Chapter 206: Chapter 104: Bluffing Part 1 Chapter 206: Chapter 104: Bluffing Part 1 Just as Yun Poxingâs sonâs head still hung in the Jin Armyâs camp, he was likely always thinking of taking it back. What better opportunity than tonight?
Even if Yun Poxing had no such intention, he would likely develop one.
This was Bai Qingyanâs psychological attack!
Shen Liangyu had always been by Bai Qingyanâs side. Before long, Zhang Duanrui, Zhen Zeping, Shi Panshan, Wei Zhaonian, and Cheng Yuanzhi entered the tent together. Gu Wenchang and Shen Kunyang, one with a leg injury and the other with an arm injury, were left by Bai Qingyan to guard Tianmen Pass and Fengcheng, respectively.
âTonight, Yun Poxing will attack the camp; therefore, once night falls, General Cheng Yuanzhi and General Zhang Duanrui will lead five thousand elite soldiers to sneak attack Yun Poxingâs camp via Linggu Pass and Black Bear Mountain. General Zhen Zeping and I will lead five hundred soldiers as bait within the camp. General Wei Zhaonian will lead the Bai family army, and General Shi Panshan will lead the remaining forces to ambush the surroundings. We must ensure that the Xiliang army does not return!â
General Wei Zhaonian of the Bai family army needed no introduction. After the battle of Wengshan, the armies of Zhen Zeping, Zhang Duanrui, and Shi Panshan had immense trust in Bai Qingyan and naturally agreed unanimously.
âIsnât it too risky for General Bai to be the bait?â Zhen Zeping said. âI can stay behind alone!â
Bai Qingyan was somewhat surprised that Zhen Zeping would worry about her. She shook her head. âYun Poxing learns from his mistakes. This time, only if he is certain that I am here will he come.â
Bai Jinzhiâs heart raced, fearing that Bai Qingyan would send her away. She held tightly onto Bai Qingyanâs hand, determined to stay by Bai Qingyanâs side to protect her.
She glanced through the command tent door towards the south of the Jinghe, a hint of a smile in her eyes. âOrder the army to conduct a drill before the afternoon meal, focusing on⊠a camp raid!â
âHuh?â Zhen Zeping was a bit puzzled. âWhy?â
âTo make Yun Poxing think I am bluffing, trying to intimidate him!â Bai Qingyan said.
âI follow orders!â Wei Zhaonian said without hesitation, cupping his fists.
âI follow orders!â Zhang Duanrui also followed.
Although Zhen Zeping had many questions, he cupped his fists with Shi Panshan and followed orders.
After all, no one doubted Bai Qingyanâs capabilities.
Before the Jin army started cooking in the afternoon, the bugle sounded, and the war drums rolled.
The Xiliang army, like startled birds, anxiously grabbed their weapons. The Xiliang generals rushed out of their tents and, while gazing at the fluttering flags and swirling dust of the Jin army camp across the Jinghe, quickly headed for Yun Poxingâs command tent.
Seeing Yun Poxing already mounted on his warhorse, the Xiliang generals, faces pale, asked, âCommander?! Are the Jin army attacking?!â
âFull alert! Iâll go check!â Yun Poxing, heart filled with unease, gritted his teeth and shouted.
âIâll go with the Commander!â
Several generals mounted their horses and followed Yun Poxing, galloping towards the Jinghe.
The closer they got, the louder the battle cries from the Jin armyâs camp across the river.
Yun Poxing stood on the riverbank, his horse anxiously stamping its hooves.
He saw soldiers with the Bai family armyâs black banners and white manticore flags rush out from all directions across the river. The soldiers guarding Yun Poxing swiftly drew their swords to protect him.
âRetreat quickly! Be prepared for battle!â
Someone shouted, but Yun Poxing remained unmoved on his horse, frowning and staring across the river.
He saw the Bai family army directly charge into the camp.
Yun Poxing and the generals beside him realized that the Jin army was conducting an extensive military exercise across the river.
The other shore sounded with the thundering drums, deafening battle cries, swirling dust, and bugle calls piercing the skies.
Yun Poxing squinted, seeing only the fluttering battle flags in the Jin armyâs camp and his sonâs head swaying in the wind.
âWhat are the Jin army up to?! Stirring up such a ruckus with a drill to intimidate our Xiliang army, are they trying to tell us theyâre coming to seize the camp? RidiculousâŠâ A Xiliang general sheathed his sword, no longer tense, and was furious.
Yun Poxing raised his eyebrows and suddenly smiled. âYes, they⊠are indeed intimidating our Xiliang army!â
He guessed that after Bai Qingyan returned, the man beside her, who had beheaded his son, persuaded her. Bai Qingyan, realizing how reckless her intentions appeared, arranged this camp raid exercise to intimidate him.
This indicated that even Bai Qingyan was probably scared!
Otherwise, why create such a commotion to intimidate him instead of quietly lying in wait?
With this, Yun Poxingâs determination to raid the camp tonight only grew.
The drill ended. Bai Qingyan, clad in silver armor and a red cloak, ascended the high platform, raised her armâŠ
The tens of thousands of soldiers in the training ground immediately fell silent, looking solemnly at Bai Qingyan on the platform.
âTonight⊠is the final battle between our Jin army and Xiliang! Tonight, the brave men of Jin will crush the Xiliang invaders, making those who covet our Jin Kingdom never again underestimate our elite soldiers! Make them tremble at the mention of our Jin army for years to come!â Bai Qingyan cupped her fists, her expression stern. âEveryone, Bai Qingyan here thanks the elite soldiers of the nation for sacrificing their lives to protect the homeland. Thanks to the elite soldiers who fight fearlessly for the nation!â
Seeing the soldiersâ morale soaring, Zhang Duanrui immediately ordered wine for the breathless soldiers.
Bai Qingyan took the wine brought by Zhang Duanrui himself and raised it high to toast the soldiers. âUnited against the enemy, protect our mountains and rivers! Fight to the death, do not remove your armor!â
The soldiers, their blood boiling, shouted in unisonâŠ
âFight to the death! Do not remove your armor!â
âFight to the death! Do not remove your armor!â
âFight to the death! Do not remove your armor!â
The soldiersâ deafening roars shook the heavens and the earth, reverberating in everyoneâs ears.
·
Yun Poxing sat in the Xiliang command tent, looking at the Imperial Edict on the Commanderâs desk, his face grim.
Xiliang was in turmoil!
The Emperor of Xiliang had been assassinated. Although the palace kept it tightly under wraps, news had still leakedâŠ
The Emperor of Xiliang had no sons, only two daughters. Without time to issue an Imperial Edict specifying which royal brother would ascend the throne, the Third Prince couldnât wait and raised an army to force his way into the palace. The Empress decided to have the Emperorâs eldest daughter ascend as Empress. The Sixth Prince, in the Emperorâs name, issued an Imperial Edict stating the Empress was meddling in state affairs, ordering Yun Poxing to immediately withdraw to the capital, Yunjing, to help him retake the throne and restore the Imperial Familyâs lineage.
Yunjing was in chaos, and Yun Poxing had to return! But before leaving⊠he needed to kill Bai Qingyan first. Leaving her alive posed endless troubles, more worrying than Xiliangâs internal strife.
He looked down at the map, planning tonightâs sneak attack!
With limited food, this was his final desperate battle. If he lost againâŠ
He would no longer be able to suppress the peace envoy sent before the late Emperorâs incident!