Bai Zhanfeng sat across from Xianyue, gazing at her relaxed and content demeanor. Her air of confidence and ease seemed to alleviate the worries of those around her.
Bai Zhanfeng remained quietly seated, choosing not to speak. For him, simply sitting with Xianyue was a rare opportunity he was reluctant to disrupt, even at this moment.
Xianyue stood to pour herself a cup of tea, swiftly finishing it in one go before placing the cup on the table. She then poured another cup for Bai Zhanfeng, setting it in front of him as she resumed her seat.
"Bai Zhanfeng, what are your thoughts?" she inquired.
Leaning back in her chair, Xianyue casually rested her legs on the long table before her. Despite her nonchalant posture, there was something enviably carefree about her that one could not help but admire.
Bai Zhanfeng snapped back to attention. Over time, he had grown accustomed to the way Xianyue's words could swiftly draw him from his wandering thoughts.
Thoughts? Initially, he didn't grasp her meaning. After a moment's reflection, he noticed the documents strewn across the desk and suddenly understood; she was referring to the impending battle between Fenglan, Baichu, and Xuanyuan.
What were his thoughts? Bai Zhanfeng focused on Xianyue, pondering for a moment. Even now, he had scarcely contemplated this matter deeply. When the King of Chu pledged allegiance to Xuanyuan, he and the elder had led the Baijia army south of the Biluo River. Xuanyuan's forces had come, and the opinions within Baichu were sharply divided between advocating for peace or pursuing war. Without much thought, he had chosen the latter, unwilling to oppose Xianyue or find himself on opposing battlefields.
Having grown up in Qiu Tian Mountain Manor, Bai Zhanfeng was a straightforward man, deeply averse to the deceit of political maneuvering. Even now, he still held that disdain. Fortunately, the Chu Kingdom and Baichu were separated, with most of the soldiers south of the Biluo River fiercely loyal to the Baijia family. Yet, he still struggled to adapt.
Previously, when he envisioned the battlefield, he pictured nothing but bloodshed and slaughter. Although Xuanyuan had occupied the Chu Kingdom, the natural defenses of the Biluo River meant they had not sustained significant losses compared to the Yan Kingdom. However, Xianyue's actions had shifted his perspective on warfare. This place was as treacherous as the political arena, perhaps even more so; in politics, a single misstep might cost one their official title, but on the battlefield, defeat could mean piles of corpses.
Since departing from Yecheng, he had harbored concerns, sharing the same curiosity as the other ministers about Xianyue's intentions. Their discussions had softened his resolve, and he had joined them in inquiry, only to discover she was already well-prepared. Compared to the royal army of Chu, the Baijia army would undoubtedly display greater valor on the battlefield. Yet, when it came to Xuanyuan, Bai Zhanfeng felt less assured. They had been victorious in their campaigns, which further diminished his confidence. Now, he understood as Xianyue had said; he had indeed kicked against iron plates. His confidence grew, perhaps for the first time, and he imagined the other generals felt the same way. Her wisdom and charisma were undoubtedly capable of rallying others.
Bai Zhanfeng stared at Xianyue, unable to discern her true intentions or what she wished to hear. This ambiguity frustrated him; had it been Lan Yixuan, he was certain he would have known the words she wanted to hear.
"Bai Zhanfeng, what do you think Xuanyuan Hao will do?"
Xianyue suddenly stood, leaning forward to meet his gaze, her lips curving into a smile as she asked.
Bai Zhanfeng raised his eyes to meet hers. At this moment, Xuanyuan Hao could no longer pursue victory. Bai Zhanfeng felt unfamiliar with him; apart from a few encounters in Panshi, they shared no personal connection, and he knew nothing of his character.
What would he do? Would he continue the assault or retreat to Xuanyuan? Bai Zhanfeng's mind replayed his memories of Xuanyuan Hao—an imposing figure, rivaling Lan Yixuan in stature, and equally connected to Xianyue. Surrender?
"I believe he will certainly construct ships and continue the offensive," Bai Zhanfeng replied after a moment of contemplation, his gaze fixed firmly on Xianyue.
