Chapter 186: Chapter 184: Heaven Has Eyes_1
But after calming down, Qin Shangzhi couldnât help but feel that at that time, he was merely shocked by what Bai Qingyan said and acted impulsively.
In this world, itâs extremely difficult for women to stand out, especially since he was already over forty. The Bai family in Dadu City was walking on thin ice. He thought he might not live to see the day when Bai Qingyan could bear the banner of the Bai family army, the day when Bai Qingyan had grown enough to join him in supporting the people of Jin!
So, after he met the Crown Prince, he chose to follow him.
Unexpectedly, in just a few short days⊠Bai Qingyan really came to the Southern Region as she said she would, to bear the Bai family armyâs banner!
Regret!
He regretted underestimating that Bai family eldest daughter who was as capable as any man.
But he was a scholar, a counselor!
Counselors valued loyalty and integrity. Once they chose a master, they would never serve another. Otherwise, their reputation would be ridiculed by the world!
He couldnât live without the integrity a counselor should have!
Although he couldnât join hands with Bai Qingyan like he promised on Shili Slope, he was willing to risk his life to ensure Bai Qingyanâs safety on this trip to the Southern Region.
·
Wengcheng had just received news of a great victory in Wengshan Canyon!
The three Bai family generals who were recuperating in Wengcheng were shocked to hear that Young General Bai Qingyan had come, leading the victorious Bai family army back to Wengcheng.
Wei Zhaonian, Gu Wenchang, Shen Kunyang, all old hands in the army, knew how seriously Bai Qingyan had been injured back then. She had fallen into the raging river with an abdominal wound in the depth of winter. They all thought her survival was Heavenâs blessing. They had also lamented over Young General Bai losing her martial prowess.
But now, how could Young General Bai have returned?!
How could she go to the battlefield if she lost her martial prowess?!
Did Cheng Yuanzhi protect Young General Bai well in this battle? Did Young General Bai get injured?!
The recuperating Bai family soldiers climbed the city walls to look into the distance.
Leaning on crutches and using fine cotton cloth to bind their wounds, they saw a large troop approaching swiftly with black sails and white dragon flags held high. Someone excitedly shouted, âTheyâre back! Theyâre back! Our Bai family army is back!â
The city walls of Wengcheng burst into excitement, with shouts of âThe Bai family army is back!â echoing everywhere.
Leaning on crutches, Gu Wenchang suppressed his excitement and gently asked Wei Zhaonian, who had lost one eye and was wearing a white robe, âDo you see Young General Bai?!â
Before Wei Zhaonian could answer, Shen Kunyang pointed into the distance and shouted, âLook! Is that Young General Bai, the figure at the front holding a silver spear?!â
As the fast horses approached, Gu Wenchang and Shen Kunyang clearly saw Bai Qingyan riding at the front of the troop, and even Wei Zhaonian, with only one eye remaining, recognized her.
Wei Zhaonian bit his lip hard, his eyes reddening and his breath quickening.
He thought that with all the Bai family generals dead, the Bai family army would no longer be the Bai family army. He feared that this last ten thousand strong Bai family army would also be wiped out in the Southern Region.
He thought that not stopping Cheng Yuanzhi from taking the ten thousand Bai family soldiers out of the city to rescue the five thousand reinforcements sent by the Imperial Court would mark this day as the Bai family armyâs memorial day. He thought⊠that from that day on, the Bai family army would cease to exist!
But Young General Bai silently arrived and, after winning the battle⊠brought those ten thousand Bai family soldiers back!
Wei Zhaonianâs emotions surged, and he finally believed that the five thousand reinforcements had indeed defeated Yun Poxingâs tens of thousands of troops. The eldest granddaughter of the Duke of Zhen, Bai Qingyan, was indeed a naturally gifted commander, always with a flawless plan.
Wei Zhaonian looked up at the star-filled sky, biting his lip hardâŠ
Heaven is just, not forsaking their Bai family army!
