Chapter 445 - 373: I, Bai Qi, Shall Repay With the Gift of a Nation
Chapter 445: Chapter 373: I, Bai Qi, Shall Repay With the Gift of a Nation
Xiao Mo’s words hung in the air of the command tent.
All eyes turned to the young man named Bai Qi.
Zhao Guang and Li Jing were both very familiar with Bai Qi.
They had witnessed his valor on the battlefield over the past year.
Just as the Frost King himself once had, Bai Qi had earned the honors of slaying enemy generals, capturing banners, and being the first to scale enemy walls.
Prince Zhenbei had once pointed to Bai Qi and said to them, "This young man is destined for greatness. He will surely be a great asset to my son."
Afterward, Prince Zhenbei appointed Bai Qi as a Vice General and tested his ability to command.
The way Bai Qi commanded his troops impressed Prince Zhenbei more and more.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been sent here now to face the Chu Kingdom.
However, ’Is it really all right to make Bai Qi the commanding general?’
It wasn’t that Zhao Guang and Li Jing were jealous of Bai Qi; they simply thought he was too young.
The Frost King himself had started leading armies at a similar age, even annihilating the Wei Kingdom.
After all, it was exceedingly rare for a kingdom’s Qi Fortune to produce two great commanders of the Frost King’s caliber in succession.
"Bai Qi, I want you to lead the army and defeat Wu Qi. Do you dare?" Xiao Mo asked again.
Bai Qi stepped forward, clasped his fist, and bowed deeply. "How could I dare to betray the General’s trust! If I do not defeat Wu Qi, I will answer for my failure with my life!"
"Good."
Xiao Mo nodded.
"You will all lead the army out today. Bai Qi, if a decision of yours is opposed by both of your vice generals, General Li and General Zhao, you are not to act on it. Do you understand?"
"Yes, General!" Bai Qi said earnestly.
"General Li, General Zhao, Bai Qi is very young. If he becomes too impetuous or his thirst for battle grows too strong, you may restrain him. Otherwise, let him make the decisions," Xiao Mo instructed.
"We obey your command!"
Li Jing and Zhao Guang saluted in unison.
That same day, Bai Qi and the two generals led an elite army of three hundred thousand—sixty thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry and two hundred and forty thousand infantry—and marched for Celestial Thought City.
In less than two days, Bai Qi and his forces arrived and took full command of Celestial Thought City.
The City Lord of Celestial Thought City had been expecting the famous general Xiahou Nan to come defend the city. Instead, the commander was a young man he had never even heard of.
For a moment, the City Lord began to panic all over again.
But remembering they had been sent by the Frost King, and that they had Generals Li Jing and Zhao Guang serving under them, the City Lord decided to extend his trust first and save his doubts for later.
Two days later, scouts reported that Wu Qi’s army was approaching.
Celestial Thought City was not protected by any natural fortifications; it was merely a defensive screen. Furthermore, keeping an army of several hundred thousand cooped up within the city walls for a static defense would severely restrict their movements.
Moreover, the two armies were roughly equal in number, and Bai Qi had the advantage of sixty thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry.
Therefore, after strategizing with Zhao Guang and Li Jing, Bai Qi decided they would lead the army out to meet the enemy head-on.
Among the Allied States, the most respected path to victory was to crush the enemy in open battle.
If Bai Qi won this confrontation, he could completely shatter the enemy’s morale and decide the outcome in a single, decisive battle.
On their fourth day in Celestial Thought City, the Chu Army arrived at the gates.
Bai Qi and the two generals led their army out to meet the challenge.
There were no schemes or ploys, only a direct, head-on clash.
The generals on both sides would rely on their mastery of formations and tactics in a battle to the death.
Bai Qi stood with the vanguard, as immovable as a black stone monument.
His gaze fell upon the enemy formation in the distance—deathly silent, its ranks disciplined and imposing.
It was autumn, and the wind sweeping across the frontier was already laced with a biting chill.
It whipped up specks of withered grass and dust, which pattered against the cold armor with a fine, rasping sound.
Zhao Guang gazed at the opposing Chu Army, whose discipline was impeccable and whose killing intent was restrained but palpable. He sighed. "As expected of the Chu Kingdom’s greatest general. This army is on par with the forces of the Northern Wilderness!"
"This General Wu is truly formidable," Bai Qi’s voice was calm, betraying no emotion. "Without him, given how the King of Chu squanders his resources, the other kingdoms would have swooped in long ago."
"But no matter. The Chu Kingdom of today is a far cry from what it once was. Like the Wei Kingdom, its sun is setting."
"I have long heard of the renown of General Li and General Zhao," Wu Qi said, riding his horse forward to greet the two. "I hear General Li has finally been ennobled. My congratulations."
"My thanks, General Wu," Li Jing replied, returning the salute. "General Wu, you are one of the most famous commanders of our time. My lord, the Frost King, has the ambition to pacify the realm. The King of Chu is wasteful and incompetent. Rather than throw your life away for him, why not join us in the Qin Kingdom and achieve immortal glory?"
"Hahaha, I thank General Li for the kind offer," Wu Qi said with a smile, politely declining. "But the late emperor bestowed great favor upon my Wu family. The Xiao Family holds both the Northern Wilderness and the Wei Kingdom, yet they do not rebel. How then could my Wu family bring shame upon our ancestors by doing so?"
"That said," Wu Qi continued, his gaze shifting. "Judging by this young man’s regalia, he is the commanding general. Yet you are not the Frost King of legend. Might I be so bold as to ask your name?"
"I am Bai Qi, serving under the Frost King. By his command, I have come to Celestial Thought City to greet you, General!" Bai Qi replied with a clasped-fist salute.
"Bai Qi," Wu Qi repeated the name to himself, his gaze sweeping over the opposing army. "’Never heard of you. But to have earned the Frost King’s favor, you must have some ability. And to dare face me in a head-on clash shows you have courage. I hope you do not disappoint me.’"
"I hope I can give you a worthy fight, General," Bai Qi said, his gaze hardening, showing no trace of fear.
Wu Qi nodded. "The old rites have crumbled, and most have forgotten that even war has its etiquette. It has been a long time since I’ve had such a straightforward contest. Come! Beat the drums! Shatter their army! Take the city! Let me see if the Qin Kingdom truly has so many young prodigies!"
At Wu Qi’s command, the thunderous beat of war drums rolled across the plains.
Poised for battle, the two armies surged forward to kill!
Battle cries shook the heavens!
The two heavy infantry phalanxes on the Chu Army’s flanks began to advance, their steps perfectly synchronized, their shields forming a solid wall, while the central formation held its ground.