As they walked through the camp, Yu Fengyang continued, "Your Highness, how should we arrange for these newly reorganized people?"
Bai Chuxiao said in a deep voice, "Let them be incorporated into the Changning Army stationed in Qizhou, and their military pay will be the same."
Song Hang frowned slightly, "These people are far less powerful than the Changning Army..."
Bai Chuxiao smiled and said, "It's alright. There won't be any fighting for the time being while we're stationed in Qizhou. Let our people train properly, and then we can free up our forces to return to the front lines later."
Yu Fengyang nodded. "Your Highness, you are right."
Bai Chuxiao continued, "Things here are almost settled. The three prefectures of Chang, Yun, and Ying are of paramount importance and cannot be lost. We must set off immediately once we receive news from Second Brother."
Yu Fengyang said solemnly, "That's right, the imperial court should have received the news by now. Those two prefectures are Chu Wenzheng and Zhang Yu's strongholds, so the battles to come will be difficult."
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly, "But Qizhou still needs someone to be stationed there..."
Suddenly, Song Hang, who was standing to the side, cupped his hands and said, "This subordinate is willing to stay in Qizhou."
Bai Chuxiao said in a deep voice, "You said before that you preferred to train on the battlefield and stay behind to guard the area, so you won't be able to fight for a while."
Song Hang said solemnly, "The front and rear are the same; I will follow the Princess's arrangements."
Bai Chuxiao nodded with a smile, "You and Yi Yu have really made a lot of progress these days. That's good. With Hui-di on the civil officials' side and you on the military side, I can rest assured."
Song Hang displayed the demeanor of a scholar-general like Shen Tao during the prisoner-of-war camp incident; he could be useful in the future.
Leaving Song Hang behind, Bai Chuxiao, along with Yu Fengyang, Song Le'er, and Shen Xuanxuan, returned to the city.
As soon as I entered the mansion gate, I heard a familiar voice.
"Sister Xiao," a young man in a white brocade robe greeted her.
"Hui-di, we were just talking about you, and you're here so quickly," Bai Chuxiao said with a hint of surprise.
Murong Hui smiled and said, "I knew Sister Xiao must be very busy, so I had Lin Huai lead us to speed up the tutorial. Father also transferred some deputies from various places in Yongzhou to follow me. They will definitely be useful in the next few prefectures."
Yu Fengyang raised an eyebrow and said, "Lord Murong and Fourth Young Master are indeed very capable. Now that you're here, I can finally go to war with Xuan again."
Bai Chuxiao said with a half-smile, "What, are you being wronged by keeping me here to work with you?"
Yu Fengyang quickly waved his hand, "My dear princess, how could I dare? I'm overjoyed!"
Bai Chuxiao snorted coldly. They were all young people here, so they had to do everything themselves, which she wasn't happy about...
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the Second Young Master. He has reached the outskirts of Mianzhou City. Please prepare to depart!" Xia Fan suddenly entered.
Bai Chuxiao took the battle report, glanced at it, and said with a smile, "Second Brother Cui Hao's movements are not bad."
Yu Fengyang curled his lip, "Mianzhou, that godforsaken place, they fought for so long, what's so praiseworthy about that?"
Bai Chuxiao rolled her eyes, too lazy to pay him any attention, and immediately ordered, "Xia Fan, Yi Yu has handed over all his matters to Hui Di and Song Hang. We can set off for Mianzhou immediately."
"yes"
Inside the palace, Chu Tianling, engrossed in reading urgent military intelligence, couldn't resist smashing up the entire imperial study.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" the ministers below hurriedly said, bowing their heads. This emperor used to appear refined, but since ascending the throne, his temper has become truly eccentric.
Chu Tianling roared, "Calm down! You bunch of good-for-nothings have been completely fooled by the Prince of Yan and his consort. How can I calm down? Look at what this says! The Princess of Yan has led an army of 150,000 to conquer Qi and Mian prefectures. Those incompetent officials in Qi prefecture were completely unaware, and didn't even send out a single word. Even Mian prefecture was easily taken."
