Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 1063

Chapter 1063: Chapter 1057: Gradual Encroachment

Someone saw Qin Shangzhi and the noblewoman protected by guards eating some of the same food as them. This was surprising, as men from wealthy or noble families usually couldn’t stomach such food. Yet, this young lady, evidently a noblewoman, had no complaints, appearing capable of enduring hardships. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

There were already suspicions that she might be the Emperor of Zhou, but then again, how could the Emperor come here personally?

The Emperor should be sitting in the Golden Palace, receiving bowing officials. Even if traveling, they should be accompanied by many officials, just like in the operas.

After sharing meals with the common folk and soldiers, Bai Qingyan dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, looked at the soldiers and people eating under the temporary shed, and said to Qin Shangzhi, "Add more meat to the meals for everyone. People doing heavy work need meat. If there’s not enough silver, ask the Ministry of Revenue."

Qin Shangzhi nodded, "Alright!"

Just as Qin Shangzhi finished speaking, Xie Yuchang hurriedly rushed into the dining shed with a report in hand, panting as he handed a bamboo tube with the message to Bai Qingyan, "Your Majesty, an urgent report from Dengzhou!"

Bai Qingyan took the tube, opened it, and poured out the letter...

Xie Yuchang, calming his heavy breathing slightly, relayed what the messenger said earlier: "At the border of Xiliang and Rong, the Dengzhou Army clashed with the Tianfeng Kingdom’s Elephant Army. We suffered a total of thirty-six casualties, while the opponent had thirteen casualties, and one elephant was blinded by our light cavalry."

Qin Shangzhi clenched his palm, then looked at Bai Qingyan, who was carefully reading the urgent report, her face suddenly turning somber, "Your Majesty..."

Her uncle mentioned in the letter that this was a deliberate provocation by the Tianfeng Kingdom. However, less than half an hour after the incident, Aksai of the Tianfeng Kingdom sent his deputy to the Zhou army camp to apologize, offering the head of the battle elephant and the heads of over twenty soldiers who came with the elephant to provoke the border, including the thirteen deceased.

Moreover, the Tianfeng Kingdom sent generous gifts and twenty warhorses, seeking forgiveness and offering to compensate tenfold for the Zhou soldiers killed and for the injured and disabled.

The Tianfeng Kingdom’s response left the Zhou with no room to hold a grudge, marking the first encounter between the Zhou and the Tianfeng Kingdom’s Elephant Army. Even cavalry couldn’t withstand the might of the elephants, rendering the brave soldiers helpless against the colossal beasts. If this were on the battlefield, charging elephants would be hard to shoot down.

Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on the letter and suddenly gained clarity in her mind.

She rolled up the letter from her uncle and lit it on fire using the candle on the black lacquered table.

Watching the flickering flames reflected in Bai Qingyan’s cold eyes, Qin Shangzhi tightened his hand, lowered his gaze in deep thought. The report from Dengzhou would have taken time to reach here, and the alliance of the several countries was proposed by Tianfeng and Xiliang. Did the Tianfeng commanders not know? Why then did they act at the critical moment of the alliance of several countries?

Watching the nearly burned-out paper fragments, Bai Qingyan’s eyes were full of coldness. Within half an hour, they neatly severed the head of their proud battle elephant, sent the heads of their soldiers, and even offered generous gifts and twenty warhorses. Handling it all so swiftly and without hesitation, if they weren’t prepared in advance, she wouldn’t believe it.

She understood... The Tianfeng Kingdom was testing the Zhou.

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