Chapter 308 We must rush back to provide support immediately.
As soon as Shen Qingci left the city, he received a message from his secret guards saying that the training camp outside the city had been attacked by about three to five thousand people.
Shen Qingci's gaze darkened slightly, and she had already made up her mind.
Just as she had expected, the other side was playing a feint, using these three to five thousand men as bait to lure her and Chu Jichen into mobilizing the main force of the capital to provide relief, so that their real elite troops could take advantage of the situation and launch a surprise attack on the palace.
"Pass down the order," Shen Qingci whispered, "Everyone dismount, cover your horses' hooves, walk quietly, and follow me around to the back of those attackers."
"Firstly, it will allow us to ascertain their strengths and weaknesses; secondly... it will also allow us to launch a pincer attack on them!"
"yes!"
The group obeyed and moved silently through the night.
As Shen Qingci hurried along, she beckoned to one of her bodyguards: "Go and contact Qingming and tell her my plan."
She hesitated for a moment, her mind racing: "Have her select a group of elite soldiers and ambush them near the camp gate."
"Act on my signal; once the signal fireworks go off, move out!"
"Remember," Shen Qingci specifically instructed, "tell Qingming to take a few teams and sneak out of the camp through another gate. To the left and right of the attackers, make a scene, even if it's just banging drums and gongs! Make them think that we not only came prepared, but also... brought a large force!"
The guard understood immediately and turned to leave.
Shen Qingci led her men around to the rear of the attackers.
She glanced at the enemy troops eyeing the main camp menacingly, a cold smile playing on her lips.
Since you want to act, then I'll play along with you until you're satisfied!
"Light the fire! Raise the flag!"
At Shen Qingci's command, the two thousand men behind him instantly lit their torches, illuminating the originally dark night sky.
Countless banners fluttered in the night wind, and the shouts of battle shook the heavens and the earth, as if a thousand troops were descending from the sky!
At the same time, a signal firework shot into the sky, blooming into a dazzling display in the night sky.
The camp gates swung open, and Qingming led several squads of men out like tigers descending a mountain, forming an encirclement with Shen Qingci's troops!
"Kill them!"
Although the men Shen Qingci brought were not all elites, and included many spies and servants who only knew rudimentary skills, their imposing presence was enough to intimidate anyone in this chaotic night battle.
"We're surrounded!"
"It's the main force of the Shen family army and the Imperial Guard! There are so many of them!"
The enemy troops were thrown into chaos, and cries of terror rose and fell.
As Shen Qingci watched this scene from his horse, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
This is exactly the effect she wanted!
She wanted to make the other side believe that she and Chu Jichen had really fallen into a trap and had really brought all their elite troops here to rescue these new recruits!
Only in this way will the enemy feel that the palace is empty, and only then will they feel comfortable revealing all their trump cards to attack the palace!
Just then, a guard rushed to Shen Qingci: "Master! We have surrounded the enemy! But a small group is trying to break through, it seems they want to report a message!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
"Let them run!"
"What?" The guard was taken aback.
A cunning glint flashed in Shen Qingci's eyes: "But we can't let them all escape. Kill most of them, leave only one or two alive, and let them escape safely!"
"They must have gone to deliver a message."
"Only by letting them report the news, letting them plot all this behind the scenes, and letting those who are in charge of all this think that their scheme has succeeded, that we have really transferred all our troops here, will their masters... dare to attack the palace with peace of mind!"
"Yes! I understand!" The guard suddenly realized and immediately turned to make the arrangements.
Shen Qingci watched the few figures fleeing in a disheveled state and sneered inwardly.
Run! Run as fast as you can and tell your master that she has led the main force to rescue the recruits.
Let him think his scheme has succeeded, let him think the palace is empty, let him... walk right into the trap!
Shen Qingci knew that the real decisive battle was not outside the city, but in the palace!
If nothing unexpected happens, Chu Jichen has already made preparations after receiving her message.
He never fights a battle unprepared.
but……
After all, the other side was the power that the late emperor had secretly accumulated for many years, and they also had the advantage of location and knew the secret passages in the palace like the back of their hand.
Even if Chu Jichen is incredibly intelligent, he will inevitably be at a disadvantage in the face of an absolute gap in strength and intelligence.
"We can't delay any longer!"
A resolute glint flashed in Shen Qingci's eyes, "Have Qingming release all those new recruits!"
"Tell them that tonight is not a drill, but real combat! These enemies who launched the surprise attack are the best whetstone for them to practice on!"
"Whoever can kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions will be richly rewarded! If these bandits can be wiped out in one fell swoop, everyone will be rewarded with ten taels of silver!"
A generous reward will surely attract brave men.
At Shen Qingci's command, the recruits who were initially hesitant rushed forward instantly.
More than 30,000 people against 3,000 to 5,000, even though the enemy was elite, could not withstand such a human wave tactic.
Moreover, these new recruits also include many former members of the Shen family and chivalrous figures from the martial arts world, whose combat strength should not be underestimated.
The battle cries were deafening, and amidst the flashing swords, the enemy forces quickly could not hold out and began to retreat in disarray.
"Kill them!"
"Charge for the bounty!"
"Don't let them get away!"
In less than half an hour, the battle was nearing its end.
Shen Qingci gazed in the direction of the palace, his brows furrowed.
The night was deep, but faint flames flickered on the horizon, and the shouts of battle, though distant, drifted intermittently on the night wind.
Shen Qingci, without bothering to clean up the battlefield, immediately summoned Qingming.
"Qingming, how is the situation?"
Qingming looked excited, clearly quite satisfied with the great victory: "Master, rest assured, except for a few who escaped, the enemy has been completely annihilated! Although we suffered some casualties, most of them were minor injuries and nothing serious."
"Okay!" Shen Qingci nodded, then paused, her expression becoming serious: "I remember you said before that many of the people who enlisted these past few days were veterans who had followed my father?"
Qingming nodded: "Yes, there are probably more than two thousand people."
"I have already organized them into separate units. After a few days of training, although I dare not say that they have recovered to their peak form on the battlefield a few years ago, they are definitely not to be underestimated!"
"Excellent!" A hint of joy flashed in Shen Qingci's eyes. "Assemble this team immediately! I'm going to lead them back to the capital!"
"There's already some activity at the palace; we must get back to provide support as soon as possible!"
Upon hearing this, Qingming's expression turned solemn, and he immediately clasped his hands in acceptance of the order: "Yes! Your subordinate will make the arrangements immediately!"
Moments later, two thousand battle-hardened veterans of the Shen family had assembled.
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