Chapter 73: The Oriole Behind

"That person finally entered the Zhang Family Mansion, and later, a few more people came out and have been loitering near the North Camp."

The Wangfu.

Xu Ke reported what he had seen to Zhao Xu.

"Your Highness, this matter is too suspicious," Xu Lie frowned deeply. "Be careful of a trap."

Zhao Xu nodded slightly.

When Xu E told him this news, he had already been somewhat hesitant.

After all, if the intelligence was wrong, making a wasted trip didn't matter, but if it were a trap, his losses would be great.

"The Zhang Family having people watch the military camp is already a problem; it seems they are certain that soldiers from the North Camp will be dispatched," Zhao Xu stroked his chin.

If the Zhang Family were only monitoring him, there would be no need to send people to keep watch at the North Camp.

This made him even more suspicious that a trap was waiting for him.

Thinking of this, he immediately sent someone to the North Camp to call Chang Wei and Lv Chang over.

"This is indeed very suspicious."

After Zhao Xu told Chang Wei the intelligence Xu Ke had gathered, he knitted his brows.

"Is Your Highness being too cautious? The Zhang Family's eyes and ears are everywhere in the city; having a few at the North Camp is not strange. If we miss this opportunity because of it, who knows when the next chance will come."

Upon learning there was a battle to be fought, Lv Chang was in high spirits, but now that he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, he was very unwilling.

Everyone fell silent; Lv Chang's words were not without reason. Up until now, these were all just their guesses.

"What a nuisance. Your Highness, just give this subordinate two thousand elite soldiers, and I will go straight to raid the Zhang Family and bring Zhang Kang back for interrogation," Lv Chang suddenly became impatient.

Chang Wei glared at Lv Chang; this kid was the material of a fierce general, but he was too impulsive.

Zhao Xu paced back and forth, lost in thought, and then he said: "If my guess comes true, since the Zhang Family is having people watch the North Camp, they must want to see how many men I will dispatch so they can arrange their own forces. In that case, we will do as we did during the last assassination and trick them once more."

For him, even if he couldn't grasp the evidence of the Zhang Family's smuggling this time, it was still an opportunity to wipe out Qingfeng Stronghold.

The Zhang Family would likely commit the entire force of Qingfeng Stronghold to ambush him.

"I'm afraid that won't be easy. The Zhang Family failed once last time, so they will definitely keep a close eye on us this time," said Chang Wei.

Zhao Xu gave a mysterious smile. "I have my own ways. In two days, Lv Chang, you shall take advantage of the night to send one thousand soldiers toward Qingfeng Pass first, and I will secretly send three thousand soldiers out of the city."

Chang Wei thought for a moment and guessed the intention of Yan Wang.

If this trade were fake, then let Lv Chang lure the enemy out.

Once the enemy had fully emerged, he could lead the remaining three thousand men to provide support.

However, he still couldn't figure out how Yan Wang would deceive everyone and make the Zhang Family believe that Yan Wang had only dispatched one thousand elites.

Just as he was thinking, Zhao Xu spoke again: "Chang Wei, the grain and fodder at the North Camp are running out, right?"

"Yes," Chang Wei said subconsciously, then suddenly froze, and immediately realized and began to laugh.

"Tonight, you send men to the warehouse to transport grain and fodder; I will prepare three thousand laborers to replace the soldiers."

"Yes, this subordinate obeys," Chang Wei was delighted; this was the art of using the false to appear real.

If he could make the Zhang Family lower their guard, with four thousand elite soldiers in his hands, he wouldn't fear even three Qingfeng Strongholds.

After discussing some more details, Zhao Xu let the two return.

Then he called for Liu Fu and had him send trusted aides to secretly mobilize laborers from the Wangfu's farms around Yancheng.

He then had these laborers enter the city separately so as not to attract attention.

Before dark.

The laborers arrived one after another. When night fell and Yancheng was shrouded in darkness, the laborers gathered one by one in the courtyard of the Wangfu warehouse.