It was the Marshal, the Vice Commander, and the Bai family generals, along with the deceased Bai family soldiers, who blessed this ten thousand strong remnant, summoning Young General Bai to them!
âItâs really Young General Bai! Quickly! Follow me out of the city to welcome Young General Bai!â Gu Wenchang, with tears streaming down his face, shouted excitedly while hobbling down the city wall on his crutches.
Shen Kunyang and Wei Zhaonian hurriedly followed behind Gu Wenchang down the city wall.
The heavy city gate, marked with axe scars, slowly opened. The ground was littered with wood chips and blood, remnants of the Xiliang armyâs attack. The soldiers of Wengcheng had only cleared away the bodies, fearful of a surprise return attack, so they hadnât yet removed these traces.
Gu Wenchang, Wei Zhaonian, and Shen Kunyang, leading the injured Bai family soldiers, stood at the front end of the moat drawbridge. They watched the warhorses rushing through the night, like tiny lights in the darkness, no matter how weak, they inspired hope.
âEldest Young Lady! There are people ahead!â Bai Jinzhi pointed at the faint silhouettes of hundreds of people before the drawbridge.
âThatâs Old Shen and the others!â Cheng Yuanzhi raised his hand, signaling the galloping team to slow down.
Bai Qingyan reined in her horse quickly at the drawbridge before Wengcheng. Seeing the injured Bai family soldiers in front of her, all wearing mourning cloths, her eyes stung with tears.
She dismounted, choked with emotion. Before she could speak, the bearded Shen Kunyang called out âYoung General Bai,â and the injured soldiers of the Bai family kneeled on one knee with their fists clasped.
âUncle Gu, Uncle Shen, General Wei, Qingyan is late!â Bai Qingyan, eyes brimming with tears, knelt and bowed to the three generals.
âNot late! Not late!â Shen Kunyang, emotionally stirred, hurried forward to help Bai Qingyan up. Seeing the dried blood on Bai Qingyanâs shoulder, he widened his eyes to hold back tears and choked, âYoung General Bai, are you still afraid of the cold? Have your martial skills returned? Are you badly injured in this battle?â
Shen Kunyang had watched Bai Qingyan grow up in the military camp. When she first joined, she was under his command. Back then, she was a prodigious and proud youth, wielding a bow and a red-tasseled silver spear, daring to challenge all the fierce soldiers under Shen Kunyangâs command until she defeated even Shen Kunyang himself, earning a position at the front.
In Shen Kunyangâs eyes, Bai Qingyan was not only Young General Bai but also a junior he had watched grow up.
âFourth sister!â She turned and called to Bai Jinzhi.
Bai Jinzhi responded and ran towards her.
âThis is my fourth sister, my third uncleâs daughter Bai Jinzhi!â Bai Qingyan introduced Bai Jinzhi to Shen Kunyang and the others.
Bai Jinzhi cheerfully clasped her fists and greeted, âBai Jinzhi, greetings to the three elders!â
Shen Kunyang, Wei Zhaonian, and Gu Wenchang hurriedly returned the salute to Bai Jinzhi.
âFourth Young Lady!â Shen Kunyang, eyes red, looked at Bai Jinzhi. âThe Marshal always said that the Fourth Young Lady was the most like him in his younger days! Weâve always longed to see the Fourth Young Lady. Today, we finally met!â
As he spoke, Shen Kunyangâs voice weakened, feeling deeply distressed, âBut who would have thought⊠it would be under such circumstances.â
Bai Jinzhiâs eyes also turned red, her fists clenched tightly by her side. Did Grandfather really think she was the most like him in his younger days?!
âDonât talk here! Letâs go back to Wengcheng first!â Gu Wenchang held back his sobs, looking at the various injured Bai family soldiers in the distance. âThe soldiers need to tend to their wounds! Young General Bai as well! Weâll talk after treating the wounds.â