Feng Yao brought up hot tea, and Xiao Rongyan tapped the table beside him with his finger, signaling Feng Yao to set it down.
Xiao Rongyan was not angry with General Song. On the contrary, he signaled Yue Shi to stop talking, merely looking at General Song and shaking the hem of his garment, saying, "Since General Song is so loyal to His Majesty, you must be able to think of a way to achieve the best of both worlds. Otherwise... how can it be said to be wholehearted and unreserved loyalty to His Majesty, right... General Song!"
General Song, feeling choked by Xiao Rongyanâs words, was about to retort, but his throat seemed to be clutched when he met Xiao Rongyanâs gaze.
Xiao Rongyanâs fingers tapped the table casually: "Then... Iâll give General Song the time of an incense stick. If you canât think of anything, youâll be punished with fifty military sticks, which is considered lenient for General Song!"
After saying this, Xiao Rongyan hid the Yan hairpin in his hand, picked up the teacup, instructed someone to light an incense stick, and slowly blew on the hot tea in his cup.
Yue Shi looked at General Songâs distressing expression, feeling a bit relieved inside.
"Calm your anger, Prince!" a commander quickly pleaded for General Song, kneeling on one knee and cupping his fist, "General Songâs offense to the Prince indeed deserves severe punishment, but now is the time for manpower. General Song is the most valiant on the battlefield. Please, Prince, consider the fact that General Song was the first to break into the city and show some leniency, spare him this once!"
Xiao Rongyan laughed and said, "How can this be considered sparing? General Song claims to be loyal to His Majesty, and I am merely giving him a chance. If he comes up with a plan, it will be a great achievement... Regarding the offense against me, I certainly wonât hold it against him! But if General Song canât come up with anything..."
The smile at the corners of Xiao Rongyanâs lips grew colder, his eyes filled with terrifying murder: "In our Yan Army, if a commander cannot accomplish something himself but uses His Majestyâs name to impose burdens on me, thatâs one thing, but if he imposes them on subordinates... wouldnât the subordinates be forced to death if they couldnât manage? I, Rong Yan, donât want such a general even if he were a war god. If General Song really canât come up with anything, after the fifty military sticks, if he survives, let him roll back to Yan Capital as far as Iâm concerned!"
General Songâs face turned red with anger: "The princeâs actions inevitably have the intent of sidelining His Majestyâs influence in the military!"
These words were severe, and all the generals present in the army looked visibly uncomfortable.
"General Song, what are you saying!" A commander who was friendly with General Song quickly rebuked and knelt, pleading, "Please, Prince, overlook General Songâs errors; he spoke out of anger and irrationality!"
"What, you think my request for you to come up with this dual-benefit plan is to sideline His Majestyâs influence in the military, or do you believe... that you represent His Majesty in the military?" Xiao Rongyan chuckled lowly, giving a chilling smile, "General Song, you should be glad I still recognize your loyalty to His Majesty, otherwise... your head might no longer be on your shoulders!"
Very quickly, the incense stick burned out, and with a grimace, General Song was dragged out by the soldiers and whipped fifty times with the military stick. Yue Shi personally administered the punishment, and General Song fainted just after being beaten, carried back by his subordinates to the hard battle.
By then, Xiao Rongyan had finished his tea, casually placing the cup aside: "And you all, any dual-benefit plans?"
The generals in the tent looked left and right but remained silent.
Xiao Rongyan nonchalantly tidied his clothes: "If none of you have any dual-benefit plans, then... letâs follow Zhouâs approach, win over the Xiliang civilians, and see... how many Xiliang civilians we can win over for our Yan!"
After saying this, Xiao Rongyan stood up and headed for the tentâs exit.
The commanders hurriedly got up, giving a respectful long bow in Xiao Rongyanâs direction, sending him out of the tent.
·
On the first day of the second lunar month, Bai Qingyan arrived in Jiangzi City with the army and refugees.
Outside Jiangzi City, there were already many refugees attracted by the news, but the general guarding the city hadnât received orders from above, so he didnât dare to allow these Xiliang refugees into the city on his own authority. However, due to the news from Yecheng Pass, he also didnât drive them away.
As soon as Bai Qingyan arrived, she immediately ordered the registration of the Xiliang refugees to enter the city, assign residences and farmland, and instructed the soldiers to repair any damaged houses to ensure the people could move in directly.
The citizens who were assigned houses and food, brought their wives and children to see their homes in Jiangzi City and were moved to tears. They finally had a home, different from the past months where they wandered, always fearing they might starve and having to guard against the Tianfeng Kingdomâs army and bandits. Every day was filled with fright!
Now, theyâve finally settled down, become the people of Zhou, with provisions from the Imperial Court; they wonât starve, they have houses to live in, land to cultivate, even though they owe the Government Office silver and grain, at least they survived.
In times of war, survival is everything for the common folk, not to mention that Zhou provided them with stability.
Upon Bai Qingyanâs arrival in Jiangzi City, after her arrangements, she rested, attended by Chun Zhi. The battle report sent from the front because it was a victory, Wei Zhong held onto it, intending to report it once Bai Qingyan awoke.
During these days, Bai Qingyan hadnât rested well, particularly as a pregnant woman. Wei Zhong was reluctant to wake her.
Bai Qingyan slept for three hours, the meal had long been ready, and Chun Zhi checked in ten times, yet Bai Qingyan hadnât woken, thus the kitchen kept the meal warm, prepared to serve it immediately when she awoke.
She woke at midnight, the cooks in the kitchen all at the ready, not daring to rest, and on hearing the emperor had awakened, immediately sent the meal in a black lacquered gold-outlined food box to Bai Qingyanâs bedside, with the kitchen bustling to prepare more dishes.
Behind the screen and drapes, Bai Qingyan dressed and rinsed her mouth, the maids came in a line carrying the food boxes, Wei Zhong personally laid out the table, tested the dishes, the maids swiftly withdrew.
"Your Majesty, it is time to dine," Wei Zhong reminded outside the screen in a low voice.
Chun Zhi fastened Bai Qingyanâs frost-colored orchid clasp, hands folded in front of her waist, stepped back daintily to the curtain, lifting it for Bai Qingyan, then followed her out.
"Any battle reports arrived?" Bai Qingyan asked after sitting down, wiping her hands with a warm towel.
"Itâs a victory report, so this old servant didnât disturb Your Majestyâs rest," Wei Zhong said with a smile, handing the victory report from the eunuchâs tray behind him to Bai Qingyan, "Deyang City has been taken..."
Bai Qingyan skimmed the report and asked Wei Zhong whether it mentioned any injuries to her younger siblings: "Where is the soldier who delivered the battle report?"
"Resting now. If Your Majesty wishes to ask anything, how about waiting until tomorrow?" Wei Zhong suggested with a smile.