Chapter 207 - 207 205 Empress Ascends to the Throne_1

Chapter 207: Chapter 205: Empress Ascends to the Throne_1 Chapter 207: Chapter 205: Empress Ascends to the Throne_1 He decided to make a final desperate attempt. If he still lost, then it must be fate, and he would accept it without complaint.

But how many men to send, that’s the question!

Bai Qingyan was cunning, and the Bai family army consisted mainly of fierce warriors, especially the Huying Camp… Just thinking about it gave Yun Poxing chills.

But if he held back now and couldn’t kill Bai Qingyan, attacking the camp just to retrieve his son’s head would be a waste.

Yun Poxing made up his mind. After nightfall, when all was silent, he would lead half of the Xiliang army to attack the Jin army camp.

Since he planned to fight tonight after dark, the soldiers needed to eat their fill first.

But if smoke rose from the cooking fires, Bai Qingyan would surely notice the Xiliang Camp preparing food. Would she suspect anything more?

Probably not. She had been making verbal threats and conducting intimidation drills, so she must have been confident. Once the soldiers finished eating, he would act as if they were retreating home, making them take a route through Black Bear Mountain and Linggu Pass.

This would make Bai Qingyan think he had surrendered and lower her guard.

Yun Poxing didn’t hesitate any longer. He ordered the preparations for cooking immediately.

In the Jin army camp, smoke rose from their fires as well. Wei Zhaonian stood with Bai Qingyan at the entrance of the command tent, looking at the rising smoke across the Jinghe River, and remarked with a half-smile, “It looks like Yun Poxing really plans to attack tonight!”

Bai Qingyan had already received news that chaos had erupted in the Xiliang capital, Yunjing, and the Empress of Xiliang had ascended to the throne.

Yun Poxing was a seasoned commander. He would surely know that the smoke would alert her to the Xiliang army’s movements. She guessed that Yun Poxing intended to have the soldiers eat their fill and then pretend to retreat, taking a roundabout route through Black Bear Mountain and Linggu Pass to launch a surprise attack on the Jin army camp.

She glanced up at the head of Yun Poxing’s son, which hung high above. Since Yun Poxing planned to act openly, she would take the opportunity to openly send troops to set an ambush at Linggu Pass. This would prevent a head-on clash between their forces at Linggu Pass or Black Bear Mountain… They didn’t have as many soldiers as Xiliang.

The oil in the camp fires was originally meant for the Xiliang forces attacking the camp. Since they wouldn’t be coming, they could use it for the Xiliang army on the other side instead.

The camp seizure and killing tactics she had drilled today could also be used in tonight’s camp attack, leaving the Xiliang army with no chance to fight back.

“Pass the order. After dinner, General Cheng Yuanzhi, General Zhang Duanrui, General Shi Panshan, lead forty thousand elite troops. With General Wei Zhaonian’s Bai family army, make it look like you’re retreating to Fengcheng. Generals Wei Zhaonian and Shi Panshan, take thirty thousand men and cross the river after nightfall, stealthily surrounding the Xiliang camp from the east and west, waiting for orders. Generals Cheng Yuanzhi and Zhang Duanrui, take ten thousand men and set an ambush at Linggu Pass. Kill the Xiliang army attacking the camp tonight at Linggu Pass!”

Wei Zhaonian was quite surprised: “But… it’s not dark yet. If Yun Poxing sees our army retreating…”

Wei Zhaonian stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing the plan.

Yes, letting Yun Poxing see the army retreat would only make him more determined to attack when he saw that Young General Bai was still here.

“Send someone to the Xiliang camp to return Yun Poxing’s son’s head!” Bai Qingyan instructed Xiao Ruojiang. “Tell Yun Poxing that with the chaos in Yunjing, he might not win this battle. This is my farewell gift to him.”

Xiao Ruojiang understood that Bai Qingyan wanted Yun Poxing to think she was arrogant and underestimated him, making him more confident in his attack.

“I will go personally!” Xiao Ruojiang said, clasping his fists.

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Bai Qingyan had just returned to her tent when someone called for Xiao Ruojiang, saying: “There’s a rider outside who wants to see Young General Bai. He seems to be delivering a letter!”

Xiao Ruojiang thought of the guard who had delivered a horse the other day and went to report to the command tent.

Another letter from Xiao Rongyan?

She nodded: “I understand! Prepare for your trip to the Xiliang camp.”

Bai Qingyan walked out of the camp and indeed saw Xiao Rongyan’s guard. The guard saw Bai Qingyan and respectfully saluted: “Miss Bai!”

The guard had ridden day and night to deliver the letter, hoping not to delay Xiao Rongyan’s business.

“Does your master have a letter?” Bai Qingyan asked.

“Indeed!” The guard quickly took the letter from his chest and handed it to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan opened it in front of the guard. It detailed his plan to capture Nanyan using Bai Qingyan’s strategy. In a casual tone, it mentioned that he had rescued a Jin soldier from the slave market.

He heard from the slave trader that the Jin soldier was saved from the Jinghe River, displaying exceptional demeanor and upbringing. He was likely from an aristocratic family of the Jin Kingdom. He had come to the battlefield to gain experience with his family elders but did not want to be sent back to the Jin Kingdom, not wishing to link his family’s name with his own gratitude. He gave himself a false name, Wang Qijue, and promised to do three things for his savior before leaving.

A rush of heat surged to Bai Qingyan’s head, and her hand holding the paper trembled involuntarily.

Wang… was her fourth aunt’s surname, and Ah Jue was Qilang. So he called himself Wang Qijue.

Ah Jue was alive!

He was alive!

Was he injured? Did he know the news of Dadu?

The question she wanted to ask about Ah Jue’s condition was swallowed back. She found herself unable to control the tears welling up in her eyes.

Not wanting Xiao Rongyan’s guard to learn too much, Bai Qingyan suppressed her sorrow and asked the guard: “Do you have a fire striker?”

The guard respectfully handed the fire striker to Bai Qingyan and watched her burn the letter. He then bowed and asked, “Anything Miss Bai wants me to convey to my master?”

Xiao Rongyan would have suspected Ah Jue’s identity to send such a letter…

She said, “Tell your master that Bai Qingyan is grateful.”

Although Xiao Rongyan’s guard did not understand what Bai Qingyan was thanking his master for, he assured her that he would relay the message.

Bai Qingyan didn’t say another word.

That letter was enough. Ultimately, nothing was more important than Ah Jue being alive.

Just as Xiao Si said, her fourth aunt would be overjoyed to know Ah Jue was alive. The pain brought by Xiaoshiqi’s death might be slightly alleviated.

This was probably the happiest news Bai Qingyan had heard since her rebirth.

Surely, her grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers in heaven had protected Ah Jue.

There was also Xiaojiu. She hoped that Xiaojiu could be as safe as Ah Jue.

Since Xiao Rongyan had written the letter, he would ensure Ah Jue’s safety, so Bai Qingyan was not worried.

At most, he would ask for some terms in the future.

Besides, Ah Jue had his own principles and backbone. He wanted to repay Xiao Rongyan. So, she would wait until Ah Jue had repaid his debt before bringing him back.

However, Ah Jue shouldn’t be left alone!