Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 773 - 770: Caught Off Guard_1

The veiled Ji Langhua had just finished speaking when a messenger soldier rushed through the rain, stepping in the mud, and ran all the way to Bai Jinzhi’s tent. He knelt on one knee and clasped his fist: "Commandery Princess Gaoyi, the commander requests your immediate presence at the command tent!"

"I’ll be right there!" Bai Jinzhi responded, tilted her head back, drank the medicine in one gulp, wiped the medicine from the corners of her mouth with her sleeve, and stuffed the medicine bowl into Ji Langhua’s hands. Without waiting for Ji Langhua to turn around and get an umbrella, she took a strong step and dashed into the rain, running towards the command tent.

Liu Hong stood in front of the map, holding an oil lamp and speaking with Lin Kangle while closely examining the map. When he heard that Bai Jinzhi had arrived outside, Liu Hong turned around and looked at the girl who had tanned during the campaign, waving her over: "Commandery Princess, come take a look..."

Lin Kangle clasped his fist and saluted Bai Jinzhi: "Commandery Princess Gaoyi!"

Bai Jinzhi took the handkerchief handed over by Liu Hong’s attendant to wipe her face and quickly walked over to Liu Hong’s side: "What are we looking at?"

Liu Hong pointed at the left side of the Qingxi Mountain Pass on the map. A very thin line had been drawn there.

Liu Hong said: "There is a not-so-conspicuous narrow path here. Before I ordered the main force to withdraw from the Qingxi Mountain Pass, I sent someone to explore it. Although this path is secluded and narrow, it leads to the rear of the Qingxi Mountain Pass!"

Bai Jinzhi gripped the sword at her waist: "General Liu’s intention is for me to lead troops from here to the rear for a surprise attack?"

Liu Hong nodded but then said: "But not now! I know you have always been brave and surely, like General Lin, are secretly blaming me for withdrawing from the Qingxi Mountain Pass before formally engaging in battle."

Lin Kangle touched his head and chuckled dryly when Liu Hong looked at him upon hearing this.

"But you must understand that Zhao Sheng led the Zhao family army here so quickly... it must be because they received the news that Princess of Zhen was leading troops out. They will desperately try to capture Qingxi Mountain Pass before the arrival of the Princess of Zhen! Fighting to the death and holding on will only result in heavy losses for us! It’s better to withdraw first..."

Liu Hong smiled slyly and pointed at the map again: "Let them think we withdrew because we knew the Princess of Zhen was coming and that I’m an incompetent commander... hoping for the Princess of Zhen to reclaim Qingxi Mountain Pass! At this time, they must be conserving their strength, waiting for the Princess of Zhen to come and challenge the gate!"

"So General Liu’s intention is for us to launch a surprise attack tonight!" Lin Kangle gripped the sword at his waist, looking somewhat excited.

"Catching them off guard!" Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth, the suppressed fire in her heart finally getting some solace.

"Today, the scout reported that the Zhao family army has arrived. I left two small teams hidden within the pass... waiting for the signal. When I lead the troops to engage the Liang Army head-on, you and General Lin will lead a surprise attack from the rear!" Liu Hong pointed to the hills on both sides of the Qingxi Mountain Pass, "The Qingxi Mountain Pass is built within the Qingxi Mountain Valley Road, not a city. As long as you can use this narrow path that only allows one person to pass to circle to the rear, they’ll find out you’ve reached the rear, Zhao Sheng will undoubtedly first focus on engaging you! I will lead troops to attack the pass; the city walls will hinder them! They’ll have to divide their attention, and as soon as Zhao Sheng takes people to engage you! I have a small team left in the city, who will open the city gate for the Jin Army. By then... the Jin Army can enter without hindrance!"

Liu Hong raised his hand and loosened his collar, exhaling a long breath, seeming quite frustrated: "It’s often said that my battle strategies are like a turtle, being steady and seeking victory in steadiness! The unpleasant truth says I’m best at being a cowardly bastard, but today, I’ll let them see that I, Liu Hong, only fight battles with confidence and not as a cowardly bastard!"

Lin Kangle clenched his fist and cleared his throat, his gaze wandering.

Bai Jinzhi looked at Liu Hong, not daring to respond in agreement. She had cursed Liu Hong many times behind his back for being a cowardly bastard, always shrinking away, but today she realized that Liu Hong had withdrawn to paralyze the enemy and prepare for tonight’s sneak attack.

Liu Hong knew that Bai Jinzhi could never hide her thoughts, and it almost seemed like she had "I’ve cursed you behind your back several times" written on her face. He laughed heartily and said: "This time, the Princess of Zhen’s timely arrival and this heavy rain give us this opportunity! We must seize it! Go prepare now! I will have the boys who scouted the path today lead you and General Lin to explore that narrow path. The heavy rain will provide cover, allowing you to successfully circle to the rear of the Qingxi Mountain Pass! Remember to bring the black sail and white python flag, making them think the Princess of Zhen has arrived, and scare the daylights out of them! We must secure the Qingxi Mountain Pass before the Princess of Zhen arrives. Otherwise... others will think our Jin Kingdom’s generals are nothing compared to the Princess of Zhen in tackling hard battles!"

"Yes!" Bai Jinzhi responded loudly.

"Boom——"

Thunder rumbled through the mountains, lightning split the sky and tore through the swirling black clouds, illuminating the rainy landscape for an instant, making the narrow path on the cliff clearly visible, and Bai Jinzhi led her troops forward, bending over.

In that instant when lightning tore through the sky, even the bugs and mice scurrying through the rain had nowhere to hide, let alone the Jin soldiers led by Bai Jinzhi and Lin Kangle, advancing in the rain with their armor. They held their crossbows with caution and composure, proceeding one by one, quietly and swiftly along the cliffside. When lightning flashed, Bai Jinzhi raised her hand, and the soldiers immediately pressed against the cliff, not daring to move, fearing detection by the Liang Army patrolling below.

Following the soldiers was a team of warhorses led by Pingan. The heavy rain washed the manes of the steeds, sticking to their muscular and tense bodies. Each warhorse had a muzzle to prevent any noise that might alert the Liang Army.

At that moment, Zhao Sheng was inspecting the wounded inside the Qingxi Mountain Pass and those soldiers who had contracted the epidemic and had been moved to the treatment center. Zhao Sheng covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief and walked a circle before he saw four more people being carried into the treatment center.

An official who emerged with Zhao Sheng stood under the eaves and said to Zhao Sheng: "This epidemic is truly severe. Our Liang Kingdom, unlike the Jin Kingdom... does not have effective measures to deal with the outbreak as Jiaozhou did previously nor a developed remedy. The Imperial Court does not promptly provide medicines either. If this continues... I’m afraid more will succumb in the army!"

Zhao Sheng tightly gripped the cold sword at his waist. Now, both the Liang and Jin armies had soldiers inflicted with the epidemic, but Jin had the medicines and remedies, while the Liang did not.

Zhao Sheng was deeply worried. The Emperor of Liang was determined not to seek peace and resolutely sought revenge for the Fourth Prince, but Liang Kingdom, continuously dragged down by the epidemic, would see its soldiers and population dwindle. Jin could win without a fight.

The Liang Kingdom could not afford this procrastination!

The more Zhao Sheng thought about it, the more fearful he became. Cold sweat broke out on his back. He turned to the official: "Are there truly no leads at all?"