Bai Qingyan’s fists clenched: "General Ye, is it necessary to reach a point of life and death?" "Not only does the Bai family army have the spirit of not removing armor without fighting to the death, but Xiliang also has iron-blooded determination for sacrificing for the nation!" Ye Shouguan’s voice was resolute, "If the Emperor of Zhou truly sees me as a worthy opponent, then there is no need for further words. We Xiliang soldiers would rather die fighting for the nation than live and give up an inch of Xiliang land!" On the city wall, the Xiliang soldiers pressed their lips tightly in silence, with only the Xiliang military flag fluttering noisily. Bai Qingyan’s eyes were wet and red. After a while, she also bowed deeply to Ye Shouguan: "Can risk an eight-foot-tall body, not let Xiliang lose an inch of land, Bai Qingyan admires..." Bai Qingyu also clasped his fist, bowing deeply to this opponent. Bai Qingqi, Bai Qingjue, Bai Qingyun, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jinzhao, and Bai Jinhua, Bai Jinse also clasped their fists and saluted. Ye Shouguan turned and walked towards the city wall. Bai Qingyan also turned with the Bai family members, heading towards the Zhou army. The final battle was on the verge of breaking out. "Warriors of Xiliang!" Ye Shouguan shouted aloud, "The nation is in trouble, we must give our lives to protect the country! Vow to never retreat!" Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚·𝔫𝔢𝔱 "Vow to never retreat!" "Vow to never retreat!" "Vow to never retreat!" On the city wall, where few were left, almost everyone was wounded, the Xiliang soldiers shouted loudly, the cries of never retreat resounded one after another. They all had the determination to sacrifice for Xiliang. Bai Qingyan’s eyes filled with tears. As fellow soldiers, she understood Ye Shouguan’s determination to never retreat, and the reasons... Her greatest respect for Ye Shouguan was to do her best in this battle. Behind her, the sounds of killing were terrifying; the already few remaining Xiliang soldiers were soon captured by the Zhou army... Before Ye Shouguan died, his body covered in blood, he used his last breath to firmly place the Xiliang military flag on the city wall; as long as the body was there, the flag was there! This Xiliang flag was the faith of Xiliang! More important than his life, a thousand times over! But he was too tired. He looked at the battlefield filled with corpses at Yecheng Pass and knelt beside the flag. In the whistling wind, Ye Shouguan’s vision became increasingly blurred; facing him but not approaching was the Bai family army of Zhou, standing on the city wall, his dilated pupils showing a smile. The cold wind blew as snowflakes drifted from the dark night sky. He seemed to see his mother, sitting kindly under the pear tree, and his younger brother, who died young due to his father’s concubine, shaking off the snow-white pear blossoms on his head and showing a pure, innocent smile, calling him brother... Ye Shouguan blew out white mist from the corners of his lips, his heart surging with blood. He couldn’t hold it! He couldn’t fight anymore! If the Bai family gains Xiliang and unites the world, he also wants to see from above, the peaceful rivers and mountains that Bai Qishan’s daughter talked about, with soldiers but no fighting. Mother, couldn’t hold Yecheng Pass... couldn’t hold our home, will you blame your son? Mother, in your son’s heart, he also wants to see that peaceful river and mountain with soldiers but no fighting! Mother, from now on, your son will no longer go to war, he will be able to accompany you well, and protect his younger brother! Mother, brother, I’m coming. Soon, the white mist from Ye Shouguan’s urgent breath disappeared from the corners of his lips, the smile on Ye Shouguan’s face seemed frozen and no one knew what he saw before he died. In the second year of Yuanhe, on January 12, the Lord of Gaoyi, Shen Kunyang General of Zhou, led troops to take Xiajian City. In the second year of Yuanhe, on January 14, the Emperor of Zhou led the Bai family army to capture the Xiliang stronghold Yecheng Pass. Bai Qingyan ordered Ye Shouguan to be buried honorably on the peak of Yecheng Pass and inscribed on his tombstone the phrase "Willing to risk an eight-foot-tall body, to protect Xiliang’s every inch of land." Whether it’s Zhou or Xiliang... there are always courageous and patriotic good soldiers! In this battle, almost everyone in the Bai family suffered minor injuries. After brief bandaging, Bai Qingyan led the Bai family members to offer incense to the Bai family soldiers who sacrificed in the battle and then also paid respects at Ye Shouguan’s grave with three sticks of incense. From afar, Bai Qingjue saw Yang Wuce seemingly wanting to say something. He glanced at the eldest young lady and his siblings who were offering incense and turned to walk toward Yang Wuce. When descending the mountain, Bai Qingyu spoke to Bai Qingyan about the return to the capital: "Now that Zhou has taken Yecheng Pass in just two days, it should have already spread to other Xiliang cities. From now on, the battle will be easier, so elder sister should return to Dadu City..." Bai Qingqi, with hands behind his back, followed next to Bai Qingyan and added, "Yes, eldest sister is now pregnant and indeed not fit to lead the Bai family army in battle. The first child of our Bai family generation can’t be born on the battlefield, even Commandant Lu and the court officials cannot allow the first imperial heir to be born on the battlefield." "The original plan was to return to Dadu City after taking Yecheng Pass!" Bai Qingyan turned to Bai Jinxiu and asked, "After you and A Yu joined, I haven’t asked yet... During the battle at Liuxiang Mountain, how many of the Tianfeng Kingdom’s Elephant Army escaped after Aksai was captured alive?" "Later Yan Kingdom followed up. However, I think not many escaped, as the Ninth Prince of Yan Kingdom personally led the troops, and the enemy general had already been captured. Not many would have escaped. At that time, we were in a hurry to join elder sister to attack Yecheng Pass, so An Qingshan was left to clean up the battlefield and handle the division of spoils for the two countries." Bai Jinxiu held Bai Qingyan’s arm as they walked down the mountain. "Elder sister, do not worry, An Qingshan has been informed. Currently, Yan Kingdom is lacking in grain, so giving them more doesn’t matter. Winning the hearts of the Yan Army is most important." Bai Qingyu understands the elder sister’s strategy; now giving up small profits is to gain greater benefits for the smooth merging of the two countries, "After dividing the spoils, let An Qingshan send all of them to Yecheng Pass." "Eldest sister..." Bai Qingjue returned hastily and said, "Li Tianjiao has returned to Yunjing to ascend the throne, claiming Li Tianfu was a puppet emperor supported by Tianfeng Kingdom and that she is the emperor assigned by the late emperor’s legacy! Now Xiliang already knows we captured Li Tianfu alive, so when the news reaches other Xiliang cities, those defending generals might abandon Li Tianfu and turn to support Li Tianjiao." Sitting on a palanquin, Bai Qingyun heard this news and carelessly spoke: "Now that Yecheng Pass has been taken, even if Li Tianjiao reclaims the throne, the morale of Xiliang is already shattered." Bai Qingyan smiled at Bai Qingyun, raised her hand to fix the fine wool blanket on Bai Qingyun’s lap, and nodded: "Young Fourth and Uncle Shen should have taken Xiajian City by now. The next step is to conquer Tanggu. So from now on, you must go straight through to Yunjing! I will remain at Yecheng Pass, complete the defensive arrangements, and then return to Dadu City."