Chapter 421 - 421 418 Worthy of the Name_1

Chapter 421: Chapter 418: Worthy of the Name_1 Chapter 421: Chapter 418: Worthy of the Name_1 　　As soon as they got out of the prison, Lin Kangle asked, “Is the Commandery Princess planning to lead the Zhao family’s forces from the Liang Kingdom here to rescue Zhao Tong?”

“No need to lead them. Today… they will surely take action. Are the construction blueprints of Longyang City still available?” Bai Qingyan asked Lin Kangle.

Lin Kangle nodded. “Once we entered the city, the county magistrate of Longyang City handed the blueprints to me. If the Commandery Princess needs them, I will dispatch someone to fetch them immediately. But, Commandery Princess… Zhao Tong is not the commander. Would the Zhao family’s forces really come to rescue Zhao Tong?”

“They surely will!” Bai Qingyan replied to Lin Kangle. “Zhao Tong is a member of the Zhao family. The Zhao family’s forces will spare no effort to rescue him!”

Just like the soldiers of the Bai family’s army would risk their lives to save a Bai family member in times of danger. It is the same logic.

“General Lin, please immediately send someone to deliver a challenge to the Liang Camp! I have arrived in Longyang City. Xun Tianzhang will certainly be suspicious about whether the Jin Kingdom’s reinforcements have arrived. Thus… Xun Tianzhang will certainly send people to probe the Jin Kingdom’s military strength in order to decide his next strategic movements. The Zhao family’s forces will also take this opportunity to request to go to Longyang City to gather information about our forces and rescue Zhao Tong.” Bai Qingyan instructed Lin Kangle.

“What if Xun Tianzhang accepts the battle? Our reinforcements have not arrived yet…” Lin Kangle hesitated.

“Although Xun Tianzhang is ruthless, he is cautious. He won’t rashly engage in battle without fully understanding the Jin Kingdom’s military strength!” Bai Qingyan said.

Judging by Xun Tianzhang sending Liang soldiers to probe the Jin Kingdom across Chunmu Mountain’s border, it was clear… Xun Tianzhang liked to have full control over the situation. Her appearance was an unexpected variable for Xun Tianzhang. He wouldn’t act hastily without understanding this variable.

Otherwise, Xun Tianzhang wouldn’t have formally declared war on the Jin Kingdom a few days after Zhang Duanrui sent back the corpses of Liang soldiers to the Liang Camp.

“General Lin, please tell me what information you have about the Liang army’s troop placements and where they have set up camp. Also, please arrange for my guards who came with me to be properly settled. They’ve been traveling day and night without rest and are quite fatigued!” Bai Qingyan said to Lin Kangle with a salute.

“Of course! Of course!” Lin Kangle responded quickly.

Since the Princess of Zhen arrived, capturing Zhao Tong in three moves and greatly boosting the Jin army’s morale, Lin Kangle, too, was filled with enthusiasm and was determined to follow Bai Qingyan’s orders.

·

Liang Camp.

Zhao Tong’s deputy returned to camp, quickly reporting the matter of Bai Qingyan appearing in Longyang City and capturing Zhao Tong in three moves to the main commander’s tent, causing an uproar among the generals.

Zhao Tong’s elder brother, Zhao Sheng, tightly gripped the hilt of his sword and raised his voice. “Impossible! My second brother, Zhao Tong, is one of our most valiant and formidable generals. You say that a woman named Bai Qingyan captured him in three moves?”

“That’s hard to say. She’s the granddaughter of Duke Bai Weiting, the one who personally beheaded Pang Pingguo. She shouldn’t be underestimated!” a Liang general said.

“And just a few months ago, in the battle at the southern border of the Jin Kingdom, this Bai Qingyan caused Yun Poxing to flee in panic, proving she is no ordinary person.”

“Although the previously rumored title of ‘God of Slaughter’ made us laugh, now it seems it might indeed be well-deserved. We have underestimated the women of the Bai family! Zhang Duanrui is dead. Could this mean that Bai Weiting’s granddaughter has been appointed as the new commander of the Jin army?”

