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Seeing the two men return, Fang Tianxi first asked Sun Yuanrang, "How was the talk? Is Yuan Tianding on the boat?"

Sun Yuanrang sighed, "Yes, he's on the boat, and he doesn't seem to be willing to give up the fat meat in his mouth. It seems that this time I can only take some people back with me."

Fang Tianxi snorted coldly: "Well, with such a bad neighbor around, the Marshal will rely on you even more."

This was something the two had anticipated. Yuan Tianding wasn't exactly a generous person, so how could he possibly agree to their wishes? But a great victory was still a great victory; taking Wang Hengjiang's head and many new cities was a substantial reward. Moreover, Sun Yuanrang wasn't seeking wealth, but rather command of the Suoyi Gang. Yuan Tianding's performance would undoubtedly intimidate Marshal Pan, who would increasingly rely on Sun Yuanrang, known for his ability to win battles.

Once Marshal Pan retreated behind the scenes and stopped fighting, power would naturally slide to Sun Yuanrang. After all, this was a time of chaos, so how could anyone hold power without commanding the army?

Fang Tianxi had already thought it through, so he naturally didn't spend any more time thinking about it. He turned around and asked Cheng Xi, "What about you? Did you find that bastard Ning Fu?"

"The person hasn't been found, but he must have surrendered to the Tianding Army, and he has probably discovered me." Cheng Xi responded with a smile.

Fang Tianxi was stunned by these words, and then he angrily said, "Why are you always so bold and reckless? Do you really want to put yourself in danger and be a bait?!"

Cheng Xi wasn't surprised that Fang Tianxi could guess what he was planning. He simply said, "I had Captain Lin tell him that Ning Fu betrayed his master several times, causing his original master's death. How could a narrow-minded person like Yuan Tianding not harbor resentment? If Ning Fu wants to gain a firm foothold in the Tianding Army, he must make some achievements. My head is the perfect bargaining chip. This is the perfect opportunity to lure Ning Fu out. Even if it doesn't work out, he can still have no place in the Tianding Army."

This was to exploit Ning Fu's selfishness and hatred to lure him into the trap. It certainly had its uses, and it might even be miraculous. But the question was, was it necessary for the dignified Lord of the South China Sea to do so? Didn't she understand the saying "a son of a wealthy family should not sit in the hall"?

Fang Tianxi felt his forehead throbbing: "Have you ever thought about what to do if you fail?"

She's unmarried and childless. If anything were to happen, the Red Flag Gang would instantly fall apart. Putting aside her vast legacy and the unrequited revenge for her father, isn't her life precious? Who is Ning Fu, that he deserves such reckless action?

Cheng Xi showed no sign of backing down. "That life of mine certainly isn't worth the risk, but the situation is. If he incites the situation, the Tianding Army will send troops to Jiangdong and attack Yuhang. How can I let him succeed? If you're worried about my safety, please consult with Mr. Fang to discuss countermeasures and ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Jiangdong isn't your territory yet," Sun Yuanrang, stunned by what he heard, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. "Having the South China Sea isn't enough, are you trying to dominate the four seas?" Yet, at this moment, Sun Yuanrang felt a sense of relief. The military advisor was right. She didn't seem to have any intention of conquering the world. Otherwise, she should be focusing on managing the city, not focusing on the sea.

Fang Tianxi now understood her purpose and opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. Now that things had come to this, what else could he do? This girl was incredibly bold, never hesitating about what she wanted to do. Who could stop her? If Qiu Sheng had had such courage back then, he wouldn't have died.

After a long silence, Fang Tianxi sighed deeply: "Tell me first, what are you going to do?"

Cheng Xi smiled: "You and I have both dealt with Ning Fu before. If he thinks so, he can naturally lure the snake out of its hole."

…

"If the Red Bandits want to return to Yuezhou, their only options are by land or water. Logically, the sea route is more convenient. After all, they won a great victory, and they must have a lot of spoils to transport back. However, the Marshal has captured the rebels' fleet, and the Straw Cloth Bandits don't have three or five large ships to lend them. There's no way the Red Bandits can even get their own ships here, so the only option left is land."

Ning Fu no longer had the bad habit of leaving things half-said. Facing General Yuan's trusted and beloved general, he spoke in great detail.

Zhou Wang nodded as he listened, "So, we have to set up an ambush on the shore and stop those bandits in one fell swoop?"

The Red Flag Gang had many boats, but reaching Luling was practically impossible. Going upstream required towing, which wasn't worth the effort. Going overland would be hundreds of miles, and with carts and a considerable baggage load, they'd definitely have to find a suitable ambush. Zhou Wang, however, had his doubts. They had no ties to the Red Flag Gang at this point, so why bother?

