Counterattack begins

Once the fifteenth day of the first lunar month passed, the Second Division set out according to the original plan.

Gao Yuan remained in Guchang County for a very simple reason: the two women were about to give birth.

Perhaps because Gao Yuan was about to go on a campaign at any moment, the two women's anxiety had disturbed their fetal qi.

Or perhaps the two little ones were so impatient to see their Father that they decided to come out early.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, while the family was gathered for breakfast, the two women's water broke.

There was no time to get to the prepared delivery room; the two women went into labor right in Zhao Xiyao's bedroom.

For a moment, everyone in the Grand Princesss Residence, from the front courtyard to the back, was running around in a frantic circle.

"Brother Mu, Brother Mu, do you think the two madams will give birth to boys or girls?"

"Didn't the Commandery Duke say it's the same whether it's a boy or a girl? Brother Song, what are you so anxious about?"

Song Yong let out a sigh.

"This old man is afraid that if the eldest son isn't born of the legal wife, it will inevitably lead to some unpleasantness in the future!

But I also hope the Commandery Duke has an heir as soon as possible, so that everyone above and below can feel at ease!"

Mu Sheng immediately understood Song Yong's dilemma and patted his colleague's shoulder.

"Just rest easy. He is a man of his own mind; such a situation won't happen."

"Sigh... I hope so!"

In the backyard, Gao Yuan was also pacing in circles, both aching for his women and nervous about the impending new lives.

Several times he tried to rush in, but he was blocked by the Female Soldiers.

"Commandery Duke, Commandery Duke, men cannot enter the delivery room lest they be tainted by bad luck."

"Bad luck my foot! My women and children are in there; what bad luck could there be?"

However, this time the Female Soldiers resolutely carried out the Grand Princess's orders, firmly blocking Gao Yuan, their direct superior.

Almost at the same time, two crisp cries rang out from the side rooms.

Two midwives came out smiling.

"Congratulations, Grand Princess! Congratulations, Commandery Duke! It is the joy of a son!"

It was a daughter. Many people breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this news—though this certainly did not include Gao Yuan.

He didn't care about any of that; he didn't even glance at the children and rushed straight into the delivery room.

Looking at the two weakened beauties, Gao Yuan took each of their small hands and gave each a kiss.

"You've worked hard!"

"Husband, where are the children?"

"I haven't looked yet."

The two women felt a surge of warmth and sweetness in their hearts, but their faces still showed some anxiety.

"Husband, bring the children over."

"Alright, I'll have the midwives bring them in right away."

Upon learning they were daughters, a look of disappointment was evident in the two women's eyes. Gao Yuan immediately thumped his chest, declaring that boys and girls were the same.

"Look at the three of you, and then there's Wu Xu. Which of you isn't stronger than a man?

And compared to sons, I prefer daughters. How wonderful daughters are—they're like intimate little cotton-padded jackets!"

Although they didn't understand what Gao Yuan meant by "little cotton-padded jackets," everyone understood his sentiment.

Seeing their husband working so hard to comfort them, the two women's moods significantly improved.

After discussing with the women, Gao Yuan finally made the decision: Zheng Wan's daughter would be named Gao Yu, and Song Yao's daughter would be named Gao Nan.

The birth of his two daughters gave Gao Yuan even stronger motivation. Had it not been for the arrival of Liu Rengui's victory report, he would have already prepared to set out.

After learning they were two daughters, the group of civil officials represented by Song Yong also felt much more at ease.

At least the situation they feared would not arise, and they began to work even more diligently.

Having suffered a loss, Bayinnaung and the Toungoo side held their ground for the time being; they had to replenish their forces.

The stubborn Bayinnaung was unwilling to ask his Father for help, instead continuing to cast his gaze toward the territory under his jurisdiction.

At this moment, he was like a gambler who had lost until his eyes were red, caring nothing for whether it was time for spring plowing.

In his view, in places like Ayutthaya and Bangkok, one could grow grain just by scattering some seeds.

The people of the former Ayutthaya lands already bore a heavy burden; now, being dragged off to serve as cannon fodder was simply more than they could endure.