“But the reinforcements from the Jin Kingdom seem to have arrived rather quickly! Could it be that this Princess of Zhen, Bai Qingyan, arrived ahead of the reinforcement forces by traveling non-stop day and night?” a suspicious Liang general asked.

Xun Tianzhang, who was sitting in the commander’s seat dressed in armor, had a somber expression. His temples were already gray, lips pale, but his authority remained undiminished. His eyes under thick brows were sharp, showing no signs of frailty.

After a moment of contemplation, Xun Tianzhang tried to stand. His son stepped forward to help, but Xun Tianzhang raised his hand to signal that he didn’t need assistance. With his bony hands on the table in front of him, he managed to stand up with effort and walked to the map of the Jin Kingdom hanging in the commander’s tent. All the generals followed him to the map.

Xun Tianzhang pointed to the border between the Jin Kingdom and the Rong. In a measured voice, he said, “It is possible that the Jin Kingdom moved troops stationed at the Anping Camp on the Rong border and had Princess of Zhen, Bai Qingyan, rush ahead without stopping to meet them. Or… it could be that the Princess of Zhen, concerned about her sister, separated from the reinforcement forces and came ahead of them.”

The Bai family was known for their strong familial bonds, something Xun Tianzhang understood well.

“But our scouts haven’t reported any reinforcement troops approaching. It’s impossible for thousands of soldiers to enter Longyang City quietly!” said a general in the tent.

As soon as the general finished speaking, a message from outside the tent was heard.

“Report… reporting to the commander, the Jin army has sent a challenge letter!”

Xun Tianzhang’s eyes narrowed, and he turned his head.

“Father, it seems the Jin Kingdom’s reinforcements have indeed arrived!” his son said.

Standing in front of the map, Xun Tianzhang received the challenge letter, opened it, and took a look. The Jin Kingdom’s wording was strong, entirely different from before.

He abruptly closed the bamboo slip and, after some thought, said, “Tonight, send people to scout. Capture one or two enemy soldiers to interrogate and confirm whether the Jin Kingdom’s reinforcements have arrived!”

Zhao Sheng quickly saluted. “Commander, allow the Zhao family’s forces to go! We can rescue my second brother, Zhao Tong, as well!”

Seeing the determination in Zhao Sheng’s eyes, Xun Tianzhang knew that even if he didn’t allow the Zhao family’s forces to go for the rescue, Zhao Sheng would still send men. And considering the Zhao family’s forces were the elite of the Liang army, the chances of success were higher. Fine… let the Zhao family’s forces go.

Xun Tianzhang nodded. “Remember, confirming the arrival of the reinforcements is the primary mission! Even if Zhao Tong remains in the Jin army’s hands, they won’t dare to kill him. When the Jin army seeks peace in the future, we can demand General Zhao Tong back. But the war situation must not be delayed!”

“I understand!” Zhao Sheng saluted.

Xun Tianzhang thought for a moment and added, “If the Zhao family’s forces infiltrate Longyang City, after confirming the situation, if they can find the Jin army’s granary, set it ablaze!”

As long as the Jin army’s supplies were burned, even if the reinforcements had arrived, Xun Tianzhang would dare to fight decisively, dividing his forces to attack the city from all sides.

They said the Bai family of the Jin Kingdom, a hundred-year general family, never produced weaklings. Xun Tianzhang dared not underestimate them.

In the Xiliang battle, Xun Tianzhang saw that the so-called Young General Bai, Bai Qingyan, despite her young age, was a military genius, courageous and wise. If he didn’t seize the chance to quickly win and kill her here before she completely grasped the situation of the Liang army, she would become the biggest variable in this battle. Not to mention, in the future, this woman would be just like Duke Bai Weiting, deterring Daliang from reclaiming its lost lands for a decade.

Zhao Sheng was stunned for a moment, then solemnly said, “I will not fail!”

“Tell the envoy who brought the message from the Jin army to relay to their new commander that we, the Liang army, won’t take advantage of the Jin army. Since their reinforcements have just arrived and are exhausted, I permit them to rest for a few days before resuming the battle!”