But the boss has given the order, so you have to obey it whether you like or not. Fortunately, what Ning Fu said was very logical and seemed to make sense.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Ning Fu shook his head. "That Miss Qiu is truly extraordinary. Her life is crucial to the safety of the Red Flag Gang. Who wouldn't value her more? The Red Bandits were ambushed around Luling before, and we haven't seen any trace of them. I don't think they have many soldiers, perhaps only a thousand or two. A night raid might be enough to capture the city, but not necessarily a field battle. Therefore, when they retreat, they'll probably choose a more cautious approach. They'll likely split into two groups, with the main group escorting the baggage and the smaller group escorting the leader."

Zhou Wang frowned immediately. "How is this possible? It would definitely be safer for a woman to follow the main group. Why would we need to send troops specifically?"

Ning Fu chuckled. "How can someone who can single-handedly build a large gang be cowardly? Back in Tingzhou, I fought Miss Qiu. She was a person who could kill people in the street and then swagger out of the city. She loved to use surprising tactics and devise surprising strategies. The more unexpected, the more likely it was to lull people into complacency."

He made light of it, but the words "murder in the street" still made Zhou Wang look at the scar on the man's face. It was a knife wound, and it must have been recent. Could it be that he was the one killed in the street? Tsk tsk, if that were true, it was no wonder this kid hated Miss Qiu so much that he almost got killed. This was a feud that would never end.

Zhou Wang didn't hide his scrutiny, and Ning Fu could naturally see what he was thinking. The scars on his face prickled slightly, but he didn't get angry. He just changed the subject: "They will choose to split their forces into two groups, but the two groups won't be too far apart. This way, they can look after each other and escape quickly in case of danger."

Zhou Wang thought for a moment and said, "So, let the big team go and keep an eye on the small team?"

"No, it's the interception team and the capture team." Ning Fu didn't keep anyone in suspense and gave the answer directly.

However, Zhou Wang was still a little unhappy with the twists and turns. "How are we going to fight this? Do we have to split up our forces? If we can't stop that team, won't all our efforts be in vain?"

"The team has baggage, which are probably treasures looted from Marshal Wang's mansion. As long as we can take it down, we will get a lot of money." Ning Fu did not explain the reason, but just put the interests on the table.

Zhou Wang's eyes lit up instantly. He loved hearing that! Although they had recruited quite a few surrendered soldiers this time, they hadn't gained much. They hadn't even entered Luling City, and they probably wouldn't get much reward when they returned. Wasn't this a wasted trip? If they could seize the Red Flag Gang's spoils, they would make a fortune.

Seeing his expression, Ning Fu knew that the plan was done, and immediately added, "Once the main force starts fighting, that small group will most likely change their route. As long as we set up an ambush location, I'm sure that small group will fall into my trap."

Although Zhou Wang was not familiar with Ning Fu, the name "Ghost Scholar" was still very famous. Since he said so, he might as well believe it.

However, he soon thought of something else: "Wait, isn't Miss Qiu good at disguise? How will I recognize her then? Don't let her escape again."

"I've seen her before, so I can recognize her. Besides, the face can change, but the figure can't. She's a woman after all, shorter than an adult man, so it's easy to tell her apart." After a pause, Ning Fu gave another instruction, "The general said we must capture her alive."

This sentence made Zhou Wang smile obscenely: "That's right, General Qiu's daughter, it's better to capture her alive."

He knew what he was thinking, but Ning Fu didn't care. He wanted more than revenge. He wanted to make that little girl suffer so much that she would bow down to him. As long as he could capture her, he would have a thousand tricks to use. When he thought of that scene, Ning Fu couldn't help but curl his lips.

For this, he could throw away his folding fan, bow to others, and gently reveal his plan. As long as he could capture her and wash away the stigma of "repeatedly defeating and harming his master", it would all be worth it. And now was the perfect opportunity to strike unexpectedly and win with one strike.

The smile caused the old wound to twist slightly, making it look hideous.

…

After a few days, the battlefield was cleared and the battle was finally over. The reinforcements that had come from afar had to return home. The Tianding Army naturally set sail without hesitation, while the Red Flag Army had a more complicated procession, preparing their own carriages and horses before slowly leaving the city.

This time, they had reaped a bounty, capturing cities and slaying enemies. Naturally, they had seized the Duke's Mansion first, taking all the gold, silver, and jewelry Wang Hengjiang had plundered over the years. This alone was enough to offset the losses of the expedition, not to mention the copper mine reward from the Suoyi Gang.

However, transporting such a large amount of treasure was quite troublesome. Without the possibility of taking a boat, they could only display their full strength. The Red Banner Army did not change their clothes, but instead wore black and displayed the red flag. This flag might not be well-known in Jinghu, but with nearly a thousand well-armed and aggressive men, it was enough to intimidate the bandits.

With such a large, clearly marked group at the forefront, the others naturally drew little attention. Unnoticed, another smaller group followed, leaving the city behind. It consisted of only about a hundred people, dressed like ordinary civilians. However, anyone with a discerning eye could tell they were protecting the short young man in the center, perhaps a member of a wealthy family seeking refuge from disaster.

Only slightly behind the main group, the two teams marched towards Yuezhou, one in front and the other behind.