He did not know Xuanyuan Hao well, but they shared a commonality—unrequited love. Bai Zhanfeng clung to the Baijia family out of duty and obligation, while Xuanyuan Hao, despite his vast differences from Lan Yixuan, would undoubtedly harbor similar emotions. Now, with the loss of Xianyue, how could he resign himself to being empty-handed? With his intellect, he could not possibly remain ignorant of Bai Zhanfeng's character or overlook the fact that the strategy originated from Xianyue. What would he do then? Feel even more resentful, intensifying his ambition for dominion over the realm.
Though their interactions had been brief, Bai Zhanfeng could see that Xuanyuan, much like Lan Yixuan, was a formidable man. He recognized that Xuanyuan held feelings for Xianyue as well. Initially, Bai Zhanfeng had let Xianyue go for the sake of the Baijia family, but Xuanyuan's reasons were rooted in his ambition for conquest. Now, he surely regretted his earlier decisions, much like Bai Zhanfeng. He believed that such a man would never give up halfway.
Xianyue nodded, and Bai Zhanfeng continued, "Although the ships and timber along the Biluo River are completely gone, the northern bank still belongs to the King of Chu and is within his control. With Xuanyuan's strong forces, even though the camp is not far away, they can swiftly transport timber from other parts of Chu to construct ships, and they could complete it within half a month."
Xianyue smiled, the corners of her lips rising. She had long recognized Bai Zhanfeng's ambition—his dream was to unify the realm, and for that dream, he would stop at nothing. Now, he had already captured more than half of the Zhou Dynasty's territory; she could never believe he would relinquish it.
With Xuanyuan Hao's cunning and the might of Xuanyuan's army, if they clashed directly, both sides would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses. Even if they were victorious in the end, the casualties would be staggering—something she wished to avoid. Xianyue had never thought of herself as a merciful person, but she also did not want to see lives wasted in vain. Even if Lan Kingdom emerged victorious, the world would be left in ruins, which was not the outcome she desired nor the legacy she wished to leave for Lan Yixuan.
Spending this time with Ya'er, Lvzhu, and others, she found each of them unwaveringly devoted to her, blindly following her lead. Their loyalty and admiration for her had reached a fanatical level. She did not want others to become like them; while they might be content now, as they owed her a debt of gratitude, she did not wish for others to lose their individuality as well. She hoped that those pitiful souls could live for themselves.
"And what do you propose we do?"
Bai Zhanfeng fixed his gaze on Xianyue, fully aware of the outcome of a direct confrontation. Yet, he truly had no effective plan. If Xuanyuan were to launch an attack, his approach would simply be to meet them head-on. It would take nearly half a month for Xuanyuan to construct ships, and during that time, their morale would surely wane. Despite having only two hundred thousand troops, with high spirits, victory was not out of reach. If absolutely necessary, he could send a message requesting an additional one hundred fifty thousand troops to join them, bringing their total to three hundred fifty thousand against Xuanyuan's three hundred thousand; then, there would surely be no problems. However, this clumsy method left Bai Zhanfeng unsure of how to articulate it, knowing full well that Xianyue desired something far more sophisticated.
"I can assure you my method is not what you want."
After deliberating for some time, Bai Zhanfeng decided to speak candidly. Given Xianyue's assertions, she had undoubtedly formed her own plan.
"What do you think we should do?"
Xianyue sat at the long table, gazing at Bai Zhanfeng, a playful smile crossing her lips. "I am aware of your approach; it is rather simplistic. In the end, we might achieve victory, but at a grievous cost. A victory won at such a price would be no different from defeat." Each word was crisp and unembellished, and Bai Zhanfeng felt no anger; she was merely speaking the truth. If this battle were left to him—
"Qingting, Lvzhu, Ya'er, and all those who accompany me, I do not wish for any of them to be taken from my side due to war. The ten thousand troops from Lan Kingdom, along with your Baichu, I trust you do not wish to hear any ill tidings either."
Yet such a straightforward method would inevitably lead to the outcomes Xianyue spoke of.
Bai Zhanfeng understood perfectly; he did not want any misfortune to befall his soldiers or generals, but he felt powerless. He was a straightforward man, born for the ways of the world, yet he found himself entangled in the luxurious.