Chapter 353 Ambush

Li Mingde pondered for a while, seemingly hesitant, but after turning around and seeing Lin Changning's determined eyes, he nodded.

"I understand. I'm handing over command to you and I'll cooperate with you in the encirclement and suppression."

Lin Changning nodded to Li Mingde and thanked him: "Thank you for your cooperation, Your Highness. We will set up a trap in the valley tonight and lie in ambush while the night is cool. I will have Wei Shao send a message later."

After saying that, Lin Changning stood up and prepared to go out to reorganize his men. Li Mingde stood up as well and followed Lin Changning outside.

The battlefield outside had been mostly cleaned up. After Wan Jin and the others collected the belongings, they were on their way to report to Lin Changning.

Just then, they ran into the two men leaving the camp. Li Mingde's personal guards clasped their hands in greeting and asked, "Young Master, we've almost finished gathering the supplies. What's next?"

Li Mingde couldn't help but look at Lin Changning, who had a calm expression: "Following Commander Lin's instructions, split into two groups and go to the valley to set up an ambush under the cover of night."

The guards exchanged glances, ultimately not daring to disobey Li Mingde's orders. They clasped their hands in a fist salute along with several commanders, awaiting Lin Changning's instructions.

Lin Changning pointed to the three people: "The three of you take the soldiers and come with me to the mountainside to set up an ambush. The rest of you follow the young master to the low-lying area. Half of you set up the ambush, and the other half pretend to rest and set up camp."

The three people pointed out by Lin Changning quickly clasped their hands in greeting and said yes, then prepared to go down and reorganize the team.

Wan Jin was eager to try, looking at Lin Changning with longing eyes.

"Assistant Commander, us?"

Lin Changning glanced at Wan Jin, nodded to the man, and said, "Although he ambushed with me."

Wan Jin sighed and turned to go back to reorganize the team.

Lin Changning glanced around at the people around him and suddenly realized that Lu Shan, who was with Wei Shao, was not around.

He couldn't help but look around, trying to find Lushan.

At this moment, Lu Shan was leading a very conflicted Wei Shaogang to take the armor that Lu Shan had prepared for him.

Lu Shan may seem reckless, but he is actually quite meticulous. While carrying things for Wei Shao along the way, he remained very vigilant. Seeing Wei Shao obediently following him and cleverly accepting the armor, he couldn't help but lower his guard a little.

He patted Wei Shao on the shoulder and said, "What's with that gloomy look? Not just anyone can catch the eye of our clerk. You're really lucky, kid."

Wei Shao and Lin Changning had made so many moves, so they must be capable. Capable people are bound to be a little arrogant, and even now Wei Shao is still somewhat dazed.

He only got a good look at Lin Changning's handsome face when he left. Lin Changning seemed to be a few years younger than him. His swordsmanship was superb, and he considered the spear the king of weapons. In previous years, even when he was sparring with his father's colleagues in the army, he had never felt such pressure.

However, when facing Lin Changning this time, he felt a sense of powerlessness. When the two fought, he naturally discovered Lin Changning's divine power. He originally thought it was some veteran general, but when Lin Changning pointed his sword at him, he realized that it was actually a young boy.

He couldn't help but doubt his own marksmanship. To put it bluntly, he was insecure because of a young boy. His father knew from a young age that he would most likely inherit his position, so his father personally taught him marksmanship.

He never dared to slack off, regardless of the season. Even after taking over this position, he was able to steadily suppress everyone in the army with his marksmanship and successfully inherit his father's position.

Unexpectedly, on his first trip to the battlefield, he encountered a tough opponent.

Holding the brand-new armor, Wei Shao looked at Lu Shan's high regard for his own commander and hesitated before asking, "Are there many commanders like this in the King of Chu's camp?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Shan immediately understood why Wei Shao wanted to ask such a question. His eyes darted around, and he nodded in a serious manner.

"There are plenty of such junior officers under the Prince's command."

He naturally knew that Wei Shao was asking about someone with exceptional skills, like them, but he deliberately misled Wei Shao, making him imagine the King of Chu as a great figure with many capable followers.

Just kidding. The clerk clearly wants to recruit this kid to his side, so naturally he has to exaggerate his own abilities to make the kid truly willing to join him.

Wei Shao did have some doubts. If there were many people like Lin Changning under the King of Chu, and they rebelled one day, the court might not be able to defeat them.

Although the imperial court had a large number of people, Wei Shao knew in his heart that officials protected each other and embezzled military pay. Many garrisons were already rotten to the core. After sighing, Wei Shao couldn't help but nod.

If you think about it that way, following the King of Chu isn't necessarily a bad thing. Since this young vice commander has taken a liking to his marksmanship, it means that he can also earn a place in the army.

It's just a change of location for fighting and a change of master. The deputy commander has already promised to bring his mother, younger brother, and sister-in-law over, so it doesn't seem unreasonable.

Wei Shao followed Lu Shan blankly toward Lin Changning's tent, and when they arrived at the door, they saw Lin Changning making arrangements.

Upon seeing Lu Shan and Wei Shao, who looked somewhat dazed, Lin Changning quickly put on a smile.

He walked straight toward the two of them.

Upon seeing Wei Shao, he reached out his hand, preparing to invite him into the tent for a chat.

"This way."

After saying that, he led Wei Shao into the tent. Wei Shao was speechless as soon as he entered. This was the largest tent in the camp, and it was also the tent of his superior, the commander of a thousand households.

Lin Changning, without any qualms, took over the battalion commander's position from someone else, poured Wei Shao a glass of water, placed it in front of him, and looked at him with a smile.

"Commander Wei, there is something that is troubling me."

Looking at Lin Changning's harmless smile, Wei Shao was somewhat flattered as he accepted the tea. After putting the tea down, he bowed to Lin Changning.

"You flatter me, Vice Commissioner. Just give me your orders."

Lin Changning sighed: "I just injured Commander Wei without thinking, and I feel really bad about it. Luckily, I have two bottles of the best wound medicine here, so I'll give them to Commander Wei. I hope your injury will heal soon."

Wei Shao was even more flattered. Looking at the two small porcelain bottles that Lin Changning handed over, he hurriedly declined, saying, "You're too kind, Vice Minister. I don't deserve such kindness."

Lin Changning, however, ignored everything and directly shoved the two small porcelain bottles into Wei Shao's hands.

"Sigh, since you've already surrendered, I'll treat you as one of my own. If you're one of my own, why be so polite?"

Seeing Lin Changning's continued treatment of his defeated opponent, Wei Shao instantly understood that Lin Changning probably had something to instruct him on and needed him to do it.

Thinking of this, Wei Shao's heart sank: "What is it? Please speak freely, Vice Commander..."