Chapter 168: Ambush

"Are you certain Zhong Shidao is dead?"

At the Gao residence, Gao Yuan stared into the eyes of the official, his tone stern.

"Definitely dead. A total of sixteen corpses, not one missing," the official said, bowing his head.

He had gone to the scene and seen with his own eyes the corpses burned beyond recognition.

Gao Yuan nodded. "That is good. As for the Zhong Family of Shangyi County, it will not be too late to wipe them out after we kill Yan Wang."

He then said, "Summon all officials to the Government Office. Everything is to proceed according to plan."

The official acknowledged the order and left.

One hour later.

Over a hundred officials from the Rich Clans appeared in the Government Office.

They saw Liu Fu.

Gao Yuan knelt down with a "thud," tears and snot streaming down his face. "Viscount Liu, we know we were wrong. We hope you will grant us a way to survive. We are willing to hand over all our land and property to His Highness Yan Wang personally."

Hearing this, Liu Fu sneered inwardly.

He feigned surprise and hurriedly helped Gao Yuan up. "Why must Commandery Governor Gao do this? His Highness has always been benevolent; how could he not leave you a way to survive? However, these few officials have truly gone too far. I cannot refrain from punishing them, otherwise, how could I answer to the common people?"

"Yes, yes, Viscount Liu is absolutely right. They deserve to be punished. But please, do not misunderstand, my lord; we are handing over the land and property voluntarily, which has nothing to do with this matter. Since Shanggu Commandery has already returned to His Highness, we naturally follow His Highness's lead," Gao Yuan said, almost obsequiously.

Liu Fu rolled his eyes. "This... since that is the case, I shall report this matter to His Highness and see what he has to say."

"Then I shall trouble you, Viscount Liu," Gao Yuan bowed and saluted again.

After seeing the group off.

Liu Fu ordered someone to fetch paper and brush, wrote down what Zhong Shidao had said, and ordered it to be sent to Yan Commandery.

"His Highness's strategy is truly brilliant. This group of Rich Clans finally could not hold back. Hmph, this time I will certainly make them vanish into thin air," Liu Fu revealed a look of triumph.

One day later.

Liu Fu's letter arrived at the Prince's Mansion. After reading the contents, Zhao Xu called Chang Wei and Mo Yu to the mansion.

"Does Your Highness intend to go to Shanggu Commandery, or do you intend to capture the assassins yourself before taking action?" Chang Wei licked his lips excitedly; there was another battle to be fought.

Mo Yu said, "Ambushing Your Highness is an act of armed rebellion. Your Highness has even more reason to slaughter them all. Since the assassins are death-sworn, it is difficult to leave any alive, and even if captured, it would be hard to extract any information."

Zhao Xu nodded; Mo Yu's thoughts coincided with his own.

"It is just that putting Your Highness in danger is somewhat inappropriate," Chang Wei said with some concern.

The situation on the battlefield changes in a thousand ways; no one can guarantee what will happen.

"Your Highness does not need to go personally," Mo Yu smiled cunningly. "We only need to find someone of similar age and build to impersonate Your Highness. When marching, they only need to wear Your Highness's armor."

Chang Wei suddenly realized upon hearing this, and Zhao Xu nodded repeatedly.

With the helmet on, basically only a pair of eyes would be visible; no one would be able to tell the difference.

"Even so, I should still make the trip. How can I not be present to wipe out the Rich Clans of Shanggu? However, I can just hide in the rear guard," Zhao Xu laughed.

Chang Wei and Mo Yu nodded simultaneously; this was also feasible.

Since the Rich Clans of Shanggu wanted to ambush Yan Wang.

Then they would certainly play along with their scheme.

In the front, one thousand men would escort the fake Yan Wang, and several miles behind, they would personally lead the main army to follow.

Having settled this matter, Zhao Xu wrote a reply to Liu Fu, telling him to act according to the plan.

Liu Fu received the letter and immediately found Gao Yuan.

