Chapter 1194: 1188: Deliver the Orders

Chapter 1194: Chapter 1188: Deliver the Orders

Bai Qingyan nodded. The battle report was delivered non-stop. The messenger who brought the message must be extremely tired, so it’s better to let him rest well. It’s fine to ask tomorrow.

“Additionally, there’s news that General Cui’s military flag has been hung on the Xiliang Kingdom’s Yunjing City wall. It seems General Cui Shanzhong intends to defend Yunjing to the death,” Wei Zhong said while helping Bai Qingyan with the dishes. “Yunjing is now also under blockade; only entry is permitted, no exit.”

Bai Qingyan listened to Wei Zhong, then put down the frontline battle report, tapping her fingers on the table thoughtfully.

Chun Zhi and Wei Zhong stood behind Bai Qingyan, not daring to urge her to have her meal.

According to General Cui Shanzhong’s habits, hanging the military flag seems more like a deceptive maneuver.

General Cui Shanzhong has fought wars all his life. It’s impossible he would only defend without attacking when the enemy is at his doorstep. He wouldn’t just protect without driving the enemy away.

This doesn’t match General Cui Shanzhong’s usual style of fighting.

Perhaps General Cui Shanzhong hung the military flag in Yunjing to cover up other military actions and objectives of the Xiliang army.

If Zhou… now trapped in the encirclement of allied forces from two countries, attacked on all sides, she would never only defend the Capital. She would set up deceptive formations in the Capital, forcing two national forces, or at least one, to retreat for defense. This way, the pressure on Yunjing can be alleviated.

Among the Yan Army and Zhou Army, the best option is naturally to force retreat…the larger Zhou army.

Currently, the Emperor of Yan is in the Imperial Capital of Yan Kingdom, unreachable by General Cui Shanzhong.

And she, as the Emperor of Zhou, has not returned to Dadu City but is still in the Xiliang territory not completely controlled by the Zhou army…

Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, mapping out Xiliang in her mind, calculating the Zhou and Yan Kingdom’s marching directions and routes on the map.

After a while, Bai Qingyan suddenly raised her head and stood up.

“Your Majesty?” Wei Zhong hurriedly stepped forward.

“Send orders, have the city defense general immediately dispatch scouts from the south gate to scout towards the Danshui River and Tianhong City, to see if there are Xiliang soldiers…”

Bai Qingyan barely finished speaking when suddenly the sound of drums from the direction of the city gate was heard.

Bai Qingyan stepped quickly towards the exit, shouting, “Which city gate?”

“Your Majesty, this old servant hears…it sounds like the north city gate, the east city gate, and the west city gate! There are drums in three directions!” Wei Zhong quickly said.

Round up the east, west, and north city gates, leaving the south city gate open. Isn’t this to block the exit routes of the three gates, giving her, the Emperor of Zhou, time, forcing her to only order troops to head out of the city towards Suining City and Yecheng Pass… Is Yunjing signaling for help?!

As long as General Cui Shanzhong surrounds her, the Emperor of Zhou, Xiliang won’t fear the Zhou main forces persistently attacking Yunjing without turning back to rescue.

Moreover, the troops this time are led by Bai family generals. The Bai family cares about kinship. Her brothers and sisters would never let their pregnant eldest sister be surrounded by heavy Xiliang forces while insisting on attacking Yunjing.

If Bai Qingyan’s guess is correct, all of Xiliang’s forces are in the hands of General Cui Shanzhong. He left a small force to guard Yunjing and brought out the majority of Xiliang soldiers to surround her, the Emperor of Zhou!

When the Zhou army comes for rescue, General Cui Shanzhong will surely set an ambush on the fastest route from Yecheng Pass to Jiangzi City. After defeating Zhou, he will turn back to Yunjing for a decisive battle with Yan.

Another scenario is the Zhou soldiers hear the news of the siege; while the south gate is not yet surrounded, they desperately protect her, the Emperor of Zhou, out of the city. Once she’s out, she will immediately be captured alive by Xiliang’s ambush troops. By then, Zhou hasn’t captured Yunjing, yet their Emperor is captured alive, making it impossible for Zhou to fight this battle.

This…should be the outcome General Cui Shanzhong most desires.

Li Tianjiao surely found General Cui Shanzhong early on. From that moment, the two designed today’s encirclement. Later, news came that Li Tianjiao invited the eighty-plus-year-old General Cui Shanzhong to lead troops, likely indicating General Cui Shanzhong already moved.

General Cui Shanzhong is an old general, having fought Bai family forces before. He likely deliberately instructed Li Tianjiao to act after his departure!

We, Zhou, learned of General Cui’s flag hanging on Yunjing City’s wall too late.

“Your Majesty! Now that you are in the city, immediately send someone to Yecheng Pass to signal for help!” Wei Zhong remained extremely calm, “Or rather, I should protect Your Majesty out of the city to Yecheng Pass right now!”

“Leaving the city now, I’m afraid I will be captured alive by General Cui’s ambush troops immediately, becoming a burden to Zhou’s attack on Yunjing!” Bai Qingyan paused for a moment, decisive in an instant, her eyes firm and words striking, “Where are the Bai family Hidden Guards?”

Upon hearing Bai Qingyan’s command, the Bai family Hidden Guards hidden in the dark appeared, led by the squad leader who knelt to greet, “Eldest Young Lady!”

“Dispatch one person to leave the city from the south gate. If reaching Yecheng Pass, instruct General Yang to hold the Yecheng Pass gate and not rashly send troops to rescue! Let General Yang send someone to inform Fourth Young Lady and General Shen Kunyang to come to the rescue, avoiding places prone to ambush, valuing stability over speed!”

“Yes!” The squad leader commanded.

Bai Qingyan hadn’t finished speaking when she continued, “Then, head straight towards Yunjing to notify Second Young Lady, Third Young Master, Fourth Young Master, and Fifth Young Master that I will tie down the Xiliang main force at Jiangzi City. Yunjing’s defense is empty; they must capture Yunjing with full force and capture Li Tianjiao alive before coming to aid Jiangzi City. Likewise, they must avoid places prone to ambush, valuing stability over speed!”

Having finished, Bai Qingyan’s gaze turned to the Bai family Hidden Guard squad leader, “But if you can’t reach Yecheng Pass and encounter ambush troops, do not resist. It’s imperative to surrender and retain your life. If asked by the enemy what orders I gave, tell them I sent someone to Yecheng Pass for help! Understood?”

“I will go personally!” The Hidden Guard squad leader pledged with fists clasped.

The squad leader hails from the Bai family army; he understands why Bai Qingyan only sent one person to deliver the orders.

If the Xiliang army deliberately exposed the south gate to lure someone to Yecheng Pass for setting an ambush, they must put on a good show by feigning a fierce battle and then releasing one to report back.

If aimed at capturing Jiangzi City and taking their Eldest Young Lady alive, they must capture one messenger alive to probe the city’s situation.

So sending only one person increases survival chances overall.

“Send orders, let the city defending general close the city gates…” Bai Qingyan stepped outside the residence, “Have someone prepare the horses; I’ll visit several city gates!”