Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

An Qingshan was about to speak in defense, when he saw Bai Qingyan's gaze fall upon him: "Your analysis of the battle was not wrong, but you failed to understand what the alliance between the two countries is truly for..."

"Two countries form an alliance for benefits, that's not wrong! But an alliance... is also to support each other!" Bai Qingyan's gaze again fell on the soldiers of the Yan Kingdom who were looking up at her, "Yan is now more in need than our Zhou of this armor that can be reforged into weapons against the enemy, and more in need of food, which is why... Yan Kingdom's soldiers fought with our Zhou soldiers over these war elephants from Tianfeng Kingdom after the battle. Otherwise, they're all steadfast and iron-blooded men, who would want to hurt the camaraderie between allied soldiers, who have fought life and death together, for these things? We are all soldiers, can we not understand that the dignity and camaraderie of soldiers are priceless?"

The soldiers of the Yan Kingdom, listening to Bai Qingyan's words, lowered their heads. Perhaps when they fought over the bodies of these giant elephants, they never thought about the dignity of soldiers, never cared about the camaraderie of allies who fought bloody battles together...

But as Bai Qingyan pointed out, some Yan soldiers recalled yesterday when they fought under the south gate of Pingdu City, Zhou's soldiers bravely took down the north gate, shooting arrows from the city wall to change the direction of those giant elephants, which indeed saved many Yan soldiers, and it did count as a life-saving bond.

They then remembered that the Emperor of Zhou was discussing with their own Prince about giving most of the giant elephants to Yan, while they were here arguing, nearly fighting with Zhou soldiers, just to expand the incident to gain half of the elephants for Yan.

The young officer leading the disturbance in the Yan army already had a guilty look in his eyes.

"Today, we in Zhou will yield our gains to Yan, and in the future, when capturing what Zhou lacks on the battlefield, Yan will naturally yield to Zhou as well. This is the meaning of an alliance, this is what will allow the two countries to go further by supporting each other!" Bai Qingyan looked at the soldiers of Yan and Zhou, who were gradually calming down, "Since the two countries are allied, the soldiers of both countries should see each other as brothers! On the battlefield, they can entrust their backs with confidence, and off the battlefield... they can give way to each other. If selfishness prevails and only national interests are considered, what's the point of this alliance? Is it just to gather and take a city, then fight among themselves?"

Murong Yan rode ahead, a cold gaze directed at the soldiers of Yan: "Is it unfair to divide the spoils according to each battle zone? It is the fairest! Because we did not deploy that many troops, even if, as the Emperor of Zhou said... many heavily wounded elephants fell at Hanwen Mountain, they were already outside our battle zone!"

"The Emperor of Zhou, mindful of the spirit of alliance, is persuading us, Big Yan, to accept most of the elephant army, yet you... are here fighting over spoils. We, Yan, are short of food, short of iron, but not to the extent of coveting things that don't belong to us! Nor have we lost face to fight with our own allies! You are the elite soldiers of Yan! You should be the backbone of Yan! But what you have done shames Yan!" Murong Yan's voice was deep, "You should feel ashamed."

Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan both understood that such an atmosphere must not be encouraged!

In the future, the two countries are to become one, and even if it cannot be explicitly stated to the soldiers now, they must be made to get along like brothers in the coming interactions and battles. So, when the two countries' armies merge, or even the armies of Zhou and Yan integrate, resistance within the troops will be minimal.

Indeed, the Emperor of Zhou is persuading their Ninth Prince to accept most of the war elephants, which is indeed more than their quarrels trying to split evenly, causing Yan to feel ashamed.

"Fighting over spoils can only distract allied forces, even to the point of hostility; how will they withstand the elephant army in the future?" Bai Qingyan's clear voice was gentler than Xiao Rongyan's, speaking to the soldiers of both countries, "When an alliance turns into hostility, and the main force of the elephant army attacks Yan or Zhou in the future, will the other country stand by coldly, waiting for the elephant army to destroy one country and then turn to destroy the other?"

"Your Majesty! We were wrong!" An Qingshan cupped his fists towards Bai Qingyan, "It was our petty nature!"

"It was our mistake!" The leader of the Yan soldiers who started the disturbance also kowtowed to Murong Yan and Bai Qingyan, "It was our petty mind, Emperor Zhou's magnanimity today has taught us what it means to be an ally!"

The leader of the Yan soldiers then turned to An Qingshan and the soldiers of Zhou: "Here, I apologize to the brothers of Zhou!"

The young officers of Yan took the lead, and all Yan soldiers cupped their fists in apology to the soldiers of Zhou.

An Qingshan also, along with the soldiers of Zhou, responded in kind: "Our Emperor is right, since we are allies... it should be you helping me, I helping you! Like a family of brothers, working together to live well, rather than fighting over spoils among ourselves! Sorry!"

With both sides apologizing, they couldn't help but laugh awkwardly, and the previously tense atmosphere dissipated immediately.

Xie Xun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Aside from his admiration for Bai Qingyan's perfect handling of military affairs, he was also full of respect for her foresight in the relations between the two countries.

At this moment, not to mention the soldiers below, even Xie Xun was willing to fight bloodily alongside such a selfless and supporting ally for the bigger picture.

Bai Qingyan, seeing the soldiers of Zhou and Yan grinning at each other, laughed: "Alright, the task of counting the number of war elephants and sending most to the Yan army will be entrusted to An Qingshan!"

"Yes!" An Qingshan cupped his fists and accepted the order.

"What is your name?" Xiao Rongyan asked the young Yan officer.

"Reporting to the Ninth Prince, I'm called Wang Dagou!" Wang Dagou quickly replied.

Bai Jinzhi couldn't help but chuckle at the name.

Seeing Bai Jinzhi laugh, Wang Dagou scratched his head in embarrassment: "My mother said that a lowly name is easier to raise! I used to be troubled by this name for a long time, wanting to change it. Later... later when my parents starved to death after Xiliang's cavalry robbed the grain, they left nothing behind but this name for me, and I couldn't bring myself to change it!"

Recalling his parents, Wang Dagou's eyes reddened despite his smiling foolishness.

Hearing this, the smile on Bai Jinzhi's face froze and then disappeared, and looking at Wang Dagou's silly smile, she found him not so annoying after all.

"The task of receiving the giant elephants from the Zhou army... and transporting them back, will be entrusted to you!" Murong Yan, after speaking to Wang Dagou, turned to Bai Qingyan, "Emperor Zhou, we must soon discuss the next step in how this battle should be fought!"