"Commandery Governor Gao, His Highness was very pleased to learn of this matter. He will set off tomorrow to come to Shanggu Commandery and said he would greatly reward Commandery Governor Gao," Liu Fu laughed.

Gao Yuan felt a surge of joy upon hearing this. He said, "We will certainly not let His Highness down."

After chatting a few more times with feigned affection, Gao Yuan returned to his residence.

That night, he secretly ordered the Rich Clans of Shanggu to select elite private soldiers, led by his eldest son Gao Man, to rush through the night to both sides of the official road at the border of Yan Commandery and Shanggu Commandery.

After arriving at the ambush site, Gao Man immediately ordered the soldiers to dig trenches on the official road, cover them with thatch and loose soil, and insert sharp bamboo stakes inside, waiting quietly for Yan Wang's arrival.

One day later.

A scout reported that Yan Wang's forces had entered Shanggu Commandery from Yan Commandery. Gao Man immediately set up an ambush on both sides of the road, waiting quietly for Yan Wang to enter the trap.

"Chen Hu, you lucky bastard, you've actually put on His Highness's armor. It's enough to make the generals in the army envious. I wish I could scrape the flesh off my own body and shorten my legs to take your place."

The autumn wind was mild, and the sun was shining brightly.

On the wide official road, a troop of men and horses moved slowly.

In the middle of the formation, Chen Hu rode Zhao Xu's horse, wearing Zhao Xu's armor, his chest held high, trying his best to imitate the appearance of Yan Wang.

"Hehe..." Chen Hu gave a foolish laugh. He felt it was a great honor to be a body double for His Highness Yan Wang.

However, because he dared not move around for fear of damaging Yan Wang's image, his neck was aching from being stiff.

"Crash! Ah..."

As the two were joking, a sound of heavy objects falling and the screams of soldiers suddenly came from the front.

Lv Chang looked ahead and saw the leading group fall into chaos.

He and Chen Hu exchanged a glance, secretly thinking that it had begun.

"Whoosh!"

Just at this moment, the sound of breaking air suddenly rang out.

Arrows flew toward the marching formation like raindrops.

Chen Hu was treated as a primary target, with dozens of arrows heading straight for him.

"Clang, clang, clang..." A series of metallic clashing sounds followed; the arrows left shallow pits on the armor and fell to the ground.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Form up! Form up! Protect His Highness Yan Wang!" Lv Chang galloped through the formation, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Their mission was to lure the enemy over and hold them back.

Hearing his voice, the soldiers formed a circle, protecting the fake Yan Wang played by Chen Hu in the center.

The soldiers who had fallen into the pit also climbed out from inside.

Protected by their Armor, they were not pierced by the bamboo shards, just badly bruised from the fall.

"Kill!"

After a rain of arrows.

Shouts of killing erupted from both sides of the road.

A dense mass of private soldiers from the Rich Clan charged toward the Wangfu Army, who had shifted into a circular formation.

"Crossbowmen, prepare," Lv Chang shouted; this group of Rich Clan private soldiers had indeed taken the bait.

However, as he looked out, the surging enemy soldiers numbered at least ten thousand.

These Rich Clan members of Shanggu Commandery had spared no expense.

But this scene did not scare him; he was someone who had fought head-on against Charha's five thousand Cavalry.

"Kill!" one hundred crossbowmen shouted in unison, aiming their Crossbows at the charging Rich Clan private soldiers.

"Fire!"

Following the order, the crossbowmen pulled the Trigger, and one hundred powerful crossbow bolts were instantly shot out.

Among the charging Rich Clan private soldiers, some were immediately struck by arrows and fell to the ground.

"Second round," Lv Chang shouted again.

The crossbowmen loaded their bolts and fired again, followed by a third round, and another hundred Rich Clan private soldiers fell.

After three rounds, the Rich Clan private soldiers were only thirty-some meters away from the circular formation.

At this moment, Lv Chang shouted: "Long Spear soldiers, thrust! Shield-bearer, prepare."

The three hundred Long Spear soldiers on the perimeter immediately leveled their sharp Long Spears, pointing the spearheads at the charging Rich Clan private soldiers.