Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 89: 88章:Choosing Righteousness over Life_1

When Bai Qishan, the Princely Heir of Duke of Zhen, arrived in Fengcheng, he found it unscathed. The grain and forages officer claimed that no supplies had arrived. The Deputy Commander, Liu Huanzhang, stayed briefly in Fengcheng, saying the supplies had already reached the front lines, reassuring the grain and forages officer.

Bai Qishan knew Liu Huanzhang had betrayed them and turned back to aid Chuanling Mountain. Unexpectedly, Liu Huanzhang led 180,000 soldiers to ambush him in the Luofeng Canyon; their forces were imbalanced. Bai Qishan, with only 10,000 troops, could not withstand and, heavily injured, retreated to Fengcheng with 1,000 soldiers.

Bai Qishan was besieged in Fengcheng for five days and ran out of food. Liu Huanzhang captured the five sons of the Bai family, stripped and mutilated them to humiliate Bai Qishan, trying to force his surrender. Bai Qishan, resolved to protect the citizens of Fengcheng, fought to the death with Liu Huanzhang to buy time, tearfully shooting and killing the five sons of the Bai family.

Before the battle, Bai Qishan had ordered those with elderly parents and without heirs to step back. Those willing to die for the people of Jin Kingdom followed him to face the enemy.

The seventeen-year-old son of the Bai family, only ten years old, stepped forward with a sword. He declared he was willing to fight and die for the people of Jin Kingdom with his father, refusing to live in shame! The Bai family army, deeply moved by the ten-year-old, drew their swords, shouting to fight to the death and refusing to live in disgrace.

Meanwhile, as King Xin fled with 3,000 soldiers during Nanyan’s surprise attack, he left behind 2,000 Bai family soldiers who stayed with General Bai Qingyu to fight for the people, buying time for the evacuation.

...

Bai Qingyu sent 500 soldiers to evacuate the civilians and led 1,500 soldiers to drink a toast, declaring that though they were born at different times, they would fight for the people of Jin Kingdom as blood brothers. They drank and pledged to meet again in the afterlife.

General Bai Qingyu and 1,500 soldiers died together, their bodies burned.

General Bai Qingming defended Feng County until the allied forces of Xiliang and Nanyan attacked the city. General Bai Qingming stated that the Bai family army would fight to the death with their backs against the river for the millions of people behind them. To disrupt their morale, Yun Poxing, the enemy commander, killed the seventeen-year-old son of the Bai family and mutilated his body in front of the troops, revealing his stomach filled with roots and soil, shocking Yun Poxing.

The Bai family army, spurred to fury, fought valiantly against the enemy.

Even the accompanying historian, overwhelmed by the bravery, wrote in their last entry:

“The blood of a ten-year-old shames me. Though a scholar, I will throw down my pen and wield a sword! To die in battle…”

After reading the six blood-stained bamboo slips, the Bai family members and the citizens of Dadu standing in front of Wude Gate were already in tears. @@novelbin@@

Bai Qingyan, holding the six blood-stained bamboo slips high, shouted: “The supplies never reached the southern front. Deputy Commander Liu Huanzhang betrayed us! King Xin’s greed forced Duke of Zhen, Bai Weiting, into battle, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers in the south. Yet the blame was placed on Duke of Zhen, calling him stubborn and misusing troops. I ask His Majesty to restore justice and honor to the fallen souls and take Liu Huanzhang and execute King Xin. Restore the law and reassure the people!”

The gate commander, filled with righteous indignation and tears, turned sympathetically to the Eldest Princess: “Eldest Princess, each strike of the drum equals thirty lashes. Shouldn’t we stop the Third Lady?”

“Strike the drum!” Bai Qingyan’s eyes were like torches as she stood up. “I will take the lashes! Even if I die outside Wude Gate today, this righteous drum must resound to the heavens!”

She knelt on one knee in front of the gate, staring resolutely at the imposing Wude Gate.

The sacrifice and bravery over the years made the drum a mere symbol, as no one dared to beat it.

The executioner, holding the long staff, was deeply moved, unable to bring himself to strike after hearing of the Bai family’s sacrifice.

The delicate yet determined woman before him was a Bai family widow. He couldn’t bring himself to hurt her.

Yet the rules had to be followed, so he held back on the strength of the blows.

“Miss Bai, I must follow the rules. Please forgive me.”

He raised the staff high and carefully brought it down…

The blow, carried by the wind, almost knocked Bai Qingyan down. She gritted her teeth, feeling a metallic taste in her chest.

“I’ll take the blows! I am strong!” Bai Jinzhi stepped forward, blocking the staff, kneeling beside Bai Qingyan. “My eldest sister was injured killing bandits years ago. She is not well. I will take the punishment!”

“I struck the drum! I will face the punishment!” Bai Jintong continued striking the drum.

“We sisters will bear it together!” Bai Jinxiu knelt beside Bai Qingyan. “We have endured military canings before. This is nothing!”

A man in the crowd, teary-eyed, stepped forward, kneeling: “I’ll take the punishment for the Bai family ladies! The men of the Bai family died for the country. Should their widows also die seeking justice?! Bai family’s loyalty… His Majesty must grant them justice!”

“I’ll take it! King Xin conspired with the traitorous Liu Huanzhang, not only greedy but also disgraced the heroes who sacrificed for Jin! The men of the Bai family dared to die for the country. I dare to die for their honor!”

A young scholar stood up: “Well said! To die for justice! As a scholar, deemed useless, today I will offer my body, seeking justice for the loyal souls!”

The scholar’s words stirred the crowd’s emotions, making women and children weep, especially mothers thinking of the ten-year-old Bai family’s son and the Fourth Lady who almost died from grief. They too rose, willing to take the punishment for the Bai family.

The righteous spirit spread among the people, deeply moved by the initial few, all eager to respond.

Bai Jinzhi, choking on her words, looked at the crowd supporting her family. Tears streamed down her face, unable to utter a word of thanks.

Suddenly, she recalled her eldest sister’s words that day in the Qinghui Courtyard…

—With no one in the royal court, it’s already difficult for us. If we lose the people’s support, we’re doomed! This is the outcome the people behind this plot want for our Bai family!

Now she understood… This is what her eldest sister sought: the people’s support! The people’s will is indeed so powerful.

Her heart surged with pride. She finally understood why her once silent eldest sister tirelessly recounted the Bai family’s contributions and their love for the country and its people.

In the past, the Bai family did much but said little, so people took it for granted.

Now, her eldest sister spoke of the Bai family’s sacrifices, and people were moved to tears.

As the saying goes, “A crying child gets milk.” The saying was true.

“I will take it too. I am strong. No matter how many times Third Lady Bai strikes the drum, I’ll take the staff!”