Zhao Sheng also understood that Bai Qingyan placed him and Bai Jinzhi in Daliang because Bai Qingyan gave him, a surrendered general, the greatest trust, and he would not betray Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan saw that everyone in the room had their own thoughts and said, "Perhaps we were once opponents, but now we are all great generals of the Jin Kingdom, members of the same country. I will not hide this matter from you. The people have already suffered once through military campaigns. As long as we quell the rebellion in Dadu City by King Liang, at least the people of Jin can have a period of peace to recuperate. So, I ask everyone to endure this hardship with me once more."
"We respectfully await the commands of the Princess of Zhen!" Yang Wuce straightened his posture and saluted with his fist folded in his hand.
Yang Wuce had already heard from Zhao Sheng that the Princess of Zhen had ambitions to replace the Emperor of Jin. He had fought under the Princess of Zhen for so long, how could he not see her ambition and determination?
For these surrendered generals like Yang Wuce and Zhao Sheng, they had surrendered to the Princess of Zhen, and they did not care who the ruler of Jin was.
This time, Bai Qingyan was bringing the massive numbers of surrendered soldiers and generals of Liang back to secure the throne to ensure Liu Hong could not control these surrendered soldiers and generals.
Bai Qingyan turned to Liu Hong and said, "General Liu, time is of the essence, let us set out!"
Liu Hong, hearing that King Liang had rebelled, was anxious and nodded.
Seizing the moment while troops were being assembled, Bai Qingyan gathered the Bai family guards.
She first dispatched the Bai family guards to send a message to Bai Qingyu, informing him of her intention to deploy the Bai family army back to Dadu to support the Emperor and cautioning him to guard against any Xiliang movements.
She then handed a handwritten letter to the Bai family guards: "Take three people immediately and deliver this letter personally to Governor Dong of Dengzhou!"
In the letter, Bai Qingyan informed Dong Qingyue of King Liang’s desperate attempt to seize the throne in Dadu City, her and Liu Hong’s plan to return to Dadu City with the surrendered soldiers of Liang to support the Emperor, and requested her uncle Dong Qingyue to monitor the situation in various states closely...
Her letter was not overly detailed, but she believed that with her uncle Dong Qingyue’s intellect, he would understand that her decision to bring only the surrendered soldiers and not the old Jin soldiers back to Dadu City indicated her intention to seize the throne.
She then instructed Shen Qingzhu: "Qingzhu, head to the southern border immediately. Pass orders to Bai Qingjue, Shen Kunyang, Wei Zhaonian, and Gu Wenchang, that after leaving behind sufficient forces to guard the border, they must immediately march back to Dadu in the name of supporting the Emperor! Split the troops into two groups, one heading to Pingyang to ask the Governor of Pingyang to lead the Pingyang Army to Dadu City, and the other heading directly to Dadu City."
"Understood!" Shen Qingzhu responded without delay and set off immediately.
Bai Jinzhi, Zhao Sheng, and Cai Ziyuan came forward to inquire about the situation in Dadu City, and Bai Qingyan cautioned them: "Regardless of the news coming from Dadu City, you must keep a firm grip on Daliang and prevent any chaos. Do you understand?"
"Ziyuan has one more thing to say to the Princess of Zhen..." Cai Ziyuan bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, then stepped closer to her and whispered, "Princess, replacing the ruler is a gradual process, if it can’t be achieved in one fell swoop, why not... emulate the ancients and hold the Emperor under our control?"
Cai Ziyuan feared that if Jin fell into chaos, the ambitious people recently integrated into Jin from Daliang might seize the opportunity to cause trouble.
Although the elite soldiers they had fought to retain were not afraid of battle, they were concerned about endless conflict.
Zhao Sheng glanced at Cai Ziyuan, feeling he made a valid point, but he trusted Bai Qingyan’s judgment more, so he saluted Bai Qingyan and said, "No matter what decision the Princess of Zhen makes, Zhao Sheng and the Zhao family army will follow to the death! Rest assured, Princess of Zhen, Han City will remain secure with Commandery Princess Gaoyi and I here... Daliang will not descend into chaos!"
"In that case, I entrust the task to the three of you!" Bai Qingyan replied with a salute.
"Eldest Young Lady..." Bai Jinzhi, still exhilarated from capturing Daliang’s capital, had yet to share his joy with his eldest sister, but did not expect her to leave before even entering Han City.
Cai Ziyuan, seeing that Bai Jinzhi and Bai Qingyan had things to discuss, discreetly gestured to Zhao Sheng, and the two left to give the sisters some privacy.
"Little Four did very well this time, you didn’t rush, and you secured a great victory for our Jin Kingdom!" Bai Qingyan’s eyes were full of appreciation.
"If we hadn’t encountered the Rong army and had to fight a battle, I should have arrived earlier. I noticed the Rong army’s formations seemed reminiscent of the Bai family army. I even suspected a betrayal, if not for Sister Qingzhu’s timely arrival, I would have eradicated those Rong soldiers!" Bai Jinzhi recounted, then looked at Bai Qingyan, "Did you say the ghost-faced general is one of us? I didn’t see this ghost-faced general, who is he?"
Bai Jinzhi looked at Bai Qingyan, unable to imagine that the ghost-faced general of the Rong army was her fifth brother... Bai Qingyu.
The evening wind gently stirred the fine hair at Bai Qingyan’s temples. She smiled warmly and leaned closer to Bai Jinzhi, whispering in his ear.
Bai Jinzhi’s eyes widened in shock at her words. She covered her mouth with her hands, tears streaming down, barely stifling a gasp.
Bai Qingyan’s eyes also reddened with moisture. She gripped Bai Jinzhi’s shoulders firmly and said, "It’s enough that you know. His identity cannot be exposed for now, but... as long as we are alive, there will be a day for reunion!"
Bai Jinzhi nodded vigorously, wiping away her tears, and said, "Eldest Young Lady, Little Four knows the importance! I will keep it a secret!"
"I trust our Little Four! Our Little Four... This battle in Han City under Great Liang will surely spread your renown across the land!" Bai Qingyan smiled faintly, "Little Four... has finally grown into what Grandfather and Uncle expected!"
Bai Jinzhi wiped away her tears and bowed to Bai Qingyan, "Eldest Young Lady, be careful on your way back to Dadu City. Even if I die... I will ensure Daliang remains secure!"
In today’s Jin Kingdom, after two years of meticulous planning and deployment by the Bai family, as soon as the Lin family’s imperial power falls, the Bai family can logically replace it. By then... whether it be Fifth Brother Bai Qingyu, Seventh Brother Bai Qingjue, or Ninth Brother Bai Qingyun! They can all return and reunite the family!
The Eldest Young Lady not only has the ambition to unify the world but also the ability to govern the realm!
Bai Jinzhi even felt that the Eldest Young Lady would not follow Mr. Cai’s suggestion to hold the Emperor hostage but would instead replace the Lin family’s imperial power! Because... as soon as the news spreads that the Bai family has replaced the Lin family, any remaining members of the Bai family or Bai family army in the world would surely return!
Bai Jinzhi eagerly anticipated the arrival of that day.
On April 13, the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, Commandery Princess Gaoyi garrisoned Han City with heavy troops, and the Princess of Zhen, accompanied by Jin’s Great General Liu Hong, General Yang Wuce, and other fierce generals, returned to Dadu to support the Emperor.