Jin Shuwei quickly ordered a tent to be cleared for General Shen, the Princess, and the State Preceptor to talk.
Bai Sheng stood on a stool and addressed everyone. "Uncle Shen, Little Stone, Deputy General Li, Deputy General Xu, Captain Jin, and all the border guards. Since I am returning from Great Xia with a large number of family members and attendants, it is inevitable that some people might be suspicious, wondering if there are any Great Xia spies among us.
To reassure everyone, Deputy General Li and Captain Jin, you may register the basic information of everyone according to military regulations. My entourage includes my husband's family, the Zuo clan, my mother-in-law's family, the Baili clan, my master's family, and numerous servants from my household."
"Yes, Your Highness the Princess!" Deputy General Li replied respectfully. The Princess's actions were wise and immediately silenced many doubters.
"Haha, my little Snowball is so sensible!" Shen Tianjun spread his hands to the assembled generals, his face full of pride.
"Indeed, indeed, Her Highness the Princess is truly open-minded and upright!" The soldiers immediately nodded in agreement.
At this moment, they had found the key to pleasing the Great General: to praise the Princess endlessly.
After Bai Sheng finished speaking, she said to Uncle Ding and Yang Ming, "Uncle Ding, Yang Ming, send one cart of rice and one cart of cured meat to the border camp."
"Yes, Madam," Uncle Ding and Yang Ming responded.
The soldiers' eyes immediately lit up with excitement. A cart of white rice and a cart of cured meat! Just thinking about it made their mouths water.
Captain Jin was deeply moved. "Thank you, Your Highness the Princess. You truly care for us border guards!"
Bai Sheng laughed heartily. "Thank you for your protection these past few days, Captain Jin. From now on, the soldiers guarding the border will eat well and heartily. In a few more days, I will find a way to send sufficient grain, weapons, and warhorses to the southern military camp."
Upon hearing this, Captain Jin and the soldiers erupted in jubilant cheers.
Even Deputy General Li felt like jumping up and howling with joy.
Their southern army was so poor they were almost eating dirt. With the Princess's arrival, they were now eating rice and delicious meat. Life with the Princess was truly blissful!
Bai Sheng then looked at Shi Sheng and Deputy General Xu. "Little Stone, Deputy General Xu, I will also provide sufficient grain, weapons, and warhorses for the western military camp. I will send someone to contact you then."
Shi Sheng and Deputy General Xu exchanged an excited glance. Deputy General Xu looked at Bai Sheng and suddenly knelt before her, his face full of remorse. "This subordinate was disrespectful to the Princess earlier. I beg the Princess for punishment!"
Bai Sheng helped him up. "Deputy General Xu fights bravely and is a good general of Qinghuang. You were merely misled by that green tea girl for a moment. You must learn to discern people in the future."
Shi Sheng didn't understand what "green tea girl" meant, but he knew it was an insult. He said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Princess. This subordinate will remember it."
Shi Sheng pulled Bai Sheng aside, looking worried. "Sister, providing warhorses and grain to the border camps is not a small matter, and you also have to fund the construction of the imperial palace. Can you afford such enormous expenses? And you still have so many family members to support."
Bai Sheng patted his arm and smiled. "Don't worry, Little Stone. Your sister is very rich."
Shi Sheng smiled helplessly. "Then if you have any difficulties, Sister, please don't hesitate to ask me."
"Don't worry, I will," Bai Sheng replied with a sly smile.
After Bai Sheng's large family, the State Preceptor's family, and General Shen entered the tent, Bai Sheng formally introduced General Shen and Shi Sheng to her family.
Then, she introduced her family to General Shen and Shi Sheng.
Upon learning that her third maternal uncle was Baili Rongmo, Shen Tianjun was greatly surprised. He was a couple of years older than Baili Rongmo and had heard of his great name long ago.
The Baili family had produced heroes for generations and had served Great Xia diligently, only to have their entire clan annihilated. The Emperor of Great Xia was truly ungrateful, crossing the bridge and then destroying it.
"Brother Rongmo, feel free to visit me anytime for tea or drinks. I will always be available," General Shen said with a smile.
Baili Rongmo also chuckled heartily. "Rongmo is greatly honored, as long as General Shen does not find Rongmo's company bothersome. The Baili family will settle in Qinghuang from now on. Thank you, General Shen, for your warm welcome."
General Shen laughed heartily. "Qinghuang is honored to have the Baili family reside here. The Baili family has always maintained upright principles, and their descendants are outstanding individuals. They will undoubtedly subtly influence and educate the common people of Qinghuang."
"General Shen praises me too highly," Baili Rongmo replied humbly with a smile. "Currently, the Baili family is sparsely populated. It is only through the help of my niece-in-law and General Shen that we can barely survive. From now on, the Baili family will be people of Qinghuang. I hope General Shen will not dislike us."
"Brother Rongmo, how can you say that? I regard Little Snowball as my own daughter, and her family is my family. Qinghuang is facing many difficulties and is not a prosperous nation. I am grateful that you, Brother Rongmo, do not find us lacking."
Watching the two exchange pleasantries, Bai Sheng, Zuo Ye, Prince Yu, and Consort Mei exchanged knowing glances, suppressing their smiles.
Bai Sheng playfully chided, "Alright, Uncle Shen, Third Uncle, please stop being so polite. We are all family now. Let's work together to build our future.
Although Qinghuang is currently poor and weak, as long as we are united and work together to repel foreign enemies, recover our lost territories, and rebuild our homeland, we will surely be prosperous and strong in the future!"
General Shen slapped his thigh. "Yes, Little Snowball is right. We are family now, and we will work together to build our future!"
Third Uncle also said with great spirit, "Yes, yes, yes! As a united family, we can overcome any difficulty!"
General Shen was greatly astonished to learn that Zuo Ye's grandfather, Old Master Zuo, was Zuo Taizheng, the Marquis of Wenshan in Great Xia.
The family members brought by Little Snowball were all influential figures. In the future, Qinghuang would surely have both scholarly and military talents, achieving great governance!
Old Master Zuo could now stand. He held General Shen's hand tremulously and said indistinctly, "General Shen, our Zuo family is now Qinghuang's people. We are grateful for your care."
General Shen held his hand respectfully. "Old Master Zuo, you are too kind. Qinghuang is honored to have the Zuo family join us. You must take good care of your health. In the future, all civil and military officials will receive your guidance."
Old Master Zuo squeezed General Shen's hand firmly. "Thank you, General Shen. I will definitely live. I still want to see my great-grandson get married and have children."
"Great-Grandpa, I'll get married sooner," Ye Ye said earnestly, so you can see it earlier.
Rui Rui and Yi Yi were not to be outdone. "I want to get married sooner too."
Everyone burst into laughter.
The banquet was held outdoors with bonfires. A dozen whole sheep were roasted, and eight large pots of chicken and several large pots of white rice were stewed.
Bai Sheng's family members didn't know where Madam got the dozen live sheep from. They remembered that they hadn't brought any live sheep when they set off.
However, they were only curious for a moment. Madam had her reasons for doing things, and they were only to carry them out, not to question them.