Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

"Your Majesty! No way, Your Majesty!" The young Zhou officer leading the charge knelt earnestly and shouted, "Your Majesty, we do not accept this! If you're just going to favor whoever suffers more casualties, then in the future, we Zhou soldiers won't even fight! We'll just send people to die, since whichever country's people die more, that country benefits!"

The Zhou soldiers quickly voiced their agreement, pleading with Bai Qingyan to reconsider: "Do we not also have fallen comrades in Zhou? If Your Majesty divides the spoils this way, how can those soldiers who sacrificed their lives fighting be at peace?"

The leading Zhou officer gestured for everyone to quiet down, continuing to speak with Bai Qingyan: "If Your Majesty truly disposes of matters this way, what spirit do we Zhou soldiers have left to fight? Our Commander's strategy is sound, we fight well, and fewer of our brothers die, yet it turns out to be our fault! How is that rational? Ever since we joined the army, we've never feared death, and we fight for the benefit of our country. Today, the Ninth Prince of the Yan Kingdom is also present; if he dares to proclaim that in future battles, the country with the most dead should gain the most spoils, we would dare to lay down our lives for Zhou!"

The young officer earnestly held Murong Yan's gaze.

"Indeed, Your Majesty! I had the fortune of studying with Mr. Ziyuan in Shuoyang for a few days. I know that alliances between two countries are for mutual benefit, but is our alliance with Yan meant to put us at a disadvantage? I cannot accept this!"

"I do not accept this!"

"I do not accept this!"

Even ordinary Zhou soldiers without rank chimed in: "Is this alliance between our two countries a test of our magnanimity? Well, my heart is small, and I absolutely don't accept this! Better to have no alliance at all! Can Zhou soldiers not defeat that rabble from the Tianfeng Kingdom?"

The young Zhou officer continued: "This compromise… granting most war elephants to the Yan Kingdom, won't this retreat in negotiations only whet the Yan soldiers' greed in future collaborations? This precedent must not be set!"

"The Yan Kingdom dares to clamor for an equal share because during the last time's siege, the Tianfeng Kingdom's Elephant Army surrounded Pingyang City. We nearly won, but they intervened, and yet claimed half the elephants. It's only because their greed was insatiated last time, they now demand to share the elephants with us equally!"

"Exactly! Gains from both countries cannot be unequal to the effort and sacrifice made. Who would be willing to put in effort when joining forces against enemies if this is the case? It's better not to have an alliance at all!"

"No alliance, then no alliance!" Yan soldiers also began shouting.

Xie Xun tightly gripped the reins, adjusting his position… If Xie Xun were a Zhou soldier, he certainly wouldn't feel satisfied with such a distribution, and called out loudly: "Yan soldiers, quiet!"

Bai Qingyan urged her horse forward, raising a hand to signal the Zhou soldiers to calm down: "Indeed, Zhou committed substantial forces to this battle. Each country's soldiers taking their respective earned spoils is fair to you. The Ninth Prince of Yan also says the same!"

The Zhou soldiers nodded towards Bai Qingyan, and then looked at the Ninth Prince of Yan behind her. Clad in a silver mask and riding a completely black horse, he sat impressively. He seemed to be a reasonable person, unlike the ruthless, profit-driven man rumors suggested.

Bai Qingyan, astride her steed, held the reins and whip, controlling her pure-white stallion as it stood before both countries' soldiers, her expression stern: "Why did our two countries form an alliance? To collectively resist the Tianfeng Kingdom's Elephant Army! You think… this crushing defeat of the Tianfeng Elephant Army is the end? That we can already divide the spoils? The Elephant Army here is just a small segment; the main force may already be on the way here. Are we really going to damage ourselves over dividing the carcasses of these elephants?"

Shen Qingzhu followed behind Bai Qingyan in silence, feeling disgruntled over the Yan Kingdom's behavior, as her elder sister was still considering giving more spoils to the Yan. Yet the Yan soldiers were brazen enough to cause trouble over wanting an equal share.

The Yan soldiers and Zhou soldiers remained silent, but it was not due to genuine compliance.

Bai Qingyan looked around at her soldiers, seeing the faces filled with defiance, she advanced, scanning her soldiers and asked: "After this battle, perhaps you feel that the Elephant Army isn't so hard to deal with. Even without an alliance with Yan, our Zhou could extinguish the Elephant Army alone, is that so?"

The leading young Zhou officer looked up, daringly saluted Bai Qingyan after kowtowing, and looked up at Bai Qingyan: "Exactly, Gaoyi led the army to assault the city, forcing the Tianfeng Kingdom to flee the city. Commander Yang Wuce also led forces to block the eastern side of the Tianfeng Kingdom's escape route. To the west lies Yan's territory with no retreat for Tianfeng!"

This young Zhou officer was very clear-headed, his gaze steady, voice firm: "So, even if Yan didn't attack the west and south gates, the Tianfeng Kingdom's Elephant Army would have still traversed Hanwen Mountain and crossed the Danshui River, using Quanya City as their escape route!"

After speaking, the Zhou officer glanced at the Yan soldiers: "Your Majesty's military strategy is incredible and already well-planned. Yan merely came to collect ready-made achievements, so Your Majesty's distribution, I do not agree with!"

Bai Qingyan did not expect such a talent in the Shuoyang Army, someone with potential, so she asked: "What is your name?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, my name is An Qingshan!" An Qingshan quickly responded.

"Your analysis is correct." Bai Qingyan found An Qingshan rather interesting, shifting her gaze from him to the Zhou soldiers, "In today's battle, indeed, Yan did not deploy many troops. Even if Yan had not sent forces, the Tianfeng Kingdom would have crossed Hanwen Mountain and crossed Danshui River. But… without the Yan Army outside Pingyang City, fighting fearlessly against powerful enemies, could we make Tianfeng understand that Zhou and Yan have united to steadfastly resist Tianfeng? Could we impress upon them the bravery of our two country's soldiers, not fearing death and willing to drive away the Elephant Army of Tianfeng even if it means mutual destruction!"

"Gaoyi led the Shuoyang Army in taking the city. This was the start of the battle. Later, when Tianfeng realized Yan's participation in the assault, it threw them into disarray, making them understand that Zhou and Yan are united as one; if one country fights, the other must as well!"

Bai Qingyan's mount, Taiping, stomped its hooves, exhaling a heavy white mist.

She steadied Taiping, her voice rising as she continued: "It was only with the Yan Army's ambush here, fighting to the death, that we could disrupt the morale of the Tianfeng Kingdom's soldiers! How many of the Elephant Army that perished at Hanwen Mountain fell due to severe injuries inflicted by the Yan Army, do you know? War... tests manpower, but more so, it tests the fighting spirit and morale of the soldiers! Yan's ambush at the south gate disrupted Tianfeng's morale, and moving forward… Hanwen Mountain's two ambushes will completely shatter their morale, making them know only to flee, thus securing our advantage!"