Since death awaited them either way, these laid-back tropical people finally became like cornered rabbits, ready to bite.

The rebellion broke out very suddenly, yet it was not surprising at all.

Within a short half-month, the rebellion swept through four or five prefectures, and the depleted local garrisons were simply unable to withstand it.

The number of rebels also grew from a few thousand at the start to tens of thousands.

Faced with this situation, Bayinnaung had no choice but to abandon his plans and redeploy his troops to return and suppress the rebellion.

"Commander, it has been confirmed. A rebellion has broken out in Ayutthaya and other places, and the main Toungoo force has returned to quell it."

Regarding the sudden departure of the main Toungoo force, Liu Rengui still maintained a cautious attitude.

It wasn't until late February that the scouts sent to gather information finally returned with definitive intelligence.

Liu Rengui slapped the desk in excitement and stood up abruptly, his voice involuntarily rising.

"Heaven is truly helping me! Order all units to begin the counterattack as planned!"

"Understood!"

With Liu Rengui's order, the army, with the First Division as its backbone, began its assault under the leadership of Ma Song.

The garrison at Phitsanulok had fewer than five thousand men left, and they were scattered across various locations.

Pindalipha immediately realized something was wrong and began to actively shrink his defensive lines.

In less than ten days, Toungoo's territory in Phitsanulok was reduced to a single county seat.

Ma Song adopted a relentless stance, leading his army directly to pounce on it, surrounding the city from two sides.

Inside the city, Pindalipha was so anxious his hair was turning white.

They hadn't occupied the city of Phitsanulok for long, so there were neither people nor provisions.

Now his military rations were only enough for ten days; by then, they would likely all starve to death before the city even fell.

But without orders, he didn't dare to take it upon himself to command the abandonment of the city.

On the other side, Liu Rengui personally led the Third Division and the Xuanjia Army from Vientiane to invade Nan Province.

Upon hearing this news, Bayinnaung didn't seem surprised at all.

"One wrong move and the whole game is lost. Send orders to Pindalipha to abandon Phitsanulok; he must protect Nan Province for me."

Quelling the rebellion was not as simple as he had imagined; at this moment, he only wanted to protect his existing territory and didn't dare consider attacking.

Elsewhere, the cold winter finally ended, and the plateau finally began to warm up.

Unaware that the Toungoo side had already fizzled out, Tuoba Tao finally finished reorganizing his troops and prepared to head south.

"Uncle, during the last campaign against Song Prefecture, my Father was the vanguard. For this attack on Lijiang, I am willing to take on the heavy responsibility of the vanguard."

Looking at the bloodshot eyes of Tuoba Rui before him, Tuoba Tao let out a sigh.

"Rui'er, I understand your desire to avenge your Father, but this expedition is of great importance and allows for no mistakes..."

Tuoba Rui grew anxious and interrupted Tuoba Tao somewhat rudely.

"Uncle, I have practiced diligently these past few months for this very day."

"Fine, fine. Since you want to go, I will grant you five thousand elite troops."

Tuoba Tao stopped the excited Tuoba Rui.

"But Rui'er, you must remember that those Han people are all full of schemes. You must be cautious and prudent on the march."

"Please rest assured, Uncle. I understand."

Tuoba Rui left in high spirits. Watching that exuberant figure, Tuoba Tao still felt somewhat uneasy.

"I hope everything goes smoothly this time."

Western Kang's army of eighty thousand this time could be considered the elite gathered by the strength of the entire nation.

It could also be considered Western Kang's last remaining assets. Before setting out, the sovereign Li Yuanhao had told him:

"Even if you are defeated, you must bring the main force back to me. Otherwise, our Great Kang will not have the capital to descend from the plateau for ten years."

Therefore, Tuoba Tao had been extremely careful during this expedition.

Even though the army had already been assembled, he waited stubbornly until March to begin his move.

Now that he had handed the vanguard to the young and aggressive Tuoba Rui, his heart was full of trepidation.

However, his gamble seemed to have yielded miraculous results. Tuoba Rui won two consecutive battles and captured three county seats.

Now the vanguard army was pressing toward the gates of Lijiang.