Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 860: Revised - 857: No Room for Error

"Princess of Zhen, I... I would not have sent people to capture these children if I were not worried about the innocent people dying in vain! I, too, am a father! How could I bear it?" The County Magistrate’s eyes reddened, filled with helpless despair.

"Father... don’t cry! Father, don’t cry!" The seven-year-old child in the magistrate’s arms reached out to wipe his tears.

"My child!" The magistrate clutched the child’s hand tightly, then lowered his head to kiss the child’s brow, tears and snot streaming down, "I... I’m sorry! Father is sorry!"

Liu Hong’s eyes were hot as he turned his head away, not daring to look further.

Bai Qingyan bit her lips, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart. She reached out and helped the trembling magistrate to his feet, then turned to the kneeling crowd, "From today onwards, where Bai Qingyan is, no child will be sent to Dadu City!"

"Yang Wuce!" Bai Qingyan called loudly.

Yang Wuce responded, entering from outside, kneeling on one knee, "At your service!"

"Take people immediately and arrest the envoy here to take the children. No need to bring him before me, lock him directly in the dungeon!" Bai Qingyan glanced at the magistrate. "Send someone to guide them!"

"Yes!" Yang Wuce commanded Yang Wei to take twenty men and leave with the government officers.

"Where is General Li who guards the city?!" Bai Qingyan asked the magistrate.

The county magistrate turned pale at the words and lowered his eyes, not daring to speak.

At this time, General Li, with a dozen loyal subordinates, was ambushing on the official road outside the city, ready to risk his life to save the children being taken to Dadu City.

"Speak truthfully!" Bai Qingyan walked to the county magistrate.

"Reporting... reporting, Princess of Zhen, General Li is currently ambushing on the official road outside the city, preparing... to rescue the children of Chunmu City!" After saying this, the magistrate kneeled towards Bai Qingyan, "Please don’t blame General Li. Among the children conscripted, nearly half are orphans whose fathers died on the battlefield. General Li... couldn’t bear it!"

"Good!" Bai Qingyan couldn’t help but praise, "This is a role model for us! A soldier with blood and backbone! Send someone to invite General Li back, tell him... Bai Qingyan entrusts him to guard Chunmu City. Not one child should be taken away!"

Hearing this, the county magistrate was overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed to Bai Qingyan, then turned and ordered, "Quick! Quickly, call General Li back!"

Soon, Yang Wuce brought back the envoy who came to Chunmu City to take the children, "Princess of Zhen, this envoy insists on seeing you. He is outside the door. If you refuse to see him, I will have him locked directly in the dungeon."

The envoy craned his neck to peer inside, and seeing Bai Qingyan in full armor brimming with murderous aura, he trembled but still shouted defiantly, "Princess of Zhen, I am the envoy sent by His Majesty, representing His Majesty! If you arbitrarily have me detained, do you still have His Majesty in your eyes? Aren’t you afraid of being accused of grave disrespect?"

"No need to see him... lock him up!" Bai Qingyan ordered.

"Princess of Zhen!" Liu Hong’s forehead throbbed, "That is someone sent by His Majesty. You ought to call him in and ask clearly, why treat His Majesty’s envoy this way! Do you..." Liu Hong’s words cut off abruptly. In the eyes of the Princess of Zhen, the Emperor no longer existed.

Princess of Zhen must be planning a rebellion.

Liu Hong now realized this, but it was too late...

Neither Yang Wuce nor the soldiers from Daliang would follow his orders.

The Jin Army that would obey his command were all in Hancheng, controlled by Commandery Princess Gaoyi.

Liu Hong closed his eyes. The Emperor issued such a decree, with such harsh means to conscript these children. He feared that once sent to Jiu-Chongtai, they would not survive! Thinking of what he saw and heard today in Chunmu City, Chunmu City was but a corner... from this glimpse, Liu Hong understood well what the entire Jin Kingdom must be like.

Not long after, General Li Tianbao, dressed in vigorous gear, returned with his soldiers, kneeling beside the county magistrate. "General Li Tianbao, at your service, Princess of Zhen!"

"General Li’s willingness to die to protect the people commands my respect!" Bai Qingyan bowed to Li Tianbao and declared loudly, "From today on, if anyone comes with orders to take the children of Chunmu City to Dadu City—whether holding an imperial edict or a gold medal—they must not be allowed through! Detain them! General Li and the magistrate will act under my command, and I, Bai Qingyan, will bear all consequences alone! Chunmu City is entrusted to General Li and the magistrate!"

Li Tianbao and the magistrate’s eyes reddened instantly. They had long heard of the Warrior Princess’s fame but did not expect her willingness to do anything to protect the people.

The magistrate bowed to the ground while Li Tianbao cupped his hands, both solemnly responding...

"Princess of Zhen, rest assured! I will defend Chunmu City to the death."

"Princess of Zhen, rest assured! I will defend Chunmu City to the death."

Leaving Chunmu City, Liu Hong remained silent. He did not know if Bai Qingyan intended to rebel against the Emperor and support the Crown Prince to ascend the throne. If so, it would be fine, at least Bai Qingyan would quell the chaos.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s upright back, Liu Hong preferred to believe that although Bai Qingyan was disappointed in the Emperor, she did not intend to rebel against the entire Imperial Family.

Liu Hong recalled what the magistrate and General Li Tianbao said before sending them out of the city. The imperial edict for conscripting a thousand boys and girls came with another decree, stating that only those holding a gold medal or an imperial decree could pass through the official roads guarded by city commanders.

If Liu Hong’s guess was correct, this was King Liang’s precaution to constrain him and Bai Qingyan. But now... this decree seemed incapable of restraining Bai Qingyan.

Once the matter of Chunmu Mountain spreads... as long as the name of the Princess of Zhen and the black sail with the white python emblem appear, any city commander with the heart to protect the people will open the gates.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s group return, the resting soldiers rose to their feet.

Meanwhile, Bai Jinxiu was still in Dadu City. The Emperor and King Liang had made a deal over the throne. Bai Qingyan guessed... Bai Jinxiu would not let King Liang ascend smoothly. She had to hurry back, or else... Bai Jinxiu might bring both herself and King Liang down to stall until her return.

Bai Qingyan reined in her horse, scanning the soldiers, and issued orders, "Lin Kangle, Yang Wei..."

Lin Kangle and the recently returned Yang Wei immediately stepped forward, "At your service!"

"Take thirty thousand soldiers and head straight for Jiu-Chongtai. You must rescue the children sent there without failure! If anyone slaughters citizens for constructing Jiu-Chongtai, kill without mercy! Set out immediately!"

"Yes!" Yang Wei leaped onto his horse, intending to brief Lin Kangle on the events in the government office while on the road.

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