NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1126: Heartache
When they were still in Dadu City, Murong Yan had told Bai Qingyan that Murong Li very much approved of the merger of the two countries, and even suggested putting on an act with Murong Yan to persuade their mother.
Was it because Murong Yan's sister-in-law learned of it in advance? Bai Qingyan felt it was unlikely, as both Murong Yan and Murong Li were naturally cautious people and wouldn't let anything slip without starting their actions.
She recalled Murong Yan's intention to stay and spend New Year's Eve with her, and her sharp eyes fell on her own abdomen...
Although Murong Yan and Murong Li wouldn't let any news slip, if Murong Yan's sister-in-law knew he once had the identity of a wealthy merchant from Wei, and even married the Emperor of Zhou and had a child under this identity, she would surely feel uneasy, fearing Murong Yan might strive to bring the entire Yan Kingdom into his grasp for the sake of his own flesh and blood.
Bai Qingyan turned her head to glance at Murong Yan, who was standing in front of the map conversing with Xie Xun, and again felt she might be overthinking. Murong Yan's brother Murong Yu... and his nephew were all considerate of the people, especially Murong Li, who was so well-raised it surely had to do with Empress Dowager Yan.
She folded Bai Jintong's letter and handed it to Qingzhu: "Keep it safe for now..."
"Yes!" Qingzhu responded.
Bai Qingyan picked up the teacup from the table and took two sips. When putting the cup down, the slight sound of the porcelain clinking against the table caught Bai Qingyu's attention. He looked at Bai Qingyan and asked, "Do you already have a plan for the next step of the battle, sister?"
Bai Qingyan nodded, walking through the draperies towards the map.
Sal Khan, who escaped to Quanya City with more than ten giant elephants, now isolated, would surely go to join forces with the main Elephant Army led by Aksai.
"Regardless of catching Li Tianjiao, if Sal Khan sends word to Aksai to bring the Elephant Army to join him." Standing before the immense map, she smiled, "For us... this battle actually becomes easier to fight!"
Standing beside Bai Qingyan, Murong Yan looked at the map and said, "You mean to use the terrain to engage them in battle before they can regroup?"
"The Elephant Army led by Aksai is enormous. If Sal Khan's next step is to meet up with the Elephant Army, then both their paces must be increased!" Bai Qingyan turned to Murong Yan and Bai Qingyu, "And if Aksai learns that Sal Khan's Elephant Army was ambushed in a valley, what would he do?"
"Avoid the valley, choosing the fastest route to reunite with Sal Khan." Bai Qingyu glanced up at the map and smiled, "Send a message urgently to Third Brother to set an ambush in the valley, ensuring Aksai wouldn't dare to follow the valley path to save time."
Bai Qingyu's thoughts aligned with Bai Qingyan's, and she nodded with a smile.
"Your Majesty... General Shen Liangyu and General Cheng Yuanzhi have returned!" Wei Zhong said in a low voice from outside.
"Please invite General Shen and General Cheng inside."
Bai Qingyan took a couple of steps towards the door and saw Shen Liangyu and Cheng Yuanzhi entering with a chill of snow and wind. After they saluted Bai Qingyan, Shen Liangyu said, "Your Majesty, I have failed your commission. Although we have eradicated the remaining Huoyun Army in Ansan, we failed to capture Li Tianjiao. She managed to escape, and after capturing her close palace maid, we learned that Li Tianjiao left Ansan with the feverish Li Zhijie to seek medical help following Yun Poxing's departure. The maid did not know which city they went to for help, and despite General Cheng and I following their trail throughout the night, we could not catch them back!"
"It's alright." Bai Qingyan instructed Wei Zhong to prepare hot soup and food for Cheng Yuanzhi and Shen Kunyang and called for a military doctor to treat Cheng Yuanzhi's wounds, "Take some rest first; today is New Year's Eve... let's have a good start to the year!"
After watching them leave, she began to ponder Li Tianjiao's current options. Now that Sal Khan's Elephant Army had suffered losses and Li Tianjiao had already torn relations with Zhou, she might seek cooperation with Yan Kingdom, or possibly return to Yunjing to rally the Eight Great Families to scheme while Zhou and Yan Kingdom were engaged with Tianfeng's Elephant Army.
She then looked at Murong Yan: "As agreed, Zhou and Yan Kingdom will fight their respective battles and share reports. Therefore... after New Year's Eve, Zhou would split its forces into two routes. I will lead one route to join the Bai family army south of the Zhou and Xiliang border to battle Aksai's Elephant Army, while General Shen Kunyang will lead the other to cross the Danshui River, attack Quanya City, and advance towards Yunjing."
Walking up to Murong Yan, she said: "Yesterday, Xiliang sent the Huoyun Army to attack Pingyang City, effectively breaking ties with Zhou. Their next step might be to seek peace or assistance from Yan Kingdom. What is your plan for Yan Kingdom?"
"Since Yan Kingdom has already formed an alliance with Zhou, there will be no wavering in its stance." Murong Yan looked over the map and said to Bai Qingyan, "Yan Kingdom's reinforcements are already on the way and will arrive in Quanzhou tomorrow. Currently, Yan holds an army of 100,000. After leaving a garrison, we will cross the Danshui River and march east along it, facing Tianfeng's Elephant Army alongside Zhou."
Xie Xun nodded in agreement, acknowledging that after the alliance between Zhou and Yan Kingdom, the Bai family, being generals for generations with a reputable family, were preferred over collaborating with the fickle Xiliang. As a war general like Xie Xun, it was more appealing to form an alliance with Zhou's forces.
Murong Yan stepped to the map, pointing to Quanzhou and then to Yunjing: "I will immediately send Xie Xun to lead troops back to Mengcheng, dispatch someone to Quanzhou with a message, and let the Yan Army depart from Quanzhou and advance towards Yunjing!"
Xie Xun, after nodding, asked in surprise: "Prince, if I lead the troops back to Mengcheng, what about you?"
Murong Yan turned to Xie Xun: "Following the alliance between the two countries, I still have matters to discuss with the Emperor of Zhou, so you lead the troops back first..."
"Ninth Prince, today is New Year's Eve, and we should set all matters aside. After all, the Emperor Yan is still in Mengcheng, and the Ninth Prince should return to spend New Year's Eve with the Emperor Yan, so that the family can be together. With the late Yan Emperor gone, you, as his uncle, shouldn't let the Emperor Yan spend New Year alone." Bai Qingyan smiled as she spoke.
Murong Yan turned back to look at Bai Qingyan, surprised, and saw her nodding, realizing she was intentionally urging him to return to Mengcheng, emphasizing the word "family."
He had already mentioned to Bai Qingyan his sister-in-law was in Mengcheng, and knowing her keen insight, she sensed his low spirits, likely worrying about possible conflicts with his sister-in-law, which is why she urged him to spend New Year's Eve with them.
Murong Yan was aware of his sister-in-law's concern—her fear that in the future, he might dethrone Murong Li for the sake of Bai Qingyan's unborn child. By staying today to accompany Kid, she might worry even more, and Kid was concerned for him.