Changlan. "Kid, from today onwards, the Dong family will act as the Bai family does, fighting to bring peace to the land and end the chaos in the world. From your grandmother, to your cousin, we entrust our lives to the Bai family."

Bai Qingyan’s eyes welled up with heat and determination. "We conspire for a great cause, sharing fortune and misfortune together. We must not fail."

"Dong Changlan, for this life, follows the lead of my cousin." Dong Changlan clasped his fists towards Bai Qingyan. "Changlan firmly believes that my cousin can lead us to see the day of peace and tranquility. For this, Changlan fears no death."

The blood of the Dong family was still hot. Born in this chaotic world, who wouldn’t want to end the strife and see the day when the land is unified again? Who wouldn’t want their names to be etched in history and their great achievements to be remembered for generations?

The Dong family acted in Dengzhou according to the original plan. Apart from knowing in their hearts that the masked general of Nanrong was Bai Qingyu, everything else remained unchanged. This was to guard against the possibility that Bai Qingyu might not be able to fully control Nanrong and also to be prepared in case something happened to him.

On the night of August 24th, some citizens of Dengzhou saw the city gates open and supply wagons leaving the city. The next day, discussions in the city were heated.

For three consecutive nights, carriages and horses left the Dong Mansion late at night. Rumors spread that Dong Qingyue had received news that the Rong planned to attack the city with their full might, thus he packed up the valuables of the Dong Mansion and prepared to flee, intending to abandon the city.

Some citizens, sensing the danger, also started gathering and packing up their valuables. If the Rong really attacked, they could flee earlier.

On the night of August 27th, Dong Changmao, who was sent by Dong Qingyue to scout the Nanrong military situation, hurried back into the city and went straight to the Dong Mansion.

The officials of Dengzhou City were summoned overnight. Dong Qingyue informed them that Dong Changmao had discovered that the Nanrong forces were indeed planning to attack Dengzhou with their full might. This situation was just as Dong Changmao had predicted, and the officials of Dengzhou believed it.

Dong Qingyue straightforwardly said that the soldiers of the Dengzhou Army had already been discontented due to the Emperor withholding their pay to repair the palace. If they fought in such a state, their morale would be unstable, and they might not win. To prevent the citizens of Dengzhou from suffering a massacre in case of a defeat, he suggested that the Dengzhou Army should first escort the officials’ families out of the city, and then evacuate the citizens, leaving the soldiers and generals to defend the city.

The officials all agreed. After all, who wasn’t afraid of the Nanrong army breaking into the city and slaughtering everyone, including their own families?

Early on the morning of August 28th, some early-rising citizens of Dengzhou saw chaos on the street where the officials lived. From one end to the other, there were carriages parked in front of the high red doors of the mansions. Family members were holding valuables as they got on the carriages, and other goods were piled high on wagons, covered with tarps and tied tightly with sturdy hemp ropes. Under the escort of armed Dengzhou Army guards, they left the city one by one.

As the officials’ families left, the citizens became more anxious. Some cursed under their breath while others hurried home to pack their belongings and follow the officials’ families out of the city.

Some even began to curse Dong Qingyue, claiming he intended to abandon the city and disregard the welfare of the citizens.

When someone went to investigate, it was heard that the Dong Mansion’s valuables were the first to be taken away and that the Dong family’s women had also left Dengzhou early. Now, only Madam Dong remained, and Dong Qingyue, Dong Changlan, and Dong Changmao were still in the city.

That afternoon, after all the officials’ families had evacuated the city, Dong Qingyue stood on the Bell and Drum Tower, beating the drum to gather the citizens.

Upon seeing Dong Qingyue, the furious citizens disregarded etiquette and loudly questioned, "Lord Dong, we hear that the Rong are going to attack the city. The officials and their families have already left! Are you planning to abandon us citizens of Dengzhou?"

As soon as the question was asked, an elm carriage bearing the Dong Mansion crest slowly stopped at the city gate. Bai Qingyan supported Madam Dong as she got off the carriage.

Madam Dong, leaning on an ebony cane, stood on the carriage with piercing eyes and a voice like a bell, loudly declaring, "My Dong family has guarded the border city of Dengzhou for generations, never abandoning the city or its people. We have never done so in the past and will not do so in the future!"

Bai Qingyan helped Madam Dong down from the carriage. Madam Dong’s sharp gaze swept over the citizens gathered below the tower. Standing tall with one hand on her ebony cane and the other on Bai Qingyan’s hand, she walked toward the Bell and Drum Tower.

The crowd watched as Madam Dong, dressed in her formal court lady attire, with meticulously combed silver hair and a tightly held expression, showed signs of her age that no amount of powder could hide. Nonetheless, her posture was upright and dignified, exuding an aura of decisiveness and authority.

Dong Qingyue, with Dong Changlan and Dong Changmao, personally descended from the tower to welcome Madam Dong. But she waved them away, standing before the citizens and speaking loudly, "Since June, my son Dong Qingyue has sent over a dozen memorials to the Emperor, warning that Nanrong might attack Dengzhou with their full force this year and asking the Emperor to prepare troops for support. Not only did the Emperor ignore these warnings, but he also withheld the Dengzhou Army’s pay to repair his palace!"

Hearing Madam Dong’s old but powerful voice, the citizens gradually gathered towards her.

"The Emperor may abandon us citizens of Dengzhou, but the Dong family will not! The Dengzhou Army will not! Hence, my son had to make it seem as if we received news and were the first to leave the city. He ordered the Dengzhou Army to set up camps outside the city, so that after evacuating, the citizens would have a place to stay and wouldn’t become refugees!"

"Then why did the officials and their families leave first? Madam Dong, are you deceiving us ignorant people?" someone loudly questioned.

Madam Dong looked towards the direction of the voice and replied, "There are Imperial Court spies among the officials of Dengzhou. Escorting them with the Dengzhou Army was also to monitor them. It was to prevent anyone from informing the Emperor prematurely, who might then claim that my son was causing panic among the people and seize his military power, leaving no one to protect the citizens of Dengzhou! Only by moving them out first and containing them could the Dong family dare to speak the truth to all of you!"

Handing her cane to Bai Qingyan, Madam Dong stepped forward, saying, "Fellow neighbors, the Dong family has defended Dengzhou City for generations. Can anyone claim that the Dong family has ever abandoned the city and fled? Has there ever been a single Dong family member who disregarded the lives of the citizens? The Dong family has always been supported by the people of Dengzhou and has always protected the people of Dengzhou for generations!"

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