Shen Family Makes Its Move, Zhu Ying Sets an Ambush!

"Just as expected."

"Compared to looting corpses, killing enemies is much faster."

"My total attributes are about to break a thousand. After the next big battle, they should make it."

"I've picked up more than ten years of lifespan by now. I was originally meant to live to eighty-eight, but now I've gained over ten extra years. Immortality is no longer just a dream."

"If it comes down to who can outlast whom, no one can outlast me—not even that old bastard Sima Yi from the Three Kingdoms era."

"The future looks promising."

Zhu Ying thought happily to himself.

Looking at his Attribute Panel, these were the tangible results of the spoils he had picked up from killing enemies.

Coming back to his senses.

Zhu Ying slowly stood up. All around him, many of his fellow soldiers were asleep against their warhorses. After days of retreating and fighting, every soldier was utterly exhausted. After all, they did not possess endurance like Zhu Ying's.

I hope everyone can make it home.

Zhu Ying swept his gaze through the night, thinking silently to himself.

Then he slowly walked toward the rear to inspect the night watch.

Beiping Prefecture!

Shen Family.

"Father."

Shen Rong hurried into the main hall, his expression grim.

"You still haven't found them?"

Shen Wansan frowned as he looked at Shen Rong.

"That wretched maid has already left, and Zhu Ying's steward has vanished as well."

"Looks like she went to find Zhu Ying." Shen Rong snorted coldly.

"Sure enough, once a daughter grows up, she can't be kept at home." Anger also surfaced on Shen Wansan's aged face.

"Father."

"We never should have taken in that wretched maid. Our Shen Family raised her, yet she actually turned her elbow outward." Shen Rong was growing angry as well.

But the moment those words fell.

Shen Wansan immediately shot Shen Rong a glare.

Shen Rong's expression changed, and he said fearfully, "Your son has spoken out of turn."

"Enough."

"Do not mention this matter again."

"Since she has gone looking for him, then let her look."

"Daning Prefecture is so vast. It is not as though she can find him just because she wants to."

"And if she dies outside, then it will have nothing to do with our Shen Family."

"Have you found out anything about Zhu Ying?" Shen Wansan asked in a deep voice.

Shen Rong immediately said, "Father, there is good news."

"The Daning Prefecture army has gone to war with the northern barbarians, and it seems the Northern Yuan has been drawn in as well. Our Shen Family's merchant caravans have taken on quite a few contracts to transport military supplies to Daning."

"I heard that the border troops of Daning Prefecture have already begun fighting."

"Zhu Ying is just an ordinary man, accomplished neither in letters nor in martial arts. He will definitely die on the battlefield." Shen Rong said with a cold laugh.

"Have you sent anyone there?" Shen Wansan asked cautiously.

"People have already been sent to Daning, and we have Zhu Ying's detailed place of origin and enlistment records. If he does not die on the battlefield, our Shen Family has plenty of ways to make sure he does." Shen Rong sneered.

"Make sure everything is foolproof."

"Do not leave anyone a pretext."

"Though he is only a green youngster, Zhu Ying's grandmother seemed to have had an extraordinary background. Even though she is dead, we must still proceed with caution."

"Also, make sure you find Zhu Ying's steward and that girl. It would be best if they never return. That girl is a danger too. If she is discovered, our Shen Family will be finished." Shen Wansan lowered his voice, his expression grave.

Shen Rong immediately nodded. "Rest assured, Father. I understand."

"How are matters with the Lü Family?"

"It has been so long. The negotiations should be settled by now, yes?" Shen Wansan asked with concern.

"They have already been settled."

"As long as the dowry is sufficient, she can marry in at any time." Shen Rong said smugly.

"Mm."

A smile appeared on Shen Wansan's aged face as well. "Once our Shen Family's marriage alliance with the Lü Family succeeds, we will have truly planted our feet firmly in the Ming Dynasty. The imperial clan and noble houses—our Shen Family will be connected to the imperial clan from now on."

"Father is indeed wise."

"Second Sister and Third Sister married into the younger generation of the Huai Xi Aristocracy, and now Fourth Sister will marry into the maternal family of the future Crown Princess Consort."

"Our Shen Family is forging marriage ties on both sides. We will surely stand tall in the Ming Dynasty forever and remain the richest family in the Ming Dynasty forever." Shen Rong said with a face full of admiration.

"That is also why Zhu Ying must die. For our Shen Family to prosper for generations to come, we must form marriage alliances with great clans. Our family fortune is simply too vast. If we had not maintained so many interests with the Huai Xi Aristocracy over these years, perhaps those nobles would have swallowed us until not even a drop remained. Our marriage alliance with the Lü Family now is likewise to preserve the Shen Family's flourishing prosperity."

"When all is said and done—"

"Everything is for the family's continuation and prosperity."

"For that, anything can be sacrificed."

"In this world, no matter how wealthy one is, wealth is only wealth. Those people possess power. Before power, what can even the richest man do? He is nothing more than a pile of numbers." Shen Wansan said in a tone that seemed to see through it all.

Northern frontier, Tatar territory!

Behind a low-lying stretch of hills.

Nearly four thousand Ming cavalrymen were spread out on either side. Every one of them was drenched in blood and filth, and each gave off a thick stench of blood.

At their head stood a general, long saber in hand, waiting silently.

At that moment!

Several swift riders raced across the low-lying basin, swiftly passed through the depression, and arrived before Zhu Ying.

"Reporting to the Garrison Commander!"

"The Tatar cavalry is less than four li from our army and is approaching this place."

"At the Tatars' marching speed, they will arrive within the time it takes an incense stick to burn," the scout squad leader reported loudly.

"Very good." Zhu Ying nodded and waved a hand. "Return to formation."

"This subordinate obeys."

The scouts swiftly returned to the ranks.

"Brothers!"

"This place is the graveyard I have prepared for these Tatar cavalrymen."

"In this battle, once they come, this will be where they are buried."

"All officers and soldiers, heed my command!"

"Form four thousand-household battalions in assault formation and conceal yourselves behind the hills."

"Once the Tatars enter the urn, immediately loose arrows and slaughter them!" Zhu Ying ordered at once.

"This subordinate obeys."

The soldiers swiftly dispersed, concealing themselves to the left and right of the hills. Their hiding places were extremely tricky, positioned precisely along the slopes.

This place

was an ambush site Zhu Ying had spent some time searching for. On these northern frontier plains, such terrain was difficult to find: it occupied the high ground and had a low ridge as well.

Looking upward from below, one simply could not spot the Ming Army.

And—

once they passed through this lowland and climbed up, they would have no chance to retreat.

This

was the grave Zhu Ying had chosen for them.

Once he dealt with them, the Tatars' cavalry would be crippled by Zhu Ying. They would no longer be able to pursue him at all.

As long as their cavalry was crippled, Zhu Ying could come and go freely within their territory.

This

was the purpose behind Zhu Ying's ambush here.

Zhu Ying stood on the high ground at the mouth of the valley, the Treasure Eagle Bow in hand, his gaze fixed ahead. Every soldier held a bow and arrows, poised and ready to strike.

Everything was in place. All that remained was to wait for the Tatars to deliver themselves to his door.

Over the past few days, Zhu Ying had deliberately left traces behind as he fled, leaving a trail as he went, all to lure them into the trap.

PS: Please keep reading. Many thanks, deeply grateful. Mwah.