Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 757 - 754: Must be Guarded Against_1

Bai Qingyan leaned against the soft couch by the window ledge of Boyun Courtyard, looking at the messages sent over and igniting the letter.

She squinted her eyes, staring at the blue flame devouring the paper, remaining silent for a long time.

Sending the epidemic to Daliang was an idea discussed by the Crown Prince and Elder Fang, hoping that after Daliang suffered from the epidemic, they would submit to the Jin Kingdom for the cure.

Qin Shangzhi had already gone to Guanghe Canal to oversee the major project of canal construction. Without Qin Shangzhi’s assistance in persuading him, the Crown Prince was led further astray by Elder Fang, using such unscrupulous methods to force Daliang to submit. Was he not afraid their own soldiers might also get infected?

In the late July of the seventeenth year of Xuanjia, Bai Qingyan finally received a letter from her third sister Bai Jintong, which settled the anxious heart she had for Bai Jintong.

Bai Jintong, now using the alias Cui Fengnian, was traveling in Xiliang. She mentioned that from Guanping, she had traveled to the seaport, sailed across the sea, and bought many rare items from the Jin Kingdom for the foreigners. She also purchased rare items from the foreigners at low prices and brought them back. Unexpectedly, she got lost at sea and discovered a place called Tianfeng Kingdom. Further exploration revealed that Tianfeng Kingdom was located behind the impassable snowy mountains behind the Rong.

The snow-covered mountain stretched endlessly from the wilderness front of Daliang and the Rong to the borders of Xiliang. Previously, they all thought the snowy mountains behind the Rong were the ends of the earth. Unexpectedly, there was another country in the central desert land beyond the valleys spanning dozens of miles beyond the snowy mountains.

The weapons in Tianfeng Kingdom were almost invincible. The weapons she brought were no match at all. Later, she learned that Tianfeng Kingdom used a special method in forging weapons, adding something called black powder.

This time, Bai Jintong sent back the letter with some black powder and a blacksmith from Tianfeng Kingdom, asking Bai Qingyan to see if it could be used. However, the language of Tianfeng Kingdom was something they had never encountered before and might not understand; they could only rely on gestures.

In the letter, Bai Jintong also mentioned that the items she sold in Xiliang, which the Xiliang nobility had never seen before, were very popular, especially among the six noble families of Xiliang, competing to buy them. Bai Jintong also made connections with numerous Xiliang nobles.

She also mentioned the Empress of Xiliang, noting that the Empress’s policy of promoting people from humble backgrounds applied not only to civil officials but also to military generals. She vaguely sensed that the Empress of Xiliang seemed to be secretly forming a military unit imitating the Huying Camp of the Bai family army under Yun Poxing’s command. Although it hadn’t been confirmed, she suspected that there might be some truth to it and would investigate whether any Huying Camp soldiers were captured and joined Xiliang.

Since the last battle at Wengshan between Xiliang and the Jin Kingdom, where Bai Qingyan burned and killed a hundred thousand elite soldiers, Xiliang had suffered a heavy blow and was no longer a match for the Jin Kingdom. Now, Xiliang was regrouping and the Empress of Xiliang had put forward a series of policies, vowing to rejuvenate Xiliang.

The latest decree from the Empress of Xiliang required men to split their families after marriage because both Xiliang and Jin Kingdom conscripted soldiers based on households. This expanded the source of soldiers in Xiliang, with many 14-year-old boys being conscripted. Xiliang seemed eager to take advantage of the chaos amidst the conflicts between Wei and Yan, Jin Kingdom and Daliang, as well as the Rong, to strengthen its military power.

Bai Jintong urged Bai Qingyan to remain vigilant.

Bai Jintong knew that the Jin Kingdom was caught in a major war with the Liang Kingdom and guessed that her eldest sister might have ambitions to annihilate Liang. With the incompetence of the Jin Imperial family and the outbreak of epidemics in two cities, the Jin Kingdom might not be able to spare forces to curb Xiliang. If they couldn’t stop Xiliang’s growth through war, Bai Jintong hoped to emulate Guan Zhong’s methods through commerce to constrain Xiliang’s livelihood, though it was uncertain and required a lot of silver, needing Bai Qingyan’s cooperation.

This time Bai Jintong sent a Jade Pendant back along with the letter. It was meant for Chun Tao, and Bai Qingyan was asked to pass it on.

After reading Bai Jintong’s letter, Bai Qingyan felt at ease.

Bai Jintong planned to emulate Guan Zhong’s method against Lu Kingdom to gradually weaken Xiliang, constrain, and control Xiliang.

During Duke Huan of Qi’s reign, Qi was far less powerful than Lu Kingdom. Guan Zhong advised Duke Huan to only wear clothes and accessories made by Lu. For a time, the Qi Imperial Family’s nobility followed suit. Everyone in Qi regarded the Lu silk as precious. Guan Zhong forbade the weaving of fabrics and production of silk in Qi and sent numerous merchants to Lu to buy up all their fabrics. This brought profits to Lu, and it was proclaimed among the people that selling Lu silk to Qi was highly profitable.

Seeing the benefits, Lu’s people abandoned their old trades, forsook agriculture, and attempted to profit from the Lu silk.

Later, Guan Zhong gradually spread the news, encouraging Lu’s people to abandon agriculture, leading their fertile lands to lie waste. Then suddenly, Qi stopped purchasing Lu’s fabrics, leaving Lu in a predicament without food, forcing them to submit to Qi.

Bai Qingyan’s fingers caressed the letter as she contemplated...

Now, Bai Jintong’s plan to imitate Guan Zhong was feasible. If Yan could subdue Wei and Jin could destroy Daliang, Xiliang’s need for grain... could only be sourced from either the Jin Kingdom or Yan. Yan, unlike Jin, was not as wealthy and only recovered slightly after annexing the fertile land of Nanyan. Even if they could provide for Xiliang, it wouldn’t be much.

But right now, the difficulty lay in silver!

If the national treasury had silver, the Crown Prince would surely prioritize the Emperor’s Ninefold Terrace.

This matter needed to be shelved for a while until Bai Jinzhi could ascertain the situation in Xiliang.

She instructed Nanny Tong, "Nanny, send someone to call Shanru back. I need to see him."

"Yes!" Nanny Tong responded, leaving to summon Zeng Shanru.

Bai Qingyan glanced at the black powder brought back by Bai Jintong and the formula for forging iron with black powder. Just as she told Chun Tao to store the formula, someone outside reported that Lu Ping had arrived and asked the gatekeeper to announce it.

"Chun Tao, go invite Uncle Ping in..." Bai Qingyan adjusted her clothes and looked out the window.

Soon, Chun Tao brought in Lu Ping, who walked briskly. After saluting behind the screen, Lu Ping said, "Eldest Young Lady, the guard named Yue Shi by Mr. Xiao came alone on horseback and collapsed at the Bai Mansion’s gate, calling for Doctor Hong. I have already placed Yue Shi in the side room and sent Doctor Hong to examine him!"

Bai Qingyan’s hand on the table tightened abruptly. Could something have happened to Xiao Rongyan?!

"Is there any way to wake Yue Shi temporarily..." Bai Qingyan stopped mid-sentence, standing up, "I’ll go check."

She had to know what happened to Xiao Rongyan.

"Eldest Young Lady, you are still ’ill.’ If you go to the front yard, it might be reported to the Crown Prince. Rest assured, I’ve instructed Doctor Hong to inform us immediately if he finds out anything!" Lu Ping hurriedly said.

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened. The latest news she received mentioned that the Ninth Prince of Yan had significantly defeated Xiliang in Longan, forcing Xiliang’s army to retreat.