Not long after, the team from the North Camp sent to transport grain and fodder arrived.

When they returned, the soldiers stayed behind, and an equal number of laborers replaced them to return to the North Camp.

The Zhang Family.

A man stood before Zhang Kang, recounting the matter of the North Camp transporting grain and fodder.

"Did you see clearly how many people went out and how many came back?" Zhang Kang asked.

During the last assassination, Yan Wang had used the grain transport to hide soldiers in the Wangfu, so he had learned his lesson.

"This subordinate counted specifically; not a single person was off," the man said.

Zhang Kang nodded, feeling slightly relieved.

Then, he said: "You continue to watch; do not be careless."

Two more days passed.

The man entered the Zhang Mansion at dusk. "Master, one thousand Wangfu soldiers have headed toward Qingfeng Pass."

"One thousand? Hehe," Zhang Kang sneered several times.

Entering the secret chamber, he told Tuoba Lie about the situation at the North Camp.

For the past few days, Tuoba Lie had been staying in the Zhang Mansion for the sole purpose of plotting this matter.

"One thousand armored soldiers?" Tuoba Lie frowned. "That is enough to deal with your Qingfeng Stronghold."

Hearing this, Zhang Kang was secretly displeased, thinking to himself that you look down on the strength of my Zhang Family too much.

After pondering for a while, he said: "Accompanying the horse caravan this time are also two thousand warriors of my Northern Di; they should be more than enough to deal with these one thousand men."

Rising to walk outside, he said: "I must go to Qingfeng Pass myself to ensure they are well-ambushed; you just have the people from Qingfeng Stronghold deliver the goods."

Zhang Kang asked in surprise: "Commander, are we not stopping the trade? What if something goes wrong?"

"What is there to fear from a mere one thousand people? Hmph, with my Northern Di warriors here, what could go wrong? Even Chang Wei's five hundred cavalry were half-destroyed by a single scout team of my Northern Di; you soldiers of Great Song are nothing but trash," Tuoba Lie's eyes were full of disdain. "Once the Khan pacifies the internal rebellion and swings his army south, destroying Great Song will be as easy as turning over one's hand."

"Yes, the Commander is right," Zhang Kang revealed a fawning smile. "At that time, I hope the Commander will not forget the Zhang Family's contribution."

"That goes without saying. Not only Yan Commandery, but Yanzhou will also be handed over to your Zhang Family to manage," Tuoba Lie said with a smug expression.

Dropping these words, Tuoba Lie put on his cloak and slipped out through the small gate of the Zhang Family.

Looking left and right, seeing that it was quiet in the darkness, he turned and disappeared into the darkness.

He had just left.

A black shadow walked out from the darkness, looked in the direction of Tuoba Lie, and followed after him.

After another while, a man came out from the Zhang Family and disappeared into the darkness.

And another black shadow appeared behind the man and followed after him.

They were none other than Xu Ke and his son.

At the same time.

In Fushi Village of Yancheng, the three thousand soldiers hiding there put on the brand-new Armor transported from the Armory Bureau.

With a shout of command, Chang Wei led the soldiers to travel by night and hide by day, rushing toward Qingfeng Pass.

Two days later, the night was filled with stars and moonlight.

Chang Wei arrived at Qingfeng Pass.

This was a straight-line valley with a narrow mountain path in the middle and high mountains and dense forests on both sides.

Because it was night, even with the moonlight, the forest was pitch black.

According to the plan, the men of Lv Chang were ambushed on both sides of the valley, while he hid on the north side of the mountain.

Once they encountered the enemy, he would lead his troops to support Lv Chang.

And according to what Tianxiang Lou said, tomorrow morning would be the time for the transaction.

At that time, they would be able to see whether it was true or false.

After enduring the night on the mountain, at daybreak the next day, Chang Wei woke up.

He had the soldiers eat the dry rations they brought, and after waiting for two hours, the neighing of horses suddenly rang out in the valley.