Chapter 1106: Chapter 1100: The Remnants
"The Tianfeng Kingdom has always been arrogant, relying on their Elephant Army. Surrounding them without attacking is another way to confuse them!" Shen Kunyang stated.
Upon hearing what Bai Qingyu and Shen Kunyang said, Yang Wuce and Bai Jinzhi suddenly understood.
Bai Qingyan smiled and said, "Therefore, if the Tianfeng Kingdom sends envoys to see me, let them come without stopping them! How we talk and stabilize them while finding a suitable excuse to attack the city tomorrow and catch them unprepared, will depend on Liu Rushi."
"Bai Jinzhi receives the order!" Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth. The battle hadn’t even started, yet she was already excited.
"Yang Wuce receives the order!"
Bai Qingyan’s eyes fell on Bai Jinzhi: "Bai Jinzhi, you lead the elite troops of the Shuoyang Army trained by Ji Tingyu to attack the city walls. Ensure that tomorrow’s siege is accomplished within an hour! By this time, the Tianfeng Kingdom should not have reacted, thinking that Da Zhou is retaliating due to their sudden provocation yesterday. They will likely still wish to negotiate for Da Zhou and the Yan Kingdom’s cities, and won’t resist but flee instead! Forcing them out of the city is your primary mission. Can you do it?"
Bai Qingyan intended to strike first while Tianfeng Kingdom was still caught off guard!
"Eldest Young Lady, rest assured!" Bai Jinzhi looked at Bai Qingyan passionately, "If I fail, I’ll return with my head in my hands!"
Bai Qingyan nodded and then focused her gaze on Bai Qingyu and Xie Yuchang: "Bai Qingyu, Xie Yuchang! Each of you will lead five thousand soldiers with fire oil, departing tonight to lay an ambush at the northern entrance of Hanwen Mountain. Remember, as soon as the siege begins at Mao hour tomorrow, within one hour, if the northern gate is breached... or even before, surrounded on all sides, the Tianfeng Kingdom will definitely retreat to Xiliang. You must keep track of time and prepare the ambush before Chen hour!"
"Bai Qingyu receives the order!"
"Xie Yuchang receives the order!"
"General Shen Kunyang..." Bai Qingyan paced towards Shen Kunyang, "I command you to lead fifteen thousand soldiers to immediately set off and lay an ambush at the southern exit of Hanwen Mountain, north of the Danshui River, to intercept the fleeing soldiers from Tianfeng Kingdom that escape from General Xie and A Yu!"
Shen Kunyang was surprised at why he was assigned so many troops but did not question it.
"Shen Kunyang receives the order!" Shen Kunyang responded with a salute.
"A Yu and Uncle Shen, stay a moment. Xiao Si... General Xie, General Yang, you go prepare first!" After she finished, Bai Qingyan turned to Wei Zhong and said, "Please go to the front hall and invite Eunuch Feng inside."
"Yes!" Wei Zhong replied and left.
When only Bai Qingyan, Bai Qingyu, and Shen Kunyang were left in the room, Shen Kunyang quickly spoke to Bai Qingyan, "Once we leave, Pingyang City will only have Your Majesty. If anything unexpected happens, it might be inadvisable, especially since you are currently pregnant. Perhaps we should retreat first?"
"Uncle Shen... Do you think that if something unexpected happens, I wouldn’t be able to defend Pingyang City?" Bai Qingyan knew Shen Kunyang’s concern for her and spoke softly, "Rest assured, Uncle Shen, I have it under control!"
Bai Qingyu, who stood with hands behind his back and understood the inside story, said to Shen Kunyang, "Uncle Shen, you must trust Eldest Sister!"
Seeing Bai Qingyan’s determination, Shen Kunyang pursed his lips and pondered for a moment before looking up to say: "I only need to lead troops between Hanwen Mountain’s southern entrance and north of Danshui River to intercept escapees, five thousand people are enough!"
