Chapter 1085: 1079: Dilemma

Chapter 1085: Chapter 1079: Dilemma

Cheng Yuanzhi’s loud voice faintly reached Li Tianfu’s ears, and Li Tianfu was utterly humiliated. He shouted, “Will you Zhou people release the person or not?! If not… it means declaring war on Xiliang and Tianfeng Kingdom. Now that the Elephant Army is at your gates, are you really going to ignore the lives of your Zhou people, just to protect a foreign traitor?!”

Upon hearing this, Sima Ping raised his eyebrows, feeling that this spoiled Princess of Xiliang wasn’t as brainless as the rumors suggested. He chuckled softly, “Such words are quite damning…”

“What?” Lu Yuanpeng turned back to look at Sima Ping.

Sima Ping raised his hand and pushed Lu Yuanpeng’s head back, instructing him to focus on the outside of the city walls, “You just keep an eye on those Elephant Troops and think of how to deal with them, that would be a great merit!”

As soon as Sima Ping finished speaking, they heard a repeated call of “Your Majesty” from the staircase of the city wall. Shen Kunyang and Cheng Yuanzhi quickly turned to greet the entrance of the city wall.

“Young General Bai! Fifth Young Master!” Cheng Yuanzhi exclaimed nervously, then remembered they were outside and quickly said, “Why have Your Majesty and Fifth Young Master come! With such a wind and snow, it’s enough having us here!”

“Indeed…” Shen Kunyang, worried about Bai Qingyan’s health, and due to Bai Qingyan being under his command in the past, spoke up, “Your Majesty, now that you’re in a delicate condition, you should be more prudent. It’s too chaotic here. What if a fight breaks out and harms Your Majesty? Fifth Young Master… it’s better to escort Your Majesty back first.”

“No worries, Uncle Shen. A fight won’t break out.” Bai Qingyan inquired, “Have they stated their purpose?”

“Your Majesty, it’s that Xiliang Princess Li Tianfu. She claims to be here for the Xiliang traitor Li Zhijie…” Lu Yuanpeng quickly squeezed to Bai Qingyan’s side and reported.

“Li Zhijie really knows how to cause trouble!” Bai Qingyan turned and instructed the Bai family’s guard beside him, “Go inform Li Zhijie and let him see the trouble he’s brought upon Zhou!”

A cold smile formed on Bai Qingyan’s lips, though his anger remained unabated. Capturing the Xiliang traitor… involved surrounding Xiaosi and Qingzhu. If it weren’t for the Bai family guards fighting desperately to protect them, Xiaosi and Qingzhu would likely have fallen into Li Tianfu’s hands by now.

“Cheng Yuanzhi!”

“At your command!” Cheng Yuanzhi clasped his fists.

Bai Qingyan gazed coldly at the snow-filled sky and said in a clear voice, “Immediately exit from the East Gate with fifteen thousand Bai family troops. Circle behind the Xiliang army and Tianfeng Kingdom’s forces. If a fight really breaks out, make sure they can’t return, lest they think Zhou is an easy target! Be swift!”

“I obey!” Cheng Yuanzhi accepted the command and rushed downstairs with Sima Ping and Lu Yuanpeng.

Bai Qingyan noticed Wang Qiulu, who was about to leave with Cheng Yuanzhi, and said, “Wang Qiulu, take six thousand troops out from the West Gate immediately. Do not hesitate to strike. Those who dare to come to siege Pingyang City today… shouldn’t think they can leave alive!”

Wang Qiulu paused, turned around, and looked at Bai Qingyan in disbelief…

Long ago, when Wang Qiulu rebelled with the King Xian of Nandu, it was a crime punishable by death. His father, Wang Jianghai, used the Bai family’s Fourth Master’s Jade Pendant to deceive Bai Qingyan into going to the prison, begging Bai Qingyan to save his life. Later… he remembered his father’s words to recognize Bai Qingyan as his master. Wang Qiulu helped the Bai family in front of the Crown Prince, and Bai Qingyan indeed saved him from prison, sending him to the Bai family army in the southern frontier.

He thought, with the stain of his past, that if he could hold a mediocre position in the Bai family army for his lifetime, it would be the end of it. He never expected Bai Qingyan to allow him to lead troops independently.

“What are you dawdling for? Go!”

Wang Qiulu’s eyes reddened, “Thank you for your trust, Master. Wang Qiulu will do his utmost!”

“A Yu…” she then looked at Bai Qingyu.

“Bai Qingyu understands!” Bai Qingyu responded with fists clasped, “I will surely lead the Rong army to attack their eastern flank with the utmost speed.”

Bai Qingyan squeezed Bai Qingyu’s arm tightly, warned him to be cautious, and then braved the snow to climb up the tower, fixing his gaze on the giant elephants beneath the city wall.

“Your Majesty!” Shen Qingzhu, seeing Bai Qingyan arrived, leaped down from the city wall, supporting Bai Qingyan as they walked. He said, “The armor on these elephants is incredibly tough; arrows can’t penetrate it at all!”

Seeing the scars and bloodstains on Shen Qingzhu’s face, Bai Qingyan pursed his lips in silence.

Of course, Tianfeng Kingdom possesses ink powder that can render weapons indestructible. The Elephant Army is extremely important to Tianfeng, so naturally, they would use the ink powder to create armor for the elephants.

The Xiliang army and Tianfeng army held torches high, the flames flickering chaotically in the blizzard. With the help of the firelight, Bai Qingyan could barely discern the giant elephants of Tianfeng Kingdom.

Perhaps due to the formation of the Elephant Army, these elephants from Tianfeng were noticeably more robust than those from Daliang, with larger bodies. Once draped with fur and armored… the elephants appeared even more daunting, inducing awe.

Such an Elephant Army, if met on the battlefield, standing there… would be enough to cast an overwhelming pressure on the opponent.

Seated on the back of an elephant, Li Tianfu saw Bai Qingyan already heading towards the middle of the city wall, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, “Bai Qingyan, hand over Li Zhijie! Otherwise… war will commence!”

Bai Qingyan ignored Li Tianfu’s shouting, and instead instructed Shen Qingzhu, “Have the crossbow division prepare, discreetly ascend the city wall. Arrows ready with flames, and when ordered… don’t hesitate to shoot the eyes of those elephants for me!”

“Yes!” Shen Qingzhu accepted the order and turned to run below the city wall.

The general from Tianfeng Kingdom, who accompanied the Elephant Army and heard Li Tianfu’s words, displeased due to prior agreements, turned to Li Tianfu and said, “Our Monarch sent the Elephant Army with you only to reclaim the Xiliang traitor. He never mentioned declaring war on Zhou.”

“Shut up!” Li Tianfu glared at the general of Tianfeng Kingdom, “On the road just now, your Elephant Army nearly took the life of the Zhou Empress’ younger sister, the Lord of Gaoyi. Now you want to clear relations… it’s too late!”

The general of Tianfeng Kingdom, hearing this, immediately glared at Li Tianfu. She hadn’t mentioned prior that among the captured was the Zhou Empress’ sister, the Lord of Gaoyi!

The general of Tianfeng Kingdom looked up at the city wall, seeing only Bai Qingyan’s calm expression, he quickly pounded his chest in salute, shouting, “Respected Empress of Zhou, I serve as a commander under the Monarch of Tianfeng Kingdom. Under my king’s orders, I am accompanying the Empress of Xiliang to reclaim the Xiliang traitor who fled into Pingyang City. I beg Your Majesty to hand over the Xiliang traitor to save us from embarrassment!”