Chapter 1280: 1275: Standing Firm
Chapter 1280: Chapter 1275: Standing Firm
Xie Xun’s eyes were extremely cold, his fingers pressed against the hilt of his sword, and a cold light flashed.
Xiao Rongyan stepped on the helmet that had been smashed to the ground by a Yan commander, tilting his head lazily to look at the Yan commander: “Just a bit… Now let you lead the Yan Army back to Yandu, can you… lead the Yan Army to break through the Zhou Army and leave Yunjing. Just a bit more… You must understand, as long as the Yan commanders here have the intention to lead the Yan Army back to Yandu, they will definitely be blocked. Once the Yan Army is intercepted, do you think… the Zhou Army stationed at the Yan border won’t get the news and won’t directly march to Yandu?”
“Or do you think that once the Zhou gets the news, they will foolishly wait in place for our Yan Army to return before attacking Yandu?” Xiao Rongyan’s gaze swept over all the sitting Yan generals, asking, “Who among you has the confidence to bring the Yan Army back to Yandu for rescue without Zhou noticing? Who?!”
The commanders of Yan remained silent.
They all knew that the Zhou’s forces were now more numerous than their Yan, and the Zhou’s commanders were all from the Bai family, not to mention Bai Qingqi and Bai Jinxiu, who had made a name on the battlefield years ago. Bai Qingyu… who in Yan doesn’t know that Bai Qingyu was the greatest contributor to the destruction of Rongdi?
Then there’s Lord Gaoyi Bai Jinzhi of Zhou, who even as a woman, is a formidable general of Zhou. Many of Daliang’s fierce generals are no match for Lord Gaoyi, suffering crushing defeats under her command.
Then there’s Bai Qingjue, who also emerged prominently in this Great War, and the Bai family’s fifth daughter was equally brave, regarded as the next Gaoyi of Zhou, Bai Jinzhi.
And the renowned generals of the Bai family’s army, Shen Kunyang, Wei Zhaonian, and Cheng Yuanzhi, as well as Shen Liangyu of the Huying Army, not to mention the Zhao family army of Zhao Sheng and Yang Wuce, who were subdued by Zhou in Daliang, all of whom became notable generals earlier on.
Who in Yan could be worthy of utilization?
No one… not to mention the Ninth Prince.
One is the Second Prince Murong Ping, and another is the Great General Xie Xun, even if there are emerging young generals, ultimately they are not like the Bai family, who have been tempered on the battlefield from a young age, accumulating a wealth of experience.
“Who among you… has the ability to let our Yan be tough towards Zhou just once today!” Xiao Rongyan’s voice carried a hint of teasing laughter.
Xie Xun looked around, seeing all the Yan commanders silent, he finally withdrew the pressure of his thumb against the sword on his waist.
“Given the current situation, do you think our Yan still has a choice?” Xiao Rongyan kicked the helmet underfoot, hitting the knee of the Yan general who had thrown the helmet, making the general kneel painfully on the ground.
“Morally speaking, knowing our Yan Army is understaffed… lacks food, while remembering we are allies, the Zhou dispatched forces larger than ours, and when it comes to dividing war spoils, they give the majority to our Yan. Can you honestly say otherwise?” Xiao Rongyan stood up, hands clasped behind his back, pacing leisurely, “And what about our Yan? Afraid that after Xiliang is destroyed, the two nations would stand on opposing sides, we betrayed Zhou despite the alliance, causing significant losses to Zhou, yet still… the Bai family army opened the gates for our Yan!”
“That’s because Zhou also wants us to fight Xiliang for them!” a Yan general muttered quietly.
“General, your words make me flush with embarrassment for you! Since when has our Yan stooped so low?” Murong Ping looked at the Yan general with a face full of pain, “No wonder the soldiers below are saying such things, that the Bai family opened the gates for us willingly, from the top being crooked makes the bottom crooked. Do you think those words would hold ground in front of the world? What would the world say? They would say… Zhou, bearing no grudge, was still willing to risk the gamble of who enters the Yunjing Palace first gets Yunjing, and in the spirit of alliance, reciprocated with virtue by opening the gates for us, and this is the speculation it leads to?”
“Both the Second Prince and Ninth Prince speak for Zhou, the subordinates are not convinced!” The Yan commanders remained largely unconvinced, after all, this Yunjing City was also taken back by their Yan soldiers with blood and life.
“To break faith with the world, is to lose the world! The Emperor of Zhou… from the time of the Princess of Zhen in the Jin Dynasty, gained the people’s heart, that is why Zhou was established so smoothly!” Xie Xun, holding significant prestige among the commanders, spoke slowly, “In terms of principle, Zhou has been exceedingly righteous to our Yan. Mere dissatisfaction cannot make the world understand, wars involve bloodshed and sacrifice, it’s inevitable, and not only our Yan suffers losses, Zhou does too!”
“But… it was our Ninth Prince who entered the Yunjing Palace first!”
“If I had entered Yunjing before the war, could Zhou not claim that… the fifth young master of the Bai family entered the Yunjing Palace before me?” Xiao Rongyan’s voice was deliberate, “Even if the fifth young master feigned capture, the fact he accomplished so much inside Yunjing City and assisted both nations in taking Yunjing, how would the world view such merit?”
“We now say Yunjing should be given to Zhou as an apology, also positioning ourselves in front of the world, claiming some in our Yan betrayed Zhou, therefore… we shall let Zhou have Yunjing for taking it!” Xiao Rongyan halted, looking at his commanders, “Amongst ourselves, we may speak freely here, but… before speaking outside, consider if such sophistry could stand before the world! Put yourselves in the position… as Zhou’s generals, do you think Yunjing should belong to anyone else?”
“Whether Yan or Zhou, both covet the world! As General Xie said… those who break faith with the world cannot gain the world!” Seeing his commanders seemingly in meditation, Xiao Rongyan said, “Consider for yourselves! Once the Zhou and we have concluded the handover with General Cui Shanzhong’s confidants, Murong Ping will take a team of guards back to Yandu with me! All matters here will be handled by General Xie Xun, without deviation! And one more thing… anyone daring to move the troops without permission, bringing disaster to Yandu… to Yan, don’t blame me for exterminating their Nine Clans!”
“Prince!” The Yan generals widened their eyes, looking at Xiao Rongyan.
In truth, what Xiao Rongyan mentioned wasn’t something the few commanders of Yan couldn’t understand.
If they were really to switch positions, as Zhou’s generals, naturally they would feel Yunjing couldn’t be handed over, otherwise, it wouldn’t honor the Bai family’s fifth young master.
Even without counting the fifth young master’s feigned surrender to enter Yunjing, the Ninth Prince stealthily bringing people into Yunjing Palace wouldn’t really count as entering first to seize the palace.