"Having Uncle Shen lead fifteen thousand troops, indeed, serves my intent; Uncle Shen might gain unexpected rewards here, it’s better to be prepared!" Bai Qingyan’s lips curved slightly.
The fifteen thousand troops led by General Shen Kunyang served purposes beyond intercepting the fleeing soldiers of Tianfeng Kingdom and Xiliang in that location.
"Unexpected rewards?" Shen Kunyang glanced at Bai Qingyu, puzzled.
Bai Qingyan’s clear eyes looked at Shen Kunyang and said, "Uncle Shen, I asked you to take fifteen thousand troops, so Xiliang believes that Da Zhou is putting all its effort into dealing with Tianfeng Kingdom, leaving Pingyang City undefended."
"Xiliang?" Shen Kunyang was taken aback.
Upon hearing this, Bai Qingyu’s gaze moved to the map, circling it, and finally stopping in the direction of coming to Ansan: "Eldest Sister?"
She nodded and spoke unhurriedly: "Where did Xiliang’s Huoyun Army go? Where did Li Tianjiao and Yun Poxing go? Recently, I kept pondering why the Empress of Xiliang, Li Tianjiao, who never hid national affairs from Li Tianfu, hasn’t been found by the Tianfeng Kingdom now that Li Tianfu has been supported by them. Then I thought of Yun Poxing... thinking, given Yun Poxing’s nature, he should have prepared after knowing about the Tianfeng Kingdom’s Elephant Army."
"Now, with both Tianfeng Kingdom and Li Tianfu eager to capture Li Tianjiao and this rebel force from Xiliang, yet unable to locate them domestically, I speculated on the way back from the Four Nations Alliance about the location between Da Zhou and Xiliang’s border, actually an unguarded place—Ansan! Yun Poxing fought with us for many years, either mainly attacking Pingyang City or Feng County, so he should be familiar with the terrains of these two places."
Bai Qingyan took out the map drawn by Xiao Ruohai, spread it on the small table, and Bai Qingyu and Shen Kunyang gathered around to check. The two of them, being well aware of the Xiao brothers, immediately recognized that this map was Xiao Ruohai’s work.
"So, I sent Ru Brother to investigate, and unexpectedly... Yun Poxing has indeed hidden the Huoyun Army and those from the Eight Great Families of Xiliang unwilling to submit to the Tianfeng Kingdom here at Ansan." She tapped her finger on the map.
"Does Young General Bai mean for me to claim escorting fifteen thousand men to intercept the Tianfeng escapees between Hanwen Mountain and Danshui River, but to actually eliminate the Huoyun Army in Ansan?" Shen Kunyang asked.
Bai Qingyan shook her head: "Uncle Shen, just lead fifteen thousand Bai family soldiers towards Hanwen Mountain and Danshui River. I will let Li Zhijie return and have him inform Li Tianjiao and Yun Poxing that if they truly intend to cooperate, then let the Huoyun Army enter Hanwen Mountain Pass to wait for Tianfeng Kingdom there, to slay any of Tianfeng Kingdom’s escapees A Yu and General Xie haven’t cleared completely. Should they go... Uncle Shen, our soldiers can just watch the show. But we must ensure the Huoyun Army suffers more than half losses to avoid becoming a threat to Da Zhou! If the Huoyun Army doesn’t go, you will need Uncle Shen to annihilate Tianfeng Kingdom’s remnants..."
"If the Huoyun Army doesn’t go to Hanwen Mountain Pass, it might just come to Pingyang City!" Bai Qingyu had been doubtful about Xiliang from the start, especially not trusting Li Zhijie.
Li Zhijie claimed to ally with Da Zhou to expel the Tianfeng Kingdom and vow allegiance, but secretly leading Tianfeng forces to Pingyang City deserves death!
She nodded slightly.
"That would not do!" Shen Kunyang’s face changed, "The Huoyun Army was trained by General Guan according to the Huying Camp’s methods; if they come to Pingyang City, it would be in grave danger! Young General Bai is still in Pingyang City! That must not happen!"