Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 768 - 765: The Clear and Forceful Sound_1

On the Dianjiang Terrace of Shuoyang’s training ground, Bai Qingping surveyed the flickering fire pans swaying in the wind, listened to the flapping black sails and white mamba banner, and felt a sudden surge of heroism in his heart.

Unfortunately, he was weak, unable to fight alongside Bai Qingyan on the battlefield. This was Bai Qingping’s lifelong regret.

Some of the Bai Clan’s brave men wanted to go to the Daliang battlefield with Bai Qingyan, but they were all restrained by their elders under the banner of filial piety and not allowed to go.

Hearing the sound of hooves outside the training ground, Bai Qingping turned his body toward the entrance of the ground. Seeing the rider on the white horse, Bai Qingping hurriedly leaped off the Dianjiang Terrace, almost failing to suppress his urge to run toward the entrance.

Twenty guards of the Bai family followed Bai Qingyan, charging forward on horseback to the front of Dianjiang Terrace before pulling on the reins to stop.

Bai Qingping, worried about Bai Qingyan’s health, quickly stepped forward, grabbed the reins and extended his hand to help her down the horse. Bai Qingyan shook her head and pulled the reins, riding forward.

She surveyed the five thousand soldiers on the training ground, clad in armor, holding heavy shields or spears, or broadswords, forming ranks. They showed considerable military discipline, their armors reflecting a cold light in the high fire pans.

Bai Qingyan pulled on the reins, and her steed snorted heavily, coming to a halt in front of the Dianjiang Terrace.

The entire training ground was solemn and silent, with five thousand soldiers’ eyes fixed on the woman in silver armor on horseback.

"In the past, we gathered here to wipe out bandits, to ensure that those mountain bandits dared not plunder our people! But today, we are setting out on an expedition to Daliang, facing not bandits but Daliang’s well-trained army! Yesterday, when I announced that the Shuoyang Army would go on an expedition to Daliang, I heard... someone said the Shuoyang Army was just a bunch of rabble assembled by me, Bai Qingyan. We could easily defeat bandits, but facing Daliang’s army, we would be knocked out of our wits!"

"But you are my soldiers! Trained by the Bai family! There are no cowards in the Bai family! Nor are there cowards among the Bai family’s soldiers! We could easily defeat bandits, and we will easily defeat Daliang as well!" Bai Qingyan raised her hand, pointing to the replaced black sails and white mamba banners around the training ground. "The Bai family army has never been defeated. The one time we nearly suffered a total loss was due to our own people’s vile plots. Even so, the Bai family and the Bai family army’s commitment to protect the people has never changed!"

"Some ask: If the Bai family army is for protecting the people, why do we need to go on an expedition to Daliang, to conquer another country? Today, I will tell you why! It’s for unifying the world! To make this world free of wars! To see no more homes empty and families broken, no more farmlands abandoned, no more unburied skeletal remains! The Bai family army must protect peace and the people! We will not die in battle, nor will we remove our armor! Are you all willing to fight to the death with me?"

Bai Qingyan’s voice was majestic and resonant, shaking all directions.

Cai Ziyuan, upon hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, was stirred, feeling the desire to fight alongside her on the battlefield despite being a scholar.

"We will not die in battle, nor will we remove our armor!"

"We will not die in battle, nor will we remove our armor!"

"We will not die in battle, nor will we remove our armor!"

The soldiers’ loud shouts soared high, shaking the heavens and shaking the earth.

The morning sun jumped out from the layers of clouds, its light gradually growing, bright golden rays from the east to the west, slowly illuminating the vast and desolate earth, lighting up the ancient and solid walls of Shuoyang.

Bai Qingyan led five thousand soldiers out, striding grandly towards the city gates of Shuoyang.

The townspeople filled both sides of the long street, and even people in taverns stood on rooftops, eager to see off the ill but determined Princess of Zhen heading for war.

Even the brothel girls crowded onto the balconies, leaning half out to catch a glimpse of the majestic Princess of Zhen.

Former Magistrate Zhou, now Governor Zhou, ordered officials to keep the crowd off the streets while he himself squeezed to the front, acting as though tearfully seeing off the Princess, looking at Bai Qingyan on horseback leading the procession, he choked and called out loudly, "Princess of Zhen, you must take great care of yourself, the people of Shuoyang are still waiting for you to help us eliminate the bandits!"

Bai Qingyan did not respond. Governor Zhou lifted his official robe, jogged after her for a few steps, and fell to his knees with a deep bow. "Salute to the Princess of Zhen! Wishing the Princess a triumphant return! May the Jin Kingdom’s power prevail!"

Nakang, the dancer from Xiliang, seemed to be awakened by the noise. She pushed open the window with a sheer robe draping her shoulders, shielding her face with a round fan, frowned, and looked downstairs. But when she saw the woman in shining silver armor on the white horse leading the procession, she slowly lowered her fan and watched intently.

The woman’s nobility and aura was unlike the pretentiousness of the dignitaries visiting the brothel but was a kind of noble bearing that showed no fear of death and looked down on all beings.

Nakang, barefoot, chased Bai Qingyan’s figure, pushing open another window. Her mind seemed to resonate with a heroic melody. She kept chasing Bai Qingyan’s figure, her eyes filled with passion, gripping the window frame until her knuckles turned white.

She remembered what her mother once taught her in ancient text: point the finger and the storm will rise, a glance can level mountains. Such mightiness must describe heroes like the Princess of Zhen.

Nakang pushed open all the carved windows until none were left. She could only see the densely packed, disciplined marching army but no longer the sharp and imposing figure. She pressed down on her pounding heart, turned, and ran to the bedside to grab her pipa.

She turned the tuning pegs, plucked the strings, and the moment the striking and heroic sound resonated from her fingertips, the townspeople below looked up towards the opened window of the brothel.

Quan Yu rode swiftly to Dadu City, not even stopping for a sip of water before seeking an audience with the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince had just awoken from a night in Hongmei’s embrace, with Hongmei helping him dress, preparing to review the previous night’s state affairs in his study before attending the morning court. Hearing that Quan Yu had returned urgently needing to see him, the Crown Prince shivered, fearing something had happened to Bai Qingyan. He hastily pushed Hongmei aside, grabbed a cloak, and walked out buttoning his coat.

Hongmei pouted at his back, tossed her sleeves, and went back to bed to rest.

Outside Hongmei’s quarters, Quan Yu rubbed his hands together, repeatedly thinking about how to tell the Crown Prince that Bai Qingyan had led the Shuoyang-trained soldiers to Daliang despite her illness. freёnovelkiss.com

If not explained well, the Crown Prince might think the Princess of Zhen had disobeyed orders, taking command of troops on her own and considering her a rebel holding military power.