Cold sweat dripped from the ministers' foreheads. Even Bai Linan was among them. Bai Chuxiao was, after all, his daughter, and now she was openly leading troops to oppose them. He was truly speechless...
"Your Majesty, this... no one expected that the treacherous Prince Yan would spread false information. Although Qizhou and Mianzhou have also been captured, we have truly ascertained their military strength. Prince Yan's side only has 200,000 troops, which is no match for Marquis Xuanping..."
Chu Tianling snorted coldly, "What's wrong, Prime Minister? Didn't you see the battle report? That bandit's mere 200,000 troops caused our side to suffer repeated defeats."
This is why they never doubted the veracity of the news that the Prince of Yan had mobilized his entire army of 300,000. Their overwhelming force certainly didn't seem like that of only 200,000 troops.
Bai Linan's forehead was beaded with sweat. "What they did before was just a bluff. Now that we've figured out their battle plans, as long as we can boost morale, we'll definitely be able to wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop."
Chu Tianling sneered, "Leaving aside the Prince of Yan, the Princess Consort of Yan is your daughter, Prime Minister. Your Excellency has truly made a great contribution by raising such a valiant and skilled daughter. Why don't you tell everyone how to wipe out this group of rebels led by the Princess Consort of Yan?"
Compared to the Prince of Yan, Bai Chuxiao's command of troops infuriated him even more. The seventh prince, on the other hand, was lucky; he'd even gained a princess who could fight—a princess who should have been his!
Bai Chuxiao abandoned her position as Empress and actually helped the Seventh Prince openly rebel. Every time he thought about it, he felt a surge of anger, wishing he could tear them to pieces.
Bai Linan quickly said, "Your Majesty, Bai Chuxiao has long since severed ties with the Bai family, and I have no such disloyal and unfilial daughter..."
Chu Tianling said impatiently, "Alright, my ministers, tell me how to deal with the Princess Consort of Yan."
He didn't expect Bai Linan to have any concrete answers. Keeping him in the position of Left Chancellor for the time being was merely to facilitate his control over the civil officials. Once he had completely consolidated power, the Bai family's demise would be imminent.
Wei Junyan said, "Your Majesty, the Princess Consort of Yan's actions are clearly aimed directly at the three prefectures of Chang, Yun, and Ying. These three prefectures are of paramount importance. If they are captured, and the Prince of Yan attacks from both sides, the Marquis of Xuanping's side will likely be in grave danger. In my opinion, the Regent or the Prince of Yingchuan should personally lead the army to intercept the rebels."
Chu Tianling nodded. "The Duke of Zhenguo is right. Uncle Wang and Father-in-law, Yunying and Yingzhou were originally your fiefdoms. What do you say?"
Chu Wenzheng said calmly, "Your Majesty, I have no interest in war. It's better to leave the fighting to the Prince."
He had already witnessed his nephew's wife's abilities in Yunzhou, and besides, Yunzhou was practically ruined after what happened before; there was no point in holding onto it. He couldn't care less about it.
Zhang Yu's eyes darkened slightly. Previously, he had collaborated with Chu Wenzheng to manufacture weapons and raise a private army, leaving Yunzhou in a state of open chaos. Chu Wenzheng, in his capricious manner, no longer wanted to manage it, but Zhang Yu couldn't abandon Yingzhou; otherwise, wouldn't his title as the Prince of Yingchuan become a laughingstock?
"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead troops to stop the Princess Consort of Yan."
Chu Tianling said loudly, "Very well, the garrisons of Yun, Chang, and Ying prefectures are at the Emperor's command. As long as Bai Chuxiao's army is annihilated, the Prince of Yan will be unable to hold out even if he crosses the river alone. If the Emperor can capture Bai Chuxiao alive, I will reward him handsomely."
Zhang Yu replied in a deep voice, "Your subject obeys the decree."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com