Chapter 1107: Chapter 1101: Bait
Seeing Bai Qingyan about to speak, Shen Kunyang looked distressed and raised his hand to stop her: “Forgive my boldness, if Young General Bai were not pregnant, I would have no objection to such arrangements. But… now that Young General Bai is with child, it’s already difficult to move freely! If the Huoyun Army attacks the city… the consequences are unimaginable!”
Shen Kunyang appeared respectful and said, “I watched Young General Bai join the army. Young General Bai was once under my command. You called me Uncle Shen. Today, I will be bold and refuse to follow orders. I will take 2,000 men from the 15,000. Otherwise, even if punished, I will not comply!”
Bai Qingyan listened to Shen Kunyang’s words, feeling a warm surge in her heart. She softly said, “Uncle Shen, Li Zhijie is an extremely cunning and intelligent person. The Empress of Xiliang and Yun Poxing are also no ordinary people. We must let them see that the forces in Pingyang City are truly empty to test if they genuinely want to cooperate or have other plans!”
Shen Kunyang became more anxious after hearing this: “But we cannot use Young General Bai as bait! We cannot risk your and the child’s safety!”
“Uncle Shen, don’t worry…” Bai Qingyan softly reassured the agitated Shen Kunyang, “Shen Liangyu has already led the Huying Army and is stationed less than three miles outside Pingyang City, and Xiao Ruohai… has already gone to relay the orders.”
The current Huying Camp is no longer what it was; it has grown into the Huying Army, significantly expanded…
Since we’re going to deal with that fraudulent Huoyun Army, naturally, the authentic Huying Army must be deployed.
Shen Kunyang was stunned, looking towards Bai Qingyu.
Bai Qingyu smiled and nodded. Not only had Shen Liangyu… but also Bai Jinxiu, the Auxiliary General from Hancheng, set out for Pingyang City.
Before Bai Qingyan moved from Dadu City to Pingyang City, she sent secret letters to Bai Qingqi in the Qiushan Pass of the southern borders, and to her uncle Dong Qingyue in Dengzhou, sharing information they knew, like the giant elephants’ fear of cold, urging them not be deceived by Tianfeng Kingdom’s pretenses, and to be prepared for the possibility of war breaking out around Pingyang City.
When Bai Qingyan arrived in Pingyang City and resolved to go to war with Tianfeng Kingdom, she sent messages again to Bai Qingqi and uncle Dong Qingyue, informing them that a battle with Tianfeng Kingdom would begin on the 29th of the lunar month, telling them to prepare for a surprise attack on the eastern Elephant Army of Tianfeng Kingdom.
After inflicting severe damage on the Elephant Army of Tianfeng Kingdom and driving them away, the next step would be a full-scale attack on Xiliang.
The Bai family and the Bai family army demanded revenge, and none of the Bai family progeny and soldiers could be left behind!
In the camp three miles outside Pingyang City, Shen Liangyu, with a piece of dry straw in his mouth, rode with a few men on a hill, his hawk-like eyes gazing in the direction of Pingyang City, waiting for Young General Bai’s command to dispatch the fake Huying Army… Huoyun Army, to let them see that the Bai family army’s Huying Army… is something Xiliang cannot replicate.
Bai Qingyan looked at the detailed map drawn by Xiao Ruohai. Her seemingly calm eyes were seething with murderous intent: “This is Xiliang’s last chance! If they don’t want to cooperate properly… if they dare to act first, new grudges and old scores will be settled together. They don’t wish to wait for the end of the three-year agreement. Our Zhou will definitely not disappoint them. We’ll match them every step!”
Shen Kunyang finally realized why Bai Qingyan was deploying troops in this way…
Bai Qingyan was making a two-pronged preparation!
The Huying Army was the backup plan Bai Qingyan had arranged.
Bai Qingyan might set aside her grievances and join forces with Xiliang to resist Tianfeng Kingdom, on the condition that Xiliang genuinely submits to Zhou and does not resort to tricks behind their back.
If Xiliang resorts to tricks, Bai Qingyan would use this campaign, alongside Yan, to attack Tianfeng Kingdom, ensuring Zhou could detach troops while using the Huying Army to wipe out Xiliang’s Huoyun Army.
If Xiliang was willing to cooperate and submit, then in this battle, not only would she aim to destroy the Elephant Army and elite of Tianfeng Kingdom at Hanwen Mountain, but also ensure that a part led by Shen Kunyang makes sure Xiliang’s Huoyun Army is so diminished it can no longer threaten Zhou.
Getting rid of the Huoyun Army ensures Xiliang has no capacity for rebellion and submits obediently.
Slaying the Elephant Army of Tianfeng Kingdom ensures that Tianfeng has no ability to fight back and can only retreat to Tianfeng Kingdom.
After all, training a war elephant is not a matter of days, and the financial and material resources it consumes are incalculable. Without the Elephant Army, Tianfeng Kingdom is like a toothless tiger, not worth fearing.
Bai Qingyu’s gaze was calm: “If Xiliang still cannot recognize its strength and attempts to act behind our backs while Zhou is at war with Tianfeng Kingdom, Zhou will first eliminate Tianfeng Kingdom’s war elephants, drive Tianfeng Kingdom back, then destroy Xiliang, and afterward… give all our efforts to dealing with Tianfeng Kingdom.”
“There is one more aspect I am not assured of!” Shen Kunyang frowned deeply, “What if Tianfeng Kingdom, instead of trying to maintain good relations with Zhou as Young General Bai predicted, decides to fight desperately, and switch to attacking from the south gate of Pingdu City, marching towards Pingyang City?”
Shen Kunyang recalled how the city gate shook after being hit by a giant elephant last night and was quite apprehensive: “Only thirty elephants came, yet our Zhou soldiers together with the Yan Kingdom suffered heavy losses! That giant elephant just hit the gate once, and it was in such a state! If we deploy all our troops, even with the Huying Camp, I’m afraid Pingyang City cannot be defended!”
“Uncle Shen, first… we have tested that burning chili, Sichuan pepper, and black pepper can deal with the giant elephants! Furthermore… I have instructed Xiao Si to ensure the path is well-trodden and slippery with snow along the way. The pungent smell and slippery snow are currently the most effective methods we have found to counter the Elephant Army!”
Seeing that Shen Kunyang had more to say, Bai Qingyan had to reveal something she originally didn’t want to mention: “Most importantly… the reason I dare to bet that Tianfeng Kingdom won’t fight us desperately is due to a secret message from Tianfeng Kingdom I received before setting off from Dadu City to Pingyang City!”
Bai Jintong’s team set up a trading company in Tianfeng Kingdom under the guise of merchants, leaving the seasoned shopkeepers of the Bai family behind to gather intelligence. They managed to uncover extremely valuable information, which was delivered to Chen Qingsheng at great risk, who then handed it over to Bai Qingyan…
The letter stated that the Great Shaman of Tianfeng Kingdom received a divine oracle that the God had already chosen a ruler for this land. If Tianfeng initiated a war on this land while its ruler was present, they would be punished by the God. The Great Shaman subsequently coughed up blood and fell into unconsciousness.
Eventually, the Great Shaman’s top disciple hurried to Sal Khan, the Monarch of Tianfeng Kingdom, intending to help Sal Khan locate the ruler chosen by the God for this land, kill them, and then begin the conquest of the land.