General and I Episode 38 Recap
> General and I Recap
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Zui Ju excitedly informed Bai Pingting that He Xia was preparing to depart for war. Zui Ju hoped that with He Xia away from the manor, they would finally have an opportunity to escape. However, Pingting remained calm, explaining that He Xia was meticulous, and few things in the world escaped his control. She pointed out that if there were already numerous guards when he was present, there would only be more once he left, making escape even more challenging.
Pingting then instructed Zui Ju to find a map of Bailan for her to study. Meanwhile, in the imperial palace, Prime Minister Gui, a veteran minister who had served three generations of Bailan rulers, attempted to persuade Princess Yaotian not to engage in war. Yaotian, however, argued that He Xia was the only general capable of challenging Chu Beijie.
She asserted that in a world divided into four regions, one must either be the aggressor or the victim, and without fighting, peace was impossible. Her immediate plan was to secure He Xia's loyalty, then find a way to release Bai Pingting. The Prime Minister subtly questioned where He Xia had spent the previous night, hinting at his concern over He Xia's focus on Pingting.
Yaotian dismissed his concerns, reiterating that the decision to wage war had been made and that the Prime Minister should instead focus on helping He Xia defeat the Jin Army. Unaware of the specific enemy He Xia was facing, Pingting analyzed the impending battle with Zui Ju. She predicted that the distant enemy would launch a swift, powerful assault to breach the city walls, while He Xia would keep the gates shut, relying on the city's formidable defenses.
Pingting concluded that escaping through the city gates would be impossible until the war ended, necessitating an alternative route. She proposed heading south towards Great Jin. Zui Ju questioned returning to the dangerous Jin state, but then realized Pingting intended to return to pay respects to her husband. Pingting expressed her deep longing to fulfill her wifely duties, be with him, and tell him about their child. Outside Yun'an City, a scout presented Chu Beijie with the city's defense plans.
Chu Beijie observed that He Xia had transformed Bailan's previous policy of recuperation into one of military readiness, reinforcing Yun'an's city walls to be highly defensible. This development was something Chu Beijie wished to avoid. He swiftly decided on a lightning attack, ordering his general, Chu Moran, to have soldiers dig twelve underground tunnels into the city overnight. At dawn, their army would launch a coordinated assault from both inside and outside using siege rams.
Chu Beijie expressed remorse for not protecting Pingting, vowing to apologize to her once he rescued her from Bailan. Back at the Prince Consort Manor, Zui Ju repeatedly attempted to sneak out but was always apprehended by the butler. The butler politely but firmly stated that Prince Consort He Xia had given strict orders before his departure: while Pingting was to be treated with utmost respect, neither she nor Zui Ju were permitted to leave the manor.
Pingting, recognizing Zui Ju's restlessness and her own strategic needs, suggested they borrow some men from the butler to clean and fill all the water vats in the courtyard. Although the servants were confused by the unusual request, the butler readily agreed, as it kept them occupied within the manor. Later, Pingting explained her reasoning to Zui Ju.
She anticipated that He Xia would employ a staunch defense, leveraging the city's strong walls and ample provisions to prolong the war and wear down the distant enemy. However, Yun'an City's critical weakness lay in its water sources, which were located outside the city walls. Pingting deduced that cutting off or even poisoning the Yong'an and Longshou canals would force He Xia into a direct, swift engagement.
This, she revealed, was the true purpose behind her instruction to fill the manor's water vats. Zui Ju worried about the impact of poisoned water on the city's inhabitants, but Pingting observed that in this era, military strategists often resorted to extreme measures for victory, even if it meant sacrificing civilian lives. Concurrently, a Bailan scout intercepted a supposed secret report from the Jin Army, ordering Chu Beijie to retreat to Jin.
He Xia, upon hearing this, became overconfident, believing Chu Beijie was isolated and he would not give him another chance to escape. Unbeknownst to him, this intercepted report was a deliberate ruse by Chu Beijie. Chu Beijie had anticipated that with the water sources cut, He Xia would be eager for a quick decisive battle. He knew He Xia would become complacent upon seeing the fake report.
The real message from the Jin King to Chu Beijie was simply two characters: "feign defeat," indicating that while He Xia thought the war was nearing its end, the true battle was just beginning. Later that night, two assassins infiltrated Bai Pingting's room, attempting to harm her. Fortunately, Pingting had anticipated such an event and, with Zui Ju's help, had prepared in advance, ensuring neither of them was injured.
When the butler arrived, distressed by the security breach, Pingting instructed him not to inform He Xia, fearing it would distract him from military affairs. Instead, she asked the butler to report the incident directly to Princess Yaotian, entrusting him with a piece of her personal embroidery to present to the Princess. The Princess arrived at the Prince Consort Manor, expressing regret for not visiting Pingting sooner due to battlefront and state affairs.
Pingting congratulated Yaotian on a significant victory, having deduced it from the sounds of the battlefield, the clear skies after the previous day's smoke, and the Princess's calm demeanor. Yaotian praised Pingting's exceptional strategic insight. She then presented Pingting with the embroidered piece Pingting had sent, noting its beauty but also its depiction of a "lone goose," implying a need for partnership.
Yaotian then showed a second goose, which her maid Luyi had embroidered next to the first, symbolizing their potential collaboration. After dismissing their attendants, Pingting knelt before Yaotian, earnestly asking the Princess to intervene and "set things straight" for her. Yaotian ultimately decided to keep Pingting at the manor to assist He Xia, believing that Pingting's strategic brilliance would greatly benefit Bailan's rise.
