Chapter 531 - 531 528 Staying Out of It_1

Chapter 531: Chapter 528: Staying Out of It_1 Chapter 531: Chapter 528: Staying Out of It_1 Bai Qingyan thought for a moment, then spoke candidly to Dong Qingyue: “Uncle, I’m sure Changlan has already told you the real reason behind our military training in Shuoyang.”

Dong Qingyue looked into his niece’s deep, sharp eyes and nodded.

She continued unhurriedly: “Uncle, have you heard about the Wang family’s case in Jiuqu Alley, in Dadu City?”

Dong Qingyue nodded and slightly adjusted his posture: “I have heard a bit. People are saying that the crimes committed by Wang Xiangshen do not justify the entire family taking their lives in prison out of guilt.”

Bai Qingyan looked at Dong Qingyue and said, “The Emperor is foolish, and King Liang, to satisfy the Emperor’s desire for an immortality elixir, made the elixir using the lives of children. To cover up for King Liang, the Emperor eliminated Wang Xiangshen’s entire family in prison, then sent the corpses of the children from King Liang’s residence to the Wang estate. Although handling the case in such a crude manner was unreasonable, the Emperor still did it, disposing of the case swiftly. Uncle, such an Imperial Family and such an Imperial Court are doomed.”

Dong Qingyue’s pupils trembled, and he straightened his back while looking at Bai Qingyan, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes: “But the Crown Prince seems to be…”

“Uncle, the Crown Prince is no different!” Bai Qingyan stared firmly at Dong Qingyue. “Before the Emperor ascended to the throne, wasn’t he just like the Crown Prince is now? After becoming the Emperor, our grandfather was still around to keep him in check, but now that grandfather is gone, the Emperor’s true nature is gradually revealing itself—stubborn, paranoid, lacking the magnanimity and perspective of a ruler. He doesn’t think of expanding the territory or enriching the kingdom; he only seeks immediate pleasure, treating the people like weeds. Now in the court, everyone follows his lead, currying favor to gain power and profit. This court is rotten to the core; it’s decayed from within. How can it not perish?”

Dong Qingyue frowned, lowered his gaze, and rubbed his thumb and forefinger together in contemplation.

Seeing her uncle waver, Bai Qingyan stood up and bowed to Dong Qingyue: “To save the Jin Kingdom, the country must undergo a blood renewal and pass the imperial power to a capable ruler. Only then can this decaying, corrupted Jin Kingdom be saved. Uncle, you trained with the Bai Family Army. You must know that the original intention of establishing the Bai Family Army was for the people—to quell internal turmoils and external wars! To protect and serve the people… these four words are the soul of our Bai Family Army! Now that the Imperial Family treats the people as weeds, pursuing immortality out of selfish desires and slaughtering innocent children at will, the people are the foundation of the nation, and children are the future of the country!”

As their eyes met, Bai Qingyan’s gaze was resolute: “The foolish Emperor harms the country and the people. How can we, who live off the people’s taxes in the Jin Kingdom, stand idly by? Even if, Uncle, you believe the Crown Prince is still capable, you should prepare early! Now, the Yan Kingdom is taking advantage of Beirong’s plea for help and has stationed troops there, gaining Beirong’s natural pastures! Uncle should also take the opportunity to gradually encroach on Nanrong. Otherwise, if Yan succeeds in the future, our Jin Kingdom will be attacked from both sides by Yan and be in grave danger!”

Dong Changlan, upon hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, realized that his cousin was revealing their family’s true intentions today. Astonished by Bai Qingyan’s far-sightedness, he looked at her calm, composed demeanor.

“So, the bandit problem in Shuoyang… it’s actually your people? You’re training civilians in Shuoyang as soldiers to have an army ready one day?” Dong Qingyue looked at his niece, adjusted his posture uncomfortably, and sighed deeply: “But Kid, overthrowing the Lin Family’s imperial power and causing chaos in Jin Kingdom… who will sit on the throne then? It’s easy to start a rebellion, but sustaining peace is difficult. How can you guarantee that, after you take action, there will be no one with wild ambitions for the throne, causing more suffering for the people?”

“Uncle… Kid does not seek mere peace for Jin Kingdom, nor have I ever forgotten the grand aspirations of our Bai family ancestors for even a single day. Our ancestors’ dream is to bring everlasting peace to the world. What I seek is the unification of the world, to achieve an era of peace and prosperity. This is a mission I will pursue until death!”

Bai Qingyan’s words suddenly made Dong Qingyue think of King of Zhen, Bai Weiting, and Duke of Zhen, Bai Qishan. His eyes became moist and reddened.

King of Zhen, Bai Weiting’s courtesy name was “Unyielding.”

The aspiration was to deliver peace to the people and establish a world of tranquility, steadfastly until death.

This was the origin of King of Zhen, Bai Weiting’s courtesy name.

Having trained in the Bai Family Army, how could Dong Qingyue not understand the Bai family’s ambition and vision?

Dong Qingyue raised his eyes and looked at Bai Qingyan: “So, the Bai Family Army stationed in the Southern Border is to prepare for the future. The training in Shuoyang is also for future preparations. Now… you want Uncle to take control of Nanrong? To prepare for future resistance against Yan.”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Changlan should have talked to you after returning to Dengzhou, and Uncle, you know that this year’s threat from Nanrong will be more intense than ever! For the safety of the people, why not evacuate the citizens in advance, abandoning the city and requesting aid from the Emperor? Kid thinks, Uncle, you might as well make an extravagant demand, using the funds obtained from the Emperor to train your own cavalry on the natural pastures in the Southern Border.”

Dong Changlan forcefully tapped the table with his finger, looking up at his father, Dong Qingyue: “Father, your son believes that Cousin’s plan is feasible.”

“Uncle, even if not for the unification of the world, to protect the people of Dengzhou before you, you should evacuate the citizens after the autumn harvest. Otherwise, following imperial orders blindly, when the Rong invades the city, only the people will suffer. The Emperor, thousands of miles away, will not be affected, and he might even place the blame on you, just as he falsely accused my grandfather of being obstinate in military use in the past.” Bai Qingyan said solemnly to Dong Qingyue.

Thinking of how King Xin had falsely accused King of Zhen, Bai Weiting, of obstinacy in military strategy, Dong Qingyue felt an uncontrollable fury and nodded: “Kid, I understand the evacuation of the people.”

Dong Qingyue lowered his eyes after speaking, then raised his sharp eyes to look at Bai Qingyan, and asked: “Tell me… how do you plan to encroach on Nanrong?”

This indicated that Uncle had agreed with Bai Qingyan’s plan.

“When Nanrong invades this time, Uncle, you will retreat… report to the Emperor that supplies are insufficient, soldiers are unwilling to fight, and retreat step by step, requesting supplies and funds from the Emperor. If he refuses… retreat another city! The Emperor will be pained by the loss of cities and lands. Once the supplies and funds are in place, Uncle can counterattack, sending trustworthy individuals, such as Cousin Changlan, deep into Nanrong territory. Meanwhile, Uncle can request the court to station troops in Nanrong to train cavalry. If the Emperor agrees… Cousin Changlan can remain in Nanrong to control the situation as much as possible before any appointed officials from the court arrive. Supplies can then be requested continuously from the court!”

Dong Changlan understood Bai Qingyan’s words, gulping as he looked at his father, Dong Qingyue.