Chapter 221
Bai Qingyun was the illegitimate son of Bai Qiyu, Bai Jinzhi’s father, and Bai Jinzhi’s half-brother.
“Fourth Miss, saving people is of utmost importance! Go see General Shen Liangyu first!” said Xiao Ruojiang.
Upon learning that Shen Qingzhu had been ordered to lead the Huying Camp to Qiushan Pass for a rescue mission, Bai Jinzhi did not dare to delay. Without further ado, she took Shen Qingzhu to meet Shen Liangyu.
Shen Liangyu was shocked to learn that the young general of the Bai family, Bai Qingyun, was still alive. His hair practically stood on end in excitement.
Shen Qingzhu had once been the captain of Young General Bai’s guard. He had risked life and limb together with Young General Bai, so Shen Liangyu deeply trusted Shen Qingzhu’s words.
“I have been ordered by the eldest Miss to lead the Huying Camp to carry out a rescue mission!” Shen Qingzhu’s features were solemn, and his gaze was as cold as frost. “But I mean to discreetly take away people under the cover of darkness. After rescuing Young Master Jiu, we absolutely cannot send him back to the Jin Army camp. Xiao Ruohai and I will escort Young Master Jiu to Fengcheng for safekeeping. General Shen, return to Youhua Road with the others, and do it as quietly as possible. If discovered, claim that you were acting under the eldest Miss’s orders to gather intelligence at Qiushan Pass. Do not mention the rescue mission at all.”
At this time, Xiao Ruohai and the Dong family’s death warriors were in Qiushan Pass, closely following Li Zhijie and his men who were escorting Bai Qingyun.
In the peace negotiation tent earlier, Bai Qingyan had clearly waited for Li Zhijie to confirm he would not use Bai Qingyun for the negotiation, before instructing Shen Qingzhu to lead the Huying Camp for the rescue mission!
Having followed Bai Qingyan for many years, Shen Qingzhu understood her intentions precisely. He knew why she had to wait for Li Zhijie’s stance on the assassin’s fate before issuing the order. Therefore, Young Master Jiu couldn’t be brought back to Youhua Road to reveal to the Crown Prince that Young Master Jiu was still alive.
The Huying Camp’s mobilization had to be silent too, or their movements, if discovered by the Crown Prince, would add trouble for the eldest Miss.
Since Bai Qingyan had commanded Shen Qingzhu to lead the Huying Camp for the rescue, Shen Liangyu would naturally obey. He clasped his hands in salute, selected over twenty elite warriors from the Huying Camp, and quietly left with Shen Qingzhu.
Xiao Ruojiang did not accompany Shen Qingzhu. He had to stay behind to cover for Shen Liangyu and the others. Moreover, Bai Qingyan needed someone trustworthy by her side! But the more experts for the rescue, the better. So, he decided to split half of the Dong family’s death warriors in his command with Shen Qingzhu. He also sent two men on fast horses to rush to Fengcheng and fetch Doctor Hong.
Young Master Jiu was the assassin who had killed the Emperor of Xiliang. He had surely been tortured and would definitely need medical attention.
Among all the doctors Xiao Ruojiang knew in this world… none was better than Doctor Hong.
·
Lu Tianzhuo stood alone on the southern side of the Jin Army’s camp, completely unaware of Shen Qingzhu and Shen Liangyu’s group, who had taken the mountain road from the north to Qiushan Pass.
Lu Tianzhuo gazed at the blazing campfire of the Jin Army base, recalling the maid who had quietly infiltrated the Jin Army.
All the maids in their peace negotiation team had been selected from Xiliang by him. He had seen that maid and was certain she was one of those he had chosen. He was sure there was no mistake!
Could it be that the maid was a hidden plant from Jin who had been embedded in Xiliang long ago? But why did she suddenly appear and head to the Jin Army base? And why use such a secretive, roundabout way? It didn’t make sense…
Suddenly, Lu Tianzhuo’s pupils contracted. Could it be for the captured son of the Bai family?!
