Liu Pinggao shook his head, "Your Majesty is already burdened with the matters of war during pregnancy, it is very exhausting. For matters within our control, let’s not disturb Your Majesty’s rest. You go to the city gate to pass on the orders first, and I’ll join you after dressing!" Outside Jiangzi City. Du Sanbao glanced toward the Xiliang military camp and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Retreat! Retreat! Fall back!" The furious Xiliang General ordered his men to mount and quickly pursue, but the Xiliang army was not ready to besiege the city. Would chasing to the foot of Jiangzi City and giving their heads to the Zhou army accomplish anything? General Cui hurriedly ordered not to pursue. However, the firecrackers that Du Sanbao threw into the camp startled the Xiliang soldiers, who were already unrested, leaving the Xiliang army unable to rest peacefully. After catching the horses and putting out the fire, the Xiliang generals, filled with anger, crowded into General Cui’s tent, all clamoring for an immediate assault on the city. Seeing the morale so high, General Cui felt that waiting was no longer an option; the Zhou must be taught a lesson. He had just stood up when a scout returned, knelt on one knee, and reported, "General, Bailong City is hastily preparing food tonight and is expected to deliver it tomorrow!" "Heaven blesses Xiliang!" General Cui said confidently in a loud voice, "Prepare troops, besiege the city!" The Xiliang military camp outside the pitch-black Jiangzi City suddenly lit up. Liu Pinggao watched Du Sanbao and others enter the city, shouting loudly, "Quickly close the city gate!" Seeing the distant Xiliang army still in pursuit, Liu Pinggao’s heart was in his throat. Once Du Sanbao and his men entered safely, and the gate was closed, Liu Pinggao relaxed, gripping the hilt of his sword he realized his hands were sweaty. He hurried down from the city wall and, seeing Du Sanbao leaping off his horse, loudly scolded him, "Du Sanbao! Who gave you the courage to attack the camp? Did you not know the Emperor forbade attacking the camp outside the city?" ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚~𝙣𝙚𝙩 Du Sanbao dismounted, chuckling, "I thought General Liu wanted to attack the city, so I dared to act. Didn’t it work well? Those firecrackers woke the whole Xiliang army!" "I’m afraid you’ll only foul things up! If the Xiliang sieges early... you’d ruin the Emperor’s grand plan!" Liu Pinggao sternly reprimanded. Liu Pinggao only recently understood why Bai Qingyan prohibited attacking the camp today! The guards sent by Bai Qingyan hadn’t been out of the city long—never mind Bailong City—Yecheng Pass is far off. If a siege were hurriedly mounted, what if Xiliang attacked before reinforcements from Yecheng Pass could arrive? Du Sanbao was momentarily stunned, he hadn’t thought things through: "Surely... it won’t happen, will it? It’s pitch-black—what would they attack?" Just as Du Sanbao’s words fell, the sound of war drums thundered from the Xiliang military camp, echoing through the wilderness. "They’re attacking the city!" Liu Pinggao exclaimed, eyes wide. Du Sanbao had never imagined that a mere raid would result in Xiliang attacking prematurely, his face instantly paled with fright. "General Liu, what... what should we do? I just wanted to keep Xiliang from resting well!" Du Sanbao showed a panicked expression, "Did I disrupt the Emperor’s plan?" Bai Qingyan, upon receiving the news, appeared slightly taken aback. However, on the battlefield, nothing is absolute. Fortunately, Bai Qingyan was well-prepared, the citizens had nearly completed their training, and the messenger had already left the city. Bai Qingyan tied up her long hair, donned silver armor, took the Sun-shooting Bow, and, accompanied by her guards, rode toward the city tower. Liu Pinggao was on the city walls commanding the defense, hearing the title "Your Majesty" called from below. He hurried down the tower, with the culpable Du Sanbao hastening behind him. Seeing Bai Qingyan dismount, Liu Pinggao knelt on one knee, taking the blame first, "Your Majesty, this humble general did not adhere to Your Majesty’s words and rashly sent men to raid the camp, causing Xiliang’s early siege. I beg Your Majesty for punishment!" Du Sanbao hadn’t expected Liu Pinggao to take all the blame, feeling increasingly guilty, he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, no, it was I who disobeyed..." "Now is not the time to vie for blame!" Bai Qingyan casually tossed the horsewhip to a guard behind her, stepping over Liu Pinggao and Du Sanbao to ascend the city tower. Liu Pinggao and Du Sanbao quickly got up and followed Bai Qingyan onto the city wall. Gazing into the distance, Bai Qingyan saw the Xiliang army converging. She turned and said, "Go! Sound the gong... rouse all the citizens, tell them Xiliang is about to begin the siege!" "Yes!" Du Sanbao took the order and ran down the city tower. Instantly, the sound of gongs filled Jiangzi City. The soldiers banged gongs, loudly calling for the citizens to wake up: "Xiliang is attacking the city! Xiliang is attacking! Get up and guard the walls! If the walls fall the Xiliang army will enter Jiangzi City and slaughter everyone!" Hearing that Xiliang was about to siege and later massacre the city, thinking of the people shot dead by Xiliang generals outside, the citizens responded eagerly. They quickly got up, dressed, grabbed what they could, and dashed to the city tower, shouting for neighbors to come defend, Xiliang was going to attack. Previously, Bai Qingyan had Liu Pinggao conduct rough training with the citizens, delegating the treatment of the wounded and transporting weapons to them, ensuring that all soldiers, upon ascending the city tower, must not waste arrows and ensure every shot counted against Xiliang. The few days’ training had not been wasted. Once the drum and horn sounded on the city wall, the citizens ran to their designated positions near the four city gates, while the soldiers drew their bows, waiting for Xiliang to come within range. Citizens moved bows and arrows to the walls, while stronger ones wound up the balistas beside, ready for action. Bai Qingyan stood atop the city wall, looking at the approaching Xiliang army. Though she did not see General Cui in the army, she identified several major generals of Xiliang. Holding the Sun-shooting Bow, she drew an arrow from the quiver at her waist, aiming into the distance... All four walls of Jiangzi City were on guard. General Cui hadn’t planned on a genuine siege; thus, he did not concentrate forces solely on the south gate but commenced an assault on all four gates simultaneously. Despite its grand appearance, this approach might not yield significant siege results, but if the city’s forces were insufficient, this kind of all-around attack would strain the defenders greatly. However, what General Cui did not know was that due to the Xiliang general’s refusal to let citizens leave the city, killing those who tried, these once Xiliang-loyal citizens were now eager to help Zhou defend the city. After all... they had become Zhou’s citizens, and who wouldn’t fear the Xiliang army entering and slaughtering everyone? The civilian involvement in the war was indeed beyond General Cui’s expectations, as he had believed the city’s citizens, having lived half their lives as Xiliang people, would surely side with Xiliang.