"Strategist, you're so cheeky! I love it, hahaha!!"

Zhao Hu chimed in from the side.

Zhao Cheng said, "Don't interrupt."

Zhao Hu said with a resentful look, "Master, I haven't had a chance to speak up in a long time."

Cheng Xu: "..."

"Can you guys... be serious for once?" Cheng Xu said awkwardly.

Zhao Cheng and Zhao Hu exchanged a glance, remained silent for a few seconds, and then burst into laughter.

"But the strategist is so despicable!!!"

Hahahaha!!!

"Stop!" Zhao Cheng snapped his fingers and said, "The atmosphere has been lively enough. Now, let's get down to business."

"Strategist, what are your plans?"

Cheng Xu shook his feather fan, pondered briefly, and said, "Although I have never set up a trap in Yun Jing, I have studied the terrain of each prefecture in Da Jing when I was studying military strategy. There is a small village outside Jiangxia Pass. Because of the invasion of the Southern Zhou army last year, the village has been abandoned. However, it is a particularly suitable place for an ambush."

Cheng Xu looked at Yuan Fei, waved his feather fan, and said, "Yuan Fei is enough to let the people spread information. But remember, General Yuan Fei, the meeting place between the General and Feng Jing is Jiangxia Pass, but the specific meeting place is this village."

Yuan Fei immediately said, "I know where the strategist is talking about. I saw it when I was scouting, and it's already a desolate place."

Cheng Xu praised, "With President Yuan here, this matter will surely succeed!"

Zhao Cheng said, "According to your judgment, there will be at least four or five thousand people coming, regardless of their strength. We need at least ten thousand people to lie in ambush without making a sound."

Cheng Xu nodded and said, "Yes."

"Zhao Hu".

"exist."

"you go?"

Zhao Hu thought for a moment and said, "I do want to make a name for myself, but what if Cui Wuming comes if I leave you?"

"That's true!" Zhao Cheng said shyly.

"General!"

Suddenly, Park stepped forward and said, "Let me handle this small matter!"

When Park Kegang volunteered, Tu Wei also stepped forward. After Park Kegang finished speaking, he said, "General, let me deal with them!"

Zhao Hu asked doubtfully, "Can you really do it?"

Tu Wei said unhappily, "Don't look down on people!"

Zhao Cheng laughed and said, "Zhao Hu deliberately provoked you. Since you're willing, then..."

"Pok!"

"Tu Wei!"

"Listen to my command!"

Pu Ke and Tu Wei simultaneously received the order: "Your subordinates are here!!"

Zhao Cheng said, "I order you two to set up an ambush outside Jiangxia Pass. Any Southern Zhou scouts who dare to spy must be captured in one fell swoop, not a single one can be let go!"

"promise!!"

"The strategist will explain the specific details to you. Go and make the preparations!"

...

Outside Jiangxia Pass.

All ten groups of scouts, which were not in the same group, received news that Zhao Cheng and Feng Jing were about to meet up.

A scout leader asked his subordinate, "Is the information we've gathered accurate?"

“It’s absolutely true, that’s what the villagers in the two villages to the east are saying.”

"The young commander said that Zhao Cheng is cunning. Could this be a trick of his?"

After thinking for a moment, the subordinate said, "This kind of trick is meaningless; it's nothing more than a bluff. We'll find out soon enough."

The leader was silent for a moment, then said, "That makes sense. But we cannot act rashly. Go back quickly and pass the message to the junior commander and the gray-robed strategist. Let them decide what to do."

"promise!"

On the other side, the same scout squad was also hesitating.

The scout leader asked, "Have you seen Feng Jing's troops?"

The subordinate replied, "No, but the news has already spread throughout Jiangxia Pass."

The leader said, "Foolish! The more widely it's spread, the more likely it is to be false!"

"Then... what should we do?"

"Of course we have to find out!"

The leader revealed a smug smile and said, "The sudden appearance of Feng Jing's troops is a huge matter. If he really joins forces with Zhao Cheng, the pressure on the young commander will be immense. Zhao Cheng's southward march will inevitably lead to a decisive battle with the young commander. As the first group of people sent out by the young commander, if we make a contribution, we will be the ones who achieve the greatest merit."

"Should we report to the Junior Commander first?"

"Foolish! How can we let someone else take the credit?"

The leader ordered, "We'll rest for now and then go to Jiangxia Pass for further investigation after nightfall. If Zhao Cheng is lying, we'll continue our reconnaissance. If he is, we'll send a message to the junior commander. That way, if it's fake, we won't be held responsible, but if it's true, brothers, you'll all be promoted under my guidance!"

"The boss is brilliant!!!"

These two scenarios were repeated in ten groups of Southern Zhou scouts, just as Cheng Xu had predicted.

Some come, some go.

...

The next day.

early morning.

When the first Southern Zhou scout team entered the village outside Jiangxia Pass, the village was extremely peaceful, and the surrounding plains and mountains were ethereal; one could even hear the howls of wild beasts.

Then, the second one.

The third one, the fourth one, the fifth one...

After the fifth team arrived, they waited for a long time but no one else came.

Tu Wei and Pu Ke, who were lurking in the shadows, exchanged a glance and nodded to each other.

Tu Wei is the younger brother of Empress Dowager Tu Haiping of Dongjing, and Pu Ke also has a distinguished background.

He is Park Gon's nephew.

Park Yoo-hee and Park Moo-di's cousin.

After Park Moo-di gained favor with Zhao Cheng, he had Park Ke assist Lü Bin in Changsui City, and then he went to Mujing Bay to train with Bai Ning.

His rank in the military was higher than that of Tu Wei, who had just joined, which was only natural.

So even though he and Park were in the same group, he subconsciously considered Park the leader.

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