But… was it possible? King Yan and he had closely guarded him. That Bai family member had not departed with the peace team. Even if that maid was a hidden plant… surely, she wouldn’t know about the Bai family member.
After all, when the Bai family member had suffered severe injuries after the assassination and leaped from the city wall into the moat, everyone thought the assassin’s body had been utterly lost. It was he who had recognized the youth’s resemblance to Bai Weiting’s third son, Bai Qiyu, and secretly saved the assassin, planning to use him someday.
The fact that the assassin was still alive was known only to him and King Yan Li Zhijie. There was no third person who knew.
Lu Tianzhuo’s mind was a tangled mess, sensing something amiss… yet he couldn’t figure out what.
Should he ask King Yan to send people back to guard against anyone rescuing the Bai family member?
In the cold gusts of wind, Lu Tianzhuo closed his eyes behind a tree, calming himself…
Judging by Bai Qingyan and Yun Poxing’s battle, it was clear Bai Qingyan was highly intelligent and strategic. What if this was Bai Qingyan’s plan to test the Bai family member’s location?
After thinking it over, Lu Tianzhuo decided to send people back to fortify defenses at Qiushan Pass, carefully guarding against any intrusions.
Upon this thought, Lu Tianzhuo quietly returned to the negotiation tent, where a heated argument was unfolding, and whispered in Li Zhijie’s ear.
Li Zhijie shook his head at Lu Tianzhuo, signaling him to sit down.
Upon entering this tent, the people of Jin would likely not allow Lu Tianzhuo to leave until the negotiation was concluded.
Lu Tianzhuo was momentarily stunned, then obediently sat behind Li Zhijie.
Li Tianfu did not even glance at Lu Tianzhuo. She kept her eyes down, fiddling with her handkerchief. She had already drunk several cups of tea in such a short time. Listening to the peace envoys of the two countries bicker over the same points was making her head ache.
For this negotiation, the Empress of Xiliang had given Li Zhijie considerable authority. The Empress told Li Zhijie… no matter what, war could not resume. If the terms offered by the Jin Kingdom were acceptable, Li Zhijie could agree on behalf of the Empress. This was known by the entire Xiliang peace delegation.
The peace envoys of both nations argued until the end of the second watch, finally reaching an agreement.
Xiliang was to cede twenty cities, including Qiushan Pass, Zhongshan City, and Bailong City, to the Jin Kingdom. Henceforth, Qiushan Pass and all its fortifications would belong entirely to Jin! Xiliang was to compensate the Jin Kingdom with military expenses twice the amount spent in this great war and pay reparation money to the Jin Army. The Bai family’s army reparation was to be ten times higher than the regular Jin Army, and Xiliang was to bear all expenses for the Bai family’s seventeen sons’ tomb construction.
Thus, Xiliang was severely weakened.
But Xiliang could only end foreign threats this way, freeing up resources to deal with internal strife and those disloyal to the Empress… the treacherous foes harboring ill intent.
The envoys of both nations signed and sealed the agreement.
The Crown Prince received the treaty with smiles lighting up his eyes: “Thus, our two nations turn weapons into gifts. May Xiliang promptly hand over these twenty cities before the Prince and Princess accompany us to Dadu. Only then will our nations enjoy lasting peace.”
Li Zhijie sensed the undertone in the Crown Prince’s words, fearing Xiliang might delay or renege. He found the Jin Crown Prince overly cautious, considering Xiliang’s internal conflicts left them incapable of further entanglement with Jin.
If not for the internal turmoil, Xiliang wouldn’t need to bow and negotiate peace. They would fight!
This so-called peace talk was merely Jin Kingdom bullying and Xiliang’s submission.
Under the clear starry night sky over Youhua Road and Qiushan Pass, the chilling yet refreshing breeze hit as they exited the tent, clearing one’s mind.
Bai Qingyan, feeling a bit uneasy, looked up at the vast night sky filled with stars, wondering if Shen Qingzhu had already rescued the people.